"Ah! Praise be unto the Fardaughter, she has guided us willfully toward the sacred grounds of the ancients. Our prayers have been heard, our fate is surely woven in the eternal dream."
"Woah, Is that it?"
"Fucking finally, my legs are killing me"
"You were bound to get tired, I did warn you back in Rinsaad." Pyro taunted.
"Fuck off, rustlicker."
"Come now, there is no need for hostility after we've made it this far together. The ruins are finally in sight…"
In the distance, ruined structures and a tall spire came to welcome us. After our little rest at the oasis, we had spent two more nights in the desert until at last we had finally arrived at the excavation site. Our time traveling was spent relatively easy and calm, few beasts and no problems. Having now arrived at the excavation site, we were hoping to meet some form of welcoming party, yet none arrived.
"It's too quiet, where is everyone? Shouldn't there be a surveyor or some salvagers here to greet us?"
"Attention journeymen, mercenaries, salvagers and whatnot, may we have your attention. There has been a change in our plans, we would like the members of the forward advance to scout the area ahead for any signs of the excavation team." A guard called out.
"Wha- just like that?" Jaro retorted.
"Shall I enforce the rules?" A nearby guard threatened.
"Tch, no need. I'm moving, I'm movin."
As we were forced to proceed forward reluctantly, it gave those of us in the forward advance time to soak in our surroundings. Though we were in a bunch of old ruins, it was a nice break from the endless desert view whilst we were traveling. Much of the buildings here were made of stone, and there didn't seem to be a single person in sight. It was then that we stumbled upon the center of the ruins where other groups had stopped to look at the strange scene that stood before us.
"These are... ruins?"
"What happened here… is this what awaits us?"
"Oh goddess, shield us for what we may come to witness…"
Its center structure was an inward square set of stairs that seemed to scale up from the bottom, where some form of stone was centered on a flat staging ground. Compared to other ruins related to The Network, this one appeared to be so much different in design. At least, that's what I overheard other people discussing in their conversations. After all it's no secret that I've never been to The Network myself. However while I was focused on the layout of the ruins, everybody else was in awe of what they were seeing crawling up from the stairs away from the staging ground, it was unlike anything anybody had seen before. Their faces twisted in agony, their corpses seemingly caught trying to claw their way out of the hole right before their death. Their skin pale and dry, yet their veins bulged an inky black. The chilling realization began to sink in as those around us began to realize what we were witnessing. The final fate of what appeared to be the excavation team stood before us, a horrifying sight and a most tragic fate. Just what happened here…
"Within its depths, the Fardaughter is unable to keep a watchful eye. Avert your eyes and keep your distance, lest you suffer the same fate." The Magistrate intervened.
"Just what happened to these people, Oracle save their souls."
"Their bodies must be purged in fire so that they may pass on to The Eternal Dream. Come now brothers let us spark a fire!" One man spoke out, I recognized him as one of the few that helped Pyro back at the oasis.
"No!" The magistrate shouted. All the lowkin were taken aback at his exclamation. "Ahem, pardon me, but I do believe it would be best that their families know of their fate before they are burned. It would be a cruel offense, if not a sin, for their families not to see them off themselves, do you not agree?"
"Th-That's true…" The man relented.
"I wouldn't want my family to see me as ashes at first sight..." Some muttered.
"We shall leave them with you… we are willing to help if need be." The others conceded.
"Very good." The Magistrate cooed. "Ah, but I do believe I have everything covered, though I do appreciate your enthusiasm. But please save it for the journey ahead." He grinned.
"What right do these republic dogs have to tend to our dead when they have never spared a thought on our well being. How could they suddenly care about our kind when they are so easily displeased, having a lowkin killed for having done so little as to spill some wine on their rugs. All these so-called 'patricians' and subservient magistrates are two-faced liars so long as it suits their needs. Does it not make your blood boil, comrade?" Pyro objected.
"Right… I agree...." However I couldn't process his frustration as I found myself lost in thought.
This black, tar-like substance leaking from these corpses was certainly nostalgic, though it didn't help that it also brought up some unsavory childhood memories with that woman… To think I'd actually find it here, the scent is faint but there is no mistake of the bodily nectar that I so fondly remember… Having confirmed the situation within the excavation site and the status of the corpses, there was no doubt in my mind that what the information broker had told me was the truth. Yet I couldn't help but find it strange, these corpses were fresh, not the mummified remains I was informed of. Just how did these poor souls succumb to its effects… Is this what I have to look forward to…? I found myself briefly staring at the palm of my hand before clenching it tight. No, I can't lose focus. With everything I've seen here, there is no doubt in my mind that I will find that which is unwanted.
"A pity, truly. Rest assured, we shall take very good care of your brethren… You there, guard!" The magistrate snapped. "Inform our patrician of our findings and take these corpses away, I assume you know what to do… Do not fret, the scene before you is naught but a consequence of those who failed to take caution."
"Bloody Oracle, just what the hel happened here." Jaro muttered.
"Nothing good, I fear these were the other victims of the excavation team that had accompanied my comrade before his disappearance." Pyro stated.
Watching as the kindorian soldiers took away the corpses of the departed, I found that all that stood before us now was the imposing stone monument which seemed to hold some importance. Seemingly towering to unknown heights, it was bewildering to see, yet somehow vaguely familiar. "This stone… just what… is it?" Ignoring the horrifying scene that once stood before us, my gaze was locked onto the grand spire.
"Oh? Are you curious about that obelisk?"
