6.04a - Breaker's Mining Camp

Anneleigh returned to Whitefall, as instructed, but staying clear of Sanctuary also made it difficult to find an assignment.   Night after night for a week she haunted the tavern, hoping to discover citizens in need of her assistance, as she had her first day in the village, but the residents seemed to avoid her gaze and left the room if they found her listening.  At week end, she decided to post a notice on the tavern public board and leave, hoping that someone would seek her out in a less public atmosphere.  Her assumptions paid off when a small dwarf found her in her quarters the next day.

“Excuse me, Lady.” said the dwarf.  “I know you are probably quite busy on official Guardian business, but I would beg a moment of your time.”

Anneleigh sighed.  “I’m not busy at all, at the moment.  I’ve been asking around for a week and no one has needed my help.”

To her surprise, the dwarf nodded. “I’m not surprised.  After news spread of Kain’s displeasure, no one is particularly keen to be seen talking to you.”

The dwarf’s words triggered the connection.  Of course the residents did not want to anger Kain.  They would see his temper being tested by her last mission and would stay clear of her out of fear.

She motioned for the dwarf to sit.  “What can I do for you?”

“I do a lot of business with the people of Whitefall, and these are troubled times for them.  They could use a hero and asked me if the Guardians could assist them in their time of need.”

“I cannot speak for all Guardians, but I will be happy to help if I can.  What do you need?”

“There is a small camp in the outbound pass that has sent word.  They did not say what the trouble was in their letter, but if you would go and assist them in any way you can, I’m sure it would be appreciated.”

Anneleigh arrived in Outbound Pass within the hour and sought out Watcher Natham as instructed.

“Sumptor sent you?  By the will of Thedeor!  Having an Ascended here will surely turn the tide!  I hope the stories of your prowess are true, because we’ll need a hero of legend to survive what’s coming.”

Anneleigh blushed slightly, still unaccustomed to the pride people showed towards her.

“The pass is not safe.”  A woman said, “A few nights ago, Abyssal cultists overran Breaker’s mining camps on the Icewatch Ridge.”

“Few survived the cultists’ wrath, and now the Abyssal hold the ridge.” said a second man.

 “With the ridge taken, we are cut us off from Icewatch Outpost.   We don’t know what they want with those sites, but we know we need to find out.”

Anneleigh nodded her understanding and returned her attention to Natham.  “I will do what I can to find more information.  Wait here and fight off any Abyssal who may try to take your camp.”

Natham gave her a salute; Anneleigh stifled a laugh and turned to make her way up the ridge. 

The spot was not hard to find.  The mining seemed to have been disturbed in mid operation and the machines still worked noisily.  Using the noise to cover her crunching footfalls, she made her way into the camp.  Looking around in different areas she found several documents.  One of the pieces of parchment was covered with the maniacal etchings of an Abyssal cultist.  Among the bloody runes one name was clear, Icewatch Outpost.   She rolled up the parchment and put the document into her satchel.

Observing the camp as quietly as she could, Anneleigh found little information that she thought could be considered useful.  The Abyssal seemed to be continuing the mining that they themselves disrupted.  Once or twice she watched them stop and retrieve a stone tablet from the ground.

Anneleigh skirted the Abyssal camps until she found their research tent.  Sneaking inside, she pocketed one of the smaller tablets and fled the camp at a run.  She rounded a large tree to get out of sight and fell headfirst into a snow bank, having tripped over a crouching dwarf.

“Are you an Ascended, Elf?”  The dwarf whispered.  Anneleigh nodded.  “Please help me.  Cultists attacked our camp a few nights ago, and I was lucky enough to escape.  The Abyssal enslaved the other miners and work them endlessly in that cave.  When someone becomes too exhausted to work, the Darktide Dreadcasts ignite their heads.  Please help my friends.”

The look of disgust must have shown on her face because the dwarf broke into a smile.  “You’ll help us then!”  He said with relief.  “I won’t forget the service you’ve done for us.”

“You should get back to Whitefall.” Anneleigh directed.  “You may need medical attention.”

The dwarf shook his head. “They haven’t hurt me, or found me yet.  I’m going to remain here and catalog the movements of the cultists for the Icewatch.  See you back in town?”

Anneleigh climbed the small hill until she found the cave entrance.  It was heavily guarded and she was unable to find a disguise.    She removed her dagger from her belt and continued inside, killing any Abyssal who chose to stand in her way.  At first, the thought of blood on her hands, in both senses of the word, sickened her.  She made herself focus on the hateful act these cultists were doing, and were sure to do in the future.  The idea that she might be helping to turn the tide warmed her to the dead of their deaths. 

It was a slow process, but with each death one or two of the prisoners regained themselves and fled the way she had come.  At last she reached the bottom of the cave, which opened into a large room.  At its center a raised dais and several stone pillars, though the area was not in use.

Returning the way she had come, through the cave that was now empty of both Abyssal and prisoner, she found her way back to Oathbound Pass.

“We’ve seen about 15 miners run by on their way to Icewatch.  How did you find them alive?”  Anneleigh recounted her story and explained about the dwarf who decided to remain behind.

“I’ll go fetch him.”  Natham said to quiet the worried looks on his fellows’ faces.  “Now tell us what you’ve learned.”

Anneleigh extended her hand with the small tablet.

“The breakers must have uncovered these tablets during their dig, which is what attracted the Abyssal.” said the woman.

“Bavik, you go to the Chancel,” Natham directed, “Consult with the lord-protector to discern their origins.  If the Abyssal are seeking these out then their true purpose is dire for us all.”

Anneleigh reached into her satchel and retrieved the parchment.  “There was also this.” She said, holding out the document.

Natham read quietly for a few moments, shaking his head.  “I cannot decipher the runes, but if the Abyssal are plotting something in that stronghold, then the Icewatch need to be alerted.”