[Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

1. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

   #41

   Maritann grinned and cocked his head to one side, "Like you said ladies first." His friendly smile removed the insult's bite. Maritann couldn't help but feeling a nagging feeling in the back of his head, he really really hated caves.

2. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

   #42

   The stair seemed interminable, an endless rattling drop of far distance through blind night, with a mounting vibration rolling through the floor and walls, accompanied by a laval glow from the approaching doorway.
   Finally, Boellah stepped out through said doorway into a vast cavern, and immediately retreated, shielding her face from the blistering heat.
   The chamber beyond shimmered with vast oceans of heated air floating above a pit from which the red-orange glow emananted. A thin arch of stone, just wide enough to be crossed, passed over this glowing chasm.
   Alssonus braved the heat and peered over the edge.
   Below, a rushing, blasting river of magma rushed by, as if some titan in ages past had torn away the earth's flesh to reveal the bursting blood beneath. The molten rock threw of great volumes of rockshine, throwing every corner of the chamber into great detail.
   Alssonus turned and shouted over the din "What...Should we...Do?"

3. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

   #43

   Maritann shouted back to Alssonus, "Not much left to do eh?" With that he passed the others and ran walked across the rock bridge at a good pace. He didn't even flinch when the lava bubbled near him. On the other side he called back, "Come on, its a easier than eating cake."
   
   Maritann looked around a little and made sure there was a cave leading further on.

4. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

   #44

   Alssonus turned and shrugged to Boellah and 'Nasia, and then, taking the Alsson girl's hand to steady her, he walked quickly across the bridge. The arcing arm of stone creaked menacingly under their weight.
   On the other side, Alssonus squatted and released a heavy breath, shaking his head to relieve tension, and then stood to motion 'Nasia across.

5. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

   #45

   'Nasia was probably the lightest of the group, but she still didn't like being on a bridge over glowing lava. She scampered across, and took a minute to steady herself. "Well, that was fun. What next?"

6. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

   #46

   Alssonus pointed towards the ongoing tunnel, where the laval rockshine did not penetrate.
   The big adventurer looked around for his torch, but couldn't find it.
   "Did any of you see where I dropped it?" he said, and then, without waiting for a response said, "Nevermind."
   He stepped into the shadows.

7. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

   #47

   Beyond the chamber of flames, the heat quickly dropped, until Boellah was once again shivering.
   Alssonus swept off his heavy wolf-fur and draped it on the girl's shoulders.
   "Dahm uell aiuergen." he said. That will help.
   Ahead of them, the passage angled steeply upwards and widened into a broad sloped gallery, covered with a heavy coat of shattered talus and boulders.
   As they entered, Alssonus said "We'll have to climb up."
   Then came a noise, like a muffled explosion deep in the bowels of the mountain, and an escalating rumbling.
   The talus and scree jumped and shivered, and began to rattle downward.
   The adventurer shouted "Run!" and then threw his arms against a large boulder, holding it back to allow the others time to escape.

8. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

   #48

   'Nasia did not need to be told twice. She ran flat out across the cavern, trying not to get hit by too many pieces of rock. "There's another tunnel!" she screamed over the din. "Come on!"

9. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

   #49

   Maritann knew he wouldn't be needing his long bow so he whipped is off his shoulder and propped it under the boulder Alssonus was holding, "Hurry now it will hold but a second," With out waiting he ran. Darting between the falling rocks and debris as nimby as if he had springs in his feet.
   
   All of the sudden he slipped on a piece of scree that flooded the chamber and was buried...

10. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #50

    A'lai had spent literally days finding this suitable area, deep in the darkness of these caverns, to perform his ritual. His strange eyes remain closed as he patiently sat the ritual circle, surrounded by 'mystic' runes carefully drawn by his own blood - after all, his great lord K'Thalath demands blood, and A'lai was not hesitant about giving it. He knew what his god demanded of him and unlike so many other Kozkirrim, he was not afraid to satisfy those demands - A true fanatic, was he. So blessed was A'lai, that the great Priest-queen herself had blessed him with hearing her voice, ordering him to leave his lands to make a connection with their god, to speak with him personally.
    
