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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SolidSnake" data-source="post: 1994665" data-attributes="member: 102">Chapter 7Akira had proven himself to be as swift and silent as a ghost despite his fervent concentration on the ground in front of him.  It was inspiring to watch him move from one depression in the earth to the next, pausing only to confirm that the tasloi had indeed moved according to his predictions.  Yatsen and Saburo tried for the first few hours to understand what the man was looking at, but gave up after many ineffectual efforts.  No one complained when he called a halt at the base of the mountain.“It was as I had always suspected,” Akira muttered.  “The tasloi have made their way up the mountain side, taking the remnants of the old Wyrm Path.  There are no tracks that lead to the Old Mine.  This may be good, if we achieve the element of surprise.”  Yatsen and Saburo barely had time to catch their breath as the ranger sped towards the entrance.The once well worn road was badly overgrown with trees and vines, now covered in a blanket of snow making the entrance not immediately obvious.  With some searching; however, the three men were able to clear the shroud of snow that enveloped the shaft.“Strange,” Akira murmured.The entrance to the Old Mines was clearly a pit that was not intended for use any longer.  The 10-foot by 10-foot shaft was sealed in a copper plate that was bolted straight into the ground.  Though, interestingly enough, one of the corners had been pried open and a rope been slung down into the shaft.“This opening is not new.  It has been here for many years, you can tell by the pattern of tarnish.  The rope is new.  It appears to have been placed here less than one half a lunar cycle.”Akira leaned in to sniff the rope and withdrew with a disgusted grimace.“The tasloi,” he snarled.Saburo was about to ask how the man would know such a thing, but refrained as he was deathly afraid of the answer he might receive.  I don't get it.  Someone opened it years ago and left it like this?  Who would have gone down in there?  He watched Akira test the rope a few times before deciding it was safe.  The man then began rigging a harness on a startled Saburo’s back.  A long pole sat snuggly within the straps, atop which a lantern dangled.  He said nothing as he began his decent into the darkness.  Saburo assumed he was next and so followed closely after the ranger.The sound of muffled roaring was evident and the air of the shaft was moist even in the dry winter air.  Saburo felt comforted by the sight of an old ladder that made its way down the shaft with him.  At least I can grab that if something happens to this rope.  His decent ended on a creaking wooden platform that must have been suspended over the underground river he was hearing.  Mist from the rapids below obstructed his vision despite the lantern.  The only place to go was forward and Saburo acquiesced to the Fates as he wanted to get off the platform with all due haste.  The passageway carried the group into a large cave supported by pillars, stretching out before them like the ribs of some great beast.  Beetles scuttled across the floor, attempting to hide from the source of light that was unfamiliar to them.  Eventually the cavern ended in an intersection of worked stone, sending corridors in all directions.  In the center of the junction sat three tasloi severed heads, piled atop one another.  As the men approached, shedding more light on the ghastly sight, beetles erupted from eye sockets and the skulls began to scream in raspy tones.  The screeching took the men by surprise as the noise filled the mines, reverberating off the long stone hallways.“So much for the element of surprise,” Yatsen mumbled under his breath.The group trekked onwards and came to another cavern that seemed to house an office of sorts.  The small room in the back held a rotten desk with dissolving scrolls that may have contained information on the once prosperous copper mine.  Corroded copper chains dangling from the far wall reminded everyone the truth behind this dishonorable enterprise.  Searching quickly the group uncovered a few relics of interest: a miniature copper samurai statue, a tarnished copper mirror, and a few crystal shards.Leaving the side cavern, the group made its way down the long corridor that had initially stretched out before them.  Side hallways crisscrossed the passage every 10 feet, providing many opportunities that Akira did not want to explore.  The long trek came to a premature end in front of two huge copper doors.  They were badly corroded and the air reeked of musk.Akira began to inspect and test the door, but in short order concluded that it was heavily reinforced and probably impossible to breach.  He was about to lead the group back down the hallway to try some of the side passages when a voice hissed from between the cracks of the copper doors in barely comprehensible Rokugani.“You!  You hasss comes back to finisssh the job, eh?  To kills the ressst of usss off?  Come and killsss me too, if you can, Ssssssssssssssssssss.”“Listen shadowland spawn,” Akira bellowed.  “When I get through these doors, you and the rest of your kind will taste stee-““Akira,” Yatsen interrupted.The man turned to see Saburo and Yatsen; weapons brandished, starring into the edge of the light the lantern provided.“What is it,” he asked irately.“Look,” the young man said as pointed; wide eyed, down the corridor.Akira didn’t see it at first, but the gentle sway of the lantern’s light began to illuminate it.  At first he could only hear the long rhythmic grating of something dragging itself across the stone floor.  Then it stepped into light.  It was taller than a man.  Its body was covered in rotting slimy scales.  Its face reminded Saburo of a lizard he once saw crawling on his wall as a child…only its flesh had fallen off its bones and the boy could see exposed bone and sinew underneath.  The creature raised its arms slowly as it shambled forth, hungrily groping with its razor sharp claws.“Now you will die you filthy tasloi,” the voice from the other side of the door hissed.  “The tribe of Doushi will finally have its revenge!”</blockquote>

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