Chapter 10 - Tremors of Fate_The Arath Saga

As Xavier and the group stood amidst the ruins of their hard-fought battle, the heavy silence was broken only by their ragged breaths and the distant trickle of water seeping through the cavern walls. The Maw of the Deep lay defeated, its grotesque form collapsed in on itself. Even as they tried to recover, Xavier’s interface pulsed to life, a cascade of notifications chiming in rapid succession, detailing experience gains, loot rewards from the brutal encounter. He barely registered the messages, still focused on the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him.

 Then, a familiar sound, a soft, irritated growl, caught his attention. From behind a heap of shattered rock and debris, a powerful form emerged, its pale coat dusted with flecks of dirt and stone. Frostclaw, padded into view, his resolute golden eyes remained calm despite his writhing bundle. Gripped carefully in his jaws, dangling by the scruff of her neck and squirming in protest, was Valkra. The shadowmane panther cub twisted and kicked, letting out a series of indignant, high-pitched growls, but Frostclaw remained unbothered by her struggles, carrying her forward with the same patient ease of an elder cat managing a wayward kitten.

 Lianna, who was still catching her breath as she hopped down from her vantage point, arched an eyebrow at the sight. Her sharp gaze flicked between the two felines, her expression shifting from mild amusement at the odd sight to sudden realization. Her companion had kept the little cub out of the fight. The thought settled over her like a sudden breeze, cooling the heat of battle that still burned in her veins.

 Frostclaw, in-fact, had deliberately removed Valkra from dangerous conflict, tucking her away behind the safety of the stone barricade while they fought the monstrous abomination. Whether it was instinct, experience, or a protective bond forming between them, the older predator had ensured the cub would not meet the same gruesome fate as so many other creatures caught in the Maw’s ravenous grip.

 Valkra let out a final, frustrated chirrup as Frostclaw unceremoniously deposited her onto the stone floor. The little panther scrambled to her feet, shaking herself off before looking up at her much larger counterpart with wide, reproachful eyes. A silent moment passed between them, something unspoken but understood in the language of beasts, before Valkra huffed and flicked her tail, as if to say, I could have helped, you know.

 Lianna exhaled, shaking her head with a small smirk. “Looks like someone didn’t appreciate the babysitting,” she murmured.

 Xavier chuckled, rubbing a hand over his face before glancing at the exhausted but victorious group. “At least someone had the sense to keep Valkra safe. The rest of us were too busy nearly getting eaten. In our planning I had thought they would help like the fight with the ankhegs, seems Frostclaw thought better, thankfully. I doubt either of them would have been able to do much against this beast” As he said the last, he turned his gaze upon the massive corpse.

 Frostclaw merely blinked, regal and indifferent, as if the whole matter had been beneath comment. He had only done what was the best option for the little one. He would have joined the fray if Lianna had called or was in true danger.

 While Lianna and Ella moved to the great cats to check on them and provide them with praise Xavier sank to the ground leaning against one of the monstrous stone plates of the Maw. He allowed his eyes to unfocus slightly and began reading the cascade of notifications from the battle. The first had a new sound accompanying it. A fanfare of trumpets along with the sound of hundreds of people cheering.

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 Congratulations, Champions of Rynthavael!

 Through grit, steel, and unwavering resolve, you have conquered the First Level of the Deeps, securing it for the people of Rynthavael! What once lay in darkness, infested with corrupted ankhegs, stone-scaled wyrms, and the terrifying Maw of the Deep, is now cleansed by your courage and strength.

 Achievements:

 Threats Eliminated – The dangers lurking below have been vanquished, ensuring the tunnels are no longer a death trap for the unwary.

 Path Secured – Rynthavael’s villagers can now begin expanding into this level of the Deeps, reclaiming lost knowledge and resources.

 New Opportunities Unlocked! – With the first level cleared, the path forward to the Earth Core now lies open.

