Clueless Delver

And so, having decided to have a brief respite, Hajer shifted into a more comfortable position, facing sideways and using his uninjured arm as a pillow. As he shut his eyelids, he felt lethargy take him - the last thought being the faint silhouette of the Supple Qeleres that was his home.

A type of rare blue hued weed known for its taut fibers, making it highly desirable by many due to its ability to thoroughly clean and polish surfaces by abrasion. It mainly grows in small clusters in heavily forested areas in An-Ligir and Ka-Absur.

Perhaps I should rest first? Hajer considered this as he could find no easy way out of his current position. Further, given the fatigue from his earlier ordeal, attempting to push ahead further would likely seal his fate. After several more turns of considering his options, Hajer eventually decided to sleep for a while in hopes of recovering the clarity of mind and his strength.

A type of hot spring known for its remarkable healing properties, found mainly in Gur-Qet, but also occasionally in Ninur-Sin and Lal-Mit. Mud Springs come in several shades, from Red to Black, with Red varieties bearing the most healing properties, and Black, bearing the most beautifying properties.

After several turns of searching, Hajer identified several footholds and knots in the Underbark surface, but he could not help but wince as he imagined having to force his injured body to endure the physical feats he had to undertake in order to scale this surface he surveyed.

A kind of inexpensive weed known for its remarkable toughness, infamous for being a key component of numerous dangerous, sometimes lethal tripping traps. Found in in swampland and savannah varieties in the regions of Gur-Qet and An-Ligir respectively.

As he took in the grand sight and savoured the warmth of the Underbark, he could not help but heave a sigh of relief. But that relief soon diminished as he surveyed his immediate surroundings, in search for foothold to scale down from the hole he crawled in from.

A unique shell that is capable of storing an Enchanted Word, that bestows a minor boon or curse to its carrier. By itself the shell has no magic properties but when combined with script written from a cinnabar stylus, its magical properties surface.

 A colossal spiral of shifting, dark blue amber, obscured by dark fog formed the monumental backdrop of Hajer's view, bounded by the faint sight of the inner walls of the Sprig upon which numerous alabaster architectonic structures were built upon - faintly lit by the flowing darkness that Hajer quickly identified as the Sap of the Right Sprig. 

 An epic poem narrating the affairs and happenings during the 90 year siege of the great fort Nahar-Ustim - the stronghold of the Grand Kingdom of Nar-Istir, which was eventually sundered by those who became the First Thrones of Ninur-Sin. In contrast to the official Records of the Thrones, the Romance despite its purported exaggerations are highly popular and are believed by many to be closer to the truth than the Records themselves. To this day, the Romance is one of the most popular instances of literary work, and many copies are made across all of Ulrunir as they are seen as extremely tasteful gifts, especially when bound with precious materials. There is also a large body of scholarship on the Romance, as it is unknown to this day who composed it. Many Archaelogists also see the Romance as a bible for finding ruins within the Ninur-Sinic region.

 Hajer felt himself soon groaning involuntarily as he fought against the heavy weight that he now felt on his eyelids - if he were to fall now he would likely not awake again. Yet he forged on, and soon as though it were a mere dream, he felt the watery pressure upon him slowly dissipate as he felt a warm breeze caress his chin while a vast sight of the Underbark came into his view.

 A highly exotic and unusual chimeric insect formed from the profaned transmuatation of termites and lobsters. Said to be the work of Witch Lord Kur-Aldurta, a long lived Serpent-man who was also known for being the last living Serpent-man who survived into the middle of the Age of Petty Kingdoms, during which the Serpent-men were rapidly diminishing in number due to the Curse of the Deluge. These Lobstermites are as small as termites but bear the characteristic claws of swamp lobsters, and are wreathed in a potent arcane aura - allowing it them to be used as an external source of magic power that far exceeds that of magical herbs, fungi and amber. The magic power they emanate is said to be perpetually replenishing, up until they die around the age of a year - but may spawn more offspring if provided the right environs. It is rumored that the magical artefacts of the Cauldrons of Lal-Mit, and even the Witch-Judges of the Holy Ka-Abir use tools powered by Witching Lobstermites.

Clenching and balling his fists, Hajer crawled further ahead, sucking in as much air as he could despite the immense weight and lethargy he felt as he progressed further.

