'I must find that merchant,' thought Dakro. 'I think I have heard enough. The Obeyers will be useful to me, for at least they generally behave as though they have the least rogue tendencies. They're still a little rogue, daring to judge me, but I do not need the Takers to get the power found here. And the outsiders must be stopped. How dare they trifle with the secrets of the Shapers?'
Traveling to the south through Kazg, he came to a ruin. Looking about, he found a servile merchant whose clothes were not torn, and this one did not look at him with the loathing he was used to seeing, no matter how thin the servile was.
"Welcome, Shaper," he said. "I am Arth. I can't talk to you for long."
"Are you a Taker?" said Dakro.
He looked around, and said, "Of course! How could I not be a Taker! It is the wisest path, the only possible path, and the Takers are just to visit swift punishment on all who question them."
"Tell me more about their philosophy," said Dakro, who was unconvinced that Arth was a Taker.
"I can't. I ... I am not wise enough. Enter the main town. Talk to Gnorrel. Her wisdom is complete," said Arth. "I cannot talk to you any more."
"Not so fast," said Dakro. "Coale in Vakkiri wishes to resume trade."
"Tell him that is impossible," said Arth. "Even if the roads were clear, trading with the Awakened would result in my speedy death at the hands of the Takers."
"Very well," said Dakro, and he left, making his careful way back to Rydell in Pentil.
Once in Pentil, Dakro said, "I have been to Kazg, and there met one of your spies imprisoned by the Takers. He told me that they have allied with the outsiders, and also of some rebel outsiders. He has been beaten, and expects soon to be killed by them."
"That is sad news. He was a good servile, as loyal to your kind as any. Still, his joyous martyrdom shall not be in vain, especially since we have learned the information he gave so much to obtain," said Rydell. "Thank you, Shaper. You have done a kind thing for us."
"And now," said Dakro, "I have heard enough, and I wish to speak again about allying with you, to bring this isle back to proper obedience."
"I am gratified that you would join us. Your words have marked you as a true Shaper, and we feel that you may be worthy of our obedience," said Rydell. "However, we require an act of you, to show that you are not trying to mislead us and act against the true Shapers."
Dakro raised an eyebrow, and said, "What act would that be?"
"There is a place to the west called Crag Valley. There is a warren of spiraling tunnels within, which contains a servant mind called Control Four. For years, this true servant of the Shapers has controlled and fought the rogue serviles of Vakkiri," said Rydell. "Recently, though, it has grown weak. It requires nutrient solution, and we have none. We don't know where any might be found. Worse, rogue creations have kept us from reaching poor Control Four to assist it. Feed Control Four, and we will accept that we should be allied with us."
"You shall not put me to the test, for it is not your place so to do," said Dakro, "nonetheless, I should quite agree that feeding Control Four will be of benefit in bringing obedience back to the isle."
With that, Dakro turned to leave for Vakkiri.
As he traveled between the villages, he thought, 'Well, that is certainly an irrevocable one, for if I kill Control Four, I please the Awakened rogues, if I feed it, then I will not be able to deal with the Awakened, I am sure. So best I tell Coale of the situation with Arth before I go there. For the Obeyers are least rogue, and may be brought under proper control.'
Upon reaching Vakkiri, Dakro went to Coale and said, "I have met Arth, and the conditions are such that he cannot trade with you because of the hostility of the Takers."
"Understood. I am not surprised. Still, I appreciate the knowledge," said Coale with a sigh. "Here is a reward for you. We Awakened believe in giving fair payment for assistance." He handed Dakro some pouches. "Genuine Shaper artifacts. Not much, at this point, but it helps a little."
"Very well," said Dakro, taking them.
Moving through a wooded valley, he saw a sign warning of rogues, but it was some time before he actually met any. Then, in one off-shooting valley, he saw a door, and standing before the door was a servile.
Expecting some half-crazed hermit, Dakro was surprised that she was relatively calm and well-fed, and even seemed to be expecting him.
"Welcome, Shaper," she said. "I am Sniff."
"What are you doing out here?" said Dakro.
"I am waiting for help, Shaper," replied Sniff.
"What sort of help?" said Dakro.
"I cannot say. But if you have some sort of message, or are looking for someone, I can help you," said Sniff. "Otherwise, I cannot."
"Well, can you give me a hint as to what sort of message and where it might be found?" said Dakro.
Sniff thought, and said, "That is a good question. There are people trapped east of Kazg. Look to them. They serve the interests of the Shapers."
"And if I were to command you to help me," said Dakro. "I could destroy you."
