So, who are you, may I ask? What is this place, is this where I can find the Primoverano Temple ruins, and who are these ancients you speak of, anyways? Ember Rose's mind was buzzing with questions for the human that essentially carried her to their home and gave her a large, steaming bowl of soup. Ember Rose sipped the flavorful broth, her talons secured on the chair's rings, and her hands awkwardly trying to use the human-sized spoon to eat.

I am but I am not. You have ended up in a town called Nefunuku. You are from far away, no?  Young, too. A runaway.

Uh, yes, I'm from far away. I did run away, I guess.

Running away because you felt restrained. You were ostracized, no one in Eldur Ljos liked you. You have no real control of yourself, and you have ended up here purely by accident. And, you're looking for something that is not here, but in faraway lands. If I am not mistaken, you were responsible for the distant city of Estaiña burning to the ground.

That was an accident. I was attacked, I tried to not let things get out of hand...

I know. The mysterious human stood up, with a grin on their face. Do you wonder who I am?  Why I know the things I do?  

Ember Rose nodded, taking another sip from the spoon.

Your feet- er, talons... have walked many, many steps.  Across various terrains.  They tell stories, that would otherwise be lost in the wind.

Who are you, anyways?

Oh, how rude of me not to introduce myself. You may call me Nalowale 'ike. I will show you to the guest room now, someone is awaiting your arrival tomorrow, and rest for the journey is important.

Nalowale 'ike lifted the small humanoid avian from where she was perched, gently carrying her to a large room, where there was only a large bed tended with green blankets. Nalowale 'ike set Ember Rose on the bed, then turned around to exit the room. Ember Rose couldn't help but to fall asleep immediately.

After what seemed like too soon later, the mysterious host entered the room again, gently poking Ember Rose's shoulder. Nalowale 'ike proceeded to lift Ember Rose off the bed. Before she knew it, Nalowale 'ike had placed a bunch of berries and bread crumbs in Ember Rose's bag, then quickly retreated inside again, holding the door ever-so-slightly ajar.

Sorry I can't accompany you up the hill, I do not do well in the sunlight.  But the one up there shall know who you are, and satiate your hunger.

With that, Nalowale 'ike shut the door. All Ember Rose could do now was follow the trail, hoping that whoever she was to encounter next would know about the ruined Primoverano temple she was looking for... once she's had a chance to wake up.

(This post was last modified: 04-28-2020, 03:14 PM by phoenixofthesun14.)

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Laki sat waiting, expecting Au Tahuna's words to manifest into reality like some kind of prophecy. He could almost feel the forces of destiny leading someone through the maze of streets to the rag-covered door. A long silence stretched out around him, yawning to be filled by a long-expected entry.

But no one came.

At last, Au Tahuna broke the silence herself.

Tea? she asked, rising from her pile of rags and making her way over to a small fire over which a pot of liquid was bubbling away.

Uh... yes, please!

She picked up a crude wooden ladle and two small bowls made from coconut shells, then began to spoon the liquid into each. When she handed Laki his bowl, he found the warmth in his hands comforting and that the clean, slightly floral fragrance of the tea cut through the cloud of the incense and brought some clarity.

I'm sure you must have surmised by now that the Tangata cult is not a new phenomenon, such as it might appear to those who have seen it's rise here in Nefunuku. The Takele, or rather some of the Takele, worshipped Tangata long before any humans came to Henua and for some time afterwards, too.

I thought the Takele were gone long before humans arrived. That's what all the stories say!

The stories contain grains of truth, but there is much they leave out or get wrong. Most of what they teach about the Takele is false.

Then what happened to them? Why all the ruins now?

It is the same story as always. There was a war. Many races fought for one side or the other. Even humans were split.

So... some of us fought with the Tangata cult?

Au Tahuna nodded sadly.

But... why? What is it about the Tangata cult that led to war in the first place. Why am I so sure that there is something wrong about it?

I could tell you much of the mysteries of the Tangata, but I do not think you would be ready. You must see it for yourself.

Then I've come all this way for nothing, he said, bitterly, staring down at his as yet undrunk tea.

Not at all, Au Tahuna replied kindly in her child's voice. This has been but a step on a journey and I am but a signpost to the future. I will show you the way you must go, but not quite yet. She paused for a moment, then, Drink your tea, then come back to me the before you leave Nefunuku. Tonight, you will find that there are others you must meet. Be open to them, go with them, get involved in their lives, but do not forget to come back to me.

