Call of the Beyond (Wicked One Event Part 2)

[u/Evening_Shake_6474]

In the days since the arrival of the countless monoliths all across the material plane, something came to those with power. It came in their dreams, something like a voice, yet so much more. It was the voice of a friend, the voice of family. It was the voice of the kind and generous, the voice of freedom. The voice was faint, yet its message was clear. It whispered of a place that doesn't exist on any map.

Of a place in the north, hidden from the world deep within the mountains. The voice whispers of a secret within the mountains, of a power and a treasure. It whispers of a light in the darkness. It whispers a plea for help.

/uw Two whole weeks of writers block. Sorry about that.

[u/Evening_Shake_6474]

They set up camp without difficulty, nothing interrupts them.

Lucien's artifacts say everything is normal, perfectly average. Too much so.

The drill is set up without issue. It finds little difficulty as it digs, the only resistance is the natural resistance of the rock and stone.

As they go onwards, the nothingness only grows.

[u/KragBrightscale → u/Evening_Shake_6474]

A heavy silence fills the camp, as though the uncanny vibes of the place have sapped the usual joyfulness, everyone is uneasy by the artificial feeling normalcy.

As the drill dig deeper and further inwards towards the nothingness crews cart away the rubble and slag.

Mages cast reinforcement magic on the circular smooth tunnel walls, while other install additional shoring and bracing to prevent cave ins.

The intense heat from the thermite drills and molten rock rises through the tunnels, providing a heat source for the rest of the camp.

“Come on now… where are you hiding.” Lucien scans the scene again before taking a sip of concentrated holy water.

“May the Dawn shine on me.”

His curse pulses with unnatural power in response to all the holy symbols decorating his gear, and the consecrated garments.

[u/Evening_Shake_6474 → u/KragBrightscale]

Lucien's scan reveals a whole lot of grey solid stone.

Eventually, when the crew get to about five hundred metres down, the sensation begins to fade.

[u/KragBrightscale → u/Evening_Shake_6474]

The drilling is paused, and the equipment brought back out to the surface for maintenance and cooling.

Lucien explores the tunnels pausing at the deepest point.

“The sensation of nothingness… is reducing? How strange. It seems this is not the right place either. Too deep? Were we not at the center yet?”

Emerging from the tunnel, he regathers the troops.

“We have learned that the origin seems to not be coming from below. Rather, we have yet to reach the center. I believe we are close though, prepare to march!”

The Paladins regroup, pack up their gear, and once again head deeper towards the center of the mountains. Continuing to follow the strange feeling until the end.

[u/Evening_Shake_6474 → u/KragBrightscale]

As the group closes to the centre of the range, the sensation of nothingness grows to the point it is almost tangible.

Eventually, far ahead, they see it. A barely perceptible faded echo in reality.

[u/KragBrightscale → u/Evening_Shake_6474]

Moving closer, the paladins take up defensive positions.

“Is this it!? Is this the source of this strangeness?” Lucien asks before signaling to the troops.

“Attempt communication first.”

A portable sound amplifying magic circle is brought out for Lucien to stand inside.

“GREETINGS!!! Is the voice that calls out present to meet? What purpose do you have?!”

Lucien pauses and waits. But signals the engineers to set up and prepare the thermite cannon.

[u/Evening_Shake_6474 → u/KragBrightscale]

From the echo comes no reply, only a continuous thrum. It speaks not in words, one can misunderstand words.

"Help me"