Quest [Regional Quest] Lost No Longer

[Gillar]

------------->oocMore than enough time has passed for responses to be posted. From here forward, I will post for those who post within a handful of days (2-3) of each post I put forth. Right now, there are two responses and thus those two will get priority responses in addition to the greatest rewards. For those others who still wish to participate, responses and rewards will be based on participation.<------------- A few days later... As promised, Viametran was in the same place as before, waiting for those who expressed interest in his journey. Upon arrival, those returning would find the older isur waiting alongside his cart, smoking a rather long pipe carved in the shape of a snake. The tail of the pipe protruded from his mouth with the shaped serpentine head releasing a small, constant plume of smoke. Welcome back my brethren. It is more than a pleasure to see that you've returned. If you are ready, so am I." Viametran was quickly joined by another man. This newcomer was dressed in dull red trousers and high black boots adorned with glistening golden buckles. Motioning to the newcomer, Viametran commented, "This is my cousin, Triduran. He will be joining us." The cousin with his long, light brown hair tied in a bead-adorned tail, grinned politely and positioned himself to lift the tongs of the cart and ready himself for travel. "If you are ready, let us be off!" Viametran gestured to begin and the small group was off. Leaving the plaza began like any other journey. The group passed crowds of varying size going about their business. There were a few looks of wonder combined with a number of people giving sidelong looks of amusement that carried unspoken words of disbelief that the group would have any success at Viametran's proposal. The group traveled from the plaza through the housing district on their way to lesser used tunnel that crossed a small bridge over a section of the lake. A couple brynkil flew past as they approached the old tunnel that once led to now doomed citadel that was the groups destination. Of course, the tunnel was sealed almost a half mile away but there were smaller branching tunnels that would allow access to a seldom used, above ground pass. While not normally traversed, the pass was often used for light hunting trips by those who wished to avoid the more heavily traveled areas. Along the way, Viametran offered some direction as well as fielded any questioning or conversation. "They say that the passage to the Jiathu Citadel was sealed for the safety of all. I question that. It's been so long that there couldn't possibly be anyone who remembers the real reason why it was sealed." Viametran gave a grunt of displeasure. "I think that it was closed off to hide the truth. What truth is that you may ask? Maybe they sealed it because they didn't want the public to know that it wasn't a plague that wiped out our brothers and sisters but something else...something they didn't understand and were afraid of." The journey down the large tunnel; large enough to accommodate at least three large cart widths, led the group to a small branching tunnel that wasn't blocked off by members of Izurdin's Hammer. This tunnel soon offered signs of light from the outside world. The trip thus far took not quite two hours to reach. The light grew brighter, forcing the group to slow in order to adjust their vision. At the end of the tunnel, a single member of Izurdin's Hammer could be seen patrolling the exit. He nodded as they passed and entered the small pass. Taking a breath of a cool yet welcoming Spring air, Viametran asked plainly, "So tell me friends, what do you expect to see along the way?"

[Kaili]

Kaili was in a bad mood. Oh such a bad mood. How could she have agreed to this?! She'd had a headache... and... and... agh. If one paid attention, you could almost see her literally fuming with anger. Luckily, she'd gotten over her headache relatively quickly, but after realizing her promise... well, lets just say this mood wasn't only today. In truth though, a back part of her mind felt that this was a right choice, that Smithis really needed to go do this. She sighed, still in a slight mental war, but realized she needed to pay attention to her surroundings, after almost running into a wall. Right... what had she brought again? Food... no extra clothes, since she was wearing all she had. Some random bits and bobs that were supposed to be useful... flint and steel was one of them? But really the two most important (and heaviest) things were her hammer, which she obviously brought with her, and the helmet she'd made that season. It wasn't good quality, but... you never knew.

Then her attention moved to the meeting place. There was a man, with a cart, smoking. Another sigh. As the man spoke she attempted to look interested, or at least less annoyed, but failed miserably. Instead, she followed as they left, keeping her eyes focused ahead, and the Isur she was supposed to be following. Most of everything else she ignored, especially the other party members. That same back part muttered that she should try to be friendly, or at least talk to Smithis, but her bad mood wasn't about to give up.