 This is a momentous step in Rynthavael’s growth, one that will be remembered for generations. But deeper mysteries and greater dangers still await. For now, bask in your triumph—you have carved safety from shadow, strength from struggle, and victory from the abyss!</td>

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 The first level of the Deeps has been explored and secured. The echoes of unknown dangers have been silenced, and the halls long forgotten now stand ready for renewed purpose. Though remnants of the past remain buried deeper below, this marks a vital first step in reclaiming the depths beneath Rynthavael.

 Completion Outcomes:

 <ul>

 <li>Deeps Level 1 Secured – The area is now cleared for future expansion and resource recovery.</li>

 <li>Hostile Entities Eliminated – Whatever lurked within has been dealt with, ensuring the settlement''s safety.</li>

 <li>New Resources Unlocked – Villagers have a chance to discover missing relics and new resource opportunities on this level. Additionally, the pathways for deeper exploration have been opened.</li>

 <li>Future Questlines Unlocked – Additional levels of the Deeps and further reclamation efforts.</li>

 </ul>

 Rewards:

 <ul>

 <li>Settlement Resource Gain – Recovered useful materials from the ruins.</li>

 <li>Increased Infrastructure Stability – Strengthened foundation for future expansion.</li>

 <li>+5000 Experience.</li>

 </ul>

 "The echoes of the past fade, but the path ahead remains uncertain. The Deeps hold more secrets yet to be uncovered..."

 He had done it, the first level was cleared, and his people would prosper from that. It also seemed that the world recognized the feat itself.

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 Your name echoes beyond the depths!

 By vanquishing the monstrous Nul’Zarak - Maw of the Deep, you have done more than claim victory—you have carved your legend into the world itself! Word of your triumph spreads like wildfire, carried by traders, scouts, and whispers in the dark. The depths trembled before you and your group’s might, and now, all of Arath begins to take notice.

 +500 Reputation Gained</td>

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 Congratulations – Your reputation level has increased from Level 2 – “Who Are You Again? - Your name might be whispered in the winds, but most can’t recall it. If you were a knight, you’d be the one who gets left out of the battle plan. People might nod at you in the market, but they’re mostly confused.” to Level 3 – “Somewhat Known, Still Forgettable - Ah, you’ve been spotted once or twice. Someone might remember you from a tavern brawl or for getting lost in the woods. But don’t expect anyone to remember your name unless it’s written on your cloak.”

 Xavier didn’t know for certain what reputation did, but in games it usually lent to gaining more opportunities for quests, deals, and recognition. He was curious how it actually spread through the world as there was no one down here in the Deeps to actually see what they had done. Sighing he chalked it up to another unique quirk of the world he still didn’t fully understand. Dismissing that notification, he moved on to the next one.

 Ding!

 You have slain Nul’Zarak – The Maw of the Deep +12000 Experience.

 The amount of experience made him sit up and reread the short prompt. He had thought the amount of experience gained from slaying the Stonescale Wyrm was immense, but this was another 50% on top of that. Twelve thousand for a single kill? It just went to show something he was learning quickly about Arath, danger and reward go hand in hand. The higher the danger the better the payout. Since he happened to survive this most recent encounter he was going to enjoy his proverbial meat. The next prompt brought exactly what he had expected, and he chuckled softly, Aelriva had been correct… again.

 "Hark and Hear! You have ascended in power. You are now Level 15!

 The touch of the divine lingers upon you, granting 6 attribute points to shape your destiny—an exceptional gift, elevated from the ordinary 4 points by the Blessings of the Gods (Danu). (Total of 18 points remaining to distribute) Choose wisely, for these points will define your path. You have 3 days to assign them, or they will fall to the whims of fate. Your growing prowess earns you a boon: 20% skill allocation (Total of 60% remaining) to distribute among your known skills. This is your chance to sharpen the blade of a favored talent, forge new strength in an untapped domain, or balance your growth across disciplines. Let this moment be a cornerstone of your greatness.

 Rise, Seeker of Glory. The world awaits your will. Seek adventure, seek wisdom, seek love—and let your legend be forged in your choices. LIVE!”