"I am sorry, Shaper," said Sniff. "If you must, then you must."
"Your loyalty is commendable, even if misplaced," said Dakro, and he turned to leave.
Continuing north, he came into a vale, and found a small cave within. Here, Dakro came face to face with a drayk.
'Drayks were one of the strongest and most cunning of the creations, and haven't been made for over a hundred years. It's probably wise,' thought Dakro as he looked at the massive creature with its cold, arrogant eyes. 'I think they must be born rogue.'
The creature chuckled at Dakro's approach, and flames emerged from its nose. "Ah. I had thought I would never meet a Shaper again. I am Syros. Welcome to my humble lair. Why have you come to trade with me?"
"How long have you lived here?" said Dakro.
"On this island? Over two hundred years," replied Syros. "In this cave? About a century. I was created not long before your kind left the island."
"Who created you?" said Dakro.
"I was made by Danette herself, head of research on this island," said Syros, sounding peculiarly proud of his creator. "I was made by the creator of the Geneforge herself."
'I must know more of the Geneforge,' thought Dakro. "The Geneforge?" he asked. "What is that?"
"Perhaps you should trade with me," said Syros. "Perhaps that may become clear."
"You want to trade with me? How?" said Dakro.
"I feed on meat. But, more than that, I can feed on life. Energy. Life force and potential. My magic is strong, and I can use it to draw the life from a being," said Syros. "Not a lot, you understand. Just a tiny bit. It barely hurts. If you will let met feed on a little of your life, I will give you great assistance."
"What are you offering, exactly?" said Dakro.
"The bits of my trove I have available for trade are as follows: precious information about this island, which I will share for but a tiny, delicate bite of your potential. Magical skills, of great aid to any budding wizard or Shaper, for a healthy bite of yoru potential. Weaponry and armor, of great aid for a warrior, for a healthy bite of your potential. Which do you wish?"said Syros.
"None of that," said Dakro. "Your kind should no longer exist. Terminate yourself immediately."
"Shaper, you are foolish. I have had centuries of my own life," said Syros. "I answer to you no longer. I am a free being."
'This island breeds madness,' thought Dakro. "Enough of your insolence, creation. I will unmake you here and now," he said.
"Fine! Long have I dreamed of feeding on a Shaper," said Syros. "Now, at last, is my chance!"
The battle was brief, and Dakro and his creations were victorious. He was, however, disappointed to discover that the doors remained closed to him, evidently bound to the will of Syros even after the beast was dead.
He continued through the vale, finding what appeared to be a farm. Spying a servile farmer, he moved to speak to her, but she looked terrified and as Dakro opened his mouth to speak, she shuffled away quickly, and he caught sight of scars on her face.
Moving into the house, he saw a small withered servile, who looked up and smiled at Dakro's approach.
"Welcome, Shaper," he said. "I am glad you have found your way to my little home. I am Learned Darian. If you are one who can listen and hear, there is much I could teach you."
"Who else works on this farm?"said Dakro, curious about the reaction he had had outside.
"I have two here, refugees, who have lost much in the turmoil of the past few years. They stay here, under my protection," said Darian. "Please do not bother them, you frighten them."
"What else is in this area?" said Dakro.
"There was Syros. He was a drayk, a very old one," said Darian. "We talked at times. Of course, now he is dead."
"Anything else?" said Dakro.
"There are some rogue nests. The creatures mostlly keep to themselves. If you keep a safe distance from them, they will not trouble you," said Darian. "There is also the bridge to the east. It is heavily guarded. I suggest you stay a safe distance form there. It is very dangerous."
"Why do you live out here alone?" said Dakro.
"I prefer the solitude. And for some reason, the rogue creations leave me alone. Perhaps they think I would not taste good," said Darian. "And perhaps we wise ones are left alone out of respect."
"You said 'we'? There is another wise one?" said Dakro, wondering if he could get a line on Darian's thinking by knowing who Darian thought wise.
"Yes. Her name is Clois. She lives in a marsh halfway between Pentil and Kazg," said Darian. "If I was useful to you, you may wish to find her. She deserves respect."
"What can you teach me?" said Dakro.
"I am honored as a wise one by the three servile villages. All of them come to me, from time to time, for advice and to pass messages to the other sects," said Darian. "I know much of them, and I think if you are wise, you will want to know of them, too, and perhaps even ally with them."
"Tell me about them," said Dakro.
