Ulrich pulls the rope again, sending it down, and the others soon follow him to the floor above.
After confirming that there is no imminent threat nearby, Ulrich examines the relief on the wall. It is a relief of a person, and very detailed and life-like. It is because of these details that Ulrich isn't as surprised when the relief begins to talk.
I see you, my friend. My name is One Embedded in Stone.
The relief's stone mouth does not move: the words surface from the relief and the wall itself, as if the entire wall was talking.
I am the Watcher. I am the Listener. I am the Keeper.
And I am suspicious. Pahleg thinks as he looks around. "Oh One Embedded in Stone, please, tell us more of you. You must forgive us of our ignorance, but we do not remember many things of our past lives."
"We seek the Throne- it is this way, correct?"
It is understandable to lose memories. There is a certain barrier between the dream and the wake that once crossed erases some dreams. You have fallen victim to the Illusion, like I have.
The difference between you and I is that your soul is still intact, whereas mine is now one with the stone. You are still alive.
I have watched, as the Watcher. I have seen no thrones, no kings. But I have seen soldiers. I have listened, as the Listener. I have heard the soldiers, who used to grunt and swear. Now they have gone silent. I have kept, as the Keeper. I keep something as a secret, always.
"You have quite the tongue for a talking wall. As tantalizing as the prospect of your secret may be, we're looking for whatever remains of the Hellfire covenant on behalf of our companion. No doubt the same soldiers you are alluding to."
The relief makes no response to Kekkle. Kekkle scans the wall, and it indeed appears magical, and has a strong aura.
Ulrich glances between the stone and his companions.
"And how would we learn what you have kept secret? Do you know how long ago- or why- the soldiers went silent?"
There is a moment of silence as the relief does not respond at first. After the pause, the wall continues. Your friend was wise when he asked nicely. The soldiers, usually in small numbers, now marched as a whole battalion from there. It was two sunrises ago.
I must leave now. Roamers, if you acquire your Labyrinth Soul, come find me again. You might solve this maze.
Those were the last words that could be heard spoken from within the relief. It makes no further responses, but the relief carved in stone still remains.
"Hmph. I must have offended it. I shall leave it to you next time, friend Pahleg."
He walks to the other elevator.
"Shall we ascend? Perhaps Hellfire left instructions for those of us that would follow."
"Wait, what's a Labriynth Soul? Did we get them from the fog dwellers?"
"Maybe it is... maybe that's what happens to us after we've consumed enough souls? We become an enormous menace like those behind the fog gates?"
"I should hope not. Surely there's more to life here than killing and dying, slaying monsters only to become one yourself?" Araden shakes his head. "I cannot help but hope there's some greater purpose. Some goal behind it all."
"Of course there is! We will get out of here, it is only a matter of time. The light will show is the way." Pahleg says with an encouraging smile.
"The only goal I can imagine is punishment...", Ulrich mutters bitterly. "It would be fitting."
He gestures to the elevator.
"Shall we?"
With the latest events and words still mulling in their heads, the party enters the other lift. The rope is pulled, and the lift starts its ascent.
A few seconds later, it reaches the next floor. The party faces a dark hallway leading right.
After only a few steps into the hallway, something emerges from the darkness in the distance. A woman in red armor stands in the middle of the hallway, wielding a spear. There is little doubt she works under the oath of Hellfire. Two tiny somethings fly around her, dancing in the air. At first they appear to be bats, but a closer look reveals their spiky tails and red skin, suggesting they are something else entirely.
The fliers seem to notice the party, and notify the guardswoman.
"Kill them if they don't go away. Do your duty."
In spite of that, the three do nothing, for now.
Pahelg frowns. "Evil creatures surround her. Ulrich, you stand with hellfire. Perhaps your words may be more convincing than mine."
Ulrich addresses the woman.
"I am Ulrich, Hellfire private, Order of the Bonfire. I bear a message for the General on behalf of Corporal Matt.", he says, awaiting a response.
Tannan, listens to the strange talking stone wall.
Hmm, labyrinth soul? Do I still have a soul? I know those back home would argue that fact, but what if I die? Will I come back? Does something else HAVE my soul in this demented place?
Thoughts swirl about his head, as he follows the others out of instinct to stay with the stronger, hardier fighters so he may have a chance to figure it out. Tannan bumps into the back of Pahleg.
