Story II: City of Shadow

Devanis nods soberly. "Blessings be upon you, my friend"

Ameera, silent through breakfast, seems to awaken at this announcement. "No! You can't abandon m.., us here. Evendur was tying to get out of here anyway, he can tell the guild." She grabs Erran's arm while gesturing to the half-elf. "Besides, who am I going to make blush if you leave?"

Pyrrah stays silent throughout the morning, avoiding the rest of the group as often as she can and keeping some distance when she can't. At Erran's announcement, she speaks for the first time in hours and nods slowly, looking him in the eye with hard focus from the back of the group. "Its a wise choice. If any one of us can make it back safely, it's someone who is strong enough to maneuver the climbing and terrain,
level headed enough to remain sound in the darkness, and skilled enough to defeat anything that dares to cross blades. You'll do fine, Erran. I don't doubt it. "

"I know you've the best chance of making it back alone, Erran of clan Escolant" Ameera gets up and circles to Erran, she stands on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. She quickly turns away before Erran can say anything and begins to leave the group. As Ameera passes by Pyrrha, she makes an effort avoids eye contact but maneuvers so that she can hand a small leather pouch of tea to her companion, if she will accept it. If refused, Ameera will leave it next Pyrrah.
She heads towards the tunnel and says to Devanis "When your ready old man, I think you need to look at the barrier" before continuing alone.

Devanis follows Ameera. "What did the chief say about repairing it?"

Evendur seems to be in much better sorts after food, water, and some undisturbed rest. The bags under his eyes much less pronounced then before, and his skin does not seem to be nearly as gaunt, and looks to be a healthier tone, especially since a lot of the dirt, grime and blood has been cleaned off. He spends much of his time eating, drinking, and trying to hear if he can hear people being referred to by name, so he can tell who is who.

A minute or two after the old man, the girl, and Erran depart, Evendur finishes his water and food. Goes to pick up his pack, and is instead met with the sound of the leather strap snapping, and the head of the maul secured to it clanking as it hits the stone floor. Evendur scowls at the pack for a few seconds, before muttering, "Stupid thing..", and kneeling down to examine the pack. taking the two sides of the strap, he presses the 2 ends where the strap split together, and gently rubs his fingers along the break. Anyone near by would notice a few seconds later as he picks up the pack by the strap, which is no longer broken, and puts it on like nothing has happened.

As Ameera passes by and pushes something into her hand, Pyrrah takes it simply by reaction and doesn't register the act until the girl has passed her by. She quickly looks down, but is very confused regarding the implications. Was it some kind of truce? A warning, a message? She'd need to figure it out, and figure out how she was going to survive this trek. At this point, she might be in more danger from catastrophically messing things up with her fellow party members than from actual monsters of the deep.
Pyrrah departs soon after the others, but doesn't veer to follow them. Instead, for one last word she goes to Eahldun.
"Before I go, I made a promise. Though the others are seeking treasure and adventure, I'm looking for answers.
You make the shadowin sound like fearsome monstrosities, and perhaps they are, but are they the worst thing down here? The town above was ransacked by dark, shadowy beasts. Is it among the shadowkin that we will find our answers? "

Pyrrah watches the group recede out of the corner of her eye as she listens, knowing that time is ticking away. She nods. "Thank you for all of your hospitality, headsman. If ever your people need anything, there are some above who would probably be open to helping. Devanis lives in the town on the surface, and there is a small woman named Callie who has a good heart. The surface may not be quite as far away as you might imagine. Good luck to you and your people! "

Pyrrah turns and jogs towards the rest of the group, perhaps different, but not wanting to be left behind either.

"I didn't hear you following me Devanis, where is our drum banging bard?" Ameera rubs her shoulder as she think on the question "Maybe we didn't ask Neph's father enough questions, but he seemed to think we would be of help seeking the Shadowkin directly. Maybe they hold something that is suppressing the protection spell, something we can destroy." Ameera's focus drifts away from Devanis again, snaps back momentarily "Take a look and see what you think about the barrier spell and who had visited from the Shadowkin side of the barrier. You seem to be in tune with this place, maybe you will see, or feel, something we missed........Devanis, I want to go back with to the surface with Erran, but somehow I feel the need to help Neph and her people.... do you think her father cast a spell on us? I like Neph, but... she loses focus again and doesn't give any indication that she will complete the sentence.

Devanis scratches his beard. "It's true, I can sense certain creatures. A gift --or a curse, I'm unsure-- from Cenerine. But it doesn't seem to work on these shadowkin. I can track well enough if that will help. As for the barrier spell, you seem to understand that kind of wyrd better than me, but I'll try to take a look."

