Adventures in Interning: Crystal Campaign 2

Traveling up the mountain was a challenging task for the small fennec girl. The deep, powdered crystal drifts and uneasy footing of the mountain left Kaytlyn questioning her choice to pursue this adventure. As the air thinned, the view of the mountains became more wondrous. Starsong Mountains must’ve been a sight to behold before the attack of the Crystal Wyrm.

 

“What’s wrong with that cave,” Kaytlyn demanded as Leslie passed on another cave. This opening was the fifth one in the last hour he decided wasn’t the right one.

 

“I was hoping for some sign to show me the way magically,” the crystal smith smiled, looking ahead at a few more caves. “Perhaps you’re the sign to point me in the right direction. Why don’t you choose our path?” A safe path around the backside and a steeper, less safe direct path existed.

 

“Let’s just take the main path through the destruction to the caves,” Kaytlyn declared, annoyed that this wasn’t the obvious choice. “The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we get answers.”

 

“Wise decision, my vulpine companion,” Leslie laughs as he starts trudging up the path. Kaytlyn sneered a little by being referred to in such a way but followed the man up the path.

 

The jagged peak of the mountain opened up into a massive caldera. Crystals zigzagged down the opening. Rainbows refracted off the structures, forming a beautiful display as the wind whistles an ominous tune. At one time, the crystals probably played a lovely melody, but the Crystal Wyrm’s path of destruction had altered the song. Somewhere nearby, wingbeats echoed around in the dark.

 

“What’s that,” Kaytlyn asked quickly, grabbing Brick Brick from her purse. Of course, Franz had disappeared right when he would’ve been helpful.

 

“Just some wrymlings. They aren’t dangerous if we stay away from their nest,” Leslie answered as he started uncoiling some rope. “They are small guys about the length of my arm.”

 

“Are they like the ones that attacked before,” the fennec druid inquired as she turned her elemental weapon over in her hands.

 

“No, different species. Now let me tie you in so we can descend safely,” the man instructs, knotting some rope.

 

“I can handle it myself,” Kaytlyn huffed as she tapped Brick Brick on the caldera’s edge. Thick, vigorous vines sprouted from the ground and into the gaping hole.

 

Leslie smirked as he watched Kaytlyn climb the vines before starting his descent. Judging by the obvious signs of destruction, this was not a naturally formed opening. Broken crystals and shattered rocks made the descent difficult even for Kaytlyn as her vines snaked a path downward. 

 

“This level of destruction will throw the natural order out of balance for a while,” Leslie remarks as he continues his descent.

 

“I know that! I’m a dru-” Kaytlyn starts to spit back as she puts a foot on a crystal. Suddenly, her footing explodes under her, sending the fox tumbling into a free fall. Leslie tries to swing over to her, but the vines erupt from the wall to grab the fox. 

 

“Usually, girls a bit older are the ones that fall for me,” the man laughs as he watches the fennec right herself.

 

“I have a boyfriend,” Kaytlyn snapped at him before continuing her descent to the safe ledge. There was a long way still down into the darkness. Distressed calls from wyrmlings shrieked out down below.

 

“Ah, of course. How could a cute thing like you not?” Leslie laughs as he observes the darkness. “You want to jump down?”

 

In response, more vines snaked out from the ledge and down into the darkness. Kaytlyn focused her energy on climbing rather than talking as she descended. Small tunnels crisscrossed the darkness. Occasionally, a wyrmling would flit from one tunnel to the next with a small shriek. Leslie was undeterred by them as he continued onwards into the dark. Light from outside was sparse at this depth, so Kaytlyn illuminated an enchantment on her robes. Now, a tunnel became visible. The man and the fox ended their climb in the tunnel. It was solid footing that led further inwards.

 

“What is that,” Leslie ran to the end of the tunnel to a ledge with his question. “That’s not something I was expecting to find.”

 

“Why is that here,” Kaytlyn asks, running up alongside the man.