Gerralos & Annit with all
Gerralos and his daughter have been quiet, respectfully letting everyone absorb the personal nature of their profound recent events. The old man looks proud, enjoying the curious show, watching your changing expressions and body language.
Then he speaks once more.
“Maybe the powers that be, had it right afterall.”
Looking to Otiroth and Carthum he adds, “Now, I can tell you.”
“Friends, these steps lead to an isolated depth that may well pre-date the Cinto Mines. I say isolated because nobody entering via the usual route...” he points off to the cliffs, “has found other access to this passage as far as we know. Back, long before even my great grandparents were babes, when the mines were operational, the only way in was a perilous descent down the faces by rope or ladder. Many brave souls were victims to the seas below, losing their lives to the allure of riches and power. But there were mines even older than those.”
“Before the years of gems, it is possible that an unsuspecting worker of these fields found something of interest and commenced a dig. As far as I am aware there are no public records of this fact, however. Now the next part is speculation to say the least. Some cliff miners reported the existence of a cave, somewhere near the water’s edge, but it was blocked, and not likely the doing of nature alone. Rockfalls are rare here, you will be pleased to know.”
“The task upon us is to carefully explore the old workings below, for if any magically imbued crystals are left, this is where they might lie. We will finish the work that someone unknown began for us in the ages before. Why bother with crystals, you might ask? Take care my friends. They have a seductive power and attraction indeed, and from them we hope to ignite the innate potential of our peoples against their venomous threat. But that is not all... we also hope to find the sea-level cave and find a way through at the base of the cliffs. Only then will we know that our task is done.”
“As for rats. Yes. You are wise to assume that old ground may hold not only old stones, but old enemies also. It would be wise to beware of that which lives in darkness. Stay alert. Someone went to great effort to dig and protect this place, and they may have left surprises for the unsuspecting.”
He turns to Annit then and simply says, “the stone.”
She slides an arm into their large sack and feels about for something, eventually pulling out what looks like a plain old river pebble.
“My aged bones, as you might suspect are not up to this task. I send my daughter with you instead, as to her I have imbibed as much knowledge as will fit between those ears. When you are ready to return here, simply hold that stone and say my name. I will come back to unearth the door as quickly as I am able. Within that sack are torches, rations, a rope ladder and several small mining tools as well. Take your time. Tread carefully. Don’t let the darkness overcome you.”
<If anyone proceeds downwards, the steps are wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side. I'll let you guys decide the "marching order" among yourselves. Place Annit wherever you like in the procession.
We need a volunteer for the esteemed role of map-maker. Rather than providing maps along the way, I thought it might be fun if someone (who has time) might like to map the mines based on their interpretation of the descriptions along the way. Perhaps distributed by email, and I'll host the images and pop them in the thread from time to time. Draw and scan, or create digitally, up to you. If this idea isn't popular I'll happily publish maps for you guys... but at a cost... to be determined later *evil laugh*>