"Eahdlun, cast a spell on us? I can't imagine why he's do that. Yes, I'd like to help them too. The guild is about helping people too, you know? Not just finding loot."

"I'd be sad if you or any of the others left with Erran, Ameera. I wouldn't be angry with you but I'd be sad for sure."

Devanis almost seems a different person. He's neither the non-nonsense, somewhat grim professional the others met on Grey Mountain, nor the strangely flippant, naive stranger that came out of the manta lake. This new Devanis feels more like a gentle, caring uncle than anything else.

Once Evendur's pack has been mended he will head off in the direction that the Girl, Devanis, and then Flare had headed down. As the path gets darker, he slows and then mutters to himself, "I think I really hate the dark..."

Evendur sighs, then picks up his pace to catch up with the others. No sense wandering around down here alone, after all, if anyone knows that doing so is a bad idea, Evendur probably would.

Devanis admires the rope setup, then turns his attention to the barrier.

"I already had Zubie scout ahead, the path drops down into a huge cavern, we didn't see anything waiting there."

Devanis runs his hand along the pillars. "These used to be magical, but aren't any longer. In fact, there doesn't serm to be anything magical here anymore."

Ameera scuttles back up to the cave entrance to quickly ask the pixies what they know of the path ahead. She sees Pyrrah and Evendur on the other side of the gap and calls, "So you two are coming? I assume me and the old man will need the help, so good. Need my help to get across?". Ameera checks the ropes on this side and sees they are still secure. "Where is Baric? As noisy as he his, he is good in a fight. He didn't decide to leave too did he?"

When able, she will ask the pixies her questions. How far is it to the Shadowkin city? What should we expect to fight on the way?

Pyrrah snaps her fingers at the crossing and the hand reappears to carry her torch as she goes. Why had she never thought to use it like this that entire time before the village? Must be because she's still new to magic. She sets her gear and climbs across first, calling to Ameera as she goes. "He's still coming, as far as I know. Probably looking at a rock or something. That's something dwarves do, right? "

Evendur sighs, relieved at having climbing gear, and will turn to Baric. With a small smile, Evendur says, "Thanks."

Evendur secures his halberd to the his pack, similar to how a maul is secured on the opposite side, securing it in place with leather straps. Any climbing gear not currently needed will get put in the pack, after all, the lack of supplies has made is easier to carry things at this point. Now with hands free, he makes his way carefully across the gap.

"I hope you don't plan on swinging that stick around in close quarters, these people " Ameera indicates the Pixie guard "say we have some fighting to do before we reach the city, and I'm betting that we're gonna get ambushed in some narrow passageways." she steps to the edge of the gap and calls over to Baric "The city is two days away by their measure, I hope you can catch up, my guess is that it was built by your grandfathers so you should get the chance to see it.... But fix up that beard before you show you face to your ancestors."

Ameera turns back to Evendur and starts toward the defunct barrier "You can call me Ameera, and this one you can call Zubie, although he won't answer to you." She pats the back of the imp on her shoulder, he rests there with a very bored look on his humanoid face.

A wry smile crosses Evendur's face. He pats the Halberd's handle, still strapped to his pack and responds in an amused tone, "I'm well aware that there is a time and a place for this stick as you called it. I have other options if the situation calls for it."

Evendur nods when Ameera gives her name, but when the Imp is introduced, he cocks his head to the side as he examines the bored looking creature, almost looking a bit perplexed. With a shrug, Evendur says "I think we'll get along fine unless he messes with me or my things." With another glance back at the imp, he adds, "Though, if there is any kind of fight, might be best for me to keep a bit of distance from him. Some of the things I can do might not agree with him."

"I'll keep that in mind, I am not sure what will or won't hurt him, but I don't have the means to bring him back if he gets destroyed. I borrowed stuff I needed the first time when I didn't really know what I was doing."

Zubie clicks his tongue a few times, though it is uncertain if this is from boredom, irritation, or both.

As the conversation is about to continue, there's a bit of a dull humming sound coming from the direction of the pixie hovels. Soon, Neph comes into few, flying (albeit clumsily) to the ground. On her back, nestled beneath and between her wings, is a pack of supplies. On her hip is a jagged-looking knife. She falls into line with the rest of you, shrugging her shoulders as she adjusts her leather-and-chitin armor. "Ready," she says in the Common tongue, all too coherently for her gift of tongue to not be magically enhanced.

A voice echoes from the longsword at Baric's hip. Seraph's blue gem begins to glow as his disembodied voice speaks in question. "Devanis?" Seraph asks, "Am I coming with you?" He sounds somewhat lonesome and hopeful at the same time.

