The group, now having to carefully and quickly maneuver the boat through the waterfall of rapids, has left the vicinity of the demogorgon, Rhys'Von and the Shroud. After taking a little amount of damage from slamming into rocks, they come out of the rapids in one piece. They are met with tunnels of waterways that Okan-Ze navigate them through with the help of his map. Ridil and Ra'Giin see that he is shaken after seeing the demogorgon, but navigates them through successfully.
Over the next three days, Okan-Ze moves the group through the confusing waterways, avoiding any creatures they see. The group sleeps the best they can in the small boat, but are able to get some amount of rest over the next couple of days. They spend their time discussing Rhys'Von, how she appeared to be a living corpse, to which Sixx remembers that when he knew her, she was always beautiful. Ra'Giin thinks on this information and begins thinking about loud about a cage. Ridil and Ephrya asks him what he is speaking of, and he confirms she is a lich and that if she dies, she can be resurrected easily as she is neither living nor dead, given in service to some patron. He does tell them that if he had her phylactery, the item that holds her soul, or a small magical cage, he could keep her locked in it until they found the item to destroy her.
During the travel in the boat through the tunnels filled with water, Ephyra does notice more symbols similar to what she saw on the walls before they arrived to Glummourn. She asks Okan-Ze about them and he explains that those are symbols he has carved to assist him in finding Labyrinth and he is the only one he knows of that has ever been to the place. He also tells her that the entrance to Labyrtinth tends to shift and change.
Throughout the nights they spend on the small boat, Ra'Giin asks Ephyra about her childhood with her brother, then casts Dream and visits and controls Izmar's sleep state. He controls his dreams to show childhood memories of he and his sister Ephyra. However each memory, he is aggressive and hurts her. Eventually, Izmar begins to regain control and attempts to save Ephyra from himself in his dreams.
They finally come to the end of the waterways and Okan-Ze begins leading them through small tunnels on foot. The tunnels twist and turn, and are a maze of confusion to the group.
The come to a series of three tunnels before them. Okan-Ze looks at his map and to the tunnels. He tells everyone to think of why they want to get out of Coldharbour and what good it is going to do. Ra'Giin thinks about the Guild and how he wants to bring it to be greater than it is, that, though it sounds odd, that he can help the land through the thievery from those who are causing harm. Ephyra begins thinking about those stuck in Coldharbour and how, if she were to escape, how she could possibly help them to escape as well. Sixx focuses on the demise of Rhys'Von so that others might not suffer under her command. Ridil thinks of his memory of the dragon with Ephrya riding it as they came out of The Spire and what beautiful creatures they are. They look up above the tunnels and notice now a symbol above the far right tunnel, to which Okan-Ze rushes down. They follow, and discover a tunnel with no light, so Ephyra casts Dancing Lights in order for them to see. The tunnel descends down in a slippery slope to which they must carefully make their way down. Ephyra slips and falls into the rocks and Ra'Giins minions cannot keep their footing and fall to their destruction.
After walking for sometime, they discover a large stone door flanked by two gigantic stone Mer statues. Okan-Ze is excited and says "he was right!" Upon asking the Argonian to clarify, everyone learns that Okan-Ze has not gone any further than this point and was told about the location of Labyrinth by a strange man with a pot on his head. Fearing they cannot trust this place, they inspect the door, Ridil with his gem of True Sight and Ra'Giin investigating it, but they find that it is just a basic stone door. Sixx attempts to cast Ethereal Step to peek through the door, but he is unable to cast his spell. Ra'Giin pushes his way through the door and they begin to pass through, as they notice that the two statues turn their heads to watch them pass. Once through, the door closes behind them.
They are met with light reflected from crystals in the ceiling illuminating a vast opening filled with staircases, walkways, shelves, rooms and so many books and treasures that they could never count them all. The levels extend up and far down below. Figures in brown robes walk around tending to the books.
