"I don't think we should." you propose. "Enough trouble already, the last thing we need is to run into more."
"I think so too." Sas agrees with you. "I'd rather look for a wood around these parts, better chancing that than venturing in the unknown and hoping to return unscathed."
"So be it." Flax nods, and turns around, gazing ahead. "Collect the gear, we're moving."
Henceforth, you carry on, sticking to the path you've laid out before. As per usual, nothing but sea of white under its cerulean roof, all around. Although, the peaks far, far in the back are becoming less blurry, as time goes on. And it goes on indeed, despite the plain scenery seeming to have no end, you are freed or it at last, when the night falls. Another day, another step closer to lands unknown.
Just as the previous day, you go to bed immediately, more tired than usual, thus no further swordplay is considered, just a brief look at your wounds. The valley is quiet, and nothing prevents you from falling asleep promptly, no thought nor worry can stop you.
Since things play out the same so far, it is no wonder to you that moments after, overwhelming darkness you see, and muffled voices and steps you hear. You know what is up, you're at the door of the dim room again, but this time, it is shut tight, someone indeed took the time to close properly, it seems. During the very first visit, it was either unintelligible or clear words spoken, this time, it is vague noises or none at all. Not very amusing sight, you'd rather have regular dreams than stare into a wall, but as if by some divine intervention, just as such an idea echoes throughout your head, the vision ends abruptly.
Your serene slumber as a whole does, in fact, as you soon discover, finding yourself sitting upright, Flax standing awake nearby. And wondering what was it rendering you awake, quiet noise rings in your ear, from afar. Some kind of loud screeching, muted only by the distance, with sudden exclaims sounding in between every so often. Such as would be cries of an animal, and that of a man, yet you can tell it's the same voice, and it sounds familiar in that regard. Funny you, a half-beast yourself would find it so, but indeed such are your findings, whatever it is, the being must be of a different sort of nature. And even in the black face of night you can see, Flax hears it too.
You stand up beside him, and he asks you.
"Know what it is?"
"I can't tell." you whisper. "Never heard such a thing."
"What kind of a demented bogeyman 'tis sent to bother us?" the warrior grunts, and listens on. "At least is a good measure away."
You also focus on the noise, and try to recollect, wherever there was something in the wise men lore, or in your own experience, that would bear some resemblance to the phenomenon.
"Bogeyman you say?" you ask, having heard humans mention it before. "Is that a mere spook, or an actual threat?"
"Shrouded in legend to be sure, but according to many, those prey upon reckless travelers at night, though always in numbers, and always pick a lone target."
"That wouldn't apply."
"Some claim it happens only at certain places... But you're right this doesn't fit the bill."
"They speak of this place..." you whisper, delving deep into your oldest memories. "The great frozen north, source of all evil, whose deadly frost crawls all the way here to torment us. The lair from which the malevolent spirits have sprung. They say that sun never rises over there, and who'd be to lay his foot on the land of endless misery, likewise would be torn apart by forces unspeakable... They cannot cross the sea, fortunately."
"Fascinating..." Flax mutters, trying to find the source of all this hassle with his eyes still.
"Perhaps I should look into whether it is a spirit. Some can utter akin to this..."
"By all means then, proceed."
You take a peek into the unseen world, trying to detect anything identifiable. But there seems to be nothing you could pick up and take apart. Soon, another sounds enter the distant cacophony, like flapping of wings, before it all stops.
"Seems to have left." Flax observes. "Did you...?"
"No. None the wiser I am, but I'm glad we lost it."
"Still... Such a thing leaves one worried. You go to bed, I'll try to stay vigilant, if anything, I'll wake you lot up, you know the drill."
Gladly you accept this offer, but right the warrior was, that the experience drove ease of mind out of the picture, and made your sleep much less pleasant. When your eyes did shut at last, dreams of horror awaited you. Eyes lurking in the shadow, large figures towering over small ones, and silhouette of that alien black monstrosity you fought back at the titan's corpse flashing every once in a while. The shapes are clear and recognizable, and while they hardly move or do anything at all, such a grim atmosphere consumes you, a sense of hopelessness, that this was all life would entail now, a stark scene of cruel dereliction, risen from something once good.
Fortunately, as doth the night come to an end, so do all the dreams. When you're finally awake, the sun has just risen, and all the others have just got up themselves. Odd that...
"Gugir, what madness have I seen..." Sas speaks, slowly standing up. "Treason, murder, blood all over!"
"Funny that..." Flax responds. "It was man-eaters I saw, and myself feasting amongst them!"
He then turns his head over, looking straight at you, Sas follows shortly. You know what they expect, and despite some matters you'd rather have your fellows not to know about, this is a different story, as, this might actually serve you well.
"I've seen shadows growing vicious, some ill omen looming... Doesn't happen just like that!"
"See Sas, there was this strange unpleasant noise going on while you were sleeping." Flax continues the thought. "We couldn't see the source, but whatever it was, no good was it up to. Let's leave this place, no session this morn!"
"What? But..." the hunter mouths, rather baffled. "I mean, it's all well now, ain't it?"
"I didn't ask for an opinion. We're going!" declares Flax, picks up his helmet, and gets walking. "We can do that later, come on!"
Sas sighs, but does obey. You collect your share of the load, and continue in his tracks.
You travel till somewhere around midday, when another concern hits you, not just the lack of forests within reach, but it has been a good while since you've last eaten, too, a fact hard to go unnoticed.
"I wouldn't have thought..." Flax utters. "Indeed I wouldn't have thought, we'd have much trouble here in particular. If only they didn't chase us out of the town, we could've properly supply!"
"Life finds a way." you say. "Always has."
"On a open plain it won't!" Sas grunts. "If we got to a wood, surely we'd run into some food, too, no question 'bout it! If you don't want to rather dig up Flax's favorite rodents..."
"Voles we could find, I think..." the warrior supposes. "But surely we're not that desperate."
"Perhaps Black could divine where a forest lies closest, hey?"
The hunter's question did surprise you, but not perplex you to the degree to not entertain the thought. So you do.
"Well..." you start. "I suppose I could ask spirits for direction, the issue is, they're not the most useful when it comes to sharing information."
Saying those words, you hate having to think about Nami again. But promptly you banish all pity, and listen, what the others have to share. Nothing right now, it seems, so you carry on.
"See they often won't or can't talk. They're all ears, but hard to get a chat. Though, I shouldn't complain, it is what it is. Regardless, I am not very adept at this sort of thing in particular..."
"I am no magician but I'd think it can't hurt to try." states Flax. "And if we actually get something out of it, it will help tremendously."
"Yes it would!" Sas asserts. "Surely you can do it!"
"Alright, if you insist..." you grumble, and prepare to shift into the spirit world. Back in your lands, no one would dare to task a shaman, or ask for aid on their own. He who speaks the will of spirits had the final say, but alas, gone are those days, and you need to get along with your new tribe.
Similarly to what you've seen at night, these snow fields are quite bare in both the seen and the unseen, there's not a presence you could reach to. But there is something else you find.
Further ahead, a point flickers, striking your senses. As if some magical footprint, hidden from most, but to you, shining like a beacon, all indicating it was left deliberately.
You'd expect Sas to jump around excited and interrupt you, but nothing has disturbed you so far, seems like both are waiting patiently.
What do you want to do?
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Topic: Dwarf Fortress -Drawings- : Tales of the Deer Wizard (Read 169903 times)