CHAPTER 1: First Steps into a Larger World

[tombowings]

The scraggily degenerate meets Carig's eyes. It turns its head and tosses its white hair. A smile creeps up at the corners of its mouth. Pointed ivory sheet poke out from behind its lips. "Show you the way I will. Go we go." It leaps to its feet in one deft motion. "Up and up we go, and we shine and glow; though our life lasts not a minute, we reflect all colors in it."

Meanwhile, Cneve retrieves the rock that Carig once carried. He returns to Zinion's crack. Cneve lift the rock high. It weight crashes down on the Zinion's chain. Sparks flare. Again he raises the rock. Pounding and pounding until he cracks the metal that secures Zinion's wrists. Though loose manacles still bind Zinion's wrists, he can move freely for the first time in his existence.

---

Does the party follow the little creep towards the Veil of Light? Or do they make their own way elsewhere?

[dtspurrier1]

Bruno comes back and rejoins the others

[Bastet1002]

"Thank you stranger," says Zinon moving his arms freely and staggering out the exit still experiencing disbelief. "Now you must do the same for Abasire. Stranger, have you freed Abasire? I don't think you have because I can't see him right now. Oh, wait! There he is! Abasire, our new friend has helped us! And look - there are more friends!"

[chicagowiz]

I look at the creature with some astonishment and alarm. Had it not been telling its companion that all eventually went up? There was some hint of potential danger there, but for whom?

"Come!" I hiss down the hall towards the retreating Bruno. "Gather Cneve and come! Perhaps if we follow this creature, it will take us to the Veil. To answers!"

"What say you, Tormon? You are of stout body and stern character. Do you think we should follow?" I ask the brave warrior.

[Blackcraft]

Tormon finishes wiping the blood off his body from the surprise attack. He eyes the creature suspicious. He is frightened, he thinks to himself, he values his life, and there’s no point lying to us when we are in control.

He turns to Carig.

"Yes, but let’s find a way to bind this creature’s hands and mouth. No telling if he’s leading us into a trap."

Tormon starts to make ties from tough cloth found off the dead creature and around the room.

"Once we have him secured, then we can follow."

[tombowings]

As the degenerate is about to scamper off to the up toward the landing, the mighty Tormon swiftly snatched him by the neck and subdues him, forcing the creature to the ground and covering the creature's wailing mouth with his hand. Despite its moans, the creature puts up little fight. Perhaps it lacks the will to struggle or recognizes Tormon's superior strength.

Sabastian suggests using the remains of Zinon's chains to bind the pathetic miscreant.

Wrists bound, the degenerate guides Tormon, like a dog leading its master toward the left passage, marked with the words “The path to Paradise begins in Hell." As the creature is about to set off through the tunnel, it glances back at Tormon, scowls, grins a toothy smile, and continues on.

"This way, rough beasty master," the creature sneers back to Tormon. "Up and up we go! Through the Veil of Light and up into Paradise!" Its voice becomes strangely mirthful and high pitched. "This way we take. See you will."

---

Tormon can decide if he has bound the miscreant in his companion's loin cloth or Zinon's chains (or both).

[Bastet1002]

"Silence demon!" scolds Zinon with a new found strength from his freedom. "We are all men, friends. And this beast is a deceiver. Our freedom begins as a test. Ah... what's that Abasire? Ah, yes... Abasire says punish these dark servants and destroy their master. Then goodness will prevail. Let us being this battle of light! Now, come Abasire, let's hurry with the others."

[chicagowiz]

"I, Carig, have given my word that this one creature will not be harmed, should it be true in leading us to the Veil. Once it has done so, I will free it and allow it to leave." I say to Zinon.

I will attempt to keep count/track of any side passages that we pass as the creature leads us onwards.

[Bastet1002]

"If it betrays us men, friends," says Zinon. "Abasire and I say slay it. If it does what it promises, we will stay our hands and let you free it as you promise. I, Zinon, and he, Abasire, give our word on this."

[dtspurrier1]

Bruno rejoins the others, " thanks for the help. Who is this thing? we are leaving here right?"

[tombowings]

The pathetic degenerate scrambles through the dark tunnel, Tormon clinging to its chain. Sebastian, Cneve, Bruno, Carig and Zinion follow behind. Gloom soon covers the cavernous passage in a blanket of darkness. All sense of sight fades out of existence. The newly freed savages grab onto each others' shoulders to prevent themselves from becoming separates.

As the travelers continue, the rough rocks bite into the soles of their bare feet.

"Not far now it is," the white eyed degenerate cries out. "Soon the Light of the Veil we will encounter, we will."

