Legend of Ransera

The gaping mouth of Wraedan's Maw, as cartographers of yore had dubbed it, loomed before the stalwart adventurers as they disembarked and descended the gangplank of the airship Nachtherr. The vessel, true to its nomenclature, had arrived at the landing zone by night, and so most of the party (those with normal, human eyesight) hadn't been able to take in the breadth and grandeur of this southerly point-of-entry into the dreaded Warrens.

Shouldering his travel pack, Brenner was the first to step onto terra firma, where he was followed by Piers Lightborn, the hulking man he'd hired to serve as their ranger. He was technically a member of Myles Arnnett's tactical team, though he'd only answered to Brenner thus far and had only met Myles very briefly during the mission briefing and on their flight over from Zaichaer.

"Here we are, Ladies and Gentlemen." Brenner enunciated, as he swept round to regard the others who were assembling at the foot of the ramp. "I'll spare you another of my speeches, and give the floor- or rather the grassy knoll- over to our sterling ranger and guide for a quick run down of what we should expect as we delve. Piers?" Brenner had to reach up to pat Piers on the back, which was answered with a gruff nod as the tall man looked to the clump of hopefuls.

"I have spent more time in the Warrens than a body has a right to. That wasn't by any choice of my own, but it's outfitted me with knowledge that will hopefully keep most of you alive. Now..." He met Eitan's eyes, "To be very clear, I've never used this point-of-entry and I don't ken the tunnels we'll be exploring..." He looked, next, to Stefan. "But I've done my research in preparation for this mission." His eyes met Myles', "Pored over old tomes, and spoken to them what have made forays through Wraedan's Maw. So, as we make our way into the depths, the main danger I'd like to put you on alert for..." His gaze lowered to catch the ethereal eyes of the diminutive Lysanrin, "...is creatures what rely upon stealth to stalk their prey. They don't manipulate aether to conceal themselves, mind. All your fancy aetherial powers aren't like t'help," He glanced sidelong to Brenner, "...nor is the aura glass you commissioned that may aid us further down in the depths." He crossed his arms over his broad chest and peered across at the group as a whole,

"Like chameleons or octopods, many of these creatures can manipulate their appearances to blend in with their surroundings. That means you need to be on high alert- everyone one of you. You won't always be able to rely upon your eyes, so make sure you keep your other senses engaged. Smell something funny? Alert the group. Hear a rustle against the wall? Point it out. I'd rather you irritate me by marking every little anomaly you observe, rather than ignoring something that gets party members killed, yeah?" He paused, waiting for acknowledgement before proceeding.

"Good. I believe a watch order has been established and disseminated, yeah? Four shifts per rest. First time we camp, I've got Dienerin and Dornkirk the Elder on first watch, followed by Albrecht and Angevin..." He paused and turned to look at Brenner, "Did you intentionally pair people up based on the first letter of their surname?" He arched an eyebrow, but glanced back down at the list, "Oh, nevermind. Dornkirk the Younger and Arnnett are on third watch, followed by Evanson and myself on fourth.

"I'll do my best to locate camp sites that optimise security. I've marked off a few spots based on my research that might serve us well, but whatever the case- It's absolutely paramount that you keep your wits about you and really focus on your surroundings when we camp, yeah?" Again he waited for acknowledgement, then took a step back. "All right. That's all I got." And with that he grunted, nodded and looked to Brenner.

"All right! Last call for supplies from the ship, but otherwise? Off we go!" The Air Commander grinned broadly. This was it. The culmination of his entire life to date was truly upon him. All of his work... his education, training and all of his beliefs were wrapped up in this and so, too, was his future. His chest swelled with the pride of it as he regarded each member of the party, attempting to memorise the moment- Every detail of each of their expressions as they prepared to change the world. Albrecht and Lightborn were hardest to read, but Brenner was feeling too optimistic to let that mar the moment, even if he marked it.

Brenner stepped between Stefan and Eitan. He placed an arm around either man,

"Here we are, gents." He began, guiding them toward Wraedan's Maw, "Let us into the abyss..."