"You're coming with us? I'm not opposed, but you were injured, and your people..." Pyrrah says to Neph, eyeing her wing with a look of wariness and maybe a hint of worry.

When Seraph speaks, Pyrrah's mouth twitches into a poorly masked look of distaste. She walks towards Devanis and whispers quietly, so that none else may overhear. "My dislike of that blade is obvious Devanis, but hear me out. We can't afford to take it with us; it's too childish. Apart from the fact that it will probably blow our cover completely as we sneak into enemy territory, that thing has been doing something to you. It's made you careless and naïve, something none of us can afford right now, especially with two of our fighters gone and only an exhausted man and a small pixie in exchange. We need to leave it behind. Baric can bring it with him when he meets up with us, but we need a head start without it. Please don't bring it..." Pyrrah looks the old man in the eyes, following them if they stray, her own burning with fierce intensity and maybe a hint of pleading. That sword was doing something; it had to be. He'd been acting weird since they'd found it. She didn't want it around, even despite of her dislike.

Evendur smiles when Neph approaches, and after Flare asks her question, he asks, "Looks like the wing is doing better after a little help. How is it feeling?"

When the sword on Baric's hip starts talking, Evendur's smile falls to a neutral expression, his eyes slightly narrow. The idea of something getting into his head was not a pleasant thought.

Neph nods her head to Pyrrah, and looks about to explain something until Evendur speaks up. Instead, she just gives him a nod and, smiling, she says, "Much better. Better than I would have ever though in such short time! You really know your stuff."

"Devanis?" Seraph asks again, as Pyrrah whispers. He sounds slightly less hopeful, with a touch of disappointment.

Devanis thinks long and hard as he meets Flare's gaze. Ignoring Seraph for the moment, the grizzled seems to be having some sort of internal argument. At length, he comes to a decision. Walking up to Baric, he reclaims the sentient sword. "It'll be fine." he says to Flare (in a reassuring way rather than in a naive way), giving the sword a little pat as he slings the scabbard into his back. He checks the rest of his gear and nods. "Shall we go then?"

Ameera turns indifferently and begins to walk down the tunnel past the defunct barrier. "Zubie please, go ahead again to the next cavern and keep an eye out for enemies until we get there."

Pyrrah glowers and grinds her teeth and her eyes flash angrily, but she bites her tongue for the time being. If that sword cost them anything, anything at all, she'd get rid of the damn thing, regardless of if the rest of the group agreed.

She walks to the back of the group with feigned relaxation, though the anger is still there. She grips her bow tightly in one hand and with a flick of her wrist drags the shadowy mage hand bearing her torch back closer to her.
"Enough of this nonsense. We should leave. I'll guard the back."

"Just this way," Neph says, beckoning you all as she begins walking forward down the tunnel. She offers a wave to the pixie guards that remain behind. "Be safe! We'll be back soon!" Their replies are heard only in their native tongue, but they hold the same reassuring tone.

The tunnel first opens up after a couple minutes into a small chamber with two exists. Up above exists a tunnel that extends into the ceiling and almost immediately out of sight as it turns sharply. Ahead, at an angle, exists a continuation of this tunnel. Neph seems unconcerned with the passage that extends upwards, and presses on ahead.Neph continues to lead everyone through, for another couple minutes, until the tunnel opens up wide. Once more, well-lit by massive, glowing, blue crystals, you enter into a massive cavern. Perhaps this is a continuation of the same cavern with the land bridge, with the pixie village merely existing in between. Instead of a bridge, however, the pathway immediately curves to the right, and descends at a sharp angle. It will be some time before you reach the bottom of the chasm, and there are a few twists and turns on the way, but that appears to be where this pathway is headed.

On the cavern's floor, you spot jagged, sharp rocks, and fissures that seem to give way into black depths. Some of the cavern ground even possesses small bodies of water, whether shallow or not.

Every now and then the sound of your boots scraping the stone is interrupted by the sound of movement somewhere in the grand, open distance.

"So," Neph says as she carefully descends the path, hugging close to the wall, "What is your home like?"

"I didn't realize you were coming with us Neph, your not fully healed."Ameera looks critically at the injured wing "As for me, I've been living in a Valkarian city called Khunburgh, have you heard of Valkaria and the lands above? I spend most of my time helping people fix their distribution of wealth problems." She smiles waiting for a reaction from Neph that doesn't come. "I live in the sunshine, work in the moonlight, and sleep below the city with the sewer Dwarves. Have you ever seen the sun and moon? Our noisy friend Baric, back there, is a Dwarf."

Pyrrah waits for Ameera to finish, and for any subsequent response from Neph before speaking from the back of the group.

