He turned to head back toward the large cavern when a smell drifted to him. The cave itself had a bit of a musty smell about it. Clean and crisp air caught his attention. It reminded him of work. That smell of filtered air in hospitals and clinics.
His nose led him on a merry chase around the cave until he found an area on the side of the tunnel, twenty feet from the end that had a carving on it. The picture itself was small, but it sat around waist height had he been in his elf form. With a thought, he transformed back into elf form and examined the symbol.
“Hey guys, come over here. I think I found something.”
Chapter 26
Bodysnatcher
Atlas heard footsteps as the group raced down the tunnel to find him. They all gathered around him and looked toward the wall.
“There’s something behind this wall,” he told them as he placed his hand on the wall, “I could smell a difference in the air behind it in my cat form and there is a symbol down here.”
Atlas pointed toward the symbol, and the group all leaned forward to peer at it.
“Anyone know what that is?” Stomper asked.
“Not sure. Looks vaguely familiar, but I can’t quite place it,” Shade told them.
“The evil Gloom Elves have marked thine entrance to the cave. Stand back while I ferret out their wickedness,” Carhein called.
“Gloom Elves? Are there Gloom Elves in this game?” Atlas asked.
“Haven’t met any, and it wasn’t a race option,” Stomper said with a shake of his head.
“Carhein, what do you mean by Gloom Elves?”
The fighter pointed at the symbol, “They have crossed over from the kingdom of Daratha. The symbol of their kingdom doth shine brightly.”
Daratha? That sounds familiar…
“He’s right! That’s their symbol from Destiny Fall.” Stomper said as he leaned closer and brushed the dust off the wall.
“But why would their symbol be here? We haven’t seen any mention of their race yet?” Atlas asked.
“Hell if I know, but I’m guessing it’s a clue. Look around and see if we find anything else,” Shade told them.
The group huddled close to the wall and slowly ran their eyes and hands across the entire surface. Not finding anything in the immediate vicinity, they continued their search outward further down the wall. After covering a forty-foot span, they changed tactics and walked back to the symbol. They turned and checked the opposite wall instead.
As Atlas ran his hand against one spot on the wall, a raised portion in the stone snagged him. He roughly brushed at the area and saw a dial that looked like it was from a padlock. Instead of the large cylinder protruding from it, three small indentions sat on the surface around the disc. They appeared to be finger holes to help spin it. The edge of the disc had a bunch of symbols on them he couldn’t discern at first until he realized they were numbers in the Gloom Elf language.
“Anyone good with the Gloom Elf language? I was a big fan of the game and all, but not that hardcore of a fan boy.” Atlas said.
“I can’t read it, but I dealt with them enough to know the numbers. They only did business in their own numbering system,” Stomper explained.
“Well, what are these numbers then?” Atlas asked as he pointed at the dial. Stomper walked over and examined the device.
“Looks like the number one through ninety-nine. Is this a padlock?”
“That’s what I thought it was. Anyone know a three number combination it could be?” Atlas asked.
“The symbol of the Gloom Elves and the dial being in their language means it has to be something significant to their culture. Don’t know enough about them to even venture a guess,” Shade told them.
“I bet those foul creatures chose six, thirty-eight, seventy-seven,” Carhein told them.
“Why would that be the combo?” Stomper asked.
“On the thirty-eighth day of Salun, the sixth month, in the year two hundred and seventy-seven, the disparate tribes of Gloom Elves banded together to form their kingdom. That day was also the day that symbol was created,” Carhein said as he pointed at the wall with the picture.
“Not that I doubt you, but how do you know all this?” Stomper asked.
“T’was my most glorious of missions to hunt down the infestation of Gloom Elves. I had to learn everything about them to fight them.”
“Damn, dude, you could just say you read it in the lore compendium,” Shade huffed.
Stomper smiled at Shade’s comment but tried the combination Carhein suggested. When the final number reached the top of the dial, a small click echoed in the cavern and rumbling rocks caused everyone to turn their attention to the space with the symbol. A panel on the wall the size of a standard door popped backward a few inches and then gradually slid into a small space in the rock.
The party looked into the new opening and saw a flight of stairs leading down.
“Excellent work, Carhein. Let’s go find what we came here for,” Stomper said as he clapped the fighter on the shoulder.
Everyone pulled out their weapons and tromped down the stairs. Stomper took lead with Carhein following him. Atlas came next, and Shade brought up the rear.
The sight at the bottom of the stairs caused them all to freeze in their tracks. Glistening steel walls stretched down an expansive corridor. It looked like the stereotypical hideout for an evil mastermind. All they needed now was a team of henchmen to dispatch around the world and steal treasures for them.
A message pulled his attention from daydreaming about a favorite old game of his.
Caution! You have entered Restricted Area A11. Only approved moderators, game masters, and designers are allowed in this zone. Leave now or the Guardian will be activated!
“That
