Into the Rift

[Irowyn]

Fall 86th 512AV

Irowyn wandered around Nyka. He stalked through the city just as he always had. Down this same path with this same gait. Today, however, he decided to rest at the foot of one of the bridges from the West quarter to the South quarter.

He wasn't sure what he was doing in Nyka, anymore. Maybe it was time to move on but did it much matter? Where would he go? Maybe it was time to head back to Syliras? He supposed that he might be able to see if the smoke had cleared. He could see everyone had "forgiven" him yet, whether or not they had forgotten about the inappropriate and inaccurate cowardice to which he was attributed.

For now, however, he was here. He was in Nyka. Today, he would continue to lean against the side of this bridge and admire the great quarry in the distance.

[Volens]

Volens was wandering the city. He had long recovered from his wound, and was back to work. Though that did not prevent him from wandering the city, nor did it prevent his thoughts from wandering. The salty breeze from the ocean, or the smell of textile, or even the smell of sweat and humanity couldn’t bring him back to reality. He was in an adventurous mood, and well he was beginning to become accustomed to the city. Which in itself made Volens think. He didn’t often stay in one place long enough to get used to the sights and smells, he would either ware out his welcome or would become bored. although that may have been his master’s influence, he noticed that he had fewer problems now. Though the reason was unknown to Volens. Volens briefly looked down, the streets were very dirty, and though the stone hid blood well, it was spotted easily enough if you looked hard enough. This whole city must be covered in the blood of monks, and innocents alive. But this didn’t trouble him, Volens quickly changed subjects without even knowing. He thought of the food now, as the smell of fish wafted up from the wharfs, it probably wasn’t even the days catch, but the smell of every catch the fisherman had made. Volens stomach growled quietly, he hoped he had time to eat before the sun went down, guarding the merchants store all night wouldn’t seem fun on an empty stomach.

As Volens crossed one of the bridges, he wasn’t even paying attention to the direction he was going, or from which district had had crossed from, or even where he was heading, but the normally aloof Volens was quickly brought back to reality by a strange figure resting on the bridge. He didn’t consider himself a local or anything, but Volens had gotten used to many of the faces he had seen in the city, and this one was definitely new. His hand involuntarily rested on this long sword, but Volens quickly stifled his nervous reflex. The man hadn’t made and threatening actions. and while he seemed alien to Volens, with his many tattoos, Volens was quickly overcome with curiosity. His mind began to search for any clue to the mans existence, but Volens was very unlearned. And he quickly gave up, and settled down on the bridge, a few paces from the man, trying to hide his studying gaze.

[Devlin Blackern]

Nyka had been different. It made Devlin itch. He didn't like the monks lording about, or the looks he'd gotten from the permanent residents. Made him feel like someone was going to plunge a knife into his back at any second. He longed for the wilderness. He felt more at home out there than he did surrounded by walls. He'd thought about leaving on more than one occasion, just strapping his boots on and making his way back to Syliras, or maybe Ravok. There was only one thing keeping him rooted in Nyka. The petching Aperture.

He found himself drawn to it on a daily basis. There was something about it that just seemed to call to him. He didn't know what it was, but he'd felt it since he'd walked through the gates. Every day he found himself meandering to one of the bridges, just to lean over the rail and stare down into the abyss. He wanted to know what was down there. Maybe it was treasure, or something that no one had ever seen before. It wasn't the prospect of money or fame that interested him, it was the prospect of adventure. He craved it.

So there he was again, stepping out onto one of the bridges. His normal spot was occupied by a pair of men, neither really paying attention to the other. He took a place between them and leaned his head over the rail.

"What do you lads think is down there?" He asked, not really expecting a response.

[Irowyn]

Irowyn couldn't decide which man had warranted more attention, the one staring at him or the one who spoke to them. For a moment, he decided to simply shift his gaze from the far off quarry to the Aperture. Eventually, he decided to respond to Devlin's musings.

"I'm sure that the only treasure to be found down there is among the corpses of would-be monks," he grimly answered. "I wouldn't choose certain death for the pursuit of their remains."

He grew silent after this. There were many things for which Irowyn would be willing to risk his life. There, really, was nothing that he was willing to die for. No cause was noble enough for that. However, plenty of things could motivate him to risk everything...love, protecting women and children, justice. Treasure wasn't enough of an incentive for Irowyn.

Irowyn didn't mean to come off as completely gruff and unwelcoming. He threw Devlin a softer smile. "I can see that we share a certain sense of curiosity. Understand though," his smile melted into more of a look of concern, "its important to choose your expeditions wisely."

"And what about you?" he turned to Volen. His charge wasn't in any way unfriendly but it was cold and cautious. "I can't tell if you're more interested in myself or in the Aperture but I am curious. What brings you out to the edge of the west quarter? Are you simply strolling the city or are you hunting for adventure as well?"

[Volens]

When the second man approached the bridge Volens was immediately unsettled. But he quickly calmed himself. It was completely silly that any of these men would be dangers to him, not everyone in the world was out to get mages. Besides, these men couldn’t had known he had magic- he had only told one soul since his master died. And his scars were well hidden by his long sleeves.

Volens almost jumped when he heard the men speaking, he had been quickly reabsorbed into his own thoughts, he missed half of what the first man had said, but listened to the rest of the conversation, almost hoping it would lead to a juicy chunk of knowledge. But it was all small talk between strangers, relieving Volens even more, proving that these man weren’t in cahoots.

