The Darkmarch seemed endless. A crippling darkness for as long as one could see. The most recent pathway the group of three had taken led straight down into a water filled floor. The path itself had opened up into an enormous room of unknown size. They passed by pillars of stone which held up the ceiling. Following nothing but their own torch light into the dark.
"So.. Do you guys actually know where this bandit camp is supposed to be?" Jakurk asked in the nicest tone possible. They had been wandering for hours within what seemed to be a never ending abyssal plain.
"Nope, but that's half the fun of the adventure" Equa's response did not trigger a feeling of comfort within Jakurk but rather one of dread.
"Relax, while we don't know where they are we know where they aren't" Gnist held out an artifact, a light blue crystal which created a small hologram of light, a blue map which showed every passage and room its owner had traveled through.
"That's a Sylt stone isn't it? an expensive artefact, impressive" Sylt stones were rare to come by, they were a magically enchanted crystal that would create a map out of nothing but light. The original stone would emit a faint light of its own, an enchanter would place certain rules upon the stone to force it to create a map.
"My torch was even more expensive and far more impressive." Gnist glared back at the old mage. She would not let it go, not ever. Jakurks eyes fell on the Sylt stone wondering if he could get it as a prize whenever the other mage challenged him for another duel.
"I know" Jakurk smiled as he triumphantly spun around the metallic torch in his hand. Its orange flame breathed warmth upon his face.
"How about a rematch?" Gnist was ready to fight, she wouldn't play fair this time, she'd use quick spells, better footwork and she'd earn her torch back.
"Anytime, friend" Jakurk felt confident in another quick victory, with this fancy torch he had much more freedom with his spells and their cost.
"Stop, let's take a break. According to the map, we are about 150 metres from a light tunnel" As much as Equa could both see and understand his friend's anger. He did not want to risk attracting unwanted attention from the dark tunnels with a display of magical fireworks.
"I could do with a break, got any food?" Jakurk could feel his old legs aching. His stomach turning and his old tired eyes losing focus. Yep, just another day as an old man.
"Dont you have any food of your own?" Equa looked worriedly to the old man, judging by the fact he had no back pack, and that most of his pockets seemed fully empty. It would seem that he did not carry any of his belongings himself. Likely they were together with his party members from whom he had separated from.
"Nope, but that's half the fun of the adventure"
Splattering water against soaked boots. A shipped breath gained from running an uncomfortable amount of time. The bandits name was Eyemik, a grass folk, islander who had just joined the bandits cus it seemed like an easy way to make some cash, it was better than fishing or so her best friend had told her. The same best friend she had seen split wide open by the hound.
She had to keep running, had to keep moving or else it would surely catch her. Now there was nothing chasing her except her own delusions but those delusions were enough to keep her blood pumping. She wouldn't have to run much further. Soon she'd be within the dark march and soon she'd be among her friends at camp. They could surely win against a wounded hound and then they could retrieve her comrades' corpses without any issue. Just two more tunnels left and she'd be within the dark.
"For such a small group as yours you've sure got some good food" Jakurk, Gnist and Equa stood around a campfire in the middle of the tunnel just before the dark march ghastly darkness. They had made it to the midpoint between the third and second floor one could tell by the shallow puddles of cold water here and there. IT made lighting the fire a bit harder than on the upper floors but the extra struggle was worth it for some warm food.
"Weve got a good cook to" Gnist stated confidently. On the fire was a frying pan painted with oil sizzling away at some dried pieces of meat on one side and some square cut vegetables on the other.
"You cook?" Jakurk looked at his fellow mage.
"No, Equa does" Gnist pointed at the drakyr lying low by the fire. Adding heat to the flames with his own breath, then reaching over the pan's side to stir or sprinkle in a few southern spices.
"Yea that makes sense" The high born within Jakurk could recognise its own ilk. Gnist came from a rich background no doubt, judging just by the fact she was a mage, and also by the fact her Torch now his torch could fetch for up to fifteen gold or more in the right market. So she was likely not the type of person to cook her own meals.
"What? You think I can't cook?" Gnist's cold eyes flared up. And Jakurk felt like he should have chosen better words to express himself or not have spoken at all.
