The sounds of laughter rippled from close by, as some anecdote was finished, everyone enjoying the repartee. All expected guests were present at the party, so the front door had been sealed again, leaving the entrance hall clear of witnesses. Janaxia kept a safe distance as Kita probed the magical barrier around the black stone pillar. It snapped at her, a scent of ozone in the air as sparks flew.

You need to be a little more aggressive! We are on something of a limited timeframe here. She stepped forward and gave Kita a shove to the shoulder, pushing her forward. The aura intensified into a solid aura, Kita bumping off it with a pained yelp, a touching of frost appearing on her robes. She shook her hand, fingers turning blue from the cold.

‘Well, if you dispel it, then it won’t hurt any more. Is there anything that can be done?’

That seemed to focus Kita’s mind, and she poked at it with a shortened wand of iron, a red glow countering the snapping blue glow. The blue glow was beating back Kita’s red, even as she tried to resolve the issue. Semari spun and kicked at it, raising her leg high and dropping her foot in a brutal kick. The barrier responded, a crack of lightning earthing itself through Semari’s bracers, a pale glow coming to her eyes.

‘It’s powerful, Janaxia! I don’t know if I can get through.’

‘Well, I would advise you to think fast.’ She pushed on Kita’s shoulders again, forcing her towards the barrier. Kita hurriedly began to incant something else, a spell forming around the tip of the wand, making some headway against the flickering darkness. It was becoming more and more apparent that Hakara really was far superior, as both a wizard, and more generally as a person, despite Kita’s superior breeding. There was an intense pulse of cold, making Janaxia shiver and wish she had wrapped a shawl about her bare shoulders. Kita moved backwards, holding her hand as though it pained her, leaving the wand stuck partway through the barrier.

There was a yell from above, something exciting happening in the party, as Semari jumped upwards, swinging her leg high and slamming it onto the wand, pushing it in further. The aura flickered and warped, trying to accommodate to the assault, shocking Semari again without much effect other than to make her bracers glow. Steam wafted from her foot, cold and heat mingling. Well, brute force it was then. Another cry from above, this one more panicked, and the sound of steel-on-steel, but there wasn’t time to focus on that.

Janaxia threw several bolts of force forward, their energy further distending the dome, as it started to flicker. Semari attacked the wand again, splinters and cracks beginning to form in the energy before it shattered. The wand exploded, iron pinging and ricocheting around the place. There was still a touch of chill in the air, but the pillar was no longer shielded. Janaxia pushed Kita forward again, grabbing her hand, the flesh icy-cold and blue-black from frost, forcing it forward and touching the pillar.

This close, she could see that it wasn’t plain and simple black, but was carved, patterns she recognised as the Unreadable Tongue. Although quite heavily worn and eroded by time, she could still make out some of the writing: …Legacy… Remains… Seek… Shadow…. Kita snatched her hand back, although nothing untoward seemed to have occurred.

After hanging back for a moment, Semari approached, still sparkling with electricity – the effect was actually quite fetching, lightning shimmering up and down her bracers. ‘So, now what? I was expecting, like, I dunno. Something, at least. You try touching it, Janaxia.’ Semari grabbed her hand before she could move away, forcing it forward and pressing it against the pillar.

It was cold to the touch, the edge of the cylinder feeling sharp enough to cut if pressed, gleaming black and showing a muted reflection of herself, her eyes burning brightly.

‘Well, I agree that was a touch disappointing, but I would rather that you not thrust my hand against artefacts of dubious provenance. They could be dangerous, after all.’

She turned to upbraid Semari, who was looking at her strangely, her mouth moving but without any words coming out.

Really, this is no time for charades, Semari.

Semari covered her ears as though she had been shouted at, before gesturing and moving her lips. Janaxia became aware that the room was strangely silent, the sounds of the party having gone silent. Vrintar and Kita were there, but were still and unmoving, Vrintar mid-step, as though turning to run up towards the party. The whole place was lit in a strange blue glow, that seemed to emanate from empty air. Semari gestured again, although rather more crudely this time, before trying to poke Vrintar. Her finger moved forward, pushing into the woman and disappearing from view, before she recoiled sharply. A trail of… was that blood? Appeared linking her withdrawing finger to Vrintar, hanging in the air.

