DG-SoH: Bk 1 - Part 2 - Chapter 8e

Yahim, Quil, and Aislinn, looked at the contents of the box. The drafting tools were exquisitely made and looked like they would fetch a healthy price. They could see the name Aurax inscribed into each of the tools, and further inspection of the sarcophagus where Maq found the panel revealed that name inscribed upon a small placard. The scrolls were indeed the building plans of Castle Northwatch and the catacombs underneath.

They began to examine them and saw the room that connected to the wild caves. There were even pages diagramming the wild caves as well. Aurax had marked areas of the caves where mineral was to be mined and brought to the surface for smelting. It was on the last page, however, that they noted where construction of a small building was indicated next to a small, underground lake in one of the caves.

Coren rubbed at his white beard as the others unearthed some box. Realising that they weren’t going to immediately leave this room after all, Coren sighed, shrugged and wandered over to glance at what they’d found.

"Anything useful?" he asked.

"I believe so," she smiled at Coren. "It looks like we won't have to waste a lot of time wandering in the caves. Or finding out which room leads us to them."

Coren whistled through his teeth and shaggy white beard.

Li-eira stepped back to give Coren a better view and quietly nodded her head in agreement.

Janus tapped his index finger against the map, where the pool was indicated. "X marks the spot?" He asked no one in particular.

"So it would seem." Keen eyes scanned the document carefully. "And there is our way out," he said, pointing to the building next to the lake. "Let us plot the most direct route and proceed."

Quil nodded in agreement with Yahim. A direct route to what appeared to be the pool was in everyone's best interest. And would hasten his and Maq's eventual return to their homeland.

"Aye" agreed Coren, "No need to hide and creep around any more now that Skullface knows we're here. The quicker we reach our destination, the better".

The pathmage listened on quietly, taking the peaceful moment to replenish her strength for any battles that might come. She longed to feel the fresh wind in her hair and warm sunlight on her face.

Having found nothing else of interest, Maquetimo moved to join the group gathered around the newly discovered building plans. As the red-haired Choshu approached, Quildëalacon remembered the scroll case Janus had handed him just after the battle. Then, other matters had taken priority and he had merely slipped it into his tunic for later. Opening the case, he offered it to his clan brother.

"Maq, air sor cestal jhalendri thastolas sai o?"

His clan-brother briefly scanned the document, before raising his eyes to meet his leader's.

"Air air eir Beldrementhellen's myl mar. Osaes sai si Mysi sai vi-eilesi si bysar thys ei kyr os Shai eir eir tyr.".

Quil nodded and returned the document to the scroll-case, before slipping into his tunic. "They will attempt again," he responded in common tounge. Glancing at Li-eira, who he knew shared the language of the Fair Ones he continued. "We will need to discuss this with the others when there is an opportunity." He could tell that the pathmage was doing her best to look uninterested in their conversation, but the curious glint in her eye was impossible to miss.

Waiting till their new companions had finished discussing their business, Janus shrugged. "What do you think, Yahim?" Janus wasnt sure it made since to keep up that particular pretense any longer, but until he saw Yasminna, he would respect her identity. "Back, and through the trap?"

A slight frown creased Yahim's brow as he gazed at the map. "I think not, my friend. The trap is still there. Nothing has really changed tactically. However, that decision is yours to make."

"Oh, I thought there were some insights into the traps that would be of assistance." Janus looked at the stone wall once more. "I suppose we can still go through that wall."

"Aye, why not" Coren interjected. "If there are any enemies on the other side, it'll surprise the very blood from their bones. And it 'll be quicker than navigating some deadly traps, even if we do know where and what they are".

Aislinn nodded quietly. "Going through this wall seems the safest bet. I find it curious they actually have a library down here, but with the Lichlord's sending, I don't know that we have the time to spare. Let's make as much... careful haste as we can, my friends."

At that, Yahim placed the findings in Aislinn's hands,then stepped over to the stone wall. Hearing anything through stone was unlikely at best; yet for all he knew he still had the best shot of it among his companions. "Quiet please, my friends," he murmured, placing his ear against the stone.

Along with the others, Quildëalacon and Maquetimo remained silent as Yahim listened. Though he was tempted to approach and assist, for the Choshu were blessed with keen senses, Quil held back. The Sundarian youth had proven skilled in areas such as this in the short time the Bri had known him. To assume he or Maq might fare better than Yahim might be construed as an insult. Instead, both hunter-warriors readied their bows once more, should something dangerous be on the other side of the wall.

Everyone stood deathly still while the Sundaryan pressed against the cold stone of the wall. Yahim listened but heard no sounds from the room that lay through the many many feet of rock. He knew it was a longshot, but he also knew that he might pick up a subtle vibration or the telltale scrape of object upon object. He turned to the others and shook his head to indicate the results.

