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Ranger of the North
Interlude 4: The Deeps

Interlude 4: The Deeps

The depths of the ocean existed in complete silence save for the rustling sand along the seabed and the haunting song of the leviathan. Shafts of sunlight that managed to pierce through the sea, dyed the scene in deep, dark violet.

The gigantic creature swam a circuit around a magnificent palace of white marble and luminescent pearls that competed with it in size.

No movement could be observed save for the glow of the jellyfish swimming around the palace; their light interacting with the complex architecture causing the shadows to come alive.

***

The main hallway was in complete darkness but for an eerie blue glow coming from the crack in the massive doors at the end of it. The magnificent doors were carved with long, serpentine beasts with pearls held in their long snouts. Long whiskers swept along the body and magnificent antlers sat atop their head, their skin was carved with intricate fish scales and four limbs could be seen along its slender trunk.

The source of light was revealed to be in the form of a glowing, opalescent gem behind a huge throne that seemed to be carved from mother-of-pearl, glimmering in the colors of the rainbow even through the wash of shifting blue light. The floor had a circular channel cut into the marble with six points across its circumference.

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A man lounged on the seat of the throne, seemingly asleep. His features were covered completely by elaborate armor of overlapping plates in the form of fish scales and an elaborate full-face helmet decorated in gills. The whole armor was intricately detailed with the scales glinting in various shades of blue that grew darker as it reached the diamond set in the center of his chest.

Even asleep the armored man clutched a tall spear twice the size of a man in his right hand. The shaft was a deep, abyssal black inset with gold veins that culminated into the blade of the spear, which glinted a metallic gold in the glowing nimbus that surrounded it. A long tassel tied below the head of the spear floated gently in the underwater currents.

A tremor ran through the palace causing the entire seafloor to rumble. The gem atop the throne shone brighter and in pulses like a heartbeat.

The disturbance caused the armored man to stir from his sleep. He gripped his spear, causing it to flare bright, and stood up from the throne, to examine the gem. Beneath the slits of his helmet, vertical slit-like pupils set in glowing amber eyes watched the shining gem as its beats rose to a crescendo… and stop. It continued to shine with a steady light as if the phenomena had never occurred but a glowing line of light flowed from the gem into a channel on the floor served as proof of the disturbance. The glowing eyes followed the path of the light as it lit up the northernmost point in the circular pattern that surrounded the throne. The armored man's eyes narrowed in thought, as he retook his position on the throne.