6.09a - The Tablet

With the guards out of the way Anneleigh was free to study the tablet for a few more minutes; enough time to decipher the last few clues she needed.

“The last phrase refers to Hammerknell Fortress,” she thought to herself, completing the fragmented clue she used to lure the guards, “No one has been in Hammerknell Fortress since the dwarves were forced out.  This is troubling news if the Abyssal think they can get in there.”

 Anneleigh sighed and returned her attention to the tablet.  “and there is a fragment about an artifact, but the words become blurred the more I try to study them.” She shook her head to clear her blurry thoughts.  “Commander Calthyx cannot be allowed to share the knowledge he has learned in this place.  Without their leader, the other cultists will lack the guidance to continue their search.” 

She sat down on a chuck of ice and thought about the abyssal, considering where she would most likely find their commander.  “Since the Abyssal are still excavating this site,” she thought aloud, “there must be another tablet they are searching for.”   She stood up quickly.  “I have to prevent them from translating that tablet.  It may well doom their chances of ever finding him.”

Leave the cave the way she came in, Anneleigh searched the others for a similar excavation area.  She knew she had found the right place when she came across a cave entrance littered with pick-axes and explosives.  These remains sparked an idea in her mind and she gathered some of the supplies before moving deeper into the cave, at the end of which stood Commander Calthyx hunched over a partially excavated tablet.

He must have heard her footsteps on the icy rock, because he turned as she approached.  “I hear Moonshade Highlands is a beautiful place this time of year, Ascended.”  He said to her in a strangely seductive voice.  “If you join us in our quest, I will allow you to walk freely from this place.  All I need you to do is translate the last piece, here on the bottom of this tablet.”

Anneleigh raised an eyebrow at him. “And why would I do that?”

He frowned.  “Not so quick to protect your life then, a pity.  You will have to die for your beliefs.”

He took a step towards her, but Anneleigh had anticipated his approach.  She lit a stick of explosives and threw it at the tablet.

“NO!”  Commander Calthyx shouted as he tried to catch the stick of dynamite before it reached the cave wall. 

“What are you going to do with it when you catch it?” Anneleigh laughed at him as she took cover behind large outcrop. 

The commander foolishly caught the explosive and made one futile step in her direction, in the direction of the cave exit, and was blown to pieces as the dynamite exploded.  

Anneleigh shook her head at his stupidity while she crossed the cave towards the tablet, taking care to avoid the piles of gore.  She set up a second explosion at the base of the tablet, lit the fuse and ran for the exit.

When Anneleigh returned to the Radiant Guard at the base of the mountain side, she turned to see rock-dust continuing to billow into the sky. 

“It looks like one of their caves has collapsed.”  Lana said.  “Would you have anything to do with that?”

Anneleigh smiled.  “They will not be reading the last clues from that tablet.  I made sure of that.”

“Well done, Anneleigh.  I fear this may not have been enough to stop the Abyssal’s quest permanently, but we will be on guard in case more show up to continue the effort.”

Lana motioned to Anneleigh, and the two of them walked arm in arm to her tent.  When they entered Anneleigh was surprised to find she had a guest.

“Anneleigh, you did great work here, but I believe the time has come for you to leave us.” Lana said and then nodded to the guard.  “Daro will explain.”

“I’ve travelled from Stillmoor, seeking the aid of Ascended.  The endless court wages war against us, against the living, and we are in need of heroes like you.”

“I am no hero,” Anneleigh said, attempting to be modest, “but I will do what I can.  Will you show me the way?  I have never been to Stillmoor.”

The dwarf smiled sadly at her.  “It was many years ago, a different time and a different name, but you may soon realise the error of your assumption.”

 

I know you Rift players who love the IPP story arc are yelling at me.  "You're going to Stillmoor?  You missed the best part of Iron Pine."

And you'd be right, but think back, friends, to where I started her journey in The Pines.  I have deliberately left out this major story arc, as it plays beautifully into the roll up to the new expansion zones.  In fact, that piece of the Iron Pine Peak story, really should come chronologically after all other pieces of the puzzle have been played in Mathosia. 

I have much more story to tell in The Pines.  First though, we must book-end the Mathosia story arc, bringing it back to where it all began.  I am looking forward to Anneleigh's return to the place of her Ascension.