    He had sat within that circle now, for almost nineteen hours, forgoing food and drink, when finally, he felt a shifting in his mind, the feel of an omniscient power forming a connection. No fear flowed through him, but excitement certainly did, for none had spoken directly to the great god since the great leader Aazkai-e was offered the victory of that battle, so long ago. Even the Priest Kings and queens had only ever had a partial link to him. A'lai was overwhelmed with a sense of honour, of privelige, he was in ecstasy! Then abruptly the caverns shook with the shuddering of a large explosion, tipping A'lai off-balance and forcing his black and grey eyes to flutter open, only to realise he had been knocked off his central position on the ritual circle. A'lai Screamed in absolute fury, rising to his feet. "Sh-ekrath Du mekhramel orthiliath de-molian ..." This string of Kozkirrim linguistics streamed on for a good five minutes and, taking into consideration the people that may be reading this, I won't translate such foul language. Finally, A'lai stopped his uttering and shifted both hands beneath his Black, silver-rimmed (Showing his status as a Taacharai) robes and withdrew two slim poignards, perfectly formed to be able to slip between the ribs to strike the organs beneath. "By the one true god, I will find the maggot who is responsible for this!"
    
    A'lai traversed back up the tunnel he had taken to get to that spot, his feet not even stumbling at the occasional rumblings which must mean a cave-in nearby - as he was used to subterrainean life, and was aware of how to traverse such unsteady ground with little difficulty. As he enters the branch to another cavern, he spots a peculiar sight - A large man attempting to push a boulder back, and another man half-covered by slate, rocks and the like. Sighing irritably, he resheathes his daggers and darts forth, his feet stepping nimbly apon the sturdy ground, deftly dodging any lose rocks. The man pushes that foolishly heroic male forth forcefully, shoving him and using the momentum of his speed to force himself forward as well, out of range of that large boulder, plus the worst of the rubble which falls around it. Of course little can be done to avoid small injuries from the many fallen rocks dropped, but A'lai's heavy cloak protects him from the worst. As for the others? Well, he cares little if they are too wounded, just so long as they can talk to tell him who made that Accursed explosion! After the the worst of the avalanche is over - the audible crashing and violent shaking, - A'lai shifts forth to kick away what rocks he can of what covered that other man, and once enough is revealed of this other person, he reaches down to forcibly wrench the man out. Beneath his hood, his flat, strange face is curled into an expression of absolute malice - in an other circumstance, he would have left these to die, but he wants to slaughter whoever caused that explosion, and these people may hold information for him.
    A'lai has not yet seen either of the women, of course.

11. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #51

    Alssonus shook his head violently to dispel the gripping spirit of danger, and then examined himself for wounds. Finding everything to be satisfactory, he stood and turned to face the man who had saved them.
    "That was magnificent, m'lord," said Alssonus, assuming by the man's manner of dress that he was a noble of some sort. "I owe you my life."
    The man gave no sign of answer, as he hauled Maritann forcefully from beneath the pile of scree.
    The adventurer took a step forward and said "Does the lord have a name?"

12. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #52

    Maritann looked into the eyes of the hooded figure and registered the man's malice and flat face, he cursed in chargian and sputtered. He ducked out of his grasp and short sword appeared in his hands.
    
    "Look out hes a Kozkirrim, their damn psychos!" Maritann said it Alssonus. While slowly backing away from the Kozkirrim man, "I'm telling you Alssonus these guys are crazy their into blood sacrifices and organ eating. They come from the Shadowed Land, for damn sakes!"

13. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #53

    Alssonus' eyes widened and he let slip an oath of "Black Heart of Julius!"
    His hand sped to his sword-pommel, but then relaxed.
    "Calm, Chargian. I've heard of the Kozkirrim."
    He reached a steadying hand towards Maritann.
    "But who are we to pass judgement, especially on the man who saved our lives?"

14. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #54

    "I don't trust him, Damnt-(he slipped into Chargian curses), the man probaly only came here to save us and sacrifice us. Alssonus I've seen these people before, they are (Chargian Curse) crazy!" Maritann dashed a little but further up the small slope of scree.

15. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #55

    A"lai's lips curl into a snarl of fury as his blackened gaze darts back and forth between the two, before resting upon the one with sword drawn, "Worm! Had I wanted you dead, I would have left you in that rubble! Don't tempt me to slaughter you now!" Dispite his words, those poignards - hidden beneath his robe - remain sheathed. He doesnt want to kill these two... yet, at least. He doesnt await a reply from Maritann before allowing his gaze to accompany them both again and speak, "Which direction from here was that explosion? If a living bieng made it, I will slay it." Straight to the point. He didnt want to waste trivialities such as names with these animals!

16. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #56

    "Slow down, friends, slow down!" said Alssonus and stepped away from both of them.
    "I know not what caused the rockslide, but, friend Kozkirrim, we are seeking a way out of this place." He smiled crookedly. "We can help you find the cause of the explosion, if you will help us leave."

17. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #57

    "Yah, cause it's getting kinda, you know, old, being stuck down here." 'Nasia looked around at the devastation. She had sustained minor cuts from the flying scree, and a particularly sharp bit had laid open her arm. She didn't really pay the newcomer much mind. She had heard the stories of the Kozkirrim, but she didn't know how much wieght to give them. After all, she had heard many stories about many different people, and a good many were unfounded.

18. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #58

    Boellah's face held a stunned look, as if she had no idea what was going on. She had removed a small wooden comb from her sleeve and was combing stone dust and chips of rock from her hair, murmuring "Ea habben smidirini aet mae waenghere."
    She continued this several times, hand trembling, then took a deep breath, put away the comb, and looked up at the newcomer.
    Upon seeing his eyes, she let out a little cry, and crossed the index and middle fingers of her hands in an x.
    "Daedrak!" she hissed, backing away.

19. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #59

    "Aye Daedrak, Daedrak. Boellah at least knows this guy is (Chargian curses). Listen Alssonus I've been to the shadowed, I've worked for them before, these people are motherliving sick and twisted. I wouldn't feel a thing if the whole lot of them died out. Alssonus you are fool hardy to trust or believe a word that comes from this thing's mouth. They are fanactics!" Maritann looked ragged, the cool presence he exumed earlier had up and disappeared he looked very near panic. He held his sword steady though, he stepped back a little more and picked up the tip of a stick then yanked hard, his long bow from earlier popped out the springy wood hummed showed only a few scratches on the finish.
    
    In a flash he sheathed his sword and an arrow drawn and sighted at the Kozkirrim only ten feet away, "It would be best to put this one down right here and now.." His voice was hard and stressed.

20. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #60

    (OOC: Uh-oh...Tense situation.)

21. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #61

    A'lai's eyes flicker over to the two women now they have spoken, and his gaze - adept to seeing in the gloom of the caverns - studies the two momentarily before locking back upon the hostile male, "You are right in one instant, fool. Trust me not for one moment." A'lai Offers a hearty sneer to the man before shifting his gaze to the woman crossing her fingers in an X. This serves to amuse him more than anger him. As Maritann retrieves his bow, however, A'lai gives the faintest of nods, "Dont expect such mercy when we are out, though. As a matter of fact, be wary of a stray blade slicing through your heart when you are not watching..." A cold, mirthless chuckle utters past his lips at this, and he gives a pointed stare at Boellah's face - seems he wasnt partial to women, either. They get the same treatment. His gaze turns instantly back to the large male and the other, less defiant woman, though, and he speaks again, "Well, which direction did that explosion come from? Quickly now, show me!"

22. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #62

    Alssonus offered a questioning gaze to the other members of his little traveling party, and then looked back at the dark priest.
    "I...Do not know. We were intending to climb the talus here before the explosion happened. I assume that it was to the...North."
    He waved his hand vaguely in the direction that they had been heading, labeling it the temporary north for purposes of comprehension.

23. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #63

    Maritann's common sense started to kick in after a few moments he ever so slowly tension on the bow decrease till where he could take out the arrow, he put it in his quiver, and shouldered his bow. Making sure even ounce of digust and hate showed in his eyes he said, "And you even with your advantage enough should not be fool hardy enough to take the challenge of four versus one in a small confine like this."
    
