“That… was a Baetrim.” Golluk finally responded, the creature several hilltops away now. “They are known for causing blizzards and breathing solid streams of ice. Once their prey is frozen they smash them with their tails and then eat the frozen chunks.” Golluk finished explaining as Kheeta and Tarek picked themselves back up out of the snow.
“I wouldn’t have pegged you for being interested in creature studies Golluk.” Bartlebee interjected from his perch on the Golem’s shoulder.
“Master Tarek’s father had me study many different topics, so that I can be the best Party member I can.” The mist in his visor swirled around and Kheeta thought his tone sounded almost proud.
“Well I don’t think that we should be sitting here waiting for it to come back.” Tarek suggested looking in the direction the Baetrim had flown from. “Hey squid-kid,” Bartlebee turned and glared at the Cleric as he continued. “Can you see anything up there?”
Bartlebee scanned the area for a moment, raising his tentacles to keep the snow out of his eyes. “I think I see a building in the distance… over that hill!” The Meripint was excitedly jumping up and down on Golluk’s shoulder until his foot slipped on the wet metal. “Ahhhhhh,” Bartlebee exclaimed only to be caught, inches from the ground, by two strong vines.
“Come here purple one,” Aurora’s voice cooed as she began to pull him up to Golluk’s back.
“I’m not purple,” he argued as she pulled him close to her chest, forcing his skin to involuntarily prove him wrong as he heated from embarrassment.
“You are now,” Aurora responded causing her and Kheeta to both laugh at the awkward Meripint, as they began walking toward the ancient stone building.
Several cold, painful, minutes later Kheeta found herself on ancient stone steps, she looked around in awe at the large temple that surrounded her, so large the spires seemed to rake the clouds.
“I don’t see a door, it’s possibly another test,” Golluk said, looking around.
Bartlebee slid down the Golems arm before slipping to the ground, “you wanna go through the Gods again while we look,” he asked catching up to her.
“Sure, there’s still a few I’m having a hard time remembering,” Kheeta replied gratefully, turning to her Meripint friend.
“Okay why don’t you tell me as much as you can, and then I’ll fill in the blanks.” Bartlebee had taken her hand and began walking over to their right so that they could talk out of the roaring wind.
“Well I remember that there are ten divine total… Megoria is the Goddess of magic and knowledge; and her opposite is Regaris the God of power and corruption.” She recited trying to think back to the hours of studying the party had given her; all of them, except for Tarek, sacrificing much needed sleep so that she would not be at a disadvantage. “Then Tormentula is the Goddess of thieves and shadows with Foongahro being the God of luck and mischief… I think…” She trailed off at the end not sure if she had pronounced the Fungee God’s name correctly.
“It’s Fongarah,” Bartlebee chuckled, causing Kheeta’s tails to twitch with embarrassment. “Other than that, you’re spot on! Who’s next?”
“Well let me think,” She began placing a furred hand to her chin, her tails swishing back and forth with thought. “I’m pretty sure that the God of coin and creativity is Ahquora.”
“Goddess, my goddess in fact,” Bartlebee said, his face beaming as he gestured for her to continue.
“We also have Lithera who is the Goddess of lust and lies, Petorii who is the Goddess of life and love, and if I’m not mistaken the God of death and decay would be Windiigan.” Kheeta was proud of herself for remembering eight out of the ten.
“You’re right,” Aurora interjected as she walked over with a smile. ” See, no reason to be worried. The last two are Craydon the God of protection and loyalty; and Gogalog the God of war and violence.” Two vines extended to help them up, “We found the door, it was hidden by a bunch of snow that fell off the hill but, I’m pretty sure Golluk’s almost done digging it out.”
“Perfect timing,” Bartlebee said jumping from his seat and stooping into a low bow, “shall we ladies,” he asked, locking his arms in theirs as they headed towards the test.
The door they came to was just as massive as the temple it belonged to, Kheeta craned her neck peering towards the top, “how is anyone supposed to open this thing,” she wondered aloud, looking to her party with bewildered eyes.
