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Journal of the Souls of Legend (completed)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 7647394" data-attributes="member: 6971069"><p><strong>Doors - 8/7/2019</strong></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Doors</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center"><strong></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>A closed and locked door is perhaps the worst thing you can present a Sensate. ‘What’s hiding beyond it?’ The idea of interesting things beyond waiting to be experienced makes a Sensate like a cat. The cat is on the wrong side of every door.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>Of course, a planeswalker with any experience will point out what should be obvious.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>Some doors should stay <strong>shut.</strong></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em><strong></strong></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em><strong></strong></em></p><p></p><p>I sat up again and looked at the man, now sleeping peacefully in the arms of death. My tears were gone, and within me I felt a strange mixture of peace and exaltation. Each time I gave a final kiss, I felt this way. One part of me always wondered - <strong><em>why</em></strong>? Why should I feel that way killing someone? Even if they asked for it? Even if they needed it?</p><p></p><p>Beepu’s face was dark and his face scowling at me. And I couldn’t say that he was wrong. But I didn’t see a way to save him. But shouldn’t I have tried?</p><p></p><p>Iesa and Daneath appeared to be in agreement in the necessity. But as dangerous as each man was, I could only see Daneath actually doing it. Iesa, while capable and no coward to a fight didn’t seem the type to carry out an errand of mercy.</p><p></p><p>All of these things they each wore on their face openly as each looked at Gregor in his repose. Finally, Iesa spoke.</p><p></p><p>“I couldn’t make that kind of choice,” Iesa said.</p><p></p><p>I turned to look at him, “I hope you never have to. Any of you.”</p><p></p><p>And turning back again to look at Gregor I whisper to myself:</p><p></p><p>“Or I.”</p><p></p><p>Daneath nudged Iesa and I could hear him quietly say “Lets see if we can find some stone and build a cairn,” and both left the campsite, leaving Beepu and myself with Gregor’s body.</p><p></p><p>I looked in my pouch for a pair of greenies and some cloth, and I knelt by Gregor, and put a coin on each eye, and then bound the cloth around his head to keep them in place and began to utter a prayer. A prayer to allow the body to rest peacefully as the soul would travel on. Somewhere in the middle of this, Beepu finally spoke.</p><p></p><p>“Myrai. I cannot…agree with what you believed was right. But I can say at least you treated him with dignity. But, what if he said no?”</p><p></p><p>I stopped and thought a moment. “If he wanted to face his end head on? I wouldn’t have stopped him. Might have restrained him though in case he…turned. And then, we would be fighting for our lives, and perhaps his soul. Then, I would be blessing his shell, so it didn’t rise again.</p><p></p><p>“His shell?”</p><p></p><p>I nodded, “I don’t know where the term came from, but the Dustmen use it when they refer to the fragile bodies holding our soul. Anyway, we would have likely killed him, in a more painful way.”</p><p></p><p>“Are you really certain?”</p><p></p><p>I nodded, “As certain as anyone can be. If I was wrong, well…my god will judge me at the end of things.”</p><p></p><p>He remained silent, until the brothers returned. Daneath and Iesa moved the body to what appeared to be a dry creek, with lots of worn rounded stones. By peak, we had covered the body and made our way northwards once again.</p><p></p><p>We threaded our way between several smoke pillars from more pyres. As we neared sundown, we came to what appeared to be a large earthen mound, in the middle of a rising bluff, overlooking a nearby river. As we approached, I realized it was a humongous stone slab, laying half buried in the earth. And in the center was a carved rectangular opening leading below.</p><p></p><p>Flint Rock.</p><p></p><p>We stopped a moment; it had been almost fourteen days since we set out looking for this place. And now, none of wanted to move forward. Three of us sought clues to the family that had left behind. And as for me; I was looking for a glimmer of hope for a way home. But as I stood in front of the rock, I could feel that nothing ahead was right. That something dark lay ahead; disturbed from its endless slumber. Something that gnawed at me. I did not want to go in.</p><p></p><p>But the brothers, and Beepu were far more motivated, and they stepped cautiously into the opening that led down below the rock. I gamely followed, producing light on the shield so the brothers could see.