20240305 TAS Ayleid Steps – Dungeon Dabblers
“Well, let’s go to Cheydinhal and meet with Captain Aurum. While there we can make inquiries at Mach-Na's Books, The March Rider, and The Cheydinhal Fighters Guild. Maybe they’ll know of anyone who would want to start a business in the new city of Mir Corrup.”
Ah, Cheydinhal, the Garden City of Cyrodiil. It was late when we arrived at our home in Cheydinhal. A bite to eat and we retired for the night. The next morning, our first stop was the Fighters Guild, where Burz gro-Khash told us he would not recommend anyone from the Cheydinhal chapter.
“What? With those two people I have around here? First think, then talk!” Burz gro-Khash bellowed.
Stopping by the March Rider and Mach-Na Books wasn’t any better. Neither Tertia Viducia nor Mach-Na had anything to say about expanding to Mir Corrup. The only thing left to do is to head up to the castle and look for Captain Tertia Aurum.
Entering the castle, it was easy to spot Captain Tertia Aurum in her highly polished armor. She was the silvery moon pacing nervously back and forth across the antechamber floor. We could tell the normal stoic Captain Aurum was extremely anxious about something.
Spotting us waiting atop the entrance steps, Captain Aurum approached and began telling us of a robbery that had occurred several days ago. The target was a merchant carrying a large number of Welkynd stones. Captain Drush Dedalus and two Cheydinhal guards witnessed the robbery and gave chase.
The bandit fled to the Valus Mountains, dropping some Welkynd stones as he ran. The guards, recovering the dropped Welkynds, continued chasing the bandit high into the mountains. At one point, the bandit activated an Ayleid step and disappeared. Sending one guard back to Cheydinhal to report the action, Captain Dedalus with the second guard, used a Welkynd stone to continue the pursuit. It’s been days with no word from the missing guards.
“… I want to know where they went and what happened to them.” Captain Aurum concluded, “So how would you tackle this?”
Something in her voice told me that the captain was letting her emotions cloud her thinking.
Kaleah thought so to as she leaned close and whispered, “Careful, she’s wound up tighter than an over wound clock.”
“I need to question the returning guard.” I replied. “That’s the first thing.”
“Good. His name is Jaros Kuneo. He can tell you where that Stepstone is. All you have to do is go there, activate the Step and find the watchmen. If they live, help them to get back to Cheydinhal and collect your usual reward. If they are dead... I just want to know. Needless to say I will then be very disappointed in you.”
“What? Why? Now wait a minute,” I objected. “I'm not responsible."
“I am not so sure of that.” Captain Aurum snapped. “'Someone' has activated these Ayleid Steps, did they not? You, perhaps?”
What the, she’s blaming me for the guards’ disappearance. I started to object again but Elenya caught me, “Truth serves the balance.”
“Yes,” I truthfully replied.
“I thought so,” Captain Tertia replied disdainfully. Anger and frustration could be heard in her voice. “We have no time to argue about responsibility. This is very urgent. Now get going. You will find watchman Kuneo on duty somewhere in town.”
Curtly dismissed, we left to find watchman Kuneo. Fortunate for us, Watchman Kuneo was leaving the guards barracks as we were exiting the great hall. Introducing ourselves, we explained that we were being sent to find and rescue Captain Drush Dedalus and the missing guard.
“Here to help find Captain Drush and officer Quinta?” Watchman Kuneo responded. “Captain Aurum told me some Stepstone expert would show up. She was pretty upset, was she not?”
“Yes,” I said. “Any idea why?”
“Not really sure,” watchman Kuneo said. “Rumor has it that Quinta is a close relative of Captain Aurum’s, but who believes rumors. Anyway, it’s lunchtime now. Meet me at Fort Farragut in a couple of hours and I’ll lead you to the Stepstone they used.”
Two hours later we met up with watchman Kuneo at Fort Farragut and we began the trek up into the Valus Mountains. Past Rickety Mine, past the ruins of Kemen we climbed eastward until we finally stopped at an Ayleid Step.
“
This is the stepstone they used when they disappeared. Good luck finding them.” The guard called out as he started back down the mountain.
Using a Welkynd stone the stepstone took us to another stepstone in the middle of nowhere. Activating this second stepstone took us to the Lost Ruin of Thul. It was here that
we found Captain Drush, standing around looking lost.
