Chapter 103

The group continued on moving slowly compared to the pace they had kept during the rest of their stay in Ashagi. The tunnel was featureless and the group traveled silently, no one wanting to disturb the quiet stillness. The hand lamps were doing their best to light the surroundings but weren't quite up to the task and threw more shadows than light it seemed.

“Up ahead,” M'redith said quietly and then had to repeat herself when Aiden didn't hear her the first time.

The tunnel came to an end at a metal door shut tight. There were a number of mechanical locks scattered over the door's surface and it was anyone's guess which lock, if any, would open the door.

Their group clustered around the door and Jay spoke up after a moment, “I can use Treasure sense and see if there is anything here, it's just..” Jay said before trailing off.

“Just what?” Aiden asked as Norri looked over the various locks on the shiny metal door.

“It's just if something comes for us we'll be trapped here. There is only one way we can go – back. Unless we figure out how to open this door that is.” Jay replied.

“Let's just look first then we can give your ability a try if nothing else works, ok?” M'redith said.

The group agreed and everyone inspected the door. It was as wide as the tunnel. A huge door. The more Jay looked at it the more it bothered him. The door was too big for one. It had far too many locks as well. The group finally gave up and Norri raised her hand.

“Norri you don't have to raise your hand, we're all friends here. What's your idea?” Jay asked kindly.

Norri looked embarrassed but pressed on. “I have an idea but it is kind of a stupid one. So no making fun of me for it. But – did anyone try it to see if it was already unlocked?”

Everyone was quiet for a moment before Jay turned and shared a look with M'redith. “I hadn't thought of that.” Jay admitted with a blush.

Jay reached forward and pressed against the door and it soundlessly opened in to the next room but under tension. As soon as Jay released the door it would spring back to its closed state.

“Looks like we found a potential hiding spot. Eyes up, everyone inside, look for threats.” Jay said encouragingly as he held the door open for M'redith and the rest of the group. After everyone was inside Jay allowed the door to close.

The door shut with a click. The door had a single mechanism on the inside that would lock all of the locks at once. Simple. They did not engage the lock yet as they might still need to run out of there depending on what they found.

Inside they found themselves in a large cavern. The ceiling was too high to make out clearly but appeared to have giant stalactites hanging from its surface. The room was dimly illuminated. The room was shaped like a giant circle and the center held a giant black pattern in a ring on the floor. In the middle of the ring stood a large red portal frame that reminded Jay of another portal frame they had seen already in Ashagi, back at the portal room.

The walls were worn smooth and the floor was polished stone. The entire room was ringed in some sort of ritual runes inscribed in to the stone itself. The entire room appeared to be for a very specific purpose, one which the group had no inkling of.

They were going to try and figure it out anyway.

As the group crossed over to the central area with the portal frame a loud click was heard. Norri ran over to the door and gave it a tug. It stuck fast. She manipulated the single locking mechanism but that would not budge either.

“We're locked inside!” Norri exclaimed.

A high pitch whine began to slowly rise in pitch.

“Form up!” M'redith called out.

M'redith, Glenda, and Norri took up positions around Aiden and Jay, forming a triangle around them. They would do the majority of the fighting while Aiden would heal and Jay would help out however he could.

The sound rose higher and was now almost painful to hear. Still, no one dropped their weapons, all of which were currently held in white knuckled grips.

A cracking sound was heard as a line of black light split the air in the middle of the portal from from top to bottom. The line stayed put for a moment before it began to widen and vibrate, swirl and jolt. Finally, with a snapping sound, the line opened up fully to the size of an open portal as its edges attached to the portal frame with inky black tendrils.

The portal's surface was entirely black and thick like sludge. It moved and swirled like a liquid.

“Ok, what,” began M'redith but she was quickly cut off. Something screamed and dropped off of the ceiling and fell to the ground in a heap of black limbs. The monster screamed again as others joined it on the floor. They dropped from the ceiling in droves and M'redith knew instantly that there were far too many.

“Crap!” yelled Aiden, “We're done for!”