Laki didn't know how he felt. Disgusted, partly, that he had come all this way for so little information, but also intrigued and... scared. He drained his cup - the floral tea was still scalding hot - and left without saying anything.

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In Sobishima there were gods on every corner. Tiny shrines set into walls, or sacred words painted on bricks with dabs of gold. Each of these would have a groove underneath where thousands of people over hundreds of years had touched their fingers to, or rubbed fabric against to imbue their clothes with luck. Gods were everywhere, watching with eyes of pearl.

In Nefunuku... it wasn't quite like that. The temples seemed to be spread out, and set apart from the smoke and the metal. The largest temple was a ziggurat rising high in the distance, bristling with moai and feathers and claws, like rows of pineapple leaves. Hane made their way uphill. They looked out for shrines, or words on walls, and found nothing but market stalls and graffiti. Further uphill, the streets seemed to grow smaller and the buildings more looming. Hane began to lose track of how many turns they had taken. They came, for the third time, onto a three-way crossroads where none of the paths seemed to go uphill.

A human man had been crouched at the crossroads, wolfing down what appeared to be bread wrapped in a large leaf, the last two times Hane had circled this crossroads. Now he was staring, standing and wringing the leaf in his hands, and it occured to Hane that he had probably been watching them closely each time.

Lost?

I'm looking for somewhere, to pray was what they wanted to say, but they said, where people pray. Which way should I go?

Which gods in specific?

The - Hane bit their lip, bird god.

Don't think I ever saw a Tengu shrine here, we don't get many like you. Not Falkismanne, either.

No. The Tangata. They hadn't wanted to say it so boldly.

The man furrowed his brow and stared at Hane, his eyes hard like a moai's. No. Nobody prays to the Tangata. Not here on Nefunuku, never, not that I know of. Ask anyone and they'll say the same. They're old gods, nobody wants to wake them.

Then - the temple?

What do you want with our temple? He was losing his patience.

I just want to know more about the Tangata. I'm - Hane straightened up - a theologist. Doing research on similarities between Tengu and Tangata religions. I seek to know the history. That is all. You don't happen to know, do you? You don't have to tell me your name.

I don't know the history.

Does anyone?

No.

Are there no books? No temple records? No -

Au Tahuna, he interrupted them, a glint in his eye.

Where's that?

She knows the history better than anyone else here. Go to see her and you'll find out pretty quick why nobody else wants to know the history.

Hane hoped the man didn't see the hunger in their eyes. I need directions. Please.

He grinned. Twenty rai.

Hane gave him thirty. Perhaps that would dissuade him from giving a trap.

Apparently the crossroads was rather close to this Au Tahuna. Apparently. Hane recited the directions over and over in their head. They felt almost feverish with excitement. Someone who knew something! Someone who might show what meaning their life was meant to have! Someone who might show them how people prayed and if Hane could join! They tried to dampen their nerves. After all, the man hadn't seemed to think Au Tahuna was the most useful, and after all, she was apparently very selective with visitors. So maybe Hane wouldn't talk to her. And probably Hane wouldn't find out anything useful anyway. Still. They kept reminding themself to walk slower, not draw too much attention.

...and after all, what if they couldn't find the place? Hane ran through the directions in their mind again. They had followed them right, they were sure. But this didn't seem like the place a wise woman would live. Hane doubled back, counted the streets again, but here they were again, a narrow street that smelled of rot, lined with crumbling hovels.

Hane twisted their hair around their fingers. Well, it had been a silly thing anyway. They shouldn't have gotten so excited. At least it was easy to tell which way was downhill, so it wouldn't be too hard to go home. Next time they had a free morning, they'd just go straight for the temple, not get distracted, not ask any stupid questions.

There was movement from one of the houses, and Hane was jerked out of their spiral of uncertainty. A man emerged from the rags that passed for a door. A young human, almost naked - Hane was almost jealous, they were uncomfortably warm.

They had to say something. No, it would be silly to say something. Time to go home and dress up for Mukutori's customers. But what if this was it? It wouldn't be. No harm in trying, but -

The young man was almost passing them now, and Hane took a breath, and said, Excuse me, could you help? I'm looking for - information, somewhere to pray, somewhere people pray, identity, meaning - perhaps they could say they were looking for somewhere to eat and that would be the end of this. Au Tahuna?

