It was late evening by the time the travelers emerged from the underground road. Their new steeds showed no signs of being tired despite moving as fast as they could for the last hour. The Ussal crabs would trudge on steadfastly for as long as their riders wished.
The weather was calm with a golden sky nearing sunset, though there were heavy rain clouds on the horizon. Thick white mist shrouded the view of some snow-covered areas in the mountains to the north, bearing a promise of impending snowfall as well. A chilly breeze gave the Matoran respite from the dim and confined caverns.
The tunnel's exit was marked by a large carved rock sculpture displaying a Matoran's unmasked face. Similar to the entrance tunnel in the jungle, the sculpture's back bore tally marks noting the sighting of Rahi in the area. There seemed to be many today.
Passing by the road marker revealed an inscription on the front:
'To those who delve the depths: Well met and safe travel'
To the side of the road sat a domed hut serving as a watchman's shelter. The door was open but no one looked to be in.
The road went on for some hundred meters more before splitting. To the south it went gently downhill towards the distant coastline, to the north it led higher between the slopes of the mountains and out of sight, though surely it would go past the glacier as the Turaga had mentioned, and eventually lead to the mountain's peak.
Near the crossroads stood a motionless black figure. It was hard to notice at first, for it blended in with the sharp shadows cast by the road markers next to it, but given a few seconds to focus its silhouette was unmistakably that of a large bipedal being, bulky and hunched over, with an unnatural body shape that matched no known species.
It looked to the Matoran as if they wished to continue down this road, they may have to pass by it.
In the sky above, a lone bird of great size circled slowly.
What do you do?
Welcome to a new chapter of your journey!
* You have reached the surface after spending a day underground. It is now late evening, and there's bad weather on the horizon.
* Next to the road there is an empty hut where you may find shelter, though its inhabitant is nowhere to be seen.
* A being is waiting for you at the crossroads. Perhaps you have an inkling who they are already?
