Talax stretched with a big yawn, savoring the rare luxury of sleeping in a bed. The mattress was rough and had several big lumps that dug into his body, but it was still preferable to sleeping on the ground.
The first light of day filtered through the tiny window overlooking the central alley. For several minutes, he simply lay on the bed, enjoying the state of semi-wakefulness, something he hadn't experienced... ever!
Qalo's snores echoed from the next room. The wooden wall rattled slightly with every one of the half-orc's exhalations, but instead of being bothersome, Talax found it oddly comforting. Outside, the world was still asleep, and only the sound of the wind seeped into his room.
With a reluctant sigh, Talax finally got up. As he freed himself from his bedding, the cold immediately assaulted his skin, making it feel like pebbles. He quickly began donning his gear, eager to ward off the chill. The process took longer than he would have liked, involving the tying of strings and tightening of belts, but he was eventually able to put on his armor. Without it, he felt surprisingly exposed, having grown accustomed to the protection it offered without even realizing it.
He moved as quietly as possible down the narrow corridor, passing doors that concealed the snoozing inhabitants of the inn. His feet halted at one particular door when he heard loud whispers coming from within, as if an argument were taking place. Intrigued, he strained to listen, but he could only discern two male voices engaged in a dispute over something. All he could gather was that one of the men was reluctant to carry out a mission he had been assigned.
The protests eventually quieted, and silence returned to the room. Talax shrugged, his curiosity somewhat satisfied, and continued on his way. The wooden steps creaked as he descended the narrow staircase, and the lingering scent of unwashed bodies and alcohol from the previous night still hung in the air. However, the inn's interior was pleasantly warm thanks to the ever-present fire at the center of the room.
The innkeeper from the previous day was still manning the counter, though he was currently dozing off, propping up his head with his hand. Talax had to rap his knuckles on the wooden surface of the counter to get the man's attention.
Startled, the innkeeper jumped and shot Talax a glare, but when he realized who was standing in front of him, his expression quickly transformed into a pleasant if tired smile. "Beg your pardon, mister. I didn't hear you," he apologized.
Talax waved his hand dismissively. "No problem at all. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like something for breakfast," he requested.
The innkeeper nodded and disappeared through a door behind the counter, presumably leading to the kitchen.
Talax chose a table near a window and sat down, patiently awaiting his meal. He passed the time by enjoying the peaceful silence and observing the activity in the alley outside. Villagers began to emerge, braving the chilly morning to haul baskets of firewood and crates filled with goods. His gaze fixed on a wooden sign swaying in the wind, bearing two symbols: a snowflake and a raindrop.
He was so engrossed in watching the sign that he failed to detect the innkeeper's presence until he heard the clatter of a plate being set in front of him. Talax jumped, feeling a bit embarrassed at his inattentiveness, and tried to hide it with an awkward cough.
The innkeeper lingered until Talax looked up. The man answered to Talax’s raised eyebrow. “Will you be leaving today, or you would like to extend your stay?” He asked hopefully, no doubt seeking a few more easy coins. “Nah, me and my friend will be heading to the cloud monasteries. As soon as he wakes up, we will be on our way.”
The innkeeper's face fell with disappointment, clearly hoping for a different answer. Talax began to eat his food, popping dried fruit and cheese into his mouth, when he heard a cough. He looked up, and the innkeeper was still standing there.
"If I may, sir..." the innkeeper started, and at Talax's nod, he continued, "I would advise waiting a bit longer in the day. A couple of initiates arrived late last night, sent by the monks of the monasteries to fetch supplies. You could join them on their return journey. The trip to the monasteries is short but perilous. Mountain lions have descended from the peaks, and they are hungry. You appear to be a brave warrior, but it would be wiser to have some extra help."
Talax nodded in acknowledgment of the innkeeper's advice but ultimately decided against waiting for the initiates' return. He had a pressing need to reach the cloud monasteries as soon as possible to fulfill the contract he had made with Aria. The looming threat of being cursed for not fulfilling his part of the deal weighed heavily on him, and he wanted to find her family at the earliest opportunity.
"Thank you for the advice, but I think we'll be okay," he politely declined. The man shrugged and went to leave, but stopped when Talax offered him a couple more silver coins as a gesture of gratitude. The innkeeper thanked him profusely and pocketed the coins with a beaming smile.
Talax then inquired about the recent sightings of mountain lions in the area, mentioning that Pete had mentioned it the previous night. The innkeeper, still in high spirits after receiving the coins, eagerly shared information about the unusual occurrences in the village.