(This post was last modified: 04-30-2020, 04:26 PM by Nakari.)

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Soon after the entity exited the graveyard it felt something, nay it was drawn to something... The scent of an incense... faint, but enough to create a lingering feeling of familiarity. Overwhelmed with curiosity, the entity soon wandered the backstreets of central Nefunuku moving through its labyrinthine streets quietly.

It moved through the twisted streets with a purpose, drawn to the scent like a moth to flames. It knew not why the scent was compelling, but the entity felt that something beyond its comprehension was at play.

The Entity shuddered briefly as it felt fear, a sensation it remembered from its time as a being rejected by fate, cruelly hunted by the other creatures.

But why...

The entity thought as the little doppelganger tugged on the entity, its motions seemingly tethering its other half back into the present. The Entity smiled at the little one and maintained its calm demeanor. It then picked the little doppelganger up on its shoulders and looked around its surroundings, seeing another creature being led to the source of the scent.

A... Tengu? Why Here? To Hunt us again?! No! we won't let it...

The Entity immediately thought as it pinned the source of its initial fear to the scent of the Tengu being led by the human.

The entity weighed its options before shaking its head

No... Too many witnesses... Maybe... not hostile... Will observe for now....

The Entity followed behind Tengu taking care to avoid being detected and paused once again when the Tengu saw the human with a similar scent. However, the scent from the human was different in a subtle sense, lacking the strange mixture that beckoned the entity. Nonetheless the entity knew that the building where that human emerged from was its destination. The scent of incense and decay beckoning it inside.

"Not yet... It is not the promised time... too many witnesses... maybe safe to reveal presence?"

It muttered in confusion before setting the little doppelganger off its shoulders and hiding nearby.

Best to.... Wait and see...

(This post was last modified: 04-30-2020, 02:41 PM by Imperial Frost Federation.)

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Laki had to blink when he first emerged from Au Tahuna's strange abode. The light of the sun, even though descending towards evening, was so much brighter than the dim little room he had just left that for a moment he couldn't see anything at all. It was disorienting and he staggered a moment before his vision accommodated - or was it something else? Something about the strange destinies the precocious girl had spoken of, or perhaps something in the tea. He closed his eyes, steadied himself a moment, then looked ahead.

Back to the travellers' lodge, he thought, I need to consider this.

He took a few steps towards the alley he hoped would lead him back - it seemed to head downhill, at least - when he suddenly noticed a Tengu staring at him. He wasn't overly familiar with the race and this one's tiny precise movements were hard to read. Was it nervous? The peacock feathers hanging around its face and alight in the evening sun like dreamcatchers seemed both sad and beautiful at the same time.

Excuse me, could you help? I'm looking for... Au Tahuna?

The slight pause, the question. Laki wondered if all who came this way were as confused.

She's in there, he said, pointing a thumb over his shoulder, for whatever good it'll do you.

And then, clinging tight onto his bundle of leather rags and ancient - was it evil? - he strode past and into the alleyway beyond where a human with a small child seemed to be waiting for something. The sight caught him short for just a second - or rather, wondering what they might be waiting for did. Au Tahuna had said he needed to meet others, get involved in their lives. She'd also said that others were going to meet her that day. Was this Tengu one of those he should meet?

He felt awkward as he turned around and made his way back to it. He was only slightly surprised to find that it hadn't yet moved from where he had left it, but was instead watching Au Tahuna's door, expressions unfathomable.

I'm sorry, he said, this might seem a bit strange but... he took a deep breath - following the trails of supposed destiny was harder than it seemed in stories - She told me I needed to meet people, to get involved in their lives in some way. I didn't really understand but here you are and... He trailed off. He felt like an idiot.

There was a silence.

Perhaps I should wait out here until you're done? he suggested. Maybe whatever you're here for and what I was here for might make sense together afterwards...?

Oh, wise Atua! This is worse than when I tried to ask Tiale to marry me! I'm embarassing it, surely... I-

I'm sorry, he said, This was presumptuous of me. I'll go now... He knew his cheeks had coloured before he had turned away, but it hardly mattered. He'd made an idiot of himself long before the start of the conversation. Long before he arrived in Nefunuku, even. The whole quest, which had seemed so vital before, now seemed ridiculous. He had just tied simple misfortune up with an ancient statuette and now... now he needed to go home and put it all behind him. He started back into the alley, brushing past the strange merchant as he did so.