With Jonah's help Myles strapped on the last of his armor taking comfort in its reassuring weight. He couldn't think of too many injuries beyond gravity and fire that could surmount armor out in nature. Stomping off the ship he rang of triumphant chain and plate. Jonah in his hardened leather walked behind him with a new spear in his grip this one with a one half the blade serrated for utility. Stepping out he saw Brenner preparing to make his speech, Myles grinned knowing that the man had prepared a speech to kindle his men for an harrowing adventure. “he sure loves his speeches” Jonah whispered behind him. “If you ever want to climb rank, you'd do well to love em too” Myles retorted. “Charisma wins wars Jonah.”

Listening to Brenner speak he nodded along approvingly and eyed the ranger with new interest as he spoke. Deciding that he'd do well to keep pace with that man and learn what he could from him Myles planned to make the most use of his armor by keeping himself between whatever dangers arose and those who would ensure their safe return to the surface. Thus the ranger would be a priority until Myles could match his navigation skills. He disliked being calculating but those who lacked survival skills were less likely to keep them all alive than those that did. “You'd do well to hang on every word that comes out of Peirs's mouth Jonah.” This time it was Jonah's turn to retort back “When'd you get so preachy Myles?” Deciding not to cuff him then and there he wondered if there wasn't some truth to his lieutenants words, perhaps it was simply his fondness for Brenner but he'd personally always enjoyed the pep the man brought to the scene.

As the the reality of their venture set in Myles and Jonah stared towards the gaping hole in the ground. He wasn't sure who intended to take the lead but assuming Piers was going to be the one to do so Myles stepped in near the man and grinned as he heard Brenner say "Let us into the Abyss” It sounded like the man had already repeated the words a hundred times in preparation to say them. "Aye aye Captain Brenner" Myles said winking at their leader and sending him what he hoped was a reassuring grin as they marched towards their destiny.

Day 1

Brenner chuckled at Eitan's query. He found it oddly amusing to focus on formality as his old friend posed a point-of-order ere they trod their inaugural steps into the beyond and below.

"Let's stick with captain, as not to get confusing. Consider me a..." He shrugged, "Squad Captain, for the sake of argument." The ranks may not have aligned perfectly between branches of the Zaichaeri military, but Brenner had spent his life seeking captaincy and, Science damn it, he was going to cling to the title for as long as he could- Even if it was mitigated and finite.

The first few steps into the mouth of the cavern were yet bathed in the morning light that crested over the hills to their rear. It felt unnaturally abrupt how quickly that ceased to be the case. Darkness seemed to hold greater dominion here than it did in the world without... Or perhaps Brenner was just being overdramatic. Whatever the case, Piers paused them at what seemed to be the border between the realms of light and dark, and set about lighting lanterns and assigning people to bear their literal torches ere trudging further into the penumbral-pitch darkness.

Time passed quickly at first. The rush of adrenaline that propelled them forward made the hours fly by while their focus and attention were sharp. Pier's dread warnings were fresh on their mind at first, but the Warrens were an insidious place and the fell fiends that inhabited this corner of it were clever. And patient.

The party pushed themselves over the course of nearly ten hours on the first day, before Piers pointed out a relatively secure spot to serve as their first campsite. Brenner was glad to stop. He felt like his body could have trekked on for far longer, but his mind was starting to wander. He felt his focus fading and he knew that he wasn't as alert as he'd been when they set out. He was sure most of the others would be feeling similarly, if not worse, by this point. Being so prepared for action, the complete lack thereof was utterly unnerving. He was starting to see more and more movement in the shadows, but he couldn't ascertain whether it was one of the camouflaged creatures about which they'd been warned or simply a trick of the mind. Whatever the case, Brenner was relieved to yield up some of the responsibility to the First Watch. If he was slain in his sleep, it was on their heads not his own and, oddly, there was comfort in that. Comfort enough that he slept well despite their dismal, threatening surroundings and needed to be nudged thrice before waking to take up sentry duty himself alongside the strapping Myles Arnnett.

