Stone and Stele

Stone and Stele

Together Kaelen, Blena, Alster, Tajan headed towards the valley keeping the stone steles in view. Their new acquaintance Rintaron stayed to support his ailing veylborn friend even if that meant he was just there with her in comfort. Kaelen led the way east towards the high hill that had the view of both mountains. The deep snow made progress slow and difficult, and their feet slipped where the sun had melted the snow and it had reformed as a thin layer of ice. “I wish I had some fruit burr straps on my feet right now,” said Blena trying to avoid slipping on the now perilous path.

Later they reached a flat platform ledge overlooking the valley and the river below and on which sat 3 giant stone steles. They approached the steles and Kaelen moved himself behind them until he could see Monolith Peak and Pinault Mountain in the spaces between them. “Well, would you look at this? Exclaimed Kaelen. The others quickly gathered to his viewpoint and started to interpret what they saw.

“That line on the first stele lines up with the angle on Pinault and then down again onto the middle stele.” Interpreted Tajan.

“Yes, and it does the same from the second to the Monolith and then under it, but how does that help us?” Belena questioned wanting a simple instruction instead of the ridiculous puzzle so that they could get on with things.

Just then Rintaron arrived and caught his breath and after assessing what he had missed, pointed to the line and proposed.. “It could be a pathway, a line to walk , a map?”

“Well nice of you to join us Rintaron and the cryptic maybes are just wonderful”.. Said Belena....

A gust drove loose snow between the steles. Through it, Kaelen heard his name.

He turned. For a moment he thought it was Tajan, though the voice seemed to come from farther away than anyone could have stood on the narrow ledge. There were more words, broken by the wind. She is here. Then nothing.

Tajan was still looking at Rintaron. Blena brushed snow from her sleeve beside him. Kaelen glanced through the gap between the stones, but there was only the valley below. He waited for the voice to come again.

“How is Gertina?” Asked Alster

“She phased out and didn’t show up again..that tower’s beams are to blame and this message will stop it.. That’s why I ran.. We have to do something.”

“Well let’s go with a map...it seems logical but which map and where do we start and if it is a map why after all these years are we the ones just noticing now?

“That’s a lot of questions Tajan and I am with you, ....seems unlikely that if it is a map that nobody has ever stood just here and noticed that before.” Kaelen responded with typical clinical thought.

Rintaron thought for a moment and said..“But the writing was new.... On the tower, it wasn’t there before and now it is and this could be new too. “That seems like a ridiculous statement that there is new carving on a millennium old rock and stone but if I hadn’t seen everything going on at the tower, with Gertina and the door myself I might have doubted that but.... you might be right. This could be new.” Kaelen surmised.

“Ok. New like magically appeared or new like someone with a chisel and hammer last night in the snow and sub zero temperatures like an icy pecking bird?

“Tajan has a point,” Kaelen chimed in again. Look again at the carvings they weren’t from last night but they have no lichen or wear on them compared to the stone. This is a literate vandal...”

“Sure,” said Alster “But to what end? Why go to so much trouble to leave a message? And I still can’t see a connection to the tower and the pulsing energy that it is belting out.”

“Me either and standing around here talking about it isn’t getting us anywhere. Let's go back to the monastery and see if the crestrealm monks can elucidate."  Said Tajan.

“Ooh, elucidate ! Did you learn that one at the academy? Teased Blena.

Yes, actually you would be surprised what education can do for you. Tajan said as she pulled her mouth to a long closed smile.

“All right you two not in front of the guests,” Kaelen reminded them that Rintaron, many years their senior, would not be impressed.

The team investigated the site a little more and coming up empty agreed that going back to the monastery was the right next move.

The path down hill was still slippery so they decided to walk in the unpacked snow for grip.

"Hey, be careful," Kaelen said to Blena as she stepped close to the edge, but a guardian isn't trained for caution as much as bravery and she stepped right up to the precipice. As Blena crept out onto the snow overhanging a cliff to avoid the path. She was mindful of the wind but still eager to push on back to the monastery when she slipped a little and let out a guttural “Whoh!” Her arms failed and wound around in the air and she found her balance and returned to her default stance. She had nearly slipped off the edge. Her voice had carried up into the mountains and then second later she heard a huge crack followed by a terrible rumble.

Kaelen’s caution had come too late. The snow above them was turning into a white cloud and then it crumbled beneath Blena's feet, and the cliffside gave way. The  movement everywhere around them released another mighty crack that echoed down the valley.

Alster looked at Kaelen and managed to get out, "I don't think that is a good sound." As soon as he had made his sarcastic comment, Kaelen lost his footing, pitching forward as he slid at first, then was thrown down the slope. A deafening roar filled everyone’s ears as snow rose in thunderous clouds behind them.

Regaining his balance, Kaelen ran as fast as his legs allowed. Fighting his way out of the falling snow, he headed towards a safe looking rock platform to the side, avoiding the collapsing snow from the mountainside. Alster threw out a hand to Tajan, who managed to lock hand over wrist and pull her in. As the snow cleared Belena pointed and said “There”. Rintaron had gone the opposite direction and was safe but on the other side of a wall of fresh snow. Kaelen called out softly.. “Everyone ok? It was a close call and a dangerous moment but fast reflexes had served them all well.

Alster was a little mad after the heart-accelerating moment and said to Blena, “You  nearly brought the whole mountain crashing down on top of us. Can you not!” but that was it.. Alster was loud and the rumble began even louder.

Thy Quests
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