Janus waited till Yasminna had finished listening, then approached the wall once more. Extending a hand, his fingers splayed wide, he began to intone the ancient words that invoked his authority over the natural world. "Go-nacht Beldererian fur die arbeiten un granice."

Janus felt the rising tide of power as Beldrem's blessing flowed into the druid. The stone of the wall began to flow and shift until a stone door now appeared in a section of the wall.

Carefully the group moved through the doorway into the room that lay on the other side of the wall. They exited this room into the hallway that led them into the chamber of the architect Aurax, the man who had designed Castle Northwatch. The room had long been picked clean of anything useful, but the remains gave enough clues for the group to realize that the drafting tables and remnants belonged to Aurax and his pupils. They knew that the doorway to the north would lead them to the area that would allow them access to the wild caves.

They worked their way into the chamber and saw the opening into the quartz-peppered granite walls. Light filtered down through the veins and provided enough of an ambient glow to eliminate the need for torches. They rested for a bit before Coren, the only one that had any true spelunking experience, did what he could to secure everyone and everything for their descent into these natural caverns under the Ice Palace.

Slowly they wound their way down and through the eerily glowing caverns. Hours and hours passed as they moved cautiously through the underworld landscape. Yahim kept ahead and was able to lead them safely past two of the underground denizens that would have loved to feast upon the surface intruders. Finally, they reached the large cavern where the drip, drip, drop of water cascaded into the otherwise still lake that was on the cavern map. They saw the ramshackle building next to the lake and realized that they had, at last, reached the location they had been searching for.

At some point during their long and exhausting walk, Li-eira began to relax a bit. The tension released in her shoulders and her breathing seemed easier. She found comfort walking between Coren and Janus, and Yahim's skill reminded her of just how capable her companions were.

The shack, about the size of Sarah's simple house, had one door facing the lake. The house was, seemingly and surprisingly, sound in appearance, albeit in need of some repairs. There was little path that led to the lake from the door. There were windows on the sides of the one story building, but they were too covered in dirt and dust to be seen through. There was no window on the door. A chimney, cold and silent, came through the roof near the back of the building.

Janus' eyes looked over the shack carefully, from bottom to top, his brow furrowed the way it did when he didn't understand what he was looking at. For more than a minute he waited, before he spoke.

"Does anyone else find this odd?"

Li-eira nodded her head quietly and turned slightly to take in their surroundings.

"I find a library in a catacombs odd," Aislinn said with a sigh. "I find an undead being feeling sexual lust rather odd, so a shack by a lake in some caves? Not so odd, considering other things." She blinked, then as if realizing just how that might sound. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't take my confusion and frustration out on you because you asked a simple question," she smiled slightly, and was relieved to see Janus' smile in return.

"I suppose the question now is whether we open it up, or just ignore it and continue with our task? It looks long empty."

Janus nodded. "I was actually thinking who would go through all the trouble to get wood down here?" His eyes never left the shack. "Why not build it from stone? It took some serious resources to get this wood here."

Maquetimo stepped slightly towards the underground lake and scanned the area with his keen senses, as Quil nodded in agreement with Aislinn's initial response. "If this is the pool we are seeking, where the child should be, we should investigate this structure. They appear connected to one another."

Aislinn frowned slightly."I'm sorry if we gave you the wrong impression, but the child isn't here," she sighed. "This pool or lake is just the means to find out where he is, more or less. Probably within some very wide radius. If we're exceptionally lucky, we might find out his name."

"No apologies are necessary, Aislinn, daughter of Mathern," offered Quildëalacon with a peaceful smile and slight bow. "I was not careful with my use of your Common tongue. You and Master Yahim were both very clear with your explanations."

With a very quiet sigh, Guyinn slipped his bow off his shoulder, and drew an arrow. He fitted it to the string, but did not pull it. "A guy could get worn out trying to cover all the danger you folks find yourselves in." He said dryly.

Coren finished examining the shack for any obvious signs of life and turned towards Janus.

"It means someone must have lived down here - and not just some wild animal. Or is still living here. A building like that would be easier to keep warm than this whole cavern", he said, indicating the chimney.

Without much thought, Janus replied, "It would have been easier to heat a stone building. Why go to all the trouble? It doesn't make sense."

Yahim nodded his agreement, eyes moving as if they could pierce the shadows. Sound traveled oddly around water, and doubly so in these huge underground caverns. He could almost feel his ears twitching at every echoing sound.

"Though why anyone would want to live down here in the damp and dark...?" Coren shrugged trailing off.

He then addressed Yahim, a playful smile almost hidden behind his shaggy, matted beard. "Looks like most of us agree that we should investigate this shack. So, d'you want to sneak around and see what's inside? Or should I just knock on the door and see if anyone answers?"