Golluk looked around, “perhaps there is a lever somewhere near,” he said walking to the wall to inspect it.
“I don’t know,” Bartlebee hesitated, the Warrior test needed strength to open the door, so maybe this is similar, but I can’t think of how a Cleric would open something so heavy.”
“Ah-ha”, Golluk exclaimed, “I found something, I don’t know what it is exactly, but it definitely does not match the rest of the wall.” He beckoned the rest of the group to where he had found a small carved divot, below it was a snowy pedestal with several tokens.
“Oh I know what these are,” Aurora exclaimed, “each of these is a different God’s emblem.” She strode up to pluck a coin from the stone surface, “This one right here,” she turned it so they could see the Aven man on one side and a strange symbol on the other. “This is Regaris’, one side depicts him, the other has the arcane sign for power. There has to be more to this though, we can’t just go shoving random coins into the wall, I don’t really want to know what will happen if we get this wrong.” They all turned, looking for an idea, as Kheeta’s tails brushed the pedestal, revealing a scrawled message that was burnt into the stone:
Darkness fades
Spirit soars
Grassy glades
And stormy shores
A helping hand
Friend or foe
A foreign land
Love and woe
Life is given
Yet slowly earned
take and receive
each in turn
“Well, I think we can agree I’m not going to be much help at this,” she chuckled, “because that made no sense.”
Aurora squeezed her eyes shut and massaged her temples as she tried to think, “I know I’ve heard of something similar to this I just… I can’t remember what it is, if it’s a blessing, or a hymn dedicated to a God, and if so I’m not sure which ones.”
Tarek snorted, “I expected better of a Florae, but I guess you all have the simple minds of animals, don’t you?” As he finished his insult there was a loud howl from their left, drawing everyone’s attention. “Is that…” Snarling sounded from the right as a blue and white blur slammed into Golluk’s back, sending the Golem into the snow.
Their ambusher looked like a large wolf, its fur frozen together by the dozens of icicles that covered its body, behind them a large blue stinger sat posed to strike. “Helcians,” Bartlebee breathed as Tarek slammed his mace into the creature’s stomach, sending it flying off the iron Golem.
“Thank you Master Tarek,” Golluk said, slowly rising to his feet, four deep gashes in the metal of his back.
“Are you okay?” Aurora asked him as he turned and she saw his wound.
“Yeah, it takes more than a couple cuts to drop him,” Tarek interjected as he smashed the skull of the Helcian that attacked them. “However, these things usually hunt in packs so let’s get focused.”
As if on cue, two more Helcians jumped off the pillar to their left and the Party readied their weapons. “There’s only two, we can take them.” Kheeta yelled, trying to encourage herself as much as the rest of the Party. As the Helcians snarled two large icicles exploded, inches from her feet. “Now what?” Kheeta exclaimed, annoyance in her voice.
“Looks like a few Blizzit are hunting with the Helcians,” Aurora answered, dodging another ice blast from the small flying creature.
“What’s the plan?” Bartlebee squealed as he shot a glob of black, sticky, ink into the face of a Helcian.
Kheeta surveyed the scene from h
er cover as the two Blizzits continued their icy barrage. They were nine inches tall, had four wings, four arms, and had a soft blue glow; making them appear as floating orbs from a distance. They didn’t use any weapons that Kheeta could see, the ice shards coming directly out of their palms.
“Tarek and I will handle the Helcians,” Golluk said as the ice-wolves began to circle the two applicants. “Bartlebee, Aurora, take down those Blizzits.”
The Florae didn’t have to be told twice; Kheeta watched as Aurora grabbed her dagger by the point and threw it towards the Blizzit, dropping it out of the sky with ease. “Yes!” She exclaimed as Bartlebee shot a rock from his sling and fell their second flying foe.
The Kitsune’s attention was pulled back to Golluk and Tarek, who were expertly fending off attacks from the Helcians. No longer pinned down, she decided to join them and began running in their direction. You can do this Kheeta!