</p><p></p><p>The vault we entered was a decent size. On the ground were deeply inscribed grooves, creating sweeping curves and whorls in rock. The room was supported by five solid pillars of rocks, each carved with symbols of animals and humanoid figures. </p><p></p><p>Even the roof of the vault was covered with these carvings, deep in the rock to withstand the ages. Some had signs of pigments; blues, reds and black being the most common. This gave the room an aura of primal power. One of strength and might, but animalistic. Even now, as the dust and the wisps of cobwebs on the upper reaches of the gallery. But there was a feeling of this was something in the long past. Of ancient glories almost forgotten.</p><p></p><p>Almost. On the ground I saw the remainders of ash and soot. Coming over to investigate, found bits of bone, leather, cloth and left-over bits of metal. The others investigated similar piles scattered around the room. It was then I saw it on the wall.</p><p></p><p>It was a circular shape with a diameter half again my height. On it in relief were circular disks, three in all arranged in a triangle, with symbols of animals, weapons and other shapes. On the floor in front of it, was another pile of ash, but this one had a dagger laying on the ground, and the burnt remains of a book, now discarded with many of its pages turned to ash.</p><p></p><p>I kept looking at the rings, trying to make sense of what it was for, as the others started to talk.</p><p>“These must have been Gregor’s companions,” Daneath said as he poked in one pile with his sword. “But what did this?”</p><p></p><p>“That did,” Beepu said pointing at the shape on the wall. “My guess it is the door they spoke of. And that is a very complex puzzle lock.”</p><p></p><p>“So, you have a plan Beepu?” Daneath asked.</p><p></p><p>“Yes of course! I am going to study it, and remember the last position on the marks!”</p><p></p><p>“What does that tell us?” Daneath asked confused.</p><p></p><p>“Well, it is clearly incorrect as it killed them. So we can be certain to avoid this one.”</p><p></p><p>“There has to be a faster way,” I commented. “I mean if time wasn’t a problem sure I bet you </p><p>could. But somehow I can’t imagine your fathers not leaving behind something else as a clue.”</p><p></p><p>“Are you doubti—”</p><p></p><p>“No, just the speed. And that that you have to do this blindly.”</p><p></p><p>“Wait a minute…” Iesa muttered, and he reached into is side pouch, and drew out the map we had been following. We moved over to his side and clustered around.</p><p></p><p>Normally, Iesa was very protective of the map, rarely letting any of look at it or the drawings written upon it. Now we looked together at the strange document. I could see the path we followed; the mark for Flint Rock, the canyon we passed days ago.</p><p></p><p>Across the document were scattered symbols and arcs and more circles; some dark and some faint. I looked at Iesa quizzically hoping for a clue on what I was looking at or for. And I as looked, I could see his eyes widen and the look of comprehension spread across his face.</p><p></p><p>“I understand it. The circles on the map are the positions that need to be used on the wall.” He said quickly, tracing his finger across the marks.</p><p></p><p>“That does not help us,” Beepu started. “We do not know where to start or end and we only know one position to avoid.”</p><p></p><p>“They’re numbered,” Iesa said. “This map has the sequence,”</p><p></p><p>“How? I do not see any numbers.”</p><p></p><p>“It doesn’t work like that. But for those who understand the cant, it’s clear.”</p><p></p><p>“That is a bit to stake our lives on,” Beepu frowned.</p><p></p><p>“I’ll take it,” I said. “What do I do?”</p><p></p><p>“Same here,” Daneath said.</p><p></p><p>Iesa turned to look at me with surprise and then looked at both of us nodded. “Go to the wall and turn the upper disc so the symbol of an axe is on top. Then turn the lower right disk so the Axe symbol is near the center of the three, and the lower left one so the axe is on the opposite side of the center. Then touch each axe.”</p><p></p><p>“Alright,” and I moved over to the symbol on the door. Hesitantly I reached out towards the right most disc, grimacing and expecting to become the next pile of ash. But my hands touched the stone with no ill effects. The stone itself felt cold, and rough as I moved my hands over it to fine a grip to turn it. It wasn’t smooth to turn, but nor was it a huge effort. As I started to turn the disc to align the Axe symbol, I saw Beepu step up and start to do the same with the left disc, while Daneath stood between reaching the upper one.</p><p></p><p>In moments, the axes were aligned, and Daneath started to count upwards; “One…two…three!” and we all pressed the symbol. As we did so I know I scrunched my eyes shut and tensed waiting for the blow…</p><p></p><p>…that never came. I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath, until I had to let it out, which was followed by everyone else.</p><p></p><p>I chuckled, “Well, at least Iesa got that one right,”</p><p></p><p>“Hey!” Iesa said looking up from the map.</p><p></p><p>“Well, if he gets it wrong, I will have some strong words to say,” Beepu said archly in a mocking manner.</p><p></p><p>“Good news, we won’t know or care if it does,” I said. “What’s next?”