Sigurd and the others stood in complete darkness. No sound of the battle outside could be heard. Then magical lighting filled the great hall with its brilliance. At the end of the hall was a beautiful, colossal marble statue of a warrior woman dressed in a Welkin chiton and holding a marble owl.
The statue turned it's head toward them and spoke, "Welcome Chosen Ones to Thor's tomb. You have done well to make it so far. Before you lie your fallen ancestors. You will be tested. If you succeed, you will learn of your world's past. The past will give you the tools to rebirth. You must gather the parts to the second key lost in time. Free the Redeemers from their sleep, claim the Helm of Odin, then return to your home before evil destroys it. The goddess I represent is limited here, but I shall aid you when I may. But first you must pass the tests." The statue went silent and lifeless.
Aesa stepped forward and an arch of magical energy struck her with great force, knocking her on her face. Smoke rose from her leather jerkin. "The room is trapped!" yelled Sigurd. Magnus grabbed Aesa's ankle and pulled her back. Isgerd touched her on her burned chest and blue healing energy coursed through Aesa's body. Aesa awoke. "Forgot to check for traps!" she said.
"I....I....ca-ca-can...cha-cha-check," said Poksok. "Please da-da-do," said Aesa.
Poksok looked at the area where Aesa was struck. "Aaarrggaaaaaaaah," was all he said. Poksok pulled a small device out of a hidden pocket. He twisted the device and spoke a few words. It spun quick, floated and then was struck by energy and fell to the ground. Poksok picked it up and motioned for the others to join him.
"Poksok and I will alternate. This will take time. Follow us when we signal," said Aesa. She noticed ten feet away an obvious pit trap. She began working to disarm it. As she disarmed it two large figures walked through an opening past the large Welkin statue. They were twice as wide as a man and taller than a troll. A symbol of a hand holding a lightning bolt and a hammer glowed on their chests. They focused on Aesa and discharged a blast of electrical power. Aesa dodged the first one, almost falling into the pit trap she had not yet disabled. The second blast struck her arm, leaving it dead at her side. Aesa howled.
She watched as Hildagunn flying above her with a rope around her waist. Isgerd had taken the form of an eagle and was doing the same. "No! Don't fly!" said Aesa. It was too late. Both Hildagunn and Isgerd were struck with magical energy and crashed in front of her. When they hit the floor, a trap door opened and they both kept falling. Aesa heard a sickening thud, and then no more.
Magnus and Kara rushed to the pit trap where Isgerd and Hildagunn had fallen, ignoring the traps. Each reached down and pulled one of their kin from the pit, pulling them up by the ropes, one end still resting on the surface above the pit. Isgerd was conscious, but bleeding from where she had been impaled on spikes. Hildagunn was unconscious and looked dead. Aesa already drank one of her healing potions to regain the use of her arm when she gave another to Isgerd. Isgerd felt well enough from this aid to use her healing powers to help Hildagunn gain consciousness. "We thought we could get past the traps flying above and then create a rope bridge," said Isgerd.
Poksok had disabled two more traps, but Doskev, Ignatius, and Sigurd had rushed past him before he could disable more. Sigurd triggered a pit trap but vaulted over it. Doskev tossed Ignatius past the trap and then leaped across. Two more figures appeared down the hall to join the automatons who were hurling lightning bolts.
These were made of red crystal and pulsed with magic. They should not be able to move, but somehow they did. They pointed with rosy fingers at Ignatius and the dverge slowed from a fast walk to a crawl as if he were in quicksand.
Doskev and Sigurd reached the magical golems after triggering three more traps. Sigurd was unsteady on his feet, but determined to battle. Doskev right foot was burned and shoeless. There were now a dozen tomb guardians forming a line between the Chosen Ones and the exit. Doskev struck one of the lightning hurlers with her manblade hard enough to split a man in two, but her blade stuck into the thing's clavicle and went no deeper. Frustrated, Doskev growled and with all her strength dislodged the golem from her weapon, heaving it into the wall. Sigurd struck a crystal creature in the side with his longsword, and his arm went numb. A tiny crack, was the only evidence Sigurd had struck a blow. The rose-colored golem pummeled the sword from Sigurd's hand, then struck him a blow that sent Grim's son to his knees.
Aesa counted six traps she had disabled. Two of them almost killed her. When the other kids were interested in learning how to fight with swords, or sail in a longship, she was learning how to get into things nobody wanted her to access. Aesa felt accomplished at her craft, yet before her was a smelly sembling, that was so afraid of the world, he passed out at the insinuation of violence but his skill disabling traps was artistic, almost divine. She snapped out of her reverie as Magnus and Kara rushed past her, weapons raised to join the fray against the golems. Everyone but Hildagunn passed the slow moving dverge. Seid magic coursed through her, and when she touched Iggy, he moved again at his full speed to join the fight. She paid for her help, as a bolt of energy cast by one of the ruby colored monsters struck her. The blast knocked her out. Isgerd saw what happened and used the last of her healing energy to revive Hildagunn.
