“I think we deserve to know what exactly is in this cart we’ve been lugging around.” Renault said. It was rare to hear him speak, this being the first full sentence Kelek had heard him utter. His voice was rough and direct, something that was reminiscent of Renzen, though it did not carry the elf’s usually underlying hostility. Bayin wore a look of expected disappointment at the request. Removing his oversized hat, he replied.
“I suppose I owe you all that much… Festus, you may elucidate for them.”
“Aye, we’ve got enough black powder in here to launch a bolder across the Argentum and have it land in Walrus Tusk!”
“Ha! I knew it!” Imp shouted triumphantly.
“That’s all well and good, but why exactly are we hauling a mountain of explosives to a barren homestead of nomadic farmers?” Renzen asked.
Bayin dabbed the sweat from his forehead with the wide brim of his hat before answering. “Because the site of our expedition requires it. The ruins that lie beneath Tule are ancient and decrepit. Kelek and mine own abilities with magic to not facilitate adequate removal of the obstructions. Therefore, Festus has kindly offered-
“Aye, was bribed more like-” interjected Festus before Bayin cut him off with a loud clear of his throat.
“Kindly offered to supply a large quantity of black powder to excavate any blockages.”
“How did you manage to get so much, Festus?” Ladd inquired as he ran a hand over the tightly covered barrels.
“Me workshop has- well, had, a decent supply from me other projects. I’ve also been dabbling in fusil customization, so I had some extra laying around from that. Course that still isn’t nearly enough to furnish this whole load. The rest I bought from the other gearheads in Ardor. Everyone and their dog is getting in on gunsmithing, and black powder has been being carted in from out west for weeks. We’ve been seeing more of that than salt lately. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the dwarves new prime export.”
“It couldn’t have been cheap buying this much…You aren’t technically a Guild member, right? You don’t live in the halls or take on jobs. Why would you donate so much to us?” Ladd continued to press. Bayin’s frown deepened, but he did not make an effort to halt his inquisition.
“Aye, I’m what you might call a ‘private contractor’ but the Guild sure treats me right when I can help out. Mr. Bayin Amadeus here saw fit to cover all the costs of acquiring the powder, and a sizable commission besides.”
Festus gestured toward the wizard in a mocking bow while shining a greedy smile. The small man could see the animosity in Bayin’s visage, but was unperturbed. To his left, Kelek saw Imp with folded arms and a ponderous expression, as if she was trying to puzzle out the solution to a riddle. Renzen forged onward, paying no more mind to the conversation than a horse might to a buzzing fly. As Kelek looked over Imp, he found himself entranced by the intensely focused stare in her eyes, and for the first time he paused to observe her considerable beauty. Scanning the intricate features of her face, his eyes were routinely drawn to the three darkened gouges that ran from her left jawbone to her right eyebrow.
“Hey, I know I patched up your shoulder back there, but I can take care of the scars on your face if you want.”
Imp’s eyebrows raised quickly as she was startled out of her contemplation.
“Oh, thanks Kelek, but I’m good.”
“Are you sure? Really it’s no trouble, even if Bayin couldn’t do it, my healing abilities are-”
“No no, Bayin was perfectly able to heal them, but I requested he didn’t.”
“W-why would you want to walk around with scars like that?”
Her eyes narrowed at him.
“Because I want to. I’m well aware of my combat prowess. It takes a lot for someone to keep up with me, that even includes elves. I respect that Renzen was able to land such a strike on me. These marks remind me that I still have room to improve, and they’re a reminder of a hard-fought battle with a powerful opponent. Warriors should wear such scars with pride.”
Renzen let out a sound of satisfaction at her comment.
“My people see scars as abhorrent. Their constant pursuit of bodily mastery implies that someone who has a scar is unable to command their body to heal properly. Scar bearers are shunned until their bodies are whole again.”
Kelek was about to reply when Bayin announced their arrival at the outskirts of Tule. The town could scarcely be called such. The dilapidated remains of a hair-thin fence leaned around a patch of undergrown pumpkins. A pair of tents were erected near the sorry pumpkin patch, and an elderly man eyed the group as they descended the mountain path. The man seemed to be the only present inhabitant of Tule, as the village consisted of 4 long collapsed wooden huts, several rams grazing on what little brush sprouted from the ground, and a single malnourished cow that laid near the pair of tents. The very sight of the area unsettled Kelek and filled him with an uncanny depression.
Something about this is… off… This is more than just poverty, there is something wrong with this place.