 He was now just the level needed to be in order to address the next quest in the chain for Sleeping Lines. He took a moment to ponder, not for the first time, how much the little sprite knew that she didn’t inform him of. He also wondered idly if there was a way to get her to divulge more information. Shaking his head slightly he assumed she would tell him what he needed, no more and no less. It slightly frustrated him knowing that it was likely that there were others just like Aelriva who were guiding him but not fully informing him, his thoughts of course turned to Danu at that moment. He was sure she somehow had a hand in this, just didn’t have a way to prove or even really hint at the truth of it. He went on to his next notification.

 Quest Offered: "Drums in the Deeps 2"

 The first level of the Deeps has been secured, but the depths do not rest so easily. Faint tremors ripple through the stone, and distant sounds, scraping, shifting, something alive, reverberate from below. The deeper halls remain untouched, their secrets and dangers unknown. If Rynthavael is to claim the Deeps fully, the next descent must begin.

 Objective:

 <ul>

 <li>Descend to the second level of the Deeps beneath Rynthavael.</li>

 <li>Identify and eliminate any remaining threats.</li>

 <li>Recover valuable resources, artifacts, or lost knowledge.</li>

 </ul>

 Potential Challenges:

 <ul>

 <li>Stronger and more organized threats may lurk deeper.</li>

 <li>Structural instability, traps, other unknown dangers.</li>

 <li>Unstable ley line anomalies could interfere with magic.</li>

 </ul>

 Rewards:

 <ul>

 <li>Access to deeper resources within the Deeps.</li>

 <li>New crafting and construction materials.</li>

 <li>Potential discovery of ancient Sylmyrian relics.</li>

 <li>+6000 Experience.</li>

 </ul>

 "The silence of the first halls has been reclaimed, but below, the danger of the Deeps still lingers. Something waits in the dark, will you be the one to unearth it?"

 He had a feeling that the next quest for that chain would be coming after he finished the first one. It also brought to mind how many links would exist in this particular chain. From the sounds of it the Deeps were immense and could go several dozens of layers deep. Though the idea of a continuously extending questline was appealing, he was not sure he wanted to spend weeks on end in the vast underground expanse.

 Slowly pushing his exhausted body back to its feet he turned to look at the corpse of the massive level boss. He just knew there had to be some good drops off the creature, especially given what they had found on the lesser monsters of the level. Not for the first time he lamented the fact they actually had to carve the corpse up and didn’t just receive the dropped items by “looting” it like in some of the games he had played. Real life was just so much more, well messy than in games. Resigned to the dirty task, he hoped to find some source of water nearby instead of trekking all the way back to the Life Ley Garden, he resized Vaeltheris to a more appropriate tool and began to break down the body of the dead monster. After a short period of time, he was joined by Lianna and Ella. He was, once more, thankful for Lianna’s experience with beasts as she seemed to know inherently where to cut and search.

 As they worked Xavier took the time to query the Iskari ranger in why and where she cut. This actually elicited a detailed description of what she was doing. It turned out she had attained adept rank in a rare skill called Beastial Lore that not only helped her understand animals, beasts, and monsters in general but had subskills that went on to further aid in harvesting better parts from the creatures as well. Xavier was just starting to wonder why he had not picked up the skill yet when suddenly…

 Congratulations! You have learned a new subskill – Beast Harvesting level 1. The Beast Harvesting subskill is a core part of Bestial Lore, focusing on the efficient extraction of valuable materials from creatures. Whether for crafting, alchemy, enchantment, or trade, a skilled harvester knows how to maximize the yield from a fallen beast. From mundane animal hides to the arcane essence of magical creatures, this subskill ensures nothing goes to waste. "Some see a monster. I see gold, potions, and high-quality armor waiting to happen." +0.3% Increased Yield. +0.3% Reduced Risk of Material Damage. +0.2% Increased Quality.