</p><p></p><p>“Thanks a lot…oh…um upper disk with the snake symbol at the bottom, the right disk with the snake in the middle, and the left with the snake opposite the middle.</p><p></p><p>The three of us followed the instructions, and again did a count down and press. Then Iesa gave out the final set:</p><p></p><p>“Elk symbol at the top of the top disk, the Elk symbol opposite the middle on the right, and the Elk opposite the middle on the left…But then press the sun symbol on each disc.”</p><p></p><p>We complied with the rotation and after looking at each other, Daneath again counted it off:</p><p></p><p>“One.”</p><p></p><p>“Two.”</p><p></p><p>“Three.”</p><p></p><p>This time when we pushed on the symbols, we felt and heard a loud snap and then silence. We looked at each other nervously, and then we heard the sound of stone slowly scaping against stone. Taking a step back from the lock we watched fascinated, as the rock gradually sunk into the ground, exposing a tunnel descending beneath.</p><p></p><p>I flexed and cast a light on Daneath’s shield, while he strapped it back onto his arm. Shining it down the passage, I could see it descended gradually out of my sight. On the ground there was a thick layer of dust. But looking closer I saw there was a faint outline of two sets of prints heading downwards.</p><p></p><p>“Hey, do you see that…?” and I gestured to the faint trail, when I noticed that the boots led only one direction.</p><p></p><p>“They don’t come back out,” Daneath said completing my thought and turning to look at each of us.</p><p></p><p>“What does that mean?” Iesa asked with a note of worry on this voice.</p><p></p><p>“That there probably is another way out!” Beepu said confidently.</p><p></p><p>“That’s one possibility,” I muttered to myself quietly not wanting to mention another possibility, lest I curse us with ill thoughts. Daneath, started moving downwards, and I quickly followed him, with the others following close behind along with Foggle overhead, and Mo on Iesa’s shoulder. The brothers drew their weapons, while Beepu and I were ready with incantations if the need arose</p><p></p><p>The passage descended deeply into the earth. Soon I could taste moisture in the air and smell damp earth. But more than that I felt cold; like the warmth was leaving me as we proceeded. I could tell that Beepu at least felt the same as I heard him rub his hands rapidly over his arms in an attempt to stay warm. But was another feeling that preoccupied me as we continued downwards.</p><p></p><p>It was that gnawing presence. As if the shadows here beneath the earth were trying to sustain themselves on my soul. It was a discomforting feeling that made me anxious.</p><p></p><p>Soon the shield lit up an ornately carved stone door of granite. There was again whorls and circles, but not totems or other shapes on it. As I stared at it, Beepu broke the silence.</p><p></p><p>“There! A lock.” And he pointed to a metal box on the left side of the door with an oddly shaped keyhole.</p><p></p><p>“I’m on this,” and Iesa stepped forward and knelt down in front of it, pulling a leather satchel from his belt pouch. We waited as Iesa carefully poked and prodded with picks inside the lock. </p><p></p><p><<SPRONG>></p><p></p><p>“Damn!”</p><p></p><p>“And?” I asked.</p><p></p><p>“I’m on this…but I just broke my pick.”</p><p></p><p>“Well…pull it out,”</p><p></p><p>“I uh…can’t. It’s jammed.”</p><p></p><p>“Really? Now?” Daneath asked incredulously</p><p></p><p>“I will not let us be thwarted by your inability to pick a lock!” Beepu said angrily, and his hands started to move as he started to cast a spell.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, come on! It’s rusty with all the moisture!” Iesa said standing up and spreading his hands outwards.</p><p></p><p>“Sure that it isn’t you that is rusty?” I asked. </p><p></p><p>Before he could respond, Beepu said; “There!”</p><p></p><p>I looked at the door and it didn’t seem changed. Or open.</p><p></p><p>“Beepu, it’s still closed,” Iesa said.</p><p></p><p>“I did not open it. I made it easier to deal with the lock.” The gnome said archly.</p><p></p><p>I looked at the door again and realized that there was a difference. The rusty metal lock mechanism was changed to a light brown color. Staring at it closer I released it was a type of wood. I turned to Beepu confused and was about to ask the obvious, when Iesa spoke up first.</p><p></p><p>“I can’t pick a wooden lock!”</p><p></p><p>“You don’t need to,” Daneath said as he lowered his shoulder and slammed into the door with his weight. The lock broke apart into splinters and the stone door swung open.</p><p></p><p>“I can’t pick that either,” Iesa said crestfallen.</p><p></p><p>“Come on,” Daneath said and he led the way inside.</p><p></p><p>We arrived at an intersection and ahead of us was another door while passages led left and right, turning around corners in both directions. Daneath walked over to the stone door and looked it over and turned to Iesa:</p><p></p><p>“Ok, here’s your chance to redeem yourself,”</p><p></p><p>“Umm…I can’t”</p><p></p><p>“Why not?” Daneath said with some surprise.