3B. The icy route

As Faramos rested, regaining his strength, the group took a moment to catch their breath. The barracks, though still thick with the stench of unwashed bodies and decay, felt strangely quiet after the battle. Nindia stood apart, her gaze distant, fixed on nothing in particular. The voice that had whispered to her earlier, tempting her with power, was still fresh in her mind.

She weighed her thoughts carefully. This power, whatever it was, had tried to grant her a way to influence the orcs if she had chosen to act. Before, it was promising her the strength to cross the icy waters of the stream. The temptation gnawed at her, an itch she could no longer ignore.

Nindia turned to Brenda, who was keeping a watchful eye on Faramos as he stirred weakly. Lowering her voice, she said...

Brenda, you remember when we went with Faramos to that cage for the lotus ... I did something back there she lover voide even more switching to whispers I think let ancient magic into myself. Not sure for good or for wrong. I need to figure it out on my own.
She hugs Brenda bit too long. Then steps back and announce I will be back soon, I promise.

She smiles and not waiting for any response leaves. Nindia knows that Brenda would talk here into not doing what she decided to do if she just let her talk.

Taking a deep breath Nindia move to where he remember the cold underground river were and voice in her head suggested to help. I just hope it is not how the Orc leader lost his mind she think before drawing the dagger ready to sacrifice some of her blood.

The sound of rushing water grew louder as she approached the subterranean stream. The chill in the air was seeping through her clothing and biting at her skin. She paused at the edge of the icy stream, staring into its dark, rushing depths.

Taking a deep breath, she drew her dagger. The blade glinted faintly as she held it over her palm. Her heartbeat quickened, but the voice in her mind was calm, coaxing. It didn’t speak in words this time, but the pull of its presence was undeniable.

She muttered under her breath something to calm her down and slashed the blade across her palm, wincing at the sharp sting as blood welled up and dripped onto the stream.The moment her blood touched the water, a surge of warmth erupted from her palm, racing through her veins like liquid fire. Her breath caught in her throat as the sensation spread, driving away the cold that had clung to her. The icy air around her seemed to retreat, the chill now powerless against the fiery warmth that coursed through her body.

The stream no longer looked threatening. She dipped her fingers into the frigid water experimentally, and to her astonishment, she felt nothing but a faint, neutral wetness. The cold was gone, unable to touch her.

The magic wasn’t just shielding her from the cold; it pulsed with energy, wild and untamed. The power wasn’t just in her blood—it was her blood, alive and burning with strength. For a few hours, at least, she was untouchable, impervious to the elements.

Ninda puts her palm into the cold water and look at it surprised. Magic? she still can't believe. Let's see what you have got!. She takes off her boots. Takes off the cloak made from black feathers. Leave them one the ground and step into the cold water.
Very slow at start but gradually gaining confidence she proceeds through the stream

The tunnel narrows further as you press onward, the cold stone walls tightening around you until the floor is devoured by a swirling current. The cold temperature is not an issue for you, but what was once a gentle stream, if you keep going, will soon become a chest-high torrent, the water pushing you with startling force.

Euphoria takes over, for a very short moment Ninda feel almighty. She put weapons away, take deep breath, jump into stream, swimming underwater.
How will I get back - the question hangs somewhere on the borders of her consciousness, but she is overwhelmed my the magic feeling.

The current pushed and pulled at Nindia’s body as she swam into the tunnel, the walls narrowing and the force of the water intensifying. At first, she managed to keep control. The magic coursing through her veins burned bright, keeping the biting cold at bay, and for a fleeting moment, she felt unstoppable.

But as she ventured further, the current grew fiercer, slamming her against the jagged walls of the tunnel. Her lungs burned as she fought to keep her breath, the water tugging at her relentlessly. Nindia pushed back the encroaching panic, diving deeper into the swirling chaos and losing her torch.

Finally, she burst free into a vast, shadowy chamber where the torrent spilled into a deep, still pool. The water settled here, calm yet heavy with an ominous stillness that belied the violence of the stream. She surfaced, gasping for air, her hair plastered to her face as she floated in the dim light.

At the center of the pool, glinting faintly beneath the surface, she saw it—a scepter of gold, intricately carved and pulsing faintly as if alive. Its presence was magnetic, calling to her with a silent song of power and promise. Nindia’s eyes locked onto it, her breath catching as she imagined the strength it might bestow.

