The camels had no apparent markings and when approached they lazily looked at your threatening form. It appeared that they had no fear of you which could be seen as odd. The camels made some noise and shuffled about as they got readjusted if you happened to approach too close, still showing a bit of their untamed nature.
A soft breeze rustled the leaves of the palm trees, the grass bending ever so slightly. A snap of a branch could be heard as something red and prickly looking fell from one of the trees, hitting the ground with a bit of a hard thunk.
It was a boring and arduous task, marching the caravan to the oasis, but it would only take only about an hour longer to arrive at the oasis.
Ishak was with the other refugees, checking in on them and making sure they were following the rules laid out for their water intake. Which kept him incredibly busy.
The tunnel stretches just further ahead, where it opens into a atrium, the ceiling still intact as it arched up. You can notice some sand falling occasionally as the wind pushes the sand around. Some gold sun rays broke through and illuminated the darkness just enough to cast a soft glow in some spots. Relatively the atrium is still cast in mostly darkness. The atrium had several exits, all similar looking archways leading deeper into the structure. The archways all had embossed carvings and dry flaking painted murals.
The walls held their paintings a bit better then the entrance, where the atrium was relatively kept from the harm of the sand or the elements. The atrium smelled like sand and stone and a slight tinge of dry musk.
Within the middle of the atrium there seemed to be a stone altar of some sort, it had intricate carvings along the base and what appeared to be more elaborate paintings. Though you could not make out what it was without closer inspection.
Most of the atrium was empty besides a few pieces of rubble here and there such as old crumbled pottery, most of them in smithereens besides a few that stood their test of time, but there was also something atop the altar, it looked more like a small metal container as it caught the light that made its in.
Jasmine steps foward and examines the altar, looking at the carvings and text, trying to determine what the place was dedicated to first before touching anything.
Inja turns to the source of the noise, poking at the red and prickly thing with the butt of her spear.
"I have no experience with deserts, but this seems almost too good. Where are the insects, the birds, the tracks of animals coming to drink the water?"
"Possibly, possibly, I'm familiar with several religious texts, goes with part and parcel of being an inquisitor of the Church" Jasmine replies to Maqli thoughtfully, although keeping a quiet tone as she does, still very much on her guard.
As both Jasmine and Maqli entered the large atrium and approached the altar for closer inspection, there was a slight rumble, very akin to an earthquake that began to shake the atrium. A bit of sand slipped through the cracks of the high ceiling, falling almost silently to the ground.
Behind them, the light of the outside vanished through the tunnel vanished. The entrance being completely sealed. Along the way through the path there appeared to be a section of the floor that had sunken in ever so slightly from someones foot.
The two other hallways appeared to still be open, though Karsak is pointedly looking at the one on the right, a growl rumbling from her chest and her posture completely still.
"I think it's time to leave, but before we go, I want that Artifact, not only is it probably valuable in a religious sense, but it might tell us more about this place. I bet it's trapped though. What does your forest friend see ahead of us?" Jasmine asks, she she gradually unwinds the rope around her body, before carefully wrapping it around the item, as she waits for an answer."I'm thinking run down a corridor, and when the slack on this rope runs out we can hopefully get the relic out as well. Sound like a plan?"
Meanwhile, Ylva perched near the edge of the pool and stared in.
But the elf seems fairly calm, so Maqli takes a few deep breaths and nods. "Alright. That sounds clever, I think it will work. Karsak and I can move first." With that she moves to join her warcat, trying to see what he perceives down the hall, and beginning to move slowly and quietly alongside him.
Despite how intact the prickly thing was, when your poke it with the butt of your spear, it gives just ever so slightly, and when it does, you catch a sweet aroma that immediately makes your mouth water. You have a sudden impulse to pick up the fruit and bite into it.
Ylva just stands there, not seeing much more then what normal waters appear to be, though she would begin to immediately feel a calming sense come over her. Almost beckoning her to lay down.
Looking down the hall, your eyes seem to have a hard time adjusting though you notice a thicker shadow slowly writhing at the reaches of your vision. You could almost make out a vague shape... humanoid... small... childlike almost. A chill suddenly runs up your spine as if something was standing behind you, breathing down your neck.