</p><p></p><p>“There isn’t a lock,” Iesa said pointing at the sides of the door. Looking at it, not just the lock was missing. There wasn’t a latch, a handle, or even a pull ring.</p><p></p><p>“Can you turn that into wood?” I asked Beepu.</p><p></p><p>“Definitely not. Too large.”</p><p></p><p>Daneath put his shoulder against the door and pushed but the stone refused to move. He tried to push it sideways. He even tried to find a grip to pull on it to no avail.</p><p></p><p>“Rusty?” Iesa asked mockingly.</p><p></p><p>“Not helping.” Daneath said in frustration. “Let’s try another passage.”</p><p></p><p>Returning to the intersection, we headed to the left, and found another intersection, with stone doors on the left and right, and the passage continuing straight turning a corner. Checking the doors, we found that beyond some artistic differences, they were the same as the first one we found. No lock or handle.</p><p></p><p>“Well this is a problem,” Beepu observed.</p><p></p><p>“Maybe if we found some tools?” Iesa said.</p><p></p><p>“We can keep an eye out I suppose. Let’s keep moving.” I said.</p><p></p><p>We continued down, and the passage opened up into a small room, with an exit opposite the passage we came from. The room itself had a pair of statues of human like shapes in two of the corners, while a low altar of stone sat in near the center of the wall towards our left, and between the statues in the corner.</p><p></p><p>Stepping into the room I looked at the altar, and it seemed unremarkable. There was melted wax from long ago, crumbling with age on the surface. I looked around and was puzzled; I still felt on edge, and the gnawing was present. But this wasn’t was I was imagining from a barbarian tribe. This seemed more sophisticated. All of it did; the stonework, the doors, everything.</p><p></p><p>Beepu started to chant something and his eyes opened with a dim white light now flashing within. I knew the spell in question, and I watched him search the room for dweomers. He stepped forward towards the altar and then stepped around it toward the wall behind it. I watched him, curious to what had gotten his interest. The I was surprised to see him walk right through the wall and disappeared.</p><p></p><p>I stepped up to the wall and reached forwards. I half expected to feel a wall, but my hand passed through it as well. I was about to step through, when Beepu stepped out again, holding a bundle.</p><p></p><p>“What did you find?” Iesa asked.</p><p></p><p>“It’s just an alcove, with the remains of cloth and leather. But this…this is in good condition,” and he held up a short cloak. While it was short, in length, it was broad at the top, as if made for a human sized frame. It was a deep maroon, with a fur trim around the hood and edges.</p><p></p><p>“It’s interesting, why is it intact then?” I asked.</p><p></p><p>“Because it appears to have a warding enchantment on it. Why do you not try it Myrai?”</p><p></p><p>“Me?” I was surprised. Somehow, I thought he would have taken the cloak right then as a first finders claim.</p><p></p><p>“No, you. After that incident with the hyenas and the bone things; you probably could use it best.</p><p></p><p>“Go ahead Myr,” said Iesa while Daneath nodded.</p><p></p><p>I reached out and grasped it; the maroon material was thin supple leather and the fur was luxuriously soft. I pull it around me and fastened it with a pin that was already attached to it. Somehow this cloak felt comforting just by wearing it. And I admit that I felt wilder somehow wearing it.</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know wa…thanks,” I said sheepishly.</p><p></p><p>“Well, lets keep moving then.” Daneath said and led us down the opposite passage. Following it we turned a corner, and then it turned again, coming to yet another intersection. Two stone doors again on the left and right, but this time a wooden door was in front of us ten paces from the intersection.</p><p>“Can you open that?” Iesa and Daneath asked each other, both gesturing at the door. Both stopped a second and briefly laughed and then each graciously offered the first crack at the door. Finally, Iesa stepped up to it and then disappointed said:</p><p></p><p>“There isn’t a lock; just the door handle.” He then grasped the handle and pushed open the door. </p><p>Daneath flooded the room with light, exposing a wall full of scrolls and a table covered in dust.</p><p></p><p>“One moment!” and Beepu rushed inside to look at the shelves, eager to find something he could use or learn from. His eyes were still aglow from his incantation, and I suspected he was quietly recasting the same ritual over and over again.</p><p></p><p>Mo bounded onto the table, kicking up a cloud of dust, while Foggle effortlessly circled near the ceiling in the room. Looking around, there was a door that was on the left of the entrance way, similar to the one on the way in.</p><p></p><p>Beepu quickly snorted with disgust, “The moisture has destroyed everything.:</p><p></p><p>“This is strange. Scrolls? Aren’t these barbarians like…savages? That’s how they were described in the bars.” I said looking at Beepu.