They press on.

Soon the pit blackness softens. An orange glow shines down from a chamber ahead. The degenerate leads the travelers forward into the circular cavern. The creatures points upward at a bright hole in the cavern ceiling. The glow flickers orange and yellow. How far up? It is impossible to guess, for the distance is great, and little illumination stretches down to the cavern floor.

"Take the stairs," the creatures said, now looking at a set of clay handhold nailed into the rock up. The so-called staircase winds upward towards the hole in ceiling. "Climb, I cannot. Burns my eyes the Light, it does. You go. Go you all - you sinners. Flee with wretched place, you knaves. Though free my wrists before you ascend."

[chicagowiz]

"You have done as asked. I, Carig, will free you." I say.

I will free the captive and see to it that he leaves while the others investigate the stairs and chamber.

[Bastet1002]

"No, Abasire," says Zinon to nothingness. "Craig is right. Let the beast go. It may teach the others to do one good thing as it has. It is our goodness that we honor our promise, and offer it pity by staying our hands."

Zinon nods to Craig to release the gruel man.

"Should we attempt the climb?" says Zinon to the others. "I have never used my legs in such a fashion."

Then looking irritated like a man with a headache, he adds, "Oh, be quiet Abasire!"

[Blackcraft]

Tormon lets go of the chains, watching the degenerate with equal parts suspicion and intrigue.

"Before we go, is there anything you can tell us about the path ahead," he asks sternly.

[tombowings]

Apr 14, 2023 8:18:19 GMT -6 Blackcraft said:

Tormon lets go of the chains, watching the degenerate with equal parts suspicion and intrigue.

"Before we go, is there anything you can tell us about the path ahead," he asks sternly.

"I be free," the creature exclaims stretching its arms wide and twisting its neck about. "Dead I thought I was. Now dead I be if my part in your escape is discovered. Above lies light and heat and blaze. Those who go up, do not come back down. Little more, I know not."

[dtspurrier1]

Bruno nods and comments, " let the thing go. Let's get to the light and see where we are at."

[flightcommander]

Cneve is wary of the creature, and of the "stairs". He wonders if it is safe to ascend ... although, he reasons, nothing seems safe at all.

[tombowings]

Sabastian approaches and investigates the so-called stairs. To his intelligent eyes, the rungs seem treacherous, but stable. The clay is solid and undamaged. The nails well cling tightly to the stone. Sabastian raises a hand and gives on the rungs a rough shakes. It remains firm. "Do we head up or remain here?"

"Strong they be, yes," says the degenerate with a smirk to Sabastian, "though the climb be pernicious." The degenerate scampers up the first dozen rungs. It is more deft that it first appeared. "No more!" it squeals, obviously terrified. The creature scuttles down again. "We do not approach the Light, we don't. The Veil we do not cross. Into the Furnace we dare not step. Though, I know not why. For who am I, but a maggot beneath His greatness? Yet this far I have taken you. What wrath will I incite when my treachery is discovered? And yet to allow myself be killed at the hand of sinners - is a fate worst than wrath."

---

So far, only Bruno given his voice to ascend.

If this way appears too frightening, other paths lay behind.

[Bastet1002]

"Gruel thing," demands Zinon. "Abasire demands answer. Why do you call us sinners? Why did you put us in chains?"

[tombowings]

Apr 15, 2023 16:07:22 GMT -6 Bastet1002 said:

"Gruel thing," demands Zinon. "Abasire demands answer. Why do you call us sinners? Why did you put us in chains?"

"Into chains I put you not," the creature croaks is a disgusted tone. "A simple slime farmer be I." He points at the crook Carig now carries. "That be to scoop gloop. Crack skulls and scoop gloop. To the name? 'Feed the sinners,' says he. 'Feed the sinners,' I be told. Sinners then must you be. The foreman never lies. Never tells lies and speaks only truth does he. Or he as bad as you would be."

[Blackcraft]

Tormon thinks on the degenerate’s words and nods his head.

"Let’s ascend."

[chicagowiz]

"I, Carig, seek answers to why I am here. The slime farmer here has said that many ascend here and never return. It has said that it and its Master lie deeper. I, Carig, believe that we must ascend to leave this place. I, Carig, will go."

[Bastet1002]

"Wait!" says Zinon. "What's that Abasire? Ah, yes, what a nice idea! Friends, let's force this carrion gruel man to lead the way up these stairs!"

[chicagowiz]

Apr 16, 2023 17:02:48 GMT -6 Bastet1002 said:

"Wait!" says Zinon. "What's that Abasire? Ah, yes, what a nice idea! Friends, let's force this carrion gruel man to lead the way up these stairs!"

