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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7439711" data-attributes="member: 143">Chapter 170“I am Dergan Steelhammer, Representative of the Council,” the dwarven official said.  “I hope that your journey was not too arduous, Ambassador Konstantin.”“The journey was not difficult, thanks to your hospitality, Representative Steelhammer” Konstantin said.  He offered a slight bow and then turned to his companions.  “Allow me to present Bredan Karras, Quellan Emberlane, and Xeeta of Li Syval.”Dergan inclined his head toward them.  Xeeta was watching the dwarf carefully, but he did not betray any particular reactions that would explain their interest in Bredan.  “I bid you welcome,” he said.  “The Council is quite eager to meet with you.  Quarters have been prepared where you can refresh yourself prior to the meeting, but first I am afraid that I must ask Xeeta to yield her amulet.”Xeeta blinked.  “Excuse me?”“I am sorry, but you cannot conceal your features within Ironcrest.  The use of such illusions is illegal within the city.  I assure you that none will take issue with your true appearance, and your device will be kept safe and returned to you when you depart.”Xeeta looked at the others in alarm, not at the request specifically, but the fact that they’d detected it and seemed to know all about her already.She started to reach for the amulet, but Bredan interrupted.  “Is this how you treat all of your honored guests?” he asked.“Bredan, it’s all right…” Xeeta began, but he held up his hand; he was not going to let it go.  It looked for a moment like Konstantin would intervene, but the wizard ultimately held his ground.  Maybe he agreed with Bredan testing their boundaries here, before they passed through these gates.If Dergan was ruffled, he didn’t let it show.  “The difference between civilization and barbarism is law,” he said calmly.  “If I were to visit your country, I would expect to be bound by your laws.  I am afraid that I have no authority to grant an exception in this case.  However, I give you my word that when you pass these barriers, the full power of the Council will guarantee your safety.”“I have heard such assurances before,” Bredan said.  But he stepped back and turned to Xeeta.“I have nothing to hide,” she said.  Still, she felt a moment of apprehension as she removed the amulet and the illusion screening her features dissolved.  But Dergan merely accepted the device with a nod of acknowledgement.  He stepped back and gestured them forward.The companions made their way past the giant doors.  The tunnel continued beyond them, a perfectly smooth corridor through the rock of the mountain large enough to accommodate two wagon teams riding side-by-side.  There was plenty of light, with periodic niches that glowed with a softer version of the bright spotlights that had framed the entry.  The dwarves that were waiting inside formed another honor guard, escorting them forward.  Once they were all inside Dergan came forward to lead them, walking alongside Konstantin.  They spoke together quietly as they walked, the words overpowered by the solid thump of their escorts’ feet on the ground and the clank and clatter of the warriors’ armor.Quellan sidled up to Xeeta, his bulk managing to make the imposing dwarf warriors seem slight by contrast.  “I assume you’ve never been in a dwarf hold before,” he said.She realized he was trying to distract her from the just-concluded encounter and the forced revelation of her true form.  She didn’t need it, but for his sake she said, “There weren’t many dwarves in Li Syval.”“Understandable,” Quellan said.  “If my body was denser than water, I would probably not want to settle on an island.”“I did not know that about them,” she said.“It’s a weakness they don’t like to publicize,” he said with in an exaggerated whisper.If any of the dwarves were listening in, they didn’t let it show on their faces.  The tunnel seemed to be quite long, but Xeeta could make out something ahead, a widening into a broader space.“I admit, I’m quite looking forward to this,” Quellan said conspiratorially to her.  The cleric had a broad grin on his face, an expression that would probably be terrifying to someone who didn’t know him well.They reached the end of the tunnel and found themselves standing on a broad jut of stone that overlooked a vast cavern.The space extended for hundreds of feet both above and below them.  It looked like the entire interior of the mountain, or at least a considerable portion of it, was hollow.  The far side was only visible due to the hundreds of tiny lights, in an assortment of colors, that gave the place the look of a forest grotto buzzing with fireflies.  It was an astounding tableau, one that held the three companions for a long moment.  Even Bredan was overwhelmed and could only take in the view in silence.There were plenty of details to study once the initial impact had worn off.  The city itself was spread across many tiers, a fascinating vertical arrangement that looked impossible at first, until one noted the creative engineering that the dwarves had implemented to solve the problem.  The tiers were connected by gantries that looked like cobwebs from a distance but had to be made of heavy steel.  Bridges suspended by cables from above crossed over gaps, and lifts that rose and descended along thick guiderails provided a quick way of traveling between levels.  Elsewhere wheeled vehicles that resembled mine carts were winched up ramps to deliver cargo or passengers to a higher destination.  Most of the buildings stood atop flat shelves of stone, but others looked as though they had been carved from the very walls of the cavern, resembling birdhouses in the way they stuck out over the abyss.“Uh, wow,” Bredan said.“The books do not do it justice,” Quellan said.Drawn forward by her curiosity, Xeeta stepped forward almost to the edge.  There was no handrail or other safety feature, and the drop to the next tier had to be at least fifty feet.“Careful,” Quellan warned.Xeeta saw that the bottom of the cavern was a flat, shimmering surface, one that reflected back the faint glow of the many lamps that dotted the cavern walls.  It was a lake, she realized.  Tiny boats—or maybe not so tiny, given the distance—scuttled across the surface, heading toward still more buildings that surrounded the water.She turned back to the others.  Dergan was waiting for them with a knowing look on his face that suggested he had witnessed this reaction before.“You now stand before the heart of Ironcrest,” he said.  “Welcome to Underhold.”</blockquote>

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