"No, You just don't give the impression of someone with high culinary skills..:" Jakurk stumbled over his own words. Just because he couldent cook diden't mean she couldent. And he realised he came across as quite rude, which was not his direct intention.
"Equa, move aside, im taking over" Gnist curled up the sleeves on her padded wool robe. Its orange colour matched her red hair. Equa seemed almost saddened to give up his role as chef but nonetheless he backed off. "Typichal velsk behavior, steal my torch, beg for our company, eat our food" quietly Gnist racially profiled the old mage as she steered the pan with pure focus.
"Hey just because I'm old doesn't mean I can't hear" Jakurk sat down by the fire carefully observing the younger mages cooking looking for any small mistake. She had made it personal and she was going to regret it.
Velsk was a word used to describe all the Velsk cultures of western Askmark. The Velsk were split into four groups the Dulvelsk in the north around Keyheart lake, The Ankvelsk along the north west coast, The Carvelsk in the south western forests, and the Brivelsk in the central hills and forests. All were originally Velskans, one of two big cultural groups the split from the Aarysh some two thousand years ago.
The other group was called the Ketlions grass folk of eastern Askmark. Ever since the two cultures split they have hated each other, more than they've hated other races, species or peoples. That trait trickled down even to their far off descendants.
"So you're what? a Baalion? well you do seem to have the hospitality of one" The Baalions lived in small secluded kingdoms in the central east of Askmark, they were known to be rude, loud with short temperament and a heavy drinking culture. Some said they had the best wine in the world. They also like most of the cultures on the east end of Askmark, loved horses.
"Ha far of im Hejneck born and raised, and I wouldn't have it any other way" The largest group of Earth folk in the world were the Hejneck, they lived in the central north of Askmark, their cities sprawled from the northwestern coast all the way into the central fertile and holy valley of Kilimantuck right in the centre of the continent. They were a race united under the same banner bearing the same name as their people.
"Hejneck.. How'd you end up there" Something in the old man's tone shifted.
"As I said I was born there, It's a large country of many peoples, mostly earthfolk, but many, many others" Gnist seemed happy to recall the memories of Hejneck. A land where cities would lie far above the clouds engraved into the neverending sea of mountain peaks. Life was simple, harsh and free. There was little discrimination in Hejneck and that which existed befel only those who did not pray to the right gods.
"That reminds me of some place i used to know" There was a quiet longing in Jakurk's voice, their argument was put on hold for now.
"What was that place like?" Gnist shifted around the frying vegetables, making sure none were to get burnt in the flaming hot oil. She too did not wish to argue anymore.
"Well, it was warm and.." Jakurk had closed his eyes in order to more properly visualise the place which came to mind. He could not notice the approaching danger. Neither did Gnist too focused on the food and flames. Equa who stared into the darkness of the dark march managed to catch a hint of it in the corner of his eyes, something not from the darkmarch but rather the dimly lit watery tunnels behind them. A screaming, whaling incredibly tired bandit who did not see the party in front of her, nor the fire and pan.
The bandit ran into the campfire, tripping over herself she fell head first into the puddle on the other side of the fire. The fire itself was split into two, embers of which fell on the two adventurers closest to it. But that wasn't the biggest issue, no the bandit had kicked up the pan into the air, boiling hot oil hit Jakurk's face like rain on a warm summer day, Although he was lucky as Gnist got a chance to feel what a burning hot frying pan to the face felt like.
"IT GOT ME THE HOUND THE HOUND IT GOT ME OH HAVE MERCY, MERCY IN YOUR SOUL" Eyemik vailed. Tears running down her face accompanied by the dirty water of the floor. Gnist was knocked out, a large red mark on her forehead showed where the brunt of the pan had hit her.
"AAAAGHAGGGHAGGAAA AAAAGAGHA HAHAHAGAGGA" Jakurk on the other hand did not receive any beauty sleep. He rolled around on his back still unknowing of what even had happened. He did know however that oil hurt like hell.
Equa the only one who had not been affected by the fireplace, or traumatised by the hound could only watch the horror and the chaos. Unfortunately it did not seem like the party would gain any rest today.