 Congratulations! Since you have learned a subskill you have also gained the corresponding skill – Bestial Lore level 1. The Bestial Lore skill represents a deep understanding of animals, monsters, and magical beasts. It allows a character to analyze, dissect, and exploit the biological traits of various creatures, granting advantages in combat, survival, alchemy, and crafting. Hunters, beast tamers, and scholars alike benefit from understanding a creature’s weaknesses, useful body parts, and behavioral instincts. The higher the skill level, the greater the insight, from recognizing a creature’s mood to understanding how to harvest magical essences or counter beast-based curses. "I don’t just hunt monsters—I study them. That’s why I’m still alive." +0.3% Increased Damage against creatures. +0.3% Better Harvesting Yield. +0.2% Better Beast Interaction.

 After minimizing the new prompts, he looked at the corpse again and noticed new glowing areas and the ghosts of lines crisscrossing it indicating locations to cut. He was anxious to level the skill and subskill to see what else it could provide as Lianna’s adept rank had led to her procuring interesting items already. Diving back into work beside his two companions they spent the better part of the next several hours dissecting the remains, and the results were amazing.

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 You have discovered: Chitinous Mawplate x 2</td>

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 Item Class: Rare

 Item Quality:

 Well Crafted

 Weight: 6.2 kg per plate

 Durability:

 100/100

 Description:

 A massive fragment of Nul’Zarak’s outer plating, hardened over centuries to a near-impenetrable density. The chitin is layered and mineral-infused, capable of withstanding tremendous force.

 Uses: - Armor Crafting:

 Can be reforged into heavy armor, a shield, or fortification plating.

 Properties:

 - Natural Damage Resistance:

 Reduces non-magical slashing and piercing damage.

 - Tremor Buffering:

 Dampens seismic tremors, providing stability against knockdowns.

 - Potential Enchantment:

 If imbued with Earth Energy, it could grant resistance to underground hazards or seismic attacks.</td>

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 You have discovered: Fanged Mandible of the Maw x 2</td>

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 Item Class: Very Rare

 Item Quality:

 Superb

 Weight: 5.8 kg per mandible

 Durability:

 95/100

 Description:

 One of Nul’Zarak’s massive, serrated mandibles, still humming with residual power. The edges appear naturally jagged, honed by the creature’s millennia of burrowing through bedrock.

 Uses: - Weapon Forging: Can be reforged into a scythe, glaive, or greatsword.

 - Armor-Piercing Bolts/Arrows: The mandible’s natural jagged edges make it ideal for high-penetration projectiles.

 Properties: - Jagged Edge:

 Wounds inflicted by this weapon do not close easily, making healing magic less effective.

 - Burrowing Strike:

 On impact, the weapon delivers a concussive shock, fracturing armor and weakening enemy defenses.

 This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

 - Earth-Touched: May react to the Earth Ley Line, gaining additional effects when used underground.</td>

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 You have discovered: Eyes of the Maw x 2</td>

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 Item Class: Rare

 Item Quality:

 Well Crafted

 Weight: 0.9 kg per eye

 Durability:

 80/100

 Description:

 The red, glowing eyes of Nul’Zarak, still faintly pulsing even after death. They seem to react to movement, as if still aware.

 Uses: - Alchemy & Augmentation:

 Can be distilled into potions or fused into weapons/armor.

 Properties: - Darkvision Elixir:

 When refined, grants enhanced vision in absolute darkness.

 - Tremorsense Augmentation:

 If embedded into gear, grants limited tremorsense, detecting enemies through vibrations.

 - Elemental Resilience:

 Temporary resistance to blindness, illusions, or disorienting effects.</td>

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 You have discovered: Mawborn Fangs x 17</td>

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 Item Class: Rare

 Item Quality:

 Well Crafted

 Weight: 0.7 kg per fang

 Durability:

 90/100

 Description:

 Several smaller fangs from Nul’Zarak’s inner maw, razor-sharp and laced with residual venom. These natural blades remain lethal even after extraction.

 Uses: - Weapon Crafting:

 Can be shaped into daggers, claws, or armor-piercing arrows.

 - Alchemy & Poisons:

 The venom can be distilled into a paralytic agent.

 Properties:

 - Armor-Piercing:

 Weapons crafted with Mawborn Fangs ignore natural armor resistance.

