The Ruins of Atiqra || Opening Para
The Last para of the Artifact mission will work like this: two posts of the Soldiers will shape the set off; what is happening, where they are, how things look, who is where, what they hear and the potential paras that can be created by your characters! The first replies will all be to the main post, your character(s) will have to make the decision what they are going to do in the situation, and team up with possibly other players in searching for the artifact! This can be with one of the six soldiers as well! Every character goes a different way, and then you can start to para with your characters seperate. Of course we’ll try to direct everyone as best we can. So the search for the artifact can begin!
To say sleeping in a strange village had been fun, was an understatement. The farmers didn't seem to like company much and their clever disguises were easily mismatched: because what would merchants be doing in an insignificant little town south of the border with the Elfish Kingdoms. More importantly, they weren't Elves! Neither did they have any good, and when the question of their trade arose, their answered varied from cotton to fire balls - thank Yoa for that great and intelligent answer. But nonetheless had they found a place to stay the night, spending most of it playing cards meant the next morning they were just as tired as when they got inside after cramping through the desert Bound to fail, one could say.
However, finding the gigantic ruins within a flat landscape, having a map with them as well, meant they could easily stumble on some misplaced rocks. It took them about half a day to reach the first signs of an old city, half buried beneath the sand. It was scattered buildings at first, some hints of doors or windows, must had collapsed over time. This was a ghost town, that was what Dennos muttered as he took the lead, bow and arrows in hand. With everyone on his heels, they made a lot of noise, meaning they were easy prey if something was luring behind the engulfed buildings. They didn't seem worried about that fact.
The buildings became more apparent, closer together, soon blocking their view of the outer desert, of the horizon. Walking faster when a pyramid of around thirty feet high appeared before them, did they start a silence movement that meant as well that their footsteps were muted. The pyramid had, if Nedith could be believed, four entrances on all the sides of it, the small size, and all leading into dark holes that were pitch black. Despite the doubts outed when they stood before it, the group entered. Yoa created torches with her Fire Magic, and Torque led the way, scanning the floor to see which way they had to go, to get to the middle. The inside was a more empty space, he had said, before they took a wild guess and sprinted inside.
The darkness was horrible, not in a way that it was scary, but because Yelda really wanted to just sit down in a corner and go to sleep. He had swallowed too much booze and had too little sleep. The walk through the maze took longer than those four hours through the desert it seemed, at least for the young NightElf. He hoped that at the end of the tunnel there was going to be a nice featherbed. Probably not.
Yet, at the end of the tunnel, they did find light. It was very different from what they had been expected, but the small group walked out into a large garden, filled with desert flowers. Yoa said the smartest thing to date, pointing at the bright sky where the sun rays flowed in, stating that the roof they had seen was a mere illusion. There was no roof, only the side functioned as a wall surrounding the strange garden from deceitful eyes. The artifact they were looking for was probably hidden among the trees and plants. They knew one thing for sure: it was an orb. Other than that, they were guessing about what it looked like. No one had really seen it, and its existence was still legend.
'I suggest we split up,' Dennos said, pointing at the largeness of their search area. They all had to agree, it was the only logical plan. Nedith and Yelda teamed up, they had fought together on a mission before, and they knew how to do so very well. The other teams were less easily made.
Yoa was the first to find out that her Magic wasn't working. She tried to pull back the flaming sparks for the torches that were still lit, but could not get any movement. Maia as well seemed powerless. The artifact was blocking their Magic. Great timing!
And just as they thought that was the worst of it, a sound of buildings collapsing spread through the gardens, accompanied by breaking wood. The Artifact didn't want to be found.