"It is indeed rare for the mountain lions to come this close to the village," he explained. "Normally, these beasts hunt high in the mountains, where there's plenty of prey like wild mountain goats. But lately, there have been more and more sightings closer to the village. Something must have spooked them, and I can't even imagine what could do that. This year has been quite peculiar. First, we had temperatures making us sweat and forcing us to open our well-sealed windows, and now mountain lions are circling our poor village. Some even say the ice wraiths have disappeared."
Talax felt an unsettling sensation in his stomach as he listened to the innkeeper's words. The string of unusual occurrences couldn't be a mere coincidence, and he hoped it wouldn't complicate his mission.
“I just hope we haven’t angered some god, and all these occurrences aren’t their work.” The innkeeper muttered and the unsettling feeling grew and transformed into a monster at the man’s words.
"Aria, do you think it's possible?" he asked the fragment of the high priestess.
Aria, who had remained silent until now, offered her perspective. "I don't think so. While we can't completely rule out the possibility, it seems highly unlikely that a deity would be involved in such matters. Why would a god target a small village like this? Even Erling, whose name the monasteries were originally founded for, has never shown any interest in such trivial matters. It's likely something else entirely."
Talax nodded in agreement, it seemed unlikely that a God would send wild animals to feed on some goats for punishment.
After a few more words, the innkeeper returned to his post, and Talax savored his breakfast. A couple of patrons appeared with sleepy expressions, hastily finishing their meals before heading off to work.
As time passed, Talax grew increasingly impatient. He was on the verge of going upstairs to awaken the lethargic orc when he finally heard Qalo's heavy footsteps. Talax had to admit that Qalo looked imposing in his new attire; the leather and fur gave him the appearance of a fierce barbarian.
Qalo's presence captured the attention of the few customers in the inn. As Talax scanned the room, he noticed that the gnome from the previous day sat at a nearby table, drowning his troubles in a drink. Qalo signaled for some breakfast and joined him.
"About time! I was just about to come check if you were still breathing," Qalo let out a loud yawn and rubbed his red-rimmed eyes. "I haven't slept this deeply in ages. It was so warm and cozy in that room that I didn't want to get up." Talax nodded in understanding. "The constant wind doesn't help either."
Qalo sighed wistfully but brightened up when his breakfast arrived. "The local cuisine leaves a lot to be desired," he commented between mouthfuls of cheese. Talax chose to overlook the remark and informed his friend, "We'll set out once you've finished eating. I want to reach the monasteries while it's still early. I don't want anything to happen and leave us stranded in the night, battling the cold." Qalo shivered at his words and nodded vigorously.
Once Qalo had finished his meal, they left the inn, receiving the innkeeper's well-wishes for a safe journey. They braved the morning chill as Talax tightened his new coat around him. He had hoped to encounter Gormak and find out his plans once they departed, but the dwarf was still sound asleep after the eventful night.
They strolled down the narrow Frostfall alley until the shops and houses were replaced by sheer rock, finding themselves at a small clearing. For a moment, they looked around, feeling lost. They had asked several questions about the monasteries, but they had forgotten to inquire about the most crucial detail, how to reach them.
"Is that a sign?" Qalo murmured, his finger pointing at a small wooden sign wedged in a crack between two massive boulders. Talax wiped away the frost clinging to the signpost and discovered an arrow directing them toward a narrow opening formed between two towering cliffs.
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Qalo tilted his head upward, his gaze tracing the towering cliffs that stretched into the heavens, their peaks shrouded by heavy mist. It felt as if they were peering into the very heart of the gods' domain. "I suppose we have no other choice," he lamented, his voice tinged with resignation. Talax furrowed his brow as he followed Qalo's gaze, taking in the immense scale of the mountains that surrounded them.
The narrow passage before them, framed by imposing rock walls, made Talax grimace. It seemed even narrower than the Frostfall alley, a foreboding chasm that threatened to swallow them whole. In the claustrophobic confines of the passage, the very air felt dense and oppressive, and if anything attacked while they were still in the enclosed space, things could turn ugly.
"At least they said the trip is only a few hours long," Qalo said, his words tinged with a reluctant optimism that struggled to pierce the gloomy atmosphere. Talax took a deep breath and took the first cautious step into the steep ravine, his boot crunching on the frosted gravel beneath. A fierce gust of wind buffeted his face, carrying with it the biting chill of the mountains. He muttered through chattering teeth, "Lovely..."
