You make your way across the empty hall, and are not greeted by any other elven angels rising up from the ground.
The light from outside pools around the rubble and gleams off the black dust. You judge that it is still a few hours before noon.
On the door by the floor are faded words that you can't make out at all. The sunlight, weather, and black dust has made them illegible. You walk into the corridor and see it branches off in several directions. Left, right, and forward.
The forward direction, only a few steps into the corridor, leads to a large spiral staircase made of gleaming metal. The staircase looks like it acts as part of the makeshift drainage system when the floods get this high. Colden deduces that the staircase must be made of the same metal as the box in which he found the red cards: there are no sign of rust on it. The walls, however, show signs of repeated water-wear and drainage.
The left direction leads to the outside, where the rubble of an old, large, collapsed room has fallen. Skeletons of the frame and other objects are buried within the snow, and the wind brings snow and black dust into the corridor, chilling your bones.
The right direction makes a sharp turn and disappears in the flickering torchlight.
"Minions, we will climb the stairs, so we can get a better vantage point! It is necessary to broaden our field of vision, so that we can get the best observation possible, and consequently, the best deduction. Logical thinking is important, and I know that you are eager to learn how to do that. Yes! Follow me up! And always look where you step! Yes! And don't fidget with your toys! Concentration is important here. You don't want to know what would happen otherwise."
"Very well, let's ascend these stairs and see what's up there. Now, is it possible for us to carry Garta up there? Especially now with Jirt being injured as well. I can help with carrying the stretcher. "
Colden isn't a fan of carrying things and secretly hopes his proposition to carry Garta will be declined and that someone more akin to grunt work will take his place. Colden is no weakling though and if push comes to shove, he will show the team he has the biceps and stamina of a proper dwarf!
Discouraged by the incident, Nareth was silent all this time. It seems that the most dreadful thing he could imagine himself was brought to life, and this place, full of dark and incomprehensible magic, along with this shape-shifter gnome, who cannot be killed completely, brought him out of his state of mental equilibrium.
" The mission ... I have to focus on the mission. This place is clearly cursed and it drains the will. Doesn't Master Coden feel this? Does he not notice the obvious? Or maybe ... Maybe the sorcery of these dungeons gained power over him? "
Nareth dismissed his sudden suspicions. It can not be, because it just can not be. The King's Quest is what he should focus on.
" Men! Stand at the ready! There are a lot of dangers here, so move slowly, look at your feet and be as careful as possible! ", whispered the captain
Whatever it was, and he must protect the Lorekeeper. Out of habit, Nareth raises his round shield and closes the right flank of Colden. They should get out of here fast and make haste.
" Nay, M'Lord Colden! Let me carry this lad... ", he holsters his sword and takes the stretcher, his right hand still holds the shield, covering his torso and injured Jirt with Garta on the stretcher.
" We have got to make haste! Losing time here makes certainly no good to us! ", he moves forth, together with Kefto and wounded friends.
" Hold on, me son! We'll patch ya soon, but now we have got to leave this halls. You have shown your courage already... ", Nareth tries to calm down Jirt. The stretcher is quite heavy with two bodies and it is clear they won't make it far in such a tempo. The luggage serves as a pillow for Jirt and Garta.
" Oi, Lagrord! Give me yer hand. I thinks we can share the weight a bit, hold this side, don't ya? ", Nareth hopes they can distribute the stretcher's weight by carrying it together. He points on the second Kefto's side.
They ascend the stairs following Colden and mysterious nameless Gnome.
“But... but... I’m fine, Captain Nareth!” protests Jirt. “I can walk, I really can!” However, his injury may be more serious than it at first looked, for he does nearly faint. Nareth pushes him into the stretcher.
“Blast this!” grumbles Garta stubbornly. “I’ll not share a stretcher with one such as him! Nay, let me walk! Lagrord, be a friend and allow me to lean on you shoulder for support as we climb the stairs.”
She doesn’t wait for permission and throws her weight on Lagrord, looking back at the stretcher with angry contempt as Jirt lays down on it.
