Clueless Delver

 But Gumue forged ahead, stepping completely into the thicket's shadow, its warmth slightly alleviating the cold spreading across her body from her left shoulder. "Pido! Stop that!" the voice of the blind girl came from behind her. "Please Stranger - I mean no harm. Please slow your steps and hear me out."

The renowned Grand Catalyst of the Shackle of Space, Niri-Ki, who rules over the cold northern region of the Wall of Cliffs, in An-Ligir. Said to have been recovered from the Arrows of Mul-Ilar - a world shaking phenomenon that occurred near the end of the Age of Petty Kingdoms, when several blazing meteorites shot through the air and landed in the northern wastes. It is rumored to have numerous abilities - but the one it is the most famous for is its ability to map all things and living beings in an unusual representation of triangular tiles. It is said that this ability serves as the greatest deterrent against all attacks on the Wall of Cliffs, as no trickery can deceive the mapping of the Meteorite Prism.

 Just as Gumue stepped into the warm shadow of the thicket, she felt frigid sharp claws dig into her flesh through her manteau and clothes, along her left shoulder. An unusual chill permeated across her flesh as she felt the coldness of resplendence spread across her body from her shoulder making her heart sink in terror.

 An ancient, unusually well preserved work of art fashioned from the long extinct Scribe Caterpillar which was used a medium for writing long before the use of clay tablets. The scroll stretches nearly 20 feet long and records a visual treatise on mathematics. It is not known who is the author of this work and at present it is displayed at the grand foyer of the Wall of Arithmancy, one of the capital stronghold of Inkpot Valley which lies within the fief of the Cauldron of Ink.

Gumue felt her heart race as she quickly scrambled up from her prone position and sprinted as fast as she could in the direction of the edge of the clearing. The strange melodious chirp then rang once again behind her, making her heart jump.

One of the most terrifying creatures found in the Halls of the Divine Herd, a profaned necropolis built by the infamous Shepherd of Demons a half serpent, who was notorious for his terrifying ability command large hordes of unusual, supernatural creatures during the Primordial Age. The ox wight is known for its extremely pale leather which wards most arcane energies. It is also greatly feared for its seemingly unending strength and endurance. The worst part about the ox wight is also that it turns to useless sand when slain making even the most accomplished adventurers avoid them.

Gumue heard a shout of desperation from the soldier as she felt her arms scrape against the grass of the clearing. The moment she landed upon the grass she felt a gust of frigid wind blow against her back and legs, followed by a scream and the strange, uncannily melodious chirp of the bird.

An extremely rare and unusual spider found in remote forests far northwest of Ka-Absur. It bears the appearance of a spider the size of half an adult man's palm, and appears to be completely made of resin. According to accounts from explorers, it is able to take the appearance of an inconspicuous ball of resin and ambushes creatures that draw close.

"It's coming!" the soldier at the front exclaimed as she tensed up in her stance, preparing to strike. Gumue felt her heart jump as she quickly lowered her stance and leapt to her right.

An ancient board game speculated to have been created by a divine servant of the Deity of Craft, Rig-Dimmir, during the Primordial Age. The game involved 3 players, who had to place prism shaped pillars of crystal salt lightly hued in colors of red, purple and blue, upon a triangular board. The rules are long lost, but has been partially reconstructed by Archaeologists of the Jet Quarry where the first instance of the game was found.

"Resplendent Fowl!" the soldier yelled as her body tensed up, taking a defensive stance in the direction of the unusual bird still perched on the tree. "Are you sure!? How can it be so far here?" the young voice of another soldier responded. Gumue's expression turned grim as she once again found herself at a standstill. She had little doubt that if she made any move right now she would likely find herself a prime target.

An adept level alchemical spell used by highly skilled alchemists to raze large swathes of land. It is also used in warfare, and is infamous for its cruel effectiveness in severely injuring many troops. Depending on the scale of the spell, casting it may require from a minute to up to half a day, due to the need to transmute the Salt of Air into the axis of Pyrite, which is used as a reagent for the spell, with larger scale spells requiring larger amounts.

