Prologue
In their camp at the edge of the desert, the young and black-haired scholar, Hemsra poured over his maps, notes and journals. Anxious to the brim about what they might find within the desert. His colleague and best friend, the aged, homely man Ezra gently tapped on his shoulder. "It is time. Don't worry, so much Hem. If our theory is true then we go into history forever. And if it isn't we simply go back to the drawing table." The Jolly old man laughed. "I know, it's just... I don't like it. These 'Guides' of Valanor, I don't trust them. Especially that Damask." The Tattooed, bull-faced giant of a man named Goro had been imposing at first but he was ultimately a man of simple pleasure, and gentle a heart. The masked companion aptly named "Damask" on the other hand was thin, whispy being. He couldn't have been more different from his companion. Damask adored his entire body in a long robe, gloves and shoes made of leaves and other plants, as opposed to Goro who wore nothing but a loincloth made of similar materials. And to top, it all of Damask bore that creepy, wooden, engraved mask. Showing nothing of his skin save for those orange, candle-like eyes that seemed to burn the very soul of whoever dared to look upon them. Even Goro avoided his companion's gaze like the devil. "I don't like them either," Ezra replied with a deep sigh as his wise rimples seemed to deepen, "but without the permission of the Valanier we couldn't have gotten this far." Hemsra nodded sourly, it had taken them months to simply gain the permission of the Valanier and their druids, who believe there expeditious to be a foolish man stepping on the toes of Gods. Compared to what they might find, getting along with these guides is but a minor price to pay.
For hours they toiled through the dust-filled lands of The Pale Desert. A desert unlike any other in the world, for its sand, is not yellow but a grey, ash-like substance. Many myths speak of Great Fire that once ragged upon a luscious forest that stood here. However such wild ideas do not explain why the ash has remained, or why anything refuses to grow there to this day. But if our theory is true, we can debunk the myth forever. Hemsra thought as he let out a thin smile.
"There we are," Bellows the bold voice of Ezra. And truly they had arrived at their intended destination. Up close the great Black Tooth of the Desert looked even more impressive than Hemsra could have ever imagined, reaching higher the most church towers he had seen in his life. "Now do your work, Clock-men." Spoke Goro, as his notrils seem to flare like a bull. Yeah, yeah of course. You impatient brat.
Prying loose the black stone of the tooth was no easy task, it took them hours to get even the tiniest bit. After successfully prying lose the second sample, Hemsra heard it. *crack* "Did you hear that, Ez?" "What?" Ezra replies as he peels lose the third sample. The second crack no one could have missed, for it was loud and the ground shook. The Ash beneath there very feet slipping away as they got dragged under. The moments Hemsra found himself in pitch blackness at the bottom of some pit. An intense pain took over his arm. *It seems I have broken something* "Ez!" He called out as loud as he could, "EZRA!" after a long, painful moment, the answer finally came "Hem! Is that you?! I can't move my leg is stuck under some rubble. "Ok, keep calling, I'll find my way over to you." He Followed the sound of Ezra's voice. Struggling on the uneven ground within the darkness. But he believed he got closer with every step, in spite of his broken arm. "Wait I hear something, is that you Ez?" Hemsra whimpered. Light taps pass echoed through the pit, too light to be human. "Who goes there? Is that you Damask?" After a brief silence, he listened carefully, finally realising that Ez had stopped calling. "Ez, Are you still there?!" No response greeted him but the echo of his own voice. The silence lasted until a clicking noise, echoed through the pit. Sort moments of silence kept being interrupted, Click, tap, tap, click. slowly encroaching on Hemsra. What by the Clockwork tower is that noise No sooner had this thought passed through his as he heard a click right behind him. He turned around to see, a pale shadow flashed before his eyes. Soon after he tumbled through the air. Only after landing and rolling through the dirt did he realise. I am just a head now, so this is how it ends. Perhaps the Valanier were right, after all, we did open Pandora's Box.
For hours they toiled through the dust-filled lands of The Pale Desert. A desert unlike any other in the world, for its sand, is not yellow but a grey, ash-like substance. Many myths speak of Great Fire that once ragged upon a luscious forest that stood here. However such wild ideas do not explain why the ash has remained, or why anything refuses to grow there to this day. But if our theory is true, we can debunk the myth forever. Hemsra thought as he let out a thin smile.
"There we are," Bellows the bold voice of Ezra. And truly they had arrived at their intended destination. Up close the great Black Tooth of the Desert looked even more impressive than Hemsra could have ever imagined, reaching higher the most church towers he had seen in his life. "Now do your work, Clock-men." Spoke Goro, as his notrils seem to flare like a bull. Yeah, yeah of course. You impatient brat.
Prying loose the black stone of the tooth was no easy task, it took them hours to get even the tiniest bit. After successfully prying lose the second sample, Hemsra heard it. *crack* "Did you hear that, Ez?" "What?" Ezra replies as he peels lose the third sample. The second crack no one could have missed, for it was loud and the ground shook. The Ash beneath there very feet slipping away as they got dragged under. The moments Hemsra found himself in pitch blackness at the bottom of some pit. An intense pain took over his arm. *It seems I have broken something* "Ez!" He called out as loud as he could, "EZRA!" after a long, painful moment, the answer finally came "Hem! Is that you?! I can't move my leg is stuck under some rubble. "Ok, keep calling, I'll find my way over to you." He Followed the sound of Ezra's voice. Struggling on the uneven ground within the darkness. But he believed he got closer with every step, in spite of his broken arm. "Wait I hear something, is that you Ez?" Hemsra whimpered. Light taps pass echoed through the pit, too light to be human. "Who goes there? Is that you Damask?" After a brief silence, he listened carefully, finally realising that Ez had stopped calling. "Ez, Are you still there?!" No response greeted him but the echo of his own voice. The silence lasted until a clicking noise, echoed through the pit. Sort moments of silence kept being interrupted, Click, tap, tap, click. slowly encroaching on Hemsra. What by the Clockwork tower is that noise No sooner had this thought passed through his as he heard a click right behind him. He turned around to see, a pale shadow flashed before his eyes. Soon after he tumbled through the air. Only after landing and rolling through the dirt did he realise. I am just a head now, so this is how it ends. Perhaps the Valanier were right, after all, we did open Pandora's Box.
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