[HQ Ignorance] Scene 40: In a Ratty Dungeon

[Lev Lafayette]

Scene 40: In a Ratty Dungeon

When Kalen finally awoke his head felt like it had
been pounded several times by a mallet. It reminded
him a little of when he was young being taught the
ways of the great machine by the Elder Mostal.

His first actions were to feel around using his
Earthsense and the normal sense of touch. The room was
too his liking. The design was a most pleasant
cube-shape, a snug 2 metres in either direction,
mostly secure with but a few holes due to disrepair.
The cobblestones were old and smooth and well worked.
Besides him was some stale bread, with the occassional
grain of rock, and a chipped enamel paint pitcher of
murky water. "This", thought Kalen, between bites and
swigs, "must be the en-suite for most respected
guests".

With but heavy wooded door and some straw betraying
any organic material, Kalen was well-prepared to spend
at least several weeks in what would be an
inhospitable pit for any other species. However his
dreams of a stony holiday were interrupted by a sound
beyond the wall..

*shuffle* *shuffle* *clunk!*

*shuffle* *shuffle* *clunk!*

*shuffle* *shuffle* *clunk!*

>From a hole in the wall, Rotterex appeared, dragging
in his mouth with some difficulty a rune-encrusted
tube of glass and bronze, which he dropped by the
Stoneman's feet. Nose twitching, the bazak raised
himself on his hindlegs and bared his teeth in
something that approximated a grin.

"Don't ask me why Stoneman but I've taken a liking to
you. Besides, our choices seem to be either trusting
you to reinvigorate our food supply or an unfortunate
and unpleasant decline in numbers until a balance is
reached. So I suspect you would be needing this
gadget."

Kalen surpressed an urge to scratch the bazak behind
the ear in thanks. Instead, he lifted the Firelance
towards the door and invoked the Runes of Craft and
Sun. A searing fire burst forth from the tube,
striking the metal lock and wooden frame; in a few
second the lock bent and broke clearing the way.

The corridor ahead was clear ...

[Yes, Erica, this does cost you a Hero Point.]


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