But soon, Gumue had no choice but to halt as she hear loud rustling coming from the direction she ran. Into her sight soon came two soldiers in Iguana hide armour with leaf-bladed messers drawn. "Looks like she's here.... Wait a second... Is that..." the soldier at the front muttered as she surveyed the clearing.

A type of fat known for its divine properties of banishing evil and bringing good fortune. Sacred Tallow is made from the fat of the now extinct Holy Swine, which used to be shepherded by followers of the manifested deities during the Primordial Age. Now, scant amounts are found in Bronze Vessels found in ancient ruins, and are greatly sought after especially by the adherents of the Holy Ka-Abir, whose high priestesses use for conjuring miracles of the highest order.

 A breeze blew across the clearing, causing the sounds of rustling leaves fill the area. Now was the moment! Gumue thought as she immediately broke into a sprint towards her right, away from the blind girl and the strange bird

 A strange artifact discovered in the Clay Mires of An-Ligir, one of the natural wonders of the land previously thought to be completely uninhabited due to the dangerous terrain of Subsuming Clay that gradually consumes those standing upon it until they are completely encased within it. According to many theories, the pillar was part of a large prison complex built by the enigmatic Stylus Tribe - said to have bore the greatest copus of knowledge, and upon the pillar were inscribed the regrets of criminal scribes who were cast into the prison for eternity. Interestingly, the artifact was discovered by the famous Archaeologist, Iru-Isim the Drunk - who was frequently mocked for being an incompetent, lazy scholar who saw archaeological expeditions as a merely a chance to enjoy local wines. In a drunken stupor, Iru-Isim somehow wandered deep into the Clay Mires, and discovered th pillar and managed to record its appearance in great detail and miraculously returned, establishing the fir...

 Now was still not the time. Gumue decided to wait a little longer to ensure that any attention to her was forgotten due to the reunion between this blind girl and the strange bird. "Did you find someone here...?" the blind girl asked the bird which remained silent as it twisted its head in the direction of Gumue. This action made her heart jump, but she stifled any exclamation that she would otherwise have made.

A tiny, fist sized owl known for its remarkable cry that resembles that of cats. Due to the cat being the superpredator of its habitats of sand forests found on the north of An-Ligir, they are able to scare away many potential predators that commonly escape when they encounter cats. It is for this reason they are highly sought after as exotic pets, often amon the wealthy, due to their adorable size and cry.

Gumue felt a bead of perspiration form along her brow, which trickled down her face as her mind raced, thinking of the opportunity this person's blindness gave to her to quickly escape. But she immediately calmed herself and slowed her breathing.

Also known as Sickle Wind, Severing Wind is an unusual form of wind said to be filled with immense cutting power, said to have been commanded by the elusive Deity of Blades who left a single cut atop Scab Peak located in far in the Wastes north of Ninur-Sin Many swordmasters seek to attain the Severing Wind and make suicidal pilgrimages to the Wastes in hopes of beholding the Cut. Based on historical record only one named Akar-Asin managed to return after witnessing the Cut, and he reigned undefeated after his returning, dominating the lands with his Sickle-Sword during the early epoch of the Age of a Petty Kingdoms

Pido, so you flew here, I told you many times not to fly so far from me!" The young girl's voice grew louder as Gumue eventually saw a small silhouette enter the clearing. In the dark, Gumue made out the likeness of a girl nearly half her height, with pale short hair and a short braid hanging just above her right shoulder. What Gumue immediately found odd was that the girl's eyes were closed shut, but despite this she accurately faced the odd bird that perched atop a branch.

One of the Miracles of Art that was recorded to have occurred in the Nurturat Desert that separates western Ninur-Sin and An-Ligir. According to records from the Age of Petty Kingdoms, a large cloud of umber pigment nearly covering a radius of 10 leagues once manifested at the center of the desert, covered the area with a strange rain of umber, which several travellers harvested and presented to several nobles as gifts. It is said that only fragments of the Umber Rain exist in the desert, which are now only occupied by Archaeologists.

Gumue quickly decided that the best she could do was to keep a low stance, which would buy her time to find the right moment to make a break for it. "Is someone there...?" the youthful voice of a girl came from before Gumue, past the shaded thicket. Gumue swallowed as she kept silent and slowly stepped sideways in the oblique direction of the source of the voice. As she did this, the unusual bird chirped in a strange singsong manner.