These tomb guardians were the toughest opponents any of them have ever faced. Most of the Chosen Ones had terrible battle wounds. Kara's shield arm was broken. Magnus and Sigurd were covered in dark bruises. Doskev's eye had swollen shut. Vikar had become so ensconced in his polar bear form he just snorted, watching the battle unfold. One of the golems hit Vikar with a bolt of electricity. The bear roared in pain. Vikar rushed the golem that had attacked him and knocked it down. He ripped flesh from its bones and shook the creature until it stopped functioning. Vikar stood over his kill and roared in rage. Only four golems still fought. One struck Ignatius so hard on the top of the helmet his leg broke. Ignatius growled in pain. The creature grabbed him by the broken leg and started slamming him on the floor like a toy. Sparks flew off of Ignatius' armor. Isgerd and Hildagunn filled in the gap in the line and struck the golem with their spears, while Poksok and Aesa smashed it from behind with short swords. The creature finally let go of Ignatius and crumbled to the floor, but Ignatius did not get up. One of the remaining golems tried to unleash another bolt of electricity, but Doskev grabbed its head and pulled while standing on its feet. She ripped its head from its shoulders and it collapsed, but not before sending a blast of energy through Doskev. The troll passed out from exhaustion. Magnus became a fury of ax chops. He no longer knew where he was, but with the aid of his war band, the final automatons were finished. Magnus fell to his knees in exhaustion.
Aesa looked beyond the line of destroyed golems and noticed a slide that descended into the darkness below. She could find no other exit, or any sense of where the golems came from. "Looks like we need to go down," said Aesa.
Before anyone could argue, the traps began to reset on their own. They could see the golems were regenerating. "We need to leave now!" she said. They grabbed their fallen and badly injured and flew down the slide like the wind, landing in a heap on a lot full of dry sand. The slide retracted into the darkness and their way back was gone. The room lit with more magical lighting. Before them were pools of water held in basins covered in runes. A statue of the women in the trapped room rested between the pools. "Well done, Chosen Ones! Drink from the pools. More challenges remain," she said. Aesa was about to ask a question when the statue became lifeless.
Aesa went to the first pool and drank before anyone could stop her. A moment later, she remarked, "I can see in the dark." She rushed to the next pool and drank.
"Wait!" shouted Hildagunn.
Aesa's wounds had healed. She ran to the next pool and drank.
"Wait!" shouted Hildagunn.
"Why? This is fun!" said Aesa.
"Because mixing magic elixirs can have unknown consequences, some of which are dangerous," said Hildagunn.
"The last pool healed me. These are good pools," said Aesa. Her eyes began to glow with purple light and her stomach bulged. She smelled like a strong blend of mackerel and garlic and her faces was covered in profuse sweat.
"Get our wounded to that second pool quick! Aesa, don't drink from anymore pools!" said Hildagunn.
Aesa got the hiccups. With each one, smoke came out of her nose. Soon the others were healed. Nobody else braved trying the other pools.
"Gather a full flask from each pool. Perhaps the magical properties will keep and they may serve us later," said Isgerd. They gathered as much as they could and rested near the pools until they had recovered from the battle.
Kara noticed a passage had opened to the west. A lack of options, made it the logical choice. Still, Poksok and Aesa poked walls and floors along the way looking for hidden levers or devices. They heard the sounds of fierce fighting ahead. They came to a large room similar to the trapped hall at the entrance to Thor's tomb. A single northman was being pummeled senseless by a very large number of golems, similar to the types that almost defeated them. Magnus and Kara charged without hesitation toward the mass of automatons. The others followed, eager to aid their kin and friends. Magnus was first to glory in battle, Frosik eager for more fame. His ax cleaved air and he found himself in an unlit hall with no enemy to kill. In an instant he heard Kara along side him, then the others. The corridor became lit with a dim magical dweomer. Magnus scowled and spit on the floor. "Thor would not allow his tomb to be filled with witchcraft. This must not be the right place," he said.
"The gods seldom make sense unless you've been touched by one," said Isgerd.
"I place my trust in my kin. The gods are not interested in what we do," said Sigurd.
As they walked, they could see they were getting close to a large chamber. It was well lit with torches resting in iron sconces on the wall. A single person was lying on his death bed. They approached with caution, weapons ready. The old man had long silver hair and beard. He was tall and had large bones, although weakened by pitiful age. He fixed his gaze on Magnus and spoke, "I am Vani. I have outlived all who knew my name as the Norns have refused to allow me to die in battle. When I was younger, none could outpace me to be first in battle. Much glory was heaped on my name, not because I slew great monsters and kings, although I did these things, but because I was first to offer my share of the treasure to my king, kin and vassals. "What will you offer me, great berserker?
"I give you Frosik, wise-king. It is a humble gift, but I prize it before all my other possessions," said Magnus.
Old Vani, nodded his head and Magnus put Frosik in his feeble hand. Magnus disappeared.
"What did you do to Magnus?" shouted Aesa.