"Sevarra may have its problems, but it's home to me. The cities are pretty well spread out, and most rule themselves. The most coalition I've seen is a few close towns banding together to have a leadership council. We prefer to take care of ourselves these days. Home used to be the south farmland by Cadamma; the soil's good if you want to risk it. There are some bandits and monster attacks, but it's not so bad once you're used to it. The independence kind of grows on you. Although the last three years or so, home has been wherever I could find a bed and a night's rest."

Neph initially brushes off Ameera's concerns. She tries to flex her wing to show that it is better, but the attempt only causes her to wince when she stretches it to its limit. Still, she seems intent on going with your group.

To Ameera's explanation, Neph is attentive but mostly bewildered. At her questions, Neph shakes her head and simply says, "I've heard stories, but that is all. Valkaria and Khunburgh mean nothing to me. Some others that looked like you found their way near our home before, and shared their stories. Since then, a few of my people say they have seen the great, blue cave you live in, and the big lights at the top. I haven't. I think they lie, anyway."

To Pyrrah, Neph seems to grasp a bit more of an understanding, especially at the mention of monster attacks and danger. "Sounds familiar," she muses.

Evendur is quiet, almost seeming to be somewhat lost in thought. Evendur does seem to listen a bit more intently to Ameera, Falre, and Neph's conversation.

"Neph, you may have to see up top one day, if only just to see how wildly different things are."

Evendur goes quiet for another minute or two, and then with a wistful smile creeping onto his face, says "I'm really not sure whether or not I have a home. I loved the place where I grew up, but the people there are just not for me. I'll have to see if I can find a good place to call home in a few years. For the mean time, there is plenty of good left to be done before I call traveling quits." At the end, his wistful smile changes into a smile containing more contentment the the one he had previously had.

Neph nods her head, acknowledging Evendur's reply. She smiles softly as she continues leading the way to the bottom of this ramp.

Devanis checks that all his gear is secure, then prepared to descend first.

"We should send Zubie down for a look" Ameera peers down the crevasse, trying to judge the difficulty of the climb. "Zubie, fly down and check for enemies."
The imp acts as if he had just been awoken and scowls more than his normal devilish expression. He launches himself into the air and takes one turn around the opening before fading from view as if he were being washed from existence. The flaps of his wings can be heard as he descends into the opening, then all is quiet as he presumably is able to move more freely.

Devanis descends cautiously. He acknowledges Zubie's value as a scout, but old habits die hard.

Devanis tries peering through the hole if he will see anything. Zubie, are you around here? the ranger whispers.

Ameera attaches the spiked tips to her boots and dons the rougher gloves meant for climbing. She begins the decent, backing down into the hole. "In case you didn't know Evendur, there is a lot of this climbing offal to deal with, and I hate it. Yna cast your eye elsewhere."

Devanis looks up sharply when he hears Ameera struggling. When he's sure she's relatively safe he squeezes through the hole.

Evendur puts on the climbing gear, and after Ameera starts to decend, he will say down the crevace, "After the time I've spent down here, actually having climbing gear makes me feel better if nothing else." Once there is enough room, Evendur double checks his climbing gear, and starts climbing down.

"At least this part should be no problem, Zubie go follow the old man." Ameera fits her much smaller frame into the narrow passage and makes her weak towards Devanis.

Faced with the treacherous slope, Devanis keeps using his climbing gear for stability. He trusts Zubie will warn the others to do the same.

Pyrrah follows up the rear, using her torchlight from the spectral hand to light her way

Ameera negotiates the slope using the pitons left by Devanis. At times, her smaller stature allows her to use the ceiling for handholds while standing nearly upright.

Neph manages to keep her balance through a mix of light steps and corrections made with a quick burst of energy from her wings.

Evendur carefully makes his way through the narrow tunnel, keeping the sizable weapons on his pack from getting stuck in the narrow space. Upon reaching the slope, Evendur follows the path Devanis took down, trying to make sure his footing is solid prior to taking additional steps.

The bottom of the slope drops you off into a web of caverns and tunnels. Each tunnel forks into two or three more, connecting at odd angles, with pits that lead ever deeper. Neph takes the lead here, guiding your group through a series of twists and turns. At some points you must descend, and at others you climb. The pixie moves with a practiced pace, and a purposeful gait. Obviously, it will not be easy to remember you own way back without her.

Neph slows her pace when one of the tunnels ends in a narrow, rocky tube traveling up and down. In the center of this tube, which is perhaps 5 feet wide, is a thick rope that reaches for dozens of feet (or more) upward and downward. Below, you hear the sounds of dripping water. Above, you hear a deep hum. Neph climbs into the column and with a powerful flapping of her wings, ascends upward.

