[Quest] What Lies Beneath... (Evalin, Rayage)

[Paragon]

The effect was immediate. The lines of power struck the seal, and a sonic boom blasted from the burial mound. The nuits were pushed back slightly by the force buffeting them, and even the diverse panicked momentarily. The force subsided quickly enough however. In its wake, a passage now lie open before them in the mound. Air seeped out of it, stirring memories. It smelt of age - ancient notions escaping through the opened seal. For the briefest of moments the nuits would hear a distant howl. After a moment of recuperation, the air calmed, and the party could continue on into the mound. Darkness met them, the passage only visible because of the sunlight seeping in behind. They walked for a couple of metres, before coming into a wider, more open chamber. In the centre of the chamber was a sundial. Once it had been a radiant, shimmering metal. Now it was bronzed and browned with age and dank darkness. The object was still in tact however. To the east and the west, tunnels stretched. In the fading light, the nuits sent the diverse either way for a short distance to scout ahead. They came back quickly enough, reporting the east tunnel was blocked by rubble and rock, and the west by an old, locked door. The nuits foray into the ruins had begun. Who knew what lurked beneath?

[Rayage]

The circles of power and the complex glyph layout worked just as intended. Before the first set of glyphs were activated Ray was having doubts in their plans, but as he saw the sheer amount of power being controlled and redirected his thoughts began to change. It was amazing, and brought a smile to his face. This was the product of hours of work and it was going to be a success.

When the words were said the energy was redirected the nuit grinned and laughed as the power collided in the center. Perfect, that is what this was. The effects were instant as he observed, the seal was broken, and the nuit braced himself, taking a couple steps back from the sheer amount of force that impacted his body. A couple more steps and arms flew out to balance his body as he resisted the urge to be blown over. He didn’t give in.

Standing his ground he looked at the mound, ”It is done” he said not hesitating after the howl came over the group. The mound had a nice opening in it and he said, gesturing to Evalin, ”Ready?” he asked, letting the Diverse enter first before he took his first steps into the ruins. Not bothering to see if the other nuit was following. He knew she would. He knew.

The darkness around them grew darker, but it wasn’t totally absent of light. They could still barely see by the time they had reached the spilt in the path. Looking at the almost empty room he smiled, ”What do you think we will find down here?” he took a step towards the ancient sundial, ”Curious, isn’t it?” he asked laying a hand over it, feeling the cold metal, observing it for a minute before the Diverse came back and reported.

”Locked doors should be easy to break.” he said gesturing over the otherworldly brutes that Eva had contracted as he brooded over the two options, ”The stone could be easily removed, but who knows how long that would take. It probably collapsed for a reason.” he said, ”The door is the only option here.” he said turning towards the hallway with the door, ”Now,” he began, ”If its locked then there must be a key.” he said turning back to the sundial, ”But,” he grinned, ”we wouldn’t want to pass up anything. Lets get some light in here.” he said, wanting the Diverse to get on that.

[Evalin]