Day 2

"Insidious, clever and patient." Those words kept coming to mind in later days, and would feature heavily in Brenner's log of the events to come. Their first encounter with inhabitants of the Warrens didn't come until midway through their second day, when minds were beginning to wander and Piers' warnings of the prior day felt like a distant memory. The Warrens sent their first salvo in the form of large, bat-like creatures that swept down from the stalactites above them as if emerging from the shadows themselves and lashing with their razor sharp talons. Piers, true to form, had been first to sound the warning that put the others on alert in time to expel the attack- slaying one of the creatures, and setting the others back to their perches in the distance above. Brenner congratulated the team, lauding their prowess and alertness, unaware that their first conflict had been little more than a test of their defences.

Days 3 & 4

There would be more such instances with various creatures as they trekked. Sometimes it was when they were all together, but increasingly the attacks seemed to emerge when the group split up- When a pair stalked ahead to scout an offshoot to the path, or when two stood sentry as the others slept. They were being harried. Haunted day and night by threats great enough to exhaust them. Tenderising the meat for the feast to come.

Day 5

"Halt!" Piers held up a warning fist as the he promptly armed himself and assumed a cautious stance. After a pause, he gestured for the others to approach slowly. As they rounded the corner, they could see his face awash with a dim, but shifting glow emanating from what appeared to be some sort of subterranean, self-illuminating forest. The odours that met them didn't seem to match the view, but the party didn't have time to process the landscape as the sound of a primal roar pierced the air and echoed through the grim expanse of cavern that lay before the edges of the ethereal forest ahead of them.

"Arm!" Brenner shouted as he caught sight of a large figure charging toward them, "Arm yourselves and prepare to engage... whatever the fuck that is!"

Day 1

The march's beginning was uneventful the quiet and dark of the gaping wound in the ground called the warrens quickly consumed the adventuring party. Tromping along in heavy armor Myles grimaced as he trudged along with his heavy load thankful for the first time for the many miles he'd had to trek up tell now in the service. The uneventful hours were filled with much chattering from Jonah who seemed to have the horrible habit of wanting to talk the more nervous he got. He knew he hated being hushed as a grown man but Myles was often forced to do so as he tried to hear each and every new sound the warrens produced.

Each of the parties various members seemed to be coping with the changes to their environment. Their guide walked with a comfortable ease, others gawked wide eyed or slowly gave into nerves as was the case with Jonah. Myles for his part was excited. He was ready to face any foe if it meant the acquisition of a weapon that the enemies of Zaichaeri would quake at the sight of. With that in mind that fervor carried him to the site of their first camp where Myles praised his luck at avoiding first watch, quickly crawling into the confines of his tent and plush bedrolls as soon as he and Jonah had pitched them.

Day 2

They came as quickly as they left with little more than a shout and a screech of warning Myles raised his shield just in time to deflect a set of raking claws. Jonah quick on the draw the swatted the creature away with the haft of his spear, producing an indignant shriek as the creature retreated with its companions as one was felled. Turning to his lieutenant, Myles was met with the most smug looking Jonah he had seen in a long while.

“If I didn't know better, Myles, I'd say that startled you”

Rolling his eyes at his lieutenant, Myles snorted, “To be fair, you don't often think to look up so far down.”

Soldiering on for the rest of the day, Myles now glanced upward more often than he had before, even on his complains topside. Jonah, for his part, while smug, also seemed far warier than he had before. Pondering what might challenge them next, Myles wondered if this was the Warrens showing its teeth, a mere warning at best.

With that in mind, Myles resolved to not allow himself to relax for the remainder of their trip.

