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Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 1831756" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Bargains of Spirit and Flesh - Part 3b: Into Solanos Mor</strong></p><p></p><p>They walked for seemingly hours up a hill, but Solanos Mor was always a presence, looming over Marketplace. Intricately carved twin doors made of solid iron flanked the entrance. Spanning both of the double doors was a stylized face, with eyes looking towards the heavens and its mouth shaped in a silent scream.</p><p></p><p>"Happy place," said Kham. </p><p></p><p>They followed their dwarven guides into a tunnel that was equally spacious. When they entered into the city proper, they paused to take in the sights.</p><p></p><p>"Well," said Vlad, "I don't think we have to worry about cramped spaces."</p><p></p><p>"This is the Vault," said Beldin matter of factly.</p><p></p><p>Solanos Mor was a city within a cavern—the largest cavern any of them had ever seen. The buildings and halls were of huge proportions that stretched towards the vaulted ceilings and entryways. The distance across the city was so great that torchlight was not enough to illuminate it. The cavern itself may as well have been a starless night sky.</p><p></p><p>There was a low, rhythmic humming that reverberated throughout the cavern. As they moved deeper into Solanos Mor, it became clear that the humming was actually thousands of voices, all of them chanting in unison.</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė looked surprised.</p><p></p><p>"What is it?" asked Quintus.</p><p></p><p>"It's Ancient Altharin," she replied. "They are praying to your god." She said the last word with obvious distaste.</p><p></p><p>"While outside the streets of the Vault, it is considered highly offensive to speak any words that are not the Catechism of Light," said Maten. </p><p></p><p>They journeyed through looming shadows and darkened corridors. Everything was made out of stone and all of it much larger than they imagined possible for dwarves. Throughout the journey, Beldin and Maten chanted a prayer along with their brethren. They stopped before a large stoned building bellowing huge gouts of smoke and soot. </p><p></p><p>"Master Elabac will be along shortly," said Beldin. Then he ushered them inside.</p><p></p><p>They entered a room filled with weapons of all shapes and sizes. The wall was blanketed with them: axes, swords, and spears of every stripe. Vlad looked around, eyes wide.</p><p></p><p>"This…this is amazing," he said.</p><p></p><p>Kham sat down on an anvil. "What's the big deal?"</p><p></p><p>Quintus squinted at a longspear that was bracketed to the wall. "The entire dwarven race was struck by Illiir's curse. That curse is passed from generation to generation. After the curse, the god Sarish struck a bargain with the dwarves: if they were to create the perfect item, the cursed would be lifted."</p><p></p><p>"Your gods are a petty lot," said Ilmarė.</p><p></p><p>Vlad had his eyes on a gleaming longsword. "These weapons are-"</p><p></p><p>"Failures," said the old dwarf as he entered the room. "They are not perfect…they have not lifted…our curse. But I am so close…"</p><p></p><p>Beldin and Maten escorted Elabac to a nearby stool and stood at his side. </p><p></p><p>"I am five centuries old," said Elabac. "I will not last much longer…but I am so close…to crafting the perfect blade."</p><p></p><p>"We have strived to redeem ourselves in the eyes of Illiir the Merciful," said Beldin, "but as each generation passes, fewer and fewer dwarves are born. Master Elabac must live to complete his task or our clan may be extinguished altogether."</p><p></p><p>"How?" Vlad asked.</p><p></p><p>"We will accompany the caravan to Nevanne and Tralia," said Maten. "Then, a member of the val'Inares clan will activate an Ansharan Portal to our final destination."</p><p></p><p>"And we need," Elabac said with a weak smile, "reliable guards."</p><p></p><p>Kham leaned forward to look Elabac in the eye. "A portal to where?"</p><p></p><p>"Ventaka."</p><p></p><p>Kham looked around to confirm the expressions of his companions. "In Canceri?"</p><p></p><p>Elabac nodded.</p><p></p><p>"The same stronghold of the Nerothians?"</p><p></p><p>All three dwarves nodded. "Master Elabac will entreat the Nerothian Akali Vervain to intercede on his behalf with Neroth."</p><p></p><p>"So you wish to bargain with one fickle deity to please another," Ilmarė said with a frown.</p><p></p><p>Kham put his hands to his temples. "Wait, wait, WAIT. Let me get this straight: you want to march right into the center of Canceri and politely ask to have your life extended. Does anyone else see a problem with this?"</p><p></p><p>"If it is Illiir's will, I will see it through to the end," said Quintus. </p><p></p><p>Vlad's gaze flicked over to the blades. "What do we get in return?"</p><p></p><p>Elabac smiled, broader this time. "You will each…receive one of my…failures."</p><p></p><p>"Gee," said Kham, "that sounds-"</p><p></p><p>"I'm in," Vlad said abruptly, standing at attention. </p><p></p><p>Kham looked to Ilmarė. "You too?"</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė smiled a slight smile back at him. "I will only be too pleased to witness man and dwarf's folly to its conclusion."</p><p></p><p>The Val hopped off the anvil and began pacing. "This is a mistake. You don't know Canceri like I do."</p><p></p><p>He took the emerald brooch off of his overcoat, huffed on it, polished it with his sleeve, and put it back on. "But if you're all set on going, then I guess I am too." </p><p></p><p>Vlad clapped Kham on the back. "Glad to have you."</p><p></p><p>"Besides," Kham said sheepishly, "I rather fancy that scimitar over there."</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė rolled her eyes. "Very altruistic of you."