The Eastern Mines

Stunned by their realization of just how deep this so-called "Guild" had on this town, Akash remained seated at the table until Gnoll aroused the group and led them out the door, and on the path to the old mine. By the time they had reached the entrance full night had fallen, and the forest that they now crouched in was covered in shadow.

The entrance of the mine was a great stone archway. Bold carvings covered the archway, however, many sections had fallen or been otherwise destroyed by the passing of the centuries since its creators inhabited these lands. Just outside the entrance was a small encampment of tents, each flying the navy blue flag of the Thompson Company. The tents were nearly organized around a small fire around which several guards in uniform sat, quietly talking amongst themselves.

Remaining hidden in the bushes, Halimedes produced a small white flame in his hands. rolling it between his fingers, molding it like a ball of clay he shaped the crude figure of a man. Once satisfied with his creation he then thrust the flame towards the encampment causing it to leap from his hands and shoot towards the guards. Upon reaching the campfire Halimedes flame grew into the tall slender form a man wreathed in flame, who upon expanding, glared at Halimedes while the guards yelled out in fear scrambling for their weapons. The flaming visage slowly walked into one of the tents, never breaking eye contact with Hal until it suddenly winked out of existence. The guards were still shouting out in confusion, and taking advantage of the distraction the party quickly and silently slipped into the archway of the mine.

Once they had traveled out of earshot Akash turned to Hal, and asked, "What was that out there? Have you always been able to conjure a man of fire like that, and why was he staring at you? Pretty creepy man."

"It only started recently, the first time I saw him was back in the Golden Grain one night. He was just silently staring at me from the bar, it was creepy as shit."

"Well, as long as he helps us out I'll take it, let's keep moving."

They continued deeper into the mine. Alighting a small flame in their hand, Akash illuminated the mines for their companions who were less accustomed to the dark. Akash was amazed at the size of the halls given the stature of its creators. The hallway was wide enough to allow several carts to pass side-by-side and the ceiling extended past the aura of the flame's light, obscured by the ancient shadows. Eventually the hall opened up into a large open junction, with five smaller halls leading down into the heart of the mountain. Each passage was silent, giving little clue to the secrets that each hid. Taking a moment to scour the area for tracks, or any notion as to where to go next the party searched. Eventually Akash was able to determine the freshest tracks, most abundant tracks.

"Hey guys, I think we should probably check out this way. If they have only recently shut down the mine then this is probably where they have been excavating."

Charles walked over with Buck and knelt down on the ground comparing Buck's fresh prints to the marks that Akash had discovered. "I agree, these markings are only a few hours old at most, this is likely the best path to whatever we are looking for." Continuing down into the tunnel the air became cool and stale as if it had not seen the open sky, or felt the warmth of the sun in millenia. Deeper and deeper they continued twisting into the bowels of the mountain, eventually, they heard sounds of commotion.

"Quick, hide!" Whispered Hal to the party, as they all slipped into small alcoves that lined the tunnels and doused what little light they had. The noise grew louder and louder until a pack of guards and laborers alike ran up the tunnel breathing heavily, a few stealing glances behind them as if to confirm that they weren't being followed by something. Then as quick as they came they were gone, disappeared back to the surface.

Emerging from their hiding space Akash asked, "Uhhhh, any idea what that was about? Are we sure that we want to find out what they were running from?"

"We entered a contract, we must uphold our end." Replied Gnoll as he too stepped out from his alcove. "Not to mention, we have to get that sluid, we must keep going." turning down the tunnel Gnoll continued deeper. Shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders Akash turned and followed along with the rest of the party.

After only a couple minutes the tunnel once again opened into a grand, well lit chamber. Wrought iron braziers illuminated a massive carved wall. Anywhere else the piece of art in front of the party would likely be a woken tapestry full of vibrant threads, but clearly the dwarves' love of stone guided them in a different path. The carving consisted of a multitude of different colored stones and gems. Unfortunately whatever it depicted was ruined by the jagged hole in the center. Getting closer it appeared as though the hole had been created with the help of some explosive charge, the edges charged and coated with a thick ash. Just beyond the edges of the impromptu portal emanated quiet groans of pain.

"Woah, look at that." expressed Gnoll, letting out a breath of wonder. "Can you imagine what we could have learned from this if it wasn't destroyed, what secrets it held. It's a real shame that it's got that hole blasted in it."

