You see it, and your mind is filled with its suspicion, paranoia, and a tinge of curiosity. It does not like you but as a matter of principle. It's never seen anything like you, and it is not pleased by the fact you exist.
And... something more.
As its face fills with a stony scowl, its granitical eyebrows scrunching up, and its mouth arching into a grimace, the other twenty or so golems in your room all tense, and their hands fly to their weapons.
A few even grab them and are already brandishing them at you, before the golden one raises a hand with a gruff grumbling, and begins to pick at its beard. It looks at you, and you look at it. This goes on for a while, and you stay as still as you can, even stopping breathing, waiting for this thing's attention to move on. Except it doesn't.
This is the longest staring contest of your life, in a very literal sense. It's making you uncomfortable. All of a sudden, its emotions shift. They color with pride and anger. Where before it would have been a choir of badly kept violins, all trying to get the same note and failing in a horrendous cacophony, now it's more like warhorns are echoing in your ears.
It whips out from somewhere in its armor, a secret pouch on the side of its arms, some kind of artifact. It glows with unnatural power and emits a blue light that seems to suffuse the room. It seeps into everything it touches, like the most horrible kind of syrup getting into the depths of a bed.
And you also have no idea where that mental image came from, but it's okay. You have bigger concerns, currently. For one, you can sense emotions from this thing. It is mildly curious but mostly... bored? You must be going crazy.
[17]
Its scowling visage shifts once more, as the blue light touches you. It goes straight through your body, but some of it gets into your gem. It makes you want to retch, and you start to do just that. It takes a step back just in time to avoid a jet of blue vomit spurting off of you. Damn, you missed its face by inches. That'd have been good.
It scowls ever harder, and you're half a mind to just stick your tongue at it. What's it gonna do, put you in super-prison?
Your answer came very soon, as it picked yet something else out of its pockets, and pointed at you, making odd noises at its companions. Two of them proceed to grab onto your legs and force them out of your impromptu depressed ball.
You kick all the way, yet they offer it your calves, and he puts some kind of machinery onto them. It has inscriptions sculpted all over it, and you know it's made of stone, as you can't sense it. Also, you're fairly sure you can just phase out of its grip.
you wait to do that, for now. The moment the gruff hands let go of your legs, you kick them in the face. Then, you yelp in pain, as they only smile a little. Damn, that hurt you more than it hurt them!
What kind of asshole one must be, to do such a thing? You're the picture of innocence, perfect in every shape and form, and this thing wants to put some kind of thing at your leg? After putting you in prison, of all places?
This is just horrible.
The golden one gives you one last look, and a derisory grunt, before turning and being followed out of the room by its retinue. The door to your cell clacks closed, and you immediately get to looking at the thing.
First, you try and pèhase out of it, and to your immense surprise... it works. It falls to the ground with a noisy clatter, but not even the guards outside seem to care. You feel two of them filling up the sides of your room, having stayed behind after the golden one's departure.
You pick it up and gently cradle it. You know what? It is rather shiny, after all. very shiny indeed. There's so much gold on this thing, and the stone is so finely crafted as to almost be a gem in and of itself.
To show such love to a rock, yet treat you this way. For some reason, this makes you mad. still, this little thing is a true marvel in your eyes. Still, it is emitting blue light, Now that you've looked at it some more, you're fairly sure you could use this as a lamp.
It does a wonderful job of lighting up the room just enough to fit your darkness-oriented tastes, after all. You gather yourself into a ball, hugging the thing tight like you used to hug the green shiny. This shall make a reasonable substitute, for the time being.
This time, you feel the newcomers approaching with some time to spare. Two more things, these ones filled with metal from head to toe, start to make their way to your cell. For some reason, the two guards outside seem to stand even more at attention than when the golden one came to visit.
[94]
They enter your room and find you sitting regally by the bed, the blue lamp attached to your leg, as the golden one left it. yet, the one surprised is you. The two entering are another red thing, very similar to the one you found before. this one is also red but with white streaks going down its hair. You'll call it orange, to distinguish it from the first one.
Its metal is completely white, and makes your mind… feel intrinsically happy. For some odd reason, this thing also has so many weapons you have no idea how they all stay on its body.
Its companion is completely different. This one holds some kind of book in its hands, and has a thin level of metal. Above it, it has some kind of ragged cloth, and that is what you can see with the naked eye. Very sneaky.