</p><p></p><p>"Excellent," said Elabac. "Meet us…at the courtyard…of Legendary Blades…at dawn." The dwarves filtered out of the room.</p><p></p><p>Kham blinked. "Dawn? That's a few hours from now."</p><p></p><p>"Surely you can find a comfortable table somewhere to lay your rug on," said Quintus. Kham grumbled and followed everyone else out into the darkness of Solanos Mor.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 1831756, member: 3285"] [b]Bargains of Spirit and Flesh - Part 3b: Into Solanos Mor[/b] They walked for seemingly hours up a hill, but Solanos Mor was always a presence, looming over Marketplace. Intricately carved twin doors made of solid iron flanked the entrance. Spanning both of the double doors was a stylized face, with eyes looking towards the heavens and its mouth shaped in a silent scream. "Happy place," said Kham. They followed their dwarven guides into a tunnel that was equally spacious. When they entered into the city proper, they paused to take in the sights. "Well," said Vlad, "I don't think we have to worry about cramped spaces." "This is the Vault," said Beldin matter of factly. Solanos Mor was a city within a cavern—the largest cavern any of them had ever seen. The buildings and halls were of huge proportions that stretched towards the vaulted ceilings and entryways. The distance across the city was so great that torchlight was not enough to illuminate it. The cavern itself may as well have been a starless night sky. There was a low, rhythmic humming that reverberated throughout the cavern. As they moved deeper into Solanos Mor, it became clear that the humming was actually thousands of voices, all of them chanting in unison. Ilmarė looked surprised. "What is it?" asked Quintus. "It's Ancient Altharin," she replied. "They are praying to your god." She said the last word with obvious distaste. "While outside the streets of the Vault, it is considered highly offensive to speak any words that are not the Catechism of Light," said Maten. They journeyed through looming shadows and darkened corridors. Everything was made out of stone and all of it much larger than they imagined possible for dwarves. Throughout the journey, Beldin and Maten chanted a prayer along with their brethren. They stopped before a large stoned building bellowing huge gouts of smoke and soot. "Master Elabac will be along shortly," said Beldin. Then he ushered them inside. They entered a room filled with weapons of all shapes and sizes. The wall was blanketed with them: axes, swords, and spears of every stripe. Vlad looked around, eyes wide. "This…this is amazing," he said. Kham sat down on an anvil. "What's the big deal?" Quintus squinted at a longspear that was bracketed to the wall. "The entire dwarven race was struck by Illiir's curse. That curse is passed from generation to generation. After the curse, the god Sarish struck a bargain with the dwarves: if they were to create the perfect item, the cursed would be lifted." "Your gods are a petty lot," said Ilmarė. Vlad had his eyes on a gleaming longsword. "These weapons are-" "Failures," said the old dwarf as he entered the room. "They are not perfect…they have not lifted…our curse. But I am so close…" Beldin and Maten escorted Elabac to a nearby stool and stood at his side. "I am five centuries old," said Elabac. "I will not last much longer…but I am so close…to crafting the perfect blade." "We have strived to redeem ourselves in the eyes of Illiir the Merciful," said Beldin, "but as each generation passes, fewer and fewer dwarves are born. Master Elabac must live to complete his task or our clan may be extinguished altogether." "How?" Vlad asked. "We will accompany the caravan to Nevanne and Tralia," said Maten. "Then, a member of the val'Inares clan will activate an Ansharan Portal to our final destination." "And we need," Elabac said with a weak smile, "reliable guards." Kham leaned forward to look Elabac in the eye. "A portal to where?" "Ventaka." Kham looked around to confirm the expressions of his companions. "In Canceri?" Elabac nodded. "The same stronghold of the Nerothians?" All three dwarves nodded. "Master Elabac will entreat the Nerothian Akali Vervain to intercede on his behalf with Neroth." "So you wish to bargain with one fickle deity to please another," Ilmarė said with a frown. Kham put his hands to his temples. "Wait, wait, WAIT. Let me get this straight: you want to march right into the center of Canceri and politely ask to have your life extended. Does anyone else see a problem with this?" "If it is Illiir's will, I will see it through to the end," said Quintus. Vlad's gaze flicked over to the blades. "What do we get in return?" Elabac smiled, broader this time. "You will each…receive one of my…failures." "Gee," said Kham, "that sounds-" "I'm in," Vlad said abruptly, standing at attention. Kham looked to Ilmarė. "You too?" Ilmarė smiled a slight smile back at him. "I will only be too pleased to witness man and dwarf's folly to its conclusion." The Val hopped off the anvil and began pacing. "This is a mistake. You don't know Canceri like I do." He took the emerald brooch off of his overcoat, huffed on it, polished it with his sleeve, and put it back on. "But if you're all set on going, then I guess I am too." Vlad clapped Kham on the back. "Glad to have you." "Besides," Kham said sheepishly, "I rather fancy that scimitar over there." Ilmarė rolled her eyes. "Very altruistic of you." "Excellent," said Elabac. "Meet us…at the courtyard…of Legendary Blades…at dawn." The dwarves filtered out of the room. Kham blinked. "Dawn? That's a few hours from now." "Surely you can find a comfortable table somewhere to lay your rug on," said Quintus. Kham grumbled and followed everyone else out into the darkness of Solanos Mor. [/QUOTE]
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