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Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 1898336" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Temptations of the Flesh - Part 2a: The Secret Chamber</strong></p><p></p><p>Kham stopped in the hallway at the opening of a yawning wolf. Unlike the other chambers, there was no doorway in the wolf's mouth. </p><p></p><p>"Ahha!" said Kham to himself. It was just as he had been instructed. "Khidam was said to have hidden his treasure within the wolf's mouth, so this must be it."</p><p></p><p>Kham pressed one thumb against the wolf's left eye. "Jezzalec Khidam ic baldis illanta!" he said. Translated into ancient Auxunite, it meant, "Lord Khidam is master of all!"</p><p></p><p>As the phrase passed Kham's lips, the solid stone wall began to ripple like the surface of a shimmering black pool. </p><p></p><p>Kham put his hand to the wall. It felt cool and oily but did not resist his touch. He started to enter and then paused.</p><p></p><p>He patted himself down. "Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen…okay." If he had more than 20 shots of blackpowder, it would explode upon entering an extra-dimensional portal.</p><p></p><p>Taking a deep breath, Kham plunged through the wall.</p><p></p><p>Three floating orbs cast a dim pall over the entire chamber. Through the shadows, Kham could make out overturned casks and chests. The room was completely ransacked.</p><p></p><p>At the far end, there was a shimmering pillar of coruscating light. Kham moved closer to take a look.</p><p></p><p>Resting on a pedestal within the pillar of light was a bejeweled collar made of gold and studded with precious gems. </p><p></p><p>"The Collar of Khidam," Kham whispered. </p><p></p><p>The collar had been fashioned during the final days of the Imperium for the internment ceremony of the Dowager Feleqsha val'Sheem. It was thought to be lost forever, but Khidam found it in the Blessed Lands. On its back was inscribed the entire life of the ancient Dowager. Its return to the Emerald Society would bring to light new insights into the life of Khidam and the Imperium as a whole.</p><p></p><p>A similar pedestal stood just outside of the energy column. Standing near the outer pedestals were three statues. </p><p></p><p>Kham walked up to the crown. </p><p></p><p>"Beewaaaaaare," hissed three voices inside Kham's head. They all spoke in exact harmony and the voices wafted through his mind as if they were shrieking across a great distance.</p><p></p><p>"Whoa!" he shouted, stumbling backwards. "Who said that?" His handgonnes were out in a flash.</p><p></p><p>"Weeeee are the three wives of Khidam."</p><p></p><p>Kham squinted at the statues. Each was in the form of a comely woman, her hand outstretched towards the pedestal that stood in darkness. </p><p></p><p>"Weeeee tried to reach for the collar, but the pillar barred us."</p><p></p><p>"Okay," said Kham, "so no reaching for the collar. Got it."</p><p></p><p>"Weeeee tried to solve the riddle of the pedestal, but the pillar cursed us."</p><p></p><p>"So don't screw up the riddle," said Kham. "Great."</p><p></p><p>The pedestal had a series of five raised tiles, each in the shape of different animals: a sinewy dragon, a howling wolf, a sitting toad, a coiled viper, and a shadow lion. There was an inscription on the side of the pillar in a language Kham could not read.</p><p></p><p>He pointed to the inscription. "I don't suppose you ladies can translate what that says?" </p><p></p><p>"Weeeeeak shall fall before the strong."</p><p></p><p>Kham looked at the three statues. "Fitting. So I have to push the tiles in order, from the weakest to the strongest, right?"</p><p></p><p>"Weeeee think so."</p><p></p><p>"You're not sure? What did you press?"</p><p></p><p>"Weeeee do not remember."</p><p></p><p>"Great." He sighed. "The Society doesn't pay me enough for this. Okay, well, let's see: Dragon is the strongest and I'm pretty sure toad is the weakest. So that leaves the wolf, the viper, and the—what the hell is a shadow lion anyway?"</p><p></p><p>The ghostly voices did not answer.</p><p></p><p>"I'm going to assume that's just a lion. Which can still eat a wolf, hands down. Wolves are more ferocious than vipers. Unless you count the fact that vipers have poison. What kind of viper is it?"</p><p></p><p>The statues continued to stare at the column like they had for centuries.</p><p></p><p>"Oh, sure, now you're quiet. So if I've got this right, it's: toad, viper, wolf, lion, and then dragon."