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The streets were mean to a small Falkismanne, inexperienced with the world and innocent to its mean ways. A group of thieves had cornered her, licking their lips ravenously.

Oh, food has come crawling from the streets right into our arms! One of the thieves said. They pulled their knives at Ember Rose, approaching with cruel judgement.

I really just want to go home... Ember Rose thought to herself, taking a defensive hold of her Vaengjakindurverjastaf, ready to swing it if necessary.

It even comes with its own fruits and bread! Another thief smiled, thrusting his knife in Ember Rose's general direction. She quickly stepped to the side, whacking the human with the hook end of her staff. The thieves laughed, continuing their assault.

Don't make me burn you all alive!

All they did was laugh at Ember Rose's threat. In the next second, her staff came alive with flames, as she launched an offense against the group of thieves. She felt the fiery anger rise up inside of her, translating to rising flames around her. Very quickly, Ember Rose was consumed by the very anger, resigning to the physical and mental flames inside and outside.

The next thing she knew was running away from the area, trying to force herself to calm down somewhat. Exhaustion quickly overwhelmed her, suppressing her thoughts like a blanket of water. In the distance, she could see the smoke rising as people rushed in to fight the raging fires she started.

Finally, Ember Rose had become herself once again, and the flames flickering off the end of her staff died out. The exhaustion finally caught up to her, her hunger worse than before. She fell down on the street, gasping for breath.

She spotted a couple humans up the road and another creature she was unfamiliar with at the door of some lodge.

Oh gods, they've spotted me... They'll probably make me into Falkismanne soup!

Ember Rose scrambled to a standing position, diving into a nearby bush that probably didn't hide her too well from the sparse foliage and her own white, orange, and yellow feather coloring.

(This post was last modified: 04-30-2020, 04:56 PM by phoenixofthesun14.)

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As the semi-organic collection of flesh and steel — a massive, flying ‘Daityākārada’ made possible by dwarven craftsmanship and Zvaomi magic approached the landing spot near the human city of Nefunuku, Ęeel started heading down to the lower levels of the ship, accompanied by his self-proclaimed friend, Mokli.

We’re going to give the locals a heart attack, barging in here like this. Mokli stopped for a moment to eat the last of his snacks Hell, they might view this as a declaration of war. And I wouldn’t blame them!

Ęeel and Mokli stopped at the very small Bay 4, waiting for the tediously slow hatch to open. Bay 2 and 3 are used for docking, and Bay 1, the main entry and exit point, was most likely going to be blocked off by a crowd of curious, and/or terrified guards, which made Bay 4 the only viable exit.

It’s in the mountains... i sense it.

They both started the long walk up the mountain paths. As the sun began to set, Mokli noticed a set of dwarven characters carved into rock, forming the Dwarfish word for “mine”, the rest of the carvings being made unreadable by the test of time.

There’s a mine up ahead. You think it’s the one we’re looking for? Mokli asked in a somewhat hopeful manner.

It must be.

(This post was last modified: 04-30-2020, 09:30 PM by TheBig0tt0.)

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She couldn't believe it. She seriously spent all day in the shop. The two-hour-by-foot journey back home would have to be walked almost entirely in night.

She couldn't help her superstition and her paranoid anxiety from getting to her. It was only a matter of time before it would manifest, and her own double-takes and triple-takes would be commonplace among regular movements. She'd have seemed criminal had it not been for her generally frail stature.

Not now, she'd worry, Please don't tell me it'll happen tonight...

In her own strange intuition, she found the man who was muttering about the temple that had signified something to her not long before her arrival to the shop. She would soon find herself at a crossroads between running back home immediately and following the strange man who wouldn't let go of her intrigue.

...God damn my curiosity, she muttered as she gave into her desire to continue along the path of the strange man.

Not planning to draw attention to herself, she began walking along a grassy, untendered area, full of wild bugs and other life people wouldn't normally be able to find in the area. The grass, naturally hardened against the predators of industry, brushed against her exposed ankles and lower shins, causing scratches. Of course, said scratches did indeed make her feel much more uncomfortable, but her desire to learn what was calling her to this place was so much more important.