</p><p></p><p>“Perhaps they are not. Or were not. No one has been down here in a while, our fathers notwithstanding.”</p><p></p><p>“Well we keep looking then,” Daneath said, and he reached and pulled open the door.</p><p>I turned to look at him, and he stood still at the doorway and didn’t move.</p><p></p><p>“What’s wrong Daneath?” I asked.</p><p></p><p>“What do you mean? I can’t see in the room; even with your light.”</p><p></p><p>“Wha?...” I said and took a step forward and stood beside Daneath. To me I couldn’t see any darkness at all, but I could see that my light didn’t brighten anything either. But that was all what I was able to process as I saw a figure stepping in front of the door.</p><p></p><p>“Get out of the way!”</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Session notes:</strong></p><p></p><p>So, I scored a cloak of protection and it became a running cloak. From there on there were many times that I saved from being hit by magic, or an opponent missed by 1 to the cheers of “The cloak!” What was strange was that at the time, no one else wanted it. </p><p></p><p>After having my bacon saved repeatedly, there were lots of regrets in turning it down.</p><p></p><p>4,263</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nthal, post: 7647394, member: 6971069"] [b]Doors - 8/7/2019[/b] [CENTER][B]Doors [/B] [I]A closed and locked door is perhaps the worst thing you can present a Sensate. ‘What’s hiding beyond it?’ The idea of interesting things beyond waiting to be experienced makes a Sensate like a cat. The cat is on the wrong side of every door. [/I] [I]Of course, a planeswalker with any experience will point out what should be obvious.[/I] [I]Some doors should stay [B]shut. [/B][/I][/CENTER] I sat up again and looked at the man, now sleeping peacefully in the arms of death. My tears were gone, and within me I felt a strange mixture of peace and exaltation. Each time I gave a final kiss, I felt this way. One part of me always wondered - [B][I]why[/I][/B]? Why should I feel that way killing someone? Even if they asked for it? Even if they needed it? Beepu’s face was dark and his face scowling at me. And I couldn’t say that he was wrong. But I didn’t see a way to save him. But shouldn’t I have tried? Iesa and Daneath appeared to be in agreement in the necessity. But as dangerous as each man was, I could only see Daneath actually doing it. Iesa, while capable and no coward to a fight didn’t seem the type to carry out an errand of mercy. All of these things they each wore on their face openly as each looked at Gregor in his repose. Finally, Iesa spoke. “I couldn’t make that kind of choice,” Iesa said. I turned to look at him, “I hope you never have to. Any of you.” And turning back again to look at Gregor I whisper to myself: “Or I.” Daneath nudged Iesa and I could hear him quietly say “Lets see if we can find some stone and build a cairn,” and both left the campsite, leaving Beepu and myself with Gregor’s body. I looked in my pouch for a pair of greenies and some cloth, and I knelt by Gregor, and put a coin on each eye, and then bound the cloth around his head to keep them in place and began to utter a prayer. A prayer to allow the body to rest peacefully as the soul would travel on. Somewhere in the middle of this, Beepu finally spoke. “Myrai. I cannot…agree with what you believed was right. But I can say at least you treated him with dignity. But, what if he said no?” I stopped and thought a moment. “If he wanted to face his end head on? I wouldn’t have stopped him. Might have restrained him though in case he…turned. And then, we would be fighting for our lives, and perhaps his soul. Then, I would be blessing his shell, so it didn’t rise again. “His shell?” I nodded, “I don’t know where the term came from, but the Dustmen use it when they refer to the fragile bodies holding our soul. Anyway, we would have likely killed him, in a more painful way.” “Are you really certain?” I nodded, “As certain as anyone can be. If I was wrong, well…my god will judge me at the end of things.” He remained silent, until the brothers returned. Daneath and Iesa moved the body to what appeared to be a dry creek, with lots of worn rounded stones. By peak, we had covered the body and made our way northwards once again. We threaded our way between several smoke pillars from more pyres. As we neared sundown, we came to what appeared to be a large earthen mound, in the middle of a rising bluff, overlooking a nearby river. As we approached, I realized it was a humongous stone slab, laying half buried in the earth. And in the center was a carved rectangular opening leading below. Flint Rock. We stopped a moment; it had been almost fourteen days since we set out looking for this place. And now, none of wanted to move forward. Three of us sought clues to the family that had left behind. And as for me; I was looking for a glimmer of hope for a way home. But as I stood in front of the rock, I could feel that nothing ahead was right. That something dark lay ahead; disturbed from its endless slumber. Something that gnawed at me. I did not want to go in. But the brothers, and Beepu were far more motivated, and