by James Patton
This place made even the drake seem small. The hallway had no openings except straight ahead, and they continued forward without hesitation. They left footsteps in the ancient dust, and upon closer inspection, she did see old footprints. There was no telling how long they had been there. Others had been through here at one point, but nothing had crossed through here recently. She took comfort in both those things.
She brought up her shield and pulled her knife from its sheath.
“Put that away, Boh. Ya won’t be needing it, not here.”
“How can you know that?”
“Nagas not gonna come here,” Aila explained. “They got some advantage over fire, but they’re not foolish enough to go against lava and heat. No element has absolute authority over another. Just advantages and they got no advantage in a place like this.”
“So terrain effects spells?” Boh asked.
“It does, they use ice spells and a place like this would weaken them,” Taro grumbled. “Besides, nothing has been through here in awhile, look at all the dust.”
They entered the main chamber, and she felt the heat before she saw it. The room was lit up by a pool of lava on the far end of the room, and she saw the forge that harnessed the lava and had to do a double take on its design. The design was subtle, and it made her second guess whether she was a pervert or if the opening of the forge looked like an oversized vagina.
The conveyor belts and factory like setup went off to either side of the forge. The apparatus on each side were designed just like legs. Taking it all in, she knew she was not crazy.
“It is as it appears,” Aila interrupted her thoughts. “Dwarves excel at two things that few other races can. One of those is their sexual nature, and the other is their ability to craft and build.”
“Who would pay for things like this?”
“This is part of their culture; they are not shy nor quiet about who they love. If’n ya don’t wanna have lewd architecture, you can pay the fees to eliminate them. It is not cheap.”
“Why?”
Taro snorted with laughter. “It is their nature, and dwarves will turn anything into innuendo. If you wish to maintain your virtue, do not let a dwarf get you alone.”
Laughter burst from her mouth, and the picture the Mayor from Osprey Harbor getting shut down by Richard was too funny. She just kept laughing, but the other two were looking at her like she had lost her mind.
“All that was true, bonded. I lived among the dwarves for many years, and they live to build and hump.”
“I know. I met one in Osprey Harbor,” she said still laughing.
The conversation dwindled off after that.
The machinery piqued her curiosity. Using her Fix-It skill, she tried to spot what was wrong with it, but it seemed intact to her eye. It did not mean it was in working order, at least she did not think so. It was a lot like the ones she saw in Minot; only these had remained unused for centuries. The dwarves ingenuity was impressive, at least if they made it. Midnight implied otherwise.
“Behind the forge is our exit,” Taro told them, and they all walked around the machinery to find the exit. This door was dull, and no phallic symbols adorned it.
As they passed through, they entered an amphitheater with tiers of broken benches leading downward.
On the stage at the bottom, a throne stood in the center. The backing of the throne was destroyed and lay scattered behind it. Two semi-circle table was positioned on each side of a podium, and the podium and throne took center stage. She wondered what perversion the throne represented when it was whole, but then wished she had never let her mind wander there.
Behind the stage was a lake of lava, but the room did not feel all that hot.
“What am I looking at?” She asked, awed by clean design of the sight before her. Aila slid off Taro and came to stand beside her.
“It is good that you feel the reverence of this place.” Taro’s deep voice was soft and mournful. “This place was once the largest dwarven trade city, one of which only dwarves were allowed entrance. It was all built by the Ironhand Dwarves, and their king felt such a place was not to be governed by one person and created the council you see before you. Several dwarven clans were a part of this place. It was the Age of Ingenuity, but few now know of this history.”
“What happened then? Why abandon it?”
“Even dwarves are not immune to greed and power. The council killed the Ironhand King, but they did not know his story and how he received his iron hand. Had they known, I doubt any would have had the courage to attack him.” Taro had moved down to the podium, and the platform was much larger than it appeared from up here.
“The Ironhand king bonded with a salamander, and the blood tribute was paid. The molten metal entered his blood, and his hand turned into metal, but it always had enough heat to bend as if his metal hand was flesh. I doubt even he could have known what the extent of such bonding would entail, and I have not heard of another bonding with a salamander since.”
“They killed him on his throne didn’t they?” She asked, recognizing the damage to the chair for what it was. They carefully navigated their way down to the platform.
“They did, and the salamander killed the entire council moments later. The beast still lives, and still hunts down the bloodlines of this council. Thousands died that day because a few decided they wanted more and angered a salamander enough that it left its lava to destroy them all.”
Looking around, she saw the room in a different light. The benches were not broken but melted. Jagged stone lined certain aisles where the beast had tread. She could almost smell the fire and the burning flesh as the dwarves tried to flee the wrath of one of that great beast.
“This is all wrong. What about the Ironhand Dwarves, why did they leave?”
“The reason is lost, but it is assumed that the resources in this area ran dry, and without a salamander to aid them, it would not surprise me. Or maybe something meaner and deadlier moved in. Could go either way.” Taro laughed at her as she stumbled on her descent to the stage.