"There are the Awakened in Vakkiri, the Obeyers in Pentil, and the Takers in Kazg," said Darian. "All of them have come to and dealt with me, to try to coexist despite their differences. The Takers, hwoever, have done so much less lately. They have found wisdom elsewhere."
"Why don't the Takers see you any more?" said Dakro.
"I am wise, but I am not omnipotent. If they do not talk to me, I do not know what they think or do. Perhaps you can find out," said Darian. "I believe there are other powers on this island."
"Tell me about the beliefs of the sects," said Dakro.
"I will not do that. I only listen to their beliefs and carry their messages and, occasionally, provide a little advice. I do not preach. Go to them. They will be glad to tell you what they think," replied Darian.
"Very well," said Dakro, and he left the farm to continue westward. From here, he climbed into a rocky, arid valley. It was cold, and not much lived there.
Some items were in the dirt-rusted tools and stone blocks, looking as thought they might have been left behind from the days when the Shapers lived and worked on this island. A nearby obelisk had an interesting inscription: "Diarazad".
'I thought Diarazad was but a legend, the burial of the first Shapers,' thought Dakro. 'In any case, this place is nowhere near old enough. Something dangerous is here, though, for there are a lot of bones on the ground, and they don't look as old as the construction material.'
Continuing, he found a passage blocked by turrets, and he and his creations set to removing them, as Dakro was sure that something useful would be found that way.
In fact, he found a sholai camp, and the sholai seemed to be strangely not quite present, difficult to fight like the shades of the buried cells. Still, he was able to manage to defeat them, but he was puzzled that the buildings seemed to be more recent than the Barring of Sucia, but clearly of Shaper design.
Continuing ahead, he found some tunnels that puzzled him even more. They were clearly old, but not as old as other ruins. The warrens were clearly of Shaper construction, but made after the abandonment due to the Barring of the island. Inscriptions from religious and philosophical tomes could be seen at regular intervals engraved into the walls.
Here and there, there were also symbols that Dakro recognized as meaning 'Warning' and 'Danger'. Bones crunched under his feet. It appeared that since the tunnels were excavated, unwelcome visitors were dealt with extreme violence.
'Yet another mystery on this isle, but perhaps this one will shed light on the other,' thought Dakro.
Moving within, he found himself quickly under attack by drayks, glaahks, and other powerful creations that he defeated only with great difficulty. Then he found a book on a pedestal, each page containing a name, date of birth, date of death, and the words "inner crypt" or "outer crypt". The first two pages were for Danette and Defniel, but he recognized no other names in the hundred pages of the volume.
By the time the third batch of powerful creations had arrived, Dakro decided that it was time to leave. 'I shall return when I have better creations to serve me, but it is clear that the researchers returned here after the isle was Barred. Unless the Barring was lifted, that makes no sense, but I won't get answers if I am killed,' he thought.
Dakro decided that it was time to move to deal with Control Four, and so he proceeded where he had been told he would find the servant mind. All signs of the original purpose of the ruin had been eradicated. Roamers here had burrowed their own tunnels, perhaps at random, perhaps guided by some other intelligence.
'There are a lot of roamers here. Not reassuring, as they can be fierce, and sometimes cunning fighters,' thought Dakro. 'They're usually given a single path that they patrol faithfully, and I may be able to evade them, but maybe not. There are so many, I can hear and smell them.'
He continued through the spiraling tunnels, and suddenly began to feel uncomfortable. Nervous-as though he were being watched, sensed, and probed, and the urge to flee began to tickle his mind.
Dakro shook his head, as a Shaper he was immune to those tricks. 'I can sense it ... must be that rogue vlish I heard about. Dangerous rogue, but it's near.' he thought, and steeling himself, he moved forward.
The fight with the vlish was over quickly, for Dakro's control over his creations left him with overwhelming force against the mentally strong yet physically weak rogue. Finally, he pressed on, to find Control Four-the cabinet had had some mind nutrient jars, but they had dried to worthlessness, but fortunately, Dakro had managed to gain some from other places.
The servant mind was still alive and functioning, though clearly weak from lack of food. "Welcome, Shaper. I am Control Four. I am pleased to be in contact with you."
"The creations here attacked me!" said Dakro. "Are you responsible?"
"No, Shaper. I am so sorry for your inconvenience. I captured the creations there, and influenced them to keep the rogue serviles nearby in line. However, I have been too weak to keep them from going rogue as well," replied Control Four. "Your destroying them relieves me. I am sorry you had to perform my duties for me."
"What is your given purpose?" said Dakro.
