[ORP] Venture Forth

[Vandor]

A caged animal was the first thing that came to his mind when he saw her frustration mounting, and was a subject to which he had moderate familiarity. However Ellora in this state was far more dangerous that most animals he knew so he simply watched and looked on his own for any clue as how to proceed. Suddenly she wheeled on the boulder like a woman possessed and he stepped back a bit despite himself as he saw her frantically rend growth and grime.

Eyebrow raised he slowly walked forward wondering what she was up to, hand rummaging in his pack. He lifted out a stone, examined it and frowned. Back in the sack with you, small fry! A smile formed on his face as he detected the larger sized piece and withdrew it, handing it to her quickly, almost afraid she'd snatch his fingers away with it. "Here you go. What have you found?"

[Ellora]

Her piercing eyes took in the pattern of the rock Vandor handed her. She squatted alongside the boulder, brushing the last of the dirt from it's face and comparing the two patterns; one natural, one contrived. Tilting her head, she lifted the stone up to the boulder's face, resting it against a place where the mica patterns seemed to end abruptly. Twisting the rock in a circle, she lined up the silvery threads against the broken mica seams. The stone completes this design Vandor...do you see how they line up? Do you see the pattern of descending lines meeting in the middle and the small jagged ones that follow ?

She leaned back, holding the stone in place to allow him to read the design too.

[Vandor]

She was quite correct. It was uncanny how she had noticed such things; his eyes were so focused on the larger scope he had missed that small detail that had found her attention. "I guess that tree was more friend than foe, giving us this.... whatever it is." He watched as she lined the stone perfectly and was amazed. "It's hard to believe; the random chance of us finding this piece and then it's purpose is boggling." Unless... no, it couldn't be. There is no way the tree was trying to give them the stone; no possible way it could have known their plans and he could not fathom that it knew the difference between the inscribed rock and a piece of slate stuck to its root. Preposterous.

The ground shook slightly and he leaned on her for balance as she had the boulder to keep her stable. "Quake?!" he became alarmed and his senses reeled, casting about. No, it wasn't that. The trees on the far rims were unmoved, and the shaking seemed to come from just below. Not so much shaking as... grinding. He could feel the vibrations through his boots of stone working against stone. A minute or so later it ceased and all was again quiet. "What in the world... Ellora, you did that I think. When you matched the pattern."

Squeezing her shoulder to get her attention he moved fast, vaulting the boulder and moving to the edge of the drop a bit away from where they were standing. "I do not believe it!" He exclaimed, looking back at her and then again to the crease that had formed in the valley wall. Snaking it's way down the slope was a narrow set of stairs. It would seem they had located a key. Kneeling he tapped the first step to test it for strength and traps and found neither, and then stood upon it and hopped a few times. "Seems safe."

[Ellora]

Gathering the stone back, she sprinted toward him. Quick, she urged, we don't know how long the path will be fixed. Following Vandor on the stone stairs, they raced downward as carefully as they could without twisting an ankle, finally spilling out on the valley floor. The forest there was lusher and more humid than the one they'd just left, almost tropical in feel. Ellora breathed in the warm moist air deeply, filling her lungs. This reminds me of my home Vandor, the denseness of the forest and heaviness of the air,a wistfulness crossed her face. Pointing she indicated a path stretching forward into the underbrush. They moved along the ground, watching for signposts, stones or any indication of where the trail led.

[Vandor]

It was different from the forest above, it was true. The smells, the textures, and the sounds all were varied. He was amazed at how much change could occur from such a small alteration of altitude and whatever else may influence the region. He smiled at the fact it reminded her of home, for two reasons. One she'd be happier and more at ease in familiar surroundings. The second, the fact they were familiar surroundings. She would be more adept at identifying things both of danger and of interest.

Being mindful of drawing unwanted attention, he began to hum again to wield his musical probe. Hitting on several levels of tone he sought to see if any other hidden things appeared. Thus far in the early steps of their path nothing did. Under the cover of trees the way ahead was shrouded, though he heard some form of chittering and a clacking sound. It was distant but he was concerned that whatever the source was was potentially violent and aware of their presence.

[Ellora]

Ellora moved swiftly, sure of foot on this new ground, almost racing toward the heart of this thick forest. Her goal was visible. There! Rising far above the treeline was a city of dream and myth. Over-sweet air weighed heavily on her lungs but only thick but passable brush separated them. She was hypnotized by the view. The sight gave her venture-weary limbs new energy, and she ran toward the massive stone façade, which grew even larger with each new glimpse through the foliage. Ellora continued her approach – slower now, and punctuated with occasional coughs, allowing Vandor to easily catch up.

Emerging before them was a monstrous stone city, carved in seven sections, each rising tall into the treeline. The central building loomed tallest, shadowing them from many stories above the woodland floor. Moss, vines and lichen clung fiercely to the gray stone face surrounding windows, doors, gateways and other anonymous openings. “By the looks of things,” she wheezed to Vandor, “it’s been crumbling back to its natural state for centuries. Are we the first to have ventured this far?” Coughing again, her chest caved and heaved, struggling for oxygen. “Vandor, ...can’t breathe.”

[Vandor]

He was overwhelmed to say the least at the sight that sprang up before them. Giving chase to Ellora at first to not lose sight of her he then realized what it was she was so enthusiastic to reach. It was breathtaking and he had not seen its like before. Simply breathtaking. Patting his companion on the back he realized the phrase could be far more literal than figurative at times. "Are you alright?" he asked her with genuine concern, wondering if the sudden change in the air density had an averse effect to her strength.

[Ellora]

Ellora's eyes watered while her head shook "no." Leaning forward, the woman placed her hands above her knees, hunching forward while she struggled for breath. The air was thick and humid but she came from a similar environment. No, it was not the thickness of air but the quality. There was something else wrong; something that seemed to bypass Vandor. Her moonstone seemed to flare and glow, alerting one who was very far away of her distress. She knew no help would come. They were too far. Coughing, she set her pale eyes on Vandor, hoping he understood without words.

[Vandor]

It was the pleading in the eyes that alerted him to the severity of the problem, more than her words or her body language. He felt the warning surges of the moonstone and knew exactly what it was heed needed to do. There was some form of toxin in the air; he hadn't noticed it at first because to him it was just another smell, but to a human it seemed to be a noxious danger.

Grabbing her and kneeling her to he ground, he crouched so that they were eye to eye. "You are going to be fine, just trust me." Reaching under the clasp of his cloak he pulled forth a crystalline vial that was filled with liquid that was strung about his neck. Shifting a small metal catch at the top, he moved it towards her face, using his other hand to open her mouth. Carefully a small single drop released and landed on the tip of her tongue.

Releasing the vial to swing back into place where it had been hidden both hands clasped her about the face and he peered into her eyes. A silvery light shone from the edges of his irises and a warmth flowed from his fingertips into her face, spreading slowly to fill her entire body. The heat cleansed away the infracting substance and as it faded a brief silvery sheen flashed over her entire form. Sitting back on his heels he smiled, "There. You should feel better now."

[Ellora]

The answer came. An answer to her cry for help...Vandor had felt it. Choking, she watched him lift something to her lips, felt the warmth burn through her. But it was his eyes, a light like white fire and stars that rushed through her speeding the liquid along. She gasped, cough, and drew a full breath into her body. Her chested heaved as she sucked the air in, breathing steadily, a sour smell around her that she'd not noticed before. She kept a hand on Vandor's shoulder as she recovered herself. Breathily thanking him, how did you do that Vandor? What magic do you posses? Thank you. What is wrong with this place?

Her moonstone glowed once, as if acknowledging that the danger for her had passed.