The stairs go both up and down. The flooding damage seems to be only in a downward direction. It must fill up in the other room and drain off, at least partially, downwards to the unknown depths.
You climb the stairs without difficulty. They are wide enough to walk three abreast. You ascend what must be several stories before you reach a landing. You are all strong enough to climb without too much exertion, and the stairs are not too steep and very wide.
When you reach the top, you ascend to a large platform surrounded by the same broken window pattern as downstairs. It looks like an old observatory of some sort. Broken glass is on the stone floor, along with the skeleton of the frame.
Up here, the wind is particularly fierce. It is just about all you can do to breathe and keep your balance. You must shout in order to be heard, and every time you do you risk swallowing a mouthful of black dust.
In the center of the tower’s platform is a large stone room with a door on it. The platform has a buttressed skybridge, with more broken windows, that leads to the mountain, sort like an old walkway.
You look out below you and see you are very high up indeed. A fall would likely kill any of you.
You can see an old snowed-in path, invisible from the ground, wide enough for 4 carts leading to the building from the countryside. You see the building sprawls over much of the mountain and appears to bury itself in the depths of the stone. You get a good idea of the direction you wish to take to get through the mountain. It leads directly into the center of Cora’s Sugar Manufacturing.
As you are looking around, getting your bearings, you hear a terrible, deep screech above the howling of the wind.
You look up and see what looks like a giant white lizard with wings. It has fierce blue eyes and a long tongue. It has suddenly appeared out of the sky’s veiling snow and swirling black dust to land on the skybridge.
The glass and broken wood crunches beneath its claws as it steps towards you. It has long sharp teeth that curl up into a dreadful, permanent grimace. Spines form an arc around its bent back as it stalks towards you, and it lets out another terrible cry.
*Lagrord was so surprised by the creature's appearance, that he may not have reacted before being attacked, if not for the buzzing coming from his pockets. He points towards a door at the center of the platform*
Colden agrees with Lagrord and even though he doesn't understand why Laggie believes the door is the best option, he knows the kiddo has a solid head screwed on top of the torso.
"Everyone, FOLLOW LAGRORD! RUN FOR THE DOOR!"
Colden starts to sing a battle hymn ("The Last Stand of the Knights of Old") to raise the spirits and adrenaline levels of everyone, the last thing they want now is for anyone to freeze out of panic or fear!
The monster screeches and crawls forward, its wings awkwardly swaying in the fiercely blowing wind, its claws scrabbling on the stone floor amidst the broken glass.
You reach the door before the monster rounds the corner of the platform to cut you off. The door, made of polished stone and reinforced by both metal bars and perhaps magic, opens out easily of its own accord, not hindered by the blowing wind or the debris in its path. The base of the door scrapes and scratches into the debris.
You enter the room, which lights up automatically, as the monster reaches the door. Lagrord instinctively pulls the key out and pulls the door shut, and the door automatically closes on the monster’s grasping claw. It screams out in pain, and pulls its claw out before it is severed by the crushing force.
The monster screams out in frustration, but it is faint and you breathe a sigh of relief. Then you turn to examine the room you entered.
It looks like it was an office of some sort, but for a very wealthy individual. Everything up until this point has been in shambles and rotting away. Here, however, appears as though it has been magically preserved in perfect condition.
There is a dark, rich oak desk with files and books on it; a tall bookshelf, with thick gold leaves engraved into it; a beautiful bed made of thick silk fabric; a washbasin made of silver; a standing closet with rich clothing; and an open chest that looks empty.
A polite, feminine, seemingly automated voice sounds from above. “This is a friendly reminder to the cleaning and/or repair staff from CSM’s security division: You are being recorded. Thanks, and have a nice day!”