    Maritann slowly slid down the scree and stood next to Alssonus and placed himself between Boellah and the Kozkirrim, he still had his gaze fixed on the Kozkirrim, making sure every little gram of hate bled into his eyes.
    
    It had been a dark night Maritann was in the middle of a job for the Kozkirrim Priest to elminate one of his rivals for power. He had a daughter named Elen'nil. It had been one of those fevered cases of love on first sight, Maritann had had to stay with the priest's family for over a month, while the assignation blew over. He and Elen'nil had grown more attached and on the last few days they planned to leave early together and flee the shadowed land for lands farther away. Somehow a servant had found out their plans and seen them lay together on the night of departure, the priest had had Maritann thrown from the house and cast off a waterfall that Maritann had miracously survived, but thats another story. Later the next day Maritann had come back to the city just in time to witness his love Elen'nil sacrificed ontop the temple by her own damn father, while he had stood helpless, helpless...

24. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #64

    A'lai glared back at Luke, taking in that hateful glare and returning an overbearing one of his own - the look a bloodthirsty wolf would give to the chickens in the farmers chicken coop. But after several seconds of staring, he breaks his gaze, turning to snort rudely at Alssonus as he waves a direction, "Thats almost a direct east, Thief of the land." He, as with most Kozkirrim, doesnt forgive the Arcturans (Bieng the largest of the Armori who invaded the lands) for attempting to steal his homelands. Without awaiting any other words from any of them, he sets off in that pointed direction, intent on bieng around these fool people for as little time as possible.

25. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #65

    (OOC: Hey, let's wait up for Ria, here.)

26. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #66

    (OOC: Here I am.)
    
    'Nasia looked after the strange man as he left, then she shrugged. She really had no idea where the explosion had been, but she supposed that direction was as good as any. "So. I suppose we should go that way then."

27. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #67

    A shrug and a grin was Alssonus' reply.
    He turned and began to move painstakingly up the rocky slope.

28. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #68

    A'lai continues throughout the tunnel at a semi-hurried pace muttering a couple words to himself occasionally in his own tongue and doing his best to simply ignore the footsteps of the others behind him. after a minute or so, the others may begin hearing a faint trickling of running water, though A'lai shows sign that he heard it. Another minute or so finds the tunnel spewing them into a medium sized cavern, which is quickly illuminated by the kozkirrim igniting two torches hung crudely in gashes in the wall by pouring on each of them, a small amount of liquid from a satchel then striking flint over them - the flammable liquid catching alight. As the cavern is illuminated, it may become quickly apparant to the others why the Kozkirrim would want to set up torches here, because as the fires are lit, the light reflects off the surface of a slowly trickling stream, creating an eerie, flickering atmosphere. The stream - working along the western side of the cavern - was the Kozkirrims only source of water down here during his ritual - he had not explored any deeper into the caverns than this, though. The stream originates from a waterfall on one side of the cavern, which seems to rise high above through a decent-sized crack in the roof. No doubt this crack would lead outside, but it would be far to slippery and dangerous to climb up. The other end of the stream seems to hit the wall on the other side of the cavern, and continue in a subterrainian path.
    
    A'lai halts here for a moment, moving to this stream and crouching down next to it, cupping his hands and scooping water to his mouth - he hadnt had food or water for a good 25 hours, after all, and dispite his fluent movement in these caverns, was fairly weak. He does not speak to the others as he drinks, and allows them to do their own thing whilst they wait on him - even if they choose NOT to wait for him.

29. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #69

    At the end of the cavern the stream poured into deeper subterranean channels and driprock catacombs...At least, it had.
    The explosion, it seemed, had not just set off the rockslide, but damaged this chamber as well.
    The cavern was riven to shards. The waterfall now blasted ragingly from a massive tumbled maw of stone, and the floors of the cavern were damp with the overflow of the subterranean river. The opposite wall was gone, and the cavern's end was replaced with a blasted rift, where the chill waters plunged down into the caverns below.
    A small rumble occured as the torches were lit, and a voluminous boulder fell from the darkness to choke the entrance-place of the waterfall, though the water continued to sweep around its sides. That way, it seemed, was not the escape route they sought.
    