</p><p></p><p>His hand hovered over the tiles. "Any last words of advice before I risk life and limb for this gauche fashion statement?"</p><p></p><p>The statues remained silent.</p><p></p><p>"Great. Here goes everything…"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 1898336, member: 3285"] [b]Temptations of the Flesh - Part 2a: The Secret Chamber[/b] Kham stopped in the hallway at the opening of a yawning wolf. Unlike the other chambers, there was no doorway in the wolf's mouth. "Ahha!" said Kham to himself. It was just as he had been instructed. "Khidam was said to have hidden his treasure within the wolf's mouth, so this must be it." Kham pressed one thumb against the wolf's left eye. "Jezzalec Khidam ic baldis illanta!" he said. Translated into ancient Auxunite, it meant, "Lord Khidam is master of all!" As the phrase passed Kham's lips, the solid stone wall began to ripple like the surface of a shimmering black pool. Kham put his hand to the wall. It felt cool and oily but did not resist his touch. He started to enter and then paused. He patted himself down. "Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen…okay." If he had more than 20 shots of blackpowder, it would explode upon entering an extra-dimensional portal. Taking a deep breath, Kham plunged through the wall. Three floating orbs cast a dim pall over the entire chamber. Through the shadows, Kham could make out overturned casks and chests. The room was completely ransacked. At the far end, there was a shimmering pillar of coruscating light. Kham moved closer to take a look. Resting on a pedestal within the pillar of light was a bejeweled collar made of gold and studded with precious gems. "The Collar of Khidam," Kham whispered. The collar had been fashioned during the final days of the Imperium for the internment ceremony of the Dowager Feleqsha val'Sheem. It was thought to be lost forever, but Khidam found it in the Blessed Lands. On its back was inscribed the entire life of the ancient Dowager. Its return to the Emerald Society would bring to light new insights into the life of Khidam and the Imperium as a whole. A similar pedestal stood just outside of the energy column. Standing near the outer pedestals were three statues. Kham walked up to the crown. "Beewaaaaaare," hissed three voices inside Kham's head. They all spoke in exact harmony and the voices wafted through his mind as if they were shrieking across a great distance. "Whoa!" he shouted, stumbling backwards. "Who said that?" His handgonnes were out in a flash. "Weeeee are the three wives of Khidam." Kham squinted at the statues. Each was in the form of a comely woman, her hand outstretched towards the pedestal that stood in darkness. "Weeeee tried to reach for the collar, but the pillar barred us." "Okay," said Kham, "so no reaching for the collar. Got it." "Weeeee tried to solve the riddle of the pedestal, but the pillar cursed us." "So don't screw up the riddle," said Kham. "Great." The pedestal had a series of five raised tiles, each in the shape of different animals: a sinewy dragon, a howling wolf, a sitting toad, a coiled viper, and a shadow lion. There was an inscription on the side of the pillar in a language Kham could not read. He pointed to the inscription. "I don't suppose you ladies can translate what that says?" "Weeeeeak shall fall before the strong." Kham looked at the three statues. "Fitting. So I have to push the tiles in order, from the weakest to the strongest, right?" "Weeeee think so." "You're not sure? What did you press?" "Weeeee do not remember." "Great." He sighed. "The Society doesn't pay me enough for this. Okay, well, let's see: Dragon is the strongest and I'm pretty sure toad is the weakest. So that leaves the wolf, the viper, and the—what the hell is a shadow lion anyway?" The ghostly voices did not answer. "I'm going to assume that's just a lion. Which can still eat a wolf, hands down. Wolves are more ferocious than vipers. Unless you count the fact that vipers have poison. What kind of viper is it?" The statues continued to stare at the column like they had for centuries. "Oh, sure, now you're quiet. So if I've got this right, it's: toad, viper, wolf, lion, and then dragon." His hand hovered over the tiles. "Any last words of advice before I risk life and limb for this gauche fashion statement?" The statues remained silent. "Great. Here goes everything…" [/QUOTE]
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