“Or disease,” Aila said.
“You two could have said ‘I don’t know’ instead of trying to scare the crap out of me,” she muttered.
“Not as fun.” Taro’s laugh shook the walls.
“Seriously. You tell me not to use my gun and yet you laugh loud enough to cause rocks to fall!” She groused.
“Witch, get ready.” Taro spat out harshly as he leaped back off the stage and came running up towards Aila and her. “Draw your gun girl, that was not from my laugh, and I do not think we are going to care about the noise shortly.”
Boh
Chapter 50
Ancients
An Ancient could sleep for decades if left undisturbed.
-from History of the Talons
“What caused the shifting rocks?” She asked.
“No way to tell, the whole mountain practically shifted,” Taro growled. “Our exit is over there, see the walkway behind the throne? Get moving.”
She and Aila ran that direction, and the only plus side is that they could see without needing the light. As they approached the lava pool, she saw it ripple which caused waves like in the ocean.
“Does lava shift on its own?” She asked.
“No. I mean it might bubble, but- wait why ya asking?” Aila asked panting, and she realized the small woman could not see over the walkway’s stone railing.
“Taro!” She called out loudly but her eyes were locked onto the rippling lava. “I think we have company.”
Taro’s claws clicked against the ground, but unlike the cave tunnels, it did not even scratch it. She could hear him practically breathing down her neck, but still refused to turn away from the lava.
“Running is foolish.” A voice like a mountain itself washed over them, and the heat of its breath was enough to bring tears to her eyes. When she could see again, a head that could probably swallow Taro whole was poking out of the lava. The diamond shaped head
reminded her of a snake, but this head was smooth and without scales. The color of its skin was like burning charcoal and shifted from an ash color to orange and back again.
“I know you.” She said. “You were at my trial.”
The salamander’s eyes shifted from Taro to her, and she felt her throat tighten. Not out of fear, but it was like the beast directed heat at her with its gaze.
“I remember you too, the curious girl with all the questions. Refusing to let me get back to sleep.” The salamander chuckled, causing the lava to ripple once more. It moved forward, and she could see that its neck was not as long as she had thought, but the powerful shoulders that rose above the lava made even the king of the dragons look like a child.
“Had I known you slumbered, I would have let you be.” She told him. “I know I’d stab someone in the eye if they woke me up before I was ready.”
The salamander’s laugh was unexpectedly pleasant.
“What are ya doing?” Aila whispered fiercely, and she smiled as she patted the old lady’s childlike head.
“Why have you come to this place? I admit I find it curious that you come to me during your Trial, and now I find you here, in my sanctuary.”
“I brought her here.” Taro rumbled. “She is my pack, and this trespass is my fault. Forgive me, but-”
“Noble, but I am not going to stop you or hurt you. Provided you pass through and leave this place unmolested. However, let the elf answer.”
Taro bowed his head and backed up a few steps.
“Minot, the nearby town, was destroyed. Drakes, a lot of them, have been corrupted. I am trying to get to Haase to warn them before it is too late.”
“Again noble, but you could have taken the main tunnel and avoided this place altogether.”
“I do not know these caves, nor this mountain. I can only assume Taro led us this way to avoid Uro and the nagas that have taken over large parts of this mountain.”
“Uro dares enter my mountain!” The large salamander roared, and pieces of stone fell around them. “He will not live here much longer.”
“May I know your name before you go to battle?”
“Still a silly elf child. I already started the war; my children are already tearing through the tunnels and killing the naga. When Uro wakes, you will not want to be under my mountain. My name is Keahi.”
“That is our cue to leave.” Taro nudged her.
“Wait. I wish to give the elf a gift. Watch.” The salamander’s talon came out of the lava, and its scaleless claw looked more like a frog’s hand with long thin fingers and ball-like tips. His fingers moved in a pattern and then palm extended out, and a small flame appeared floating near him. Then his fingers moved in the same pattern, and his hand closed into a fist, and the flame disappeared.
“One more time,” Keahi said and showed her the pattern again, and she got the notice shortly after.
You gained knowledge of the spell Flame.
Flame - This is the Novice ranked spell of the Fireball spell line. It creates a ball of flame that will follow you until you dispel it. Once you summon it, you may move the flame to a spot within arm’s reach of you. Water will dispel it instantly.
You have learned Flame.
Flame
- Affinity: Fire
- Damage: None
- Range: Touch
- Feedback: 2% [Committed]
- Effect 1: Creates a ball of flame that will follow you until dispelled. Once you summon it, you may move the flame to a spot within arm’s reach of you.
- Verbal Incantation: Flame
- Note: Water will dispel Flame immediately
“See me again in more settled times, and I will teach you more. Now go, your time is short, and I must prepare for battle. It has been too long since my last fight.”
“Thank you, Keahi, for this knowledge and the advice at my Trial. You honor me.” She said and bowed her head deeply to the salamander.
