Flying had taken a few attempts before Cire had acclimated to his small, furry, winged form. Flitting awkwardly to the giant hole and down inside he decreased altitude with a slow spiral. He took note of everything he could on his way down.

Neither of his friends had been all too surprised that Cire had forgotten to tell them about the Shapechange ability. In the grand scheme of revelations so far it had been trivial. Selene had chastised him and Durg laughed, so about standard as far as their reactions went.

The hole was obviously constructed; the walls were too smooth for it to be natural. About halfway down the bore he noticed something out of place. Glowing faintly on the northern edge was circle six feet in diameter of iridescent blue set right into the stone. Flapping in place, he confirmed his observations and then made his way further down.

Squeaking loudly in every direction once he entered the cavern proper, he built a picture of his surroundings using echolocation. To the west was the largest concentration of mushrooms, none were moving, but there were hundreds of them at or larger than the size that had attacked them above. To the east he could hear the sound of running water and the air was noticeably damp. Cire was pretty sure he made out tunnels exiting the main cavern on each side, but he didn’t want to get too close.

Gliding lower in the larger room he made a circuit around the space. It was vast, he hadn’t truly appreciated the size when he had been focused on fighting. Four large columns, etched with art and symbols, rose hundreds of feet from the cavern’s floor to its roof. Along the walls he could make out hundreds of inset alcoves with stone staircases linking them set right into the stone. They reminded him of Anasazi cliff dwellings, but significantly more sophisticated, if worn by time.

Spotting the duergar corpses, dismembered and strewn about near one of the columns, he made a quick inspection. Weapons lay scattered, armor hadn’t been removed, and nothing had tracked through the blood. Having gathered enough information, he returned topside more gracefully than he had left.

Turning their backs as Cire morphed and grew from a small bat into a nude elf had been more to keep Durg and Selene’s meals secured within their stomachs than an act to spare him indiscretion. The process could easily be characterized as grotesque. From Cire’s perspective, bones popped, re-aligned, and stretched excruciatingly. Skin tore and reformed as limbs reshaped themselves. When it was all said and done, the sun elf started talking before he had even fully dressed.

“We have to go down the tunnel. Not inside the cavern entirely, just down about halfway. I’m not exactly sure what I found, but I’m pretty sure it’s important.”

“I collected all the arrows I could, most of them were fine. These things are squishy.” Selene noted as she kicked a chunk. “Explain while we set up the ropes. Guard our backs as we tie them off, we don’t want to get surprised again.”

Durg jokingly contributed as he pulled coils of rope from his pack and tossed them next to an anchor stone. “You better not be wrestlin’ with ya tunic dragon when we look up boyo. I don’t wanna be tackled into that pit by walking food.”

Sighing and shaking her head, Selene tied off the rope and queried. “Since we aren't going to the bottom no torches? Fill us in on what you noticed before we descend.”

Cire dropped the end of his rope into the pit readied himself. “In the cavern I saw a lot more mushrooms, but they are clumped to the western side, the eastern side is wet and largely barren. The walls have holes dug out of them, I think people lived in them. The columns down there have been worked, we might be able to get more information if we look at them up close.

“But what I want us to look at before we go get help is about halfway down the tunnel. I saw a glowing blue circle in the stone. I couldn’t exactly touch it, I was a bat, but it felt different. I don’t think I would have seen it without the truesight from the blessing.”

It didn’t take long for them to rappel to the location that Cire had described. Each of them examined the stone, but all they could make out on the surface was a nearly invisible seam running the length of the glowing blue line.

“I cannae sense anything off about the granite, feels solid. Could be somethin’ magical interfering, but I cannae tell. I say we hit it an’ see what happens,” offered Durg.

Using a single arrow, Selene traced the seam and prodded. Nothing happened. “I haven’t sensed any traps or seen anything besides the obvious. It may be nothing, some ancient, long inactive spell.”

“I have one last idea.” Remembering what Maisy had done earlier with the trap door, Cire removed one of his gloves and tucked it into his belt. He tentatively reached out and placed his palm against the stone.

Slowly a soft white glowing symbol flared to life at the center of the panel, its center was blank, as was its outer border. A single repeating pattern filled an inner border and it started to rotate. Grating and grinding echoed through the tunnel as the stone slab rolled into the wall.

Musky, damp air burped from the opening. Choking and gagging preceded a round of swears. Nothing ventured from the newly discovered shaft. Cire manged to croak out, “I think we found something,” before hacking again.

