Cold is the Void

[Amaterasu]

Expedition, Day 13 - Day 1 of the Ascent

Organizing the ascent of the mountain was both easier due to having fewer people to account for, and harder because the expedition dwarves were gone. They distributed a few basic items and essential tools for everyone in case that they got separated - something to cook with, wood and tinder, picks, that sort of thing -, as well as provisions for three days. Ideally they would make it through just fine of course, but this wasn't an ideal world. Their equipment was measly compared to what it should be, but they weren't professional mountain climbers and no amount of equipment could equip a Secondary to face off against the rage of the elements, or a Prime's. They could do nothing but hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

After that, the ascent. Amaterasu remembered the location where the cavern entrance was, but it was above the ground level and reaching it wasn't an easy task. Urist took the lead, scaling with two picks and driving stakes into the wall that he then used to fixate a rope and help the others climb it once he was at the top. They tugged the rope back in and began walking... and soon they found that what they had entered was much more than they had bargained for. The cave was covered in blue ice - the ground, the walls, the ceiling... everything. And it was enormous: the ceiling had to be twenty, maybe thirty meters above them, with pointy icicles and frozen-over stalactites looming over them. There was something reminiscent of a staircase, natural steps that looked like a number of small waterfalls had once carved it in their descent, and massive stalagmites, also covered in ice, lining the sides. On the other side was an exit leading deeper into the cave. Oddly enough everything was lit but with no visible light source.

As they approached that exit a figure began to move, casting its reflection on the ice walls around them. A wampa, smaller than the ones Amaterasu had met and with odd blue stripes across its arms and back. It seemed tired, its movements sluggish, as it stepped in their path, blocking it, and looked at them with its tiny black eyes. Oki reached for the hilt of Kutone, Fiara's Phoenix Blasters were already active and Amaterasu loosened the prayer beads around her belt, but none attacked. If the wampa had wanted to attack them it would have surprised them... or done so now. It was just looking at them.

"Step aside", she finally spoke audibly, and her voice echoed off the walls. She had not expected it to do much, but the wampa responded much to everyone's surprise.

"Travelers, i asketh thee: what doth thee seek?"

When Amaterasu stayed quiet, both dumbfounded by the strange words and by the wampa speaking, Urist took the initiative.

"We 'ave come ta climb to the summit o' the Roof o' the World."

"Doth thee seek to square the dragonkin?"

"Squa- no. No, we intend t' find... the rip in the sky."

"The Void Gate. We want to find the Void Gate", Fiara stepped in. The wampa gave her an odd look.

"Doth thee dare the seven trials to prove thy purity of heart?"

Fiara frowned. "Listen... I can barely understand what you're saying. We just want to climb to the summit, we won't bother anyone."

After a few moments, the wampa spoke. "Perhaps then, it would be more appropriate for me to adopt a manner of speech matching yours. Do you understand me now?"

"Much better", Oki said with a friendly smile, and bowed. "As Fiara said, we intend to climb to the summit, and this cave appears to be leading up... we don't dare climb the hazardous exterior for fear of the elements."

"A wise choice. However the ascent through the Halls of Sin will not be an easy trial either. If you wish to reach the summit through the caves you will face the seven trials, as I said. Only if you can brave the challenges you will be able to proceed."

"What will these trials consist in?" asked Amaterasu.

"I will provide guidance as you brave them, but I cannot reveal their nature ahead of time."

"Then I ask for a moment to consider." She waved to the other three to come join her at a little distance. Not that there was much to discuss.

"I'm not certain if we have much of a choice", Oki said as they put their heads together and lowered their voices while the wampa waited patiently. "It's either taking whatever these challenges present us with, or going outside and climbing the mountain from there."

"Ah don' see that bein' an option, not after Mistral", Urist remarked coldly. "But, ah don' trust a speakin' wampa."

"At least we have pretty much the certainty that this whole thing will actually lead us to the summit", said Fiara. "Unless of course it's lying, that wampa confirmed that the caves lead to the summit."

"Speaking animals are... odd, but I'm certain that there is a good reason behind it all", Amaterasu concluded. "If we can't use the outside, we'll have to face these challenges it presents us with. I don't like diving into something I don't know about before we go in there, but we have no better choice."

The others silently agreed and they split up again, meeting the wampa. Amaterasu announced for all of them: "We'll take the challenge. All four of us."

"Very well. In this case, allow me to introduce myself... I am Senecianus, Guardian of the Halls of Sin and your guide as you brave the challenges laying ahead. Please state your names and origins before we proceed."

"Oki Kurumi of of Nippon." - "Fiara Moegami of Takamagahara." - "Urist McGlodsson of Mithral." - "Amaterasu Omikami of Takamagahara." As they spoke their names they appeared in runic carvings on the wall above the exit to the cavern. Amaterasu only noticed now that there were other names there, too... not many of them though.

"Very well, Oki Kurumi, Fiara Moegami, Urist McGlodsson and Amaterasu Omikami. Please follow me." Senecianus then turned around and walked towards the cave exit with slow steps, dragging its feet along the ground. The rest of them followed suit.

After traversing a short tunnel and turning a corner, a warm breeze struck them in the face, as if welcoming them. Another cavern as enormous as the one they had just traversed extended before them, but it was not frozen: in fact the climate was warm, tropical almost, and the air was humid. The cave was more like a small jungle, with colorful birds singing their mating calls from the treetops and equally colorful fruits bending the branches.

"With this heat I think we can disca- what?!" Amaterasu spoke and interrupted herself when she heard the voice that came from her lips. No longer was it the soft, feminine voice that she had had ever since her transformation from wolf to human. It was a low, husky one that reminded her of Oki.

7.890 + 1.185 = 9.075 / 20.000 words.