 - Paralyzing Toxin:

 When refined, the venom can be applied to arrows or melee weapons, causing temporary paralysis on targets.

 - Unstable Corruption:

 If mishandled, the venom can cause hallucinations and erratic movement.</td>

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 You have discovered: Chitin & Shell Fragments x 23</td>

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 Item Class: Uncommon

 Item Quality:

 Above Average

 Weight: 2.0 kg per fragment

 Durability:

 80/100

 Description:

 Shattered remnants of Nul’Zarak’s outer plating. While not as resilient as the Chitinous Mawplate, these pieces retain some of their natural density and can be repurposed into lighter armor or reinforced plating.

 Uses: - Armor & Shield Crafting: Can be reforged into durable light or medium armor.

 - Fortification Material:

 Can be layered onto structures, making them more resistant to seismic shockwaves.</td>

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 You have discovered: Residual Acidic Ichor x 4</td>

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 Item Class: Rare

 Item Quality:

 Well Crafted

 Weight: 0.5 kg per vial

 Durability:

 N/A (Liquid)

 Description:

 A thick, dark-green fluid extracted from Nul’Zarak’s stomach lining, retaining highly corrosive properties. This ichor bubbles and shifts as if it still carries a remnant of its monstrous origins.

 Uses: - Alchemy: Can be distilled into Acid Potions or weapon coatings, adding 5-10 acid damage per strike for 1 hour.

 - Siege Warfare:

 When boiled down and concentrated, it can melt through stone and metal, making it an effective material for acid-based traps or siege weapons.</td>

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 You have discovered:

 Burrowing Tendon x 4</td>

 <td width="312" valign="top">

 Item Class: Rare

 Item Quality:

 Exquisite

 Weight: 1.5 kg per strand

 Durability:

 90/100

 Description:

 A long, sinewy tendon harvested from Nul’Zarak’s burrowing muscles. This material retains a natural elasticity and high-tension strength, making it a prized resource for crafting enchanted rope, high-tension bows, and flexible armor joints.

 Uses: - Enchanted Rope Crafting:

 Can be woven into unbreakable cords, climbing ropes, or grappling hooks.

 - Bowstring & Whip Reinforcement: Blacksmiths can reinforce bowstrings, whips, and tethers, increasing weapon durability and tensile strength.

 - High-Tension Gears & Traps: Artificers can use these tendons in complex mechanisms requiring flexibility and durability.</td>

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 Each item as it was harvested was identified and placed into Xavier’s satchel. Lianna was turning out to be worth her weight in gold, quite literally with the items she could locate and the fact she had empty vials and items for storing what was harvested. The space folding properties of the Xavier’s satchel amazed him each time he watched something much larger than the bag vanished into its depths. The one problem was, even though it held larger items and somewhat reduced their weight it didn’t eliminate the weight, and it was starting to grow extremely heavy. He seriously began to hope they could find the Earth Ley Line quickly, and not just to be able to start their mission into the wildlands quickly. Too much more weight and he would have a hard time moving around let alone fighting.

 While the items were wonderous and already had Xavier thinking about who to give them to so as to draw the most positive impact for the village out of them they did not stand out any more than unique items from the other creatures they had slain. All of them except one that is. Something deep inside the creature seemed to almost have a siren song pull to Xavier and he worked his way deeper into the flesh and viscera of the monster. It took him some time as he had to keep pausing to take items from the other two as they cut them loose but finally he laid a hand on what had been drawing him in. As he did so two things happened; one, he received a prompt with the brilliant red boarder of a legendary item, and two the very cavern around them trembled slightly. Xavier could feel something deeper pulse in time to his touching the item.

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 You have discovered: Nul’Zarak’s Ley-Infused Heart</td>

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 Item Class: Legendary

 Item Quality:

 Masterwork

 Weight: 8.5 kg

 Durability:

 100/100

 Description:

 A massive, petrified core of residual ley energy, buried deep within Nul’Zarak’s remains. It throbs faintly, as if linked to something deeper beneath the surface.