“Goddess Aiden, no! Everyone in to the portal!” shouted M'redith.

Norri yelled, “Eww! It looks gross!” just as a monster snapped at her leg. Norri delivered a crushing blow to its head and it made a high pitched whimpering sound and slunk back away from her before picking someone new to attack.

“If we stay we'll die! We can't fight this many!” M'redith replied as she moved closer to the portal in the center of the room. The group was now almost surrounded by monsters as more fell from the ceiling.

“Fine but I hate this!” yelled Aiden as he moved with the rest of the group over to the portal.

Jay eyed the main door to the room but they'd never make it in time. The room appeared designed to do two things, open a portal and lock everything in the room while the portal was used. There would be no escape out the main door. Nor would there be any heroic fight that ended in victory. The enemies seemed endless in number and were still falling off of the ceiling.

Jay did some quick math and it looked like they'd get overrun before they reached the portal at the rate they were going.

“RUN!” Jay finally yelled and the entire group burst in to motion as they pushed themselves to move as fast as their feet would carry them across the room and towards the portal. When they reached the portal M'redith didn't pause but ran at it as if it weren't even there. She disappeared inside of it without a sound and the rest of the group followed.

As Glenda, the last of their group, passed through the portal the room went quiet as the high pitched whine stopped entirely. The portal's tendrils released their hold on the portal frame and were dragged back towards the portal which itself collapsed in to a tiny ball. The ball became smaller and smaller before it burst, sending a wave of energy across the room.

The monsters present in the room were vaporized by the energy and moments later the room was still. The bodies disintegrated in to motes of light until there was no sign of them ever existing in the first place. With a loud clack the door automatically unlocked itself and the room was once again reset and ready for its next use.

On the other side the group was standing, slack jawed. They stood on a beach of black sand, while white liquid washed ashore. It was definitely not water. The sky was a eye searing purple and there was nothing as far as the eye could see besides black sand and white..something.

Turning in a circle Jay finally found something besides black sand. A creature stood, awful in its appearance. It stood as tall as two men and had too many arms and hands and not enough feet. Much of its surface was occupied by eyes and.. orifices. It gurgled when it spoke and felt like a white hot knife in his brain.

“Greetings..” it said, directly in to their minds. The group dropped to their knees in pain.

The being seemed concerned when no one replied. It tried again but softer this time.

“Greetings?” it said again and this time Jay was able to raise his head and look at the creature. It did not speak even though it had more than enough mouths to do so. Instead its words were sent directly in to the minds of each member of the group.

“Greetings,” Jay choked out as the others groaned in pain.

“Long have your kind been gone from this place. Still, you have returned, and what gifts you have brought us!” the creature cooed in to the group's minds.

Although the creature could speak mind to mind the rest of the group lacked that ability so it was with his voice that Jay responded.

“Where are we?” Jay asked.

The creature swelled and then expelled air from dozens of orifices at once in an array of raspberry like sounds.

Norri, even though she was still in a bit of pain, giggled tiredly.

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“Gifts for gifts, knowledge we each keep for ourselves. That is the agreement. Do you seek to alter the agreement?” the creature hissed in their minds with an innocent tone and Jay felt a sudden sense that he had wandered from dangerous territory in to even more dangerous territory.

“No.” Jay insisted in a strained voice, the stress of the creature's mental communication taxing Jay and the group greatly.

The creature nodded and it was quiet for a moment, the only sound being the surf of white liquid washing up on to the black sandy shores.

The creature waved and a two foot wide bowl appeared on the ground in front of a wide table with three raised platforms, all currently empty. “GIVE.” the creature insisted, pointing to the wide copper bowl set on the sand between the creature and Jay's group, who were collapsed in various states of pain.

The creature spoke no more and just watched Jay and his group expectantly with too many eyes for Jay to count.

Jay tried to think of what he could give this creature to let them go. As he was doing so Aiden had managed to reach the bowl. By the time Jay saw what Aiden was offering it was too late to stop him. Aiden placed a single travel wafer in to the bowl.