‘Well, that is… unexpected.’

Semari glared at her and mouthed something rude.

‘This is largely your fault. You have been warned about touching unknown items.’ Although it is a trifle concerning that we appear to be in some segment of the ethereal realms. Semari winced and covered her ears again. Is that loud? How peculiar. Semari nodded, very emphatically. ‘Very well, I shall endeavour to speak normally. I trust you can hear me still?’

She nodded again.

‘But cannot speak yourself?’

From how her lips moved, she was definitely trying, and being rather coarse about it to boot. But no sound emerged, before she rolled her eyes and gave up. Janaxia tried slapping her hand against the top of the pillar, in the hopes that it would shift them back, but nothing happened. Where were they? Clearly some form of the ethereal plane, a shadow of the real world, but that was of little help in knowing how to get out. Hakara would have been useful – her theoretical knowledge was far greater than Janaxia’s own, and she had some practical skills in such things as well. But, sadly, she wasn’t here, and Kita was frozen into position, a look of pain on her face, probably caused by the chill of her hand. And it seemed as though something were occurring at the party, but that really was the least of her present concerns.

Janaxia stepped back as Semari kicked out, slamming a foot against the pillar. Despite the clear force of the impact, there was no sound, nor did the pillar seem affected in any way, not even rocking slightly. Semari drew herself back for another strike, Janaxia shaking her head and waving her hands to stop her. Breaking the pillar would almost certainly do nothing good, and even moving it could affect how it worked, and strand them here! Mercifully, Semari backed off without pressing her assault, giving Janaxia the chance to look around.

The chamber looked much the same as it did before, except that everything was tinted in that chill, blue light, the others frozen in place, red trail from Semari’s finger fading into a darker red as she watched. Through the windows she could see only darkness, the gaily lit lights that had been outside now just a void. The only thing that was different was part of the floor and wall, behind the pillar – what had been solid tile was now a rough-cut stone stairway heading downwards.

‘Do you think we should go down there?’

Semari’s answer was surprisingly emphatic for someone without words, indicating that it would probably be stupid, but that there wasn’t much choice. Janaxia nodded in agreement.

‘Well if you would care to lead? I believe finding traps is rather more your forte than mine.’

Semari shook her head and made a rude gesture, indicating that Janaxia should lead. With a sigh, Janaxia cast a spell, a disc of force appearing beneath her feet and lifting her up and off the ground. In this place, it seemed even darker black, a solid platform of void beneath her. Semari hopped on as well, standing close to Janaxia, the size of the platform forcing them close together as it moved forward.

It stayed perfectly horizontal as it moved down the steps, their progress somewhat bumpy as it shifted forward and dropped down each step, jolting Janaxia. She made certain of her footing, not wanting to fall off, in case of whatever traps were in place.

The walls of the tunnel were rock, the stairs well-crafted, worn by the passage of time and travellers, although with a few points where heavier damage had occurred, some force sufficient to break the rock of the walls entirely, exposing the raw stone behind it. From the occasional scorch-mark or obvious chip mark on the steps, then past travellers had experienced some overt misfortune. Even Semari kept her arms close, not foolish enough to reach out and risk whatever consequences might ensue. The passageway seemed to go on for a long time, far enough down that the surface had vanished from view as the passageway opened up into a large chamber, or series of chambers. Archways divided up the stone room, supporting the ceiling – did it even need it? It appeared to be carved from solid rock, although whether the stuff had any physical weight was an open question. The practical architecture of such a thing was probably beyond even Hakara’s comprehension.

