It was a genuine escape hatch. The sense of intrigue made me giddy. It would have been nice to share this moment with Asteria, or maybe Ji-Ah.
Shaking away the thought, I set to climbing down. I considered myself lucky that I was able to squeeze down the narrow descent with such broad shoulders.
I was soon enveloped in pitch darkness. When my feet hit solid ground again, I carefully felt around for something to light. Shocked, I found a light switch instead of a sconce. Flipping it caused a quiet hum to run along the wall and enter a small lantern. The yellow-orange glow sputtering inside grew stronger as the electric current divided itself to charge the other lanterns positioned around the room and then illuminated a squat tunnel leading away.
Neck bent and head hitting the ceiling, I spun in place like an overgrown kid in Candyland. It was like a thief's wet dream.
There were lockers filled with precious minerals. Coins. Colorful geodes. Tin, iron, gold, diamond, and emerald.
This place was weapons galore. The best axes, shortswords, knives, maces, hand crossbows, and a heavy crossbow with accompanying bolts coated in silver. A masterpiece sat on a mantle. Each side of the elegant Warhammer was shaped to imitate a snarling gargoyle head, laced with green copper and a luxurious handle trimmed in gold.
Set beneath the display in offering was a small leatherbound book.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Next to it was the Dwarven Runestone.
And—I shit you not—a goddamn Containment Ring.
Who the fuck was this dude? Was he a war hero? Or perhaps he was a survivor with nimble fingers because the collection he had here was beyond what I expected. I suppose it made sense to have your stash in a convenient place, ready to be whisked away if something happens. Neither I nor the dwarf would have been able to carry a fraction of the items here without a containment ring.
[Grade E Containment Ring: 1 Cubic Meter]
[Current Contents: Scribbled Note.]
Curious, I placed the ring on my right pinky finger and sent a command to open it.
A note appeared in my hand. Unfolding it, I read the one line and laughed.
"You won't be able to make due on your promise of pain."
The note crumpled in my hand. I tossed it away and exchanged it for a weapon.
[Old Guard Warhammer: A weapon designed for battle and brilliance. Made during the Third Age to fight back against the Scourge, this weapon never got to see battle and was entombed with it's wielder until it was pillaged during the Great Cataclysm.]
[Active Effect: Rally - It's now or never, stand together or fall alone.]
[10% Movement Speed to nearby allies for 10 seconds.]
The Warhammer was by far the best weapon here. It even had an Active Effect. I wasn't much of a fan of warhammers myself, and the Rally effect may be outside my planned build, but given the opportunity, how could I not use such a badass weapon? The weight alone could crush my foot if I dropped it.
With a cubic meter of free space, I was able to store the Warhammer easily. Everything I wanted, including the ammunition for the crossbows and the sneakily concealed booze, fit with room to spare. I left behind only a few scant items that seemed a little redundant.
From now on, I'd never be weaponless or caught off guard as long as I had my ring.
The book intrigued me because of its title, however, I was pressed for time and needed to check the tunnel before I reveled in my loot. If my hopes were right, it would lead to freedom.