Clueless Delver

"Very... Well..." the moustached man muttered after which he turned his gaze towards Gumue returned a wide smile as she stood up and dusted her partly ripped manteau. "Let us make haste, then," the one eyed woman said as she stood up at the same time as the brawny man, who nodded and wordlessly turned in the direction of their agreed upon destination.

A beetle typically used in heraldry and symbolism due to its remarkable and highly geometric appearance. Typically the beetle represents good fortune and luck. Unlike other beetles, it possesses odd arc-like limbs which complement it's curvilinear thorax and abdomen. Its shell also comes in glossy, reflective and sometimes iridescent hues of bright colors. They are also typically auctioned at high prices and used housed in crystal terrariums as a show of extravagance.

The moustached man glanced in the direction of the place depicted by the brawny man's sketch. For a moment he looked as though as he were about to say something, but then twirled his moustache and remain silent, his eyes squinted. The one eyed woman tapped her chin with her bony finger for a few moments before nodding. "How long did you watch the place?" "Three hundred turns," the brawny man replied almost immediately. "And no sight of the watch?" "None." "Alright, I'm in," the one eyed woman spoke simply as she turned her gaze to Gumue, and then to the moustached man who squinted much more when he fell under her gaze.

The divine seal of the heroic half-serpent builder Kur-Iskut, said to have been bestowed it personally by the enigmatic Deity of Waters. In what is now central Lal-Mit, Kur-Iskut and his rallied 222 laborers who built with him the first great dams, redirecting the deadly and constant onslaught of the Early Floods. In a moment of apotheosis, a pillar of water descended from above and Kur-Iskut was wordlessly bestowed the divine instrument which bore no divine power, but became a symbol of the right to rule the floodplains. Alas, the seal is lost to the depths of Lal-Mit as thousands of years passed since it's last recorded presence in the Ziggurat of Cones.

Unable to see the sketch from where they sat, the moustached man stood up and walked closer as they examined what was drawn on the mud. "Based on what I've seen, the wall is much shorter on the northern end, and there seems to be a blind spot in the battlements," "If we can reach there unspotted, we may be able to scale the wall at our leisure."

A type of enchanted wind capable of moving in meaningful arcs through the use of lodestone hoops or sorcery.  First discovered by the alchemists of Lal-Mit of the Valley School, who managed to concoct Arcwind through an elaborate assembly of tincturing equipment known as the Windform Apparatus. Their invention was immediately harnessed by the Archsage Yus-Anin, who used it to fend off the invading frontier savages that plagued the northern extent of Gur-Qet in the the Early Ages of Lal-Mit. One such military contraption was the Arcwind Greatbow-Chariot which could puncture rammed earth walls without the need for giant arrows.

"But... it may be the least expected..." the brawny man finally spoke in a very deep voice. "You know of a way?" the one eyed woman whispered as she moved her gaze to the man. Without answering, the brawny man picked up a nearby branch and began sketching on the pale soil in front of the one eyed woman.

An unusual formation of bronze found deep within mines, typically in crossing veins of tin and copper. Unlike man-made alloys of bronze, Shellbronze is known for its remarkable shell-like grain and slight pink hue, which makes it stand out significantly from other varieties of bronze. While it does not shine as well as gemstones, it is typically seen among all polities as a very tasteful metal, and may occasionally be more impressive and valuable than gems or gold when artfully folded by accomplished bronzeworkers.

Not...so... easy... I think," the man with the walking stick spoke slowly, in an unusual rhythm after a few moments of silence. "Probably more eyes there I'd wager," the cloaked woman spoke in a gloomy tone as she brought her cup to her lips. It seemed as though she had merely just touched it before bringing it away from herself. " Well... Climbing is certainly out of the question..." Gumue mumbled as she folded her arms and looked up at the towering walls of the Buttresses.