And, he was lost. Disoriented, out of Welkynd stones, frustrated at being unable to find a way out, fearful that Watchman Quinta may be dead, Captain Drush Dedalus had all but given up hope that he’d ever get out.
“I didn’t know. No one told me the Welkynd stones could fail leaving you trapped inside a ruin.” Captain Dedalus mumbled over and over.
“Where is your subordinate?” I questioned.
“We lost each other in a fight.” Captain Dedalus admitted. ”We will have to find her as well as an exit, and quickly too. I hope she's still alive. I think Captain Aurum will kill me if Quinta Petrolium dies.
“Why?”
“I do not dare ask her,” Captain Dedalus replied. “Not my business. Maybe they’re sisters, who knows?”
Thul, it turns out is not a large ruin, it’s just that every doorway leads to a room that looks exactly like the room you just left. That and it is full of undead monstrosities: ghouls, ghosts, lich, mummies, and other such monsters.
Sai the God of Luck was with us, officer of the watch Quinta was in the very next room. While the Field Hippies and Captain Drush held off a murderous pack of ghouls, I raced down the stairs to catch Quinta before she could leave the room
(you’ll never find her if she does or at least I couldn't). With watchman Quinta Petrolium safely undertow it was time to find the way out of Lost Thul.
The stepstone found in every room are useless. They just take us to another room in Thul. How many rooms are in Thul, we don’t really know. We stopped using the stepstones after the first couple got us nowhere.
Instead, Elenya tried talking the wall stones into to pointing the way out. This can be a very time-consuming ordeal. Unlike living plants, stone is very dense and slow to speak and the haughty “I’m so much better than you” marble is the worst. We had gone through several rooms in the maze that’s called Thul before the stone decided to point the way to a hidden door.
A section of the wall slid open to reveal a long dark hallway leading to an exit door. Two giant spiders barred the way. Quickly and efficiently, Pym and Elenya drew their swords and cleared the hallway of the spiders. Excited to have found the way out, I opened the door and without looking quickly stepped out into the frosty morning air of the Jerall Mountains.
You know casting a teleportation spell is near impossible when your mind’s only thought is to hold on tight to the cliff face. Fearing to look down, I kept my eyes focus up. That didn’t help much when I realized I was starring at Dive Rock. The only thing I could think of was to slowly, finger hold by toe hold, descend the rocky wall.
Carefully, we began the arduous task of descending the cliff. Pym, Elenya, Captain Drush, and watchman Quinta did quite well considering, they weren’t really dress for rock climbing. There were a few slips but my winged warrior, Kaleah was hovering about to help them regain their footing. It took most of the day (10-minutes real time) before we touched ground not far from Aerin’s Camp.
(I really didn’t think it would work but as long as I faced the cliff and didn’t run, I slow walked down the mountain side.)Torbern, the current resident of Aerin’s camp allowed us to sit and rest awhile to gather our strength. A short rest, a little food and drink and we were refreshed enough to continue our journey to Cheydinhal.
By the time we reached Cheydinhal it was 9:00pm. Captain Tertia Aurum was anxiously waiting our return. Not daring to hope for officer Quinta’s and Captain Drush’s safe return, Captain Aurum was overjoyed when she saw the two officers of the watch.
She thanked us for rescuing the two Guards of the Watch and bringing them back safely. Funny though, when she said that she had all but given up hope of ever seeing them alive again, I got the distinct impression that she was talking of Quinta.
Captain Aurum did not have time to deal with us directly or listen to our report. Instead she directed us to officer Kuneo to get our 300 gold reward. With that, Captain Aurum abruptly left.
When picking up our reward from Officer Jaros Kuneo we asked if he knew what was up. According to Jaros a mage, an elderly Aldmer from the Mages Guild, came to talk to Captain Aurum. They had a long discussion in hushed voices. After which Captain Aurum prepare to leave Cheydinhal, telling Jaros that she had an urgent message for the Elder Council.
How strange, an Aldmer from the Mages Guild? He must be mistaken. I know of no Aldmer in the Mages Guild. Some serious business is going on with these Ayleid Steps and I intend to find out what.
Then with a knowing wink, officer Kuneo mentioned that Quintas has been reassigned to the Imperial City.
Well, well ain’t that something.
My Ladies, with exaggerated yawns, subtlety reminded me how late it was. We returned to out Cheydinhal home for some well deserved nap.
This post has been edited by macole: Mar 7 2024, 07:15 AM