Hey, sorry guys. I was kinda zoned out, trying to make sense of the stuff we just heard. Is it true that we have lost our real souls. I know a few guys back home that would agree, but seriously...
Tannan stops, and is barely able to make out the figure, and then realizes it to be figures, multiple. He, if only out of instinct for survival from this damned hellish place, he grabs two daggers from his belt, and prepares for combat.
Son of a...another fight. We just got done dealing with the annoying mage, and now this armor clad lady wants to pick a fight.
Tannan, keeps daggers in hand, trusting nothing in this place.
Proof...how in the nine hell's, are we supposed to get the fruitcake proof?!I doubt she would take our word, or better yet go with us TO him?
Tannan wants to speak, but is fearful of saying something to agitate the lady or her flying pets.
Umm, you got any proof there Mr. Hellfire buddy?, Tannan asks quietly, hoping he has got something useful.
Upon hearing Ulrich's words, the fliers seem to become flustered. Hovering in the air, they exchange looks. One of them speaks in high-pitched Common. "That's odd. We heard Corporal Matt had died..."
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof," adds the other. This whole time the guardswoman has been standing still, quiet.
"The Corporal sent us here after both of his legs were... rendered unusable. He spoke of Thuevar, the United Land. And he gave us a key to Asuera's prison."
"Elyna- show them the key."
Elyna produces the prison key, but the fliers seem to react more to Ulrich's words than the key. They exchange looks again, and whisper something in a foreign language. Tannan recognises the language as Infernal, and warns the others by a whisper. Other than hearing just enough to recognise the language, Tannan didn't hear enough to know what they were talking about.
The fiends turn to the party. "We've sent a message to confirm your words. Telepathically. Please wait a moment..."
"So, you don't have some place else to be at? You were ordered here?"
"Are all of you soldiers?"
"This dungeon sure is terrible, am I right?"
"Ulrich leads us all in our endeavors." Well, Ulrich does make most of our directional decisions. "And yes, terrible it is. But I hope we can overcome our differences and work together to find out a solution to it."
Guys, that tiny little bugger is a lying piece of crap. It didn't send any messages telepathically...presuming it can even do so. It is speaking infernal, but I couldn't make out any words. I would presume they be a devil of some sort. I don't trust them one bit. Don't hand over the key, then what bargaining chip do we have left?!, he whispers to Pahleg.
Tannan, looks around again, as if searching for any hidden surprises the flying tricksters may have.
Ulrich glances back at Tannan and Pahleg.
"I joined the covenant, so I must heed Corporal Matt's instructions to report to the Throne. Who are you two and how do you serve Hellfire? And what of her?", he says, jerking his chin toward the armored woman.
Elyna tucks away the key for now. "I'm not about to hand it to those things..." she whispers to Tannan.
The left-hand fiend giggles mischievously after hearing Pahleg's words. "I agree... Enemies are everywhere. The wise make few enemies, and instead form bonds, and stay together. They become strong that way..."
Tannan eyes the flying critters. They have bat-like leathery wings, scorpion-like tail, and their skin is light red. They don't seem to be holding anything. They fly and hover with elegant ease.
The human guardswoman holds a longspear, and her armor bears the Hellfire colors. Her build is weak, and she seems starving. Tannan steps a little closer to get a better look at her, and realizes her face is expressionless and vacant, just like the other soldiers below. She is a hollow.
In response to Ulrich, the right-hand one says: "We are just the first line, guarding the way to Old Emperor's Throne. She's a trainee."
"I've received the reply. You may pass. But only one of you." The flying fiend looks at the party for half a minute, and then points at Pahleg: "You, the aasimar. Follow her."
"What? Why? Take Ulrich, he's the one delivering the message."
Ulrich likewise starts getting suspicious.
"He isn't Hellfire. I took the oath. Will you spit on that, then and refuse to let me see to my duty?"
Pahleg gives a small frown. "I am afraid I am hesitant to move forward alone. I have learned during my time here that, against my better nature, I must play the part of the coward for my friends rely on my healing abilities. Ulrich would surely be a better representative either way, as he is the highest ranking hellknight among us."
The right-hand fiend's tone turns arrogant. "No back talk, Private. Obey your superiors' orders."
"Don't be afraid," the left-hand fiend comforts, "Old Emperor's Throne is literally the safest place to be, especially as long as you are escorted by a hell knight..."