"I, Carig, have given my word that this creature may return to its Master unharmed. It has said that it cannot go up. Let us go and leave the thing to its own designs." I say to Zinonand 'Abasire'. With that, I shall begin the perilous ascent.

[Bastet1002]

Zinon pauses and then reluctantly nods his agreement warily eyeing their former jailer, the aberration of a man.

[tombowings]

The stairs are treacherous, yet Sebastian, Cneve, Bruno, Tormon, Carig, and Zinion risk all for the sake of ascension. Carig leads the way upward, followed by Bruno. Tormon, this time, takes the rear. The climb is taxing, its duration seemingly endless. The rungs - some too far, some too near. Twice Cneve slips, only to be saved by Bruno's hand.

For in numbers and in good will these savages have found the strength to rise approach the Veil of Light.

Eventually, the light at the top of the ceiling begins to brighten. Its circumference widens. The illumination glistens. It reminds Carig of the fire dancing off the wall of the cavern where he had been chained. Yet different. Somehow brighter. More ravishing. The flames almost seem to glitter.

Soon Carig's fingers reach the final rung. To his disappointment, he sees not wide-open space, but the ceiling of another cavern. He considers turning back, yet to climb down might prove more perilous. So he rises his his head and climbs up beyond the Veil.

Carig's jaw drops at the sight that lies just beyond a short passage. Huge mountains of gold coins stand in six piles, as tall as haystacks (whatever those are). Though the flames burn out of sight, firelight reflects from their finely polishes surface. As far as he can tell, not a speck of dust mars their brilliance.

In the center, between the piles lies something more disturbing. A massive serpent, its body lithe and tapered, though as thick as two men. Scales of red, flecked with gold. Leathery wings cover its abdomen. Four ivory craws sprout from each of its legs. Its chest rises and falls as if fast asleep. Nethertheless, the sight of the scaled beast bludgeons Carig's conscious with the threat of death.

Beyond, Carig spies a hole in the cavern wall, perhaps 30 feet away, leading out into a navy dark expanse, bespeckled with dots of twinkling light.

Bruno, Tormon, Sebastian, Cneve, and Zinion climb up to join Carig.



What Carig Sees - Sort of

[chicagowiz]

Questions of immediate concern:

- Is there a pile near the exit into the chamber so that we can get into the chamber unseen by the beast?

- Do these mountains of gold go up to the ceiling?

- Are there enough piles so that we could, conceivably, sneak around and gain exit into what lies beyond?

- Is there enough room that this creature could ascend on its wings and be able to fly around the cavern, or would it be limited by space and the piles?


I will hold a hand out to caution the others. As soon as I am able to pull myself up out of the hole, I will turn around, on my stomach, and whisper into the ear of Bruno who follows. "Great beast lies ahead. May be a way around. Do not touch the gold! A trap of temptation and doom! Pass it on!" 

[tombowings]

Apr 17, 2023 6:56:45 GMT -6 chicagowiz said:

Questions of immediate concern:

- Is there a pile near the exit into the chamber so that we can get into the chamber unseen by the beast?

- Do these mountains of gold go up to the ceiling?

- Are there enough piles so that we could, conceivably, sneak around and gain exit into what lies beyond?

- Is there enough room that this creature could ascend on its wings and be able to fly around the cavern, or would it be limited by space and the piles?

1. The group could conceivably sneak around along the right side of the cavern, avoiding the monster's tail.

2. The mountains of gold do not go up to the ceiling. They stand at approximately shoulder height. Still, that's a lot of gold.

3. It seems plausible, especially due to the fact that the beast appears to be asleep.

4. It's unclear how well it could fly inside the cavern. It might be able to spread its wings, but certainly it could not soar around raining fairy terror from the air untouched.

[Bastet1002]

Zinon has never seem anything so beautiful (the coins), nor anything so horrific (the dragon - although of course - he has no idea what it is).

Zinon thinks, "Abasire said falling for temptation is the folly of man: A toothed lizard who will eat all who want its coins. We must pass carefully, Abasire."

Zinon flattens his matty shoulder length hair and beard, and gestures to sneak around along the right side of the cavern, avoiding the monster's tail.

[flightcommander]

Ascending beyond the Veil and into the chamber with the others, Cneve beholds the great loathsome creature with dismay — though currently inert, its very existence evokes condemnation. Trembling with fear (... and some other more sublime emotion he cannot yet name), Cneve retreats behind the nearest heap of gold coins.