It takes a bit of effort, but with the aid of your gear, the rope, and each other, you manage to the top as well. When your heads poke out of the column, you are met with a rocky cave. Two entrances, on opposite sides, adjoin this 30-foot-long room. These entrances are blocked by metal doors with no handles. On one side of the room, some of the wall appears to have been worn away. Rubble and stone little the ground beside the wall. Embedded in the rock is a section of thick, white material. Upon this material is carved a series of runes.

Ameera runs her hands across the ruins in the white material. "I wonder how long these have been here" she whispers."Can anyone read this?"

Devanis squints, trying to make sense of the runes. He holds Seraph up to the runes and directs his thoughts towards the sword, Do you recognize these, Seraph?

Neph narrows her eyes at the bone peeking through the stone of the wall. "That's... new." She mutters curiously.

The gem at the swords pommel flickers momentarily, but makes no noise.

"Looks like the runes on the huge bones back in your village, Neph."

"Those were there when we began building," she says, crossing her arms and staring at the bone. "I've been here before though. A couple months ago. That," She points to the bone, "Wasn't there. Maybe someone dug it out?"

"Those runes are exactly the same ward against necromancy that are carved on the bones atop. As crazy as it sounds, I think it's part of the same skeleton". Ameera kicks some of the rubble on the floor and looks to Neph "You may be right, with all this on the floor it looks like someone's been digging." She turns back and places both hands on the skeleton "Gods! Could someone be planning to revive this creature? Can't be, it would be impossible to dig it all out, if I am right and this is part of some titan."

"We never quite understood what it was. Nothing that big lives here, unless it's a worm." Neph shrugs, "Those bones don't look like they used to be good at digging, neither."

While the others are focused on the bones and runes, Pyrrah cautiously approaches the door on the right-hand side; if they were indeed the same runes as on the bridge, she couldn't read them before and she doubted she'd be able to read them now anyway. A limited space with two one-way doors? It definitely felt like some sort of trap...

She carefully traces the edges of the door looking for hinges, some kind of locking mechanism, trap components, and grind patterns on the floor that would indicate how it opens.

Evendur glances at the bones in wall in interest, but then notices the doors as Flare moves to inspect one. Not being in a cramped tunnel, Evendur removes his maul from his pack so it can be carried. After all his time down here, even if he spent most of his time hiding, a weapon in hand was a comfort if nothing else.

Evendur moves towards the door Flare is inspecting, as if a threat was going to come from anywhere, it would be one of the doors, not the broken wall with bone behind it. As Flare is still inspecting the right door, he glances back at the bones in the wall, trying to think if he had ever heard of a creature that might have bones this size, possibly be below ground like this.

Ameera turns away from the bone in the wall, confused and worried by the scale of the situation. Seeing that one door is being checked, she walks to the opposite door and inspects for a lock and way of opening. "Neph, have you been beyond these doors? Where do they lead? Who put them here?"

Neph nods her head, "I have. That one leads toward the Hall of Gems." She points to the door that Pyrrah and Evendur stand near. She points toward the door that Ameera stands near, "That one leads to more tunnels. I haven't been far down there." She then shrugs, "As far as who put them here, I'm not sure. I think the Shadowkin, in order to keep us out. Or maybe to just keep dumb beasts out. I come down here a lot and one or both is usually open, though."

"If they are meant to keep anyone from passing, the must be barred from the other side. There isn't a lock, let's see." Ameera pushes against the door with her slight frame, a door that is obviously many times her weight. "If the shadowkin made these, they are pretty clever." She adds as she puts her legs and back into the effort.

Neph cocks her head to the side, uncertain about some part of the statement.

The door that Ameera pushes against, however, budges at first, and then opens wide. It squeals loudly, hanging on rusty, simple hinges. What lies beyond is a split, one tunnel to the left, and a cramped tunnel heading to the right. The squealing noise of the doors echoes through the tunnels ahead. Neither of these paths is the way to the Hall of Gems, according to Neph.

Neph looks impressed, placing her hands on her hips and exclaiming, "Well, that's handy! It usually takes a few of us to get one of those open." She nods her head to the comment about Shadowkin, and says, "They're real clever. They always use tricks. They have all kinds of things that we don't, too; shiny, metal things. But they don't have magic like ours. Theirs is... foul." A visible shiver runs up Neph's shoulders before she recomposes and states, "But most dumb things wouldn't even think to push on these doors. They're tricky."

"Guys, I know we have to go the other way through the gems and all, but hold tight for 5 or 10 and let me make sure nothing is coming from this way" Ameera steps through the door "Zubie, fly up that narrow passage for two minutes, stay outta sight and quiet. Come back and tell the old man what you saw. I'll go left." She looks at Neph and says "I always use tricks too, have you heard of Yna?" Ameera traces a circle around her head, clutching her lightening burnt branch, and in a gravelly voice says Kai throntar. She touches the branch to her breast and vanishes then heads quietly up the left corridor.