The path, though treacherously narrow, was surprisingly well-maintained, with the rocky terrain smoothed to perfection by the relentless forces of wind and weather. Yet, as they continued to ascend, Talax noticed a subtle incline that gradually grew more pronounced. Their breaths quickened, plumes of vapor escaping into the frigid air, and Qalo's labored huffs echoed in the confined space.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar broke the stillness, a deafening cacophony that reverberated off the towering rock walls. The sound seemed to multiply and magnify within the ravine until it assaulted their eardrums with a painful intensity. Panic surged through them, their eyes darting wildly in search of the source of the ominous roar, fearing that they would encounter the infamous mountain lions they had heard so much about. The narrow passage ahead no longer seemed like their only concern.
Their hearts pounding like war drums in their chests, Talax and Qalo exchanged fearful glances, their breaths visible in the frosty air. They scanned the rocky terrain, desperately seeking the origin of the bone-chilling roar. Their senses sharpened, every nerve on edge, but there was nothing to be seen.
With a heavy sigh, Talax shook his head, trying to dispel the unease that had settled in the pit of his stomach. "False alarm, I suppose," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the rising wind. Qalo nodded, his expression a mixture of relief and frustration.
They continued their journey, the path twisting and climbing relentlessly. The right wall, which had once made him feel claustrophobic, abruptly vanished, giving way to a deep chasm that seemed to plunge into the very bowels of the earth. A relentless mist concealed its depths and made it impossible to know how high they were. Talax took a quick glimpse over the ledge but quickly scattered back when he realized the true height of their location, it felt like they were in the heavens looking down on the mortals.
The path ahead narrowed further, leaving room for only one person to pass at a time. Talax pressed himself against the rocky wall, his fingers grazing the icy surface as he edged forward. With each step, the treacherous drop on his right became more apparent, a yawning void that threatened to swallow him whole. He could feel the frigid breath of the mountain on his face, the chilling breeze that whispered of ancient magic. At times he thought he spotted a flickering on the air ahead of him, but once he looked closer, he couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
As the first snowflakes began to drift lazily from the shrouded peaks, settling upon their clothing and melting away, the atmosphere grew even more forbidding. The roars of the mountain lions, once a distant threat, now became their constant companions, echoing through the desolate chasm. It felt like they were all around them, monitoring their every move, but not yet making their move.
Qalo followed in Talax's footsteps, his knuckles white as he clung to the unforgiving rock face. The tension in the air was palpable, and every moment felt like an eternity. Their new clothing didn’t prove as effective as they had thought against the unforgiving cold of the mountains. This far up, the temperature had plummeted, and Talax felt like a layer of ice had settled over his skin. He considered putting on his second coat, so that he had an extra layer of protection against the harsh elements, but at that moment his foot slipped on a patch of ice and he scrambled to gain foothold on the treacherous trail, that seemed more appropriate for goats than humans.
Trying to lighten the mood, Talax cast a sidelong glance at Qalo and quipped, "Well, Qalo, they say when you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, it's a sure sign you're on the right path!"
Qalo managed a small chuckle, his grip on the rocky wall relaxing just a fraction. "Let's hope this path leads us somewhere worth all this trouble, Talax," he replied, the hint of a smile playing on his lips.
The snake-like trail grew even more treacherous as they advanced, becoming so narrow that their feet could barely fit on the perilous path. The snow and ice beneath their boots made the ground slippery and dangerous, forcing Talax and Qalo to take each step with excruciating caution. The chasm to their right seemed to yawn wider with each passing moment, the sight of it enough to send shivers down their spines.
Qalo's nerves were clearly fraying as he whimpered and complained, his voice a constant murmur of fear. "Talax, this is madness! I swear, one false step and I'll go down. Just so you know if I die, I will come back to haunt you!" His words trembled with anxiety; his eyes fixed firmly on the treacherous path ahead.
Talax's chuckled at Qalo’s threat but quickly his jaw clenched in determination as he forged ahead, leading the way through the ever-worsening conditions. The swirling snowflakes and icy winds only added to the challenge, making Talax swear and consider on praying on Tychos once more, maybe the crazy God will visit him again and bestow a blessing or two to help him.
Their progress came to an abrupt halt when they turned a bend and came face to face with a herd of mountain goats. These creatures, though relatively small in size, had magnificent horns that spiraled outwards, giving them a rather formidable appearance. The goats blocked the narrow trail, their hooves expertly gripping the rocky surface.
Talax's mind raced as he recalled the supply pack he had purchased from Lola, the cranky shopkeeper back in the village. She had mentioned a whistle called the Hoofkeeper Whistle that had the ability to repel wild goats. With a sense of urgency, he rummaged through his enchanted bag and pulled out the small, ornate whistle.