They passed a vault, the entrance blocked with metal bars, the gaps so thin that nothing more than a finger would be able to slide through. On the other side could be seen gleaming, shining gold, neatly-piled stacks of ingots, wooden chests open to display jewellery and gems. On a pedestal was a large, milky-white sphere, the size of a fist. Semari poked the bars, then waggled a finger through a gap. The metal groaned, and then spikes suddenly protruded, Janaxia stepping backwards and barely keeping her balance on the platform. Semari winced in pain, not fast enough to escape unscathed, some of the spikes catching her, blood starting to trickle from her fingers. The spikes stayed there, the bars now bristling with points, the metal grating and grinding as it shifted more. There was a door and an obvious keyhole, but it was surrounded by countless thorns, enough to deter even Semari from trying to break it.

So much for stealing the loot from down here. Janaxia directed the platform away, exploring more of the place. It was large enough that the furthest parts couldn’t be seen, a thin haze becoming dense enough to be impenetrable even to her own enhanced vision. She had been hoping for stacks of (accessible) treasure, or ancient lore, or even fine crafts and artworks, but it appeared decrepit and broken, with piles of rubble and broken stone down here. They moved forward, scudding past one of the piles of broken stone – a sword could be seen there, still gripped by a skeletal hand.

She commanded the disc to a stop, kneeling down to look more closely, making sure to keep herself well balanced and not accidentally fall off. The sword was well-made, of Elven craft, to judge by the faint curve and the runes on the blade. But it had been here long enough that the magic had faded, the runes worn away to almost-invisibility, the edge faded and dull.

‘This place must be ancient indeed. Kinnevar was said to want to come down here, I wonder why?’

Semari shrugged, leaning dangerously far out on from the platform, Janaxia resisting the urge to give her a shove, just to see what would happen.

Then another sound cut through the still and silent air – a girlish giggle, incongruously jarring. Had some other guest, perhaps after a few too many drinks, someone made their way down here? She caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of her eye, a flash of lace, a female form dashing out of sight. She pivoted the disc around to face it, Semari almost falling off at the motion.

Did you see anything?

Semari winced, apparently still “hearing” Janaxia’s broadcast as being very loud. But she shook her head. Janaxia steered the disc towards the flash of movement, trying to listen for anything other sound – was that footsteps? Or was that just the pressure getting to her? Despite the discomfort it seemed to cause Semari, it seemed safer to use her silent speech, in case the person or thing could hear more mundane speech.

I think I saw someone. We should be careful.

Ignoring the advice, Semari jumped from the platform, grabbing hold of the wall and starting to crawl and scuttle along, like an oversized spider. Janaxia shuddered, hoping that such a thing wasn’t lurking down here. At least undead tended to be cleaner, and with less legs. Janaxia advanced, looking about herself, still seeking some clue as to what this place was – clearly of ancient craft and beyond what could be made today, but it seemed strangely pointless. There wasn’t any treasure here, and the obelisk could just be buried in concrete or similar, even if it couldn’t be physically moved. So why keep the thing? There were a few items around the place, but nothing worth the trouble of protecting, or to explain why the place hadn’t been repurposed for something else.

She advanced, Semari scuttling unnervingly around on the ceiling, wedging her fingers and toes into the cracks of the ancient stonework, dust trickling down. Do be careful! Someone may have thought to trap the ceiling.

Semari turned around to look down at her, craning her neck awkwardly and silently hissing, obviously disliking being spoken to mentally.

Very well, I will try to be silent.

Semari gave an emphatic nod, although she needed both her hands for gripping, so there was no rude gesture this time. Trying to look in all directions at once was quite tiring, but the place was large and open, with all sorts of nooks and crannies things could be hiding in and being ambushed was generally unpleasant.

The air was dry, without even the usual ambient scents of mould and decay. Although if it were not truly in the physical realm, then that would explain how it remained untainted by such mundanities. Although it was not entirely beyond the ravages of time, to judge by the rubble and detritus. Looking more closely, Janaxia could see something of a trail through the dust, a path that looked used, rather than simply left. She guided herself forward, ducking slightly on passing through an archway, hands raised and ready to attack. Semari continued to crawl and clamber along, somehow finding purchase on any surface.

