Terra Audax Land of the Bold Terra Audax Location Pronunciation Ancient Dwarven tongue: Major Cities Audaxian/English: Ecra Siredis Star City Area‟hps Eic‟alg Ice Sphere Mai Recam Stone Wall Oleac De Land of the Sky Mirautnas Ingi Fire Sanctuary Siram Sidnuforp Deepest Sea Towns/Villages/Temples/Camps No pronunciation in Dwarven tongue Monikye No pronunciation in Dwarven tongue Eastshire Ecra market Star market Ecra village Star village Ecra market Star market Ecra village Star village No pronunciation in Dwarven tongue farmland No pronunciation in Dwarven tongue Camp Sunshine No pronunciation in Dwarven tongue Avrap Avrap- an Elven word meaning “safe-place” Temple Oleac Temple of the Sky Prologue The evening was a cold one. One where families would dress in their warmest furs and huddle at the fire, telling stories and sharing bread and wine. But this was not a typical winter‟s evening. The shivers and raised hairs on the back of the necks and nervous looks toward the windows were bad enough, but the feelings left the people hollow in the pits of their stomachs. Prowling wolves and the rustling of trees and bushes could be heard in the wind that flew across the lonely land as night descended upon Terra Audax. But this wind was neither a whistle nor a whisper, yet it was both, conjuring fears in its wake as spirits roamed invisible to the naked eye. When the moon had risen to its peak, three lone men on horseback could be seen galloping across a dusty road. The horses were strong, black creatures that moved with great speed and ferocity, their muscles moving and glistening in the moonlight like liquid, and sent the loud rhythm of thunderous hooves across the sleeping land, echoing into the night like a bat caught in a web. The man on the first horse wore black robes that flapped behind him in the breeze, while the other two riders wore heavy black armour and had two-handed swords strapped to the side of their horses. Far behind them, to the south was a city. It was not visible because of the darkness, not that it was ever visible in truth, for the city was cloaked in shadow from the enormous Setnom-Muurlap Mountains to its north. The city was famous for having no sunlight. The only light was glows of candles, lanterns, bonfires and the occasional riots the commoners would hold from time to time. The city was called Mebru Sirbenet, which means, in the ancient Dwarven tongue, City of Darkness. It was the only lesser kingdom in all of Terra Audax and the only one still that demanded no rule over them from the High Queen. The first of the three riders was the King of Mebru Sirbenet and the men riding behind him were his personal bodyguards. They knew nothing of the location in which they were riding, nor what he planned to do with them. But they were destined to follow orders and be loyal to their King until their dying breaths. The King was old and quite mad. He had one blue and one hazel eye on his pasty- white face, which gave him a look of madness. He looked as frail as glass and had the twitches; the twitches being the slight tics and movement of muscles near the eyes, the one that proved to all the state of your mind. The horses continued to gallop into dangerous territories, which were only owned by the fierce creatures that hid in its shadows, waiting for the unwary to ride by… Almost no trees could be seen in the area before them, only wilderness which, even though it was night and held the pleasant warm breeze, still looked most unkind through the King‟s sore eyes as his steed stepped onto the dry dirt. The King dismounted and grunted and groaned as his bones creaked. He was old and mad, yes, but there were still things of use in that old head of his… but those things were of no use now as he stood in the dirt for two hours, trying to determine where he was going. But the hum of magic was unmistakable, and he knew that was emanating from the deep north. Two more hours passed and the need to drink overwhelmed the King. He needed water. He reached back to his rucksack tied to the horse‟s saddle and took out his water- skin. He then unscrewed the lid, raised the drink to his lips and began to guzzle in front of the envious bodyguards. The moon still shone brightly as the trio continued north, the men obviously craved drink, but held their tongues like good whelps. Within an hour the King‟s steed cantered up a small hill and in the distance, the mysterious forest, which had no name, appeared within the mil. The King smiled a wicked smile; we‟re nearly there! Hours passed and still the King rode. His horse soon began to slow and neigh with weariness, but the King only kicked its bleeding sides and it continued on. Thick forest soon enveloped them as they continued further north. Never stopping. Never resting. Even when dawn broke over the horizon and his men asked to camp, he only said, „the time for camping is long over. We have travelled into lands in which butterflies can kill a strong man. So imagine what a wild cat or boar could do to you worthless sods while you sleep!‟ It was not long before plants completely alien to the King and his men appeared: strange flowers such as bright green type roses, orange tulips, and purple daisies lined the track before them, letting off enchanting aromas every minute or so. But flowers were not the only curious things in these woods… Willow trees with their long leaves pointed to the sky instead of hanging low. Some trees however were familiar the King and his men: the red oak and cedar trees seemed to be everywhere in the strange forest. However it was not only plants and trees that were unusual. Strange animal calls could be heard beyond the track and undoubtedly the creatures watched the trio move through their forest. All day the horses plodded along until the third horse refused to move. The King dismounted and walked slowly to the second horse, placed his hand on its neck and immediately it reared up, neighing loudly in pain. He then moved to the third horse and closed his eyes and placed his hand on its neck. A minute he stood in the position until he said, „let us continue!‟ and with that, he mounted his steed and the third horse began to trot with the other two in front. The guards exchanged puzzled faces, but continued with their King. As the sun began to set they saw a clearing up ahead where the trees parted and formed an arch. They tried to pass through it, but the horses wouldn‟t budge past the clearing. The trio dismounted, grabbed their weapons and pressed on. As soon as the King stepped through the clearing, he felt a tingling sensation work its way up his spine, he smiled, „magic…‟ Many hours after they passed through the magic clearing they still walked. The King‟s black robes were dragging in the dirt and his white beard was sticky with sweat, until finally he stopped. He looked up and before him was a stone entrance to the temple his scouts had found by accident four nights previous. He stood in awe at the expert workmanship of the massive stone arch and magnificent steps leading up to the dark entrance. The temple itself was almost invisible head-on. Trees and vines had over grown and woven to the point were only the steps and arch was visible. The runes carved into the steps and the arch, were spirals, lines and strange symbols. To any mere fool, these symbols would seem like a mad man attacked with a chisel, but to the King It was clear that the Dwarves had built this sacred place. The temple was probably the last thing the Dwarves built before they rebelled and were all slaughtered by the High King Garret‟s army one thousand years ago. The King took a single step onto the ancient steps and continued up; his heart was racing as he looked at the great arch above him. He then stepped over the threshold and stopped: the door had long since been smashed in. Only now was a creepy, endless, black void before him. He demanded that one of his bodyguards look inside first. The guard signalled that it was safe and all three entered. The inside of the temple was cold and dark. The only light was moonlight, which was coming from tiny cracks in the ceiling, forged by age. It was too dark to tell every feature in the room, only a few stone tablets and sacrificial benches. But he was certain that there was more to the temple then just this room. „Keep your eyes peeled, fools…‟ the King warned in a most savage tone. „The Dwarves were wicked and vile tricksters. They would have thieves and merchants believe that this were the only room to this ancient monument of theirs. But the other temples have always had a burial chamber. And I intend to find it!‟ The hours felt like an eternity as the King made his way blindly along the chamber walls. His hopes jumped when he discovered a hole or crack, but quickly flew when he realized that was no entrance.