As she reached the duo she saw Golluk grab the smaller Helcian by the tail and lift it high into the air, before slamming it into the stone pillar next to him. Turning her gaze to the second opponent she saw it lunge at a distracted Tarek, its stinger poised right at the Sylphyte’s heart. Reaching her arms out Kheeta shoved him as hard as she could; pushing him out of harms way, and causing an icy hot pain to envelop her leg. She stared down in horror as the stinger of the Helcian pinned her leg to the ground. She opened her mouth to scream for help but Aurora was already swinging Kheeta’s dropped short sword, cutting off the creature’s tail before ensuring its head followed suit.
“Are you okay?” Bartlebee panicked, running to Kheeta’s side with eyes wide from anxiety.
“Helcian poison will turn that leg into an ice sculpture before too long… move over,” Tarek commanded as he pushed the Meripint out of the way.
“What are you going to do?” Kheeta asked, the thought of turning to ice petrifying her and the pain in her leg making it hard to think of much else.
“I’m a Cleric… I’m going to heal you,” the Sylphyte responded with an irritated tone. He pulled out the stinger and placed his hands over the wound. A soft golden glow emanated from between them and Kheeta could feel her skin knitting itself back together. After a few minutes of concentration Tarek’s forehead dripped sweat, but Kheeta’s leg was healed.
“Thank you… so much,” she said throwing her arms around the boy momentarily before realizing what she had done and quickly releasing him.
“Well we’re still no closer to getting in the door,” Golluk observed as he pushed futilely against the large stone slab.
Tarek groaned loudly, “my Gods, I really do have to do everything don’t I?” He quickly closed the distance between himself and the wall, snatching one of the coins up and slipping it into the slot. The words on the pedestal began to glow golden, and the door swung open with such force the temple around them shook, snow falling onto the nearby pathways. “See? Simple,” he plucked the token from the wall and held it up for them to see; the message fading back to the smudged burnt letters in had been before. “Petorri’s coin… That’s her hymn. Honestly,” he exclaimed, disdain slipping off his tongue. “She is the Goddess of Gods, the one who began it all, center of all divinity. The complete witlessness of my team is horrifying, and I at least deserved to be with peers near my stature.” He turned and walked into the dark temple, not bothering to wait for the others.
Kheeta sighed, “You know, he can be a really big jerk, and if I ever accidently cast fireball, I really hope he’s there...” They all laughed and walked in behind her, the tall ceilings echoing their footsteps down the corridors.
Once they were all inside the doors closed with a soft thud, torches and several fireplaces burst to life, warming them from the chill of the mountain. Tarek stood in front of a door at the far end of the room, already attempting to open it.
“It is nice to see you are so eager,” a squawking voice rang out, causing them all to jump. “However, first there are words that must be said.” The wavering form of Az’rocc kneeled before them, “I apologize I was unable to meet with you in person today,” he began, standing to walk though his form remained unmoved, “ I was called away for a job last minute you see.” He kneeled once again, this time the visage of an injured man entered the room along with him as he worked to heal him. “I wanted to congratulate you all for making it to Dauntless Dungeons Cleric test, once I am done explaining, the door,” he gestured towards Tarek who impatiently hung on the doorknob, “will open and you will enter one at a time. Once in the room you will notice ten statues, each with a brazier at its feet. All you must do is place your hand upon the Anima orb and the Gods will do the rest, if you are sought, flames will ignite at that Gods’ feet. If that does not happen then an energy shall be released and when your hands leave the crystal, you will be back to your cabin.” He looked at each of them giving an encouraging smile, “You may go now, I look forward to seeing the kind of Quester you become.” With that the projection fluttered out of existence, leaving the group to themselves.
Tarek promptly opened the door, giving them a snarky wave as he walked inside, the entrance disappearing behind him. Soon after the door reappeared Aurora went through, and then Golluk. Bartlebee offering to stay and help Kheeta practice for a short while before heading through the door himself.