The orange one almost tears the door off its hinges, and barges into the room, as the guards outside stand ramrod straight. It jumps into the cell, its plated feet making a bothersome noise on the floor, and its sight immediately falls on you.
In two steps, and less than two seconds, it is sitting by your side on the bed, and its arms reach around you. Oh, wow, it's very strong. It's almost crushing you. You wheeze a little in this thing's vice-grip, and for some reason, its eyes begin to water.
It may be leaking water. This could break it, you idly think. Getting water where you should remain dry can be bothersome. Thankfully, you're fairly sure you are completely waterproof. It makes gurgling noises, and you keep hearing the word 'oath' being thrown around by both of them.
They're rude. They're talking amongst themselves even as she slowly turns your body into minced gems. Does that mean you're slowly turning into sparkles? That'd be a joyful way to go, you think-
Oh, you can finally breathe again. Your mind goes to odd places when you don't get air. Which is odd, because you think you don't actually need it?
The orange one keeps squeezing you for a while, flinging you from side to side and generously petting your head. This is... surprisingly nice. The one with the book eventually speaks up, and the orange one lets you go as if you were a bomb- uh, bombs? What a nice little concept.
Maybe you should cook up some explosives.
Just, you know. As a gift. To the welcoming golems of this accursed land. Looking at orange as it dries its leakage, you can't help but think you'd have to aim those bombs well, to avoid exploding the wrong things.
Still, that could be your next objective, you idly think as they begin to retreat, much like the golden one did. They also leave a gift behind. The book. You open it and find a lot of very nice colours and nice inscriptions. Neat. You kind of like this already! Now you have a lamp to shed some light and a book to read!
This is turning very interesting, very quickly.
[Obtained: Khazalid Baby Book! +1 dice, +1 to roll for all Khazalid Learning rolls!]
You're sitting on your bed again. Darkness fills the room, as you wait out the night, to get to reading your book. Just as soon as the guards outside get to replace the old candles, then you'll be able to fully enjoy its contents.
You're getting used to your new senses, now. You can feel the ticking of a clock, and the lazy boredom of a half-asleep golem. You didn't know the things could almost fall asleep, but this one is dreaming of a goat and ale. You're pretty sure it's riding the goat up a mountain of some kind, and they're much smaller than they are right now.
You also didn't know golems grew like that. You're learning a lot of things. Two guards, the same ones as always, get up to your room and gently knock on the bars. They open a little window you'd never really paid attention to. You get off the bed, put down the book, and lightly walk up to the door. There, they open a little gate you weren't aware could slide like that, and let in some warm food and a wooden mug of foamy ale.
That's the first word in the book. Ale, with a picture unnaturally similar to this one you're now holding onto it as well. As in, it's on the cover. The actual first words are animals of various kinds.
There was a goat, a few plants, and a kind of saber. Various kinds of deer, a huge thing with very big fangs sprouting out of its mouth, and a very fluffy white coats. The engravings were painted too. So now you also know what a painting is.
These ones are much more to your taste than the other ones you saw before. The ones where the green things were getting killed. But the most important thing you got from this book, as of right now, is knowing that these golems call themselves 'dwarves'.
You set down the ale on the stone slab, and grab a bowl of hot soup with the other. You find vegetable soup very much to your taste, even if you don't need to eat. It keeps you warm. You like feeling warm. The ale, on the other hand, does not do anything for you.
You leave the dirty utensils and wooden mug by the door, then you get back on the bed. Finally, the guards replace the candles, and light begins to fill your room once more. You get back to the book and keep reading about all kinds of words, of things. You still panic a few times, when you see an axe and a pickaxe.
You put down the book, close your eyes, and breathe for a while. It's fine. This place is small, enclosed, and controlled. There's nothing that will hurt you, here.
You breathe in, and out. Slowly, you let your chest rise and fall. When you open your eyes again, nothing has changed. Only, a new guard has switched with the other one. This golem seems to be sniffing the air as if catching a whiff of something that shouldn't be. You get back on the book.
> Reading the book: 2d6+1: 6, 7. 2 successes!
>
> Basic Khazalid: 2->4/50
>
> Research I: 1->3/5 to Research II
Time passes languidly, as a tepid flow of seconds. Each one is a discovery of new worlds, of new things. What you're missing, is pronunciation. And grammar. And... most everything to make up a conversation, given the same thing can have wildly different meanings.