"I am one of Sucia Island's control minds. We watch the creations here for signs of roguism, and deal with problems when they occur," said Countrol Four. "When the Shapers left, they left us here to watch over the creations left behind."
"How many control minds are there overall?" asked Dakro.
"Four. The other three were based to the east. I have heard nothing from them," replied Control Four.
"Tell me about the Shapers," said Dakro. "Why did they leave?"
"I was not given that information. I am sorry. I am only here to control," said Control Four. "In the hierarchy of servant minds, my ranking is low."
"How have things been?" said Dakro.
"Terrible. Oh, Shaper, I have been in such anguish. I have watched the serviles grow more and more disobedient, coming up with their own thoughts and beliefs, questioning the wisdom of the Shaper," said Control Four. "I have attempted to eradicate as many of the disobedient ones as I can, but it is so difficult, and I have been so weak."
"Have all the serviles been disobedient?" said Dakro.
"The serviles in the village to the east, Pentil, have been good and loyal. They are deserving of many rewards," replied Control Four. "The serviles of Vakkiri, though, have questioned the wisdom of the Shapers. I have tried to contain their dangerous thoughts as much as possible."
"I am sure you did as well as you could," said Dakro.
"You are very kind, Shaper," replied Control Four.
"You seem quite weak," said Dakro.
"I have not had nutrient solution for many, many years. I am very feeble. There was solution here, but a rogue servile raider managed to destroy it before I was able to absorb it," said Control Four. "Please feed me, Shaper. If you do, I can continue to serve you well."
"Fortunately, I was able to find some solution elsewhere," said Dakro.
Opening the jar, he carefully poured the oily gray goo into the mind's tiny eating aperture. Improvement was not immediate, though the creature did seem content.
"Thank you, Shaper. Soon, I will have regained enough strength to resume my given task," said Control Four. "My faith in the wisdom of the Shapers is without limit."
"That is good," said Dakro. "I will leave you now to regain strength and resume your task. There were many rogue creations that I had to get through to reach you, and the serviles of Pentil said they could not defeat those rogues."
Dakro left, making his way back to Pentil.
He entered Rydell's hall, and said, "I have fed Control Four and destroyed the rogues which imprisoned it."
"Excellent!" said Rydell, whose mind was clearly already at work figuring out how to leverage this development to keep Vakkiri contained. "Truly, you are the Shaper we have waited for, come to help us and save us! We are eager to ally with you. Just say the word, and we will assist you as best we can."
"You have served my people well, and you are worthy of my company," said Dakro. "I will ally with you, to pacify this island and keep it loyal to the Shapers."
"Shaper, this is our greatest, proudest day. This is the day that our years of work, patience, and sacrifice are rewarded. This is the day we are no longer alone," said Rydell, and he handed Dakro a small golden key. "This is one of only two copies of this key. The other is mine. The supplies here, long hoarded, are yours for the taking. Now, we must talk. There is information I can give you. Strange, horrible things are happening on this island. Things that require the attention of a Shaper, before a great disaster happens."
"Yes," said Dakro, "I would discuss the affairs of this isle with you."
"Yes, Shaper, I am very glad. There are outsiders on this isle. We do not know where they are from, or what they want. But since they landed here, we have been overwhelmed with wave after wave of horrible rogue creations," said Rydell. "Shaper, if you learn anything of what might be happening, please, let me know. When your knowledge is combined with mine, perhaps the true will of the Shapers might be done."
"There is a man named Trajkov on this island," said Dakro. "I understand he comes from over the sea, and he is trying to utilize some sort of Shaper power. He lives in the research warrens to the northeast."
"I understand. That would explain much, including where the strange rogue creations assaulting us are from. Still, our information is incomplete. If we could learn more about the power Trajkov is trying to harness, we could decide how to act," said Rydell. "When you have learned more, return, and perhaps I too will have gathered more information."
"I have learned that there is some sort of powerful Shaper secret on this isle," said Dakro. "I do not understand it, but that it is named Geneforge."
"We have heard something similar. We captured a servile from Kazg, and after much questioning, she revealed the same thing," said Rydell. "If only we knew what it was, many mysteries might be solved. It might even reveal why the Shapers left this isle."
"Where would be a good place to start?" said Dakro.
"To the east. Find the village of Kazg. Slip past it, and beware. There is much danger for you there. Past Kazg, there is a settlement of humans. Kazg bars them in, keeps them from seeing anyone," said Rydell. "I believe that these humans know things about what has been happening on Sucia Isle. Reach them, speak with their leader, and then return to me."
"Very well," said Dakro.