“Whoa ho! There be a room in there, ‘bout twenty feet back. This place hasn’t been opened in a while. Can’t see anything, must be no light at all. We may be needin’ those torches after all!” exclaimed Durg.

They ducked into the new area and found a flat floor coated in a thick layer of grime. Arming themselves with torches and lighting them, shone light on the long unadorned corridor. Selene began inspecting their surroundings. Coming up empty, she nodded and turned back to the two torchbearers.

“Looks like we are good, no traps that I can detect. We should still proceed carefully. Cire, since you opened it, probably best that you’re up front.”

“Ahh huh.” Cire answered wryly as he walked to the head of the group and proceeded towards the room. Nothing jumped out at them, nor ominously clicked, the hallway was simply a hallway. The expanse at the end was another story.

Each of the members of the party halted at the entryway and looked around at a most unexpected scene. A garden, vibrant and lush, filled the center of a large room with a vaulted dome ceiling. Exotic scents mingled with a heavy undertone of decay. In the wild torchlight, unexpected pink, red, and yellow fruit hung on branches of tropical looking trees. Vines wound around and inbetween palm fronds and citrus blossoms.

Pulling his gaze away from the absurdity of the jungle, Cire gazed around the room to see if he could find any other surprises. It didn’t take long. Collapsed along one side of the gardens stone planter were the desiccated bones of a gigantic skeleton. Wooden pieces of debris littered each of the corners that weren’t obscured by the out of place foliage. Trickling somewhere hidden, the sound of flowing water sounded through the chamber.

“What in the world...?” Cire managed as he stood slack jawed in bewilderment. Similar exclamations of confusion emanated from his friends. Nothing moved, yet no one wanted to enter the strange room.

“No traps. After you Cire.” Selene grinned and gave him a push.

Stumbling would have been undignified, so Cire proceeded more with a shuffle while waving his torch to illuminate the weird surroundings. Nothing jumped out at them and a thorough investigation of the room yielded more questions than answers. In the rear corners were a commode and cooking area, respectively. Each of the more mundane conveniences were wrought from the stone and constructed in relief, much like the alcoves below them.

Barely visible, covered by overgrowth, a bubbling fountain was easier to spot from the rear of the garden. Holding up a platter she had rustled from a cubby next to the stove, Selene drew their attention. She blew dust off of the metal and placed it on the stone table.

“It’s a magical serving plate. We have a few back at the ‘Tops, but they are never seen outside the royal court, too valuable. This one can produce a cooked and spiced roast, duck, or three trout once a day, quite rare.” Waving her hand around to indicate the rooms contents, Selene built to her conclusion. “Food, water, and a washroom. It’s a bolthole. A hiding place of last resort.”

Kicking one of the larger bones of the over-sized skeleton Durg snorted. “Bah! A hiding place for somethin’ that couldn’t get in here?” He started poking through the bones with one of his axes. “Be careful when we search those wooden piles near the entrance. Most likely be the remains of a bookcase or desk if you be right.”

“Got it. Best let me search through the piles of trash. My scavenging ability will give me a better chance to find things. Not that you two can’t give them a once over after I frolic in the muck.”

Cire pondered his friends observations and began inspecting the cooking area, it was preferable to the alternatives, at least to start. If this is some sort of panic room than it was probably for the last royal house. Touching the door unlocked it, so maybe I can turn on other things in the room.

Pressing his hand to the side of what he assumed was a cook top, based on the scorch marks, he ran it along until he found a familiar symbol carved into the granite. Laying his palm flat to the seal produced the same light that had shone on the door. He didn’t see any flames, but pouring water on the stone produced hissing and steam, so the experiment had worked. Cire pressed the symbol again to turn off the stove, he didn’t want to cause an accident.

“I think we can activate the devices in the room, well at least I can. My conjecture so far is that we have found the last ruler’s bolthole, as you put it Selene. See if you can find a device that produces light, I doubt he or she was living in darkness. I’ll get started on the rubbish heaps.”

Rotted wood, rusted bits of metal, and muck were the primary contents of the pile Cire had chosen to root through. He found a bits of badly decomposed cloth and feathers which led him to conclude that he was searching the remains of a bed, possibly a dresser. Right when he was finishing up playing in the first refuse pile, a warm orange glow lit up the room.

