You make it up to the next mountain, where it becomes truly apparent for the first time just how big this wilderness is. This mountain is a good bit higher than the first one, and you see range after range of mountains to the north, with them becoming hazy and completely covered in snow before too long. To the west it's a little less far, and there are only two more mountain ranges before what must be the pink land, which is just barely visible through the distant haze. You do clearly make out the first mountain you climbed.
Your next triangulation goes quicker, and you now have a clear destination; you can even see it from here. Should be easy enough... and it is, save for one more feather-gaining encounter with icebirds.
This shrine is quite remote. You have to climb up a cliff with carved handholds, and you have to be just in the right place to see the way up. The waterfall is just to your right, and there is a little lip covering them. It took the three of you a good twenty minutes to find the way up, despite both knowing it was here and having a thing that points the way.
Willis and you think about racing, but even the two of you aren't quite that foolish. You carefully creep your way up the cliff, and eventually arrive, arms tired, at a landing next to a small archway into the cavern. There is a small carved picture of a wolf at the keystone.. this must be the place. If the waterfall, and the icicles and the descriptions didn't tell you as much.
The three of you proceed inwards, and downwards, down a shallow stepped slope, with the passage widening as you go down, and becoming less natural stone with more obviously built walls. Eventually, the walls are completely composed of by what seems to be carved ice, somehow not melting in the chilly, but not freezing, landing which awaits you.
At this point you pause for a bit of a refresher. That was a long climb, and it'll be best to be ready for whatever is in the passageway beyond.
By the light of your glowstone you peer deeply into the blue ice. You see your reflection, and try to peer beyond it to see into the depths of the mountain. Unfortunately, you aren't able to make out anything but darkness with the occasional grain of rock or reflection. Fortunately the floor is a bit more opaque, and not too slippery, or you might be worried about falling into nothingness.
Willis has better luck. He shouts, and jumps away from the wall, bow in hand. Out of his wall strides a white wolf. Not a monstrous wolf, it could be just a dog.. but it looks just a bit too unfriendly to be a dog. It just sits there, staring, for a long moment, as the three of you grab your weapons.
Eventually, it yawns, and lies down on the floor. Eyes are still watching you three.
Still, unless you want to kill a creature that is probably related to the temple, there is nothing else to do but proceed. So you do, heading deeper into the shrine.
The next room has an obvious purpose. There is light here, shining down through some fancy ice shaft, and there are long rows of shelves on each side of the passageway. This is an offering room, where items are left in the hopes of achieving the blessings of ..cold? There are what looks like a hundred carved figurines, bundles of ancient grasses, dessicated fruit seeds, small tools, and the remains of many unidentifiable ancient objects.
For fun Willis and yourself look for the offering Hilde left, a shattered bit of mithril mail, wrapped in parchment. It was supposedly to represent the wounds she had taken during her quest, but you forget the details of the symbology.
Sessha has brought offerings for you three. For herself is a bundle of different types of tree twigs, shaped crudly into a human figure. It's supposed to represent the many different people who make up herself.. mother, adventurer, assassin, protector, etcetera.
For Willis she brought a special candle, made to burn down into interesting guttery shapes, with the wick treated to make the flame flare up and dance around.
For yourself she brought a tiny toy box, closed with dirt inside. It's because you are a mystery and a secret, but inside is dirt to show potential because you're still very young.
She finds places for them on the shelves, and the three of you proceed into the next chamber.
This is obviously the prayer chamber. In the centre of the room is a tall pillar, which is obviously supposed to be the shape of a wolf, but the details are indistinct. It is as if the wolf shape is a mere coincidence of nature, rather than a made thing, like a statue. The central pillar is surrounded by other pillars made of coloured ice.
Sessha bends down on the worn floor, and reads out the dedication carved on the slab. Nothing happens. She then closes her eyes for a long minute, and eventually gets up.
Willis is next. He bends down, closes his eyes, and gets back up after what is only thirty seconds.
It's now your turn. What do you pray for?
Author
Topic: Extinction (Read 225188 times)