[The path is quiet despite the gentle sound of rain- uneven stone steps pattering with building puddles of no consequence. Come morning the ground will only be dampened to hint at the night's weather, gone by noon under a harsh early-summer sun.
None of which, of course, has any bearing on the situation before him.
He'd come at the behest of one rumor or another and no Estinien to accompany him this time on an ill-fated venture. Some tall tale of hidden cities and glowing, ephemeral lights that vanished when one came too close. He had chalked it up to a mirage at most and had marveled that this star still yet had surprises to reveal this close to home when it had proven true. But that was the beauty of it, was it not?
It seemed of the ancient world at a glance, prompting him to wonder if it was mere coincidence that he should encounter so many of these structures now after his time spent in the ancient world, or if they had always been there- waiting to be recognized by a wandering eye.
Unable to keep himself from it, he traced the outer walls with a gloved set of fingers, following those familiar angles while noting that these buildings did indeed seem to dim to nothingness if he ventured too close. For what reason, he had yet to fathom, but it did lend an eerie aura to the entire settlement- as though the buildings themselves were ushering the unknown wanderer away. Begone. There is no light nor refuge for you here. Like a tale murmured 'round a campfire in his youth. The notion almost made him smile as he finally withdrew his hand and continued on his walk to the apparent main-structure of the settlement. This one, much like the others, became enshrouded at the edges as he got closer, yet clung stubbornly to corporeal form despite- enough for him to push open a door much larger than himself. (One already slightly ajar, thankfully. He'd not quite forgotten his woeful attempts in the past.)
Inside- it was much as he expected. Ghostly afterimages of angular wall lights casting a warm (if flickering) glow upon sharp, perfect walls and gold glimmering engravings leading to a desk that towered above him. As he stepped inside the structure, wondering what could prompt the appearance of this city after all this time- something to do with the events of the final days, perhaps? he was startled when his next step seemed to send a ripple through the building, causing it to glow a sudden blinding white- not unlike the pillars of light when he called upon the power of Azem. And as the brightness grew and grew- until he was forced to cover his gaze for fear of going blind- all he could pray was that he hadn't entered a trap.]
⤞mintdisaster
[The path is quiet despite the gentle sound of rain- uneven stone steps pattering with building puddles of no consequence. Come morning the ground will only be dampened to hint at the night's weather, gone by noon under a harsh early-summer sun.
None of which, of course, has any bearing on the situation before him.
He'd come at the behest of one rumor or another and no Estinien to accompany him this time on an ill-fated venture. Some tall tale of hidden cities and glowing, ephemeral lights that vanished when one came too close. He had chalked it up to a mirage at most and had marveled that this star still yet had surprises to reveal this close to home when it had proven true. But that was the beauty of it, was it not?
It seemed of the ancient world at a glance, prompting him to wonder if it was mere coincidence that he should encounter so many of these structures now after his time spent in the ancient world, or if they had always been there- waiting to be recognized by a wandering eye.
Unable to keep himself from it, he traced the outer walls with a gloved set of fingers, following those familiar angles while noting that these buildings did indeed seem to dim to nothingness if he ventured too close. For what reason, he had yet to fathom, but it did lend an eerie aura to the entire settlement- as though the buildings themselves were ushering the unknown wanderer away. Begone. There is no light nor refuge for you here. Like a tale murmured 'round a campfire in his youth. The notion almost made him smile as he finally withdrew his hand and continued on his walk to the apparent main-structure of the settlement. This one, much like the others, became enshrouded at the edges as he got closer, yet clung stubbornly to corporeal form despite- enough for him to push open a door much larger than himself. (One already slightly ajar, thankfully. He'd not quite forgotten his woeful attempts in the past.)
Inside- it was much as he expected. Ghostly afterimages of angular wall lights casting a warm (if flickering) glow upon sharp, perfect walls and gold glimmering engravings leading to a desk that towered above him. As he stepped inside the structure, wondering what could prompt the appearance of this city after all this time- something to do with the events of the final days, perhaps? he was startled when his next step seemed to send a ripple through the building, causing it to glow a sudden blinding white- not unlike the pillars of light when he called upon the power of Azem. And as the brightness grew and grew- until he was forced to cover his gaze for fear of going blind- all he could pray was that he hadn't entered a trap.]