 Uses: - Ley Enchantment & Artifact Creation: Can be attuned to the Earth Ley Line.

 Properties:

 - Earth’s Pulse:

 Grants an enhanced connection to the Earth Ley Line, allowing the wielder to sense ley fluctuations underground.

 - Stonebound Fortitude: Increases physical resilience and resistance to knockback effects.

 - Burrower’s Insight:

 Grants temporary perfect navigation in underground tunnels, preventing the user from getting lost.</td>

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 “This isn’t just a part of that creature,” Xavier stated as he lifted the throbbing stone piece free from the tender flesh, its weight much more than its size would indicate.

 “No,” Lianna agreed as she looked around them watching dust and sand settle from the tremor. “It caused the whole earth to move. Considering what it came from I am almost afraid to think what it is signaling”

 Ella grimaced slightly thinking about the implications, “whatever it is, it just rang a very large bell”

 Xavier hefted the piece of stonelike material thoughtfully, something about it still called to him. Something similar to what he felt pulling him further down into the Deeps. “I don’t think whatever it is truthfully means us any harm. I feel a more calming and calling presence from it. I think its associated with the Ley Lines. We need to go deeper and find the Earth Ley Line to be certain though.”

 Finished with the corpse of the Maw they collectively decided to explore its den. Hopefully they could find some water to wash the putrid innards of the beast from their armor and bodies before they continued the search for the passage to the next level. Ella and Lianna retrieved their torches from near the entry archway and Xavier lit another from the one Ella was holding. Between the torchlight and the bioluminescence of the fungi the darkness of the cavern was well pushed back. What they beheld was both tragic and awe inspiring.

 In the center of the cavern was a large stone archway, nearly twice the size of the one that had let them into it originally, the upper half of the arch was collapsed into rubble strewn across the floor but what remained was still covered in the remnants off intricate carvings and frescos. From what the trio could make out they appeared to depict some sort of trade taking place around the arch.

 This was further reenforced by the numerous pillars and foundations of pillars that still littered the cavern. Closer inspection showed fragments of what looked like worked stone laid out in distinct pathways, roads perhaps throughout the area. The cavern was obviously not always the corpse strewn den of a monstrous creature. From the looks it could have been a market or some sort of underground outpost.

 Moving between the uprights of the shattered archway they found more remnants of a roadway; it was broad more of a boulevard than a small road. Clearly the arch and the road were a central part of the area, this was only further highlighted as several hundred yards past the archway, previously hidden in the dark gloom, stood a shattered obelisk-like structure. Its remaining sides were covered in deep gouges and claw marks, a scratching post of sorts for the Maw it would seem. Further desecration of the monster of this forgotten ancient ruin. Here and there Xavier was able to make out small individual sigils, letters but not words. They were from numerous different languages, his trait Linguist, identified them all as he found them, Sylmyrian was the most common one found, but there was also Khazridan of the ancient dwarves. One section held a small swath of archaic Avara which represented the Animari. Further sections held what his talent identified as Sylvaerion, Velkrithian, Nimbrahan and Brindallan; prime elvish, something known as early Zar’kannan, old gnomish and ancient halfling respectively. Each one he identified gained him a small prompt stating he understood the language now. His list of known tongues was growing massive, and he had only been in the land a handful of weeks.

 The ruins were not the only things found however, beneath the dust and rubble lay shattered shields, armor and weapons. The desiccated and weathered skeletal remains still lay within the armor or hand broken fingers wrapped around failed defensive and offensive items. One mostly crushed skeleton was against the remains of one of the pillars, a shattered half buried staff clutched in its hand, on the ground next to it, the fabric all but decayed to nothing was the colorless remnants of a long-forgotten banner. While many of the remains seemed to be human, it was not the only race represented by the dead. Scattered through the corpses were those of gnomes, dwarves, diminutive bodies that could only be halflings, even some Animari and another handful of an odd race Xavier couldn’t quite identify but Lianna told him were the Marked Ones or Zar’kaan.

