In Scholarly Pursuit

[Aelu / Rel (Combustionary) 1540]

The First Seed, 1516.

 

 

 

The Organization’s purpose is to discover, and so it does.

 

 

The key’s mate still survived, in the form of a large, underground door hidden amidst the forest of the island of the Mali’ame, and whatever magics or machinations that gave it locomotion still functioned, as it fell away when the key met it.

 

The small group of Archaeologists and Sirame advanced within, eyes anxiously flitting about as the swordsmen took point, forming a wall between the black depths and the party’s magi. It was not but a few steps in that the skittering steps of small feet could be heard, and soon after, the radiance of the torches brought those feet into sight.

 

The first conflict was a trio of tiny, feathered creatures similar in appearance to the colossal drakes that combated the descendants in Anthos. As surprised as they were territorial, the fight was short, and when the calm returned the only other being left in the dry antechamber was an ancient skeleton of an ancient elf, a soldier lost to a gruesome death. Its armor was naught more than scraps, with the exception of its chestplate, a piece left in a state on the brink of destruction, only its aesthetic form remaining.

 

 

As of yet unharmed, the party ventured forth as the tunnel opened up to a massive chamber. With a path on the side, and a central platform separated by a seemingly endless chasm, there were but seconds to examine the room before the echo of hundreds and hundreds of tiny wings demanded all attention.

 

Barely visible in the dark, the swarm of pygmies went through a circular flight around the chasm, as though alerted to a threat they’d yet to find. The adventurers had but moments to prepare before a wave of them descended, nine of the beasts attacking in unison.

 

Were it not for the coordinated response of the Sirame and Magi, the expedition may have met its end there, but as flames devoured, stones flew, and swords swung, the small reptiles were killed. With a few seconds’ respite, the party regrouped, retreating for a better position as a second wave twice the size of the first began to swarm. Despite magic and arrows, more than half reached the line, these bypassing the armed soldiers and attacking the civilian followers in the rear of the pack.

 

The fight went not without injury, but no lives were lost. With the deaths of twenty of the beasts, the massive swarm broke apart, small packs moving to defend various points of the massive room. Despite the apparent danger, there was no dissent when the order was given to press on, and spirits were raised when reinforcements arrived to lend aid. With the immediate threat defeated, the room could be safely examined.

 

 

Following the intact path around the edge, the team came across a number of shelters, stone hovels built under a stone ceiling. As the large group explored the small area, the sounds of fighting broke out as groups of beast faced groups of men.

 

 

The fights were small and isolated, and while few left without some form of injury, none were inflicted that wouldn’t heal in a day’s time. The party went through each home, cataloguing and collecting any belongings that could be found of historical value.

 

With this side cleared, they party advanced towards the back, finding an ancient, yet functioning bathhouse complete with a thick slab of cloth, still intact. More groups of pygmies were attacked, but the majority of the horde had flown deep into the pit.

 

 

It was at the chamber’s furthest point back did the situation turn worse. With shouts coming from the entrance, the faint figures of a small civilian group could be seen. Perhaps their voices, or even just their presence, it was soon apparent by the renewed roar of the horde’s wings that the swarm had been alerted.

 

In an attempt to force the civilians to return to safety, fighting broke out once more in force. Beasts at every turn, the party was split and pockets of two or three sirame were pitted against ever-increasing numbers of dragons.

 

Moments before a full retreat would have been called, the screams of a falling man pierced the grunts and shrieks of man fighting beast, and moments later the sound of a body hitting stone was heard, and within moments, repeated twice.

 

The fighting thinned as the beasts chose to devour the injured, immobile prey in the pit, and the group reformed once more. Determined to not let the fallen die in vain, they set their sights on the remaining part of the cavern - The platform in the center.

 

 

One bridge remained to the new area, and all the while attempting to ignore the screams of fear echoing up the pit, the expedition crossed. Finding only a single, small shelter in the platform, the men and women were greeted by a skeleton in what appeared to be a throne, and an elegant, preserved silver crown on the table in front of him. Their focus on the crown was broken only when they looked up, seeing the form on the ledge directly behind the king, across the chasm.

 

 

Daring not to wake the somehow yet sleeping broodmother, the crown was taken, and the order was given to retreat. As the group returned to the entrance to the room, they stopped at its lowest point, surprised as the screams of yet-living men emerged from the chasm.

 

 

Doomed as they were, the party’s attempt at rescue was not able to put even a small dent into the horde, despite combined magics and arrows. As the screams of the dying quieted, the horde once again ascended, the full force of it advancing on the remaining expedition. Perhaps it was just the combined sounds of the horde, but some would later swear that they had heard another sound, that of wings much larger, and a maw much wider.

 

Unable to outrun the winged beasts, the party’s survival was won by the thick shield of arcane magics, formed by the party’s third mage as they retreated. Backing slowly as hundreds of small, flying reptiles slammed themselves into the red, translucent wall, only seconds before the barrier would fall did they seem to decide to resume their earlier meal, returning to the pit.

 

Surprised to find the door had returned to its closed position, the party feared the worst. In what could have been yet another deadly end, the relief of the party was palpable as once more, they key allowed the door to fall open, and the men and women of Laureh’lin to return home.

 

 

The cave was sealed off with a second door, for good measure. The Organization would return, one day, to cleanse the cave of these vicious beasts, but that day would come when they were more prepared.

 

In the meantime, there were other places to explore. More ruins to discover, and more forgotten history to uncover.

 

 

---

 

Days later, all those Sirame and Archaeologists who had participated would find a small letter near their homes. The civilians who had joined, however, would not.

 

“The next site has been located. The key works just as well.

 

Prepare yourself. - A.T.”

 

--OOC--

 

A big thank you to Gunnerdude for hosting this amazing event chain. He’s put in a log of time making sure the ruins are a great host to these great events, and my expectations were blown out of the water when I first set foot into this one. We all really appreciated it.

 

FlamboyantMingo, Aerialkebab, and Grimreaper deserve thanks as well, for acting in this event for us. You guys were wonderful, and I really enjoyed the feeling of legitimate danger you guys pulled off in the event. The threat of death was very real during the event. I’ve learned a few things about organizing these from the player’s side from this, and I can be happy to say that I’m certain the next event will be even better.

 

Thanks as well to all the players that joined me in this. I hope to see you all next time. If anyone’s interested in joining us for the next event, send me a PM and I’ll see what we can do.

[Dohvi 622]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.