His thoughts plagued him and exacerbated his uneasiness from the morning’s combat and prior nightmare. Bayin slowly approached the vigilant elder and bowed his head with his left hand raised in a local gesture of greeting. The elderly man returned the gesture and began speaking in a language foreign to Kelek. The two conversed for a short time before Bayin returned to the group.
“I have informed him of our intentions. He will grant us permission to enter the ruins. The vestibule lies partially buried a few yards further south. Imperisha, I’m sure you remember, escort the convoy there, I shall reconvene shortly.”
“Ha, permission. Not like the sorry bastard could do anything if he wanted to object.” Dmitri chided in a whisper to Renault.
“What did he mean remember, have you been here before Imp?” Kelek asked.
“Yep. My first mission with the Guild. Bayin and I came to scout this area a few weeks ago. We got a few rooms in, but the whole place is flooded. We were sitting down near a flooded part when a lizardman jumped out and attacked. What’s strange to me is that I didn’t see anything that would need to be blown away with a bunch of black powder…”
Imp’s words were terse and lacked her common enthusiasm. It was clear their expedition bothered her. The group traveled to the southern end of Tule before stopping in front of a buried marble archway. The stonework was chipped in many places, and moss clung to the exposed rock so tightly, one might mistake the structure as an organic growth were it not for the many imperfections that revealed powdery marble beneath. The surrounding earth was loose and sandy at their feet, and the archway hung over a collapsed staircase that seemed impassable for the ox. The vestibule led into a corridor that disappeared into the darkness beneath the earth, but the sloshing of water could be heard echoing from deep within the hallway. The Argentum Sea was about one mile to the east of the entrance, but no one knew the true size of the ruin, and it was likely that many parts were filled with seawater. Bayin returned to the waiting group and removed the yoke from the ox.
“Our friend will be taking the ox off our hands. Consider it a donation from the Brandt Adventurers Guild to the township of Tule for their cooperation in our expedition. We will no longer require the ox’s services in any case.”
Ladd looked saddened by the news and scratched the ox on the chin several times before it lumbered off to graze.
“Kelek, have you devised a method to transport items through the air that does not rely on explosions?”
Embarrassed, Kelek simply shook his head.
With a frustrated sigh, Bayin gripped his staff.
“Very well. A cart of this size will be a considerable drain on my stamina, but needs must if anything is to be accomplished.”
Wind rushed through the legs of the adventurers as a powerful gust gathered underneath the cart. The wood creaked and groaned as the swelling burst of air lifted the heavy load into the collapsed corridor. Bayin sputtered and gasped as he suddenly released the spell and the cart crashed into the shattered stonework from two feet above. The axles seemed to hold, and the wheels remained upright. Ladd rushed over to support his grandfather while Renzen slid down the sunken trench to investigate the cart.
“I’ll be fine… I am not our only Harnesser… and we have plenty of muscle to take care of anything we may encounter… Stop your worrying, boy.” Bayin said in between labored breaths.
Ladd released his hold of Bayin with a fuss and joined Renzen in the sunken entrance. One by one, the group convened and advanced through the vestibule. Bayin provided a lightsource from the sapphire within his staff and Kelek followed likewise. Dmitri fetched an unlit torch from his pack, but Festus was swift to disparage use of the implement for fear of setting off the cargo. As such, Bayin took the rear and Kelek led the group as they proceeded single file through the ruined corridor. Renzen alone was more than powerful enough to push the cart, but Renault and Ladd attempted to prove themselves helpful by pulling from the front where leather straps had been attached to the yoke. As they traveled deeper into the ruins, the ground became more well preserved. Eventually the flooring became wholly tiled in delicate marble patterns that were alien in design. The smell of saltwater grew strong, and a persistent plink of dripping water could be heard from a different direction every few seconds. The surroundings reminded Kelek of the cave where he and his companions defeated the Etherbeast, and a mixture of excitement and apprehension danced in his stomach.
“Careful. Up ahead it opens up into a big room. There should be a broken floor to the left filled with water. That’s where the lizardman was hiding.” Imp warned.
Kelek’s staff illuminated the foyer shortly after she finished speaking. The room was impressively decorated. The floor’s marble tiles were complimented by several thick columns depicting featureless humans in various elegant poses as they wound up the pillars from floor to ceiling. It looked like the antechamber for a throne room, and Kelek was astounded that such a display of wealth and respect was so close to his hometown of Barkroot; and beneath Tule of all places. The floor to the left was indeed missing, in its place was instead a dark pool of water that reminded Kelek all too much of the Etherbeast’s dwelling, and he instinctively aimed his staff at the pit. The water was not still. It ebbed and flowed with the exterior ocean’s tide, spraying a salty mist over the surrounding tiles that were home to a handful of barnacles. The pool was nearly fifteen feet in diameter, but might have been even larger, as the far end disappeared beneath the wall of the chamber.
