His body aching, his mind fuzzy, Rhorekk blinks and slowly moves his body. He moves his toes and fingers, then legs and arms. He can move everything, but feels this crushing weight upon his chest. He tries to look, but everything is black.
Feeling about, he realizes that a large block has fallen onto him, and yet two smaller bricks, as luck would have it, has prevented the larger block from crushing him. Instead, it lays upon his chest, preventing him from fully breathing. Each breath brings incredible pain to his chest and abdomen, yet each breath also brings a sharp pain in his middle right side.
Steadying himself, he reaches out and attempts to pull himself out from the wreckage...
Rhoekk strains against the fallen slab of rock, trying to see if he can shift it enough to allow himself to wriggle out from underneath.
Without room to even get his elbows into position to push, the effort fails miserably. The effort hyperextends his shoulders and cruelly scraps his chest against the rough edges of the rock.
"Ow."
Looking around, he instead tries to find a finger hold on the floor, or walls, or in the rubble around him, and use that purchase to pull himself free, almost like climbing a cliff, but in the horizontal direction.
This effort finds much more success, and while he loses no small amount of skin for the effort, he is able to pull himself free of the crushing weight of the slab. His first moments are spent catching a few deep breaths.
Glancing around, he does his best to try and reorient on his present situation, looking for dangers, and any sign of his companions.
If there are no immediate threats, he then checks the status of his gear to make sure he is still in possession of his supplies and weapons, and that they are unbroken by the falling rock.
What happened? What caused this collapse? Where are the others?
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A wave of nausea and severe pain rushes through Rhoreks body. He falls to his knees, and slaps his hands to the floor gasping; it is difficult to breath normally, let alone take a deep breath.
Taking shallow breaths, he manages to steady himself, to think about his body. Gingerly he touches his stomach and moves upwards. He flinches at the touch when he grazes his lower rib, and feels a large, swollen protrusion from inside his chest. One, two, three lumps on his left side, and, ouch, five on his right.
great." he gasps. "i think i broke a few ribs"
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A faint glow emits from under a small rock. It is blue, very faint, but to your cavern darkened eyes, it is like a torch.
You kneel within a room. A dark, dusty room. Or whats left of it. Rubble has crushed numerous objects into dust, and large stones form an unwelcoming cairn above you.
Yet where there is destruction, Ogier craftsmanship has survived. An arch stands not to far away, showing a room, undisturbed by the carnage above.
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Moving slowly to shelter his painfully broken ribs, Rhoekk moves forward, inching towards the blue light, lower his head to the ground as best he can in order to see what lies under the rubble. He keeps some distance though, as though he doesn't want to get caught in the energy of some broken item of The Power.
The glowing blue object lays on the ground, illuminating dust specks in the air around it. Its glow pushes back the darkness, allowing you to see beyond the still standing door frame.
You see most of the room beyond, and in the center stands a free standing arch. The arch glistens a strange red color in the pale blue light. A deeper darkness, blacker than black, is contained within its boundries.
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Straightening up slowly, Rhoekk steadies himself in the gloomy darkness.
Eight broken ribs... I've seen men immobilized by less, or begin coughing up blood if the ribs injure their lungs. Must more slowly...
Standing in the dark, he holds himself still and listens to the darkness.
Where are the others? I think i might have passed out under there, and there is no way to know how long has passed...They likely think me dead in the collapse.
He peers into the voids between fallen chicks of debris, trying to determine if there might be any way out of the small space he might be in, besides the strange door.
He walks all the way around the strange device, obviously some object of the one power, a Ter-Angreal as the Are Sedai labor such things.
A whole into blackness. Is this something like the technique the Car'a'carn used when he took that small group of us to assault the city of Caemlyn, when we sought to free it from Rhavin's control? Only then, one had needed a platform, something to skim on. What would happen if I went to that place without someone that could channel; I fear that I might just fall into that blackness forever...
He continues searching the area for any other way out.
Pausing to look around for an exit, you take a breat and pause, Listening.
At first, nothing except your heart, but slowly you hear other sounds. Pebbles falling through cracks, dust sifting, rocks shifting. And every so often, you hear a soft crack, or steel bar bending.