The wide, arched chambers gave way to a passage – narrow by the standards of this place, but still wide enough for several men to march comfortably abreast of each other. This area seemed slightly less ravaged, remnants of some fascia or covering on the walls, stray and tattered fragments of it glinting a shiny black, tiny reflections of Janaxia appearing and then blinking out.

Semari looked down at Janaxia again and shrugged while gesturing uncertainly with a hand, clearly unsure as to whether she should continue or not. Janaxia nodded and waved her on ahead – if there were something out there, better that Semari uncover it first.

While the place wasn’t dark, as such, at least to her vision, the passageway was sufficiently long that Janaxia couldn’t see to the end of it. Something moved again, a humanoid figure, a brief impression of robes or a dress, appearing for a moment before vanishing around a corner. If it was a party guest, they were moving impressively fast – if it was a creature luring them somewhere, then, well, they would have to deal with that. She accelerated, moving as fast as she could (which wasn’t actually all that fast, in truth), summoning up her protective wards.

As they progressed, the damage got less overt, the walls becoming shinier and glossier, the reflections becoming more complete, until she was caught between reflected and fractal images of herself, fragmenting and fading away into infinity. The hallway was long enough that she could tidy and rearrange her hair and cosmetics as they moved along, tucking away a few stray strands. In the probably-low light, her horns seemed dull and lustreless, the golden chains and gems flat and lifeless. Well, it wasn’t the most flattering of mirrors, and whatever awaited them was unlikely to be a social assignation.

When they reached the end, the walls were entirely coated with the shining black material – was it highly polished obsidian? Quite an impressive effect, although it could do with rather more light to show itself to best effect. With some bright lights on the ceiling, it would be gleaming and bright, a perfect harmony of light and dark!

There was another flash of movement, closer now, sufficient for Janaxia to catch a glimpse of a female form, sheathed in fine fabrics, before darting out of view again. This was getting tiresome, but there seemed little choice but to endure it. Maybe some guiding spirit or suchlike was bound here?

Janaxia looked at the reflection of Semari – her bracers were almost blindingly bright, snapping and snarling with lightning, curls of the stuff arcing through her hair. There was another corner, and then space, vast and overwhelming, so large that she couldn’t see the top or the far side. Were there things moving out there, strange and distant shapes, or was that simply her imagination, or her eyes playing tricks on her?

The platform flickered beneath her, magical power fading, Janaxia dismounting, heels clicking onto the bare stone. Mercifully, the ground wasn’t reflective, as that might show off rather more than she was comfortable with!

Semari dropped to the ground next to her, staying close and looking around cautiously, kicking a foot against the ground as though unsure of its stability. Or possibly even its reality – this place was decidedly eldritch and arcane. The floor was perfectly smooth stone, seemingly untouched by even the affects of centuries of footfalls. The only thing to break the smooth surface was a raised plinth of stone, the same gleaming black as the pillar that had transported them here. Something was on top of it, although she was too far away to make out any details. A hand grabbed Janaxia as Semari grappled and grabbed her, twisting her arm behind her and starting to march her forward.

I rather think that reconnoitring strange terrain is your job, is it not? You should probably go and investigate it.

Semari was unrelenting, shoving her forward, her arm bent at a painful angle, giving no chance of escape as she was pushed unrelentingly forward. Was that a giggle she heard? As the pillar neared, she could see that there was a book there, or at least the tattered and broken remnants of one.

She tried stopping, but Semari was too strong, remorselessly pushing her forward. Had she been enchanted or possessed? You don’t have to do this! Fight it! There was no answer, although in this place Semari appeared unable to speak anyway. With her arms bent behind her back, she couldn’t cast a spell, and when she tried to go limp, Semari simply kept bundling forward with her, heedless of Janaxia’s protests.

It was raised on a stone-cut book-rest, angled up, slowly spinning around. Semari continued to force her forwards. The book was actually more like a tattered bundle of pages, loosely held together with a strip of leather. Semari grabbed at Janaxia’s hand, forcing it forward, Janaxia uselessly straining to resist. The cover was clearly more recent, made of beaten gold, with prayers of sealing and protection tapped onto the surface. Her hand was forced forward, pushing against the metal. It was cold, heat being leeched from her hand. She tensed, trying to look around, Semari’s grip and closeness making it hard to move her head.