The gnome had been in the middle of some serious cogitation when the giant lizard had arrived, so he didn't seem to notice anything about it. However, having had his thoughts broken by being pulled in by Lagrord into the room where they were currently in, he now notices the change in scenery from the open windy platform to the warmer recesses of this fancy room. He wonders for a moment about what had happened that has made his minions pant in what seemed like exertion and fear. He couldn't think of anything. Perhaps, they are working hard to help him find those elven lasses, and more importantly, his sweetrolls. He says:
"So, my Minions, have you found anything useful while I was planning our next course of action?"
Colden is in heaven. He tries to hide his emotions but massive spikes of adrenaline is coursing through him as he starts to walk around and inspect everything. He particularly looks at the books, ancient tomes of old. What hidden truths and facts are in them? He just have to read them all! He takes one of them and starts to flip the pages gently, taking care he doesn't hurt the book in any way.
"Check out the room, make sure to see if you find and take anything we need. Also, let's see if we can find another exit so we don't have to go out the same way we came and face that Drake outside. Winter is tough for Drakes as well and I fear it will lie in wait for us now that it got track of our scent.. (our flesh).. " The past part is said in a hushed voice, to himself.
Colden swipes a few books and put them into his backpack for later reading. He continues to search the entire room, opening all drawers, lifting everything and looking behind it, even checking behind paintings.
Nareth draws his sword and covers friends running for the next hall. He was familiar with these nasty drakes as he has encountered them a while ago.
" Kefto! Stay guard and cover the wounded. I feels, we can take this one down. It is young and apparently wounded.. But keep ye limbs of it! ", the captain slowly moves back offering a small backup to Colden and the rest. He believed that if a fight can be avoided - it would rather be.
He barely manage to jump into a closing passage when Lagrord jams the passage. Giving a one short goodbye swing with his sword to the wounded drake outside. Pointless hit, he should admit, the captain did not even see the result. He holds his breath and tries to look around.
" M'Lord Colden! We look for a hidden door, aye? "
The book that Colden picks up is entitled, “Commerce and Money in a Magical Realm, by Erastus Glastenbery.” It appears to be what might be a rather dry read on economic freedom and market indexes, but to Colden it appears as completely new information. Several chapters in the table of contents hint at things never before heard of in Astorwind, things like Price Competitiveness and Consumer Demand.
As he looks through the drawers he finds something very interesting. It appears to be a journal, left by its owner. The last passage is written in hasty scrawled pen.
“They’re finally coming, have to get out. Perhaps they don’t know what their actions will bring?
My family is waiting. To whoever reads this, please respect my legacy. I’ve devoted my life to Cora’s. Maybe it will survive the coming weeks and everything will return to normal. Until then, if you are a Lifegiver reading this, please”
The passage ends there, with a scribble, as though suddenly the writer had been startled out of his writing and left.
Nareth and the others search the room, turning over things here and there to search for a secret passage.
They do find an exit near the back of the room, behind the coat wrack. It is a set of spiral stairs leading downward, much smaller, narrower, and steeper than the other. It may be a challenge bringing the stretcher down.
On the coat-wrack, Lagrord notices a set of blue ceremonial leather armor that appears to be just his size. In fact, all of the clothing appears to be just his size. The leather is adorned with strange symbols and patterns, and has the words written over its left breast, “Cora’s Sugar Manufacturing.” There appears to be a strange round helmet that attaches to it. It has a clear face and a thick skull.
Colden pulls out of one of the drawers 2 pictures that startle him, and may startle any who look at it...
The first picture is of a small half-orc man, about Lagrord’s size, wearing the blue leather armor and holding the helmet under his left arm. Behind him is a strange looking contraption with 3 wheels and a set of wings on it. On his left and right appear to be his wife and daughter, an adoring, beautiful human woman and their small, cute, pig-orc nosed quarter-orc daughter.
The second picture Colden finds is of the half-orc in the center of a group of diverse people, elves, humans, dwarves, gnomes, orcs, and halflings. They are all smiling and presenting to the half-orc in the center a golden plaque, like some sort of award. Most of the people in the picture look genuinely pleased (though some look a little bored), but the half-orc in the center appears to be incredibly overjoyed and emotional.