When their guide spoke again, explaining the reason for their trip, she just grunted, but actually took it quite seriously. So that was what exactly they were doing... Finding out about one of the lost clans, the one that disappeared from disease. And they were going into it. Great. They were all going to die. Unless... A small bit of curiosity popped up inside her, as she began to consider the possible theories. Like the man had said, maybe something else completely different had happened... or... you never knew. Though interested in the topic now, Kaili still refused to speak.

But when they left, and the man asked a question... well, she felt the urge to answer. But the answer to that question... she didn't quite know. Instead, she made up a reasonable sounding one, that made sense in a way.

"A citadel. With...something in it..." It was the best she could come up with, but actually was quite true. There could be riches or the treasures of the lost clan, not like those appealed to her, but still. Documents... disease... or something living, either dangerous... or not. Or the thing the other clans supposedly wanted to hide... It was all theory really, but the idea began to warm on the smith, and that in turn warmed her demeanor also. Though only slightly.

[Ly'an Godhammer]

Being introduced to the man’s cousin Ly just gave a nod in response, she had no reason to question the man bringing along an extra set of arms and therefore more protection. “Father smiles kindly upon those that have come prepared brother.” She nodded to Viametran, and soon they were off. It wasn’t long before the small group of Isurs travelled through the housing districts and out in the tunnels, Ly realized she had never been this far and was truly wondering what she was got herself into, which was a question the weaponsmith was sure she’d keep asking herself for many moons to come. When their travelling guide and impromptu leader started making comments about the tunnel being sealed of for something other than a plague Ly paused in her mental thoughts, which consisted of absolutely nothing important, “You speak as if the Council sealed off this citadel from civilization because of barbarous or rebellion…” She shook her head in thought, “The Council speaks of them sealing off the tunnels because of a disease that they didn’t want to have travelling amongst their other clans, losing one to something so horrible is bad enough.” That of course was the only thing Ly’an Godhammer got out on the subject before she found herself in a gave that was growing slowly brighter, as if sucking in light from the outside world… And indeed it was! Sunlight was filtering its way into the caverns below, causing the poor bald woman to squint her eyes until they adjusted fully to it’s brightness. When their guide once again asked questions, this time about what they expected to see or find on their way Ly’an paused in awe and thought, “Well, if what you spoke of was indeed true, I would’ve expected a larger welcoming party of heavily armed Hammer, not just a single soul.” Luckily for Ly she had only one item of combat usefulness, and that was her light hammer. The rest of her belongings were standard travel rations and basic clothing. Glancing back at the party she spoke not another word.

[Smithis]

The day was to be long, excitement barely starting. Still, Smithis' feet dragged across the floor as if something was pulling them back. Somehow he imagined leaving home would weigh less on his physique. Isur were not built to leave these caves, he thought. Hopefully they were put together well enough to allow these few foolish ones to come back to their hearth.
When he finally arrived to the destined place, he'd see Kaili already there. He wouldn't really tell her anything, there was no urging need to do so. Instead he focused his attention on another man in the group. Viametran introduced him as a cousin, Smithis couldn't really care less beyond that. So he was roped in with concieveable motive, it was enough for the Isur to rest any suspicion he might've carried with him.

What the man carried wasn't much. Some supplies and.. that was it. The only thing Smithis would actually use and could think of was some extra food and water. Viametran clearly stated he had enough to have them eat and drink for a while, but what happened if the group got pieced apart during the journey? It served his thoughts well to have some of his own rations in case such things happened. Also, from what he could see, Smithis was the only member of the group that was definitely unarmed. There wa simply no need to purchase a mean looking weapon when he had no skill in one. Sure he could try and act tough, but he had more chance of falling on top of the tool than pulling it off. This didn't upset him as much as it should. When he comes back he could always pick up a weapon proper... yeah, when he comes back.