Scattered across the ceiling inset into the rock were swirling amber globes about the size of grapefruits. With their torches extinguished and full light the room didn’t get any less strange, just more visible. Selene pulled her hand from a familiar seal etched into the stone near the doorway.

Cire shook his head and laughed as he moved to the other pile. Huh, whether magical or electric, convenience dictates that a light switch goes in the same place regardless.

Searching through the room yielded a few treasures that had withstood the test of time. Besides the platter, which may prove invaluable during a long trek, they found two rings, a mysterious spinning top, an ornate silver circlet, and a small unadorned chest about the size of a large bread loaf. No one was able to identify the objects, but the fact that they were all in pristine condition once cleaned of dirt left little doubt that their durability was enhanced through magical means.

They put all of the items into Selene’s backpack, it had the most space given she was down a bundle of broken arrows. After cinching the straps into place, she addressed the unspoken question hanging in the air. “Let’s divide up the loot once we get it all identified, no use guessing at it.”

“Be soundin’ fair to me lass. I be bettin’ one o’ those items will give us a clue as to big bones over there.” The dwarf gestured to the skeleton. “I still be mighty curious how it got in here. The skull be bigger than an ogres.”

“Don’t go trying on either of the rings or opening the chest, it could all be dangerous. Maybe one of them gives you the strength and size of a giant. Could be how the person died, putting the ring on and breaking their neck on the ceiling.” Cire warned.

The group turned the lights off and sealed up the room. When they returned it would be with the equivalent of whatever Maisy had for industrial strength cleaner. The bolthole had too much potential utility to ignore. Once they had gotten topside and gathered up the ropes, they headed back towards the cabin. Gliding overhead in the sky trailing after them, a lone swan chased a dragonfly in the warm spring afternoon.

Cire took the quiet downtime of the walk to sift through the jumble of information scattered in his brain. He wanted answers, but he was naturally resistant to accepting Maisy’s bargain. It irked him to not have the initiative, especially while he was still playing catch up.

Things still aren’t adding up. I need to get ahead of it all somehow. I feel like I keep getting behind, one thing piling on top of the other. Then again, I could be looking at this all wrong. I haven’t committed to anything yet, besides acting generally in the interest of the hamlet when I am here. I should really look at all of those new quests in detail and make a general plan.

Renewed with a shift in perspective, Cire tackled his overdue notification log. He pulled up his character sheet first, giving it a once over. Naturally, after discovering a new skill and trait he looked over those messages next.

Biographical Information:

Name: Ciresil

Level: 12

Experience: 79,803

Lineage: Sun Elf – Vampire

Profession: Unavailable – Requirements not met

Disposition: Reliably Flexible (+1 to Chaotic, +1 to Good, +1 to Orderly)

Languages: Divine Elvish, Elvish, Common

Stats:

Health: 146/146

Mana: 132/132

Armor: 6

Dodge: 9%

Strength: 14

Dexterity: 19

Constitution: 13

Intelligence: 13

Spirit: 9

Charisma: 19

Luck: 9

Resistances:

50% Enchantment

20% Weather

5% Mental

5% Physical

-50% Holy Magic

Aspects:

Indefatigable

Trustworthy

Favored Enemy:

Gnolls

Skills:

Wilderness Survival 3, Natural

Martial Combat 23, Natural

Sub-skill: Fluid Motion 23, Natural

Swordsmanship 15, Natural

Sub-skill: Large Blades 15, Natural

Scavenging 7, Natural

Adventurer 5, Natural

Meditation 3, Significant

Armor 9, Average

Sub-skill: Light Armor 9, Average

Herbalism 1, None

Lore 4, General

Sub-skill: Arcana 1, Significant

Communication 3, General

Sub-skill: Persuasion 2, Natural

Sub-skill: Oratory 1, Significant

Abilities:

Shapechanger, Bite (4), Regeneration (3), Blood Rage

Traits:

Child of Night: Vampiric abilities, heat vision. If noticed by others, your true nature may have drastic consequences. Other elements of this trait may reveal themselves over time.

Child of Heaven: You have retained a divine soul. Reduced susceptibility to Holy Magic, vampiric light vulnerability negated, vampiric hunger reduced. Other elements of this trait may reveal themselves over time.

Elven Heritage: 50% Enchantment resistance. Low-light vision & acute senses, Perception +1.

Honorbound: While within the Hamlet of Sunset you receive a 5% bonus to all actions.