“So what exactly are we looking for in here?” Kelek’s voice echoed throughout the chamber, breaking the eerie silence. Dmitri replied with mirth.
“Ahh, that’s the fun part, poppet. Being sanctioned ‘Adventurers’ gives us leave to loot any trinket or bauble we may find. Gotta have some funding to ‘foster the spirit of adventure’ or whatever that old Brandt fellow claimed the goal of the Guild was.” A frustrated sigh emitted from Bayin in response.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“While not entirely incorrect, I implore that you take great care in mapping out this ruin. If my suspicion is accurate, these are the remains of an Ymir building. Our archeological findings will be published in the Regnarce Public Journal. Any objects of value shall be presented to the presiding Guildmaster; myself of course. I will determine if they have any special historical significance, elsewise the presenter will be permitted to keep them.”
“You heard the old coot, first come first served! I’ll be damned if I’m letting any of you gits snatch up a diamond before me!” Dmitri crowed as he made his way toward the twin archways at the rear of the room.
The arches loomed over hallways similar to the one they had followed. The hallway to their left began with a winding staircase that disappeared into the darkness beyond the light from Kelek’s staff. The opposite side was paved with a clear marble path that seemed to stretch forward for a large distance.
“The cart won’t be able to make it down here.” said Kelek. “Guess we should take the right path?”
Bayin closed his eyes and contemplated a moment. “No. Dmitri, Renault, Festus, and myself shall take that path. I want the rest of you to investigate the area below. If we have not reconvened within three hours, everyone will make their ways back to this room. I advise against splitting off alone, but so long as everyone travels in at least pairs, I trust no harm will befall any of you.”
Dmitri’s eyes gleamed with avarice, knowing that fewer people on his path would increase his likelihood of finding something valuable. The party split into equal sized groups, and Renzen wasted no time in starting down the stairs. Ladd was apprehensive to join him in the darkness, and stayed close behind Kelek and his illuminated staff. As the group descended the winding staircase, Renzen let out an annoyed sigh.
“It’s flooded. I can see the tip of the doorway leading into the next room, but we’re going to have to go for a little swim.”
“Are you sure we’ll be able to walk around in there? Is there enough non-flooded flooring?” Ladd replied, worried.
Without saying a word, Renzen dove into the flooded pool at his feet. The splashing water landed on Kelek’s face, and it made him shudder from the cold.
How can he stand that? It's nearly freezing! Is it just because he is an elf, or because of his bodily mastery?
A tense few seconds passed before Renzen’s shadow could be spotted in the water again. He grinned widely as his face emerged from the icy water.
“I think we picked the right path. It is a short swim, but there is some intact flooring after a few feet, and something amazing.”
Imp nodded and joined him in the water after a few quick breaths to steel herself. The pair disappeared under the flooded doorway to make room for Kelek and Ladd. Sensing his anxiety, Kelek cast a calming spell on both Ladd and himself. He was about to step into the water before inspiration struck him. Holding his staff between them, Kelek spoke.
“Warmth.”
A soothing aura of warmth overcame both of them as the magic performed its miracle. Ladd immediately smiled as the spell filled him with a sense of safety and joy.
“This should keep us from freezing. I wish Imp and Renzen would have waited for me to think of it first.”
Ladd gave a shrug in reply, and both of them stepped into the water. The spell persisted, though Kelek could feel an indiscernible strain grow within him as the magic took a greater deal of effort to maintain the warmth. He was certain that were it not for his natural affinity for temperature control, he would not be able to maintain the enchantment. They dove beneath the water, following the outlines of Imp and Renzen ahead of them as they surfaced. They found themselves in a large room that was tilted at a wide angle, seemingly separating from the greater building and slowly being claimed by the sea. A stonework platform jutted out from the wall they had swam under, and Kelek surmised it to be the roof of the original room, with the floor well below them in the water. He began to swim toward the landing, but was stopped when his eyes met with a massive log of wood that was lodged beneath a yet higher ceiling above. The lumber was splintered in several spots, but the bulk of it was intact, and a crossbeam at the top gave it the unmistakable appearance of a ship’s mast. Beneath the mast, two portions of the ship laid half-submerged and upturned like the two halves of a cracked egg. The ship's cargo spilled into the water, filling it with coins, barrels, fruits, and various articles of clothing. Renzen pulled a shivering Imp from the bed of water as Ladd and Kelek joined him on the outcropping of stone. Kelek ended and recast his warming spell on Imp, and made an offer to Renzen, who refused, claiming to enjoy the chill.