There is no mistaking that the half-orc in the center of the picture is the leader of the group of people.
Nareth straightens his gear up and turns to Kefto:
" Help me, me lad. Hold this stretchers, I am afraid we have to help Garta and Jirt walk downstairs somehow. I will hold Jirt, just lean on my shoulder, mate. Lagrord, are ya there me mate? Grab this armor fast and help me outta here, can you carry this woman?.. "
Colden pockets both the incredibly interesting book about commerce and the journal. The latter could provide more insights and next time they rest he will read the journal more in detail.
Colden breaths a sigh of relief when he hears Nareth calling for Laggie to help him carry the wounded. Of course being a sturdy dwarf he could have very easily carried all the baggage and the wounded, but he doesn't want to interfere with the younguns.. ahem. Also, he is carrying this big tome now, so he is taking his part of the weight. He carefully takes a quick glance at his clothing, making sure they look good and then rush after the others down the small stairs.
" M'Lord Colden! Make haste, follow us downstairs so we can barricade the dungeon entrance... Damn it, Refiner! ", Nareth interrupts himself as the drake outside hits the door once more.
"Are you okay, master Garta? I fear I did not have the presence of mind to account for your comfort there."
*He gently helps Garta to the chair behind the desk and hastily puts on the armor. He hesitates when it comes to the helmet, taking his hat off and weighing his options. At Nareth's urging, he leaves the helmet and returns his hat to its rightful place.*
"I can certainly lend my shouldner to master Garta, master Nareth."
*He turns to Garta and offers her his hand once again*
"Are you well enough to move?"
I'm not 100% clear on the fate of the photo. If Colden did not take it, then Lagrord grabbed it.
Comments
The light from outside pools around the rubble and gleams off the black dust. You judge that it is still a few hours before noon.
On the door by the floor are faded words that you can't make out at all. The sunlight, weather, and black dust has made them illegible. You walk into the corridor and see it branches off in several directions. Left, right, and forward.
The forward direction, only a few steps into the corridor, leads to a large spiral staircase made of gleaming metal. The staircase looks like it acts as part of the makeshift drainage system when the floods get this high. Colden deduces that the staircase must be made of the same metal as the box in which he found the red cards: there are no sign of rust on it. The walls, however, show signs of repeated water-wear and drainage.
The left direction leads to the outside, where the rubble of an old, large, collapsed room has fallen. Skeletons of the frame and other objects are buried within the snow, and the wind brings snow and black dust into the corridor, chilling your bones.
The right direction makes a sharp turn and disappears in the flickering torchlight.
What do you do?
"Minions, we will climb the stairs, so we can get a better vantage point! It is necessary to broaden our field of vision, so that we can get the best observation possible, and consequently, the best deduction. Logical thinking is important, and I know that you are eager to learn how to do that. Yes! Follow me up! And always look where you step! Yes! And don't fidget with your toys! Concentration is important here. You don't want to know what would happen otherwise."
"Very well, let's ascend these stairs and see what's up there. Now, is it possible for us to carry Garta up there? Especially now with Jirt being injured as well. I can help with carrying the stretcher. "
Colden isn't a fan of carrying things and secretly hopes his proposition to carry Garta will be declined and that someone more akin to grunt work will take his place. Colden is no weakling though and if push comes to shove, he will show the team he has the biceps and stamina of a proper dwarf!
Nareth dismissed his sudden suspicions. It can not be, because it just can not be. The King's Quest is what he should focus on.
" Men! Stand at the ready! There are a lot of dangers here, so move slowly, look at your feet and be as careful as possible! ", whispered the captain
Whatever it was, and he must protect the Lorekeeper. Out of habit, Nareth raises his round shield and closes the right flank of Colden. They should get out of here fast and make haste.
" Nay, M'Lord Colden! Let me carry this lad... ", he holsters his sword and takes the stretcher, his right hand still holds the shield, covering his torso and injured Jirt with Garta on the stretcher.
" We have got to make haste! Losing time here makes certainly no good to us! ", he moves forth, together with Kefto and wounded friends.