Scion of the Chimera’s Mane: As ruler of the territories’ noble house you receive a 10% bonus to all actions within the area. Other elements of this trait may reveal themselves over time.

Inventory:

Basic Set of Clothing (Body)

Blessed Fine Steel Longsword (Equipped)

Yeti Hide Breastplate (Chest)

Yeti Hide Trousers (Legs)

Yeti Hide Sleeves (Arms)

Yeti Hide Gloves (Hands)

Yeti Hide Boots (Feet)

Yeti Hide Balaclava (Head)

Simple Frontier Backpack (Back):

Small Pouch of Coins (Pocket):

1 Star Ruby, 2 gold, 34 silver, 14 copper

You have gained a Trait: Scion of the Chimera’s Mane. You have bound yourself to the very land of Elysium. You will gain and lose power based on various factors within the territory. Other elements of this bonding will reveal themselves over time.

Effect: 10% bonus to all actions within the area.

You have gained a new sub-skill: Arcana (Rare) Lore Tree.

“In the world of knowledge the idea of good appears last of all, and is seen only with effort.” - Socrates

At initiate rank you have access to basic mystical knowledge based actions with no penalty.

Skill level up! You have reached level 6 & 7 in Scavenging.

Skill level up! You have reached level 5 in Adventurer.

Your party has slain a total of 18 Red Cap Fungus Beasts (Levels 2 – 10). You have earned 1,803 experience points. All experience point bonuses (10% from Scion of the Chimera’s Mane) have been added to the total.

For a moment Cire pondered the skill text, in specific the quotation. Now that he knew Charon was responsible for various elements of the world it felt more like an admonishment. Cire had even read the quote in the intimidating beings voice. He shook his head a bit to clear it. Probably not the best idea to ponder the motivations of gods, even if created.

Cire could have pulled up his friends information sheets as well, due to their Adventurer skill, but it felt rude. He preferred to simply ask. In the midst of cleaning fungus goop out of his hair at the water basin next to his cabin he did so.

“I’m not exactly sure how to bring this up, so I am just going to come out with it. I gained a new trait when I bound the territory, did you two get anything similar when I made you heirs?”

“Aye boyo, at least I be getting one. Should be useful to grow my skills and increase my level. I had always thought nobles had it sweet with the extra quests, piles o’ gold, and passed down magic items, but the bonus be more valuable than all o’ that. By Hades’ balls, we ain’t even seen what other benefits it be hiding within its depths,” Durg commented while dumping hunks of mushroom from his backpack into a barrel, he had indeed found their foes delicious.

Selene shook her head watching the dwarf and then climbed the stairs to the cabins deck. “Indeed, although I am sure there is a catch or two. Maisy most likely knows more about how the trait evolves for this area. It’s rare information that no house would want widely distributed. Each territory yields different benefits based on the resources, people, wildlife, and god-touched locations within them.”

The three headed inside and got themselves comfortable around the table as the conversation continued. Selene pulled out the unidentified items and set them on the table while Durg poured them wine. Cire, eager to put off indulging in the bitter watery mixture, spoke before drinking.

“Can you give me an example or two? Also, do either of you have a map of the island with the territories marked? It sure would be helpful to know the boundaries and generally what’s around.”

While examining the nondescript chest, Selene responded, “I don’t have a map, you may want to check the items in the cabin though, Stacy and Gene may have had one. The boundaries fluctuate over time, I don’t know too much about the way of it though.” She drew her knife and began prodding various places on the chest while speaking.

“As far as an example of a prominent blessed site, the Spring of the Muses in Pyrene, a small town in the countryside of Meadow, is one such location. It’s pretty open knowledge. The spring provides a hefty bump to crop yields and fertility of other kinds.” She paused long enough to grin mischievously before waving her hand. “One of the reasons the Ionian League bothers with an island so far on the fringe of the archipelago.”

“It be said that down below, in the Deep Dark, at the heart o’ the legendary dwarven city o’ Minoa be the forge o’ Hephaestus himself. The Steelspine clan be the ruling house for ages by the power of their arms and armor. Be the dream o’ most youngins to have an enchanted axe from that smithy.” Durg guzzled down his mug and refilled it swiftly upon conclusion.

A resounding click followed by a squeal of glee by Selene bounced off the cabin walls. Eagerly Durg and Cire looked on in anticipation as the raven haired elf slowly cracked open the box. Nothing sprang from it’s insides, nor hissed, however the gravest threats are often barely a whisper in the pages of innocent books.