The divine instrument of the Deity of Blood, Din-Eshur also known as the Princess of Hearts. The peach is typically used as a symbol for the physical heart, said to be the cup which nourishes and inspires the soul.  It is said that the first children of the Golden Bean were much like their earlier counterparts, alive, but motionless, animated only by the whims of primal forces. But by chance Din-Eshur saw by whim a burning peach, scorched by the fires of the deep earth, letting the first blood of flames and was struck with divine inspiration. In imitation of what he saw, he forged with his inspiration alone, a pulsating peach, lit with flames and bestowed it to the children of the Golden Bean, which in turn animated the first men, dogs, cats and soon all other creatures which walk the earth and bear blood within their veins. It is said that some unused peaches exist deep under the earth, and implanting one within a dead body may allow one to be returned from death. At present, Din-...

 A few more moments passed before Gumue could not endure the silence any longer and broke it with a whisper. "So... Any ideas?" Silence. Gumue looked about nervously after speaking - none of the other strangers appeared to even react to her words, and continued staring quietly at the crackling ember pit. After seeing the other people going about their business some distance away, Gumue continued "Hrmm.... How about the culvert...? It might smell horrible, but whatever goes in... must come out..." As she gave the suggestion, she noticed the brawny man's eyebrow twitch as he took a quick swig of from his tiny clay cup.

One of the 36 sacred beasts of the pantheon of Gur-Qet, Chiefdom of Sacred Beasts. Depicted as an emaciated woman with unusually straight long hair and a lower body composed of a matrix of reeds, typically made of mudstone or obsidian adorned with reeds soaked in myrrh. As reeds are found throughout the swamplands of Gur-Qet, they are considered the eyes and ears of Ses-Alil, and as such she is also known as the Sacred Beasts of Lore. It is for this reason, adherents of Ses-Alil undergo spiritual training involving long periods of fasting to gain attunement of plants of the swampland, which allow them some measure of the ability to see and hear through them.

To her right was a woman covered completely in a dark green cloak, wearing on her gaunt expression a strip of black cloth covering her right eye, her complexion pale as she stared listlessly at the ember pit. The her left was a lanky moustached man in a maroon robe with a rather thick walking stick which he constantly held despite being seated upon a stool. And right in front of her was a brawny man with a moody expression with an unusual, swirling buzzcut with two handaxes hanging from his belt. All of them sat silently, occasionally sipping their drink as they gazed at the ember pit.

Fragile tablets of clay describing an ancient genealogy, said to be written by the old historian Mur-Ehil, whose historical writings have been copied for generations by scribes across the polities of Ulrunir. The Clay Folios in particular provide a semi-mythical account and genealogy of the first kings of the first civilisation of Ulrunir, named Ulru. While greatly dismissed as mostly fictional due to its description of these kings having multiple heads, they provide a detail look into what the first people of Ulrunir believed ages ago. The original Clay Folio is said to be stored in the Underswamp Archives of Gur-Qet, which is said to be paradoxically perfectly sealed from damage from moisture despite the wet surroundings.

Gumue found herself by an ember pit, enjoying it's faint coolness alongside four other strangers who sat around the same pit, with a tiny clay cup of tea in each of their hands.

One of the symbols of Ilun, Deity of Geometry, worshipped by Arithmancers and Geomendicants who delve deeply in the secrets of arithmetic and geometry. The triangle is considered by Ilunites to be the basis of all matter and existence as they define planes which compose the surfaces of all things.  It was said that Ilun bestowed a right angled triangle wrought of copper to the first peoples of Ulrunir, who thereafter empowered them to bring order to their surroundings through carpentry and then masonry. Unlike other deities, Ilun's triangle contains no magic power, but it's ability transform the people's way of life without harnessing magics is considered transcendental, elevating Ilun above many other deities

With powerful strides, Hajer turned from the gates to elsewhere in the camp that slowly grew around the entrance of the great city. Surely, there would be others who desperately required entry into the city, and he was determined to join forces of these others to get in.

A magical fleece described in numerous Ulruniri folk tales. Said to have been formed from the Unseen Ram which is said to be a sign of divine favor or mandate of glory bestowed to protagonists of such tales, bestowing them invisibility and invulnerability to blades. The device of the Fleece of Sand at present is seem as some sort of cliche that often refers to a unusually convenient solution to a difficult problem.