Colden draws a sigh of relief, his plan executed perfectly.
" Oi, Lagrord! Give me yer hand. I thinks we can share the weight a bit, hold this side, don't ya? ", Nareth hopes they can distribute the stretcher's weight by carrying it together. He points on the second Kefto's side.
They ascend the stairs following Colden and mysterious nameless Gnome.
*Lagrord does his best to carry his share of the weight*
“Blast this!” grumbles Garta stubbornly. “I’ll not share a stretcher with one such as him! Nay, let me walk! Lagrord, be a friend and allow me to lean on you shoulder for support as we climb the stairs.”
She doesn’t wait for permission and throws her weight on Lagrord, looking back at the stretcher with angry contempt as Jirt lays down on it.
You climb the stairs without difficulty. They are wide enough to walk three abreast. You ascend what must be several stories before you reach a landing. You are all strong enough to climb without too much exertion, and the stairs are not too steep and very wide.
When you reach the top, you ascend to a large platform surrounded by the same broken window pattern as downstairs. It looks like an old observatory of some sort. Broken glass is on the stone floor, along with the skeleton of the frame.
Up here, the wind is particularly fierce. It is just about all you can do to breathe and keep your balance. You must shout in order to be heard, and every time you do you risk swallowing a mouthful of black dust.
In the center of the tower’s platform is a large stone room with a door on it. The platform has a buttressed skybridge, with more broken windows, that leads to the mountain, sort like an old walkway.
You look out below you and see you are very high up indeed. A fall would likely kill any of you.
You can see an old snowed-in path, invisible from the ground, wide enough for 4 carts leading to the building from the countryside. You see the building sprawls over much of the mountain and appears to bury itself in the depths of the stone. You get a good idea of the direction you wish to take to get through the mountain. It leads directly into the center of Cora’s Sugar Manufacturing.
You look up and see what looks like a giant white lizard with wings. It has fierce blue eyes and a long tongue. It has suddenly appeared out of the sky’s veiling snow and swirling black dust to land on the skybridge.
The glass and broken wood crunches beneath its claws as it steps towards you. It has long sharp teeth that curl up into a dreadful, permanent grimace. Spines form an arc around its bent back as it stalks towards you, and it lets out another terrible cry.
What do you do?
"GO FOR THE DOOR! HURRY!"
"Everyone, FOLLOW LAGRORD! RUN FOR THE DOOR!"
Colden starts to sing a battle hymn ("The Last Stand of the Knights of Old") to raise the spirits and adrenaline levels of everyone, the last thing they want now is for anyone to freeze out of panic or fear!
You reach the door before the monster rounds the corner of the platform to cut you off. The door, made of polished stone and reinforced by both metal bars and perhaps magic, opens out easily of its own accord, not hindered by the blowing wind or the debris in its path. The base of the door scrapes and scratches into the debris.
You enter the room, which lights up automatically, as the monster reaches the door. Lagrord instinctively pulls the key out and pulls the door shut, and the door automatically closes on the monster’s grasping claw. It screams out in pain, and pulls its claw out before it is severed by the crushing force.
It looks like it was an office of some sort, but for a very wealthy individual. Everything up until this point has been in shambles and rotting away. Here, however, appears as though it has been magically preserved in perfect condition.
There is a dark, rich oak desk with files and books on it; a tall bookshelf, with thick gold leaves engraved into it; a beautiful bed made of thick silk fabric; a washbasin made of silver; a standing closet with rich clothing; and an open chest that looks empty.
A polite, feminine, seemingly automated voice sounds from above. “This is a friendly reminder to the cleaning and/or repair staff from CSM’s security division: You are being recorded. Thanks, and have a nice day!”
"So, my Minions, have you found anything useful while I was planning our next course of action?"
"Check out the room, make sure to see if you find and take anything we need. Also, let's see if we can find another exit so we don't have to go out the same way we came and face that Drake outside. Winter is tough for Drakes as well and I fear it will lie in wait for us now that it got track of our scent.. (our flesh).. " The past part is said in a hushed voice, to himself.