Day 3-4

As they delved deeper into the Warrens, the ecosystem's spite manifested stronger and quicker with each league they descended. As the conflicts grew more numerous and harrowing and more and more dents and abrasions on his flesh, he found himself smiling. While the others were for the most part, unnerved, Myles found himself in a familiar scene, constant and harrowing combat was not new to the infantryman, who with locked jaw set his blade on all who approached the party. By the time they neared the end of the fourth day, Myles and Jonah's arms and armor were stained dark with the blood of the denizens of the deep. While the others grew tired, Myles found himself galvanized by the conflict. In his mind, each stroke of his sword cleaved them closer to their destination, each strike against his shield and every blow against his armor, he counted a boon as he kept his comrades safe and sound. Even in these depths there was no darkness Zaichaeri light could not banish.

Day 5

Alerted by the horrible roar of a beast far greater than any they'd thus encountered, Myles head snapped up his reflexes took over. His purpose clear Myles met the challenging roar with glee. Heavy steel boots dug into the earth as Myles charged out of his throng of comrades putting himself between the creature and them. As it charged towards them Myles opened his mouth and let out his own frothing roar as he too charged the creature, raising his shield to bash his would be opponent in its open maw.

It was not so devoid of intelligence however to simply collide with him head on. As they neared each other the freak lion of the deep reared and swiped an arm like the trunk of a small tree towards his head. In this moment the crack of gunfire had already filled the air and whatever ordinance that had struck the creature managed to slow it enough for Myles to dodge the strike, ducking into a deep crouch now nearly beneath the beast. Springing up with his shield still held aloft, he slammed his iron clad arm into the Fungelion's core with a resounding clang of metal against wood. The creature, more gasping than roaring now, tumbled across the ground. Before Myles could confirm a kill against it. He found himself now facing three more where one had stood, the beasts leaping over their own downed friend and forcing Myles to leap back as he swiped his sword and cursed at the beasts before him.

Brenner unshouldered his pack and tossed it out of the way, promptly drawing his rifle as he listened to the report from Beeman, who seemed to recognise the creature's species, and the recommendation from Stefan, which struck him as a sound one based on the information thus far. They were fortunate that the glowing foliage (or was it fungi?) broadened their field of vision beyond the limitations they'd suffered in prior corners of the Warrens. The boon to their eyesight also afforded them more time to prepare as the odd entity bounded headlong in their direction.

"You heard the man! Form up, and I want levels. Taller shooters stand, shorter shooters take a knee!" Brenner dropped to one knee, in so saying and took aim as others began to circle up around him.

"Shooters, fire at will! Loaders, keep 'em coming!" He instructed as he loosed a round toward the creature taking up the vanguard. He handed the rifle back without bothering to look at whomever accepted it and passed back its replacement. He was lining up for another shot when none other than Myles Arnett blustered into his firing line.

"Scheiße!" He snapped, through a snarl as he heard Stefan over his shoulder drawing attention to the additional threats emerging from behind the luminescent surroundings.

"Keep low, Arnnett!" He commanded over the din of blasting rifles. Everyone with a firearm was experienced enough that he didn't worry overmuch about Myles being struck by an errant bullet as long as he kept his head down. They were aiming for the heads, so it would have to be a wildly bad shot for Arnnett to take any friendly fire.

Of the four incoming attackers, Myles had incapacitated one and another took a headshot as it bore down on the enthusiastic young knight. The other two took only glancing blows, and made for the phalanx of riflemen, loping past Myles and making for the larger group.

"Brace for melee combat!" He commanded, trying to get off one more shot before dropping the rifle in front of him and drawing his sword. The imposing Piers Lightborn raised his warhammer and slammed it into the side of the malodorous beast that had been darting toward Brenner, sending it tumbling sidelong and slamming against a stalagmite. Brenner swung his blade down to behead the beast, blinking in surprise as his eyes landed on the ghostblossom that protruded from the ground where the head rolled from the rest of the body.

At least if they survived this, they were on the right track. He shook off the notion, and returned to the moment to assess the situation. Stefan and Eitan were engaged with the other creature that had hurdled into their group, and Myles seemed intent on making sure the two in his vicinity stayed down for good. Lightborn's focus was holistic, his nostrils flared, his eyes were wide and his ears perked, surveying the surroundings for additional threats- Fungal or otherwise.