And it appeared that he was not alone in this predicament, for around he now saw many tentages set up by the many travelers and caravans who too had little choice but to camp outside the walls of the Twin Sprig.

An unusual sacred spring said to release the alcohol of the earth tinctured by the essence of creation.  Said to exist deep in the earth and occasionally seep from the deep into the surface forming puddles of iridescent clear fluid that exudes a phenomenal fragrance. According to ancient poems it should the substance be condensed it may spontaneously form new matter even life. For this reason, it is the substance greatly sought after my many tincturers of Ulrunir.

Yet should anyone there had known what preceded his current disposition, they would find it not only warranted, but also rather mild. For the Jumian had not slept a wink since his flight from the ungrateful whisper he now felt so utterly foolish to have saved as he fought through the night as he practically sprinted all the way to the foot of the Twin Sprig. And now, far from giving him respite, he was dismayed to find that entrance to the Buttresses was temporarily barred to all visitors.

A type of prepared food made from fat papyrus rhizomes, shaped like a wooden canoe. Edible raw, but typically boiled or grilled, but also cooked in lard during for festivals. Papyrus canoes are known for being remarkably filling but also bestows soporific effects. According to folklore, the canoe was first prepared by Kur-Isnil, a primordial serpent man who disliked taste of the flesh of creatures, unlike his counterparts.

The Jumian felt his right eye twitch involuntarily as he gazed up at the tall gates of the Buttresses which stood shut. Few would dare to approach such a person with such apparent disposition of displeasure, for on top of his deep frown, his eyes were bloodshot and a pronounced vein could be seen from his temple.

One of the first instruments created during the primordial period. Painstakingly sculpted using knapped stones, azurite bells make a high pitched ring when struck when subjected to heat from a fire. The ringing sound is only barely heard by people but grates on all spirits and ghosts, banishing them from the area momentarily. This ancient practice had carried on to this day in all major cults in Ulrunir as the start of all rituals, though the material of bells have changed and divine inscriptions have made the bells' powers more potent.

Hung from the towers were the long banners of the Twin Sprigs - upon a base of dark navy, two spiraling sprigs in silver. Even from afar, Domel could see the giant gates being drawn, which allowed in the streaming advance of marching soldiers.

A very fatty part of the Swinefish said to be the one of the greatest delicacies in Ulrunir, but also extremely hard to procure due to the colossal size of the swinefish which exceeds even that of whales. The fin of the swinefish is extremely well marbled and it texture of its flesh surpasses even the rubs of the most well-bred of bulls. 

 As Domel reminisced about his time, the view of the fort shaped from charred wood soon came to him. Fort Awl was built with its back upon one of the Buttresses of the Right Sprig. A tall wall held together with five tall towers could be seen soaring high into the air.

One of the influential secret societies of Kal-Inur, the City of Winds that is situated along the Great Musulsudu.  During the Age of Great Beasts, the Order of the Cricket was a warband of slave-warriors who served the Heroic Slave Shal-Adu, one of the founders of Musulsudu, who bore the Silver Throne in the days of the Early Covenant of Heroes.  Known for their great hardiness and persistence, the Order, under the lead of Shal-Adu slew many terrible Great Beasts, the most terrifying of which was Musulsudu herself, a colossal serpent who wielded the Mace of Mountains and the Mace of Blood - two terrible weapons born of the primordial saltwaters.  Shal-Adu sacrificed himself as he delivered the final blow and Musulsudu, and thereafter the Thrones bestowed the Order of the Cricket a large region of waters along the abdomen of Musulsudu.  Yet despite their new status, they have retained strictly to the ways of their master and lurk only in the statues and practice grea...

It was upon the vine-road to Fort Awl that coiled up the buttress that Domel now rode that he had 10 cycles ago first treaded up on foot. He could remember the burning sensation on his bare feet as the bristles of the vine scraped at them painfully. Yet he could also remember thereafter the joy of wearing footwear, for through his perseverance he was accepted into the soldiery.