“How do you think this thing even ended up here?” Ladd asked to no one in particular.
“See that?” Renzen pointed toward the back of the large room into the empty blackness. “I don’t know if your human eyes can make it out in this darkness, but there is a large hole in the far wall. On the other side of the worked stone is natural rock. Looks like this meets up with a cavern that is fed from the sea. Must’ve got sucked in by a tide and got stuck in here.”
“What are the odds? We really lucked out! It must have been a merchant vessel. Just look at all the different goods!” Imp said, stretching out her arms to indicate the wealth of spoils that floated in the water.
“Unfortunately a lot of it has been ruined by the water. No telling how long this thing has been sitting here.” Renzen replied. Imp remained cheery when she responded.
“It can’t have been that long. These oranges haven’t rotted yet, and the wood on the ship isn’t completely overgrown with barnacles.”
Kelek pondered her reasoning and added.
“Perhaps we should see if we can get into the hold above water? Might be able to find some unspoiled goods?”
The group nodded in agreement. They were about to head for the shipwreck when Renzen held out his arms to halt their advance. Ladd was about to ask his reasoning, but Renzen pushed a finger to his mouth before he made a sound. Seconds later, the water ahead of them rippled. Renzen tugged on Kelek’s tunic and pointed toward his staff. He made a motion to snuff out the light, and Kelek ended his spell. The three humans stood in dark, cold silence, huddled around Renzen. The sounds of the water breaking were loud against the backdrop of stillness. When the droplets of water settled, the sound of chattering teeth echoed throughout the room. Renzen’s astute elven eyesight outlined two human men swimming toward the wreckage. They had emerged from below where they stood, and moved with a confidence that suggested they were familiar with the area.
The strangers reached the wreckage and pulled themselves onto the exposed boards that shot out of the water. Though it was at a steep angle, the shattered flooring within the ship allowed for stable footing above the water. Teeth still chattering from the cold, they scavenged around in the dark hull of the ship, picking up loose goods that had yet to be taken by the water. Renzen thought they might be elves given the ease with which they navigated the dark, but their features were distinctly human. They carried packs that they were stuffing with loot, and both of them wore pairs of goggles.
“We aren’t the first ones to discover this. There are two men looting the ship. They can see in the dark. They might spot us.” Renzen whispered to his comrades.
“What should we do?” Ladd replied.
The two of them silently contemplated a course of action while an ominous feeling loomed over Kelek. The air tasted thick with the unmistakable metallic tinge of Ether. He tugged at Renzen’s sodden leather vest with a sense of urgency.
“Something is wrong. It feels like the cave…”
Renzen scanned the water and, as if answering Kelek’s summons, a dark shadow wound its way toward the ship from the shattered wall. In contrast to his usual stoic demeanor, the abyssal creature caused a pall dread to envelop Renzen. It was far more massive than the aberrant octopus. It was over twenty feet in width, and what was visible of its form beneath the water was thirty feet long and growing as it snaked its way from the sea-cave adjacent to the cavernous room. Being the only person capable of seeing the creature, a heavy pit formed in Renzen’s stomach as the monstrous, eel-like creature continued to reveal its size. He attempted to calm himself by reciting the usual mantras he would chant in order to redirect bodily pain, but his thoughts were overwhelmed by the primordial terror the beast elicited from his primal instincts. His pupils dilated and he reflexively gripped the front of Ladd and Kelek’s tunics.
“We need to run.” He said, swallowing as much fear as possible.
At that, the water erupted. The eldritch creature raised its serpentine head from the depths with a piercing wail and struck the remains of the ship like a rearing snake. The impact shook the entirety of the room, causing the group’s flooring to bend and dip into the water. Screams from the strangers aboard the ship could be heard amidst the cacophony of splashing water and beast cries. The gargantuan sea serpent held its head erect a dozen feet above the water while the remainder of its body coiled slightly below it and continued out past the cave.
“Kelek, light!” Imp cried out in panic.
He assented, shouted “Light!” and thrust his staff toward the ceiling of the room. The luminous orb revealed the malformed shape of the beast. It followed the basic structure of an eel, limbless and sleek, but the gaping maw at its head was more akin to a shark. Countless rows of jagged teeth aimlessly jutted from its swollen jaws. A wide, flat black tongue lolled out one side of its mouth. Several black spheres were dotted around the top and sides of its head, though it was unclear which were eyes and which were tumor-like growths. The entire length of its spine was adorned with a membranous dorsal fin that connected large curved spikes every few feet. Next to the thick, veiny fin, symmetrical orange tinted circles were evenly spaced down its back; starkly contrasting the dark blue shade of the creature’s hide. Beholding the monster in all its terrible glory filled the rest of the group with the same preternatural horror that plagued Renzen.
