Chapter 6: Calamity Caves

You head back and to the ledges. Before entering you look down the hallway with rubble. Tomas is able to notice that the rubble comes from the roof and that the whole cave is likely to collapse should anyone cause a disturbance. You will need to prop up the tunnel or risk a cave in if you are to go this way. You leave it alone for now and check out the ledges.

The first one is a small ledge, where you find a few broken javelins indicating that someone once hunted from this spot. More interesting is that among the broken javelins are a 10 javelins in a strange metal later identified as cold iron. The same metal the creature you fought yesterday is weak against. At least you'll be prepared if there's more of them.

You climb back down and head over to the other ledge, it reveals a short tunnel that leads to a small cave. Entering the cave you first notice a large mammoth skull. You realize its bigger than the cave entrance point. On the ground, bones and other offerings encircle the skull. Opposite the skull is a bed of old furs.

Artesia is able to recognize this as a guardian spirit presiding over the cave and that the mammoth have been placed here by Erastil.

Among the offerings you can see a magical rune as well as an udentified elixir and an ordinary steel mirror.

Tomas is unsure what kind the mold is, but his experience with other similar growths, leads him to think that burning the mold would be the best way to get rid of it.

Koram can see a heavy layer on dust on the offerings. They have been here for years.

Tomas takes out a torch to head back to the mold when the eyes of the skull starts glowing yellow.

The skull answers in a slow monotone voice. While you are sure the voice come from the skull, the jaw don't move. "Alas I am afraid I have failed in my duty, as I have not seen a soul in an age."

"Who are you to distrub my slumber?!" it demands.

"Your kin would come to this cave asking for safe travels through the cave. Calamity Cave they called it. Then the people stopped passing and as the seasons passed, I went into a slumber."

"With no one to protect I am afraid I have laxed in my duties to keep this cave safe. I have slept long, and my powers are waning. I can no longer sense much beyond this chamber. Give me a few years and I'll make it safe for you again."

"They were traveling to Lost Mammoth Valley and hoping for peace and prosperity. Every turning of the sun they would come to offer tributes," the guardian spirit says. "There used to be the occational beast that would take shelter in these caves. But subtly I could discourage them, and they would find other shelter. Now I don't know what is hiding in these caves. But if you will clean them out for me, I will gift you my offerings. A rune that will make your weapon affect ghosts and a potion that will help you seek out the hidden."

"I am afraid I don't know what has happened in the valley beyond, but I am sensing a great evil. Take care."

Koram tosses the torch from a safe distance. At first, just the side of one of the tunnels catches fire and it burns in a strangely beautiful way. Then the fire reaches further inside and its as if a pocket of gas goes off. A huge boom fills the cave, you see stones falling from the unstable portion of the tunnel to the south as it happens. Moments later a funnel of flame flies down the tunnel.

From inside the tunnel you can hear a pair of pained roars of anger and heavy steps coming in your direction.