 “They fought a battle here, but it doesn’t look like it was against each other, odd that we didn’t find any elvish bodies with them. I saw some sigils of their ancient language over in that direction.” Xavier pointed off to one of the sides of the cavern when he met back up with the two women. “Every race that seemed to have a representation in the place but them.”

 Ella shook her head slightly and led them to where she had found a broken stone tablet. Xavier took a knee next to it and wiped the dust from it. It contained a line of sigils in Sylvaerion. “Beware the Maw… beyond the gate… only hunger remains.” Beyond where the tablet lay was several dozen bodies all clad in the tattered remains of elegant armor.

 “The elves were here as well it seems,” Ella remarked. “It was not a random attack. Everyone was fighting against something. From the looks of it something massive.”

 Lianna tossed aside the piece of broken weaponry she had been inspected. “Fighting something and they lost. Given the devastation I would guess this was either when the Maw first arrived or when they tried to take the cavern back from it.”

 Xavier could only nod in agreement. “At least they were avenged, even if it took far longer than it should have.”

 As he looked around something nagged at the back of his mind. A small bit of information trying to be drug to the surface. A brief passage in one of the lore books he had been reading mentioned grand underground highways and trade posts. Remnants of old empires and powerful dwarven crafting… what they were called though he couldn’t quite…

 “Could this have been part of a Grey Road?” He suddenly blurted out.

 Ella and Lianna looked at one another before back to him. Ella was the one who spoke first as she too looked about the cavern. “It might have been but those were centuries old. I do not think these corpses could have been from that long ago. The cold and lack of weathering conditions would have let the bones survive for decades maybe even nearly a century but not long enough to warrant one of those.”

 “No,” Xavier agreed, “I don’t think they died when the place first fell into disrepair and ruin, not when the Maw first took it. I think these corpses were part of an army sent to try and retake it. That means the Deeps under Rynthavael could likely connect to other places and a far larger subterranean system than I had even guessed at.”

 “Our lore does mention lost tribes who lived underground and who traded with the deep folk. There has always been rumor and stories about creatures and monsters who would come out of the deep dark caves and caverns to steal unruly children and unwary travelers, but I always took those as more myth and ways to get kids to behave” Lianna retorted.

 Xavier grinned at the Iskari. “Every myth has a grain of truth to it. At least that was the saying where I was from. Turns out the grain of truth for most of the myths back home was actually glimpses of Arath but that’s beside the point.”

 The discussion helped turn their minds from the long dead army that surrounded them, smiles once again on faces despite their exhaustion and grime. The trio continued deeper into the cavern searching for the way forward.

 The deepest part of the chamber well away from the chasm that led them down in the first place lay a gruesome nest of jagged stone and a near countless collection of broken and gnawed bones surrounding a large circular depression. As they drew closer, they could see the depression had been ground smooth, likely from centuries of the beast’s stony scaled form curled within it. Adding to the macabre scene were literal spires of bones, not piles but carefully arranged tower formations as if set up in trophy. Each spire decorated by broken weapons and armor. Nul’Zarak obviously had more than just bestial intelligence, it had made these deliberately.

 Scattered amid the spires and surrounding the depression were pulsing patches of a blackened fungi, they had noticed smaller clusters of the stuff throughout the cavern, but it grew thicker and more abundant the closer to monster’s nest. Xavier’s paltry herbalism skill didn’t register anything when he studied it and none of the companions really wanted to test touching the horrid stuff so they steered well away from the patches where they could. Opting more for safety than curiosity when it came to these at least.

 Here and there, among the remains, were much larger and older skeletons. Far to large to be human or any of the other races they had found so far. It clearly marked the Maw of the Deep as the area’s apex predator. He had held this location from great and powerful beasts and seeming armies in the past. Xavier looked to the two women who accompanied him and offered a silent prayer of thanks to Danu and any other gods who might be listening that they had not met the same fate as so many before.

 Ella shuddered and nudged one of the massive skulls with her foot. “This is not just a feeding ground. It is more a graveyard than anything else.”