"Huh? Ah, maybe… It's just so tall, it's kind of hard to ignore." I laughed my interest off, albeit temporarily. "But I can't help but feel that it's… somehow familiar…"
"It's possible you've seen them in books or pictures, those Dizwiz stones. They were once said to be of vykin origin, though it's been disputed to predate their empire as the runes engraved on its surface are of some archaic language, one we've yet to fully understand. The ruins here also differ greatly from those found elsewhere, above ground, which are made of metals rather than the old stone found here."
"Dizwiz… that's a silly name."
"Silly as it may be, they were of great importance to those in the past just as they are now. Scholars have come to decipher some of the runes written on its surface, for these stones have a history. This obelisk is a monument in honour and name to a great giant of yore, Tuisto. Born of this very world, he was said to have served as its keeper, safeguarding its existence and ensuring its secrets are kept hidden. So for him to be this world's gatekeeper, these stones in turn were the gateways he used to traverse the world. Though he was not so selfish as to use them for his own exclusive use. For he was a champion amongst the giants of yore, different from the Jotnar we know today. He shared with them everything he owned as he saw himself no better than his brethren, for his achievements were attributed to all giants and the like. However, like anything, things are forgotten as the world moves forward. Yet despite how much the world may move on, time never forgets. And time has been kind to these ancient monuments, maintaining their function in order to fulfill their purpose, all so that his legacy would live on. These Dizwiz stones serve as the marks he left on this world, and so the twixt remains open so long as they still stand.
"That's certainly a lot to take in…"
"Indeed, I just couldn't help but admire the altruistic nature of those giants of yore, the selfless concern for their own kind. Perhaps that's where the Vykin failed, where scholars theorize there might have been internal conflict… had they learned to work together for the better… well, who knows. Regardless, the remnants of the past seem to hold such significance even in the realm today. In turn, we must pay respects to those that came before. As such, the twixt, or twist is derived from Tuisto in memory. Built for his people, these gateways shall remain open for him and his kin, or at least for those who find themselves in possession of the key."
"A key… Is that right… Well let's hope our patrician brought one with him, or if he really wanted to impress us, a living giant of yore. The giants seemed to have a knack for craftsmanship, and here I thought they were agents of destruction. I'm thinking of taking a closer look…"
"Indeed, curious, is it not? One would think these stones were made with the miraculous ingenuity of those divine architects and engineers who reside in Nidavellir. Will humanity ever find themselves capable of traversing to the realms beyond our own? ...But I digress, let me accompany you to the obelisk. It's certainly a sight to behold no matter how many times you've seen it."
After the corpses of the dead were taken away, I felt myself seemingly allured to the obelisk. Having now come face to face with it, I realize just how tall the structure was, seemingly towering out of the inward stage and far above the ruins, it was certainly monumental. I traced my hands against the runes etched upon its surface, somehow mesmerized by their appearance. It was somehow familiar to me… I… I'm feeling ill all of a sudden… my head is throbbing... my vision is… what is this?
"Guh!" I clasped my head in an attempt to ease the headache, yet the throbbing continued to worsen. A ringing in my head, echoes of a far off voice… it was as if someone… something… wished to tell me something… just who…
It wakes...
The little one, it no longer dreams...
I can go on no longer...
Descend into the cradle… The sadness is too much to bear...
"Wha- I don't understand…"
"Grit, is everything alright?"
"Huh…? No… Something was said to me just now… but I can't seem to remember what it was… what… what was it?"
"Ah, perhaps I've said too much. I apologize for rambling, I only assumed you were interested in the history of these stones as much as I was."
"No, there was a voice just now…"
"A voice? I don't believe I heard a voice. Are you sure you're alright?"
"No… it's nothing. I'm fine, thanks. Seems I've gotten lost in thought is all."
"Is that right… Well, we all suffer from a major headache now and again."
"Yeah…"
As I attempted to recover from my little episode, the patrician and magistrate had begun to form a ceremony near the top of the staging ground. We all began to gather round and hear what they had to say. I put aside the thought of what I had thought I heard, likely a memory from my past that came to surface, that's all… that has to be it. I gotta stop dwelling on the past, nothing good ever comes of it… Nonetheless, there were more important matters for me to focus my attention on…
"Greetings and apologies for the horrifying scene you were subjected to. I wish I could have presented myself under more suitable circumstances. However, in regards to the lives lost, It was an unexpected result of having lost contact from the excavation team after a sandstorm cut off communication in the region. Unable to contact them through radio, we had no idea that the excavation team suffered such a fate."
"Lying bastard, he knew full well what happened here." Pyro muttered.
"Alas, there is no time to mourn. Though that is not to say that the effort of the excavation team was for naught, for their efforts unveiled the Dizwiz stone you see before us. As such, I'm sure you are well aware that the success of this mission rides on your dedication, so please stay focused. Regardless, the excavation of the Dizwiz stone is only but one part of the equation, for what is a door without a key." The Patrician gestured toward the magistrate. "Magistrate Lar, I shall give you the honor of informing the masses."
"Thank you kindly, it is a great honour, I shall not disappoint." The Magistrate bowed before the patrician. "I present to you, the key to our success." The magistrate gestured to two acolytes, seemingly dressed in priestly attire, assisting each other in presenting a rather large decanter of dark liquid to the patrician. Its contents were all too familiar to me...
"A most wondrous gift bestowed upon us by our most beloved, Chief Imperator, who with his kindness, graciously funded our endeavour. This gift is a most precious resource, found scarce across the realm's surface yet abundant within the depths of The Network. Behold! The nectar of the ancients, the-" I immediately recognized that black, tar-like substance.
"Well now, isn't that…" No, it couldn't be...
"The Black Mead…" I muttered.