they stepped cautiously into the opening that led down below the rock. I gamely followed, producing light on the shield so the brothers could see. The vault we entered was a decent size. On the ground were deeply inscribed grooves, creating sweeping curves and whorls in rock. The room was supported by five solid pillars of rocks, each carved with symbols of animals and humanoid figures. Even the roof of the vault was covered with these carvings, deep in the rock to withstand the ages. Some had signs of pigments; blues, reds and black being the most common. This gave the room an aura of primal power. One of strength and might, but animalistic. Even now, as the dust and the wisps of cobwebs on the upper reaches of the gallery. But there was a feeling of this was something in the long past. Of ancient glories almost forgotten. Almost. On the ground I saw the remainders of ash and soot. Coming over to investigate, found bits of bone, leather, cloth and left-over bits of metal. The others investigated similar piles scattered around the room. It was then I saw it on the wall. It was a circular shape with a diameter half again my height. On it in relief were circular disks, three in all arranged in a triangle, with symbols of animals, weapons and other shapes. On the floor in front of it, was another pile of ash, but this one had a dagger laying on the ground, and the burnt remains of a book, now discarded with many of its pages turned to ash. I kept looking at the rings, trying to make sense of what it was for, as the others started to talk. “These must have been Gregor’s companions,” Daneath said as he poked in one pile with his sword. “But what did this?” “That did,” Beepu said pointing at the shape on the wall. “My guess it is the door they spoke of. And that is a very complex puzzle lock.” “So, you have a plan Beepu?” Daneath asked. “Yes of course! I am going to study it, and remember the last position on the marks!” “What does that tell us?” Daneath asked confused. “Well, it is clearly incorrect as it killed them. So we can be certain to avoid this one.” “There has to be a faster way,” I commented. “I mean if time wasn’t a problem sure I bet you could. But somehow I can’t imagine your fathers not leaving behind something else as a clue.” “Are you doubti—” “No, just the speed. And that that you have to do this blindly.” “Wait a minute…” Iesa muttered, and he reached into is side pouch, and drew out the map we had been following. We moved over to his side and clustered around. Normally, Iesa was very protective of the map, rarely letting any of look at it or the drawings written upon it. Now we looked together at the strange document. I could see the path we followed; the mark for Flint Rock, the canyon we passed days ago. Across the document were scattered symbols and arcs and more circles; some dark and some faint. I looked at Iesa quizzically hoping for a clue on what I was looking at or for. And I as looked, I could see his eyes widen and the look of comprehension spread across his face. “I understand it. The circles on the map are the positions that need to be used on the wall.” He said quickly, tracing his finger across the marks. “That does not help us,” Beepu started. “We do not know where to start or end and we only know one position to avoid.” “They’re numbered,” Iesa said. “This map has the sequence,” “How? I do not see any numbers.” “It doesn’t work like that. But for those who understand the cant, it’s clear.” “That is a bit to stake our lives on,” Beepu frowned. “I’ll take it,” I said. “What do I do?” “Same here,” Daneath said. Iesa turned to look at me with surprise and then looked at both of us nodded. “Go to the wall and turn the upper disc so the symbol of an axe is on top. Then turn the lower right disk so the Axe symbol is near the center of the three, and the lower left one so the axe is on the opposite side of the center. Then touch each axe.” “Alright,” and I moved over to the symbol on the door. Hesitantly I reached out towards the right most disc, grimacing and expecting to become the next pile of ash. But my hands touched the stone with no ill effects. The stone itself felt cold, and rough as I moved my hands over it to fine a grip to turn it. It wasn’t smooth to turn, but nor was it a huge effort. As I started to turn the disc to align the Axe symbol, I saw Beepu step up and start to do the same with the left disc, while Daneath stood between reaching the upper one. In moments, the axes were aligned, and Daneath started to count upwards; “One…two…three!” and we all pressed the symbol. As we did so I know I scrunched my eyes shut and tensed waiting for the blow… …that never came. I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath, until I had to let it out, which was followed by everyone else. I chuckled, “Well, at least Iesa got that one right,” “Hey!” Iesa said looking up from the map. “Well, if he gets it wrong, I will have some strong words to say,” Beepu said archly in a mocking manner. “Good news, we won’t know or care if it does,” I said. “What’s next?” “Thanks a lot…oh…um upper disk with the snake symbol at the bottom, the