Chapter 260 - Helgat Shattered (1/2)
And yet, Li had to wonder. ”For what reason would Zahaka do this for dwarves, I do wonder. They do not seem to worship her, nor do they seem like people who are particularly given to magic themselves.”
”In the First Darkening, all three gods gave liberal gifts to the mortals that stood with them against the demons and the dark, regardless of whether the mortals were their believers or not,” said Asala. ”Though mortal greed, conflict, and the volatility of time hath lost many of these Godgiven artifacts to the ages, there are yet those that remain.
Such as the walls of Riviera, fashioned in tandem by the Fiery Bull and mine own goddess. Or the sunlit dome blessed by Helius covering Eclat.”
”There is one among us,” said Sheela. ”From our god. Khaal the Nightstalker. Blade of curses. Pride of my people. But...lost now.”
”The Nadir,” said Asala. ”Blade forged of primordial darkness and curses. Once wielded by the Hinterlanders, then taken in rightful combat by the Feli, and now lost to demonkind during the Fourth Darkening. Guarantees that something must die whenever it is drawn, whether that be an enemy or the user itself.”
”I find again,” said Sheela confidently. ”When we go west. To my home. I take from demons. One reason why I go.”
Asala made a note in her tablet. ”And I shall record thine efforts dutifully. Ah, what an interesting epic it shalt be. The gold maned Feli, strong and brave among her kind, once reduced to the yoke of bondage, now risen above her circ.u.mstance to snatch from demons once more the divine artifact of her peoples.”
Sheela might not have been able to follow exactly what Asaala said, but she did get a basic idea of it, and she smiled, liking the notion of basically being the protagonist of her own story.
”Regardless of whether this gate is divinely enchanted or not,” said Li. ”We have to go through it to see what's going on below. This strange ooze has intrigued me, for I have not seen anything of its like.”
”Neither have I,” said Asala, a hand stroking her chin. ”It would be most gripping to my attention were we to investigate further.”
”Then we shall go!” said Mercer, quite obviously wanting to please Asala.
”But how?” said Mason with more doubt. ”No magic works upon the gate, and it is pure adamant. Adamant, brother. Metal we have only heard of in legend. They say that even falling stars from the heavens above may not bend it. Nothing we can muster will shatter it.”
”Lads, you are too narrow minded,” said Old Thane. ”In the fourth invasion that I meself fought in, there was a platinum-ranked dwarven adventurer that wore adamant armor and blade, and in the face of the masterful swordsmanship of the herald of Pride, his armor was like naught but paper, torn apart in a mere instant.”
Zagan stirred at the mention of a herald sin, especially pride with whom he seemed to have a personal connection too, but he did not react further.
Li knelt down to the gate, putting his hand on the hot, blue tinted metal. He felt for the gate's strength, getting a gauge of how durable it was. Certainly, he knew what adamant was and how durable it was. It was basically the best ingot one could farm until moving onto higher level godgiven to celestial gear.