A remarkable geographical formation found in the east of Ka-Absur, known to be an unusual canyon covered in flaxen grass that is able to grow even on sheer cliffs. Due to the prevalence of grass, the canyon is occupied by many cliff goats, known for their unparalleled ability to climb steep cliffs. The canyon is also home to giant red-headed sparrows, which feed on the huge varieties of grain and insects that reside there.

Hajer felt a wave of torpor permeate through his body as he crawled ahead. This was the most difficult part of entering the Underbark - many would lose consciousness if they were not sufficiently prepared and might even suffocate to death as a result due to the unusual humidity of this section of the Wall of Vapour.

Ancient artifacts of the exotic Nukulru subterranean civilisation that used to live in the now flooded Grand Caverns located along Pestle Coast in An-Ligir. Both crown and no pestle bear a radially arranged array of curved egret beaks, giving it the appearance of an unusual blooming flower. Despite its symbolism, the artifacts bear no magical power, which has led many to believe the Nukulru were the Cave Peoples that were cursed by the Deity of Balance, as described in the Copper Tablets, one of the oldest records of Ulruniri history. 

Soon, Hajer could feel a greater difficulty in breathing as he crawled deeper yet. This was the the natural barrier that deterred many from entering and leaving the Underbark - the wall of vapour, the warded the Sprig from destructive forces and assailants that sought to sup from its divine sap.

A type of lotus plant that grows exclusively on mud ponds and rivers, known for its remarkably rich and satiating tubers said to be the result of absorbing the creative essence of mud.

Hajer crawled forward briskly, enervated by the darkness now completely shrouded him. Whenever he exhaled a wet mist that was characteristic of the highly humid air of the Underbark emerged.

A remarkable fruit that grows deep within rock, said to contain the light of a previous age. It's outer covering is extremely hard, nearly paralleling lead ores, but when cracked open it unleashes a blinding light that grows dim over time, proportional to the duration it was encased in rock.

Hajer grit his teeth as the sight of his home steeled his resolve. He could not allow himself to fall before he completed his duty. After a few more moments of brief rest and reflection, Hajer retrieved this axe that hung from the bark and crawled into the hollow that he was sure would lead him into the Underbark.

A piece of extremely light but highly protective head armor worn by the Marsh Skirmishers of the southern regions of Ulrunir, made of tightly bound and braided lengths of Marsh Rattan. Said to be able to deflect cleavers and light maces  To this day the southern marshes remain unconquered, yet the polities of Ulrunir have no desire for conquest over the southern wetlands. Though adept warriors from these lands are highly prized as exotic bodyguards and duelist.

 Panting heavily, Hajer squirmed further into the hollow, eventually catching his breath. Turning onto his back he propped himself into a seated position and gazed at the Anthre which unfolded before him. Slightly obscured by fog, Hajer could see in the distance the very faint silhouette of the Supple Qeleres - the bark of his birth. And further beyond he could identify the faint, cold light of several spheres of Infernal Resplendence that hung far in the distance pass his home-bark. 

 An unusual, likely mythical beetle with a single wing that makes up the entirety of its back. Its moulted shell is said to have been the fetish of the First Ascetic, whose deeds and ability to face despair was unparalleled, much like the one-winged beetle which was born with the hope of flight but would never have such means. It was these deeds that inspired the Tribes in the regions of Shur-Qamet to eventually cultivate their own Ascetics who eventually became the source of wisdom, insight and self-sacrifice.

Hajer felt his heart jump as he felt his fingers slip as he tried to pull himself up, but clenching his teeth, he flexed his belly, forcing himself to lurch forward on a last ditch attempt to climb up into the hollow. Reaching, for a knot along the bark, he then found half his body managing to cling up into the hollow just barely.

A rare, much sought after elongated oyster shell, light blue in colour. Harvested from whisperer oysters, that lurk under deep mud in large expanses of fresh water. It is able to transmit sound to another shell that it is bonded with, which can be identified by two shells that bear similar marks. Often used by intelligencers across the polities of Ulrunir and occasionally sold in black markets.

Heaving a breath of relief, Hajer sucked in the warm air of the approaching night. Then with a grunt of exertion, he pulled himself upward with both his hands that gripped tightly around his handaxe.

A highly desired lotus root found in marshlands of Gur-Qet, Ninur-Sin and Lal-Mit, known for its extremely sour taste. Many Herbalists and Agrimancers have tried to no avail to domesticate the root to no avail due to its highly coveted medicinal properties of stimulation and suppression of fever. The root has a chewy texture and is often made into black clam shaped pastilles that are mixed in with a variety of other herbs.