For the briefest instance in time, a smile touched those cold lips. The power, the raging torrent scorched its way and slammed into the source of this immortals annoyance, and it was with the greatest satisfaction that she watched it crumble to ash and soot. So it is... None shall stand between I and what I do seek. With this hand I shall change the course of Fate for all. The force of the collision whipped Evalin's cloak about her and tore at her skin and clothing, and yet that cold smile never faltered and those eyes yet focused upon the blinding light of her victory. Digging her staff into the dirt the girl turned her face away as the shower of dirt and rubble flew past her form as she was forced a step back, leaning heavily upon her staff for support. As the chaos of the moment began to lesson, the girl looked back upon her work, and her pride and satisfaction grew when she spied the gaping hole opened anew where once stood the mound, "Thus shall we step forward once more..." she spoke softly, more to herself than anyone else. The breath of air that spilled from the opening brushed over the girl's skin, and a shiver lit her spine as the sound of howling escaped from its depths, but whether from uncertainty or excitement none could say. Her eyes turned to the man as she nodded her affirmation, "Yes. Let us not tarry any longer." Evalin waved a hand at the Diverse, indicating they were to go first, and with a slight surprise they responded with out a single complaint. Following close after those hulking bodies she pondered, When the prospect of battle grows closer, perhaps they lose what humor they have? But it matters not in any case. Into the depths of the unknown, lead by the prospect of long lost knowledge and hidden dangers... The darkness engulfed the party, wiping from the girl's view all but what she knew to be. What little light pierced this veil did little more than cast further shadow upon the unknown, yet even still Evalin would not be deterred. The smiled returned once more, What shall we find... what unknown mysteries exist within the depths of the earth? Surly it be of great value or importance, for such a seal speaks such. Evalin did not hesitate to step further into the darkness, pressing past Rayage to lay her hands upon the sundial and gaze up at its peak, "How... unusual. What need is there for such an object here?" She turned as the Diverse returned and Rayage came forward as well. She listened quietly to what they spoke, nodding slowly and glancing at the man and back at the sundial once more, "Locked doors often speak more than we know. The question being... Are they locked to keep those who seek out, or to contain something within?" Shaking her head, the girl leaned upon her staff and gazed down the tunnel which contained the door, "However, be it for containment or for breaching, in both chases must we do away with this barrier." Looking at the diverse she waved a hand, "A torch so that we might light our path." From one of his packs Gordo fished out a single torch, handing it to Evalin. Raising her hand Evalin frownd, concentrating her djed to the palm of her left hand, forcing it to pour out into her palm as res. The seals upon her arm reacted in an instant, forcing the stream of res to no more than a trickle. Breathing deeply Evalin hissed, "Hakin." The res ignited, producing a flame no bigger than a candle. Bringing the torch head closer the girl allowed the flame to spread and catch ahold of the torches head until it too ignited, filling the chamber with a flickering light. Once finished the girl released her hold on the flow and the tiny flame in her palm flickered out. Passing the torch to Rayage Evalin nodded, "Let us view this locked door ourselves."

[Paragon]

Though the door looked simple enough at first glance, upon closer inspection it was deadlocked from the other side. The two Nuit would wonder just how many doors and seals they would have to breach to proceed through the caverns. Having now lit the passage, they would see the sundial in a clearer light. It was an ancient thing; bronzed, but intricate all the same. The triangular wedge that was supposed to cast the shadow was faced northward, to a dead end in the wall. It would occur to the Nuits that a dark cavern was a queer place for such an object to be. If the sundial wasn't to tell the time, perhaps it had another use. A door was a portal; an opening to something new and sometimes unknown. It was appealing, and so perhaps they would try to open it. If they chose not to attempt to puzzle out the sealed door, a pile of rubble and rock would meet them down the eastward passage.

[Rayage]

The light provided a new perspective on the place, as did the dark, but it seemed what the light had to show was infinitely more useful than the darkness. Nothing was mores insightful than the light, just as the dark had a reputation for obscuring views. Evalin seemed to be a light all her own. Her insight and way with words banished the darkness that was Ray. He knew that her spirit was strong, and that is why he had taken to watching her. She was, well, one of the more interesting things in his life right now, and she had yet to disappoint.

He listened to Eva, "Yes, it is unnatural. You suppose that this underground place was once above? Perhaps instead of being destroyed in the valterrain it was, instead, buried by it?" he suggested an outcome that seemed the most logical, "People say that there was a lot lost and destroyed by the valterrian, but exactly how much of it is simply hidden from plain sight?" he dared to ask the question, "Much like this newly discovered place," he said, "just how many ruins lay dormant in the very earth itself? It's quite plausible that most wasnt lost at all, but sleeping, waiting to be discovered again. Think Evalin. Think of what we might find here?" He also had other speculations about the place, but for now he would keep those to himself. Sometimes thoughts and deductions are of more value when they are not shared.

"Ah yes, doors." he said nodding at her comment. "Despite the risk, all barriers must be broken." he said. "Besides, we do have a need to explore every inch of this place." he said, "Its what we came here to do, no? So perhaps we get working on removing the rubble, and inspecting the sundail. I suspect that the door was meant more to keep us out, than something in." however a unreasonable guess it was, it was his assumption. He certainly wouldnt want anyone snooping in his place, now would he?