    Alssonus stepped forward.
    "Kozkirrim...Does that belong to you?" he said, pointing along his gaze.
    There, perched on a shattered fang of stone, was a single magpie.
    It regarded the group with a gleaming intelligence, and gave out a single brilliant peep, like a note of sunlight from the upper world.
    Then it fluttered of the edge of the rift, down into the dripstone of the labyrinth below.

30. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #70

    "Whether it does or not, it surely knows something we don't. It wouldn't go down there without a reason." 'Nasia looked around at the shattered cavern. "For lack of a better idea, what do you say we see where the bird leads?"

31. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #71

    Dispite the alterations to the cavern, A'lai continued drinking his fill, though when Alsonnus spoke, his gaze darted up to peer directly at the magpie. His own head tilts to one side in an almost mockingly bird-like gesture to the magpie, then allowed his eyes to follow the form of the bird as it flew. "No. Not mine..." curious... A'lai stood from his position and turned to stare at the cavern the bird flew down. "Well, There is no direct way to get to the source of that explosion."The Kozkirrim, bieng a highly superstitious race about signs, thought that few odd happenings happened without reason. To A'lai, this was an odd happening... perhaps he should follow the direction of the magpie.

32. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #72

    Alssonus glanced over at 'Nasia.
    "I'm all for more adventure!" he said, and stepped over to the edge of the rift, dropping to all fours.
    The drop was quite sheer for the first few feet, but then broke into a series of jagged pillars and ledges, and, almost at the edge of Alssonus' sight, less broken, smoother ledges that were presumably the original landing place of the river, where now the water pooled.

33. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #73

    'Nasia hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "So, who's going down first?"

34. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #74

    Alssonus, still on all-fours at the rift's edge, said "I'm gone," and dropped from sight over the fall. After an astonishingly long moment, a call drifted up from below: "Halfway!"
    A second breathless pause, and then a fainter expostulation: "I'm at the bottom!"

35. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #75

    Maritann caught with the others just as Alssnus dropped deeper into the cavern. Maritann hardly waited for the others, being forced to coexist with the Kozkirrim took almost all the self control he had. He walked to the edge and jumped into the pit, he the bottom a moment later in a crouch and nodded to Alssonus. He continued ahead a little not outsight but just enough to check the ahead was clear.

36. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #76

    'Nasia looked down again. In her broken Alsson, she asked Boellah, "Do you want to go down next or should I?"

37. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #77

    A'lai glanced back and forth at the two women still up, then simply stepped forth between them, shifting down and moving from foot-hold to foot-hold. He wasnt the best at climbing, but he knew well where his hands and feet would be stable on the cave walls. And thusly, he made it down in just a few seconds longer than the others had. He then shifts to one side and leans against another wall, crossing arms in front of him and waiting impatiently for the other two women.

38. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #78

    OOC: I wonder who Nurin is?
    
    Boellah swallowed thickly, and said "Alssoneir aet baena acleimereir." 'Alssons are good climbers.'
    She stepped forward, and, calling something to Alssonus at the bottom, swept the wolf-skin mantle off her shoulders and tossed it off the edge.
    Then, with a strange suddeness that spoke of fear, she lowered herself over the edge and climbed, monkey-like, down the face, dropping freely at some points to lower holds to quicken the descent.
    When she reached the bottom, she dropped to her knees, trembling, removed the comb from her sleeve, and brushed her hair, repeating her small fear-controlling mantra.

39. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #79

    'Nasia, the last one down, slid down the slope easily. As she picked herself up, and brushed her clothes off, she looked around. "So where do we go from here?" She'd never admit it to anyone, but she was beginning to be the slightest bit afraid. There was a good probability that there were things at work her she did not understand, and she'd like to avoid contact with them if possible.

40. [Armorican Kingdoms] The Doom Within the Mountain

    #80

    As Alssonus turned to find a path, the magpie was once again perched on a nearby stone.
    The adventurer shook his head. Had it been there before?
    The magpie regarded the group brightly and chirped, fluttering to the stony, damp floor of the dripstone cavern. It continued to flutter along as if leading them. It seemed to realize that they were not following, and turned to face them.
    It released another small chirrup.
    Its eyes seemed to say "Why aren't you coming, silly humans?"

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