As she grew closer and closer to the temple, she grew more curious and more anxious. What could be there? What could be present? All of these questions for one man and a mysterious temple? Am I really doing anything important here?

She got lost in her thoughts. Soon enough, the man disappeared from her sight.

Fuck!

But what stood instead was a man walking away from the temple out towards the alley across the way from her. He looked much different from the man, with a primarily tall and, as Vannah saw it, relatively lanky build, with the blend of browns and golden hues juxtaposing the strange man's jet black hair.

Before she considered approaching him, the apparition appeared. The man she had seen since her first memories; the man of a purple top hat. He smiled, and then disappeared. As usual, the apparition brought more anxiety and questions than answers. After collecting herself together, she found herself stepping forward nearly instinctively. The prodigy girl was in too deep to back out now. She was going to make conversation. But about what, she grumbled underneath her breath,am I just a complete weirdo for having a fascination in strangers like-


Hey! she shouted to the man.

(This post was last modified: 05-01-2020, 01:59 AM by rosaferri.)

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Laki shivered as his bare arms brushed the merchant's top, though the evening air remained warm and even the shaded alley was comfortable. For just a second, he turned his head and caught the man from the corner of his eye and thought he saw-

Hey!

He started, turning all the way around to stare across the small crossroads to where a short young woman was standing staring right back at him. She was dressed rather unusually and had goggles adorning her temples, which Laki assumed was an engineering thing. He couldn't claim to understand all the new technology. None of it really reached out to the smaller islands in the west, islands like his home, Inao.

Uh, hi! he began, feeling even more confused than ever, not even noticing the strange tingle as he brushed past the merchant once more on his way back out of the alley. Can I help you?

He saw the Tengu was still where he had left it, shifting it's gaze slowly back and forth between Au Tahuna's abode and himself. Suddenly he felt the dizziness washing over him again, only this time it was so much stronger. He wavered on the spot for a moment, felt his muscles weaken. The bird idol slipped from its grip and came free of its leather wrappings to roll across the ground, but Laki didn't care, because he was already following it as the world narrowed to a point, then winked out completely.


The first thing he noticed when he came to was the raging headache roiling like a storm in the back of his head. It took a moment of groggy thought to realise that his meant he must've banged his head. The next thing he noticed, however, was that he was lying on the floor of Au Tahuna's home, the air filled with incense and the dim shadows of someone staring down at him.

Ah, good. You're awake.

Laki tried to lift his head and found it seemed to have gained considerable weight since he had last held it aloft.

No. Don't. It'll be a while before you can move, but you can have some more tea, which will help and you can talk. Au Tahuna gestured across the room too where the Tengu and the engineer were sitting in nervous silence, each with their own bowl of tea resting, untouched, on their laps.

Au Tahuna ladled another bowl of tea quickly and brought it over to Laki, who was able to prop himself up just enough to to be able to drink it and meet the gazes of his fellow... visitors. The mysterious wise woman girl, however, returned to her place amongst the rags at the far side of the room and watched them all closely for a moment.

I have to say, things have happened both more quickly and more slowly than I had expected, but then the future is rarely completely fixed and destiny has a way of... toying with us all.

Destiny? The engineer seemed less surprised by the word than... uncomfortable perhaps and Laki began to wonder what her story was - what any of them had going on in their lives that would lead them to this peculiar crossroads.

I just came to learn about religion, the Tengu said and seemed to want to say more, but stopped.

But you were hoping to find something more, were you not?

It sat still a moment, then nodded.

And that's exactly what you have have found. Destiny has brought you all to me. She paused dramatically, before pulling one of the rags aside to reveal the ancient little bird idol. Destiny and this.

You told me it was made by the Takele - the Ancients, he added for the Tengu's benefit [/color]and that it was part of the worship of the Tangata long before humans came to Henua... but what does it have to do with us, other than that I found it?[/color]

It seems you've all been chosen for a purpose.

Perhaps it was the headache, although the tea did seem to be soothing that, but Laki was getting frustrated. Stop talking in riddles and just tell us what you mean! I don't understand anything like this - I'm a shellfish farmer for Atua's sakes!