Somewhere along the way Viametran seemed to voice his own opinions on the matter of collapsing the Jiathu tunnel. His thoughts sounded like rebelious propaganda against the council and all that was holy, but much to everyone's luck – Smithis wasn't too religious. There was of course a chance that what most of the race was spoonfed was in fact imaginary, but there was much less chance of that than Viametran seeing this deep into obscure dealings of the past. He did have one point though. If it was indeed the plague that was in question, why were the Isur so afraid of it? Together and with Izurdin, by his will and grace they defeated the Valterrian itself. God-led and fearless, Isur wouldn't run from from a plague – they would find some ingenious way of stopping it without outright sacrificing one tenth of the race. Anyone good with numbers could point to the wrong points of that approach. Still if it was indeed by some borderline chance to save the race from a plague, then it was a good decision. If there was indeed plague, unless it was strictly limited to Jiathu bloodline, there should be some surving members of the clan today. Just like the sacred Uluth. There should be a small fraction of their previous strength still present somewhere at the fingertip of the kingdom.

This however posed a dangerous question Smithis wasn't sure he wanted to answer. The only way for one clan to have disappeared completely is that they were first expeled from the rest of the kingdom. Maybe they went away on their own accord. Still, what motive was powerful enough to have an entire clan, and nothing but that clan, disappear from the rest of Isur society. If they were indeed banned from it and marked plaguebeares in order for other members of the race to avoid mentioning their very name... then what was this truth bigger than disease? The only thing Smithis could think of that could raise tempers enough to provoke lasting consequences was a strong word against Izurdin and his teachings, heresy of the worst kind. And it would've had to be on the level of the entire clan in order to be considered reason enough to anathemize them from society. It was all wishful thinking in the end. There were bound to be more than a hundred wise men who pondered this question in the past. Still, the history remaind as it was written.

To answer Viametran's latest question, he'd smile to himself „I thought about it for a bit, and I think I'd like to see survivors!“ he'd shrug unsure if that sounded too sane „If the clans could survive the Valterrian with Izurdin's help, I refuse to believe he would've turned his back on a single, entire clan. His power enough should've been enough to preserve at least a minor part of their kind. Maybe it has just always been our task to go forth and find them before bringing them back into the kingdom? That's what I'd like to think this is, a trial of Izurdin...“ he'd sigh. Maybe if he was a Vizerian, but he wasn't. His own words didn't convince him. Perhaps it was time to find new ones.

[Artifex]

Their departure from the market place was, as he noticed the looks thrown their way, marked with skepticism. Apparently others didn't find Viametran's proposal for a journey sane, or wise. Still most folk after all, were not the adventuring type. Artifex also realized that with the times what they were, and the climate surrounding recent events, he imagined all too well why some of his kin refused to leave their borders and citadels.

He had been glad to see that Viametran had brought along more help. Tiduran seemed like a capable fellow, and there was a strength he carried that Artifex couldn't quite appraise with certainty. Knowing that Viametran had thought enough to bring along help he knew lent Artifex some confidence that their impromptu leader had thought this out beyond the simple plan he had told them. However, he realized that they were still walking blindly into the darkness, for none of them knew what lay in store for them after so many years.

Outside the city they journeyed on paths that Artifex recalled from his youth, and many others that he had never considered going. A few hours passed, and as they floated by Artifex had tried to make fleeting conversation with whomever was chatty, and if no one was such he deferred to Pietas.

Then the path began to fill with light, which forced him to adjust his vision, and that of the others. A lone Hammer greeted them passively at the pass and the required his post. Apparently this pass was not frequented to often, and thus required little guarding, though he imagined with all the Zith attacks it would do to add a few more Hammers.

He wondered at the question Viametra posed. What was he hoping to find? Answers? Artifacts? Glory? No, above all he was hoping to find something precious, something that his kin had lost, a sacred item. Something that he could return to his people so that they may once again remember the days when the Isur stood tall and proud, something that would earn him praise in Izurdin's eyes, if he was deserving of it, and he said just that.

"I hope to find a relic of our past, something which will remind us and our kin of the golden days of the Isur, something which our forgotten bretherin perhaps possessed. Perhaps I do agree with Smithis, but I would not hold too much hope, for while I too would like to think our Father would do just that Smithis, some things are beyond even his power, and we should praise him for our endurance none the less, and perhaps the endurance of the few that may have survived".