For just a moment, Yasminna's quirky smile flickered on Yahim's lips, before disappearing as the enigmatic Sundaryan shrugged -- equally playfully. "I would not wish to be accused of hoarding all the enjoyment in our little expedition," he replied, gesturing toward the building. "I will, however, check it over to make sure there is nothing unpleasant to hinder either of us, whatever we decide."

"I can try to go with you, if you like." Janus volunteered.

As Yahim and the others looked over the misplaced shack, Maq glanced back at his leader and gave a hand signal. At Quil's nod, the red-haired Bri-Choshu began searching the area around the shack for any clues, danger, or items of interest.

Joining Guyinn, Quildëalacon readied his bow, also providing cover for the rest of the party. As his sharp eyes swept the area, he spoke softly to the man without looking at him. "You rode with Dolfanc and Klo-Choshu. Now you are pledged to a follower of Beldrementhellen. How would one explain this?"

Guyinn furrowed his brow, and his eyes flickered down quickly, falling for a moment on the arrow and bow the elf held. "I've seen those arrows in flight. Heard their soft whistle of death, and lived to tell the tale." His voice was low, knowing the faintest whisper was audible to the Cho. " A man is not always the Captain of his own life. I'm not pledged to that Janus, I just know that he is my friend. When it came time to choose sides, he was the only friend I had in the room. Easy choice."

"Fulsi perspicuus si malum ago intus" The melodic words came out as barely a whisper as the fair headed pathmage cast a spell upon the quiet scene. After a few quiet moments, a small smile evidenced itself on Li-era's face. "There is no evil to be found in this place. At least not in my line of sight."

Yahim carefully worked his way around the perimeter. He checked the door and the three windows but found no evidence that any of them were trapped.

Coren kept one eye on Yahim whilst the other was alert for dangers from elsewhere in the cavern. Once, Yahim had completed his usual skillful examination of the surroundings and indicated the coast was clear, Coren stepped forward. He trusted his companion - and his abilities.

"Right, time to find out what's in the shack", Coren grunted, lifting his axe from his belt and moving his shield further up his arm.

He moved around the wooden building towards the front that faced the pool. Walking forwards he stopped for a moment at the side of the door. Then, reaching across, he tried to push open the door whilst ensuring he did not stand in direct line of the doorway nor on the path.

Ready for anything, once the door opened he would peer round and see what was inside.

The door to the shack swung open easily with the push by the northman. Suddenly, at the same instant that Coren touched and opened the door, the world around them changed. They all felt the subtle shift in reality as they now stood before the very same shack and lake, only the building and the lake were now in a clearing in a forest. A gentle breeze blew and the sweet smell of pine and fir filled the air. The house was about 30 feet from the treeline and the stumps of the few trees that had been felled to build the house dotted the area. A small pen was to the left and back of the house and some foul scratched and strutted in the pen along with a few goats.

Smoke, now, drifted lazily from the chimney into the afternoon sky where two suns were visible in the space that Verengaard would normally be seen. The building that had been in need of some repair now looked well maintained. Curtains covered the inside of the windows which were now free from grime and dust. Looking inside, anyone could see the comfortably yet simply apportioned room with a two sofas and a few chairs. There was a large, stone hearth with a fire burning in it, and a large, two-handed axe hung over the fireplace. The room was clean, and Aislinn detected a faint aroma of bread left out to rise.

Li-eira started visibly at the abrupt and welcome change to their surroundings. Her mouth dropped open as she turned about slowly to take it all in. "Where are we?" She breathed, not expecting anyone to actually know the answer, but the awe of the moment made it impossible to repress.

"Aaaouch!! Dammit!!!" Janus swore, as the light from the twin suns struck his wide open pupils. His palms flew up to hiseyes, pressing in hard to shield them from the foreign suns.

Aislinn also looked around in surprise. That surprise quickly shifted to irritation. She closed her eyes and slowly, silently counted to ten. Losing her temper wouldn't get them anywhere, but she was damned tired of these roadblocks and diversions. The simple fact that she was tired of them wouldn't stop them from occurring, she knew. So, best make the best of it, if they could.

"Bread's rising, so someone should be back soon from... wherever," she said quietly. "Holy Mother, let this be more help than hindrance," she added in quiet prayer.

Janus nodded, appreciative of Aislinn's observations. "That's... true." He said, still stumbling for words. "But you don't understand. I don't know where we are. This isn't ... our world. It's close... it's got a nature of it's own. But it isn't the one we know." The normally calm druid was beginning to consider the ramifications of that, and his eyes began to sweep the treeline. He detailed every sound, and weighed the air on his skin.

"Well, shutting the door and hoping we re swept back home is out, until we find whatever it is we are looking for."

