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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DoctorB" data-source="post: 106546" data-attributes="member: 903">Secrets (continued)From the writings of Rolf Wolfcaller:Naturally, as a Defender of the Dwarvenrealm, I was one of the three who would accompany the Champions on their quest though Nar and Ang would have to stay above.  I met them in their rooms in the Mountain to talk about tactics for the journey beyond the Silver Door.  Since we did not know what lay beyond the door, the Champions and I agreed that Cobbe and Toiva must wear their heavy armor.  Fortunately, Joy could keep them silent for some portions of the trek.  For the rest, we would have to rely on good fortune.That evening, we met the other two the Mountain had chosen to accompany us on our quest.  I was surprised to see that Onyx was one of them.  A wizard of great power in the Mountain, he gave up his clan name for the sake of his wizardry.  Onyx had gained a reputation for distrusting non-dwarves even more than most of us do.  I hoped he would be able to work with these outsiders.  Though he remained cold to them, he indicated he considered the mission worthy.The other addition to our excursion was Karl Bloodaxe, an interesting choice.  Karl served once as the master of secret operations in the Mountain but quit the job when the former Kurnzarn gave him an order he didn’t agree with.“The reason the humans are on this quest is because the Council did not want to risk too many dwarves.  They are expendable.”I knew his unkempt appearance hid a clever mind.  At least he and Liana could move silently when we needed it apart from Joy’s silence.After a day traveling to the lowest levels of the Mountain, we arrived near the battle lines.  Dwarves passed us wearing gear for battle rather than mining.  I couldn’t help but notice how tired they seemed.At last, we came to the rough newly cut passage that would be our way around the Drow lines.  An attack force lined up behind us as we waited for the miners to finish opening the passage to the space beyond.  When they did, my heart quailed at what I saw.We were nearly opposite the tunnels where battles constantly raged.  The open cavern had very little light in it, but I could see that the floor was crawling with the pale undergoblins.  The shadow of the great hydra (for so Cobbe had named the beast) could be seen some distance away.  Also moving through the crowd were giant humanoid creatures with a third arm coming from their chest.Onyx had equipped Champions with darkvision, and had made all of us invisible for a short time. Held together by short ropes, I led them around the edge of the seething mass toward the Door.  We arrived at tunnel leading deeper into the Mountain without incident and found the Mithril Door.The intricate carvings of the door and the surrounding wall stood out clearly against the rough stone surrounding it.  The Door, twenty feet square of shining mithril, stood open and we slipped through.  The passages beyond seemed carved out of the Mountain, but more irregularly than a dwarf would allow.  They also seemed very old.  Hiding to avoid two groups of undergoblins led by dark elves, we proceeded for some time.Our invisibility had worn off when Liana, who had been scouting ahead, returned to us.  She looked confused.“There is some kind of hot river up ahead,” she said “it is red but with black pieces moving with it.”“Lava” said Karl.I knew what it was. The blood of Mother Mountain!  This was a holy site! As we rounded the last corner we could already see the glow and feel the heat from it.  As we looked upon the river of lava hundreds of feet wide we also saw a white crystal arc perhaps ten feet wide spanning the living flow.I bowed my head to pray to the Mother when Galena spoke up.“Look, creatures are swimming in it,” she pointed out  “I am sure I can talk with them”As we all looked, we could see beings of earth and fire swimming in the great river.</blockquote>

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