The torch cast many shadows about the place. The fire flickered in the nuits grasp, and he was extra careful to keep it away from his body. One little mistake and he could go up in flames which was quite painful remembering from past experience. "Yes, lets remove that rubble"[ he pointed at the eastward passageway "And let us," he looked at Evalin, "Take a closer look at the curious device." he said taking his light with him as he walked over to it. Bending down his hand touched the bronze which it was made out of and he began to run his hands over the thing, applying pressure as if waiting for something to give, a button to be pressed and the passageway to be open.

[Evalin]

Turning down the westward path, allowing the flickering light of the res crafted flame to guide her path. Quick steps brought her before the portal, and upon its smooth surface she placed a cold, lifeless hand. Moving her fingers across its surface, the woman could find no signs, no indentations and no clues as to how the door was sealed, "Of course I believe you are right, my dear Immortal, but none the less to worry without concern is far better than to be certain when all is lost." Turning her back to the sealed entrance, Evalin made her way to the sundial once more, laying her hands upon the cold bronze, "What a curious place for such an object indeed..." Raising her head the woman cast her eyes upon the Diverse, who had taken to rolling a pair of what looked like carved bones upon the floor. Waving a hand she called out to them, "Be you two of enough sense to clear the path to the east? Work upon the rubble and stone as this one and I gaze upon the more pressing matter at hand." The hulking masses paused in their game and looked up at the one who spoke to them. Scratching his head Gordo looked at his companion, "Didja catch what the witch be sayin Jorgon? The bitch is dribbling at the mouth." Shrugging his shoulders the other replied, "Something about moving her boulders around, but I dunt think I'd be doin that fer her." At this they both laughed and went back to their game. For a moment the woman was stunned, but then a cloud of the bitterest nature descended upon her, and if fire could be summoned forth from her soul it would have leaked from her lips and eyes as she spat out,"Ignorant fools who speak of nonsense and slander, if you be of sound mind and wish to leave this place with your reward then be upon your feet and clear the path of obstruction!" Her hand curled tighter around her staff as she fought back the urge to hurl upon the the fires of her wrath, but the man's eyes and the mocking curl of his lip held her steady, Would I not to allow this man to see me lose what little control I hold over these beast... Be damned them both, for if I feel this immortals words of amusement later I shall send them back to their realm as naught but ash. The diverse looked upon each other and grinned, collecting their bones and moving toward the piled rubble in the eastern corridor. Shaking her head, Evalin forced her mind to turn from the retched fools she had summed forth, Perhaps this was folly after all... Her eyes fell upon the sundial once more. She watched as Rayage ran his hand along the device, and within her mind other ideas were forming, "This be a device of telling time no? Then, perhaps, that is what it is hear to do even now when no light might reach it." her hand moved to take the torch from the man's hand, raising it over her head and stepping back, "By shadow it reads the hour of the day, and so let us cast our own shadows to see if it might grant us the key to the sealed door." And so, with the torch held high the woman would make a slow circuit of the entire sundial, the light of the torch casting a shadow at various points upon the sundial. Though she did not expect this to truly work, Evalin none the less felt it was worth attempting, What have we now but to attempt?

[Paragon]

As the Diverse began their descent on the rubble blocking the eastern passage, the two Nuits returned to the sundial in the central chamber, studying it by torchlight. While Rayage poked and prodded the device, hoping something would move, Evalin thought with a deeper logic, moving around so as to cast her shadow against the thing. In actuality, the two approaches were needed in combination. They complimented each other like light and darkness. When Rayage touched the bronzed triangle that cast the shadows, he found it could move, able to rotate completely in a circular motion. He was also able to turn it so that it faced in the direction of the sealed door. Evalin moved by the firelight, casting a thin shadow as she moved. If she stood correctly, she could line her shadow up with the sealed door too. Perhaps it was this that would unlock the western door. As the Diverse pulled rubble away, dispersing it back into the central chamber, they too would make a discovery of their own. A series of symbols were etched onto the ground, arrows pointing down the eastern passage, but interspersed with suns and moons, stars, all engraved in a basic but very visual fashion. It was almost certain that these ruins held more secrets than a mortal mind could guess at.