The sudden explosive noise causes you to flinch, making your whole body flare in pain. You look up and see a large block overhead with a massive crack in it. Stress fractures spiderweb out from the crack, and the random stone falls from it to the floor. A long groan fills the chamber...
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Finding the glowing object safe to touch he picks it up to carry with him and better see his surroundings.
Shuffling slowly around the small free space he is able to access, he looks for signs of an exit, a crawlspace, or any sign of his companions. Hearing the crack and the groaning above, he is forced to make a very quick decision.
Portals. Wonderful. I want nothing more than the chance to get back to my own world, and at each and every juncture, I am forced further and further away.
Pulling his veil into place, and pulling a spear into his free hand, he ducks into the blackness within the arch.
ducking into the archway, time seems to stretch out....
a blinding wall of light, brighter than one million suns, and a roar of absolute noise that deadens the ears and fills the body with thunder. Every cell in Rhoekks body screams in savage pain, and absolute joy. The opposites tear at Rhoekks body, forcing his mind to almost black out from the sheer madness of the sensation.
But, it does not.
His heart beats.
And as swift as the light and noise filled him, the stillness of a dark and silent room is a perfect counterpoint to what he just experienced.
the blue object in his hand pushes back the darkness, showing a circular room with strange lines and glyphs scorched and engraved into the walls.
Panting from the exertion, Rhoekk looks around again, and before where there was a wall, (was there a wall there?), now shows an open hall, lit with an unknown light source. more of the glyphs line the walls, and down out of sight.
He blinks, and suddenly something appears before him. It is something, because it is definitly not human, nor Ogier. perhaps shadowspawn? no, this doesnt have that....look of a shadowspawn.
The figure standing before him is tall and graceful, with an agility that is obvious even when standing still.
I know i am quick, fast when i have to be...but this thing would make me look like a babe just born he thinks to himself.
Dark eyes, black like a fish, stares at him. It is bald, no hair upon it at all. it tilts its head slightly, as if debating if Rhoekk is something to talk to, treat as a pet, or hunt as prey.
perhaps all three rhoekk thinks, sighing.
a line appears on its face, and rhoekk blinks again, seeing that it is its mouth. the lips so thin, so perfectly aligned that they make the mouth disappear, sends a slight ripple of discomfort up rhoekks back.
You have brought no lamps, no torches, as the agreement was, and is, and will ever be. You have no iron? No instruments of music? it asks.
Is that... the Old Tongue? It sounds odd; is that that I have just never heard it spoken that way before, or is there an accent?
Rhoekk stops for a second, taken aback. His mind reaching back, he reviews the words he heard until the meaning becomes clear to him. Thinking over his response for another moment he addresses the creature in the same language, "No, I have no torch. Nor iron, and I am no musician."
Iron? Music? Who caries weapons of iron in this age? My spears and knife are fine steel, and never before have I given the matter thought. What are those items to these things?
The creature twists its head to the side, as if it expected something different. or perhaps it heard something. It reminds you of a snake about to strike at its prey, only to suddenly have the prey jump towards the snake.
nodding to itself, it speaks simply.
According to the agreement. Come. Follow.
Turning, it walks down the hallway that was behind it, expecting you to follow, yet not caring if you do or not.
What is this place? What is that... man? Thing? It's like no shadowspawn I've ever heard tell of...
His mind scrambling for the right words, he says, "Wait; what is this place? Who are you? What is 'The Agreement'?"
the creature stops, turns around, and in an alien way, looks at you. If there were eyebrows upon such a brow, it would look like it was looking at you as if you grew a third head on your foot.
it shakes its head slightly, turns and walks down the hall, the light growing around it as it walks down, and the light around you lessening.
a chill whirls down your spine, and a strange, light throbbing in your head begins to build.
Rhoekk takes in the creatures response and then expands his gaze to the halls and rooms around him, eyeing to see if more of the things hide anywhere or if it truly is just the one.