Perhaps it was a trick of the dim lighting, but Au Tahuna's eyes seemed to flash for a moment as her gaze fell fully upon him. I speak only what has been revealed to me and even I do not see the full picture - plus many things are better revealed slowly, lest the shock drive you mad, but, very well. There are some things I can still tell you about the Tangata, about how they came to dominate the great temple here and rule over the lives of all Nefunuku, whether they cared to notice or not.

She leaned forward, suddenly the consummate storyteller.

The Tangata Cult first arrived in Nefunuku fifteen years ago. I know this, because at that time I was one of them - a young neophyte of the cult, raised to it from birth. Laki wasn't sure how this young girl could even have been alive fifteen years ago, but then he was already pretty sure that her appearance was some kind of lie. We had travelled a very long way, from isles in the far west, beyond Midgard and Tír na hÓige - forgotten islands where the secrets of the Ancients lie hidden and we had come here with one purpose - to overthrow the worship of the Atua and direct all to worship the Tangata, for only in a place like this could we hope to make the Tangata return to us.

What do you mean, return?

It is hard to explain. The Tangata were banished during the war which destroyed the Ancients, but the Cult, which lived on, has always been sure that it was only banishment, not destruction and that there would be a way to bring them back to this world. That has been the Cult's purpose for thousands of years across many islands and it is what they are here for, now, in Nefunuku.

Does that mean they've failed everywhere else?

If only that were so. No. The Cult has grown across all lands and cultures, often in secret, but never diminishing.

So, why be more open now?

Because Nefunuku, though it has not always been a great city, has always been their final goal. The ancient ruins upon which the city is built hold great power. The centre of the Tangata Cult of old lay on these very islands and it is here that they believe the Tangata will return.

But no one in Nefunuku takes the Tangata Cult seriously! the engineer interrupted.

Yes. I was told no one prays to the Tangata.

That might be true in the lower reaches of the city, but not at the top of the hill. There the rich and the powerful are all under their sway.

But, how?

They made it so... fashionable.

There was a brief silence and then,

You keep saying 'they', but you said you were one of them. What happened?

Ah, well that was why I was reluctant to speak of this in detail. My past is... my own affair... for now.

So, what do we do now? What has "Destiny" got planned for us? How do we.... do whatever it is we've been gathered here to do?

Au Tahuna shrugged. I don't know! The gesture was so uncharacteristic that Laki had to stifle a laugh, but it was followed quickly by anger.

I'm sorry, but none of this makes sense. I think you're just preying on the vulnerable, spinning a tale to make yourself seem more mystical than you really are and I've had enough of it. I need to go back to Inoa and bury my-

The green glow around Au Tahuna appeared in a flash, even as she seemed to rise up off the floor and hover a few feet above the ground. Black, raven wings clacked behind her, translucent like smoke and as she opened her mouth for a moment - just a moment - Laki saw the long black blade of a beak. Silence! It was more shriek than voice and it seemed to rip deep inside and draw up any number of deep, unbidden fears, such that Laki found himself trembling, tears running down his cheeks. You know nothing of the world and the powers at work in it, but you will learn. Now go, find the others, learn about the cult and grasp your destiny!

The light blinked out and in the sudden darkness Laki was aware of a shape falling with a thud into the soft pile of rags. He was too stunned to move, though his headache had vanished, so it was the engineer who stood up and investigated.

She's gone, the young woman said, lifting something up from the pile. There's only this...

It was the Tangata idol and as she held it up for the others to see, it crumbled into dust in her hands.

Oh, Atua, Laki prayed as he stared at the pile of dust where Au Tahuna had once sat, What evils have I entangled myself with now?

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Before Ęeel went into the mine, it summoned a bright white flare, followed by a red one, and shot them into the night sky. Ęeel and Mokli proceeded into the entrance of the mine. It was dark, and had probably been abandoned for a very long time.

I can't see anything, Mokli said while almost tripping over a small rock. Ęeel began to give off a white glow, which brightened over time.

As the two proceeded deeper into the mine, the air became more and more foul, as if the mine itself led to the very source of evil - strengthening its grip over all living things over time, slowly consuming them into the dark abyss which was the mine.

The long entrance was succeeded by a large room with multiple tunnel-like 'exits' attached to it. The room itself was littered with relatively small skeletons, although, surprisingly, none of them had signs of slash marks, or arrows in them. Some skeletons were smashed violently against walls, others simply sat on what could only be stone benches. Almost all of them had scorch marks on them.  There was another thing that betrayed the elusive truth of what happened in this fight - a small, broken necklace with very curious stones in it. The necklace was somehow split in half, and the middle stone was missing; nowhere to be found.