With a puff of smoke it disappeared and the table changed completely. Now on its surface were three items but they were out of focus and Jay couldn't make out what they were no matter how hard he tried. Aiden could see just fine however and without hesitation picked something off the table and the other items immediately disappeared.

“An interesting exchange. Who will go next?” asked the creature as the group shuddered from the mental communication.

Jay wasn't exactly sure what was going on so he wasn't sure of what to offer. He tried to ask Aiden questions but Aiden acted as if he couldn't hear him. Aiden tried to speak to Jay but Jay couldn't understand him.

Something wasn't right but they weren't going to be able to fix whatever it was until they got out of there.

Jay thought about his various items. He had a Mighty Book, his telescoping staff, his Toy Chest, his Starburst pouch, a writing kit, drawing kit, map case, Casper's Spellcaster, along with a number of other items. None of it was anything he was willing to part with.

Jay thought about the process. “Gifts for gifts” the creature had said. It was an exchange of gifts. Jay assumed the return gift's value was based off of the gift first offered. Jay had an idea, but it would be gross.

Jay asked Glenda for one of her glass bottles and she groaned as she fished in her bag and took out the six pack of potions she had won. She gave Jay one of the empty bottles before she turned and with great effort finally set the six pack and its five remaining bottles in to the bowl.

A puff of smoke appeared as the pack and bottles disappeared. Glenda's face lit up as the table's platforms were each populated with something, but due to the out of focus effect Jay could not make out what they might be. Glenda picked one before snatching her hand back and choosing a different item. As she did so the table was empty once again as the other items disappeared.

Jay went over to Aiden and they sat next to each other for a moment as the creature watched them. Jay motioned M'redith over as well. He used her sword to nick himself enough to get some blood flowing out of his right arm. He used the potion vial from Glenda to catch the blood before shoving the stopper in to the vial and pointing at his wound and then at Aiden.

Aiden figured out what he meant and healed him right up, a patch forming over the wound on his arm. Moments later and there was no wound at all, just the remaining patch.

M'redith watched with a disgusted look but did not stop him. Norri was standing by the bowl holding her tiny art kit with a sad look on her face. The creature was watching her. There were too many eyes and mouths to figure out what expression it might have.

Norri didn't have much. She had a magical sticker she had won and a tiny art kit. She just didn't have much of worth to give the creature.

The creature appeared to expect something from everyone however. That part did not seem up for debate. Since the creature appeared to be their only ticket out of wherever they were Norri had decided to play along. With a sorrowful look she dropped her tiny art kit in to the bowl.

The creature made a satisfied noise that the group was embarrassed to hear as the item went up in a puff of smoke. Norri's eyes widened as she inspected her three choices as items appeared in front of her on the table. She appeared torn and had difficulty choosing. Jay would have loved to help her but couldn't make out what her choices were.

Finally after what may have been hours or minutes she made a decision. She picked something up and as she did so Jay could see that it was small and squarish. She shoved it immediately in to her pack and grinned. She said something but only Aiden and Glenda appeared to understand her. He grinned and patted her on the back as Glenda replied and nodded appreciately.

M'redith went next and Jay was surprised to see that she had a small photo of Jay and her, one that had been taken on their first date together. It was one of only a few that she had and was dear to her heart. Still, she placed the item in the bowl and the creature let out a long exhalation as its body appeared to collapse in on itself.

The puff of smoke was larger than the others had been this time, and again the item disappeared in the bowl as items appeared on the table. M'redith inspected each, not appeared to find one to her liking until she reached the last item. She picked it up without hesitation and put it in her backpack.

M'redith said something to Jay but he couldn't understand her.

“I can't understand a word any of you are saying,” Jay said to the group.

M'redith looked at Jay oddly before turning to speak to Glenda and then Norri before she turned back to Jay and shrugged. She pointed to the bowl, nodded, and then turned to speak with the rest of the group.

It appeared that Jay would have to put in his gift before he could talk with his friends. It was quite the setup the creature had – no one could ask for help until they had taken their item.