"On the contrary, my friend," the priestess replied. She seemed more calm than she had a right to be. "I do understand. Our world certainly doesn't have two suns, for one thing. The questions before us are, who's living in this shack and will they -- can they -- help us return to our world and continue the task set upon us?" Despite the turmoil inside her, Aislinn projected calm serenity and practicality, giving everyone some grounding in the strange environment.

Janus smiled, and nodded, though he didn't look back at Aislinn. She didn't understand, none of them did. How could they? Janus was enmeshed with the world they had left. On a very deep level even he didn't fully understand. How could he explain it to his friends? Best not to try He thought.

"I am not sure of the etiquette when opening door to another world that leads to someones house... but going in seems rude."

Guyinn shut his eyes tightly against the suddenly bright light, made even more blinding from his eyes being settled into the darkness of the caverns. Long years of warfare had taught him lessons. Like what to do when some choshu magic bolt exploded in your eyes in the middle of the night.

He shut his right eye tight, and blinked against the pain with his left. Trying to acclimate first one then other, shortened the duration of the light sensitivity. Disoriented and confused, he dropped into a near crouch, bow held horizontally out in front of him, arrow to his cheek. He sighted along the shaft as best he could, as he searched for the attack he feared was coming.

Listening to Janus and Aislinn talk, he gave voice to the only thought that seemed to form in him. "Well .... fuck."

Coren had been prepared for something to rush out of the shack's doorway, or the nearby pool, to attack him. He'd half expected some fiendish trap to fire sharp metallic spikes at him or open a pit beneath his feet when the door opened. He'd even considered undead hands of Tech-Loch minions rising from the rocky ground to ensnare him.

But being transported to somewhere else entirely was a complete and utter surprise and left Coren speechless, dazed and dazzled.

Closing his eyes to give them time to react to the sunlight, Coren used his other senses to assess the situation. Perhaps it only looked like a forest scene and maybe they were actually still in the cavern deep below the icy island.

But no. He could hear the breeze blowing through the trees and the animals scratching around. He could smell the pine forest and the smoke from the chimney. He could feel the warmth of the suns - twin suns! - shining upon him. Where were they!?

"By Verengaard, what happened? Some sort of diabolical spell?" he asked, carefully opening his eyes and looking towards Li-eira.

"Permissum meus oris animadverto qua veneficus habito." Li-eira said softly, after recovering from the surprise and sudden change in their environment. She looked intently towards the lake and cabin, trying to discern if their was a magical shroud of some sort over the scene.

GM OOC: In the cabin Li sees that the axe and the cauldron are enchanted. She can try and discern what types (schools) of magic are within those items, but that will take some time. Looking around, she senses an overall magic of some sort that sort of permeates everything in the clearing. It is not an illusion, or charm of any sort that she can tell. Focusing on the lake itself, she believes the lake or something in the lake to be the source of the magical emanations that are in the area.

Coren waited for the sorceress to complete her examination before asking, "So, is it okay to enter this shack to see what lurks within?"

His eyes darted back to the interior of the newly-restored building and to the large axe hanging within. He'd noticed it when he'd first opened the door. It looked sharp and dangerous. And worth a fair amount of gold. Better if it was in his hands than someone elses then, he thought to himself.

"The cabin seems okay...the water, though...is enchanted, or holds something within it that has an enchantment." Li-eira said as her gaze lingered on the placid water.

Janus looked at the huge warrior and shook his head slowly. "I'm not going in." He began simply. "Like I said a few minutes ago, it took a lot of resources to get the shack in that cave... well it takes even more to have it exist in two worlds at once. Someone who wields that kind of power may not take kindly to rude visitors." With that he left Coren to make his own decision, and meandered down to the shore of the lake.

The pathmage nodded in agreement, but her curiosity outweighed her common sense, at the moment.

"Janus is likely right," the priestess said. "As inviting as it looks, on several levels, I don't think we were meant to enter. If the owner shows up and is friendly, then... maybe. And think about it, Coren. If that person could whisk all of us to this place, where would you get sent if you were to just amble on in there?" She frowned slightly, in thought. "And unless otherwise informed, I'm not going to empty the vial into this particular lake. Atreus didn't say anything about being transported, for instance. Then again, the gods and most of their servants haven't exactly been forthcoming with important details, have they?" she sighed.

Something that had twisted and stretched tight inside Yasminna simply snapped. She couldn't name it, couldn't exactly understand it, but with the release from tension came a sudden realization, one that made her want to sit on the ground and howl like a wolf that's gotten separated from its pack.

Tob was right. He was right all along. I wish I could see him just once more, to tell him so.

"It does not matter," Yahim said softly, shaking himself slightly as if awakening from a daydream. "Coren, if you are meant to have the axe, you will be able to take it. If not, it will not come down from the wall." He shrugged, ran his hands through his hair roughly, and sighed.