The lava rippled again as Keahi laughed. “I believe I shall be thanking you before long. You arrive in interesting times, go with fire and when your enemies come, leave only ash and bone.” The salamander said, and he slipped back below the lava.
“’Ash and bone’ was the old Ironhand motto, they would use their enemies as kindling for their forges,” Taro said. “Both of you get on, we ride for the exit, and we have no time for sightseeing.”
The drake bent his legs and laid his belly on the ground. His wing came out, and Aila ran up it seating herself in her previous position. She followed and sat down behind the small woman. The fur sticking out under the scales provided more than enough grip to hold her seat.
Taro went through the exit, and they moved much faster through the cave system. There were dead naga and even young salamanders all around, but Taro did not stop for any combat.
Not the most ideal time, but she tried to learn how to cast Flame. The bouncing and sliding around did not help her focus.
“Aila, this description says this is a Fireball line of magic, but I don’t know what that means.”
“Every line o’ magic has five ranks, which gives ya five different spells. They are Novice, Journeyman, Adept, Expert, and Master. Spark is part of the Lightning line and is a Novice rank spell. Master rank spells ya have to have 100% Affinity or ya canna even learn it.”
“So Flame will eventually become a Fireball?”
“Ya got it, but ya gonna need someone to teach it to ya.”
“I cannot learn it on my own?”
“Not primary spells. Ya need to get the knowledge from somewhere. Secondary spells ya could learn on ya own. But, ya gotta Dual Cast spells of the same rank. Now listen to me, don’t ya go attemptin’ that on ya own. It's dangerous, and ya can do worse than kill yaself.”
Skill Book Update:
Dual Cast – Secondary spells are learned by using two primary spells of the same rank and casting them simultaneously. If the spells are properly merged, the caster will learn the secondary spell. Once knowledge of a secondary spell is gained, you will need to learn the new spell. It will have new hand cast method for single hand use.
The information that went into her book was almost precisely what Aila had told her. She had a feeling there was much more to it than that.
“Can I learn this Journeyman Ice spell?”
“Ya, but fail, and ya could die, succeed and ya could die, success without control and others die.”
“Why?”
“Feedback. Ya are talented in magic, not gonna deny that. Hell, even a fool like Taro can see that. Ya willpower and determination are not in doubt either. Experience and ya magic ability are in doubt. Magic Poisoning is the main concern because ya can damage ya ability to cast spells. Permanently.”
“What is Magic Poisoning?” She asked tugging at the tip of her ear. She understood pushing her threshold, but calling Magic Poisoning was new.
“Elemental energy in all things, but spells expend or burn some of that off. All the cells in ya body contain it, and your Feedback tells ya how much ya can use safely. Go beyond it, and ya damage those cells, and they replicate depleting the amount of magic ya can use. If’n ya give it time, ya can fix it. But, ya can burn it out permanently. Ya understand? That means no Elemental Shield either.”
Aila was scary when she talked like that. The talk of cellular energy was so far outside the norm that she was not even sure how to process it. If she could burn the energy out, she felt sure there was a way to infuse her cells with power too. However, she had no idea how to make that happen.
“What is Wild Magic?” She asked, remembering the name of the other affliction her avatar mentioned.
“Wild Magic is what I meant when I said ya magic could kill those around ya. It is usually gonna occur during ya cast phase. Either ya cast a spell beyond ya means, and when ya tried to fill ya shape with energy and it weren’t enough. That spell loses its shape and becomes Wild Magic, which is a living spell bent on destroying. The same thing happens if ya rush the
forming of ya spell and then fill it with energy while ya casting. If’n ya shape is not recognized, ya just gave life to Wild Magic.”
“I get that, but what is it?”
“Its living magic, at least while it has the energy to sustain itself. Imagine if ya created a tornado, but it had some intelligence. Ya tornado woulda had done two things, which is destroy and survive.”
Wild Magic sounded cool, but she would never want to unleash it willingly. Could it be controlled?
“Are they common?”
“In war, yes. Other times, most mages know to cancel their spell before it reaches that point. Ya should know ya limits.”
“And the black bile, from my spell casting before?”
“That I am unsure of, but your dragon skill is
Taro crossed an underground river, and some distance up the river they could all see the area light up upon the successful casting of Ice Spears and Fireballs.
They were getting ready to sprint across a battlefield, and she already had her shield up. She did not dare use her shield control ability because there was too much magic flying around and she did not want to get hit in the back.
In the back of her mind, she was also preparing to cast Inversion if things went badly. It might not keep her alive long, but it might be enough.
The drake did not stop and even managed to kill a few of the naga before he was around the bend and out of their line of sight.
There were no pursuers because the moment they made it around the turn a massive roar shook the mountain, and even Taro had to slow down, so he did not lose his footing. A screeching cry echoed down through the caves, a sound so horrible she had no words to describe the assault on her ears.
“And the Ancients battle once more,” Taro whispered, but her elven hearing allowed her to catch it.