Eternal Scriptorium
Four months have passed since the expedition started. It was a large expedition consisting mostly of scholars, artists and healers, accompanied by armed guards that have sworn their life to protect its members. The families came along since there was no life for them back home. They all left in search of the place where knowledge and history of the world could be preserved for future generations.
They were all rich and could live a life of splendor, but they hated it, creating art for the nobles and members of the high society. Not one of them cared to preserve history and art of the old age, they only wanted to show themselves in the best light.
"I wish more people decided to go with us." said one of the artists.
"Me too, but it is what it is. I gave the offer to each and it was their choice in the end." said the leader of the expedition.
The scout was approaching them fast on his horse.
"My lord Agmul, we found something, the rock is carved just like you said!"
"Take me there now!" said Agmul in commanding voice.
They needed some time to get to the place the scout found. But he was right - in the stone you could see the remains of the stairs carved a long time ago. Most of them were covered in moss and time had eroded large parts. "We will set up our camp here, the climb will be hard, so only a few of us will go. The rest will remain here until we return." said Agmul and began ordering where to place things and what to carry with them.
Two times Sun rose and went down in the sky and they were still climbing through the dense vegetation that was covering the path. Resting was difficult, since there were only a few places along the path that were safe for them to stop.
On the third day they reached the plateau. It was covered with thick forest, but you could see that it was created by someone. It was surrounded by sharp cliffs, so the only entrance in and out of the plateau was the path they came from.
Agmul ordered some of the guards to start removing vegetation left and right of the path. If he was right and they were in the correct spot, there should be remains of the gate and a guard tower.
"Why would they need guard towers? It was hard enough to get here with such a light load, an army with all of the armor and weapons would not be able to climb to this place." said one of the artists.
"It was not to prevent people from entering. In ancient time there was no war, but still wild beasts were roaming the land and you do not want a wild beast to enter your home. While you dig, I will go further, I need to find it, I worked so hard. You two!" he looked at two guards that were unpacking bags. "Come with me, I will need some help." He went deeper into the vegetation, looking for any structure he could find. Soon, stone structures started to appear, covered in moss. Most of them collapsed, but some were still standing, not in a good shape, but they could provide some shelter and in time become home. He moved further deeper into the complex and there it was - the stone tower was standing in the center of it. "I was right! This is one of the nine ancient cities, created before the Blood Moon!"
The tower was made from black stone. On each central stone of each floor, a rune was carved in a language long forgotten, still glowing with strange light. The black stone was the strongest stone in the world and once placed, it could not be destroyed.
Inside the tower, most of the interior was worn down by time. Everything created from wood was now dust and the only thing standing were nine statues along the wall, each carved from the different colored marble. They were looking at the central point of the tower floor, where a map was carved in. These were the Gods that created Bleagatara.
"What is this map on the floor, my lord? I do not recognize any continent." asked one of the guards.
"That is the map of Bleagatara in the first era. Before Blood Moon destroyed most of the world and the Gods went to war." answered Agmul with pride in his voice. What he was searching for his whole life was right here.
He looked at the map for some time and then pressed the center of if. The tower started to shake, dust falling everywhere. Slowly, the map was moving, revealing the staircase beneath. He lit the torch and descended down into the darkness.
Some time later, he emerged, smiling, excited like a child.
"Go back to the camp. This is the place we looked for - the end of our journey, where we shall settle. The forgotten library is here." It will take ages to read all of the books that are under this tower, but knowledge and history will be preserved. One day, Blood Moon will return and this time they will be prepared.
"I wish more people decided to go with us." said one of the artists.
"Me too, but it is what it is. I gave the offer to each and it was their choice in the end." said the leader of the expedition.
The scout was approaching them fast on his horse.
"My lord Agmul, we found something, the rock is carved just like you said!"
"Take me there now!" said Agmul in commanding voice.
They needed some time to get to the place the scout found. But he was right - in the stone you could see the remains of the stairs carved a long time ago. Most of them were covered in moss and time had eroded large parts. "We will set up our camp here, the climb will be hard, so only a few of us will go. The rest will remain here until we return." said Agmul and began ordering where to place things and what to carry with them.
Two times Sun rose and went down in the sky and they were still climbing through the dense vegetation that was covering the path. Resting was difficult, since there were only a few places along the path that were safe for them to stop.
On the third day they reached the plateau. It was covered with thick forest, but you could see that it was created by someone. It was surrounded by sharp cliffs, so the only entrance in and out of the plateau was the path they came from.
Agmul ordered some of the guards to start removing vegetation left and right of the path. If he was right and they were in the correct spot, there should be remains of the gate and a guard tower.
"Why would they need guard towers? It was hard enough to get here with such a light load, an army with all of the armor and weapons would not be able to climb to this place." said one of the artists.
"It was not to prevent people from entering. In ancient time there was no war, but still wild beasts were roaming the land and you do not want a wild beast to enter your home. While you dig, I will go further, I need to find it, I worked so hard. You two!" he looked at two guards that were unpacking bags. "Come with me, I will need some help." He went deeper into the vegetation, looking for any structure he could find. Soon, stone structures started to appear, covered in moss. Most of them collapsed, but some were still standing, not in a good shape, but they could provide some shelter and in time become home. He moved further deeper into the complex and there it was - the stone tower was standing in the center of it. "I was right! This is one of the nine ancient cities, created before the Blood Moon!"
The tower was made from black stone. On each central stone of each floor, a rune was carved in a language long forgotten, still glowing with strange light. The black stone was the strongest stone in the world and once placed, it could not be destroyed.
Inside the tower, most of the interior was worn down by time. Everything created from wood was now dust and the only thing standing were nine statues along the wall, each carved from the different colored marble. They were looking at the central point of the tower floor, where a map was carved in. These were the Gods that created Bleagatara.
"What is this map on the floor, my lord? I do not recognize any continent." asked one of the guards.
"That is the map of Bleagatara in the first era. Before Blood Moon destroyed most of the world and the Gods went to war." answered Agmul with pride in his voice. What he was searching for his whole life was right here.
He looked at the map for some time and then pressed the center of if. The tower started to shake, dust falling everywhere. Slowly, the map was moving, revealing the staircase beneath. He lit the torch and descended down into the darkness.
Some time later, he emerged, smiling, excited like a child.
"Go back to the camp. This is the place we looked for - the end of our journey, where we shall settle. The forgotten library is here." It will take ages to read all of the books that are under this tower, but knowledge and history will be preserved. One day, Blood Moon will return and this time they will be prepared.
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