But as her gaze lingered, movement in the water broke the spell. Shadows glided beneath the surface, their sleek forms twisting with predatory grace. Nindia’s stomach tightened as she recognized their shapes: river demons, ancient and vile. They moved like massive eels, their elongated bodies glistening, their eyes glowing with a malevolent intelligence. Each creature was longer than a horse, their jagged teeth visible even as they swam just beneath the surface.



The current is strong, and your previous euphoria sent you plummeting into the pool below, where the demons lurk.

You soon realize you'll have a daunting task with the creatures circling. But before anything else, you will have to choose. There are some possibilities. First, you could rely on the scimitar and raw endurance, battling the river demons. Second, perhaps a calming hum or careful movements might win their favor—or at least keep their interest elsewhere. Legends speak of travelers who tamed water beasts with offerings or by mimicking the soothing sounds of a river. Third, you can retreat before it's too late. This would mean climbing over the slippery, uneven rocks, immediately.Or maybe you can come up with another, more creative solution?

Anyway, a wrong move could spell disaster, but you’re already here and retreating now would mean leaving the gold scepter. That artifact, glimmering in the water, is tantalizingly close—its worth unknown, but possibly dozens of gold coins. If you press on, the reward could be yours. If you turn back, you leave empty-handed.

Nindia steps back and casts quick look at rocks. Time stops of Nindia and though run through her mind at the speed of wind:
rocks are too slippery I'm all dripping she find this possibility almost impossible
I don't trust my life to legends she refuse the idea to attempt tame multiple creatures she see first time
she looks at her hand with cut still fresh no, it brought me here, no more flattering magic.

Sisters, give me your strength. I will join you, but not today! she cries with a touch of fatality in her voice.
The decision is made - she rather die fighting than running.

Nindia's unsheathed her scimitar, the blade gleaming in the partial darkness, and drew her dagger with her other hand. The water rippled around her as she advanced slowly, her steps deliberate, each movement telegraphing defiance.The river demons sensed her intent. The largest of the three turned its glowing, hate-filled eyes toward her and coiled its long, muscular body beneath the surface, its tail twitching ominously. A moment later, it shot forward, the water exploding around it as it lashed out.

The first demon struck from the left, its jagged teeth flashing as it lunged, its maw trying to clamp down on her arm.As Nindia tried to react, the second creature’s tail whipped around her waist, pulling her into a suffocating grip. The pressure tightened instantly, crushing the air from her lungs and locking her arms to her sides.The third demon surged from below, its sleek body cutting through the water like a blade. It snapped at her legs, its sharp teeth barely missing as she twisted instinctively. The force of its lunge sent a wave crashing over her, momentarily obscuring her vision and making her footing precarious on the slick rocks beneath.The demons moved with a terrifying coordination, their sleek, sinuous bodies coiling and striking with primal savagery. The water churned around her as the battle began.

I failed. Sisters you will not be avenged. is probably last thing she thinks

As Nindia's strength ebbed away, her vision blurred, the fierce glow of the river demons' eyes becoming hazy pinpricks of light in the darkness. Her body, broken and battered, was pulled under the surface. The last of her breath escaped her lips in a trail of silvery bubbles that spiraled upward, vanishing into the gloom. The demons circled around her motionless form, their glowing eyes watching.



But Nindia’s end was not quiet—it was marked by a phenomenon at once horrific and beautiful. As her lifeblood mixed with the tainted water, magical currents began to glow red, the magic she had embraced earlier reigniting for the last time. Her blood set off a chain reaction, unleashing an ancient enchantment buried within the chamber.



The golden scepter at the pool's center pulsed with an otherworldly brilliance, its light piercing the oppressive darkness. The demons recoiled, their sleek bodies thrashing violently as the energy surged outward, consuming the pool in a wave of luminous force. The chamber trembled, cracks forming in the walls as the ancient power that had long slumbered erupted in a cataclysmic release.

Far above, Brenda, Korena, and Faramos felt the ground shake violently beneath their feet. A distant rumble echoed through the fungal caverns, carrying with it a sense of something vast and unknowable awakening.