Academy of Drell, Part IV

[Dalamar]

After Victor walks a few feet away from him, Sildarin whispers back in elven.
"Thanks..."

He turns away from Charlotte as she talks to him. He then follows Victor's advice and takes a deep breath and tries to sort his thoughts.
"It's really... nothing. I've always been... good... at that... that's why... I became a nomad... to get better at... the one thing... I... could do..."
Sildarin manages to share his thoughts without getting stuck in every word, but his voice is still wavering slightly from embarrashment.


When they arrive at the gate, Sildarin looks at the text for a moment and then answers without thinking.
"I have no idea what it says, but if we want to go through here, I think I can lift it."
Then he notices that he just spoke out loud, and nobody even asked him directly. His face turns the color of a rose and he tries to sneak little back the tunnel, away from the others.

 

[Lichtenhart]

"You can, Sildarin? Then please lend me a hand, I'm not sure I can make it alone."

Well, this guy is very little like I expected the elves to be. He's probably older than my grandfather, yet he is still so easily embarassed. I think he could be very interesting if he only wasn't so shy! I really have to help him, gods know how I need some friends. Mmmm Kingslayer, what does it should remind me of?

 

[Zhure]

The grating lifts easily, as if it's counterweighted. Surely such a large gate should weigh more than any of you should be able to lift without a tremendous exertion. It slides silently into the ceiling, leaving just a bit of the bottom of the pointed ends exposed.

for Victor... Kingslayer was a term often used to describe Kazak the Conqueror. He was said to have slewn many kings before he became the first Emperor, although that particular term wasn't used in his presence very often and generally not during his lifetime.

 

[GnomeWorks]

!

Lifting that thing went surprisingly fast...

"Well, I see that we have gotten past that obstacle with little problem." Charlotte says, a look of approval - and surprise - on her face. "Let's continue on, shall we?"

She then looks to Victor. "Unless you know of something that would make us want to avoid this place?"

 

[Dalamar]

That is NOT what I had in mind.
Of course not, you were going to levitate it.
Maybe it's for the better, this way I don't draw so much attention.
Maybe, maybe not.
What's that supposed to mean?
That you could use some positive attention from the members of the opposite gender.
Don't start that again, okay.
I'll hold it back 'till we get out of here.

 

[Jeremy]

"I wonder if it's to people in, instead of out..."

Rallyn hopes it won't slam down behind them and heads through carefully checking his steps.

 

[Lichtenhart]

"Mmmm, I don't like those points. Is there any way we can block it? Anyway now I remember that "Kingslayer" often referred to Kazak the Great. Maybe this tunnel leads to the tombs Sh'ar aweore to protect."

 

[Zhure]

Momentary Backtrack

Ellie catches up with the rest of the group as they pass the portcullis.

"Sorry I didn't keep up. I saw some footprints I didn't recognize in the dust."

The footprints were of some very large, yet still human-sized, shoes moving through the dust inside the circle. They pass from the west to the east in a fairly straight line, as if the walker possessed some firm intent and was hurrying, though not running.

Immediately at the end of the circle the footprints disappear again. One of them disappears immediately at the boundry on the floor, as if the front half of the foot never even touched the floor.

Sorry, left out a "clue" a few steps back, but it shouldn't change anything. Sorry for speaking for Ellie, but this'll integrate into the story nicely. Feel free to rephrase to fit the character.

 

[Zhure]

The crypt

The crypt, if that is indeed what this area is, lies in deep shadow. A solemn silence fills the entire circular room and one can almost feel a palpable religious atmosphere.

The room is about sixty feet across, and perfectly circular, save for the flattened off portion where the portcullis separated the chamber from the hallway. Lining all the walls are small doors, like cabinet doors, which could be used for internment. A quick count indicates there are probably 200 such doors, four high, all around the perimeter of the room.

In the center of the room is a small raised dias, some ten feet across, with a sarcophogus on it. A continual flame burns in the "mouth" of the dwarf-like face of the lid.

 

[Dalamar]

Sildarin watches the room with his mouth open.
"...impressive..."