Fantasy DUNGEON DELVER: Secrets of Caedia — Expedition #6, The Shale Flats

[Elenion Aura]

DUNGEON DELVER

Secrets of Caedia

A Voice in the Dark

"Listen, my Chosen,

to the stones that weep beneath your feet."

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• 「 #6 」
  The Shale Flats

  The Shale Flats are an unremarkable stretch of barren, rocky terrain located in one of the more stable levels beneath Caedia. The ground is covered in layers of loose shale and gravel, with little to no vegetation except for the occasional patch of moss clinging to damp stone.
  
  Despite its desolate appearance, the Shale Flats are known for a single resource: shale salt. This mineral, extracted from the rock through slow and laborious methods, is used on the surface in everything from preservation of food to certain alchemical processes. While not a particularly valuable or exciting commodity, shale salt is in steady demand in the markets of Closter, making it one of the few reasons anyone would venture to this quiet and uninspiring area.
  
  A group of Delvers has been hired to recover a shipment of shale salt that was lost in transport back topside. The caravan carrying the goods broke down when one of its wheels shattered on the jagged terrain, and the driver had to leave the cart behind to seek help. The merchant who owns the cargo is offering a modest reward for anyone willing to retrieve the cart and its load of salt and bring it back to Closter.
  

「 #6 」

OST 1 — MAIN THEME

 

[Elenion Aura]

INTO THE UNKNOWN

Dungeon Revelations

The process of entering through Caedia to one of the Dungeons beneath it is known to be an, at best, disorienting and, at worst, traumatizing experience, especially for first-time Delvers. It is a sensation unlike anything else, as the pit of Caedia transports the persons who stand atop its surface—mind, body, and soul—from one plane of existence to another...

 

[Elenion Aura]

The Shale Flats, Dungeons under Caedia

The world around them shifted with a jarring, disorienting lurch as the Delvers passed—most for the first time—through the portal into the Shale Flats. What began as the warm, familiar glow of torchlight in Caedia quickly twisted, the air snapping into something dry and gritty. It was as though the ground beneath them tilted, time warping until they were thrust into a desolate expanse.

The warmth was gone, replaced by the dry winds sweeping over the cracked, barren terrain. The Shale Flats stretched endlessly in every direction, a wasteland of jagged rocks dotted shale deposits in various states of excavation. The faint light of the surface was replaced by a murky, overcast sky, casting a dim pall over the landscape. Shadows clung to the shallow ridges and low outcroppings scattered across the flats.

The portal from which they had emerged vanished behind them, leaving nothing but the crunch of shale underfoot and the whistle of wind. The Delvers found themselves at the edge of the vast Shale Flats, a barren expanse of cracked, uneven ground that stretched endlessly before them.

Loose shale crunched underfoot as they navigated the rough terrain, dust swirling with every step. Jagged ridges jutted up from the earth, creating a maze of narrow paths and steep outcrops. In the distance, a thin trail of dust marked the location of the broken cart, barely visible against the horizon. The wind howled through the stone, carrying with it the eerie silence of the Flats.

Their mission seemed simple: recover the scattered supplies, repair the cart, and return the cargo to the outpost.

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Code by Serobliss

 

[Infab]

Expedition #6

Sertoria

HUMAN PALADIN

The Shale Flats, Dungeons under Caedia

"...Terribilis."

The word flowed forth from her lips quietly as she stood, hoisting herself up from the loose shale to her knees. Sertoria had heard that the journey through the portals was a particularly disturbing one to beginners. From unsettling for some, to outright traumatizing for those with weak constitutions. As she knelt there, a knee pressed into the shale, she lifted her helmet up just slightly. Then, she spat out a mass of saliva and some other foul tasting substance. The jump had left a literal bad taste in her mouth, and it was one that she was quick to rid herself of.

She pulled her helmet back down, making sure it was secure before looking about for the others that had come through with her. From what she had gathered before the jump, this was quite the warrior's party. All simply to retrieve a shipment of shale salt. She really didn't mind, though. Work was work, and money was money. Often, good work meant future employment with one of the delving guilds as well. That was really why she was here in the first place, beyond spreading the word and faith of Lord Durge.

She said a silent prayer to the death god, thanking him for guiding his disciple to her destination safely. She also said another prayer, asking him to guide her to foes in need of deliverance. If there were any here, that is.

She located her scutum, the large rectangular shield lying in the shale just a few feet from her, and slipped it onto her left arm. Then, she stood. She straightened herself up, taking in the sights and sounds of the environment. It reminded her a bit of her homeland, in some ways. At least, where she herself was from. The temperature was quite different, though. It was cooler here.

Interactions: None, yet.

Code by Serobliss