Mentally, he took inventory of his weapons, including the location of each, and he shrugged his shoulders to make sure his spears, bow, and arrows were all free of straps or snags that might delay them coming free. In a conflict, a delay would likely see him killed if he were to be rushed from all sides. Too late he remembered the broken ribs, and he had to strain to conceal a grunt against the pain.
Will I be able to draw the bow? I haven't had time to test my range of motion.
Cautiously, he stated making his way down the hall behind the strange guide.
your trek takes you further and further "into" the "building", if such words can be used for a place like this. Your shuffling steps follow after the snake-form, who seems to be keeping just far enough ahead, whether you speed up or slow down, to remain partially obscured by the darkness that is just ahead, behind, all around.
after stopping to catch your breath for the umteenth time, you see it just ahead. Another light source. dull, yet strong enough to break through the darkness straight beyond.
Walking into the room, you glance around, looking for your guide. Try as you might, you cannot see a point where she could have left. it is as if she vanished into thin air, or melded with the floor.
Three columns, twisted in a strange material made of stone, metal, and other, wind up towards a ceiling. The height forces you to crane your neck back as you look higher and higher up.
Atop each column you see figures, red shapes. The formless shapes focus into figures, two males and one female. (If such identifying marks can be used for these creatures).
THe man thing on the left smacks his lips. Before it was long to see one come through here, now a fifth comes within a year of the others.
The other male thing nods, head barely moving. True. And yet, a first for him below, yet a second for us. Agreed? the creature looks up, speaking not to those amongst the columns, but instead to something behind Rhoekk's back.
A second, and a first a female voice slurs out as if purring.
Rhoekk whirls around in surprise. His years as being Aiel have honed his senses to inhuman capabilities, and yet he is surprised at finding not just one, but three more of these strange beasts.
Where the snake-like beings sat two male and a female, these more fox-like creatures sit two females and a male.
All six pairs of eyes swivel like predators moving in on the kill, their long gazes piercing into Rhoekks eyes.
As one, in unison, they all speak. THeir voices, melodic singular, together they vibrate the mind.
AS PER THE AGREEMENT, SPEAK
Again they reference this agreement... should I pretend I know what they speak of, or ask? Not knowing, I could easily entrap myself in something, offend them, or break its terms. From the look of these creatures, I suspect doing so would be as much as my life...
The Fifth to come? First, second? Wait, none of that is relevant this moment. I can feel their hunger for me, what do they want?
I have already revealed my secrets to the one in the hall; if they were to talk, my bluff could be called almost instantly. I think honesty might, just might gain me more. If I knew the terms of this agreement, then I might be able to figure out how to survive this...
Thinking for a moment to figure out what he wanted to say, then translating the words to the old tongue, cautiously Rhoekk addressed the gathered creatures around him, "You have referenced an agreement that binds us both in this interaction. I would ask that you please explain its terms and our respective obligations?"
All six Fey grow unnaturally still. Their predatory stare seems to intensify, as if looking at another predator instead of prey. A sense of wariness fills the room, making Rhoekks nerves tremble in fear.
They look up at each other, and begin to speak, rapidly, in a flowing language that Rhoekk can only be a tongue that is older than even the Old Tongue.
Finally, after what seems to be years worth of waiting, yet only fly's wingbeat, they stop and look upon rhoekk again.
As per the Agreement, that is not one of the three questions allotted to all who come to this hall. one of the male snakes speaks.
another speaks from behind rhoekk, forcing him to turn. A fox-like female speaks
The agreement is between your kind and ours. To prevent war between your kind and ours, an arrangement was made. To provide answers to questions. To provide assistance when requested. To provide aide when needed.
Behind Rhoekk again, another female speaks You are obliged to not bring iron, no musical instruments, no flames. We are to ensure that visitors are allowed passage back to their realm.
they all speak as one AS PER THE AGREEMENT, SPEAK
Three questions allotted? Answers to questions, assistance and aide? These creatures are some sort of... oracle?
Rhoekk frantically scanned his memories for anything that might give him insight into what he might do here, what he should say.