A egg shaped drum with a bulbous top made of clay. Said to be grown from the Egg-sprouts nurtured by the Hesh-Kalu, a half-snake born from the primordial saltwaters.  The Clay Drums are considered the origin of clay itself and are worshipped by clayworkers who believe in the sentience of clay which can be coaxed to shape according to the will of the worker with the correct rites. It is also for this reason natural egg shaped mounds clay are sought after by clayworkers as sacred sites.

The deep, warm scent of crushed twigs. The soft calls of frogstock and snails. Though he looked fondly to those days now, he could also remember the echoes of great hunger that always rang in his belly, for his family had no wealth to speak of and could only eat a small bowl of gruel every two revolutions. It due to this state of destitution that he eventually made his way to Fort Awl, which hung some distance above from the Buttresses - to become a warrior.

A plant pigment commonly used the common rabble, occurs in shades of blue, red and purple.  Apart from culinary uses, Gingerdye may be concentrated to use as paint, which is used to decorate or create folk artwork.  Despite its depth of colour, it is easily tarnished and weathered, and their vibrance becomes dull over the years.

The Buttresses were the sprawling market townships built at the foot of the Twin Sprigs which took in the produce of the many farms below their crowns. Most were made of rammed crushed twigs bound by oiled vines, forming simple cabins that crammed together closely between the large thoroughfares of petrified wood, while a few merchant halls and conservatories made from more robust petrified wood towered amongst these cabins. A twinge of nostalgia warmed Domel's breast as he gazed upon these twighomes - for much of his childhood revolved around one in which he lived in for most of his life.

As Lord Hirmvird rode his chariot past the gates which opened loudly as he approached it, each section of his army began to follow his lead in an orderly fashion one after another, and Domel soon found himself riding alongside the old knight who quickly reclined against his saddle as he drove his iguana ahead while smoking from his pipe. Speechless at this sight, he once again immersed himself in his thoughts as he wordlessly took in the ever familiar sights of the Buttresses of the Twin Sprigs.

A type of stone known for its unusual reflectiveness that surpasses even that of heavily polished bronze. Found in tiny silver-like deposits deep in mines, and within geodes of unusually dark color. They are said to be able to ward the evil light emanated by cursed spirits and the like and are sought after by many travelers and soldiers who may tread cursed lands.

One of the Divine Instruments of the Judge of the Skies Zibish, servant of the Sky Deity Ia. The Cloudstone Ziggurat is said to have the power to trap all matter within it's foggy winding halls, isolating it from the world, as a prison for the most blasphemous of existence.  Within, the will of creatures are slowly moulded by the will of Zibish, and only the obedient may be granted reprieve to carry out tasks in the mortal world as instructed. Replicas of the ziggurat are often made in precious milky white gems as accompaniments to statues of Zibish who depict her as a stern looking woman wearing a cloud-like flowing skirt, and deific crown of horns and wielding her ziggurat on her left hand and bronze mace of her right.

As Lord Hirmvird pulled his iguanas to a gradual stop, he turned about swiftly and addressed the soldiers who stood still at attention. "Brave warriors of the Twin Sprigs! We have projected our might as willed by her Kings! Hold your heads high - for we have brought back glory to our Sprig!" With these simple words, Lord Hirmvird turned about again, and led the way past the tall gates of the Twin Sprigs that towered before the army.

The mythical seeds of the First Sprout said to be the progenitor of all life during the primordial age of Ulrunir, when all was but boiling saltwaters.  Said to have been formed from salts from the primordial sea which sought to become as colourful as the ancient stars beyond. The violet bean bore the root of sorcery The blue bean bore the corals of the sea The green bean bore the grasses and weeds The red bean bore the sweet fruits and berries The orange bean bore the fungi of the land The golden bean bore the animals of the world. And the silver bean became the core of the world.

