[img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ed/11/0b/ed110bff25c843eaff89f9f8cc1f6b5c.jpg[/img] INFINITY BRIDGE HOST TOWER Current status: Operating at maximum efficiency Lead Rift Herald: Felix Varden, Dwarven Scholar / Platinum Link Notable figures: Arlen Fisher (At attention beside the infinity stone), Siph Barou (Rift Guide), Jasper Ardent (Treasury room) The tower loomed overhead, soaring into the sky. Various lights illuminated the gigantic home of the largest trading venture ever witnessed. Inside was housed the king of Apothicus, Nicholas Whitemire. His many attendants and servants, Arlen Fisher and over 200 of the elite knights trained specifically to protect the infinity bridge and the ruler of the city, along with dozens of Iron Chain workers allied to the ruling council of Dwarven and Human traders from the Iron Peaks all had rooms in the expansive underground network. Adventurers filed in and out at every hour of the day, high ranking officials came and went in expensive carriages pulled by exotic beasts that marked their status at a cursory glance. This was the hub of 'infinity'. Anything of importance to the city and the stone itself was said to transpire at the very peak of the tower. [hider=Main Hall] [img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d2/b1/86/d2b186aad2e39cbef7982cef8de163d9.jpg[/img] [/hider] Through the front gates, two armed guards holding short spears with well used leather grips, ushered in adventurers steadily. Guided by an usher for those who were unfamiliar, all adventurers were asked to show their papers declaring them an ally to the city and a registered member of the guild. While a mere formality for those who went through the proper channels, this was crucial in weeding out the riff raff and the wanted. Every guardsman who worked the gate could identify a wanted convict at a glance. Those who dwelled heavily in the underworld, and crossed the Iron Hands, would find only death waiting at the door. The tower was as much a fortress as it was a hub. Once inside, faerie fire torches illuminated the grand halls long path down into the heart of the tower. Branching side corridors bustled with activity as servants, squires, sages, magi, members of the church and adventurers guild, made use of the interconnecting rooms and side-passages to avoid cluttering up the main hall for the adventurers. Banners hung from the ceiling, statues of the ruling council and heroes of the past littered the area for everyones viewing pleasure. Some even prayed at these well constructed likenesses of their personal hero, praying for luck and fortune. To return safely. Various carts were pushed tight against the walls loudly shouting out their wares for adventurers. Those who were sanctioned to operate inside the great hall were undoubtedly wealthy. Access to the items brought in from the bridge gave them an advantage in the traders marketplace every day, and allowed the greedy merchants to sell necessities to adventurers who had forgotten to get the appropriate items they would need before leaving the city proper. It was a gold mine. As the carts of exotic gems, foods, items, weapons and armor, all vanished into the shrinking distance, the adventurers would be graced by the infinity bridge. [img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ca/7a/0a/ca7a0ae0db5fd9cbf39c1382a7c7e48e.jpg[/img] The floor was a masterwork of stone and gold, painstakingly collected by the towers original creator Sei Ostravis and finally molded into a man made spring. Fresh water flowed in, bringing with it the smell of summer at full bloom. The waters pristine edges revealed fresh fish swiming between the priceless artifacts thrown into its nearly 20 foot depths as an offering to the gods of the sea. Woe be to those who would try to steal such treasures, no matter how tantalizing. Even the current owner of the tower did not dare try to take an offering. Glimmering suits of armor, gold and platinum coins, necklaces. All of it was littering the rune carved bed of the waters depths as a promise of what you could find in the rifts. A long slim pathway cut across the river and onto a solid gold dais rested in the middle of a circular 'island' of sorts, the entire platform was cut from stone and only went perhaps 2 feet into the water below. There, suspended by magical containment field, hung the fabled stone. In its glimmering depths lay the mysteries of the universe. Potential beyond anything the world could comprehend. The Infinity Stone. Beside it, resting in a chair of polished oak, sat an aging dwarf by the name of [url=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/26/db/89/26db89846ec1d2307f798ca6129f0aa5.jpg]Felix Varden[/url] At your request, he would grasp the stone and usher in a portal across the waters shimmering surface. One needed only jump into the 'doorway' to enter the rift. When you exited, you would return the same way you came. For some the idea of getting wet was unpleasant, but the revitalizing waters helped ache the body and soul after a hard days fight. Those who did not return alive... Their crystals were collected and returned to life in an adjacent room. ------------------------- [img]http://orig09.deviantart.net/6e5c/f/2017/032/9/d/siphbanner_by_fenixking13-daxh134.png[/img] Siph proceeded through the tower with familiar ease. Many adventurers glanced at the party he was escorting with everything from jealousy to outright open hostility. To traverse a rift with a legend would mark them forever. It would make them the talk of the town in days to come if they should fail miserably, or return with a cache fit for a demon prince. It was only a matter of time. [color=ed1c24]"Keep up. We do not want to be slowed down yet."[/color] The big man called to the following group, pushing aside a few more overzealous fans with an apology. The corridors were always beautiful but to Siph, the idea of adventure was far more thrilling. As it always was. Upon entering the central corridor hosting the crystal, he spoke out to the gate keeper wit ha friendly smile and a wave. [color=ed1c24]"Felix! Old friend. I have come to traverse the unknown once more, this time as a guide."[/color] Felix adjusted his glasses and raised his eyes from the book in his hands. Recognizing the barbarian adventurer, the aging dwarf gingerly rose from the seat and began his chant. The words were a mixture of prayer and spell alike, meant to call upon the spirits inhabiting the stone to open a rift. The words 'siege' and 'Dwarf' were echoed and the stone responded in kind. The water took on a fierce glow of colors and shapes that could not be identified. Walking to the lip of the circular 'island' the stone was upon, Felix gingerly took a ceremonial cup and scooped up the water. With a flick of his hand it was sent in vertical line across the water, gouging it open in a scene of violent shimmering electricity that danced across the waters surface. [color=fff200]"After you, sir."[/color] [color=ed1c24]"A pleasure as always, Felix."[/color] The Barbarian walked up and bowed before the dwarven priest with deep respects before turning and leaping into the rift opening that now hovered a few inches from the waters surface. The rift rippled like waves as the barbarian disappeared entirely. -------------------------------------- [hider=RIFT LOCATION] [img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2e/7e/dd/2e7edd38b17c71a042efa49de56acd92.jpg[/img] DWARVEN CITY - THESURI / ARGRIMS SIEGE [/hider] The rift exit deposited the party onto a long stone bridge suspended by masterful dwarven craftsmanship and ingenuity, that lead up to a long since destroyed city of the Dwarves. Thesuri. Once the bastion of resistance in the wild northern mountains some 3000 years ago, it was now little more than a legend. Yet in the rift it shined like a diamond. But the wind tasted of blood. Across the bridge a battle was being waged. The corpses of either side littered the field. Over a hundred furry corpses were strewn between the corpses of two heavily armored dwarved. A score of heavily armored shield dwarves were left in a circular ring surrounded by bipedal ratmen. The Skaven, as they were commonly referred to, were usually tunnel dwelling ambushers but in this rift they had waged a head on assault of the front gates. Nearly 30 of them armed with crude poison tipped spears and rusted swords, these 5 feet tall rats were fast on their feet. The poison on their weapons could numb your body in minutes, so they relied in hit and run tactics with blowdarts and other projectiles, before coming in to deal the final blow. The rats now were on guard against the dwarves, anticipating they would break their shield ring and try to attack. If and when it happened, the skaven would swarm the valiant defenders and slaughter them without pity. Already there were a few of the rat faced vermin beginning to eat the dead. The group could overrun the rat men if they managed to surprise them and create an opportunity for the shield circle to go on the offensive. But a long rope hung from a sturdy pillar leading onto a small ledge upon the mountainside, worked stone telling of passageways into the fortress would allow the group to bypass the fight and enter the stronghold with surprise still on their side.