The most fearsome Inheritance of Flesh, that was planned for creation by the ancient Artificers of Flesh, who practiced the profaned arts of corporeal transformation. According to fragments of the Tibia Codex, excavated from an ancient ruin at the bottom of the pungent Swamp of Corpses in Southeastern Gur-Qet, the Divine Goatfly Eye would have allowed it's inheritor to survey nearly all of the land, except those underwater and deep underground. No records of this Inheritance exist outside of the codex as opposed to the many other inheritances that made bloody marks in the history of the land, implying that it was never successfully made.

Quickly, Gumue leapt off the fallen trunk, leaving the half peeled citrus on it as paranoia pushed her into action. This creature was unusual - it was likely some hunting bird of some sort, Gumue immediately thought. And as though confirming her suspicions, she heard the rustling of leaves from ahead, making her heart sink.

One of the major cities of An-Ligir, famed for is Stone Feather buildings remembered for their remarkable artistic appearance that depicts a cluster of feathers. The city was said to have been crafted from the miraculous Sculpting Wind, that blew across a long crag, shaping the rough megaliths into its present appearance. For this reason the city is home to several famous sculptors and their patrons, making it the most important centre of art in all of Ulrunir.

As her mind wandered, gazing at the hypnotic brightness of the imaginary resplendence in her mind's eye, she began to sense an ominous sensation welling up within her bosom.

A mythical creature of omen, representing decadence. Depicted as a furred stoat with a large, round fleshy belly with a remarkable pointed horn on it's forehead. Said to be spotted before the initiation of the fall of an affluent, once powerful polity whose peoples have grown far too comfortable, portending the onset of collapse.

 Gumue stared at the bird for several moments. What drew her attention was the owls unusually bright eyes that reminded her of her first sighting of the profaned Infernal Resplendence.

 A mythical creature of omen, representing caution.  Depicted as a turtle with a thick shell made of hexagonal segments, with a head shaped like a double bladed axe. Said to be spotted before a siege - indicating a likely immense, nearly insurmountable difficulty of taking the holding it appears in.

 Turning to its source, Gumue saw a large owl wth an teal plummage land upon a branch of a tree at the edge of the clearing.

 One of the holy relics locked deep in the depths of the Holy Capital of Ka-Abir. The Sickle of Ur-Mikad was a sickle that was owned by one of the incarnations of the Deity of Mercy. It was said the Deity of Mercy was born as an impoverished farmer named Gir-Ikam, and fought bravely against a rampaging horde of elephants owned by the Tyrant Queen Nusum during the Age of Petty Kingdoms. With only Sickle in hand, he managed to ward off the elephants, who scattered - saving the village in which he lived. His storey was spread through the dominion of the Queen who saw him as a holy man with supernatural powers Displeased with this outcome, the Queen ordered his capture and imprisonment - in the ensuing struggle his sickle was shattered into 16 pieces and which were taken by the future leaders of several tribes. Centuries later, when Ka-Abir formed, the Capital granted Nusum posthumous sainthood, granting him the Holy Name Ur-Mikad, and ordered several Seekers to retrieve collect the fr...

Feeling slightly hungry, Gumue decided to sit atop the trunk of the fallen tree, as she began to peel open the citrus with her fingers, intending to have a snack. As her peeling revealed the bright yellow flesh of the fruit, she heard the sound flapping wings.

The legendary shield of Macelord Rulduk, one of the most formidable champions of Queen of Horns, Aga-Usur, who was known for creating the first Crown of Horns, one of the Petty Regalia that signifies lordship over a kingdom during the Age of Petty Kingdoms. The shield is nearly half the height of a man and made of boiled, lacquered leather of an elephant and adorned with the horn of the extinct Giant Horned Serpent, which is known for its innate piercing aura, capable of punching through bronze.

Eventually, Gumue found herself in the middle of a small clearing where she found a fallen tree around which she saw several pieces of bright coloured round citruses. Curious, she held on in her hand and could smell it's slightly sour scent.