Leaving Pentil, Dakro remembered Hew, the Obeyer spy in the plains of Kazg, and he set out to visit her again.
Once there, he said, "I wish to know if there is other information you have learned, Hew."
"Yes, Shaper. There is one other thing I have learned. Inside Kazg, in the southwest corner, there is a tower, it is owned by Toivo, the sage of the Takers," said Hew. "If you went in there, you might be able to learn something about what the Takers know or what they are trying to do. It is guarded though. I have not been able to slip past the guards. But you might."
Dakro nodded, and made his way to the tower Hew had told him of, making sure to avoid Agat. At the tower, a guard confronted him, and he glibly lied that he was proving himself to the Takers and the guard would be in trouble for interfering with Gnorrel's diplomacy.
Once the confused and nervous guard returned to his post, Dakro entered and began searching. The first cabinet he opened contained pens, sheets of papyrus and lots of notes. Toivo had gone to great effort to try to figure out Shaper magical techniques, but Dakro noted with relief that he seemed to understand nothing. He found several sheets of paper that looked like they had been torn from a large book, inventories of supplies-crystals, batons, living tools ... and then his attention was drawn to the three most interesting entries.
The first entry said that an entry baton had been sealed in the mines, while a second one said that an entry baton had been "inadvertently forgotten" in the West Workshop. The final entry was for a Control Key, left in the South Workshop with a notation that the experiments could be reactivated "when the interim Barring is lifted, as surely it will be".
Dakro continued his search, taking everything of value, and then he came across Toivo's notes on the language of the outsiders. 'For a servile, he is quite insightful,' thought Dakro. 'Pity that he's completely rogue.' Dakro read, quickly absorbing the words, meanings, and pronunciations. 'This will help me communicate with them ... at least a little.'
Dakro continued south, through the ruins, finding the murdered servant mind named Control Two. 'That explains why Control Four hadn't heard from this one,' thought Dakro. 'Such evil. To kill a loyal servant of the Shapers in such a way. I will repay them when I have had the time.'
Continuing eastward, he came into a large ruined complex. From the looks of things, the serviles of Kazg had been sending their warriors in, and meeting strong resistance here, for there were signs of battle everywhere he looked. 'Probably a creation hall or training center for new serviles,' thought Dakro. 'They can be recalcitrant creatures at times ... given too much intelligence, I suppose. Difficult to educate them properly.'
Shortly thereafter, he was met by a waxy-skinned servile, intelligence and comprehension missing from his features, looking more like the serviles Dakro had been used to.
"Greetings, Shaper. I am the Greeter here," said the servile.
"What is this place?" asked Dakro.
"This is Servile warren, where serviles made and taught, by Control Three," said Greeter. "But defended. I here to warn, but not expect Shaper."
"What do you think of what is going on outside?" asked Dakro.
"Outside? I have never been outside," said Greeter, looking scared of the entire idea.
"You have special instructions if a Shaper comes?" asked Dakro.
"Control Three defends. Fills with creations to protect place from rogues. But Control Three has become weak, and creations attack all," said Greeter. "Beware."
"They will even attack me?" said Dakro.
"Yes, Shaper, all," said Greeter.
"Who made those creations?" said Dakro. "And who made you?"
"Control Three," replied Greeter. "Even weak, it can command powers here. It makes new creations. They fight rogues who come in. Many rogues come in. Bad serviles. They killed."
"Can anything be done to restore Control Three?" said Dakro. 'Well, I suppose two out of four isn't that bad. No idea where Control One might be.'
"It says it is hungry," said Greeter. "I don't know what to do about it."
"Very well," said Dakro. "That is something for a Shaper."
After carefully moving through the warren, Dakro finally found the servant mind. Unfortunately, the servant mind was defended by a thin field of magical energy which prevented all interaction.
'Useful for keeping the mind alive, given the rogues of Kazg,' thought Dakro. 'Still, I must bring this shield down to feed it.'
Finally, after turning off three power spirals, Dakro brought the shield down.
"Shaper, at last," gasped the servant mind. "I am Control Three. I require nutrients, please."
"You are in luck," said Dakro, and he proceeded to feed the servant mind.
"You ... Shaper ... You are ... wise," said the mind, as the goo was scooped into its feeding aperture. "Thank you." The mind began regaining strength, and added, "Thank you, Shaper. I am restored. Please, give me some time to restore my mental thoughts, and I will be able to help you."
Dakro waited for a moment, allowing the servant mind to collect its thoughts once more.