"We might as well replenish our supplies of water while we are here. I am sure that the reason we were brought here will become evident eventually."

"Hard to argue with that kind of logic." Janus grinned. Through it all, the desert fox still thought of water first. "The water is clean, and potable, my friends." He said, after running it through his fingers, and smelling it, and sampling its taste.

"I think Yahim is first." He said, as he slapped at the water's surface, sending a spray of droplets through the sunshine to land on his friend.

Janus, and any near him, heard the tinkling sound of a childlike giggle as if heard through water. The rippling surface that had been disturbed by Janus' slap seemed to gather shape as it suddenly burst in a playful spray back at the young druid. A brief staccato of laughter then giggles sounded again.

The young Sundar's mouth quirked a little, but he had no time for a lengthier response even if he'd desired one. He simply moved closer to Janus to protect him if needful. It was what he'd been sent to do, after all. At that moment, it was really the only thing keeping him on his feet.

Janus nearly jumped as the pond spat at him seemingly of its own volition. He backpedaled, stumbling away from the shoreline, bumping into Yahim as his heels caught in the rocky soil. "Maybe drinking the water isn't a good idea." He said, his blue eyes locked on the surface of the lake. He wanted to get a closer look at some of those plants that grew along the edge, but clearly didn't want to disturb anything that might be lurking in the blue depths.

Li-eira's eyes grew wide with concern as she watched on, readying herself if need be to help.

The surface of the water broke suddenly but gently as a girl rose until she was visible from the waist up. She had dark hair and somewhat of an exotic look with large fanned ears tight against her head. The expression she bore as she looked towards Janus was one of disappointment, or even hurt. She stretched slightly as the sun struck her and water cascaded down her body.

"Ky'shahn? Ky'shahn nam menore," she asked with her head cocked slightly."

At the sound of the giggle, Aislinn turned from Coren, eyes wide. Those eyes got even wider as the girl came out of the water. "Blessed Mother, please don't let this be a trap we're all falling into," she prayed silently.

"Re-fuck." Guyinn swore, as he pulled his arrow in its string back to his cheek, covering Janus, and the surface of the lake. I thought I'd seen some weird shit fighting Chosu but nothing like this. The huge Northman was inside the cabin, and out of his line of sight, so he covered Janus, and the slim Sundaryan as best he could.

Janus nodded, unsurprised at the appearance of a creature. A playful giggling water spirit would love a magical lake. Or was it that the lake was magical because of the Fae? Chicken or the egg, what mattered now was making sure no one did anything stupid. He raised his arm outward, and made a lowering motion with his palm down, then said. "I'm afraid I don't understand you." There was no reason to think she spoke the common tongue, but it was as good place to start as any.

"I don't understand her either." Li-eira said, about half way between the lake and the cabin. Most of her companions knew that she was versed in several languages, but this one wasn't something she'd heard before.

Guyinn's bow lowered slightly, then more as he saw Janus' signaling. Great, just great, more faeries. He thought as he looked at Li-eira, then Maquetimo and Quilda-- con. That Janus is insane, but his instincts were right, about the Lich. He lowered his bow the rest of the way, but avoided looking at the water girl. There were plenty of stories about the dangers of that. Instead, he scanned the woodline, and treetops, looking for more weird creatures. Where there was one there likely were more.

Coren paused as he was about to enter the building and considered Janus' and Aislinn's comments about the power required to bring them here. Damned magic, he thought to himself, whilst eying the axe on the far wall greedily.

"So, where is the almighty owner of this abode then?" he asked. "Why bother to summon us if he's not here to welcome us? I'd call it rude to transport us to another world against our wishes".

He turned to the house. "Hello. Anyone home?" he called out, knocking on the open door. Best being polite before he entered, he supposed.

No voice replied or responded to Coren's call out.

Coren then studied the door, thinking. Scratching his beard, he decided he didn't want the door closing on him whilst he was in the house so, unhitching his backpack, he used that as a doorstop to keep it open. Then he stepped inside.

Looking around, he slowly made his way over to the axe. It looked a fine weapon from a distance but he needed to get closer to get a good look at it. Surely whoever brought them here wouldn't mind him looking at it - it was hanging on the wall on display after all! Perhaps, thought Coren, his eyes gleaming, it was the long-lost war-axe Fjiggorn?

The barbarian looked at the well made axe. The handle had been intricately carved, and his heart began to race as he recognized some of the runic symbols. Strength. Courage. Sacrifice. They were warrior runes of the Ice Clans. He followed the haft until he looked at the blades of the two heads themselves. There, carved into the channels on one blade was the name Fjiggorn Wyrmsbane. His heart pounded harder as he saw the channels of the other blade and read the name Ifus dan Yaarek.