Saltspin is the one of the axioms of the Saltmesh model explaining the different expressions of arcane power, such as elemental and psychic expressions. Each fragment of Salt in it's purest form exists as a cube with equal dimensions on all sides. Depending on the axis of Salt fragment's spin, resulting effects can be differ, even for small changes in angle. When several nearby fragments of Salt spin in a specific direction, there is a Resonance, which creates magical phenomena, which can create, destroy or transform all kinds of matter. In reality Salt bears an imperfect shape which causes it to typically spin in certain directions, causing different creatures to have different affinities of magic.

Gumue let her mind wander as she strolled along the edge of the branch. Her first priority would be to find and establish several hiding spots along the edge so she could quickly escape if she were to somehow be actively hunted yet again. Ultimately, she planned to scale the Sprig, but it was likely a bad time to do as her pursuers were likely searching for her on the higher strata. 

A theoretical model explaining the font of arcane power said to be latent within the bellies of all creatures from which magical powers are harnessed. The concept of the Saltmesh was explained first by Anatomist Sage Ansu-Izir during the Age of Petty Kingdoms during the famous Discourse Atop the Fallen Pillar. According to the Saltmesh model, Salt is the residue of creative energy formed during the manifestation of the first instances matter of the world. Consciousness forms an invisible net within flesh which gets denser closer to the creature's centre of mass. The denser the Net becomes, the more Salt is caught as time passes. With training, the density of the Net across the body and even beyond the body can be manipulated, resulting in the expression of magical effects.

In the end, Gumue decided to take neither of the options available to her. She decided instead to lurk along the edge of the branch which was thickly forested and had virtually no dwellings nearby. After all, her pursuers would likely have expected that she took flight either up or down the Sprig after realising her disappearance.

A large bird known for its thick, luxurious mane of feathers, found in the high peaks of Northeastern Ka-Absur. The feathers from the mane have a slight greenish sheen which is considered highly fashionable by those of significant wealth.

... The warmth of the night winds caressed Gumue as she tread toward the edge of the branch. From this place, she could see the small structures that were built and carved upon the Buttresses, and the long wall that curved in arc - the same wall she scaled before.

A wooden mask depicting a calm, gentle expression that gives one the impression of kindness. Worn by the Gentle Assassins known for their lethal and near undetectable means of dispatching their targets. It is not known to this day who the Gentle Assassins serve, but many suspect the Shackle of Silk of An-Ligir, Nina-Nisir to be their leader, due to her infamy for notorious , surreptitious schemes.

 The other option was to head further up the stratum. After all, Gumue ultimate destination on was further up on the Sprig. Though she could lay low in the Buttresses for a period of time, she would eventually have to scale it again. After thinking for several more turns while wandering in the thicket, she finally made her decision.

 A palm sized statuette of a corupulent sloth with a gleeful expression. It is often used in Gur-Qet as a charm for persistent fortune. The sloth moves slowly, disregarding the frantic nature of its peers. To be able to fill its belly while expending half the strength of its peers is the mark of unparalleled wisdom and luck.

 "It seems that there are people hunting for me. I'd best lay low and avoid contact with people for the time being..." Gumue thought to herself as a glum expression formed on her face. At this point, Gumue could see several ways out of her predicament. The first was to return to the Buttresses - she suspected that there would be fewer out there looking for her, as it appeared those who were hunting her were certain that she was somewhere in the lower stratum of the Sprig, and not in the Buttresses.

 A common type of fish that is found in large lakes and along the coastal regions of Ulrunir. Known for its lack of eyes and its characteristic 3 large dark spots that form a pattern along its scales. They are usually extensively fished and farmed to produce dried sardines which are used mainly as a base for broths prepared by the commoners of the land. The broth produced from eyeless sardines are of a deep amber colour and is said to have a savoury, slightly salty taste that whets appetite.

Gumue wallowed in sadness for a turn before carefully sneaking deeper into the thicket after completing her answer to the Bark. Having experienced being taken advantage of by seemingly kind strangers several times before, she knew better than to trust in Poso's good will given this unexpected visit.

A hunting hound known for his pronounced paws that bear a striking crimson colour found in the moss knolls of Shur-Qamet and Lal-Mit. Despite being much smaller than most hounds, they are extremely nimble and are adept at coordinating with several other hounds. 