"Shaper, I am eager to serve you. What would you wish of me?" said Control Three.
"What is your purpose here?" said Dakro.
"I am the master of the serviles in Kazg, though they have gone completely rogue. I am sorry, Shaper. I lost control of all of them," said Control Three. "I also control this complex, though I know little about it anymore. The years and the rogues have damaged it. For this, too, I am sorry."
"What can you control in this complex?" said Dakro.
"I ... I ..." said Control Three, stopping as it thought. "There is still one door I can control." It closed its eyes for a moment, and said, "It was locked. Now it is not."
"What is this place?" said Dakro.
"This was where new serviles were created, bred, and trained. They were made to serve the many tasks needed on Sucia Island," said Control Three. "It was difficult. Many of the tasks were complicated."
"What sort of tasks did you teach?" said Dakro.
"I taught serviles how to maintain, repair, care for records, all of the typical servile tasks," said Control Three. "I also taught them how to do jobs specific to research on the Geneforge."
"What is the Geneforge?" said Dakro.
"I do not know. When the Shapers left, they told me to forget all I knew of the Geneforge," said Control Three. "I only know that it was powerful and dangerous and difficult to control. And I think it still exists."
"Can you control the creations here?" said Dakro.
"I could. I made them, using mechanisms left by the Shapers for me," said Control Three. "But I have been weak for so long that they have grown completely rogue. Now that I am restored, I will use my energy to make creations to battle rogues everywhere."
"Very well," said Dakro. "I am done with you, for now."
"Thank you, Shaper," said Control Three. "I will return to my purpose. I will control the rogues as much as I can."
Finding his way through, Dakro gathered what goods there were within the warren, and finding no other way out, went to Greeter, and said, "I have fed Control Three. It will function better now."
The greeter had not been made with sufficient intelligence to process the information, and said, "You Shaper. You do good."
Dakro retraced his steps then, and made for the east from the plains north of Kazg. Soon, two roads diverged in the wood-the road to the north mostly intact, and sounding relatively calm and quiet. The road to the south was mostly torn up with howling and snarling coming from the depths of the woods.
After searching the southern road, Dakro found four of the spawners, and destroyed them. 'While I have no love of the serviles of Kazg, something tells me these are not directed at those serviles, but some others ...'
As he continued, now north bound, a servile walked boldly up to him. This specimen was a savage creature, clothed in a tattered robe, face covered with tattoos and scars. The eyes betrayed no knowledge of who or what Dakro was, and even lacked most ability of speech.
"You! Back! Come our way no more, or we kill!" said the servile, with a bloody sword and a roamer head hanging from a nearby branch.
"Rogue?" said Dakro, pointing at the roamer head. "Fight rogue?"
The guard said, "Yes! Rogue bad! We hate rogue! Rogue kill us!"
"I kill rogues," said Dakro, pointing to himself. "Rogue dead!"
The guard's eyes widened, and he said, "You? You kill rogue? You good! You help! You welcome here! Good! Good!"
'I never imagined that they could become so savage,' thought Dakro. 'Still, there's a base of intelligence that can be molded to obedience.'
Dakro continued on, still marveling at how the serviles could have become so wild that they seemed to not even recognize one of their creators. Then he saw some extremely old tunnels, dug out by crude tools which no doubt predated Shaper settlements by centuries. The tunnels were icy cold, with frost covering all surfaces, and no tracks in the white crystals. Inside was extremely quiet.
Dakro explored briefly, finding the place haunted with specters, and an outsider who had died in extreme terror. Trying to get warm, he left, and started around, until he came to see an outsider.
This one was apparently the leader of a band guarding a narrow pass, and did not expect to see Dakro.
"Avdotya of the Sholai," she said, pointing at herself, seeming confused and nervous. She added more, but in the language beyond Dakro's understanding. Realizing this, Avdotya pointed back the way Dakro had come, and said, "Go back."
"Can you understand anything I say?" said Dakro, wondering if he could communicate with the bizarre outsider.
She looked confused, then pointed north and said, "Go back."
'This outsider, who has no right to be in lands Barred by the Shapers, dares to give me an order!' thought Dakro. 'This is not to be tolerated.'
With that thought, he continued south, his creations trailing behind him. She moved to stand in his way, and put her hand on the hilt of her sword.
Dakro decided he would have none of it, and continued, despite the implicit threat-and sure enough, the whole group began to attack him, but Dakro and his creations quickly felled the sholai, and then he gathered up the goods they had, and finding the way blocked, he resigned himself to travel through the icy caves.
