The Continuing Adventure of Zasit Hardywall
Leaving the front gate open, I descend back into the Great Hall of Gemclod. Should any of Gemclod's enemies dare enter, I will be here to meet them.
I take the first left available and find myself in what must have once been the fields that fed this fortress.
Now, though, the fields are fallow, and wild growths spring up freely.
Finding nothing else of interest nearby, I take a nearby stairway downwards. I find myself amidst several levers. I elect to leave them be for the time being.
I head south and find another of Gemclod's many watery tunnels. A quick exploration yields little, and I move on.
I head north, back past the levers and find another staircase leading downward. Without any hesitation, I descend. I am thrilled to find a loose collection of bins. This is the first I have seen of objects of any kind within Gemclod that are not firmly set in place. I was beginning to fear that the place was thoroughly looted- it seems that I am happily incorrect!
The contents of the first bin are rich indeed. I pocket the large gem, which seems to sparkle with a variety of colors even in the dimness of the room. I also go ahead and hang a masterful marble amulet around my neck. Somehow, it seems appropriate.
The Large Alexandrite
I sift through many works of stone. Some are more interesting than others. Most are the work of very skilled hands.
Looking through some of the other bins, I begin to realize that the treasures of this place are not all so pleasant and straightforward. Totems and boneworks, like those carved by goblins, are commonplace.
Some of the bins are stuffed with clothing and other commonalities. My search reveals nothing of truly spectacular value, though any one of the stoneworks would fetch much in the way of gold at the nearby human towns.
I move on from the craft storage room. I find myself surrounded by many, many slabs, the type of which is generally used to memorialize the lost fallen. None of the slabs are engraved upon- this must have been a storage room. The need for these memorial slabs must have been high for them to have crafted so many.
Moving forward, I find a room dedicated to storage of cages and their unfortunate inhabitants.
It seems that without their custodians, the many animals kept here simply starved to death. The remains are in advanced states of decay.
I head down another set of stairs and discover what must have been a busy workshop area. Closer inspection of one of the work areas finds the entire surface covered in some strange, translucent substance..
Giant cave spider webbings! This is an ill omen, indeed. I can only hope that I do not come across the creature that spun these webs.
Moving swiftly along, I come across a bizarre scene.
Piles upon piles of buckets! There are dozens of them, many partially filled with water and other unidentifiable substances. What could they possibly have needed so many half-filled buckets for??
A few short steps east, I happen across a sobering sight. Memorial slabs, similar to the type I saw before, but engraved and set into the ground. The work seems hasty, uncertain. The placement seems haphazard. The dates of death are too close together. The conclusions are obvious. Sometime around 271, Gemclod suffered a brutal scourge of some sort. I take some time to kneel before each of the memorials.
Toffile to rhyolite! Runaway Bro to aluminum! Owlkill to shale! Ktarthan to.. uh.. flies. There are many slabs here. I take note of all that I come near, though I surely miss some.
Finally escaping the dreary room of death, I once again descend via yet another stairwell. The way down this time is far. I come across a small landing.
There are pillars here, apparently rigged to collapse for some reason. I make haste to avoid any danger.
I come to an engraved hall of marble. It is very dark here, and cold, like a crypt. This place does not seem well-traveled.
I take a quick look at one of the engravings before steeling myself and continuing forward. I feel that this hall may hold one of the answers I seek.
