The elevator eventually slowed and soon after rose into a moderately sized room. Unlike the alcove where they’d entered surrounded by walls. They cage emerged without a single wall close enough to touch.

It was somewhat disconcerting despite their rapid and steady ascent. The absence of walls stole from them any illusion of physical support. This made it difficult to ignore the fact that they were simply hovering over a shaft several thousand feet deep.

They hurried out and found the entire box was dissolving. Soon there was nothing but a smooth floor where the elevator shaft had been moments before. Erramir looked and saw that entire floor was made of metal. In fact, turning slowly around, he realized the entire room was built of the same. It was a room of solid Daedrium.

“Holy Moses,” Carson said as he also took in the room. “For a legendary metal, the Und Varden sure do have an ass-load of this stuff.”

“No joke. I wonder what this room is worth.” Val agreed.

“I’m not sure you can buy a room of mythical metal in an auction house.” Erramir said and his friends chuckled their agreement.

The space was longer than it was wide and through his own amazement, Erramir estimated that it was a mirror image to the room in which they’d entered so far below.

The clattering of metal on metal got his attention. Blockbot was already headed toward one end of the room. Visually he traced the bot’s path to an arch topped door shape that was etched into the wall of dull metal. The etching was easily wide enough for a company of soldiers to march through and nearly as high at the peak of the arch.

In the center, in full color; brilliant black, deep earthy brown and against a field of rich crimson was a massive rooted hammer sigil. Centered on either side was a single silver star.

The trio drifted toward it in complete silence. When they were within a few paces, without any of them doing anything, a normal sized outline appeared in within the roots or the great seal and melted into the floor.

Erramir turned a half smile on his friends. “I guess we’re invited in.” Then on impulse, he stood to one side, and graciously extended an arm for his friends to go first. He’d always been one to hold doors and be courteous, although not so much around his friends. Here, after he didn’t even know how long of constant running and fighting, it felt good to fall back on that instinct.

Val smirked as she walked by. “Goofball.”

Carson bumped his shoulder with a fist. “Thanks bro.”

He even let blockbot roll by, although he had to wait for a second and wave his hand for it to get a clue. After it clattered past, he followed trailing one hand over the deep brown roots. A tingle ran up his arm, his tattoo hummed, and the sound of Christmas chimes ticked his mind.

The door was fully three feet thick, which felt good. They’d finally find a spot that held the promise of being a stronghold and hopefully a base to work from. The corridor beyond continued straight just a bit wider than the large etched gate. Val and Carson were walking side-by-side with blockbot following. He caught up and fell in beside them.

At the end of the passage they stepped off Daedrium and onto stone as they entered an enormous circular amphitheater. They stood on a broad track, equal in width to the corridor, that ran around the entire outer circumference. On the far side, directly opposite them, the corridor continued. On either side, exiting from the track, were three archtop doorways, above each a pair of runes stood out.

The amphitheater itself was sunken into the center of the room. The arc of seating, rows of individual wooden armchairs, was oriented facing toward them. Evenly spaced aisles of stone steps descended between the rows of seating. Directly in front of them, without any safety railing, the stone track ended abruptly.

Erramir walked forward to the edge and looked straight down on the presentation platform. The drop was every bit of twenty feet. “Well that’s not totally safe.” He said.

“Don’t fall,” Carson said beside him.

“Thanks for the tip.” Erramir smirked and turned back. Val was already headed toward the first ached opening on the left. “Comm’n, let’s have a look around.”

It turned out that all of the arched openings lead to small foyers, the exits from which were walls of Daedrium. These barriers were keyed to both the rooted hammer sigil as well as the runes that were inscribed above the entry. They couldn’t get into any of them.

So it was that they found themselves in the passage beyond and that’s when they smelled it. The aroma of spices and meat drifted down the hallway and it smelled amazing. Someone was cooking.

Suddenly everyone’s stomach was rumbling, and they drifted toward a far opening like a pack of dogs with their noses in the air. The sound of talking and banter reached them as they got closer, but that didn’t slow any of them, they were Vanden and this was the Varden base after all. Carson was the first one through and Val just edged past Erramir to follow second, so he brought up the rear.

They found themselves in a very nicely appointed mess hall. All the tables, chairs and benches were made of a deep brown wood and the walls had murals picturing epic fight scenes. In most of the paintings, groups of thick bodied and heavily armored people were standing arm-in-arm. In one, there was a dull gray metallic machine on wheels behind the group. It reminded Erramir of the fast transport.

The chow line and kitchen were on the left and at one of the closest tables sat three individuals. One of them Erramir thought he recognized immediately; it was the winged archer from their fight with the Baltaris. Except he didn’t have wings.

Spread out on their table was enough food to feed a dozen hungry warriors. There was a roast as long as his arm, a mounded pile of potatoes, a huge bowl of sautéed vegetables, an enormous salad, a bowl of cherry red beats, a basket of breads and sides and toppings all around. Erramir’s mouth fell open and he almost forgot about the people.

Their conversation had quieted and all three of the seated figures were looking at them now. The big man stood up and raised an arm.

“Com’on over. I’m Ramal. And if I’m not wrong, we owe you all a whole lot more than just a good meal.”

Carson had already taken a couple steps and Val was right behind him. Erramir followed behind. The man was larger in real life than he’d been looking through the targeting screen, he had to be part goliath. His mannerisms and speech also seemed way too familiar.

He raised his hand in greeting as he approached. “Well met Ramal, I’m Erramir. And if you were the ones fighting the Corrupted Baltaris then yeah, we had your back. I’m really glad we were there to help. That thing looked like an absolute nightmare.”

“Damn right it was. Hell, we would’ve been buried before you ever found us if Dnoeth hadn’t managed to cripple it early on. The experience gain was killer though, can’t beat that.”

Erramir almost lost a step. He knew that voice, that way of being.

The table was a long rectangle and Val and Carson took seats immediately after introductions to the other Varden at the table, but Erramir was too focused on the big guy who had stepped away from his chair and held out a hand.

Erramir grasped it and the man’s easy smile and facial resemblance did it. His voice almost cracked. “So, how do you like the game?”

“Ha! I knew it!” The man grasped his hand and pulled him into a hug. “Good to see you little brother.”