Colden swipes a few books and put them into his backpack for later reading. He continues to search the entire room, opening all drawers, lifting everything and looking behind it, even checking behind paintings.
" Kefto! Stay guard and cover the wounded. I feels, we can take this one down. It is young and apparently wounded.. But keep ye limbs of it! ", the captain slowly moves back offering a small backup to Colden and the rest. He believed that if a fight can be avoided - it would rather be.
He barely manage to jump into a closing passage when Lagrord jams the passage. Giving a one short goodbye swing with his sword to the wounded drake outside. Pointless hit, he should admit, the captain did not even see the result. He holds his breath and tries to look around.
" M'Lord Colden! We look for a hidden door, aye? "
"Ay, Captain. Help me search for an alternative way out of here. If that fails, I guess we have no other option than to face the beast head on. "
As he looks through the drawers he finds something very interesting. It appears to be a journal, left by its owner. The last passage is written in hasty scrawled pen.
“They’re finally coming, have to get out. Perhaps they don’t know what their actions will bring?
My family is waiting. To whoever reads this, please respect my legacy. I’ve devoted my life to Cora’s. Maybe it will survive the coming weeks and everything will return to normal. Until then, if you are a Lifegiver reading this, please”
The passage ends there, with a scribble, as though suddenly the writer had been startled out of his writing and left.
They do find an exit near the back of the room, behind the coat wrack. It is a set of spiral stairs leading downward, much smaller, narrower, and steeper than the other. It may be a challenge bringing the stretcher down.
On the coat-wrack, Lagrord notices a set of blue ceremonial leather armor that appears to be just his size. In fact, all of the clothing appears to be just his size. The leather is adorned with strange symbols and patterns, and has the words written over its left breast, “Cora’s Sugar Manufacturing.” There appears to be a strange round helmet that attaches to it. It has a clear face and a thick skull.
Colden pulls out of one of the drawers 2 pictures that startle him, and may startle any who look at it...
The second picture Colden finds is of the half-orc in the center of a group of diverse people, elves, humans, dwarves, gnomes, orcs, and halflings. They are all smiling and presenting to the half-orc in the center a golden plaque, like some sort of award. Most of the people in the picture look genuinely pleased (though some look a little bored), but the half-orc in the center appears to be incredibly overjoyed and emotional.
There is no mistaking that the half-orc in the center of the picture is the leader of the group of people.
Presented to Gork Blaggo
For Outstanding and Unsurpassed Accomplishments
as CSM’s President
& for Always Believing in Cora’s Mission
Thanks for Making Bladenfire Sweeter with your Life
With Respect and Admiration
Your Team
" Help me, me lad. Hold this stretchers, I am afraid we have to help Garta and Jirt walk downstairs somehow. I will hold Jirt, just lean on my shoulder, mate. Lagrord, are ya there me mate? Grab this armor fast and help me outta here, can you carry this woman?.. "
Colden breaths a sigh of relief when he hears Nareth calling for Laggie to help him carry the wounded. Of course being a sturdy dwarf he could have very easily carried all the baggage and the wounded, but he doesn't want to interfere with the younguns.. ahem. Also, he is carrying this big tome now, so he is taking his part of the weight. He carefully takes a quick glance at his clothing, making sure they look good and then rush after the others down the small stairs.
" M'Lord Colden! Make haste, follow us downstairs so we can barricade the dungeon entrance... Damn it, Refiner! ", Nareth interrupts himself as the drake outside hits the door once more.
*He gently helps Garta to the chair behind the desk and hastily puts on the armor. He hesitates when it comes to the helmet, taking his hat off and weighing his options. At Nareth's urging, he leaves the helmet and returns his hat to its rightful place.*
"I can certainly lend my shouldner to master Garta, master Nareth."
*He turns to Garta and offers her his hand once again*
"Are you well enough to move?"
Nope, Colden only took the journal and the book.