Karsak can see the same, unnerving scene down the hall. Her primal instincts obviously keeping her rooted, not wanting to remove her eyes from the... thing, down the corridor.
After several seconds of tense silence during which Maqli maintains her stare at the specter, the half-orc turns and looks over her shoulder at Jasmine. She waves the elf to join her in her low position and nods down the hall. "Do you see that? What the sh*t is that?"
"No, I don't see anything" Jasmine remarks a little grumpily, upset that with all her magic boosting her perceptive sight and senses, she still couldn't overcome someones natural senses without any of her advantages.
"Fortunately, there is an easy way for me to fix this though" she remarks casually, stringing her bow, setting up an arrow, and then immediately casting Light on it, before letting the arrow fly, hoping to illuminate the area.
Calling upon the stories and legends, you remember many beasts that roam the sands, but none that may inhabit a body of water in the desert. Most desert water is found in plant life and small oasis that never contain anything living. Though even upon your alert status you find the glittering waters so calming.
You find your will almost slipping away, you're struggling to resist the aroma, the serenity of the place as in just a matter of seconds you find yourself on your knees, holding the odd fruit before you. You can’t even remember ever picking up the fruit and discarding your weapon to the right in the grass. You bring the fruit to your lips and bit down slowly, letting the cool fluids and flesh fill your mouth. Oh how it was so delicious! You begin to feel like you could lay back, and just close your eyes, enjoying the fruit and the cool, comfortable grass. Oh how it felt so much better than gritty sand!
It didn’t take long for the caravan to arrive to the oasis, just about 50 feet more to go, though an odd scene was playing out. Inja upon her knees eating something, Taalik looking like he's about to attack the water, Ylva standing and just gazing off towards the water as well. Though besides that, the oasis looks incredibly inviting, that even just standing and staring at it from a distance was… comforting.
Jasmines arrow would illuminate the passage for the full natural flight of the arrow. Though what was revealed only was more discerning. The lighted arrow revealed a regular passage and nothing else. It had a branching corridor or two but other then that, there were no beasts or monsters awaiting them.
Karsak was still stock firm, growing at the corridor. Even though the light revealed nothing.
As soon as you were about to lay back, you feel your own mind and gut yelling at you to stop, forcing you to shoot up from your kneeling position and dropping the fruit. You feel reinvigorated but also feel something pull at your strings again, and much more noticeably. The temptations of the oasis are becoming stronger every passing second. Something was not right here at all. Though you still held the fruit in your mouth with the cool juices dripping from your chin.
"Ack!" Inja spits the mouthful of fruit, rubbing her tongue on the back of her hand. Picking up her spear, she notices the caravan approaching and runs out towards them, waving her arms and shouting.
"Stay back! Stay back! There's sorcery here!"
Once she's content that the caravan has stopped, she picks up a few rocks and throws them towards Taalik, Arion and Ylva, trying to get their attention.
"Get away! Don't touch anything! It's a trap!"
Calling Yama at her side, she examines the lioness for anything she might have ingested, forcing her mouth open. Yama thinks they must be playing, and starts tousling Inja and growling playfully.
"No, Yama! No playing! This is serious. Open wide."
Kyarla sees the strange reactions of the others, and responds, "Bring the camels at least." Though has little training, she will attempt to bring one along.
As you approach the animals to try and coax them to follow, they only inched away from you, looking perturbed and displeased. Some snorted their dissatisfaction at the attempt. Though as you moved to try and get them to follow your mouth began to water. The scent of warm cooked meat wafted into your nostrils. You began to feel the urge to lunge at the nearest camel and shred them to pieces, wanting to taste the blood on your tongue.
Ylva slowly kneeled down, her eyes still fixed to the water before her. The glittering surface reminding her of the beautiful night stars. The warm sun basking her back, making the water look very inviting. Despite the reactions of Inja, her attention remained unbroken as she began to feel the urge to submerge herself into the cool water. Her hand already dipping into the surface.
Something tickled Arion's thoughts, but it was sinking more deeply into Ylva's mind... and as the celestial wolf splashed into the lake, Arion gestured curtly to banish her back home rather than allowing whatever this was to continue. Fortunately, she hadn't consumed any of this water herself... but she did have an idea about what to do next, though she was heeding Inja's warning and backing away for now.