 Looking towards its source while catching is breath, Hajer soon saw what seemed to be a hollow along the bark of the Sprig - one small enough to enter if one were to crouch down and crawl within.

 An unusual spell said to have been created by a servant of the elusive Deity of Inspiration. When struck by this invisible spear, one becomes unable to rest - and becomes obsessed with their tasks, carrying them out without rest. It is rumored that the Bronze Cauldron of Lal-Mit has a fragment of this spell, and it is greatly coveted by many within and beyond Lal-Mit.

Soon Hajer's descent came to a stop and the pain resonating across his flesh began to diminish. A warm draft then blew across his brow which was now covered completely in perspiration.

A technique practiced by the Lizard beastkin of Gur-Qet, used as a means to quell temper and induce calmness. The technique is said to have descended from an ancient inheritance of a tribe of Serpent men, which is often used as one of the many symbols the Lizard Beastkin use to drum up the prestige due to their likeness with the mostly extinct Serpent men who once ruled much of Ulrunir.

In spite of the eruptions of pain that rang across his arm, echoing through his ribs and body, Hajer clung on tightly, holding the handle of his axe with both his hands as his descent soon slowed.

One of the high stages of enlightenment attainable by the Ascetics of Shur-Qamet. By tempering one's consciousness through physical suffering and deprivation of sleep, the ascetic is able to multiply his consciousness threefold alongside his suffering, but also multiply his wisdom and understanding of the world. It is said that the breakthrough to this state is extremely difficult even for highly skilled Ascetics, and many perish moments after the transcendence, their bodies and mind unable to withstand the tripling of worldly and metaphysical suffering.

The sound of crunching wood rang from Baker's right alongside the whistling wind of his fall. Hajer clenched his teeth as he braced for the pain that would follow as the force from his fall now raced across his right arm and joints. A wave of immense pain shot through his shoulder to his wrist as he desperately held onto his axe which dug into the bark of the Sprig, slowing his fall.

Fragments of a legendary mace wielded by the Grand Chieftain Kur-Ulridu, a serpent man chieftain who lead his warband in battle against the Five Messengers of the Deity of Floods. Privy to the strange powers of Serpentine Magics, Kur-Ulridu had the Witches of Six hundred and forty tribes enchant his mace, which thereafter became powerful enough to harm the servants of the deities. Riding the now extinct flying tortoise, his warband of twelve thousand four hundred and twenty eight heroes fought the forces of the flood, which led to the end of the Primordial Age. In his final clash, the mace Iriduru was shattered into Six Hundred and Forty shards, which are rumored to lie deep in the depths of Ulrunir to this day. Occasionally these shards would surface, bringing forth great chaos, upheaval, strife and revolution, only to disappear and be forgotten as time passed.

Gritting his teeth, Hajer reached for the handaxe the hung from his girdle with his right hand. Though he imagined what he was going to do next might break his arm and bring him immense suffering, he deemed it preferable to a painful death. Gripping his axe tightly, Hajer swung at the bark of the Sprig with all his might.

One of the most nortorious criminals from Lal-Mit, who is said to have powers exceeding that of even a Cauldron of Lal-Mit. Once a prodigious entomancer who made much headways in the field, he was considered as the most likely candidate for ascension to the Cauldron of Chitin. But it was said that he was sabotaged by his rival Asru-Odam, whom, through an extremely careful plot, managed to blind his left eye and cripple his left foot by arranging an incident in the Herbarium of the Academy of Arn-Lagan, where he was giving a guest lecture. Fuelled by resentment, he hunted down Asru-Odam and brutally murdered him, taking his rival's eye and foot as his own using gruesome flesh sorcery, massacring much of Asru-Odam's followers in his mad killing spree. Since then, he escaped to the northwestern wastes where he acts as a disgraced sage, and is known for banditry and kidnapping of innocents to continue his mad research on entomancy and flesh sorcery. His last sighting reported him b...

 Then Hajer felt his heart sink to the bottom of his empty belly as he felt is foot fall through the air as he stepped forward. And within moments he felt Anthre consume him as he began to fall.