Jay carefully placed his vial of blood in to the bowl and the creature hissed as it went up in smoke.

“Traveler..” it said. The creature would say nothing else, no matter what Jay asked him. Shrugging, Jay instead turned his attention to the table in front of him. He was provided with three options. They were all vials filled with red liquid. Blood most likely.

For your gift you have been offered the following gifts to choose from in return. Be advised that choosing a reward not intended for your race may have unintended consequences when meeting a member of that race if your knowledge becomes known to them. Your chosen knowledge will be locked to you and you alone and may not be shared with others. The products of that knowledge however is free for you to give out at your discretion.

Elixir of Knowledge: Character Statistics

You are given long lost and advanced knowledge of character statistics, their true meaning, and the best manner in which to train them.

Elixir of Knowledge: Dwarven Runegineering

You are given advanced knowledge of a lost art, Dwarven Runegineering – a method of inscribing runes on to objects or people which then provides a permanent and ongoing effect.

Elixir of Knowledge: Elven Fateweaving

You are given advanced knowledge of a lost art, Elven Fateweaving – the ability to feel the possible outcomes of choices not yet made.

Jay shook his head. Blood had apparently been the right choice if his rewards were anything to go by. Any one of the three gift options would be exceptional. Jay sighed, it was a good problem to have, not knowing which to choose.

Jay wished he had M'redith to talk with, she would know which one was best. Jay looked over at M'redith who was now watching him. She caught him looking at her and wiggled her eyebrows at him, making him grin. He turned back to the table and made his selection.

The items disappeared and he wasn't given an item to put in his bag. Instead he received a new prompt informing him of his choice. He'd go over that once they were safe.

With all of the offerings made and the gifts received the creatures squelched loudly and the table and bowl disappeared.

“Until next time Traveler,” the creature said, the words sending ripples of pain throughout the group's bodies.

The world tilted and swirled as Jay felt himself falling but could not find solid ground no matter how he waved his arms and feet. The world went black and suddenly Jay was being shaken awake by a concerned looking M'redith.

“JAY!” she shouted and finally he lifted his head and groaned, “I'm up.”

“You were dead to the world for the past two minutes. You worried the hell out of us.” M'redith said.

Jay stood up shakily and found that they weren't back in the cavernous round room with the stalagtites. Instead they were back at the portal room, the classroom. It appeared they had gone through the portal in the round cavern, arrived at some strange other dimension, then were hastily dumped through the portal frame in the portal studies room.

“This isn't where we started.” Jay said groggily as he rubbed his head. He had a raging headache. He looked about the room and everyone looked off.

“Well its where we ended up. Can we go to bed yet damnit?” Aiden grumbled. He did not seem thrilled about their journey.

“I don't see why not. We have enough time to make it to our rooms still, right?” Jay asked as he sat at a desk to recover while they talked.

“Sure, maybe an hour tops. We need to go right now if we're going to though. Otherwise we'll be spending the night here.” M'redith insisted.

No one wanted to spend a night not sleeping in an actual bed when they knew one was available so with a collective groan everyone stood up and stacked up in line near M'redith.

She kicked the door once, twice, peeked outside, then ran in to the hallway.

The group followed and everyone seemed happy to be running again instead of creeping along at a snail's pace. M'redith ran them through the confusing and twisting hallways until they reached a corrdor marked 'K' – she stopped the group halfway down the corridor.

“We're here.” she said.

“What, no monsters?” Aiden asked.

A scream could be heard from far off.

“Shhhh.” Glenda said to Aiden with a furrowed brow.

Norri chuckled. Everyone said goodnight and went to their rooms.

The door shut quietly behind them and Jay got changed without even waiting for M'redith to look away. Once dressed in his night clothes he climbed in to bed and turned his head to give her privacy. Shortly after she joined him in bed and they curled up.

“What'd you get? For your gift?” M'redith asked.

Jay barely mumbled, “I'll tell you tomorrow,” before he was asleep.

M'redith growled but didn't really mean it and moments later she fell asleep as well.