"Admire later, sounds like there's still some people hurt through that hole." Akash hoisted themself up into the hole and lit another flame in his hand illuminating the space.

A small staircase led into a space that appeared similar to a ballroom. Smooth stone floors with small, but similarly detailed carvings covered the walls. However, the first thing that caught Akash's eyes were the bodies of guards strewn about the floor, each showing signs of intense blunt force trauma. Also occupying the space were four statues of dwarves in full armor. Each was carved from a different prismatic stone, the closest being carved from a striking emerald. Just before he stepped off the staircase to help the wounded guards Akash noticed a color out of place on the emerald statue. On the edge of the massive shield that it gripped with both hands he caught a glimpse of crimson blood, slowly running down, dripping onto the polished floor. A rush of fear sparked through his system, quickly holding out an arm he stopped his companions from stepping onto the floor.

"Hold on, something's wrong. I think those statues are a trap." Akash said under his breath, "There's blood on that one, and how those guards aren't looking good, something had to have done that to them."

"What do you propose we do then?" Asked Naivara, "If we want to help those guys then we have to get to them somehow."

"We could always just see what happens when we touch the floor, they seem docile enough right now." Suggested Gnoll, "Find out what they do and then devise a plan based on that."

"If we're gonna do that then let's all go together, I think we stand a better chance at surviving whatever this does as a group." Together they shuffled out onto the floor, making their way to the nearest guard whose chest rose and fell with labored breaths. Once they made it only ten feet from the stairs the statues came to life in perfect unison. Their eyes glowing with the color of the stone that comprised them. In a flash the statues were upon them, gliding swiftly and silently across the floor. Locking eyes with the party members, the statues thrust their shield forward, knocking Akash and Naivara to the floor. As soon as they hit the floor the statues re-focused onto the members of the party who remained standing. Gnoll and Charles led the defense from the statues, attempting to hold ground against their relentless assault. Gnoll's mace fell with heavy blows across the statues, Charles and Buck managed to land a few blows, however, most of Charles' lance strikes simply skated off of the hard stone that comprised the statues.

In the backline Akash and Naivara had scrambled to their feet and launched their own attacks. Down in this deep place away from the stars Akash felt a new source of power. The stars had always hung above him, guiding him, but now without their presence he felt within. Wishing for more, a constellation burst forth from his skin. An ethereal archer snaked its way up his neck causing him to burst alight with a cold starlight. Embracing his new surge Akash unleashed an arrow of pure starlight that split the air with a whistle. Its impact on the statue of sapphire caused the statue to crack and pop, crumbling into lackluster pieces across the ground. Hal turned to Akash.

"Well that's certainly new, and you said I had weird stuff going on."

Eventually the rest of the statues were quelled through various attacks, but not before the guardians of this temple got their licks in, everyone had been flattened to the floor at one point or another.

While the others walked around the perimeter of the room looking at the strange carvings Gnoll stabilized the guards that he could, and gave rites to those who had already passed. The carvings depicted tales of worship. It was hard to determine exactly what was being worshiped, or the exact practices, but it was clear that the dwarves that built this temple reveled in their devotion in a near fanatical fashion.

The chamber continued on into another smaller chamber. This one once again had carvings coating the walls, but additionally had a massive imposing coffin on the far end of the chamber with three smaller stone chests flanking it on either side. Gnoll immediately began to open one of the chests, its rudimentary lock was surprisingly easy to bypass, however, as he cracked the ancient lid a cloud of noxious green gas shot out of the chest, catching him by surprise. He fell back coughing, Akash rushed to his side.

"Are you okay?" he exclaimed, concern for his friend clear on his pale face.

"Yeha, I'll be fine." Gnoll replied, coughing into his hand as he sat up. "Just wasn't expecting it, that's all. What's in there anyways?" Peering inside revealed dusty scrolls amid silver candle sticks. "I'm taking these for later research." Gnoll said as he carefully extracted the scrolls putting them away in his pack. " I'll bet there's more in the other chests, I'm going to extract those, you guys check on the tomb."

"Alright, just be careful of more traps."

The tomb itself was covered in markings, each more skillfully wrought than the last. The part that was the most remarkable was the perfectly flat lid, its finish was mirror-like, the faces of the party reflecting off its dark surface. Small hisses could be heard in the background as Gnoll finished his own investigation of the other trapped chests.

