[quote][color=6ecff6]"That's definitely good news. Especially because... you know... Chests in a dungeon... On most stories, things like these [i]always[/i] come with either traps or ambushes. You should rely on us a bit more. Running headfirst towards a possibly dangerous situation is never a good idea."[/color] Miwa said, delicately lecturing Verdant.[/quote] It was clear that the plan was scouting the path ahead, not a treasure retrieval. But what was done was done, and truth to be told, if there were traps, Jazdia would have seen them in her first scan and warned the party. The intention to claim the treasure together was to minimize the altercations that came with it; everyone would witness the treasure being found together, get it together, and open it together so no one would feel cheated. But that too didn't seem to be in everyone's mind at the moment. The topics went on, and some of them took their time to inspect the findings, and yet Nobody was talking about dividing the wealth. So the moments stretched, and the rangers had grown uneasy. "We should move now." Said Mr. Elc. [color=#F4E7CA]"Yeah, we should! More treasure awaits us in that vault."[/color] The elves decided not to wait. It was now up to the rest of the party to distribute the gold among themselves. For now, the chest was secure in Verdant's possession, lugged around as they resumed their march into the tunnel. Jazdia and Vesemir, in particular, did not mind as long as the gold did not slow them down. And finally, the first sign of masonry could be seen replacing the craggy wall, and in front of them was a ruined wall that exposed several small rooms behind. Dark and reeking of death, there was something eerie about that section that made even seasoned rangers like Jazdia and Mr. Elc reconsider. Not a mere ghost or supernatural entity, but something enigmatic and unfathomably evil, even the light from Vesemir's enchanted lantern couldn't penetrate. [color=#F4E7CA]"Is that our entrance?"[/color] Asked Vesemir, oddly enough, he seemed unaffected by dreadful whispers coming from that dark room. [color=#F4E7CA]"and here I am already prepared the key access." [/color] [color=ec008c]"I have no recollection of this..."[/color] Jazdia mused, gazing into that unnatural darkness that gazed back with a haunting lure. The elf quickly assessed that it was magic, a dark, necromantic type. Cast ages ago, but designed to linger. Jazdia took a step back as if it was fire that harmed. [color=fff79a]"That can't be it."[/color] Eblana inched closer to Jazdia. [color=fff79a]"Right, miss? I... don't like the looks of it. It's like the darkness that can swallow you whole." [/color] [color=#F4E7CA]"Nonsense! I've been in many places like this. Black Magic? Pah! That's just your imagination, My Dear."[/color] Vesemir had had his hat fixed, shoulder square, [color=#F4E7CA]"Follow me, Lads!"[/color] and he would have sauntered into that room had Mr. Elc not seized his arm and forcibly pulled him to his side. [color=#C7C6C5]"No. I'd have followed you if it were just us, but this party has a Navigator, and it is wise to listen to her before doing anything against our better judgment." [/color] He shifted his gaze to Jazdia, silently asking her for alternatives. [color=ec008c]"Seeing that wall, I do not doubt that this entrance may lead to that vault, but let us keep walking. I think the door I saw before should be near; otherwise, we can always return here."[/color] True, the tunnel hadn't ended yet. There was another path to the right. It was still darkness whichever direction they chose, but at least it wasn't as creepy as that broken room they just left behind. After roughly thirty strides, they saw a door. [color=#F4E7CA]"That must be it then?" [/color] There were two skeletons near it. One wore knight armor. The other skeleton leaned against the wall, hugging a golden scepter that emanated an ancient magic. A scimitar and a greatsword lay between them and the door, and both suffered damage that could only be caused by madness or desperation. [color=ec008c]"Yes." [/color] Jazdia joined Vesemir as he examined the door, the last barrier that separated her from salvation. It was made of stainless steel and copper. Its surface bore numerous scratches and shallow dents, likely caused by broken blades. There was no visible keyhole; the door was a solid slab of metal and the only irregularity on its otherwise smooth surface was a small square area on the left, engraved with intricate patterns about the size of a person's palm. [color=#F4E7CA]"Yeah, no doubt about that. Though... this is not like what I've imagined." [/color] [color=ec008c]"How was it in [i]your[/i] imagination?" [/color] The old elf ran his fingers along the smooth surfaces before answering solemnly. [color=#F4E7CA]"More engravings, symbols, or heraldries. Things that show who we are." [/color] Jazdia politely let the scholar savor his moments before asking the big question. [color=ec008c]"Any idea how to open it?" [/color] Vesemir did not answer with a word; he enthusiastically fished out a card from his suit pocket. It was made of silver, like a miniature of the door itself, with similar engravement on one side of it. The moment Vesemir placed the card on that engraving, the lines started to glow, but the process was not instant. The glow flashed multiple times, and she could have sworn there was a faint voice somewhere behind the walls. [b]"That's gold, ain't it?"[/b] Someone said. Jazdia looked over her shoulder, thinking they might be referring to the door. Turns out it was Stepan. The man observed the skeleton, but there was something unnatural in his voice when he talked about gold and he did not sound like himself. [color=ec008c]"Right. I know it looks tempting, but it is wise to exercise some caution."[/color] Fully turned back toward the party, Jazdia continued. [color=ec008c]"Miss Fia, would you mind handling that scepter and seeing what it is all about? [/color] [hider=Map] [img]https://i.ibb.co.com/N6JXp1gH/Screenshot-MAP-2025-08-21-215524.png[/img][/hider]