Are these true Oracles? Why do they look like they want to kill me so badly? What sort of questions do you ask when you can have anything answered? Can I have anything answered, or do they merely know answers to questions that have been lost? Blood and ashes, I wish I had more time to think!
A full minute passes in silence, though in this place, even the passage of time seems odd, and it could also have been ten minutes, or an hour. The creatures' unnerving gazes drilled into him.
A blind leap in the dark might be preferable to this, but I guess that is exactly what led me here in the first place.
"My first question then. How can I best aide the true Car'a'carn; not one of the reflections in these many shadow worlds, but the original; the one they call the Dragon Reborn?"
The snakes focus upon Rhoekk even more so, if such a thing can be done, and yet their whole bodies begin to quiver with excited energy, or agitation. The three speak in unison.
Turn the Heart of the Pattern from the Guardian of the Heart to Sightblinder.
"Turn the Heart of the Pattern," what is that? The "Guardian of the Heart?". I don't know what those things are... I could ask how to do that, but I have only three questions. Maybe they will give more information...
"You have not explained how that is to be accomplished."
A statement; not a question - not one of my three.
One of the snakes smiles at Rhoekk.
you did not ask for explanation nor how to accomplish the task
Well, it was worth a try. So, what, or how?
"How do I Turn the Heart of the Pattern from the Guardian of the Heart to Sightblinder?
by destroying her love of the Guardian, and her love towards you . But, you and the Guardian must still love her as much as she loves you both now
Blood and ashes, they speak in nothing but riddles. Do I use my last question to find out who these people are, or ask something else and trust I can figure it out. Will another question even serve me any purpose, or will it merely be another riddle. I wish I could consult with someone more knowledgeable than me. If I'd be able to prepare for this, maybe I'd know what to do.
Standing there thinking about what question to ask next, rhoekk notices that only the snake-finn have been speaking the whole time, and not the fox-finn.
I could ask how to find the Grey Man, or how to get back to my own world... and yet, if I am to believe anything these creatures say, I would need to accept what they say as true. They have said that this mission regarding the Heart of the Pattern and the Guardian is the greatest aide I can provide the Car'a'carn. So should that by my priority? They said that this Heart is someone that loves me, and that it is a woman, so can I figure this out with those clues?
How can I turn someone to the Shadow? How could I do that to them even if I knew how to accomplish the task. And it is to be someone I love? No, someone that already loves me, he said as much. So who would that... Even if... I could not. I'd rather...
Even if I could make myself, it said I had to turn her, not lead, and if I were to turn myself then I could not bring her anyway, knowing that it serves for the Car'a'carn's benefit. I would gladly accept consignment to the shadow for myself if it helped to bring its defeat, but it seems that would not even work. Instead I must gain someone's trust and then consign her to the shadow instead. Anyone who would do such a thing would be thrice damned! Worse than a Shadowrunner, but a coward and a traitor. But is refusing even an option?
After an interminable period of silence, Rhoekk looks up and asks his last question.
"What happens if I fail in this task or refuse it?"
all 6 creatures speak suddenly, surprising you by their intensity.
The Wheel will stop spinning
The Pattern will unravel
The Gray Man will not choose
The Balance will be thrown off
The Creator abandons the Weave
What Is, What Was, What Will be, all will be for naught.
Blood and ashes...
Rhoekk stands silent, rocked back perhaps as near his core as he has ever been. Skin pale, eyes blank, he stands.
A time later he jolts himself back to his senses, taking stock of the creatures around him, making certain none has moved, or reoriented to attack him.
Fool. Standing around like a wetlander when there are sand snakes in the grass!
He spins on his heel in order to face the three fox-faced creatures. Thinking for a moment to come up with the words of the Old-Tongue needs, he says, "Tell me of your role in this gathering, and the limits on the aide you might grant."
The foxes look at you, unblinking, and answer as if they didnt just define something bigger than Tarmon Gaidan.
Provide aide and assistance as requested. they say simply
These creatures make me feel like a goat being sized up by the butcher, so much hide, best cut like this, overlean in the hindquarters, best left for stewing...
"As requested? Freely given, or does this aid incur obligation? What does your assistance cost me?"