1.2 Shadows of Ourselves

The slope carries on downwards for about 200 yards in complete darkness before opening out into the most vast cavern any of you can remember ever seeing. From where you are standing, the slope continues down to an inky black lake. About a mile away across the cavern, and on the other side of the lake is a dark tower. Around the base of the tower is the most ramshackle shanty town you've seen in a long while. Between you and the nearest edge of the lake to you is a large wall which spans the entire cavern and is at least 100ft high if it's an inch. The path from the cave entrance leads down to a point in the wall where there is a large stone gate the most striking feature of which is a huge carved face.

As you approach the 'gate' you hear an ominous grinding noise, like two huge boulders rubbing together. Your initial thought is that the gate is opening but you eventually realise that the noise is emanating from the heavy, closed eyelids of the stone face on the door.

The eyelids are opening. Slowly.

As they open fully, the grinding turns to a roar as the mouth of the face opens in an almost impossible granite yawn. Once it gathers it's composure, the face in the gate looks at you all.

"Evening"

First of all, let me address your question about me knowledge of the current time. When you're made of stone aeons old, you make it your business to know about time. Time is part of your, lets say, "genetic makeup".

As for who has passed? Some. Not many. Some as does gets past get no further than Dungeon Town over there. Some further. They come back with tales to tell. Make the pebbles on the back of your neck stand up.

He gestures behind him with his stone eyebrows as best he can, in the general direction of the settlement in the near distance, beneath the tower.

Thing is, they all had to get past me first. Most of them opted for the riddle. Some tried to climb the walls. One lot even tried to stand on me nose as a means of climbing over me. Brave move, given my nose's proximity to my mouth. Needed salt they did. I do love minerals of any kind.

Some opted to fight my champion 'Boulder'. Big fella. Nice enough in his own way but not prone to acts of compassion or mercy as a general rule. Flaw in his character really. Shame.

So what will it be? I'd love to let you through, but I'm an employee see and it's more than me jobs worth. Particulary because, as you can perhaps ascertain, my very nature and physical attributes tend to lead exclusively to door work and there ain't a lot of it on the go down here. So, climb, fight or riddle?

Very well.

I will give you three chances to answer. If you get them all wrong then I will introduce you to a good friend of mine. Although I fear he will be no friend of yours. Listen well.

I am a beast with many faces.
Often you'll meet me with my brother.
Though not a spell, I am cast.
Though not large, I am fate's master.
And though not a friend, you'll praise me until I bite you.

What am I?

The face in the gate closes it's eyes then sighs, the sound of which sounds like a ton of gravel being poured down a granite chute.

Well done. You may enter.

The gate slides slowly open with a dull grating noise to reveal a steady downward slope to a large ink black lake, at the far side of which stands the tower and the enigmatically named "Dungeon Town". As you step through the gate it slides closed behind you.

As Xanxus trudges down the path, he could swear he can hear the gate strain it's neck in a vain attempt to look back at him.

Golems. I likes Golems. Not had one in a while mind buts I do likes them.