Soon, you sense others approaching. You recognize this one as the golden one. The one that put your latest shiny on you. For some reason, it makes you uneasy. This thing's mind is filled with cautionary optimism now.
It seems that with the passing of a day, it has come to change its opinion of you. Its arrival is foretold by the same group of guards gathering outside your cell. this time, they wait before entering your room.
The golden one itself approaches your door and knocks. You wait, not understanding what is going on. After a while, a sigh leaves its lips, and the door is unlocked by one of the others. In it comes, stopping midway to your bed.
Its eyes wander to the mug by the door and widen. It looks at you surprised, but all you can do is tilt your head. It looks baffled, and its mind is filled with wonder and worry in equal measure. It seems not drinking the ale was rather unexpected.
After a moment, it waves its arm, and a flurry of what you assume to be servants rushes into the room. They sweep away the dirty objects and the ale as well, before rushing back out where they came from. The golden one stands close to you, and points at itself. "Lord Grogni," it says gravelly.
Then, it waits.
You look at Grogni, and point back at him, saying "L-lord Grogni," almost under your breath. Your voice is shaky, the syllables come out a little scrambled, but easily understandable. It looks surprised as if it didn't expect that. Its eyes jump to the book you left open by your side, and they see the page you were looking at. A green gem, very similar to your own shiny. Then, you point at yourself and say...
"Dru-" Hang on, that's not it- "Hmm, Duraz!" You whisper energetically, a slight smile coming to your lips. It looks at you with wonder, its mind filled with fascination, and repeats, "Druhmduraz?". It looks at you, childish curiosity in its eyes, and you look at it, despairing.
You don't have the heart to tell it no. "Sure, sure. I'm Grem Gem now, whatever," and you're not unhappy about this, no. Half of your words are in your own native tongue, the one you just innately know somehow, yet the meaning seems to get across. It gives out a hearty laugh, as all the guards around are still busy gawking at you as if you had two heads.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Your shoulder gets many meaty swats, as the way you're regarded shifts completely. You're not sure what changed, but now they treat you with great care and regard you almost with respect. Grogni kneels down in front of you, which elicits gasps from most dwarves in the room, and gets the shiny off.
It's already swiping it back into its hidden pouch, but you just manage to grab it and hold it close. they won't take your second shint from you, they won't! This makes it look troubled, for some reason, and its mind fills with grudging remorse.
It still feels fantastic about everything, and it gets its hands on your shoulder. It manages to force you up, all smiles and laughs, and begins to carry you out of the room.
The outside- you have flashes back to things grabbing onto you, shoving you around, to the many things moving at the edge of your senses, to your head spinning…
You resist. Your hands shoot out, and with your legs, you try and block the door. After a brief moment of surprise, and a small push from behind you strenuously resist, bravely only letting out a tiny whine, they let you go. You rush back to the bed, almost falling on your steps, before protectively holding onto your book and the shiny.
The golden one seems perturbed by this. its mind is struck with surprise, and it starts to feel a little bad. Its mouth moves silently for a few seconds, and you start to growl a little. Your shiny, not theirs!
It almost whispers something, but you catch only a few things of its speech,
"...Age? ...Thieves?"
Skaz? You think about it for a second, and answer back, "One." You growl harder, your throat vibrating in a way you like to think of as menacing, "Yes." There's exactly one thief here, and it's not you. You point at the golden one.
It steps back as if burned, and turns around without another sound. It exits the room in a hurry, and swiftly the guards follow suit. The last one turns around, and its stony visage is all you can focus on. Slowly, it salutes you, and goes off, leaving the door open.
Still gathering your wits back from that encounter, you sit down and get to your usual breathing exercises. Slowly, you let air in, and then out. Your chest rises and lowers unhurriedly, as you lay on the bed.
You stay like that for a while, before once more grabbing your book. You keep reading for a while, slowly turning over the pages. Sometimes, you like to touch the paintings with your hand, and try and imagine what these things must look like.
Soon, yet another familiar presence quickly comes to your cell. The orange one! You excitedly get up, and wait by the entrance. It comes, her steps are swift and crude, almost a set of stomps rather than a walk.
As soon as she sees you, hanging by the ajar door, almost using it as a shield while also spying outside, she lets out a little harried sound. She's now rushing you like an angry bull (you know what bulls are!).