Jasmine watches carefully but her arrow doesn't illuminate anything. "Well, I don't see anything, and the arrow didn't illuminate anything, so it's probably invisible in some way, shape or form. Still, I'm in favour of just leaving it and leaving with the artifact."
Qahnaarin stands up in the back of the wagon. "I sincerely hope she will find it in her heart to forgive me. KYARLA!" The Speaker points a finger at the gnoll. "Come here!"
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She controls her hunger. Once she focuses, she realizes that it is not real. She takes a step back. And then the compulsion hits her and she finds herself running towards the speaker.
She charges and he can see the claws growing as the frenzy goes over her. Only at the last minute does she pull her blow and simply knock
Qahnaarin to the ground. Her teeth press on his throat, but not enough to pierce the skin.
With that she stands up, looking down on him.
You are able to snap yourself out of a trance and the world comes rushing back to your senses, you notice the caravan has arrived and it seems you lost a sense of time, momentarily.
The refugees see the unfolding chaotic scenes before them, most of them whispering in hushed tones, some backing away while others begin moving towards the oasis. Ishak could be seen yelling at a few that begin a sprint towards the oasis, parched and hungry parts refugee caravan began to devolve into a slight mob.
Something in the air changed, everybody could feel slight strings pulled on their highest ranking emotion. To those more akin to their senses could feel something almost sinister.
She would have prefered to find a natural source of clean water, and what she can create by magic will not be enough for everyone, but for now it will have to be enough.
"Okay, stop!" Arion called, stepping out in front of the caravan members to block them from going forward. "Running forward is the least effective way to do things. Form up into lines and stay away from the water - it's bad. Remember, we can conjure whatever we need."
Having steeled herself with the proclamation, Maqli begins to walk down the hall, her fists not quite clenched at her side. After a moment more, Karsak follows along behind her, still looking ready to pounce.
Jasmine folds her arms. "Well don't expect me to be able to help with it - if I cannot see it then you are on your own."
Most of the refugees that began making a break for the oasis slow down to Arion pleas. It helped that the others were assisting in that effort that really only one or two of the refugees made it to the oasis. The thirsty began to do as Arion instructed while some stood near by.
The desert heat was quickly climbing now and the sun was nearly in the apex of the sky. The gold yellow sand almost seemed to glow with light and heat from the intensity of the desert. Most of the refugees were struggling with it. About a third of the refugees had the white clothing ordered to be constructed by Octavian now.
Walking down the hall didn’t alleviate any of the oppressive feeling that something with malcontent was within these halls. Though the apparition didn’t appear again as Maqli pressed forward. The corridors contained a musty old smell, such like of old rot.
The corridor split into another cross section, one leading into what looked like a room that was barren but the other continued towards some steps that led down into the complex. The darkness was thick, and even with Maqli’s birth given sight, it was almost difficult to see as far as normal. It was almost oppressive.
If they went down the steps they would enter a large room, rectangular in shape with three other door ways spreading out. It seemed like a junction of sorts, though down here, there was more old pots that were intact and ancient looking furniture on the verge of disintegration.
Taking another look over the building, Tsakua tried to see if there would be another way in.
Pondering the potential ways to see what was in the shape, Tsakua took his shield and began digging at the entrance, careful not to overwork himself.
The Speaker scrambles away on all fours and hides in the wagon. Once Kyarla leaves, he will return to helping to construct clothing for the others -- and checking over his shoulder.
The closeness of the walls, and malevolent aura of the ruins created an envionrment of fear, Jasmine reflected, feeling it take hold as nothing appeared to happen as they investigated deeper into the ruins. SHe remained on edge, the prospect of an invisible enemy making her wary.
All things felt fear, but the Inquisitor mastered it better than others. She didn't understand why Paladin's didn't fear fear, surely there was no stronger emotion to push boundaries. That said, she knew it could easily cause panicked, rash decision making, so the attractive inquisitor takes a few deep breaths to center herself, clear her head, and think practically. This mastered, she taps Maqli on the shoulder.