 One of the most richest, populous and most dangerous cities in Ulrunir. Located in Southeastern Agash and built around the infamous Mount Egsurgan which spans 5 leagues which is known for its rich deposits of high quality golden copper. Despite being under the sphere of influence of Agash and under the rule of the Sum-Unu, the Tower of Chalk - several powerful forces from the other polities wield significant influence there via embassies or merchant associations, ensuring a steady stream into the coffers of the city. The prosperity of the city appears continuous even in the face of semi-regular eruptions of Mount Egsurgan, and despite destruction faced throughout times of disaster, it is constantly rebuilt rapidly. The main exports of the city include a huge volume of highest quality metalwork and high quality food ingredients due to the glut of high quality ore and fertile volcanic ash that is regularly replenished after disaster.

Hajer shook his head as he fought away the lethargy that had been building in him since the last several turns of deeply focusing of scaling the Steps. Due to how dangerous he perceived the scaling would have been, he had been expending significant amounts of concentration.

An underground palace in Eastern Kal-Absur made completely of obsidian mud formed from crushed and compacted obsidian mixed with clay. The architecture of the palace is extremely simple, and pure lacking all ornamentation that is typical of ancient buildings of the Primordial Age. The palace is named after a strange inscription of four rectilinear ideographs which most archaeologists agree spell the syllables DAL and TU, and is said to be the oldest example of one of the earliest ancestors of all variants of Ulruniri Cuneiform.

Perhaps by fluke or sheer luck, Hajer managed to grasp the method of traversing the Steps at his first try, which was beyond his expectations. But as he thought of how the Old Windstep Cats of yore used this as their means of scaling the Sprig, it became apparent to him that it was something that was not intended to be difficult to begin with for it was a common mode of travel for millions of such cats.

An unusual sculpture that was excavated by the archaeologist Nar-Agan deep in the Nimuni Trench located in southwestern Agash. Made of black petrified wood, the statue is around 50 qubits in width, depth and height. The sculpture is said to give off an unusual sensation of calm. To this day it's origin is unknown and it is rumored to have been created before the Primordial Age.

Two cycles ago while attempting to exit from the Buttresses to scale the Right Sprig, he was unluckily identified by several patrolling soldiers who gave chase to him. Though he initially thought he had out run his pursuers, he soon came to realize that the main entrances to the Underbark were heavily guarded, and he soon decided he could only try to take the ancient Steps of the Wind in hopes of discovering a lesser known way into the Underbark. 

A rare animal prized for its deadliness when employed in falconer arts. Unlike its feathered counterparts, the feathers of the Barbed Hawk are unusually thin and act as sharp, prickly spines that easily pierce skin and fat, causing immense pain. They are also known in Shur-Qamet as the Ascetic's Friend, as that inflict considerable pain when they perch upon unarmored flesh, and ascetics roam the wilds allow themselves to be perched upon by these birds.

In truth, Hajer did not wish to take this path to scale the Sprig. And though carrying out this fear took every ounce of focus he could muster, he felt some relief at listening carefully regarding this passage from the feline spirit. Had he not done so several cycles ago, he would have been in an even deeper mire than he was.

A silver roach with flaring limbs, the symbol of the Order of Righteousness, formed by a disgraced Sentinel of the Holy Ka-Abir. The Sentinel was named Nirsana, and was said to be banished from the Holy Capital due to treason which purportedly led to the loss of several northern fiefs of the Holy Capital to Ninur-Sin and Agash, during the War of the Righteous, which was unceremoniously named after the clique Nirsana had formed. After her banishment, her followers rallied under her banner which bore this symbol, alluding to the eternal persistence of righteous spirit akin to the stubbornness of the roach which was a pest that struck fear in the cloistered upper echelons of the Ka-Abiri clergy.

"You madman, you utter madman!" The barely audible voice of an aged elderly man echoed amongst the powerful night gusts as Hajer stepped precariously up the nearly vertical side of the Right Sprig. Just an inch away was the lower Anthre and a single wrong step would lead to his demise.

A rare gecko the half the size of a kitten known for its remarkable glowing hood, which shines faintly in the dark, attracting moths and other light-drawn insects which it preys upon. It is also known to the several pilgrim groups as the Pilgrim's Guide, as it is said to appear when a pilgrim is lost according to several anecdotes.

 As they stepped into the darkness outside, the grand sight of the lower stratum Right Sprig unfolded before them the expansive branches of the lower three branches could be seen stretching out in the lower Anthre, exposing the large plains and farms that were upon its surface.