Neph shakes her head curiously, but at Ameera's casting she smiles. She seems to recognize the magic, if not the Goddess.

Zubie vanishes at the same time that Ameera does, and the flapping of his wings turns to the small pitter-patter of his feet as he climbs into the narrow tunnel.

Devanis was about to help Ameera with the door when to his surprise the scrap of a girl pushes it right open all by herself. The aging ranger chuckles when she gives her imp companion, referring to Devanis as the old man. He checks his crossbow and winks at Neph.

Neph crosses her arms and smiles at Devanis' gesture. "Are you really that old?" She asks the ranger.

"In human terms I am no longer young, but certainly not that old!" Devanis chuckles.

Pyrrah shakes her head and begins to shoulder the door, not really expecting anything to happen but figuring that she might as well try. "Devanis, if I live to be as old as you it will be by a miracle of the highest order: be proud of it. You may look old in the face, but by the way you've been going about these caves I'd say you still have the body of a man half your age."

The door only barely budges after Pyrrah's absolute best efforts.

Neph crosses her shoulder and speaks confidently, "I didn't think you were that old."

Despite looking a little uncomfortable, Evendur can't help but give a bark of laughter as he hears Neph talking with Devanis. If nothing else, the laughter relieves a little bit of his own tension at having gone further down in these tunnels.

Seeing Flare struggle to move the door at all, Evendur will set his maul next to the doorway, the hammers head on the ground and handle in the air, should it need to be picked up in a hurry. "Flare, let me have a crack at opening this door."

Once Flare has given him some space, he braces himself, then uses both arms to try to push the door. He is even a bit surprised when only one of his arms trembles slightly at the effort, considering the state he had been in a day or so ago.

"I've been alive 60 years -- little over half a century. To humans that's a bit old." Devanis says to Neph with a smile while watching for word from Ameera and Zubie. He glances over at Pyrrah and Evendur. "You two alright over there?"

"Well. Something foul down that way, Zubie says. What do you want to do?"

Neph speaks up, "The Hall of Gems will lead us to the Shadowkin city. It's that way." The pixie points toward the pathway that Evendur and Pyrrah had opened up.

About a minute after Zubie's return, Ameera returns to the group. "Knock Knock, I'm back. There wasn't a whole lot of interesting up that way, a stream that could be followed , but I didn't start tracking through the water. I didn't see any signs of Skadowkin." Ameeras voice moves to the door leading to the Hall of Gems. "So I am gonna stay like this as long as I can, think I like this look, its rather slimming." Ameera flashes a big grin that no one can see. "So I will stay up front and range ahead when you want me to Devanis. Just let me know."

Devanis nods. "Sounds good, Ameera. Let's go then."

"Lets go see this hall of gems. Maybe we can pick up a souvenir or two." Ameera walks through the door, brushing past Pyrrah.

This pathway turns into another web of tunnels that span every which direction at some point along the trail. Neph seems to know the way, and she confidently leads you into the different bends. The going here is not quite as hard as it had been, with little climbing aside from a steep descent here or there.

Eventually, after several hours of tiresome travel, the pathways lead you to a large open cave. On the far side is a series of pools of water, tiered in such a fashion that it creates a multitude of small waterfalls. A singular, large stream can be heard toward the back of the cave, out of your sight at this time. A large lake has formed at the bottom. Surrounding the lake, crawling across the stones and climbing up the walls, is a thick layer of green moss, with patches of luminescent vegetation here or there. There is a well-worn pathway, it seems, leading further back into the room, up the sides of the waterfalls.



"Good place to drink, before we go inside," Neph says, pointing at the edge of the lake. "The hall of gems is behind the waterfall up ahead. After that, there's a path I know that leads to the city."

Seraph's blue gem glows as the sword speaks up, "There's someone inside. No, two."

Neph looks confused and asks, "Inside? In the hall?"

"They're screaming."

The pixie is only left looking more confused, and somewhat worried.

"Ameera, Zubie, with me. Quickly!" says Devanis, taking charge. "The rest of you Hang back but be ready for anything! And watch our rear!" The ranger then heads for the waterfall and pauses there to listen while motioning for Zubie to scout ahead.

Devanis draws Seraph and sends his thoughts to the sword. "Help us, Seraph. Tell me everything you can sense. Quietly."

Ameera follows Devanis, but breaks off to the left to flit between stalagmites offering cover. Zubie, scout ahead, keep invisible.

