[!] Around the ruins of San Luciano, Savoy, refugees may find a few stray copies of notes to examine; documenting the lost world beneath theirs.
A man named Majid of Brev requested for Saoren and myself to join him on a venture to a cavern he deemed (almost) abandoned by the Mori Elves. We brought a handful of others with us, for cautionary measures; better to travel in moderate groups in these turbulent times. What we found was hardly anything close to what I expected at all; the size of that cavern was massive--enough to fit a city and more within it. Not even our group saw a large fraction of it; this is truly a hidden world beneath our own, and it must have existed here for centuries--at the very least. Majid guided us to the tunnel's direction, though I must admit I've failed to properly document its whereabouts myself--I'm not wholly familiar with these part of the deserts. It's highly advised that a proper guide is present to seek out this cavern, lest you risk getting lost.
We saw signs of former occupation of the clan described to have besieged the North, once we ventured into the cave. Old and tattered flags of crimson were posted around an old dock, which had only dust collecting on it; there was a broad expanse of water, as well. Though we had little means of safely traveling across it. Instead, we went more 'inland' within the tunnels. A large lantern hung overhead, upon a fork in the road of tunnels and we followed the path heading right--which delivered us to a curious ruin.
A fortress in shambles, nestled into the dark stone of those tunnels. Its walls were pale and flecked with blue, grandiose and imposing with its tall doorway that lead into a hall. There were engravings of figures upon it; sigils, it seemed like--of a figure hammering an anvil. Sometimes a lone anvil would be depicted too, accented with fine and elegant tapestries of blue--though I've never quite seen such a shade as this before. Despite the nightmarish stories of cruelty I've heard of these elves, a part of me couldn't help but admire the use of their artistic crafts; yet little could be scavenged for how fragile that ruin had become over the years. Untouched for so long; stagnant--even in its Echoes, for I saw many roaming.
This had to have been some sort of clan hall of a bygone family, either conquered by those of the red banner--or felled to some other threat. I presume the latter, though surely those of the red banner had been present in those halls long before we had arrived. In the main hall, there were three doorways branching off to different sections--two were guarded by imposing sets of armor, yet wielded only lanterns. Someone described them to be Dreadknights; something which I've only read of in books, or heard in dark tales for children. Nearing them caused for them to grow active, yet they immediately collapsed into scraps for their age; made truly fragile from disuse. The room left unguarded, ravaged and crumbling archives, has led for me to believe that the clan of the red banner sought to scour for tomes.
The clan hall had a theme of forging and creation; working with minerals and metal--they seemed like creators of these Dreadknights, going so far as to design larger sets of armor. I had heard that an enslaved soul was required for their making, though I've grown uncertain about that theory--I cannot listen to the idealist within me, however, to drop that notion completely. The full creation process of these armored titans remains a mystery, though pieces of the puzzle are slowly gathered.
I hope to be able to gather more information in time, though I would encourage a great deal of caution and preparation for treks into these tunnels. Although my group left unscathed, those caverns aren't wholly abandoned.
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Ilaria Des'Nox
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Thanks to BobBox for the event!