Upon the chariot rode Lord Hirmvird himself, his long curly gray hear billowing behind him as he held a bundle of reins with one arm and held his hip with the other. Though he stood afar, Domel could see the deep wrinkles on his stern countenance. He wore a cloak made of black fleece which covered the dull colored coat of scales that covered the rest of his powerfully built body - the testament to his famous labors as a lancer of the Twin Sprigs before the granting of lordship in his later years.

A long-necked flute made of clay, often moulded in the shape of a flamingo's head and neck. Known for its deep sound that is somewhat reminiscent of the cry of flamingos. This kind of flute is found in numerous burial tombs deep under the swamps of Gur-Qet, and is still used especially in the performance of furnerary processions for the Beast Nobles of Gur-Qet to this day.

"Attention!" Zilud's voice soon rang, and Domel straightened his back as he was broke away from his thoughts. The soldiers stood absolutely still except for Oad who scratched his cheek as the sounds of the wheels of a chariot came storming from behind him as a large, six-wheeled chariot driven by four iguanas came into his view.

A priceless relic of the ancient Bronze Empire which held dominion over parts of Lal-mit, An-Ligir and Gur-Qet. Its whereabouts are unknown, but is records claim that it is hidden in a vault within Lal-mit, and buried in a secret tomb deep under Gur-Qet. The empire was formed by the First Empress Sule-Neem who was said to have been bestowed with the gift of speaking with beasts. Said to have been born as a wild-woman born from the swamps, she learned the ways of war from the ailing Blind Strategist named Shak-Bosir who received tutelage from the and semi-mythical scholar-warrior school of An-Leshmat.  Inspired by his tales of glory, she set out with an army of elephants which trampled the tribes beyond the swamps. Sule-Neem was known for her love of bronze, from which her coins were struck and were made into a raiment which she wore on her person. She was also known for reportedly taking nearly five hundred consorts from whom she bore many children who are said to be ancestors of t...

Within a matter of minutes naught but ashes and blood lay on the muddied ground of the barkland they rode upon. In less than a ten revolutions, much of the southern Mudbark region was quelled - and the savage clans dispersed to other parts of the region.

One of the built treasures of Lal-Mit, a small pavilion made of rammed earth of gray clay tiles each of which are inscribed the ancient classic The Discourses in Ethics, which record the debate between the two philosophers Usun-Kish, and Sul-Azeem.  Before the formation of the Enlightened Lal-Mit, the land which the polity now occupies were made of countless schools of scholar-warriors, who fought both by word and weapon. While might was recognized, subjugation by word and moral principles was seen as transcendent, and many warlords sought numerous scholars. The schools of Usun-Kish and Sul-Azeem were among one of the most successful schools, but we're ultimately deposed by the school of Sus-Nir due to its remarkable practicality in it's pursuit of empiricism which led to the discovery of numerous arcane secrets. Following the explosion of Sus-Niri empiricism, much of the orally transmitted schools of ethics were lost and only a fragment of the bibliography remains in the form ...

And with the old knight Oad leading the charge, the other knights followed, brandishing lances of their own, utterly trampling the chameleon riders and razing their meagre yurts. Though Domel had it beaten into him not to think during battle at that moment - he was simply unable to. For that could hardly be called a battle.

A mythical concoction said to bestow one sight of the transcendent invisible. It bears the colour of the white sclera, and bears iridescent irises within itself which fade in and out of existence rapidly. The only tincture of the Drop that was recorded was created by the prodigious Nul-Mattir, the founder of the College of Metals, one of the first universities formed during the fourth epoch of the RubyTable of Lal-Mit.

By instinct, Domel sensed his master open his palm, and with little hesitation, he threw a lance to him almost immediately as he swiftly caught it without looking. And in what seemed like an instant, the old knight Oad jousted three chameleon riders off their mounts, who crumpled to the mud with helpless cries of agony.

A rural divination rite practiced by the common folk of Lal-Mit. Said to have descended from ancient beliefs in numerology of Old Lashur, the progenitor of Lal-Mittic culture. Held during at the end of autumn, village folk inscribe their hopes for the coming year upon a pieces of flat slabs of soft clay and a layer of dyed vellum or hemp fabric is placed upon it. The local shaman then rolls the clay into a a number of staves and fires them in the furnace before it is painted in various colours and patterns. The next morning, the staves are bound into bundles of five, and erected at the village square.  At the end of the month, the staves that remain standing are said to contain divinations that shall come true in some shape in the future.