The beast’s initial strike was a success, as the light also revealed a limp body impaled on one of the many saw-like teeth. Its tongue lazily draped itself over the corpse, drawing it into its mouth from the sheer weight. The remaining intruder had jumped into the water and begun frantically swimming toward the area beneath Kelek and the others. Thinking quickly, Renzen balled his hands into fists and shot them forward with a desperate cry, launching bursts of translucent energy toward the leviathan. The act sapped his stamina immediately, causing him to drop to a single knee. The beast’s leathery hide did not yield to the attack. The forceful energy instead dissipated across its body and caused it sway backward several feet. Renzen observed the futility of his gambit with a sinking fright.
“There’s no point. It’s useless…” He said, more to himself than anyone else.
Imp had not given in to hopelessness, and was loosing several arrows toward the monstrosity. The barbed heads bounced harmless off its thick, muscle-bound sinew as if they were colliding with boulders. Kelek dipped the tip of his ruby staff into the water and contemplated boiling it. He was ready to cast the spell when the maddened screams of the stranger swimming toward them distracted him. An image of the man being boiled alive like a lobster in a stewpot flashed in his mind, and he couldn’t bring himself to let the man suffer that barbarity. Instead, he stood at the edge of the crumbling floor and peered into the water, thoughts racing with possible solutions.
“Kelek! Move!” Ladd cried out. He snapped out of his stupor and looked up to see the creature’s massive jaws speeding toward him. He reflexively pulled up his staff in defense just as Ladd had tackled him from behind, launching the both of them into the water just out of the beast’s gnashing charge. A resounding crack pealed through the room as the floor gave way on contact with the head. The creature continued further, caving in the wall behind tearing a hole through to another room. Within the room was a small camp and a half dozen people scrambling in confusion as the beast’s momentum halted. A flood of water carried from one room to the other, pooling in a large indent left from the lunge. Kelek and Ladd were swept along with the tide and thrown against the floor of the new room. Renzen and Imp were standing on the far side of the flooring that still clung to the wall, now several feet above the others.
“What the Hell is that thing!?” One of the people cried out. “Anthony! Martin! What happened!?” The man continued as he readied a pike.
The beast shook the rubble from its back in a twisting motion as it reeled its mighty neck back into the flooded room. The luminous orb Kelek cast had vanished, and a pit grew in his stomach when he realized that staff was nowhere to be found. Ladd was quicker to get to his feet. He unsheathed his longsword and assumed a ready stance, but the trembling of his legs betrayed his fear. The beast’s head was working backward past Renzen and Imp when the elf saw his opportunity. He swept Imp’s legs from under her and carried her as he leapt onto the leviathan’s skull. Her numerous javelins stabbed into his arm as he held her close, but the pain was redirected into a burst of energy. Planting a foot directly into what he thought might be an eye, Renzen forcefully launched himself off the creature and onto the stable flooring below with a sickening squelch; placing Imp on her feet at their landing. The creatures howled in anguish as the pitchblack orb was caved in, thrashing its bulk from side to side in protest.
A heavyset man whistled and aimed a long-barreled rifle at the monster. The campfire behind him made it difficult to make out any details, but the firearm appeared to be nearly the length of his body, and gave off a brilliant blue glow that started near the man’s hand and extended toward the end of the barrel. An impossibly fast beam of energy emitted from the rifle and collided with the creature, causing arcs of electricity to dance across its hide and puffs of smoke to rise from patches of burnt flesh. It wailed in agony as its twisted length writhed and thrashed in the water. It let out a few more angry shrieks before doubling back and fleeing through the same hole it had entered. The barrel of the rifle continued to give off a dull blue glow as it rested in the man’s hand. Kelek could taste the Ether that suffused the weapon, erasing any suspicion that it was mundane.
Adrenaline fading, Renzen faltered and fell to one knee yet again. Unleashing two weaponized concentrations of his life force had drained him far more than he had expected. Imp tossed her handaxe from her belt into her palm, eyeing the strangers wearily. Ladd continued to stare in disbelief as the creature wound its way out of the structure and into the sea. Kelek turned and looked at the water as the swimming man had finally approached the room and lifted himself from the water onto the cobbled floor, coughing. The large, rifle-wielding man chuckled and scratched his beard.
“G’job Martin. Wasn’t expectin’ this much loot.”