Semari forced her hand forward again, slapping it against the book without any obvious effect. Then she tried getting Janaxia to open the book, sliding her fingers into Janaxia’s palm to force her hand open, fingers pushing against the cover. It fell off the plinth, falling to the ground, metal making a loud sound as it impacted. Was that another giggle she heard, or just a strange effect of the echoes?

Semari let her go, and Janaxia spun around, energy flaring around her hands, ready to fight Semari and whatever had possessed her. But she looked normal, shrugging and taking a step back as Janaxia readied an attack, arms spread wide in a decidedly non-apologetic fashion.

What was that for?

She shrugged again, then pointed at the book, bending over to pick it up. There was a ripping sound as she tried to lift it by the cover, the weight enough to tear the thing apart, the innards falling back down to the ground. This time there was definitely a sound, a whispering susurration coming echoing and reverberating around the place, too many voices to make out any of the sounds, whispering and cascading and rippling over each other, all different languages and voices, a babble like a massive crowd, but coming from everywhere and nowhere.

Janaxia tried covering her own ears, desperate to drown it out, feeling it surging up inside her head, threatening to drown out her thoughts.

Close the book, Semari!

Semari was looking addled, a glazed look in her eyes, as she slowly moved towards it, face slack-jawed, looking as though she were about to dribble. Janaxia gestured at the book, trying to call up her own powers and close it. The usual shimmering energy appeared, but then something rippled back into her, feedback stabbing into her brain, disrupting the spell.

Semari started to speak, her tongue almost lolling from her mouth, an incoherent babble of all sorts of languages, a few Janaxia recognised, and far more she didn’t, words stumbling and flowing over each other. From how limp and slack Semari’s body was, she was now in thrall to whatever the sound was. Janaxia flung a bolt at her, knocking her backwards, where she skidded along then crumpled to the floor. Well, at least she wouldn’t be a problem, at least until she woke up.

The sounds continued though, now coming from empty air again. It didn’t sound hostile, despite its loudness, but her head hurt, and she could barely focus enough to cast her spells. She managed to walk over to the book, although her head was starting to pound and ache now. She bent over and picked up the book, care to pick up the full thing without tearing it further.

Was it a spellbook? It was certainly old and battered enough to be worthy of some respect, although most spellbooks were at least a little grander. The pages were worn vellum, letters fading into being on the pages, almost like watching water corrode ink on a page, but in reverse. The letters were streaming too fast for her to read more than the occasional word – Ancient. Hidden. Friend. Pleasure. Stream. Memories. Gem. Sunlight.

She looked away as the word-fragments threatened to overwhelm her, her head reeling, stumbling towards the cover, wanting to try and close the thing off. The words continued to spill and cascade through her, as shapes started to appear – shapes, mostly humanoid but malformed, some hulking and vast, others more normal-sized but with strange outlines, their hands ending in claws, or with twisting, curved horns coming from their heads. The sounds got louder and louder, until it was a great rushing roar, impossible to pluck any sense from. Semari sank to the ground, falling onto her back as she continued to babble. Janaxia sank to her knees, forcing herself to crawl to the book. She reached out to touch it, wondering what she could do, as lines of darkness snapped out, snaring around her hand, digging into the flesh but without pain, forcing it downwards. Markings started to appear on her arm as the black lines vanished beneath the flesh, and then her hand touched the book. Sensations, memories and words, fresh and raw, blasted into her, more than her consciousness could handle.

She sank to the floor, control of her body gone, the world slowly turning black. All she could see was the stone floor around herself, cold and gritty against her cheek. As she faded into unconsciousness, something moved into view – a shoe, high-heeled, studded with some suitably restrained gems that somehow sparkled, despite the low light, a black silk stocking wrapped around a slender leg, patterns picked out in deep crimson. And then she faded entirely, falling into the embrace of darkness.