This closed log is for the group who signed up for a private Sarht expedition from last month. All threads are worth 12 points.
By some twist of fate, Benedikta, Cid, and Shadow will find themselves dropping in (literally, through the sand) into hidden ruins deep,
deep underground, landing several hundreds of feet below on a massive pile of strangely soft sand that will cushion their fall and even heal any injuries that could have been sustained. How strange. Although they could try to fly back out, the constant flow of sand will make it difficult, as if trying to push them back down. Looking up, they will see a clear glass-like dome as expansive and bright as the evening sky, the sand and rock visible above with sand trickling down the hole that the trio all fell through.
With this dome providing mysterious "sunset" atmosphere and allowing them enough light to see, they will spot ahead of them the beginnings of ancient buildings, and from their perch atop the massive sand pile that is as high as a giant hill, they will see the ruins are massive, enough to look as if it were a large town or small city with the stone walls and columns. It's unclear if the city was originally built underground or if this dome has been protecting it, but that's something they can try to uncover.
There is no one here, no person, creature, or entity to greet them, but they can hear the faint sounds of
slithering and distant clattering of claws or rocks disturbed in the distance, making it clear that they are not completely alone. And now they will need to explore through and see what secrets they can uncover.
The city itself is too massive for the three of them to try and explore everything on their own, however any buildings they venture into will reveal a culture that honors strength and fighting with brilliant murals depicting heroic feats painted or engraved into many walls and many homes with a large amount of weapons with several missing. Stranger still is that while belongings were left behind, there are no signs of remains. No corpses, skeletons, detached clothing—no sign at all of anyone who could have died in whatever situation that caused the evacuation of this city. However, should they manage to reach the outer edges of the glass dome, they will find bones and black fabric crushed and pressed up against it…
Further in, roughly in the very center of the city, is a set of very large dragon statues set on top of a fountain pool that has clear, cool water in it. The largest shines with gold, its wings spread wide to cover the entire plaza as it faces west. Set on either side are two smaller dragons. A white, silver one faces north and a black, obsidian faces south. Although the statues seem to be in pristine condition, the black one has a few cracks. Coincidentally, the white one faces the direction where Ya Relaeh is located. To the west is a large temple-like building, and the south seems to be shrouded in a strange darkness.
While most of the city remains relatively whole and complete, especially the eastern area, the west is where light seems to disappear and darkness prevails.. Buildings are crumbling, actively slowly turning into dust as if decaying. It's a process that has been going on for a long time, with the farthest area completely wiped out and slowly encroaching further inward towards the city.
Empty as the city is of people, it's not completely devoid of life. Whether they managed to slip through the rocky cracks underneath or fell through the very same hole they did, beasts roam through the ruined city. Even more bizarre, dragon warrior statues made of stone will sometimes come to life to attack certain areas, as if to protect it.
🐲 Dragon Warriors. The statues will be surprisingly agile despite being made of stone, wielding an assortment of melee weapons. However, they do not need to be destroyed—besting them in a duel is enough to make them stop, and upon "defeat" something will glow in their mouths before a golden dragon scale falls out. These are the same scales found in the first desert expedition and will hold a memory vision related to where the statue was found.
🌵 Roaming beasts. Although they do not fill the town, there are different creatures roaming through the city. Some are peaceful while others are aggressive. The ones to be most wary about are the insect types, especially the scorpions, as they are large and poisonous. However, there seems to be a small population of small cactus that can move and hop about. They will mostly watch but may grow curious enough to follow and offer random small trinkets, dragon scales, and things they think these strangers might like.
💨 Echoes. Scattered throughout the city are three mysterious bits of fog. Stepping through them will make the individual have an extraordinary experience of the past…as if reliving it themselves.
When the trio finally leave, they will find something strange—and that is regardless how long they stay within the ruins, the outside looks as if no time had passed at all.
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