right disk with the snake in the middle, and the left with the snake opposite the middle. The three of us followed the instructions, and again did a count down and press. Then Iesa gave out the final set: “Elk symbol at the top of the top disk, the Elk symbol opposite the middle on the right, and the Elk opposite the middle on the left…But then press the sun symbol on each disc.” We complied with the rotation and after looking at each other, Daneath again counted it off: “One.” “Two.” “Three.” This time when we pushed on the symbols, we felt and heard a loud snap and then silence. We looked at each other nervously, and then we heard the sound of stone slowly scaping against stone. Taking a step back from the lock we watched fascinated, as the rock gradually sunk into the ground, exposing a tunnel descending beneath. I flexed and cast a light on Daneath’s shield, while he strapped it back onto his arm. Shining it down the passage, I could see it descended gradually out of my sight. On the ground there was a thick layer of dust. But looking closer I saw there was a faint outline of two sets of prints heading downwards. “Hey, do you see that…?” and I gestured to the faint trail, when I noticed that the boots led only one direction. “They don’t come back out,” Daneath said completing my thought and turning to look at each of us. “What does that mean?” Iesa asked with a note of worry on this voice. “That there probably is another way out!” Beepu said confidently. “That’s one possibility,” I muttered to myself quietly not wanting to mention another possibility, lest I curse us with ill thoughts. Daneath, started moving downwards, and I quickly followed him, with the others following close behind along with Foggle overhead, and Mo on Iesa’s shoulder. The brothers drew their weapons, while Beepu and I were ready with incantations if the need arose The passage descended deeply into the earth. Soon I could taste moisture in the air and smell damp earth. But more than that I felt cold; like the warmth was leaving me as we proceeded. I could tell that Beepu at least felt the same as I heard him rub his hands rapidly over his arms in an attempt to stay warm. But was another feeling that preoccupied me as we continued downwards. It was that gnawing presence. As if the shadows here beneath the earth were trying to sustain themselves on my soul. It was a discomforting feeling that made me anxious. Soon the shield lit up an ornately carved stone door of granite. There was again whorls and circles, but not totems or other shapes on it. As I stared at it, Beepu broke the silence. “There! A lock.” And he pointed to a metal box on the left side of the door with an oddly shaped keyhole. “I’m on this,” and Iesa stepped forward and knelt down in front of it, pulling a leather satchel from his belt pouch. We waited as Iesa carefully poked and prodded with picks inside the lock. <<SPRONG>> “Damn!” “And?” I asked. “I’m on this…but I just broke my pick.” “Well…pull it out,” “I uh…can’t. It’s jammed.” “Really? Now?” Daneath asked incredulously “I will not let us be thwarted by your inability to pick a lock!” Beepu said angrily, and his hands started to move as he started to cast a spell. “Oh, come on! It’s rusty with all the moisture!” Iesa said standing up and spreading his hands outwards. “Sure that it isn’t you that is rusty?” I asked. Before he could respond, Beepu said; “There!” I looked at the door and it didn’t seem changed. Or open. “Beepu, it’s still closed,” Iesa said. “I did not open it. I made it easier to deal with the lock.” The gnome said archly. I looked at the door again and realized that there was a difference. The rusty metal lock mechanism was changed to a light brown color. Staring at it closer I released it was a type of wood. I turned to Beepu confused and was about to ask the obvious, when Iesa spoke up first. “I can’t pick a wooden lock!” “You don’t need to,” Daneath said as he lowered his shoulder and slammed into the door with his weight. The lock broke apart into splinters and the stone door swung open. “I can’t pick that either,” Iesa said crestfallen. “Come on,” Daneath said and he led the way inside. We arrived at an intersection and ahead of us was another door while passages led left and right, turning around corners in both directions. Daneath walked over to the stone door and looked it over and turned to Iesa: “Ok, here’s your chance to redeem yourself,” “Umm…I can’t” “Why not?” Daneath said with some surprise. “There isn’t a lock,” Iesa said pointing at the sides of the door. Looking at it, not just the lock was missing. There wasn’t a latch, a handle, or even a pull ring. “Can you turn that into wood?” I asked Beepu. “Definitely not. Too large.” Daneath put his shoulder against the door and pushed but the stone refused to move. He tried to push it sideways. He even tried to find a grip to pull on it to no avail. “Rusty?” Iesa asked mockingly. “Not helping.” Daneath said in frustration. “Let’s try another passage.” Returning to the intersection, we headed to the left, and found another intersection, with stone doors on the left and right, and the passage