Ephyra and Sixx recognize these Mer as the lost and extinct race of Aldmeri, the Snow Elves. They are approached by one of them, who tells them that they are not named, only that they exist to tend to the library of Labyrinth, which holds every single event that occurs within Coldharbour. They inquire about a way out of this realm and he does confirm there is a portal out, but no Soul Shriven can go through. Okan-Ze tells everyone that he is indeed, a Soul Shriven. The group inquires about the survivors of Glummourn and after walking through multitudes of rooms, he takes them to one and goes through a large book. He confirms the survival of Archer and half of the settlement. The Aldmeri also speaks to Ra'Giin about a phylactery. He tells him that all phylacteries made in service to Molag Bal are kept in Labyrinth and as long as he knows the name of the lich, he can take him to it. While he goes to retrieve it, Ra'Giin notices a beautiful gold crown inlaid with pink gems. He returns with a beautiful gold box that contains a very ornate necklace. The Aldmeri explains that they are neither in service or against Molag Bal, yet he is unable to hand over any item they care for. He places the box and necklace on the shelf and walks out of the room. Ra'Giin grabs the necklace from the box and places it in his bag of holding. Svaela takes the box and pockets it as Ra'Giin quickly takes the crown of Barenzariah.
Before they leave, they ask about Rhys'Von. The Aldmeri, going through multiple books to answer their questions, tells them that she turned her back on Sithis and has sacrificed many in service to Molag Bal, Izmar has sacrificed three. Sixx asks about someone named Nizana. After searching through his books, he is able to tell Sixx that Nizana Do'Ath was Soul Shriven and spent 5 years in Coldharbour before being resurrected by someone unknown in Blackmarsh.
He then takes them to yet another room, this time, with a large blue portal in the center that will take them to Cryodil. As they begin to prepare to go through the portal, the Aldmeri turns serious and tells them they must go as just then, they hear screams coming from beyond the door. As they pass through, Ridil and Ra'Giin takes psychic damage.
Once back on Tamriel, they begin to discuss their next move and where they should go according to Ephyra's teleportation circles.
Ridil notices the sky darkening, the clouds begin to swirl, as a large circular object appears above, a loud horn sounds and chains and hooks fall, slamming into the ground around them.
Massive, horrific creatures appear along with five tall pinion structures and Rhys'Von accompanied by Izmar. They begin attacking the creatures and Rhys'Von as Ephrya recognizes this as an Ancor which she has read about in the lore books of the Bard's college. She knows that the pinions must be destroyed in order for the anchor to fail.
An Umberhulk, a Shadow Demon, a Chuul, and a giant spider all begin to attack the group. Ra'Giin is able to defeat the spider rather quickly, but once he does, another creature appears. Izmar goes after Ephyra but as he strikes at her he tells her to move out of the way of his attack. He pushes her up against a pinion, and as he strikes at her, tells her to duck and he strikes the pinion. He and Ephyra begin striking the pinion and eventually, destroy it.
Rhys'Von notices that Izmar is destroying the pinions with the help of Ephyra, so she casts power word kill and Izmar falls dead. They continue to fight in a mad flurry, with a new monstrous creature appearing every time one falls. Ephyra summons her scimitar tattoos, as many take copious amounts of damage from Rhys'Von. Svaela, attempting to harm the lich, in retaliation, Rhys'Von begins to cast, but Ephyra sees it coming and does a counterspell, successfully stopping her from casting disintegrate on her friend. They continue to focus on the pinions while defending against Rhys'Von and the creatures. Ra'Giin's Spirit Guardians continuously casting damage upon any creature that comes into his immediate area. Ephyra gives Sixx two healing potions and they all continue to deal massive amounts of damage to the surrounding pinions and finally are able to destroy all of them. The anchor retracts as the creatures fall.
Rhys'Von is left standing amidst the group as they all focus their attention on her. They attack and she screams at Sixx as she tells him that he will soon join his love. In a rage of anger, Sixx attacks her with his crossbow, and running up to her, taking a crossbow bolt infused with light and shoves it through her skull, killing her.
Ra'Giin, with Rhys'Von dead, smashes the necklace with his staff of power. He then goes to Izmar's body and with his diamond, resurrects him.
Comments
Post a Comment