"This is a bad idea" she states firmly, relaxed in her stance. "First rule of hunting, is to always be sure that you are not prey. This creature you could see, doubtless cannot be seen any longer, based on the absence of further reactions, nor has it attacked. It hasn't moved beyond these doors, because we would have heard it open them. You couldn't track it further, and you don't know if its luring you into a trap. There could be more of them, or a more advantageous situation it could twist. Let us back off, I wish to examine the altar and see if the relic is indeed trapped, and if the creature does attack, then it can choose to do so on our terms than its own. I'd also like to check the other corridor as well - this one appears to lead deeper, and I would prefer having more people with us should we delve into it - the better to safely explore. We should establish a way out first, before heroically running into a fight."
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After the elf's words, though, Maqli takes a breath and nods. "You are right. This is what a fool would do. Chasing something she does not understand, not knowing the land or the beasts. There is danger here, and I would walk into it." She shakes her head and frowns. "No, you are right. We should go back. Look at the altar, find another way. Only go deeper if we must."
The half-orc stands up and heads back for the stairs, keeping Karsak by her side--although both look behind with frequency. "I should know better. There were tombs and old ruins in the Vargrrashat. This is the same. A dangerous, old place, stinking of death."
With the additional help from Octavian, the last of the refugees were corralled back into the herd, some looking more then unhappy from being denied to the oasis, it seemed some of them lacked some common sense or trusting into their guides and protectors. Though it seemed like things would settle down for just enough for a moment at least.
"Aaaaah.... An Illidari!" A grave voice croaked out, the voice seemingly coming from everywhere. "Hmmm I haven't had an Illidari for such a long time. Usually you people are smart enough to stay away...." It continued with a chuckle, "And you brought a plentiful buffet for me! How kind of you." A feeling of cold water running down your spine would happen at that point. "Come closer... I'll take care of you. You wont need anything once you become part of me."
You feel yourself being pulled towards the oasis, your legs beginning to move of their own accord. Your eyes locking onto the green pastures as a being began to take form above the lake.
Digging at the rubble seemed almost a futile effort. So giving a pause to your digging you’d give the complex another look over. Finding a pile of sand on the left that built up against what appeared a part of the building. You're able to make your way to the top and about 20 feet to the left you seem a doom peaking out up from the sand. Making your way there you notice their are several cracks in the dome where sand and light was falling into. They were of decent size, where you could squeeze your body through if it weren’t for the long drop down to the floor below.
When returning to the main atrium which you were before, you notice the metal box was still upon the altar. The oppressive feeling of something watching you remained in the corridor you came from. The atrium is how you left it.
Inja growls at the apparition. "Just try to eat me. I'll stick in your throat and choke you."
She clenches her fists, then gestures at the form taking shape in the oasis. "Show yourself, you coward!" A purple glimmer starts to outline the... whatever it was. What a despicable thing, to use the promise of fresh water in the desert, cool shade and fruit in order to lure desperate travellers to their doom. There was no hiding for it now though, and what it thought would be its meal would prove its undoing.
The crooning voice grated in Octavian's ears as he resisted the mental compulsion. Growing angry he spurned Acteon forward, knocking aside anyone who wouldn't move from the big animals' path. Lifting up his staff he summoned forth a fragment of the wellspring within him and commanded in a powerful voice in the language of his people. ""Who are you? By the blood of my people I command you, appear!"
Bree grits her teeth and steels herself against the voice. No way in all that is good, am I getting any closer to that... thing. She thought with grim determination. She could tell that the others were not impressed with it either, already assuming stances and ready to fight against the entity. "Careful, we don't know what this being can do." She said to the others, not wanting to turn her back on the intruder.
With her attention split between the threat and her supposed ally, it worms into her brain and she begins moving.
Arion wasn't too familiar with what might be causing such effects on things (hey, sheltered girl here), but her will wasn't quite that easy to overcome. Magic flickered on the ends of her fingers, but she didn't send out a summoning. Not yet, anyway. Most of the strength of her power came from calling the right ally at the right time, and she didn't yet know what would work.
"Maqli, Jasmine, is it really ye that m'eyes 'r seein'?! Have I fin'lly caught up with ye in this godsforsaken desert?
Where's th' rest o' the folks?"
Enthused at having reunited with some of his companions, Tsakua begins examining the inside if the room, checking to see if he could climb down, or if the crack he is peering into can be made wider.