 “It is a lair,” Lianna corrected her. “Clearly that creature had been here for decades if not centuries. It may have been what drove out the original inhabitants. Its size alone along with the marks and damage we had found just leading here show that it kept the number of other creatures in the area under control.” She looked to Xavier, “Your people will have to patrol and watch over this level to keep it from becoming infested again. You need more villagers.”

 Xavier couldn’t agree with the woman more. She had cut to the crux of the very thing he had been thinking himself. If they could clean and maintain this area it would also offer a fall-back location if the surface was attacked. Aelriva had mentioned that the Syr’Vailen could keep things from coming up from below, he wondered if it could do the same in reverse, providing a defensive ward against encroaching enemies from above. He made a mental note to discuss it with the sprite before he left for the wildlands.

 As they continued past the nest, they finally beheld the far edge of the cavern. It also ultimately granted them the first view of what Xavier was certain they were searching for. The same odd attraction he had felt earlier with the Ley-Infused heart, and to be honest, with the other Ley Line Cores he had found so far radiated up from a massive stone doorway. Its huge gate lay partially collapsed but still mostly intact. Deep uneven gouges marked the stone gates making it seem as if something, likely Nul’Zarak had tried to tear them asunder and failed. An impressive feat considering how the monster had burrowed through the stone of the cavern floors and walls with relative ease. Stepping closer to the closed portal Xavier could make out faint sigils carved into the slabs. They were too worn to be able to make any meaning of them, but they still radiated with a soft inner glow. In addition to the grooves from enormous claws there were cracks and fractures not only in the gates but the archway that held them.

 Lianna traced her fingers over some of the sigils delicately until she came to one of the deep gouges. “It looks like it was designed to contain something. Or defend against something maybe? The real question though, was it the monster we just killed or something worse beyond?”

 A jagged, human-sized opening yawned at its center, where a portion of the gate had broken away, revealing a narrow gap leading into the unknown. The darkness beyond it was absolute, swallowing the glow of the cavern’s fungi as if rejecting even the smallest traces of light. The air felt different as it emanated from the opening heavier, colder, with a deep-seated pressure that sat at the edge of perception. It was not just another chamber; this place was sealed for a reason.

 Xavier pointed to the gap. “Only one way to know for certain, I do know we need to go that way though. I feel as if they ley line is calling me. When I woke the first two, I started to sense the lines more. Its as if they are almost talking to me and urging me to find them.” He glanced to Lianna and gave her an apologetic smile, “I didn’t want to mention it before, but I felt it with the nexus of lines in Verdantspire as well. While they were not as welcoming as the Syr’Vailen ones they still seemed… friendly to me.”

 She merely raised an eyebrow at him, he was full of secrets, but she was becoming more understanding of why the longer she knew him and the more she actually learned about him.

 Ella smirked, casting Xavier and Lianna a sidelong glance. “Well, standing here staring at it isn’t getting us anywhere.” Before either could respond, she stepped through the gap, disappearing into the black. The light from her torch vanished instantly, as if consumed by the void.

 A beat of silence followed her rash action. Then, Valkra padded forward without hesitation, her small, sleek form slipping through the opening with the ease of a shadow. The panther cub paused just inside, glancing back at Xavier with a slow, deliberate blink, a challenge. Follow, or be left behind.

 Xavier sighed. “Of course.”

 Lianna, arms crossed, arched a brow and grinned at Xavier. “That was definitely a challenge.”

 He shook his head, then checked to ensure his swords were easily accessible and loose in their scabbards before stepping through the breach after them. The encompassing darkness swallowed him whole. A second later, Lianna followed, her form tense and alert. She held an arrow nocked but not drawn on her bow with one hand and the flaming brand of a torch with the other. Frostclaw brought up the rear, his deep blue eyes piercing through the shadows ahead, feline orbs seeing more detail in the faint light of the torches. Beyond the threshold, the air was thick with the scent of damp stone and something else, something old, untouched by time. And beneath their feet, the earth pulsed softly, as if acknowledging their presence. Whatever lay ahead, the Deeps were not done with them yet.

AliNovel

Chapter 10 - Tremors of Fate