Most of the tunnels were as big as the mine entrance. One of the tunnels was barricaded, but has been violently broken through. It almost seemed as if the foulness was coming from that single, dark place.

Ęeel went to the centre of the room, and stood still. After a short while, the carcasses of the fallen dwarves came back from the dead. Mokli noticed the undead dwarves were giving off a faint, red light.

The revived dwarves gathered around Ęeel, and followed it as the duo descended into the dark reaches of the unwelcoming tunnel. 

Tunnel, after summoning, after tunnel - hours later, they finally arrived at the mine itself. The mine was a giant cavity with magma pouring down from dwarf-made irrigation systems, feeding the dwarves' machines, ripening the ore for harvest.

Mokli scanned for potential treasure rooms, but even he couldn't see anything. 

Ęeel walked up to a magma river, and seemingly walked over it, as if it was walking on a slightly curved bridge. Someone has cast a spell of invisibility on this bridge. We're close. Very close.

The undead dwarves seemed to have no problem with walking up the invisible bridge, which allowed for Mokli to gather enough courage to make an attempt at crossing the deadly stream of molten rock as well.

On the other side of the river, there was only a gigantic rock wall, stretching across most of the northern side of the mine. Ęeel stood still again, this time for almost three minutes until a huge, stone gate appeared in the wall. It was decorated with all sorts of things, and had beautiful markings on it. There was a large black spot on the left side of the gate.

At least thirty undead dwarves moved in to open the gate. As it opened, a blinding red light started to appear, growing ever so bright while the opening widened.

Ęeel felt something was off. It sensed a powerful presence on the other side of the gigantic door. 

DUCK! as soon as Ęeel said that, the dwarves started forming a wall of shields, while Mokli ran for his life, not knowing what was going on. 

The light brightened substantially. Mokli, now standing against the other side of the gate, soon felt his feet getting warmer by the second. He soon realized this wasn't light at all, but some hot substance.

Ęeel was now standing 5 metres behind the make-shift wall of skeletal dwarves' shields. What could only be described as a black bubble began to surround Ęeel. The moment it covered the entire protective wall, flames started to erupt out of every opening they could fit through. 

Mokli saw fire coming from the ground, and instinctively jumped. He then immediately tried to grab onto something, but his hands could only find the door. Mokli's brain was trying to understand everything that happened in the past ten seconds, but could only think about food, along with the deadly flame-ridden floor.

The dwarf wall started to part, revealing a layer of fire surrounding Ęeel's protective bubble. Ęeel ran up to the source of the fire stream, followed by its undead dwarven legion. Ęeel's bubble popped, and Ęeel grabbed the seemingly unending stream of flames, compressing it into an orb of flowing plasma.

Mokli had reached Ęeel's position as well, and could now clearly see what was spawning in all those flames; a bright red Zvaomi, which was slightly longer than Ęeel.

Suddenly, all the undead dwarves started swarming the hostile Zvaomi. Soon after, a gigantic wall of fire engulved most of them, before eventually turning into mostly harmless smoke.

Ęeel fired the plasma orb it had been feeding at the pyromancer, which was caught off-guard, and barely had enough energy to nullify the destructive power of the projectile hurtling towards its fragile body.

Ęeel noticed the enemy couldn't fight back anymore, and launched a stream of blackness at its light red counterpart.

It's holding something, Ęeel noticed as the soon-to-be-corpse was blasted onto a wall.

Upon closer inspection, the Zvaomi seemed to be holding the missing stone, belonging in the necklace Ęeel had been carrying around.

The group searched the room for valuables and artefacts. Ęeel lead the group to a hidden exit, which was followed up by a very long staircase, hopefully leading to the surface.

The stairs led up to a floor containing nothing but two doors, one of which had nothing worth noting, while the doorframe of the other was covered in feathers. 

Let's get a move on, Ęeel said while heading for the normal door. 

The door opened, and the group was greeted by more stairs. The exhausted Mokli cursed, and everyone headed up the stairs.

Ęeel opened a hidden door at the end of the stairs. Bright daylight shone in everyone's faces, and the allied Zvaomi stopped producing light. 

Finally, a relieved Mokli thought, no more stairs.

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