3.04 - The Deeps

Anneleigh followed the forest road downward towards the base of the large waterfall.  When she finally approached the waykeepers they were surprised to see her but regained their composure quickly.

“An ascended!  Thank the vigil!  My scouts narrowly avoided capture escaping the Deeps.  One reported massive stockpiles of goblin venom.  They could poison our entire water source with a supply that large.”

“It gets worse.  That is no ordinary venom.  The Guardians at Gnarlwood Post have analyzed its components.  It has the ability to rapidly grow a person’s size and strength.”

The waykeepers put their hands to their mouths in shock.  “So they do not plan to use this as a weapon against us directly.  More goblins we could handle.  We would push them back.  It would be slow, but it could be done.  Stronger goblins – that is a fight I fear we will fail.”

One of the waykeepers stepped forward.  “Then we have no alternative.  Destroying their venom stockpiles will enable us to wipe out the goblin war band.”   She handed three small packages to Anneleigh before even voicing her plan.  “These bombs will be enough to demolish their canisters. “

Anneleigh was startled but accepted the packages.

“I agree.” said Anneleigh.  “Do you have any thoughts on where to begin looking?  You and your scouts know this area better than I do.”

The waykeeper, who must be waykeeper Sharla as she seems the most in charge, looked around.  Anneleigh was confused until Sharla began to call a name.  When no one answered she returned her attention to Anneleigh.

“Waykeeper Darion is our best scout.  He’s ventured into the Deeps many times and always returned unharmed.”  Sharla said.  “Sera, have you seen him return?”

Sera shook her head.  There was sadness in her eyes.  “He’s been gone over three days now.  If he were here, he would be your best guide into the Deeps.   You should find him.  He will lead you where you need to go to plant the bombs.” 

Sharla put her hand on Sera’s shoulder.  “I don’t think ...”

“I refuse to accept he’s dead.” Sera said quickly, cutting her off.  “Not without some proof.”

Anneleigh nodded and tried to mirror Sera’s determination.   She was unsure if she was convincing; she, too, believed Darion would be lost to them if he failed to return after three days.

“I will do my best,” Anneleigh said, “but Sara, you must soon begin to put him to rest in your mind.”

Sera shook her head and walked away before Anneleigh could say anything more.   Anneleigh held the packages under her left arm and drew her dagger from her belt.   “I will find him, and if I cannot, I will do my best to find the stockpiles before the goblins have cause to use them.”

Anneleigh descended the steep path that lead around the edge of the area of Gloamwood known to locals as The Deeps.  Though it looked like a quarry, it was actually the result of water erosion from the large waterfall that fell into the area.  Since Telara’s beginnings, it has thundered downward, carving out rock and sand until a time when the height of the falls could grow no further.  Since that time the Mathosian Empire has grown and crumbled, leaving behind the architecture that proved this area was once inhabited by a civilization more cultured than the crude Wanton Goblins.

The further she descended the louder the falls roar became.  She hated this sound pressing against her ears.  It limited her ability to sense her pray and left here quite vulnerable to the ambush of any goblin who watched her approach.

When she reached the bottom she stopped to scan the area.  To her right she heard a quiet call, though it was almost too far away or too faint to hear.

“Back! Stay back or end up like your friends!” The man shouted at her as she approached him.

Anneleigh had deliberately replaced her dagger to her belt before climbing up the outcrop of rocks to the man’s place.   Even still he saw her as an enemy.

“Wait... you’re no goblin.  Vigil be praised!  I don’t know how you found me.  I was injured in a skirmish and managed to crawl here.  For days, I’ve kept low and avoided the goblins, but I could feel time running out.”

“Are you Darion?” Anneleigh asked him.  “Sera has been very worried.”

“Aye.  I knew she would worry, but I had no way to get her word.  I barely survived a clash with brutes under the influence of some type of goblin enhancement serum.   I could see Nizak, Graul and Buguk, their Gedlo leaders, chanting them on from their place in safety.” 

Anneleigh went white.  “I knew about the serum,” she said, showing him the bombs, “but I did not know their leaders also held camp here.”

To her surprise, Darion smiled.  “I knew if the waykeepers ever found me I would redeem the honor I lost to my injuries by relaying information about this camp.  I have been watching them for days and I think I know a way to completely destroy this camp, the goblins, and their leaders in one shot.   You see the goblin leaders are very mistrusting – even among themselves.  Each day one is tasked with going to the supply of elixir to check its levels and inspect the guard.  But even though only one is charged, they always go together.  I believe the two left behind are always afraid that whoever is inspecting that day will use the serum and come back to kill the other two, claiming sole leadership.”  Darion shrugged.  “I may be wrong.  But whatever their reason, they always go together.  If you plant the bombs to dispose of the stockpile while the three are there, you will no doubt knock out everyone involved.”

Anneleigh smiled.  “I think your plan may work.”

Darion described for Anneleigh the place he had found the stockpile, pointing out key areas of weakness and the place he believed would offer her the cover she would need when the bomb detonated. 

“Are you feeling strong enough to come?” Anneleigh asked him when she was ready to depart.

Darion shook his head.

“Then I will tell Sera where to find you when the dust has settled.  Hang in there for a few more days and you will be back with them very soon after.”

Anneleigh drew her dagger and left the outcrop.  She approached the river’s edge near the waterfall and used the current and turbulence to both propel and disguise her until she reached the bridge.  From there, she found it quite easy to slip up among the foliage along the far bank of the river and observe the goblins.   It was as Darion described.  Not far from the river was a large vat of the elixir.  Around it, the goblin guard.  However, they appeared to only guard the front of the stockpile.  Darion’s suspicions about the goblins seemed to hold true for even the lowest soldier.  They were not protecting the stockpile from the Ascended, they were guarding it from each other.  

She watched, unmoving, until she saw the trigger Darion suggested.   One of the leaders began to walk towards the storage but was halted by the other two.  Their resulting argument caused everyone to turn and watch.  Using this to her advantage she quietly approached the encampment, planted the device under the stockpile and waited.  When they began to approach, as three instead of one, she lit the fuse and dove back into the river.  The current carried her swiftly downstream to a large bolder which would act as her cover and shield.  She had just enough time to wipe the water from her eyes before the three leaders reached the vat and began their inspection.  As they were crouched to see the underside, the explosion knocked everyone backwards, blew the vat into the air and caused the metal canister to rain down shards of debris.    Anneleigh knew she had succeeded when the droplets of elixir began to fall, landing on the goblins with no effect.