Then the first man, the man he had been curious about directed the conversation toward the mage, it didn’t contain any anger, so Volens answered simply, “Many of the locals fear the aperture.” As absent minded as he was, he had noticed the fear when crossing the bridges. “But, there is an energy about it. I cannot describe the feeling myself.”

“As for my intent,” Volens paused, he didn’t really know what he was doing here, “I saw something of interest. I suppose that why I wandered into the city in the first place.”

“There probably isn’t much treasure down there, you’re right.” He tried his best to contribute to the conversation, “But, I’ve heard rumors that there are ruins down there, of an ancient city that was destroyed many years ago.” He stared off into the distance, he could almost taste the knowledge hidden, “There might be some lost nugget of lore tucked away” He said to no one in particular.

[Devlin Blackern]

Devlin nodded. "You're probably right," he said, still looking over the edge of the bridge. "Still, it'd be somethin' to go down there, see what only the monks have seen. Petch, but we'd be heroes." He'd inadvertently used we, perhaps because he felt a connection to the tattooed man. Each of them seemed to share the same passion for adventure, and the same insatiable curiosity.

"You're saying there're ruins of an ancient city right under our petching feet? And you don't think there's treasure? You're concerned with...lore? What are you? Some kind of scholar? If there's a city down there, there's bound to be something of value. Think of it lads. We'd be the first non-monks to ever set foot down there. What would that feel like?" Devlin said, turning away from the view of the Aperture and letting his gaze drift between the two men.

"That's got to be worth the risk doesn't it?"

[Irowyn]

Irowyn looked over the edge, just for a moment. There was a slope, down into the Aperture. It wasn't exactly the "traditional" way in but it wasn't a fatal drop, either. For a minute, he thought about Devlin's plan.

He never really got that chance to explore Falyndar but to now explore the ruins of Nykshelia? That would make up for it and more, right? it was generally known what was in Falyndar. Most people would never get to lay eyes on that part of Mizahar because of the incredible danger there. But the danger was largely known. People knew what was in Falyndar and they knew that they would be better served to never get anywhere near those dangers. But the Aperture? What was down there? What secrets did Nykshelia hold?

Just as he was pondering all of these thoughts, he felt himself lose his balance. He tumbled forward and off of the ledge. Although he was able to catch himself, it was certainly a less than "comfy" experience. Furthermore, he was now half way into the Aperture. He didn't fall all the way down but the ledge that he was now standing upon was well below the safe levels of the Nyka streets.

He searched the rock wall but found that there was really no way to get back up. Not alone anyway. There really seemed to be no where to go but down.

[Volens]

Volens was pondering all the lost lore that could laden that darkened city beneath their feet. The two men had certainly piqued his interest, and he was pondering jumping down there himself. But he knew that would be silly, even though the urge remained. He did have some gear that might be useful in this venture. His mouth began to water as the thoughts would come together.

But his thoughts were rudely interputed by a loud noise, it took Volens almost a full minute to realize that one of the men had vanished, and another after that to see that the that man had jumped into the aperture. These men were brave indeed, or maybe foolish- though no more foolish than Volens himself, who now berated himself for not jumping in first

When Volens peered into the aperture, it dawned that the man had simply stumbled into the gash into the earth. Which made much more sense than a man just leaping into the dangerous unknown. “Are you alright, sir?” called Volens, suddenly realizing that he did not know either of these men’s names. Volens almost considered jumping down the ledge to join the man, but he did his best to fight this unusual urge.

He didn’t even have any of his gear, he distinctly remember having some rope. And he remembered that he had a couple lamps, and torches. And he might be able to get his horse into the city so they could pull up what ever they find- Volens quickly returned to his thoughts, assuming these men would all venture into the ruined city, and return laden with treasure.

[Devlin Blackern]

"Well bloody petchin' hell," Devlin said, laughing a bit behind his hand. He couldn't believe the poor petcher had taken a spill. Lucky thing though. He could've fallen all of the way into the Aperture...and then he'd have to explore. Devlin smiled. In his mind a plan was forming.

"He ain't bleedin'. That alright enough for you scholar?" Devlin said, giving the man a mischievous grin. In the next second, Devlin had hopped the railing and dropped down into the ravine. He landed on the ledge next to Irowyn, brushed himself off, and clapped the man on the back. The first two claps were nothing but friendly, in the spirit of budding camaraderie.

The third clap on the man's back was different. It had more force behind it, just enough to throw the man's balance off. The fact that Devlin had extended a foot was just a precaution. They'd explore the Aperture. All they'd needed was a little push.

[Irowyn]

This time Irowyn went further down. It was slightly more painful but nothing was broken or bruised. He just had the wind knocked out of him, nothing from which he couldn't recover in a minute or two. There was something different about this fall, though. Something very specific.

He had felt Devlin's hand on his back. He knew it was generally friendly. He understood that Devlin felt that they would probably "all have a good laugh about this later." Irowyn had understood all that but Devlin, here, had made a definitive choice. He made a choice for Irowyn. Irowyn had made a choice too, but it would seem that it had been taken away from him. These were the kinds of things that caused the ghosts in Irowyn's mind to start bustling around. It was the kind of thing that got his heart rate up and his blood hot.

"You actually did it!" Irowyn shouted upward with equal parts disbelief and annoyance. "You actually have the audacity!"

Irowyn looked around. This time, it was not for a way to climb back up. He knew that that was no longer an option. He was looking around for the best direction in which to travel. Irowyn now stood inside of the Aperture, looking for the way out.

"Well," he shouted at Devlin, looking expectantly upward at him. "Its your turn, get your ass down here. Let's start exploring!"