Clutching her burnt branch, she strains to hear the screaming that the sword spoke of. Ameera reaches with her mind to communicate with Zubie, prepared to also mentally touch any other creature she may see.

Ameera leans against the stalagmite, closes her eyes and trances so as to tap into the imps senses.

"I sense nothing, but I believe you, Seraph. Anything from Zubie, Ameera?" Devanis is about to step through, regardless, but pauses a moment for Ameera & Zubie's report. He signals the others to come join them.

"There is a room or hall with statues along the walls, I don't see any obvious danger but something is there. I think Zubie's in trouble. Come back!" Ameera's breaks her trance and immediately recalls Zubie into his pocket dimension. "The statues weren't like that crypt we were in before."

Neph flutters up toward Ameera, whispering as quietly as she can, while still being heard above the rushing water. "Is is safe? Did you find someone inside?"

As Devanis steps into the cave, sword and crossbow drawn, he sends through the telepathic link, "I see nothing, Seraph. Guide me--where are they?"

"We didn't see anybody inside, Neph, but something is in there. The sword Devanis has told us there are two like it in there. So maybe there are more sentient swords in there. I'm gonna follow."
Ameera puts her hand out in front of Neph, like a parent in a braking cart, and moves up about 10 feet behind Devanis with the intent to maintain that distance and keep him in sight.

Evendur will drink from his waterskin, and then walk carefully over to the edge of the lake to refill it. Having been lost underground without water, he is in no rush to pass up clean water. After that, if the caves have widened out, Evendur will carefully secure the maul to his pack, and get his halberd into his hands.

Evendur will then follow Neph towards where Ameera and Devanis have moved off to.

Pyrrah grips her bow tightly and knocks an arrow against the string. While Evendur gets water and the others leave one by one, Pyrrah waits by the water, reluctant to move into yet another small cavern where - surprise, surprise - her horrible human eyes of complete worthlessness will be of no use.

She didn't like the idea of any more sentient swords, or sentient armor - who knows, maybe even a conniving sentient fork for all of the luck they'd been having. Seraph was already one too many. Rather than progress, Pyrrah chooses to listen closely over the sounds of the water and protect the groups rear.

Neph is the first person that Evendur sees upon approaching. She looks nervous, and points toward the waterfall. Behind the rushing waters, a dark outline hints at a cave entrance lingering behind. "They went in there," she says, her voice just barely coming through over the sound of splashing.

Seraph whispers as quietly as he is able. He sounds timid, and somewhat frightened. "They have gone quiet," he says with barely a breath, if he is capable of such, "I think they heard us."

Devanis flits forward to one alcove and then the next, trying to stay hidden in the shadows.

Evendur glances towards where Flare is, listening at the rear. Looking back at the tunnel Devanis and Ameera entered, Evendur will advance just to the other side of the water, hopefully to where he can see the two that have moved ahead, but can hear if help is needed by Neph or Flare back through the water.

Carefully, Ameera edges around the corner to her right, hugging the wall. She moves towards the corridor, and toward the rift, to investigate.

Her devilsight peering into the darkness of the corridor, Ameera searches for the source of the scraping sound.

Devanis resists the urge to come in for a closer look at the stone carvings. He edges closer to the hallway to investigate the source of the scraping sound.

Devanis peers down the hallway without actually setting foot in it, studying the floor, the ceiling, the carvings.

The scraping of metal on stone occurs once more. This time from the room just ahead, yet out of sight from the hallway. With the rhythm in which it occurs - starting when you stop walking, stopping when you approach - it feels very much like a naive attempt at luring you in.

The lure works: against his better judgement, Devanis begins stalking cautiously down the hallway. He listens intently for the scraping sound, eyes scanning the floor, the walls, the ceiling.

Pyrrah looks around as soon even Evendur and Neph begin to follow in Ameera's and Devanis's steps. She curses under her breath and stares into the passage for several more long, hard seconds. She can't hear anything past the tumultuous roaring of the water, but no doubt they were naively stumbling into something else that they shouldn't. She curses to herself, something about the follies of the old and young, and carefully approaches Neph, her fingers still poised with the arrow against the string. She whispers to their little companion.

"Neph. This all just seems to be rock and stone. Why is this place called the Hall of Gems? "

Evendur steps through the waterfall into the cave. His initial idea of being able to hear if Flare and Neph needs assistance is quickly dashed by noise from the water. Evendur looks carefully down the hall, hoping to see a trace of either Ameera or Devanis. Whether or not he sees them, seeing as how this area doesn't seem to just be a small cave, he thinks for a few seconds, before making his way back through the flowing water he had just come through. Once he is out, he shake himself off slightly, before approaching Flare and Neph.