Coren's eyes widened and he let out a high-pitched whistle through his teeth. He had only been joking about Fjiggorn before and yet here it was. It was real. He had found it.

The mighty war-axe that had been forged in dragonfire and quenched in wyrmblood. It had smited the great beast Fafnir and cut into the stony body of the Ice Giant Jotunn. Without it, Ifus would not have driven back the Dragonlords. Because of it, his son Balfor had brought together the free people of Northreach. And when Ifus and then Balfor had passed beyond to the great shining Halls of Verengaard, it was said that this axe had gone with them for it could not be found anywhere within Northreach nor the lands beyond.

Yet he had found it.

The bards sang that whoever found and held the war-axe would again unite the free people of Northreach as Balfor had done. They would finally be victorious over the Dragonlords and forever be remembered as a hero of the North. And here it was.

Of their own accord, Coren's arms rose and his hands reached out. A prayer escaped his lips, to Verengaard for strength and Geruatha for luck, as his fingers touched the weapon and traced the lines of runes down the length of the haft. Could it be true? Was it real?

After but a moments hesitation, Coren's callused hands wrapped themselves around the grip of the axe and he lifted it from the wall, in order to test it's weight and balance.

The axe lifted easily from the hooks that held it in place over the mantle. It was heavy, the northman could tell, but the balance was like nothing Coren ever thought possible in a weapon so deadly.

The priestess allowed her gaze to wander from the water to scan the woods and sky as Guyinn did. Janus and Yahim were probably better able to deal with whatever fey creature the girl was. Janus had his knowledge to guide him, even if this wasn't their world and Yahim possessed a quick and nimble mind to aid him -- much quicker and more nimble than her own. Her attention came back to Coren, only to find him hefting the axe from the wall.

Yahim's words still rang in her mind, but still her mouth went dry and she closed her eyes, waiting for whatever shoe decided to drop. Her mind raced, trying to come up with ways to alleviate any of the situations they could find themselves in. She forced herself to breathe slowly and not give in to the panic that arose in her.

"I still don't know how wise that was, Coren," she said quietly, opening her eyes to gaze upon the Northman once more. "But I think Yahim was right. If you weren't meant to take it, you couldn't."

The priestess looked around, but nothing happened that would support her concern of moment before.

Li-eira's focus remained locked on Janus, Yahim and the girl in the water, completely unaware that her warrior friend had made his way into the house.

Coren swung the axe a little, a smile breaking across his face. Yes, he thought, this was a fine weapon.

He looked at the spot on the wall where the axe had hung and then around the room inside the shack. Janus and Aislinn had warned him about taking the axe. But surely they needed all the help they could get against the rising forces of darkness? The Dragonlords, Tech-Loch, the Bright One and the Race War itself needed to be stopped. That was their mission and Fjiggorn would help them do that, Coren knew it.

And it had belonged to his great-grandfather. It was, in a way, a family heirloom.

"Thank you Balfor dan Ifus", Coren muttered, bowing his head. Thoughts of Balfor made him wonder. It had been said that his ancestor had taken the axe with him to the afterlife. Was that where they were now, he wondered?

Shrugging away such ecclesiastical thoughts for now, Coren - still holding the war-axe reverently in his hands - walked out through the door of the building, picking up his backpack as he went. As he wandered towards the others near the edge of the lake, he noticed Aislinn's eyes upon him. He did not say anything to her but instead approached Janus.

"I have found it! Here, wherever we are. Fjiggorn, fabled war-axe of Northreach. It..."

He stopped, realising that there was someone - or something - in the water of the lake. He turned to look at her.

"Who...?" he asked, glancing sideways to Janus and then Yahim, who shrugged wordlessly.

"Nan amiyassa?" she seemed to ask a question as she darted a little closer. "Nan tokeyote Meg'Yani."

Janus was standing there, trying not to look too stupid. He shrugged slowly as he responded to the water girl. "Nan Am-ee-assa." He rolled the dice, he hoped it meant Dont Understand? and not Want to die?

"We don't know yet. I hope I just confirmed that I don't have a clue what she is saying." Janus glanced down at the axe, then up at Coren. "Nice axe. Try not to look too menacing."

Coren nodded, lowered the axe and took a small step backwards. He'd heard the woman speak, if she actually was a woman and not some water spirit, and he hadn't understood her. So he left it to those who stood more chance deciphering her words.

With a quiet sigh, Yahim circled slowly, looking for a better position to defend Janus if necessary. It was the only thing left in this that made sense, so he tried to focus his attention on that. He spoke a half dozen languages and didn't understand this creature; with his newfound understanding he realized that the Gods would either provide some kind of translation for the language, thereby giving meaning to the encounter, or they wouldn't. Powerless to change it in any event, all he could do was wait, and watch.