While the rest of the army behind them slowly fell into order Domel continued staring at the large standard - red serpent coiling about a tree wearing a crown. A few revolutions before, the same standard was drenched in the water as they fought in the rain against the scattered formation of chameleon riders who stood upon their solemn mounts as they stood between their meager yurts and they charging iguanas.

A vicious mode of sacrifice involving the removal of part of one's gall, often as a punishment to recalcitrant, violent lawbreakers as the gall is believed to be the font of one's courage. It is practiced typically in regions where faith in the Deity of Retribution Uslil is worshipped. The Gall Sacrifice is performed by specially annointed Servants of Uslil, who wear the mask of the Blind Hound, during the rite obscuring them of vision. Despite this, years of training allow them to swiftly excise the gall of those to be punished and also apply treatment to ensure the mark of punishment is applied.

"In order!" the column prefects yelled, snapping Domel out of his recollection. In what seemed like an instant he had arrived at the foot of the Twin Sprigs, and followed his his muscle memory as he steered his iguana in a neat file behind his master who now rose from his reclining posture and now slouched as he filled his pipe with yet more clovergrass and lit it with a spark he conjured from his fingers. In the wide cleared bark upon which they now stood in formation, Domel saw his peers lined up impeccably in a rectangular formation of 10 rows of 20 columns. Every other row was a line of knights and behind them were their lancebearers. At the front stood the young Standard Bearer Zilud who would guide the knights to position during battle with the large standard that hung from his pike which he held high up in the air. 

A minor deity worshipped in the the Meandering Wetlands far south of Ninur-Sin. Often depicted as a black monitor lizard standing on two feet, holding up an umbrella made of charred wood. While sweet fruits and water are aplenty in the Wetlands, it is also home to humidities of malaise which are said to wrack those who are unprotected from rain. It is for this reason that Ishkur is worshipped to seek bestowment of a spiritual umbrella said to ward illness and curses.

Yet despite the knight's unseemly decorum, Domel could not help but feel deep respect for the man. His ability to ride and fight with the lance was like breathing. Even when outnumbered and surrounded by ambushing iguana-riders, his simple, terse commands led the Iguana Knights of the Column he commanded to pierce through their formation effortlessly and without casualty. Even the Lance-heads of the the other Columns, who always criticised him for his tardiness could not speak ill of his ability, which had earned him a permanent seat within Lord Humvird's tent to discuss strategy.

A geographical formation said to be the graves of ancient cities long before the age of Ulrunir. Also known for its prevalence of incense mangroves which were said to be cultivated in large numbers for its ability to induce concentration during the early rites of the cultures of the land. Yet, despite hiding many treasures within itself, few dare to traverse the Oil-swamp for fear of rousing ancient spirits.

 "Keep your back upright and your neck straight, and look far in the distance as you ride." Those were the words from instructor Lhoges that whipped him into a decent rider. Yet next to him, he saw his master, the Knight Oad, reclined upon a custom saddle with a cushioned backrest, his legs outstretched upon another cushion that extended his saddle smoking his pipe of clovergrass with his eyes closed. He saw Oad take a deep breath of clovergrass smoke and hold it in for a good 5 seconds before exhaling. At the same moment, a gust of wind blew eastward, and Domel picked the strong scent of smoke, making him cough slightlly.

A type of cavern that is known as the undoing of many ill-prepared travellers of canyons. Known for its remarkable scent that is similar to that of fermenting bread - given off by strange weed-like fungi that are can cause a debilitating rash in one's throat and stomach when a large concentration of its spores are ingested. It is also for this reason that it is sought as a deadly poison and is thus banned in markets across the land and only sold in remote black markets far removed from civilisation where it is mainly consumed by ascetics seeking to transcend corporeal suffering.