Could it be that Poso was some sort of Intelligencer in disguise, intent on capturing those who intruded the Twin Sprigs, or someone who sought to earn a bounty for reporting her whereabouts? Gumue thought, feeling sorrow as she considered the possibility of having been sold out by that friendly elderly woman.

A parrot known for its golden scalp which is highly reflective, found mainly in the plains of Ka-Abir and south Ninur-Sin According to entomancers, this attracts several insects who mistake it's head for brightly colored flowers, allowing the Parrot to lure unsuspecting insects to feed upon.

Gumue squinted her eyes, trying to discern the likenesses of the shadows that began surrounding the hut. Their stance was low and they appeared to be attempting to walk around it as quietly as they could.

One of the earliest living manifestations of Primordial Magic that was theorized to have existed long before the birth of even the deities of the High Planes. It is said that the chirps of the Silver Cricket caused the undulations of the Unseen Sea, and the crashing waves that resulted cause the creation of the first substances that began to populate the empty world.

With her eyes half-closed she slipped on her sandals and leisurely walked across the overgrown grass in the direction of a small thicket in the distance. Escaping into the warm shadows of this lightly forested area, she squatted in an area obscured by several broad leaves and answered the bark's call. As she did so, she gazed at her quaint hut feeling warm inside. But that feeling quickly turned cold as she noticed a few shadows approaching it's entrance.

The artifact of Entomancer Inur-Ash, one of the candidates for ascension who could have inherited the Cauldron of Granite during the Fourth Tincturing of Lal-Mit. Despite the predominance of Alchemy and Herbalist masters among the Cauldrons, Inur-Ash was the most unique among other candidates due to his unusual ability to combine Entomancy and Alchemy, harnessing marble manifestations within the elixir refining process to great effect. However, he is said to have been assassinated by the order of several other candidates, leading to his early demise and loss of his secret arts which was never inherited.

Just as Gumue was about to drift into the soft and warm embrace of well earned sleep, she felt the Call of the Bushels from her lower body. "Ugh... Just when I got cozy..." Gumue muttered to herself before reluctantly pulling herself up to go relieve herself.

Also known as the Falconer's Bane, the Badger Lark is a highly aggressive and resilient bird found exclusively in the Lake Coasts of An-Ligir, known for its badger-like plumage. These larks, despite their moderate size are extremely hardy and can critically injure their flying peers, and usually one is able to disrupt a unit of three Falconers. However, due to its stubborn nature it is extremely hard to capture.

 As Gumue rest her head in comfort, letting the cool spiced vinegar flow down her throat and experiencing the thermal pleasure gained in conjunction with the warm night breeze that came in from a window shaded by a curtain of beads, she let out a breath of relief - closing her eyes, savoring the solace.

 A powerful spirit known for its strength, brewed from the distilled essence of snake livers. When periodically consumed in conjunction with strenuous exercise, it is said that it can greatly improve one's physical strength beyond the typical limits of man, as recorded in several ancient texts describing its properties. Yet, the method of its preparation is not confirmed to this day, and it is only rumored that some leaders of the polities who specialize in the expression of might guard this secret carefully.

 It had been long since she was able to laze about like this without anyone bothering her. Previously she had to behave with proper decorum while escorting the caravan and much earlier she had the act in a proper manner as she travelled with her Mentor two revolutions ago. Not too long ago, after helping the wine peddler Poso haul a few heavy wares and helping with a few tasks in the orchard, she was given several jars of cool spiced vinegar and offered a residence at a quaint hut which she now rested in leisurely.

A spice obtained from the inner bark of White Eagle Trees typically found in northern Lal-Mit, known for its remarkable bitter aroma which is known for its properties as a prominent stimulant. Its strong, bitter and overbearing scent is able to rouse those asleep at the cost of slight nausea and is thus used in help those in coma regain consciousness.

Gumue bore a faint grin on her face as she basked in the darkness of the hut she rested within. Propped up by several sacks of chaff, she sat in a reclined posture sipping from a large tankard of diluted spiced vinegar.

A mushroom known for its peculiar ability to produce foam from the substance it is immersed within. It is white in colour and known for its crumpled cap. Typically used by Herbalists and Physicians in the economical productuon of healing poultices as the created foam is able to distribute healing properties more evenly with less amount of healing substance.