"Te. Te keyota nan amiyassa" the girl uttered before she disappeared below the surface without a ripple to mark her passing. Her absence left them sharing wordless questions that passed from face to face. Suddenly the girl returned and another popped through the surface of the pool next to her. A third rose as similar in build and expression as the first one. Then, in the center of the pool, a large spray exploded skyward. There, in the middle of the pool was the form of a bearded man, yet it was made of water.

"What have we here," the deep voice asked. The words were clear, without a hint of malice or menace, and could be understood by all.

Janus' eyes darted back and forth between the fishelf triplets, as they played their watery version of peek a boo. But when the big, watery, fellow geysered up from the surface, Janus could only begin to question his sanity. He looked at Li-eira, then back to the pond man.

Li-eira returned his gaze, her own eyes still wide with wonder. She hoped that Janus, being a man of nature, would have some idea as to how to deal with them. Coren's eyes also matched Li-eira's, though his mind wasn't so quick to recover.

"Hello there, sorry to bother you. I dont believe we have met. I'm Janus, and these are my friends, Li-eira, Aislinn, Yahim, Coren, Maquetimo, Quil, and Guyinn." He turned around to make sure that he hadnt forgotten anyone, before he continued. "We are strangers here, and seek no trouble. May I ask your name?"

"I am Wnddyar," he replied in a deep rolling voice. "Good morn to you, Janus, Aislinn, Yahim, Coren, Maquetimo, Quil, and Guyinn." Wnddyar pronounced each name slowly and completely. "My daughter, Meg'Yani, said there were offlanders above. I would not have believed had I not seen myself. You come from Dryg-Gwra, I sense." He looked at Li-eira, Janus and Aislinn. "God touched are you."

"In more than one way, I'm certain," Aislinn said quietly.

"Hopefully he doesn't hold it against us." Janus added.

Mothers everywhere would recognize Aislinn's calm demeanor for what it was, as well as what it hid. She'd gone past surprise, frustration and anger into numbness and shock. She didn't have time to fall apart and stand awestruck. Falling apart would come later, when it was safe. If they ever felt safe again. "It wasn't our intent to trespass or intrude. But we've no idea how we came here or how to get back. Would you be so kind as to enlighten us, please?"

"I consider you neither trespassers nor intruders", Wnddyar replied. "You would not be here if you weren't welcome. As to how you got here, I would have thought you knew. How do you get back? I would imagine by returning the way you came. If you do not quite know how you came here, well that could complicate things some. The last visitor we had came from the cabin. Did you maybe come from the cabin?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes. We opened the door, and here we are." Janus affirmed. "We are supposed to find a lake that can show us the location of the Savior Baby."

Meg'Yani and the other two drifted silently within the wake that was created from the runoff around Wnddyar.

Guyinn just dropped his bow arm to his side and tucked the arrow away. I was right, there is always more than one, was the only thought he seemed to grasp.

"Hmmm," Wnddyar uttered the sounds of one thinking. "Then I would guess that closing the door might be the way to return. A Savior Baby? A lake you say? I know not of babies, but this is the only lake that exists in this place at this time."

"Does it have a reputation for revealing secrets?" Janus asked, for all the world seeming like he was speaking of crops, over tea on someones front porch.

The fluid face of Wnddyar bore an expression of confusion as he considered Janus' question. "It does not have a reputation at all," he replied. "It is our home."

Coren finally came to his senses and shook off his shock and awe. Somewhat belatedly, he bent down on one knee and bowed his head.

"Mighty Chamdar, Lord of the Oceans", he intoned.

Not many folk of Northreach were true followers of the Sea Father but nearly all would offer a tribute to the god now and again. And all sailors considered it wise to toss a coin and a prayer to Chamdar into port waters (or into the coffers of a nearby chapel) before they set sail.

Coren did not want to anger the Ocean Lord, especially considering they had come from the Guardian Isle which was completely surrounded by cold seas. For this being of water in front of him was surely the Sea Father, and the other creatures his nymphs and mermaids. Though, wondered Coren, why had he called himself 'Wnddyar'...?

Finally he looked up and saw that no one else was bowing down and, in fact, Janus was talking with the god as if chatting to an innkeeper about the quality of his ale.

Janus looked down at Coren, thoroughly enjoying not looking up at him for a change. After a moment, he shrugged and turned his attention back to Wynddyar. "He's trying not to look too menacing."

Water cascaded as Wnddyar laughed with the sound of water crashing against the rocks. "I don't think he can help but to look menacing," he said between laughs. "Rise. the one they call Coren. I am not the Lord of Oceans."

Sheepishly, Coren stood up and brushed off the dirt from his knee. He gave Janus a look that said, 'How was I supposed to know?' and then turned towards the huge watery creature in front of them.