 A mythical creature of omen, representing melancholy.  Depicted as a curled up boar whose tusks are coiled in manner such that they are curved towards its own eyes, Said to be spotted before the mass reduction of morale of a civilisation or an army, and often spells certain doom.

 After winding through several corridors, the three scaled a flight of spiral stairs and headed in the direction of the gate that led to the outside of the building - as could be seen by the rays of darkness that were cast upon the warm wood-tiled floor.

 The Five Howls are known as the great feats of the Beastfather Pashur-Ilad, who is venerated to this day as the creator of Gur-Qet which was formed by the unity of the Five Sacred Beast tribes which used to rule over the Swamplands of Gur-Qet. The Beastfather surprisingly was an outsider of the Swamplands, and was said to have been born from the Holy Ka-Absur, and nurtured there as a Holy Cleric, but was exiled due to his succumbing to beasthood and given the Holy Labour of quelling the savage swamplands. With this mission in heart, he first rallied the slaves of the Sacred Peacock tribe under the banner of the Holy Fang, and swept the lands with his fiercely devout slave-armies. It is said that Pashur-Ilad would fell the leader of each tribe with a soul-rending howl, dominating each of the proud tribal chiefs with his aura alone. After uniting the Five Tribes, his feats became canonized in the holy scripture of Gur-Qet, and he was thereafter recognized as an incarnation of a Sacr...

Domel gave a quick glance at the Sergeant as he placed the badge in his girdle's front pouch. The Sergeant Ultu appeared expressionless as she wordlessly studied the nick in the badge, but then placed it in her back pouch. "Sergeant Ultu, Lancebearer Domel, please, this way," the recruit Ilding spoke as he led the two into another corridor.

A clan based in Northwestern An-Ligir comprising renowned furniture makers known for their exemplary skill in making furniture from timber. They are particularly known for their immense attention to detail, and their ability to hide secret compartments in areas that are typically unexpected of certain areas of a work. As such they are frequently commissioned by various powerful personalities across the land, with a number even kidnapped and forced to serve certain unscrupulous tyrants.

"Ah, apologies," Domel nodded as he quickly withdrew his hand, not wishing to show disrespect to the stern looking Sergeant Ultu, who was of a higher rank than himself. Quickly, he picked up the other badge that was in better condition.

One of the most famous users of the Greatshield known across Ulrunir. Despite his immense feats he never ascended to become a leader of a polity unlike all exemplary heroes across the lands. The most famous of Wabzu-Uled's feats was his nearly impossible defense of the Falling Goat fort where he faced off against an entire battalion of the Copper Throne of Ninur-Sin alone, with only greatshield in hand. The event was witnessed and recorded by numerous onlookers, adding to its credibility and these records have been studied by numerous strategists who became awestruck by his tactical ingenuity and that was greatly supplemented with his shield arts. Rumor has it that Wabzu-Uled, despite his deep friendship with numerous leaders of the land, left Ulrunir to sate his wanderlust, which is the largely agreed upon reason for his decision not to ascend.

Seeing that one of the badges was damaged, Domel reached for it, intending to study it closer. But at the same moment the moment his fingers rested on the badge, he felt another hand touch his own. From the side of his vision he could tell that it was Ultu's, as she had reached for the same badge as well.

A type of rare and highly sought after stone that is said to have properties that greatly enhance rituals of divination and prophecy. It was first used in Rusru, a remote village in northern Lal-Mit, where the first sample of the stone was discovered by a shepherd who climbed down a ravine to rescue a fallen baby goat. By staring at the stone's intricate, iridescent patterns, one can further discern the nature of the future.

The badges were just as Domel had remembered it when he first saw it being presented to his unit while the Intelligencer searched their camp. It was forged of bronze and bore the symbol of a ferret coiling about a length of bark in a spiral-like fashion. Both were partly oxidised, showing greenish residue about some edges, with one bearing a rather deep nick at the back of the ferret.

The legendary headgear of the Cauldron of Ivory, Nilsu. It takes the form of an open faced helm forged of pearl-bronze with an unusual set of two horns affixed at its top that entwine like a loose braid. The horns themselves a reminiscent of spider webs and appear to break into individual smaller threads the further they are from the axis of entwining.  The horns are said to be forged by an ancient enchanter who lived during the end of the Primordial Age, while the helm proper was forged by Nilsu himself from an arcane forge. The Helm is said to bestow it's wearer immense psychic and telekinetic powers, while greatly bolstering focus.