You barely open the door enough to let her slip in and put your arms into a cross above your chest. It stops just a few inches shy of you, before pushing you into the room. The door remains slightly open, and a blade of light cuts through the growing gloom of the room. You may or may not have crushed the candle, because you wanted to stay in the dark for a while. The light coming from outside was enough to read anyway.
It goes for a bearhug, but you manage to grab her hands and guide them to your head instead. Ah! You're getting good at using your arms! It begins excitedly petting you, and before long, you're both giggling, embracing one another.
It holds you as close as it can, cuddling you while still letting you have enough room to breathe. So that's very nice of it! You also pat its head a little, running your fingers through its graying hair. Now that you look at it so closely, it's more like there are streaks of red in a sea of gray, rather than the other way around.
And were your fingers always this defined? This distinct? You can count all ten of them, now. Well, not matter. Soon, she's tugging on you. She hasn't spoken a word and probably would be surprised to learn you can talk now. She's trying to get you through the door.
Oh, so all of a sudden everyone's trying to push you out of this room, uh? Well, you say no to that! You've been pushed around long enough!
…
Maybe. You have to think about this, before letting yourself be dragged somewhere else yet again. Do you really want to leave the security and stability of the prison?
It keeps petting your head. You're not upset by this, at all. It's just... something you idly note, as you consider whether to stay in this darkness or go on with it. Let yourself be brought and moved like furniture yet again. There are many things to consider. Like... whether you'll still get the nice soup there, or if wherever this thing stays there will be beds.
You sit idly on the bed, as Orange keeps yammering on about something or other. What you manage to understand of its convoluted noises, is that she's gushing about you. "Green", your own name, and "cute", along with "save" do continue making an appearance.
You think hard and long about what to do and come to a conclusion. The fact it has kept petting your head nonstop until now did not, absolutely, weigh your objectively optimal decision.
You are too pragmatic to be swayed by headpats, of all things. You ignore her cooing, and instead grab onto the hem of her sleeves. Her metal sleeves. And say, your voice cracking just a little halfway, "Away."
You point at the door, and it takes a long good at you. It smiles, and grabs you! Your feet do not touch the ground, as it lifts you completely in the air. She keeps a tight hold on you, and despite your protests, it turns this side and that, with way too much affection.
You curl your tiny green fingers into tight balls of brave wrath and strike at the golem's back. Then, you stop. You clipped your hand against its back, and it didn't even notice. It's still going off about its... daughter?
Do golems have daughters? Oh, you got it! You strike your hand with a tiny punch in realization. It's talking about another golem it made, clearly! Truly, your genius-
Hang on, you're already leaving! As you look around, you see the stone alleyways of the prison quickly moving past. Oh, oh no. There's... your book! Aaand, it's already grabbed it when you weren't looking. This thing's rather nimble, uh? Well, what about...
The shiny!
> [74]
You punch it a little on the exposed head, and it briefly stops. It moves you a little further apart, not squeezing you as tight anymore. Then, it asks, "What?" You point at... where you think the clock is. You deduce that if the metal contraption is kept there, then other important stuff has to be stashed nearby. Like your shiny.
It looks at you, its face a mask of cluelessness. You elect to enlighten your ride, simply saying, "Shiny. Mine. Taken." It makes a face at that, and your mind tells you it is starting to get angry. There seems to be some kind of... wall or inscription forming?
It just feels really odd. Almost alien. You just don't have anything like that, or so it seems. Compared to other feelings, this is most similar to anger itself inscribed into stone. It spells 'Grudge:', then goes off into gibberish. Well, that's odd.
It puts you down, and you're fairly sure it tells you to 'stay'. As if you would be ordered around like a servant, or something. It turns and stomps off where you pointed at.
You stay put, for the time being. You have to let it go some distance, before sleeking off. In the background, the metal screech of the clock keeps ticking onwards, and the gears and magnets behind it keep catching your mind's eye. The more you look at it, the more... fascinated you are, by its craftgemship.
meanwhile, you could go and see the other prisoners. Or sneak off into the city. The gates are close enough, and it's not like you'd get lost getting to them, right? On the other hand, you could simply go explore. Randomly pick a direction and go.
Your nose picks up the smell of old alcohol. Nearby, you sense a place filled with darkness and love. Love for beer and good ale. A bar! It could be the prison's, but you're fairly sure it's not. They already have enough to drink on their own, what use would it have so close to their own things?