[Rayage]

As the nuit worked he heard an argument erupt between the summons and the summoner. Oh this was truly amusing to him, couldnt she control her own otherworldly brutes? The irony of the situation made him crack a smile. This will be interesting. Their only motivation, it seems, is the wealth that she promises them. That is how she controls those things, but alas it is only one chain and a weak one at that. Eva, havent you learned anything about manipulation in your time on this world? Though eventually she got through to them he wondered just how long they are going to be bossed around by someone with... such a lack of taste. Ah, developments. He laughed inwardly to himself as he worked, his entire presence mocking her. He was sure she knew it too, her control was only an illusion. The real controller lies with the riches that may or may not exist. So risky. He was already weary of them. Then again, what was life without a gamble or two? Chance always makes things interesting, and chance always leaves room for change.

"Oh my dear immortal," he said, "You best choose your words carefully. False promises are the bane of any summoner, right?" he 'gently' reminded her of her place and the delicate balance between the summon and summoner. He was no expert in the field of summoning, but it couldnt be too bad to make an air of caution. He didnt want then to take their lives because no riches might be found. Alas, he is only a nuit.

It was about that time when Ray noticed that the great triangle could move, and better yet he could move it. How the ages of the years hadnt set this still was a mystery to him. Though he would gladly take it. The great dial rotating, could this be the key they were looking for? With a sound of strain and a lunge the nuit slowly moved the dial to face the door, and once that was accomplished he quickly stepped back as if expecting it to shoot fire or something and blow down the door! Rather dramatic, but one can never know the seals in this place. They had already broken one and it was quite dramatic, what was wrong with expecting the same from this one? What this whole place locked up tighter than a prison? What if this was once a prison? The thought crossed his mind.

What will we find here? The sense of curiosity drove him on and motivated him to remove all obstacles that were laid in their path. He knew that, together, they could overcome this place and unlock its inner most secrets. That was the faith he had when he turned from the western door to watch those who lie in the east. His suspicions and anxiety over them still not calm.

[Evalin]

Be damned them both... Perhaps it would be best to kill one and make an example... Though never would she show, the girl could feel the man's laughter, could taste the amusement he found in the entire situation. Inwardly she bristled, a flame of hate blooming to life within the withered carcass of her chest, yet the cold and unfeeling outward shell showed not this burning passion. Adjusting her hood so that her face was fully covered, Evalin hid from the world the curling grimace as it passed across her lips, "So it be my DEAR immortal, but fear not my words do yet hold sway." Lifting the torch higher she walked further around the sundial, "And of course, my dear immortal, if our venture lead to fruitful gain then my words will not have been coated in deceit." Those creatures, those retched beings of another world... So idiotic, so ignorant of their lowly stature. Nothing more than beasts... No, even the average mule boasts more worth that those who dig in the dirt like worms even now, It is obvious that I must find a way to... Instill within their hearts the dread and loyalty deserved of one such as I. This, however, was a thought and ponder for another day. For now the Diverse did as they were bid, and the Nuit would abide their existence for as long as they remained useful. For now there were more pressing matters to which to attend, and Evalin now returned her full attention to the strange device. Absently she noted how the man cloaked in mockery turned the great triangle, the sound of ill used metal and gears grinding upon one another echoed through the chamber. When he stepped back Evalin paused as well, tilting her head, "What purpose is there in angling it such?" Stepping closer, the girl moved to stand at the man's shoulder, the shadow of the torch angling to touch the door as well.

[Paragon]

The moment the triangle lined up with the door, and the shadow did too, the door clicked open loudly and then began to slowly creak open. The sundial was not so much practical, as it was a small unlocking system to delay intruders. The Nuits would stand still, watching for a moment, holding their breath at what might be behind the door. But they would not expect to see what finally appeared in the threshold of the doorway. A figure stood, as if it had been waiting for the door to open. It watched them. They would know that for it stood still, and then cocked its head in study. It was a naked figure, initially looking humanoid in shape - though androgynous - but in the darkness the Nuits would soon note the tentacle like filaments that writhed on the sides of its body. And then the thing moved quickly. So very quickly. It darted out of the torchlight, away from the doorframe, and into the opposite corner of the room, shrouding itself in darkness again. It watched them silently.