Altair nods as he looks to the underground waterwheel. " It does have a natural luster. It is possible the catacombs were built underneath this place, or whoever lives here now has shaped the place to their liking."
The man standing near the edge of the cliff and feeling for the direction of the wind before breathing deeply.
The water seems pure and drinkable.
The water is pure, and I am parched. Let's rest a moment. Norowas sets down his flag and shield and begins drinking the water.
"Another 'village' perhaps?" Orntorias says as he moves towards the structures.
Altair shrugs at the ivory knight, eyes scanning the water.
" Nothing to indicate it yet but I just saw something in the water. that basin seems much deeper than it looks so be cautious whatever is down there does not look small."
The firekeeper walks towards the village, her eyes glancing to the water occasionally, but more interested in the structures ahead. She holds her bonfire blade up to provide light in the dark places, should they encounter any.
Altair moves to the front keeping his eyes open for dangers or traps as they walk.
Norowas retrieves his things and follows closely behind.
Approaching the structures, they could hardly be called a village. Really, it's only a half-dozen buildings built into a large, hollowed out area along the cave wall. There's a convenient platform that levels out before the path you were following leads down further. From here you have a decently sized open space before the first of the structures.
Unlike with the home of the beastmen, the construction and design of these wooden shanties is clearly one of human origin.
Upon closer examination you can now tell that the building with the water wheel is actually a sluice house, designed to control the flow of water from within.
I go looking around the whaterwheel buildings
-Posted with Wayfinder
These houses were made by human hands, not the rough work of beasts. Perhaps some still yet dwell here, Norowas muses, following Shandara.
Moving through the shacks you are struck by a profound sense of stillness. You spy no people as you go, though it would follow that this place remain just as abandoned as the rest of the forbidden lands - at least, the areas that you have visited so far.
The building with the waterwheel is dark inside and the windows have dusty, stained glass that makes it difficult to see inside. The one door and only obvious entrance is shut and is barred from the inside.
There are deep claw marks gouged in the wooden door. Upon further extension, you can see that there are also marks on the walls and even on the roof of the building.
"I wonder..." the fire keeper whispers.
She turns to the others. "We should be wary of whatever it is you saw lurking in the water. Its reach may be quite long."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Do you think whatever has barred itself inside is still sane?" Orntorias says aloud as he moves to the barred door. Pounding on it he calls "We mean no harm.
Norowas accompanies the knight, addressing whomever waits behind the door. Please, speak with us. Perhaps we can help each other.
The group waits several minutes but there is no response from inside the house.
The occupant may be wounded and unable to open the door. Orntorias, can you break it down?