Master Of None

”This has to be one of the places that ancient earth mages sealed, right?” Gil was dashing pretty quickly through the terrain ahead. He was moving like it wasn’t even a challenge to dodge tree roots or move over small rocks. This was all his skill in moving through terrain that elves would find natural and homely.

”That’s what I hope it isn’t, and if it is, that whatever was sealed in there is long dead.” Walker showed what everyone thought. They had just been returning to camp and they were heading toward a different area at high speed to investigate.

The thing was, Walker wasn’t going to use more than just enhancement buffs for their speed because he didn’t know what he would need to do with what they found there. He might need more potent magic skills to fight something or destroy it.

The idea that the people already at this location might be digging in to the deal that was there made them all worry that they would get there too late. The researchers and scouts were working hard and with the number of guards they had, it was a matter of time before they found something to put their full research focuses in to.

Not that this was a bad thing, being able to find out more about the past was a good thing. It was exactly why they were here. Then again, the merfolk exploring the shallow waters were working on finding a place to build a new city. Their focus was entirely different than those on land right now.

It was important to note that the most recent report from that, had them finding evidence that there had been spots where people lived before the water had come in and taken over a larger portion of the continent than what everyone truly grasped. Not that the continent was small. It was a massive wilderness to explore and learn from.

”It’s all flat!” Midnight leaped in to the air and looked ahead seeing the larger flat space. While there were weeds growing on it and some dirt that gathered over time, the flat area without trees or larger bushes was clear because there was nothing for the roots to anchor in to. Any wind storms or even snowstorms would make anything larger fall and blow away. The stone made by these ancient earth mages was tough and wouldn’t let roots penetrate it.

The glimmer of runes were fading though. Walker could sense the mana leaving it as he noticed that the focus of where that mana had been was broken. Not just in one place but it appeared that a few of the scouts and guards had managed to find a way to get around the rune formations layered here.

”They got too greedy and wanted credit for finding something.” Su growled out in frustration. She knew exactly how some of the guards, researchers, and scouts felt.

This was an opportunity to take back something that would win them a lot of praise and fame. Some people were strong enough to resist the temptations. Yet, everyone was not strong enough, especially when there were multiple people pressuring those on the fence or with better judgement. They would find themselves following their lead without too much other thought. That was just how people got it.

The reason that Su was so angry about this was simply that she had trained a few of the guards here. She had a hand in warning them of the dangers. But people had relaxed too much seeing that they had yet to encounter monsters or situations with so much danger that they couldn’t handle it. They had glanced over all the work that the party did to establish safety and confused it for real safety.

The entire party moved toward the entrance they could spot. A partially dug out area where some of the rune had been interrupted causing the stone to become brittle and easily breakable. It was even clearer that the guards had helped using their shield to break the stone instead of what proper researchers would use.

What was worse was that the entire group smelled it next. The scent of what could only be some sort of rot mixed with mildew. There was also a hint of iron and copper. Blood or ore veins under the ground that had been melded in to the stone to help keep the stone more stable, since the ancient earth mages could easily achieve something like that.

”Walker, what does that say above the entrance?” Noticing these markings were the focal point of one of the rune formations had been before being broken, Remey made it clear she wanted information. It was important since they had to hope they weren’t walking in to something they would never wish to experience.

”Rune ward of pressure”

”I would guess that this ward kept pressure on the stone so that it couldn’t be broken from the inside or outside. And with how the air smells, it might have also kept the scent and whatever else is in the air from being dangerous and out in the open.” Alice noticed Walker’s side glance and she began using a small song of purification to cleanse the air around them.

The small bit of knowledge that there were rune formations made to increase pressure would open up a few new theories and research ideas. But that was for another time and place.

The party moved in to the broken space which opened up. They already spotted two scouts and three researchers on the ground breathing heavily. It was clear that the gases trapped within this sealed space had been toxic and they needed immediate healing.

With Alice there that was easily done, however, Midnight and Onyx could only move them out to the open to fresh air where they would need to recover slowly on their own. ”Alice, you and Onyx keep guard over them. We will bring anyone else out to have healing and purification when we get to them. I have buffs to protect everyone and our natural resistances are strong enough. The others seem to have pushed ahead to find more.”

Walker showed some of his anger at the situation now. Su was fuming mad about how her words of warning had been ignored. But more so, that these people had ignored the orders given to them putting themselves and everyone else no headied here at risk.

This wasn’t a simple punishment either, their careers were on the line and they would most likely be forced to do smaller work with less importance. The researchers and scouts who had passed out due to the trapped gases inside already proved they were not even the least bit equipped for this at all.

The area under the larger stone seal proved to be just the roof of an underground building. The staircase led down to more floors which seemed to be made to purposefully challenge anyone from moving around here. Meaning that whatever had been sealed here with the rune wards was something that would be able to move fairly quickly. Why else make this so complicated inside if that was not the case?

”Don’t touch the walls, there are small spikes on them that might draw blood or poison you.” Gil pointed out the small needle like rock barbs. They had been made to deter anything from trying to break the walls and escape, a smart design that made being in here even more dangerous.

The shout that followed came from one of the guards, Su recognized the voice and began moving a little faster. She recognized the voice of a guard captain she had helped train but also understood the reason this person might want to get greedy.

”Just because you want to have extra gold to build a house for your family you are willing to risk it all? Reckless bastard!” Su growled as she moved down another floor and found the rest of the group who had disobeyed orders. However, they were shouting because they had found something they needed to fight.

The green glowing mushroom that sprouted out of what appeared to be an ant the size of a carriage was oozing the toxic gasses that they had smelled. The ant itself moved in jerky twitchy motions snapping its damaged jaws out at the guards who had one researcher with them whose eyes gleamed with curiosity. It was like watching a madman order people around.

”You all need to retreat now! You will be purified, checked for parasites, and then you will be punished.” Walker’s voice boomed as he enhanced Su with flames. The reason he focused on her was simply because she was already charging forward with her shields and the flames she wielded from his buff would burn away the threat in front of them.

…..

….

….

Please say no to piracy! Don’t take part in crime! Don’t patronize thieves!

Drop those golden tickets!