"I've got a feeling that whatever we're looking for is inside that tomb." Said Charles. "I'm going to open it up, unless anyone has objections." Hearing silence Charles got his shoulder under the lip of the lid and heaved. a cloud of dust rolled out onto the floor as the seal was broken. The lid crashed to the floor, and as the dust cleared the party gathered around to witness whatever lay within the tomb. They saw the withered husk of a dwarf garbed in what was once obviously rich garments, the color faded, but still vibrant, his face a gaunt visage of emaciation. In his grasp was a stunningly crafted mace, dust had not sullied its form, remaining as brilliant as the day it was set in the tomb, so very long ago.

"Well if that's not it, I don't know what we're supposed to be looking for." Said Akash, "I wonder what it does." Just as he finished his thought Charles reached down and grabbed ahold of the mace.

As soon as his fingers wrapped around the haft the priest's eye's lit with a brilliant white light. A ghost of his form rose from the tomb and plunged into Charles. His own eyes took on the white light and with a roar he swung the mace at Gnoll, which itself seemed to be wreathed in a white flame.

"Woah!" Yelled Naivara as they all backed away from Charles. "What do we do? Gnoll, Akash, either of you got anything for this?"

"I sure don't." replied Akash.

"Neither do I." Concurred Gnoll. "I think we might just need to subdue him so he can't hurt us."

"You want us to knock him out? That's the plan?" asked Naivara incredulously.

"Well unless you just want to let him kill us all I don't see any other options, but am open to suggestions!" Gnoll yelled back. Before anyone could suggest an alternative Charles charged forward slamming the mace into Gnoll's chest knocking the wind from him.

"Charles, you gotta fight it! We don't want to hurt you man." Akash yelled as he conjured another arrow of starlight and thrust it at Charles, the light colliding with his chest forcing him to a knee. Gnoll got up to his own feet and stepped to Charles, with a swift powerful stroke he brought the butt of his mace down on Charles' head immediately knocking him unconscious. As he crumpled to the floor the specter of the priest rose and forced itself into the cracks in Gnoll's armor. Now it was his turn to scream, his head snapping back, his eyes taking on the white glow that had moments before inhabited Charles' eyes.

"Ahhh hells, not again." Said Naivara. "Akash, whatever you do dont get close to him, and don't touch that damned mace."

"Oh trust me, I wasn't planning on it." He responded as they both slowly backed up from the approaching form of Gnoll.

"You're pretty good at healing right?"

"As long as they're not dead I can generally help a good amount. Wh-" Akash was cut off as Naivara fired a round into Gnoll's thigh, causing a hitch in his gait. "What is wrong with you!" He exclaimed, turning to Naivara.

"What? You said you could heal him, now help me knock him out before he kills the both of us."

"Fine. But a little warning would have been nice." Akash replied grumpily. A sheath of frost ran down his arm as he cast a spell at Gnoll further slowing his approach.

"You might want to cover your ears by the way, I'm going to try something." Naivara said off-handedly as she loaded a round that had a small blue rune inscribed on the casing. Just after Akash managed to slap their hands over their ears a boom of thunder ripped through the chamber as Naivara fired the round. A shockwave washed over Gnoll forcing the specter from his body and causing him to collapse. The priest hung in the air for a moment, a searing hate emanating from it as it stared at Naivara and Akash before it disappeared up into the ceiling.

"Thank the stars that's over now." A heavy sigh of relief escaping from Akash. He then went and healed their friends, bringing them back to consciousness. "Alright, how are you two feeling?"

"Not great, but I'll be fine" replied Charles, wincing as he rubbed his head.

"Yeah, I'm in the same boat" agreed Gnoll, "what do we want to do with that?" Pointing at the mace that now lay on the ground, still glowing with a cold white fire.

"We could wrap it up I guess?" Suggested Akash, "Just make sure not to touch the thing. Here I've got some extra clothes in my pack." He gingerly draped the clothes over the mace and began to wrap it up, being sure to avoid touching it directly. The light still shone through the layers of cloth, but for the most part was diminished. Strangely enough the light that shone from the mace illuminated a series of pictures atop the tomb's smooth lid. A lone mountain with a star at the peak, a small house on the shore of a calm lake, and a fractured landscape with indiscernible pockets of energy. Throughout the images snaked shifting runes whose meaning was lost on Akash. "Alright, that's really weird, let's get out of this place before something else tries to kill us." He handed the mace off to Charles who gingerly placed it into his pack, being careful to maintain the cloth layer between him and it.