With a deep breath, Talax brought the whistle to his lips and blew a sharp, high-pitched note. The sound reverberated off the towering cliffs, and some of the goats reacted immediately, their hooves clattering as they scrambled away, disappearing into the snowy abyss below. The relief was fleeting, however, as a few stubborn goats decided to scale the steep rocky wall above them.
The rocky terrain around them quivered and rumbled as the panicked goats scrambled upwards, sending larger stones and debris tumbling down toward the narrow path. The situation escalated from perilous to dire in an instant. Talax and Qalo had to react swiftly, their hearts racing as they desperately sought cover against the torrent of falling rocks.
Talax hugged the cold, unforgiving cliffside, his fingers gripping a narrow crevice as the chaos unfolded. Rocks the size of melons plummeted past him, crashing onto the trail with deafening force, and he felt the air rush past his face as they narrowly missed him. Qalo, further down the trail, clung to the wall, his eyes wide with terror as he too tried to evade the cascading projectiles.
The shower of rocks finally came to an end, leaving Talax and Qalo breathing heavily and blinking in disbelief at their narrow escape. Talax, always quick with a quip, couldn't help but crack a joke to lighten the mood. "Well, that was close," he said with a forced grin, but Qalo's expression remained unamused, his eyes locked on the perilous path they had to continue.
For long, tense moments, Qalo clung to the wall, paralyzed by fear, unable to tear his gaze from the sheer drop on the other side. Talax's concern grew as he watched his friend's distress. He knew they couldn't afford to stay still, not with the ever-increasing roars of mountain lions reverberating through the narrow ravine.
"Qalo," Talax said softly, his voice gentle but determined, "we have to keep moving. Staying here won't make the situation any better." He extended a hand, coaxing Qalo to release his death grip on the wall and take a step forward.
With trembling legs, Qalo finally relented, taking a hesitant step away from the cliffside. He drew a deep breath and nodded, summoning his inner strength to continue the treacherous journey.
As they ascended further for what felt like an eternity, with the background of the roars of the mountain lions that had grown more frequent, after another sharp bend in the path, the narrow trail suddenly widened to a small plateau, just a few meters wide. Talax's eyes widened as he spotted a massive marking on the rocky wall. It was an intricate symbol that seemed to pulse with the signature of mana, the mystical energy that flowed through the world.
Talax turned to Aria, the ghost of the high priestess that resided within his head, and asked, "Aria, what is this symbol? Do you recognize it?"
Aria's voice echoed in his mind as she replied, "That, Talax, is a signal rune. They are used as a bell of sorts. Once you touch the rune, it notifies its creator that someone is nearby."
Talax's heart raced with excitement and curiosity. "Could this be the entrance to the Cloud Monasteries?" he wondered aloud.
Aria's spectral voice confirmed his suspicion. "Yes, it's highly likely, Talax. It seems we've reached our destination.”
Talax reached out and gently touched the intricate signal rune on the rocky wall. As his fingers made contact, the symbol flared up with a brief, intense burst of mana, illuminating the plateau in a soft, ethereal light. Both friends stood still, their breaths held, waiting for some sign, some response to their presence.
But for a few agonizing moments, there was nothing. Doubt began to creep in, and they exchanged worried glances, fearing that they might have made a mistake. Had they reached a dead end?
Just as they were about to give up hope and consider finding another way to reach the Cloud Monasteries, a peculiar sound reached their ears. It was a distant, rhythmic hum, growing louder with each passing second. The ground beneath their feet vibrated, and their eyes shot upward in surprise.
Above them, descending from the sheer cliffs, was a woven basket of enormous proportions. It was unlike anything they had ever seen, able to accommodate more than five people comfortably. Thick ropes held the basket in place, creaking as it lowered, and a system of pulleys guided its descent.
Talax's eyes widened in wonder, and he turned to Qalo, excitement coursing through his veins. "Qalo, it seems our ride to the Cloud Monasteries has arrived!" he exclaimed.
But when Qalo laid eyes on the swaying basket, with its short lip that offered little protection from the dizzying heights, he burst out in horror. "You expect me to get inside that thing? No way, Talax! I'll stay right here on this small plateau forever, thank you very much!" His face had turned several shades paler, and he clung to the rocky wall as if his life depended on it.
Talax turned to Qalo with a small smile. “I really don’t understand your outburst, this seems completely safe. Well...” He continued as his eyes trailed behind his friend detecting movement. “At least safer than staying here...” He said pointing at their new friends that had finally come to play.