Now it was just her, she sat near the fire looking fixedly at the embers. It’s nice being warm and having a moment to myself but it’s so creepy in here, she thought looking around the empty room. I’m not going to pass this test by just standing there when I just learned about them. So what am I going to do.” She twirled a fire poker between her fingers as she waited her turn. Bartlebee talked about how the Gods can alter your path depending on if they think you’re worthy.” She felt anxiety bubbling up inside of her, a million thoughts of what could go wrong filling her mind. The stories made some of them seem so fickle, I don’t want to end up back at the shop because a God is upset I didn’t know about them and couldn’t prove myself. A soft clank from behind nearly made her jump out of her fur, turning she found the door back at its spot on the wall. “Well,” she said with a deep sigh, “I guess it’s time to meet the Gods.”
Inside the room she found the ten statues and braziers they had been told about, each of them turned to face a golden orb in the center of the room that levitated several inches off its podium. She walked to the surface, clicking her claws along it and feeling the energy that rolled off. “You know,” she said pressing her fingertips to the sphere, sliding them down until she could feel its warm vibrations on her palms. “I didn’t actually know about any of you until yesterday, so I don’t know if you know me, I’m Kheeta Ennaery,” A tingle ran down her spine, it felt as if every nerve in her body was being gently brushed with a feather, overloading her senses and causing her legs to buckle. She clasped the orb, holding herself up, “I want to be a Quester, a good one, like when they used to help people because it was the right thing to do.” Once again, she was overwhelmed, this time every nerve vibrating to match the crystal, the edge of her vision blackening. “I think… I think this is where I leave,” she panted trying to keep conscious. “It was nice to meet you all,” the last rush engulfed her, and it felt as though her body had been filled to the brim with the heat of the dual suns. The last thing she heard before giving in to sleep was the sound of several faint laughs.
Waking up on the grass once again, she sighed, and stared off blankly. My arms and legs are numb, she rolled her head to the side, oh yay, I’m the last one in the field. I took so long I think everyone else is heading off to dinner. She rolled, trying to get up, but her muscles ached in silent protest, sending a stabbing, tingling, pain across her limbs. She laid her head on the grass, and closed her eyes, guess I’m here until my body decides to cooperate, or I find someone to help me home. Tapping her leg and receiving only the tingling sensation she wondered how long either would take.
“Ah, Miss Kheeta you’re back” a friendly voice rang out,” as Golluk stro
de up to her. “How did your test go?”
“Erm, well… I didn’t pass the Cleric’s test and I kinda did something stupid.” Kheeta rolled back over, facing the sky and trying to lift her arms. They hovered several inches from the ground before collapsing back down. “I didn’t want the Gods to think badly of me, so I tried to prove myself by not letting go of the orb when I should have. I was thinking it would show I have… tenacity or something? But with how my body feels now, I think they’re just telling me I was foolish.” She thought back to the end of her test, “and probably laughing at me…” Kheeta chuckled as she looked around, “has everyone else eaten?” Golluk scooped her up in his arms and began walking towards their cabin; his cold metal a pleasant contrast to the burning she had felt earlier.
“Miss Aurora, and Bartlebee took plates for the three of you back to the cabin as they did not want you to eat alone. I, of course, have no need for corporeal nourishment, and Master Tarek has been too busy boasting to do anything else.” He opened the door and she immediately saw what he meant, Tarek stood on a chair; loudly proclaiming his families greatness and the legacy he was sure to leave.
“Ah look, it finally found its way home,” he jeered. “So, did any Gods want to waste their time, and why is my Golem carrying you?” Contempt filling his face as he realized she was using his ‘possession’.
She gulped back a lump in her throat, “n-no, no, none of them chose me, but I held onto the orb after the first pulse… pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to, cause now my body doesn’t want to work.” She looked down at her lap in embarrassment, “uhm, what about you though, did you get the one you wanted?”
Dejection crossed his face momentarily before being replaced by his typical snobbish sneer. “She chose not to claim me… yet, clearly she only wants the best of the best… but what else would you expect of Petorii. I was still chosen by eight of the others.”
“Oh, I had three choose me,” Bartlebee chimed in cheerfully over his mouth of potatoes.
Dauntless Dungeon Page 10