continuing straight turning a corner. Checking the doors, we found that beyond some artistic differences, they were the same as the first one we found. No lock or handle. “Well this is a problem,” Beepu observed. “Maybe if we found some tools?” Iesa said. “We can keep an eye out I suppose. Let’s keep moving.” I said. We continued down, and the passage opened up into a small room, with an exit opposite the passage we came from. The room itself had a pair of statues of human like shapes in two of the corners, while a low altar of stone sat in near the center of the wall towards our left, and between the statues in the corner. Stepping into the room I looked at the altar, and it seemed unremarkable. There was melted wax from long ago, crumbling with age on the surface. I looked around and was puzzled; I still felt on edge, and the gnawing was present. But this wasn’t was I was imagining from a barbarian tribe. This seemed more sophisticated. All of it did; the stonework, the doors, everything. Beepu started to chant something and his eyes opened with a dim white light now flashing within. I knew the spell in question, and I watched him search the room for dweomers. He stepped forward towards the altar and then stepped around it toward the wall behind it. I watched him, curious to what had gotten his interest. The I was surprised to see him walk right through the wall and disappeared. I stepped up to the wall and reached forwards. I half expected to feel a wall, but my hand passed through it as well. I was about to step through, when Beepu stepped out again, holding a bundle. “What did you find?” Iesa asked. “It’s just an alcove, with the remains of cloth and leather. But this…this is in good condition,” and he held up a short cloak. While it was short, in length, it was broad at the top, as if made for a human sized frame. It was a deep maroon, with a fur trim around the hood and edges. “It’s interesting, why is it intact then?” I asked. “Because it appears to have a warding enchantment on it. Why do you not try it Myrai?” “Me?” I was surprised. Somehow, I thought he would have taken the cloak right then as a first finders claim. “No, you. After that incident with the hyenas and the bone things; you probably could use it best. “Go ahead Myr,” said Iesa while Daneath nodded. I reached out and grasped it; the maroon material was thin supple leather and the fur was luxuriously soft. I pull it around me and fastened it with a pin that was already attached to it. Somehow this cloak felt comforting just by wearing it. And I admit that I felt wilder somehow wearing it. “I don’t know wa…thanks,” I said sheepishly. “Well, lets keep moving then.” Daneath said and led us down the opposite passage. Following it we turned a corner, and then it turned again, coming to yet another intersection. Two stone doors again on the left and right, but this time a wooden door was in front of us ten paces from the intersection. “Can you open that?” Iesa and Daneath asked each other, both gesturing at the door. Both stopped a second and briefly laughed and then each graciously offered the first crack at the door. Finally, Iesa stepped up to it and then disappointed said: “There isn’t a lock; just the door handle.” He then grasped the handle and pushed open the door. Daneath flooded the room with light, exposing a wall full of scrolls and a table covered in dust. “One moment!” and Beepu rushed inside to look at the shelves, eager to find something he could use or learn from. His eyes were still aglow from his incantation, and I suspected he was quietly recasting the same ritual over and over again. Mo bounded onto the table, kicking up a cloud of dust, while Foggle effortlessly circled near the ceiling in the room. Looking around, there was a door that was on the left of the entrance way, similar to the one on the way in. Beepu quickly snorted with disgust, “The moisture has destroyed everything.: “This is strange. Scrolls? Aren’t these barbarians like…savages? That’s how they were described in the bars.” I said looking at Beepu. “Perhaps they are not. Or were not. No one has been down here in a while, our fathers notwithstanding.” “Well we keep looking then,” Daneath said, and he reached and pulled open the door. I turned to look at him, and he stood still at the doorway and didn’t move. “What’s wrong Daneath?” I asked. “What do you mean? I can’t see in the room; even with your light.” “Wha?...” I said and took a step forward and stood beside Daneath. To me I couldn’t see any darkness at all, but I could see that my light didn’t brighten anything either. But that was all what I was able to process as I saw a figure stepping in front of the door. “Get out of the way!” [B] Session notes:[/B] So, I scored a cloak of protection and it became a running cloak. From there on there were many times that I saved from being hit by magic, or an opponent missed by 1 to the cheers of “The cloak!” What was strange was that at the time, no one else wanted it. After having my bacon saved repeatedly, there were lots of regrets in turning it down. 4,263 [/QUOTE]
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