Ok, no more goofing off. The last time you went around on your own, you kind of ended up almost dying. Then, a bunch of golems sent you to prison. Totally not worth it, you think, as you walk to a wall. You slide down, your back to it, and decide to take a look at yourself some more.
> [1d6=1. Dc not met.]
You're getting slightly taller and wider, you think. Your fingers are even more defined. They're slowly turning from chunks of green gem into digits. At this point, you can almost distinguish vague sections into them, but not quite yet. They're still too chunky to be actual fingers, as well. They're more like slabs of green. Fancy, beautiful green. Have you always been this shiny?
> [56]
…
You really want to go off and set up a prank, or do something. Any kind of prank, really. Or maybe just run around and see what's nearby-, just to stretch your legs. You've been cooped up in that tiny room for so long! You feel like running, jumping, and then running some more. Your legs itch, your feet are bouncing up and down, and you can't help but scratch yourself all over.
All this open space, and yet you're staying still. Why is that? You don't want bad things happening. But you're booored. So damn boooored. You want to move, you wish to see new things, to go explore, to taste other kinds of foods.
Foods... You can't really taste, per se. But you can kind of sense the texture of most anything. The temperature, too. That makes eating kind of worth it. The best thing you've eaten this far is the soup. You want more soup. And yet, you stay put. You manage. Just. Barely. Or so you'd like to think.
Just as you bounce up, and get ready to scuttle off to find some trouble, searching for anything that isn't metal bars, Orange comes back. And in its hand, there's a glint you'd recognize anywhere.
You crouch down and leap at it. Then, you run the rest of the way, as you didn't manage to jump far. It laughs a little and props its hand up. Its mind is filled with mirth and happiness, seemingly mirroring your own.
This dummy! This beautiful, glorious clod! Absolute best golem ever! "Best!" You scream at her, as you grab onto your shiny and look up at it with tears gathering in your eyes. Finally, something's going right! It laughs with mirth, and with a gloved finger, it clears some of the tears. It offers its hand, and you grab it. It leads you further down the stone corridor, as you hear a loud cheer echo from far behind you.
you're not sure what that is about, but when you attempt to turn and look, Orange's hand reaches your head and pats it gently. You hum in happiness, clutching your shiny and grabbing your book from where it is lodged in Orange's secret pouch.
Oh, look, it's in the same place as that Grugi golem's, or whatever its name is. Modularity! Very smart, like this swapping and repairing parts must be easier. Truly, who designed these golems-
Hang on, who in heck designed something like this?! They must be a true genius! Almost comparable to your humble self! Oh well, whatever. You keep humming in happiness and walking forward. As you near the entrance, you never turn back, and neither does Orange. Not even once, just to look one last time at the first bed you went to sleep in.
The golem opens the same steel gate you entered through, almost two days ago. What you come face to face with, is a large crowd. Many golems, armed to the teeth, with ale in their hands, all scream and holler at once. Orange laughs and begins to holler too. Right next to you!
This is too much!
You hide behind Orange, and she laughs harder. Golems everywhere are cheering, and soon you're off in a cart, being brought to somewhere new. There's metal all around you, there's so much of it you can almost not see anything else.
Wheels keep turning, and your shoulder keeps getting pummeled by any golems that feel like it. At least, Orange stays by your side as the cart keeps driving through the streets. You manage to peek out, this time. There's a big tower in the middle of town, and there are many walls. You go over two bridges, and there are probably more that you simply can't see.
It will need exploring.
The journey finally ends, the bumpy ride coming to a close as Orange keeps talking with other Golems.
You're still sitting at the edge of the wooden cart, wistfully looking outside at the cavernous glimpse you can catch from where you're sitting. This cart is very different from the prison's one. It has a leather part, it arches over you, kind of closing it off.
As if it was a shell. Below, your mind unhelpfully notes every time the wheels complete a twist, and every time you bump up and down, so does it annotate the way they bounce on the ground. Truthfully, it's pretty rare, but the three times it has happened thus far it's been very bothersome.
Behind you, the Orange golem keeps chatting away with its friends. There are a total of five occupying the seats close to you, each side of wooden stools being made up of three slots. Orange is in the one in front of yours and keeps stealing glances your way.
Outside there is little light to be found. You've gone quite a way from the city, now. The wheels keep turning, and you keep looking out, into the darkness. There are green, blue, and golden gleams, but there are spots picked completely bare.
Someone's been mining here, probably. You have no idea how you concluded that, but it is a thought that popped into your head. As such, it is obviously correct.
