Brigha's stone spider did not know the way to the ancient battlefield, but Cora did. She could hear the wailing of the spirits of the fallen orcs, though from so great a distance it reached her as a whisper. She had heard the whispers since their descent into the dwarven tunnels, and while they were generally muffled and incoherent, she had occasionally made out a word of anguish or regret.

But not after giving up her die for destruction in Forza's flame. Though they still spoke orcish, the voices now sounded alien and hostile, and even as the party grew nearer, she never again managed to isolate a distinct word from the clamor of agony.

The course she took was unlikely to have been the most direct and required much squeezing and crawling and even a few harrowing descents down slick cave walls into holes so deep even those blessed with devil's sight could not see the bottom. At last they descended into a wide corridor whose walls, like those of the tunnels by which they'd entered Gruundelheim, were partially hewn and reinforced by wooden props.

The temperature underground had been chilly but consistent. This tunnel felt colder, though, thanks to a draft blowing up from the direction in which Cora now led them. A river, like the one in which they'd previously immersed themselves, could explain the draft, except the air was not damp.

Cora drew the starbound blade and ignited the fire of her eye, staring ahead with intent as they walked

"I know I'm sometimes one for speeches and for grand statements, especially when they aren't called for."

She shook her head

"Not the alliance of the north we thought we'd have though . . . anyone have an idea what we'll do if we need to fall back this time?"

It was a very good climb down into the even deeper caves, Opalia reckoned, and she did what she could to help her little friends to make the descent.  She climbed ahead to scout safe routes, hammered pitons, and even carried any friends who needed it during the more difficult sections.  Yet, the joy of grasping stone and feeling the burn of exertion was somewhat spoiled by an unsettling feeling that was difficult to place.  During a break in the descent, the giantess said, "OPALIA did not know there were places so deep as this!  I do miss the sky."

After a long and difficult descent, the fellowship at last arrived in a drafty cavern supported by wooden beams.  Their breath was now visible in the chill subterranean air, though Opalia did not mind the cold.  In answer to Cora's question about where they might fall back, she answered cheerily, "If we must go, we climb back up!"

Opalia withdrew a torch from her travel satchel and lit it, creating a bright flare in the vast darkness.  She held the torch aloft and noticed the flame flickering in the draft.  The giantess said, "Hrum, it is strange to have wind in DEEP CAVE, yes?  Maybe there is opening to outside!"  There was a hopeful note in the latter statement.

Sikuaq trudged along with the others, her spirit slightly dampened by the depth and darkness of their path.  Like Opalia she longed for the open surface, where the wind and sun could be seen and felt.  But she also recognized the need for their trek, and the scene they had witnessed in the Resting Place was all the encouragement she needed to endure the oppressive weight of stone over her head.  They had to reach the ancient battleground, so they might reach the current one.

The anatka bore little resemblance to the creature she had become within the temple.  Gone were the lava tentacles emerging from her torso and the bright, flaming hair and eyes.  She appeared almost as she had prior to the encounter with the mushrooms, except the hint of low blue fire still played among her silvery tresses and flickered occasionally within her blue eyes.  She walked with her carved staff much as she had since Guthluthic, and appeared lost in thought much of the time.  But she managed the hiking and climbing as deftly as ever.

~~~~~~~~~

Earlier, when they were well away from the temple but not as far as they now reached the group had broken for a rest.  Though not as subdued as now, much of Sikuaq's fiery appearance had faded by then.  She sat on a small rock that had broken away from the nearby cave wall, her knees pulled up close to her chin.  "I should explain what the scroll was about," she said, as the others made their preparations for rest.

"It was a letter from one anatka to another, in the time of the first Starbound Alliance.  You will recall the Alliance created the goliaths and orcs in those first days, to aid in the fight against the growing evil in the land, specifically the creatures of the Turnaqaq like the qiqion we have encountered before.  In this way the Council and its allies acted as gods themselves, usurping the purview of Nature Herself by creating life of their own."

"The author of the scroll was concerned about what would be done with the two races once the battle was won.  Should they be allowed to continue on in the world, given they were created by mortals rather than being birthed from Nature?  What impact would their remaining past the conflict have on the world?  The author seemed grudgingly satisfied that the goliaths pledged to retreat into the mountains and maintain their isolation, but had grave concerns that the orcs would not agree to a similar isolation.  They did not trust that the orcs would be satisfied with their lot as tools of war, to be locked away once their function was no longer required."

As she wandered through her explanation there was a slight increase in her fiery aspect; flames in her hair brightened slightly and a slight reddish orange glow appeared on her torso.  She paused slightly and calmed herself, before continuing.

"Although no actions were proposed I was left with the distinct impression the author, and likely the recipient, were on the side of getting rid of the orcs once they were no longer needed."  She looked at Cora with something like compassion, though it was harder to tell now with the flickering in her eyes.  "Like melting down steel weapons once the war was ended."

"I can understand their being worried about the impact of new species in the North.  Creating new beings is a tremendously profound action, and comes with a certain hubris no matter the reasons behind it.  Reversing that decision to ensure things returned to 'normal' is a logical choice.  And I think no matter their underlying reasons, they were right that their creations would have an irrevocable change in how the North would evolve in the future.  Our world today is proof of that."

"What really worries me though is the thought that perhaps the war has not yet come to its conclusion.  What if those centuries ago, when the evil was driven back and the goliaths went to their mountains and the orcs carved out a home for themselves, it was only a respite between battles while the larger war continued?  What if we win in the Resting Place and that actually ends the war?  Is there some fate still awaiting the orcs and goliaths, that was planned a thousand years ago and still lies in wait?"

Arvid was quiet on the descent. Much like the others he longed for the open sky above his head. The dwarven citadel had felt like a weight. This far beneath the surface the air felt downright oppressive.

From time to time the Northman found himself glancing at Sikuaq and then quickly averting his gaze. All of them had been transformed to some extent by their perilous crossing - or at least, all of those who had ingested the mushrooms. But Arvid couldn't help but fret that the Anatka's transformation had been somehow more radical, more permanent, and more unsettling.

He also missed the familiar presence of Senna; the sound of the wolf's paws and the feel of its breath. There was no way Senna could have followed them here. He only hoped that wherever she had gone to she was safe.

And that was to say nothing of Valaku... Arvid couldn't make sense of Sikuaq's explanation of what had become of her warder, but no one else seemed to question it and he held his tongue - and glanced at the druidess worriedly and just as quickly looked away.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Fri 18 Feb 2022.