"Sorry 'bout that, erm, Master Wnddyar. It's just I've never seen anyone like yerself, made out of water and all. I've heard stories about the mighty Ocean Lord and you sort of fit one or two of the descriptions".

Gaining courage, Coren's eyes narrowed.

"So, what are ye? If yer don't mind me asking? And where are we, other than in yer home I mean?"

"I am...well I am Wnddyar. There is no other like me, so I have had no need to name me anything other than that. These," he said as he pointed to the three girls who smiled and giggled as they looked up at the males, " could be called the "Daughters of Wnddyar."

"Perhaps I can better explain it to them, husband." The sound of a woman's voice broke from behind everyone as she rounded the livestock pen. A human looking woman in her late 50's stood there holding an armful of firewood. "I am Sylfaya. Why don't we go inside. I can fix you something to eat and drink, if you like, and we can talk more."

Coren turned quickly at the sound of the woman's voice. His hands lifted the war-axe slightly but then he relaxed as he realised the woman was no threat. No obvious threat anyway.

Yahim, ever vigilant, was the only one to notice the subtle and momentary change in her expression as Silfaya caught site of the axe now carried by Coren. Yahim saw a fleeting wave of resigned sadness pass across the older woman's eyes before it left her.

"Please," she said. "Follow me." She then turned and went into the house.

Coren's puzzled gaze passed from Silfaya, to her husband and then to their daughters before settling back upon the old woman. "How...?" he muttered to himself, wondering about the differences in biology between the woman and the waterbeing. However, it was not a polite question to ask even in the best of circumstances. Though Tob might have made some crude joke about it, he thought.

"I wonder if those fungi in the caves have hallucinatory spores?" Janus wondered. Shaking off that thought, as he watched Syfalya enter the shack, he turned back to face Wnddyar. "Will you be joining us?" He asked, not sure how the big guy-ser was going to fit inside.

Wnddyar shook his head and slowly sank beneath the surface until he was no longer visible. The three girls swam farther out until they emerged by some rocks on the opposite shore. They climbed out and reclined against the rocks, seemingly oblivious, now, to the group on the other side of the lake.

Janus furrowed his brow, as Wnyddyar turned and began to fade into the surface of the lake. A once in a lifetime opportunity had just turned away from him,

He glanced at the Daughters of Wnddyar, then the small water lilly like plants that waved their thin, green, stalks out over the surface of the water, bending and dipping now and then as if drinking. The ripples from their motions attracting a lot of active, and very tiny minnows from the depths. A once in a lifetime opportunity.

"It was nice talking to you, too." He said to the bubbling depths.

Li-eira approached Janus after the water spirits left, and took his hand in hers. "What a curious place." She commented in her quiet voice as she tugged him lightly towards the cabin. "It's a beautiful respite from the catacombs."

Janus looked away from the surface of the lake, and his blue eyes lit, his regretful look turning into smile at seeing Li-eira. His fingers held her hand tightly, and laced with hers, his arm pulled by her tugging. He did not move though till he was finished speaking. "It would be nice to sit here in the suns-shines with my feet out of these boots, and soaking in that lake, or curled into the grass. Talking with you and my friends, and that Wnddyar, and his daughters."

A happy sigh escaped Li at the thought and she gave him a bright smile. It was easy to forget the darkness here, to feel protected from it. "Once we finish our quest, maybe there will be more time for those pleasant things."

Li-eira continued to pull him along as her voice turned a bit more teasing. "...although, without Wnddyar and his daughters would suit me better."

Janus gave Li-eira a playful look, the exact same look he he'd stifled when his eyes first met hers in the Dark Inn in Per so long go. Then she had been a stranger, a powerful, beautiful, and exotic sorceress. Things were different now, and Janus realized just how long it had been since he had given any woman that look. "See? That kind of thinking is exactly why I adore you." He said with a grin, following her into the shack.

Coren saw Li-eira and Janus head off towards the cabin and so followed on behind.

"So, I'm guessing we trust this Silfaya?" he asked them. Still, he knew this was the only way they were going to get some answers.

Janus replied, a somewhat detatched tone to his voice. "Trust her? As usual, we have no choice. I say we have some drink, eat some warm food, and listen to what she has to tell us, then decide. If she wanted to kill us, I don't think she would invite us inside first."

"Quite a mess to clean up afterward," Yahim nodded, agreeing with Janus and following them into the cabin.

Aislinn nodded quietly. The priestess had felt the gamut of emotions in the last few minutes, from hysterical giggles to frustrated anger to gentle happiness. "It's as Janus said, Coren," she said with a sigh. "Might as well go along with it and see what crops up next. Might end up being the best information we can get right now." She linked her arm with the big northman's and smiled up at him. A smile that didn't erase the concern in her blue eyes. "Let's go see what she has to say."

GM OOC: Closing this move and opening a new one for ease of read and length.