You feel Orange's armor turn to look at you, and come to face it fully, giving it a dubious look. You're really not sure what a golem might want, but it has saved you from prison. It looks surprised.
Finally, it speaks to you and begins to ask you questions. "..." Oh, most of this is absolute gibberish. However, you do catch some words you understand. "...age-" you interrupt her, "One!" At this, one of the other golems stops mid-gulp of its ale.
The one in front of it gives out a bothered noise, as it is showered in spit beer. You laugh a little. That was fun to watch, and the grumpy-looking one is going to be smelly for a while now. You look around and see the others not looking as amused as you are.
The only sound is the cart's wheels turning on the stone. Geez, what is this oppressive feeling filling the air all of a sudden? You feel like filling the silence, and point at Orange. "Golem?" You ask in your language. It looks to you, not understanding a word of it.
Hmm. How to word it... Oh! "Rock Dwarf?" It looks a little surprised but shakes its head. Oh. Maybe it didn't understand you, so you'll have to ask it again when you know the right words. After all, your intuition can't be wrong, right? It's not like there's something other than stone under all that metal they're wearing. You point to yourself, and say "Gem," before crossing your arms and saying, "Dwarf."
Orange still does not answer, but the other golems are either sporting a mirthless grin or making a face. Why? You don't understand. Oh, well. You'll just assume they're understanding how bad this is for you. Even if now, you're feeling a little better about it. Not like you'll say that to anything or anyone.
You mime a cup with your hands and ask something else. "Soup?" Orange looks at you for a few seconds, before grunting at you- oh, it was meant for the dwarf by you. It rises up, and in a few hurried steps reaches the cart's edge. It vaults over the edge, and from the waving flaps, you see it running at full sprint. The darkness soon swallows it, before magical light glows from its armor.
You keep observing it for a while, mouth hanging open. Did Orange just- Your mind reels, as a dome of metal you're growing familiar with begins to scratch your head. Orange's head patting you, and as you turn to face it again, you can see it staring down at you, a smirk on its lips.
Whatever! You're not enjoying this at all! You very much do not pout, and the golems around you laugh at you! How dare they! Yet, somewhere deep inside of you, you're kind of enjoying this too. Soon, you tire of Orange's hands messing up your gem and push them away. This only makes it grin more, and someone beside you starts cackling. You'll show them, you'll show them all! They'll rue the day they laughed at-
Orange begins to talk again, this time uttering single words. Among them, you understand a few. It points at itself and speaks. "Ruvia." Then, it keeps going on, pointing at you. "Druhmduraz." Already enjoying your confusion, Ruva continues. "Grogni." Oh, you guess they've been talking behind your back then. Are they friendly with one another?
Can golems have feelings? Well, you can sense their emotions. But like, can they have an impression of something else, like something, hate someone? That's a scary thought. What would you do if an axe golem hated you?
Better not think about that.
You look around for something- ah, there it is. Your picture book, at Orange- Ruvia's left. You go for it, but its arm reaches your own. It pulls you in, and before you know it, you're sitting in its lap.
You see around you the smirks of the other golems. They're for sure feeling mirth, all right. Then, you enjoy seeing their faces morph at Ruvia's next grunt. You didn't understand a word of it, but by the way their expressions turned constipated for a quick second, before becoming stony, you can guess what it was about.
You look up in adoration. Ruvia is really, really cool. It saved you from the prison, it hugged, you, it gave you your book, and it got your shiny back for you. It's truly your best friend. And it pats your head.
The cart comes to a stop, and Ruvia's arms sneak to your sides. They lift you up, and you're soon nestled in its side. This... is surprisingly pleasant, despite how hard the metal is. You snuggle in a little further, and kind of lose track of time, as the golem begins to walk.
> [4]
Around you, you catch a glimpse of a huge stone building. It comes out of the rock, into what you think is a natural cave. As in, it's mined into the walls and has one of its sides on the natural grotto.
That's pretty cool, too. However, the moment you reach its door, a cold shiver goes up your spine. Something's wrong, here. It's worse than the prison. You look up at Ruvia, but it's busy chatting with and grunting at other dwarves.
Oh, no. The further in you go, the worse it gets. Oh, this is bad. You feel like- You feel like- You throw up again, and this time it's all sticky and smelly. It's also very, very bule. You open your eyes and see- A ghost! Completely drenched in your smelly stuff!