Pahleg folds his arms. "Ulrich is my superior in this matter, and he says he wishes to go. You sound like you are betraying the orders of another Hellknight, or you are not of Hellfire at all. Now step aside."
"Seems like they were staking the deck, looking for the best outcome. Whatever it is, Pahleg fits the bill."
Ulrich glowers, but it's not certain he has another facial expression.
"We've reached an impasse. If you will not allow us through or take me, we will have to seek another route. Farewell... comrades."
"Okay, okay. We made a mistake... Your leader should deliver the message," says the left-hand fiend. "Go on, follow her..."
The right-hand fiend bows mid-air. "I assure you, we truly are servants of Red Flare the General. I apologize for neglecting your duties. We both want for what is best for him."
The fiend nods to the hollow guardswoman next to him, and she relaxes her attention, and fixates her gaze on Ulrich.
Elyna raises an eyebrow. "I don't trust this whole thing..."
Ulrich is guarded.
"Well... glad to see you're coming around. The general's name is Red Flare? The Corporal seems to have been misinformed. Corporal Matt used a different name. Has there been a change in leadership since the Corporal's injury?"
"The 'Red Flare' is just a title, I figure."
"I think at this point your shirking of duty has showed how incompetent you are at conveying his wishes. We all go."
"I agree with Pahleg. I mistrust this situation, and there's something afoot. Why trade in whispered secrets if you are faithful allies of Ulrich's?" Araden steps forward from his position near the back and jabs a finger at the trio. "Just who are you, and why do you vex us?"
"We already told you." says the right-hand fiend, and leaves it at that. The atmosphere is clearly becoming tense, and the left-hand fiend tries to remedy it. "I'm sorry, but orders are orders, see? Safety precautions... It's for your you own good, too... Only one at a time, that's the rule."
Tannan's ears hear through the false securities provided by the annoying flying creature. He can clearly hear the deception its voice as it waivers trying to spin the falsehoods. It slips up with a few key things, which tips him off.
Tannan tries to pull everyone back, beyond the earshot of the flying little bastards, and then whispers to the group what he is thinking.
Look, Ulrich you cannot go alone. These guys are full of complete crap, and have no intention of fulfilling their alleged promises. Think about it, why would such a practice exist, especially in this hellish place? Divided, we are weaker, which doesn't sound like the Hellfire code does it? Strength in numbers, right? If you go alone, you most likely won't come back alive. What if that is the same way all those soldiers down below did, and that is how they became "hollows"? These flying nuisances tricked them, which similar false words and whomever or whatever is beyond, made them such as they are now?
Ulrich nods, one eye narrowed at the imps.
"Yes. The longer this conversation has gone on, the less convinced I am these fiends have proper authority. We will find a different route."
The knight turns back to the imps.
"We have survived thus far by staying together- I cannot leave my comrades-in-arms behind. Since your duties and mine are at cross-purposes, we will find a different route to the Throne. Farewell."
Diplomacy:
With that, he motions the others back toward the lift.
Following Ulrich's suggestion, the party turns back and exits via the lift. The fiends make no attempt to stop them, and disappear into the darkness as the light source moves away.
With a pull of the rope, the lift descends to the floor below, and the party faces the relief again.
"That was certainly... not what I had hoped for. I suppose that's the problem with hoping in a place like this."
"We face a choice- we have two fog walls we might throw ourselves against. Or, to continue on the path to the Throne, perhaps we can retrace our steps to Felisse's lab- which should be on the same level we are now- and find a way up from there."
"I still suspect one of the fog walls conceals an alternate route to the throne."
"However, I'm more concerned over this whole Hellfire business. Those where fiends, Ulrich, and hollows with them. Just what has happened?"
"Indeed. I mislike the developments--they mean naught for Hellfire but trouble, in my mind." Araden runs a hand over the faceplate of his helmet and slaps his thigh. "I should like to face another of the great dangers behind the fog. It seems a fine challenge and the potential for discovering a new route only adds to the benefits."
Curious, and excited, about the fog the party moves past the rows of hollow soldiers again, and arrive in front of the wall of grey fog.
Standing there, they realize how long a day it has been for them. The lack of natural light messes with the human body, and it is hard to estimate the passing of time. Moreover, they feel cooler in the dragon cathedral than in the company of the two fiends. The reason for this is ambiguous.