"Flare, Neph. It might be better for you two to wait on the other side of the water. The area back there seems fairly large, and there would be no way to tell if something was happening in there from out here. Or the reverse I suppose."

Looking to Flare, Evendur adds, "Besides, if you were watching the rear from in there, you might be able to hear when someone was coming through the water there. Might well be easier then trying to hear something with the waterfall drowning out the noise out here."

"Oh. Not out here," Neph whispers to Pyrrah, looking glad to have someone there with her. "Just past the waterfall is the Hall of Gems. There's tons of them in the walls and statues. Big, red, blue and yellow."

Ameera stays to the wall, but follows Devanis. Using her mind, she sends a message to him. I hope you know what were doing old man. I have your back.

As Devanis passes from the hallway and into the room on the other end, he is immediately alerted by the scraping sound to his left. Turning, his first sight is of two large eyes, glowing in the dark of the room. Soon he can make out the rest of it. It is some sort of machine; a tall, thin, lanky frame of iron and steel parts, connected by gear-like joints. Its head is small, like a human skull that is missing its lower jaw. On the head itself, no place for the eyes exist, and yet two circular, magical lights exist just off of its face. The lights move with its head, as though attached by some invisible means. Its body is scraped and marked all over, covered in dirt and stone dust. Parts of it are covered in rust, especially around the feet and legs. In its hand is a piece of sharp, rusty metal, perhaps once a piece of a sword or axe. It is crouched low, like an animal, with one hand on the ground. The other grinds the piece of metal against the stone wall.

Devanis is alerted to a sound above, and finds a second of these machines perched upon the ceiling. This second one is different only in that its arms and legs appear to be odd-looking hooks, which it has dug into the stone. Its head is turned around; its glowing eyes stare blankly at the ranger.

Though it does not even so much as twitch - in fact, it is completely and utterly motionless - Seraph speaks about it, "That's.. that's them..!" Seraph pauses, as though startled. He picks up again by saying, "He's.. talking to me. He's yelling about... an oath, I think, but I don't know what he means. Wh-what should I say?"

This room seems to be a direct copy of the last, with a cuboid monument in the center and statues around the walls. None of the statues appear broken, however. A stairway descends on the left, leading deeper into the Hall.

"Tell them we mean no harm." Devanis whispers, just glad they have not been attacked. "Ask them about this oath...Maybe we can help."

"I don't...I've never heard of Crucible. Do you know it, Seraph?" Devanis begins to wonder, if these beings are beyond his capacity to help, would they let him leave?

Pyrrah looks from Neph to Evendur, then sighs. She rolls her shoulders a bit to loosen up some developing tension knots. "Forget waiting. Those two don't normally take this long to scout, or Ameera would have sent Zubie out to tell us what's happening if everything was fine. Maybe we should check on them: carefully and quietly. Besides,
this Hall of Gems might be something good to bring back to the guild. I want to investigate it a bit myself. "

She braces herself for the torrent of cold water that she needs to pass under and gets a bit of a loping start before disappearing under the deluge. On the other side, she shakes herself off readjusts her bow and arrow and slowly, stealthily follows the tunnel while listening for signs of struggle

"Devanis, Maybe we should tell them what they want to hear, that they have fulfilled their oath. The King of the Crucible has retired from this world and no longer requires their service. We should also ask Neph if these have been here before." Ameera makes a small motion with her hand and summons Zubie 30 feet behind her, glancing over her shoulder she sends Zubie, Go tell Neph and the others that there are two mechanical beings in our path, and we need to know how to deal with them.

"Good thinking, Ameera." Devanis nods. Inwardly, he wonders if the creatures will believe him. More likely they'll only believe this long lost king.

"Faithful one, Crucible and its King are long gone from this world and no longer require your service. You are released from your oath."

Neph's shocked expression is a clear indicator that she has not seen these before. She instinctively edges closer to Pyrrah's leg. "What are these?" She asks, her voice loud enough to echo off the walls, "What are they doing here?" Eventually, she seems to piece together a bit of a conversation and asks, "Throne? Is he saying something about the Shadowkin city?" She then notices the creature perched on the ceiling and startles. She puts a hand on the top of Pyrrah's boot.

She speaks with an ominous, sad tone as she looks around at the walls, "This place has changed."

Upon seeing the mechanzations, Pyrrah immediately puts a protective hand in front of Neph and immediately begins backpedaling towards the entrance, bringing Neph with her, and shrinking low towards the floor in an effort to remain hidden. She stops just outside the entrance, but within sight of the others. Her torch bearing wyrd-hand immediately backs away with them, racing down the hall to shelter some of the light. Her other hand clenches her bow fiercely.

"We should get out of here, leave them be. They don't look friendly... "