"What will you give me, young rogue? In my day, there were many who sought treasure over fame," said Vani.
Aesa pondered. She was not about to give this old man the painball. She remembered a shiny dagger she received from her father. It was made of silver with a jeweled handle. He didn't give it to her, but leaving it out where she could find it, amounted to the same. "I give you the dagger my father gave me. I have little to remind me of him, so this dagger is very valuable," she said.
Aesa placed the dagger in Vani's quivering palm. "When I was younger deeds determined a man's wergild, not the amount of silver he hoarded, "said Vani.
Aesa then vanished.
Aesa hit the floor hard. When Aesa reoriented to her surroundings she found she was in another hall. She felt her belt and noticed her father's dagger was missing. "He called me a rogue, but who is missing a dagger?" she mused. She padded to the end of the hallway and noticed a strange depression in the wall. She inspected the area without getting too close. Her trained eye noticed tiny holes in the wall and the floor had marks in it. "A trap no doubt," she laughed.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargghhhnnonononononaaaaaaaaah!" screamed a voice.
"Poksok, glad to see you! Be careful, there are traps down here," said Aesa.
Aesa's words calmed the sembling. "I'll, ch-ch-check the other wa-way," said Poksok.
Aesa continued to check the trap to see if she could disable it. Her head spun back toward Poksok when she heard a thunderous metallic bang behind her.
"Thrim! I should have given the greedy welp my ax...upside his silvery head!" yelled Ignatius.
"Miss me?" asked Aesa.
"Fredge! By my mother's beard, she swore I would go to judgment if I didn't control my language. She was right," said Ignatius.
"Your mother had a beard? That is hideous!" said Aesa.
Ignatius turned so red he was turning purple and almost blue.
"I'm already in hell, I might as well cleave the little bitch in two!" said Iggy as he ran down the hall to kill Aesa, ax lifted over his head.
Isgerd appeared in front of the dverge, he tripped on her spear and went down in a heap, armor sparking off the wall. Isgerd groaned.
When they recovered, a calmer shade had returned to Iggy's face and he helped the Godi to her feet.
"I never thought I'd see you here in Hel with them!" said Iggy.
"You are not in Hel Iggy, this is the result of the test of Vani. Aesa would not give him the painball, you would not part with your armor, and Poksok, well, he is a sembling," said Isgerd.
"So why aren't you with the others?" asked Iggy.
"I don't know where they are, but I thought you might need my help so I gave Vani a robin's egg," said Isgerd.
"You didn't need to insult the man!" said Iggy.
"A gift from nature is never an insult, but I did have a few items that meant more to me in my possession," said Isgerd.
"What kind of things?" asked Aesa.
"No, you can't have them Aesa," said Isgerd.
"Can I look?" she asked.
"I think we should focus on finding the others," said Isgerd.
"Oooooooohhhooohhhaaarrrrgggh!" shouted Poksok.
"I think that means he found something," said Aesa.
They met up with Poksok, who had found a lever in the wall. He pointed rapid-fire at the device and gesticulated while trying to speak. "Paaa-paa-papapa!" said Poksok.
"Yer papa is a tool?" asked Iggy.
"No, he said he's your papa," said Aesa.
Iggy's eyes bulged, but Isgerd pulled the lever before more could be said.
The wall slide into a recess. They looked at a staircase going down to a room. They strained to make out the figure of a woman who was chained to the floor of the room. Water was flooding into the room through the mouth of a low relief wall nymph sculpture on the wall. "Help, I don't want to die! Save me, the room is flooding," said the woman.
"It is a trap," said Ignatius.
"Yes, and we must save the girl," said Isgerd.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!" Poksok said. He shook his head with such vigor, it reminded Isgerd of a toy top she had once owned as a child. Isgerd smiled. "The Norns, favor the bold," she said.
"Of all the thrim-brained ideas, oh well, I've lived too long already," said Ignatius.
He grabbed Poksok, who had fainted and dragged him toward the room.
Aesa looked for obvious traps, but couldn't find any. The room was filling with water.
"Help, I don't want to drown!" said the woman.
"Don't worry lass, there's no chain I can't break with my ax or I am no dwarf," said Ignatius.
"What are you then?" asked Aesa. She just couldn't resist baiting him.
He hit the chain with his ax. "I'm a fredgin hero..." he said. As his ax broke the chain the water rushed so fast into the room his last word was bubbled out.
The wall had given way, and they were in a labyrinthine hall network, flooded with water. There were no air pockets. Poksok had already panicked, thrashing until he lost consciousness again. Ignatius walked along the bottom of the hall. His armor held him down. Aesa swam, looking for an exit. She used her seal bladder, to breathe when she needed air. Isgerd, prayed to Odin and then turned into a huge eel. She wrapped Poksok in her tail and swam with great speed through the flooded halls. After much work, she found the exit and let go of Poksok, watching as he sank to the bottom. She rushed back and grabbed Aesa and pulled her with velocity to where Poksok lay. Isgerd did her best to point to the device on the wall. When Aesa nodded, she left to retrieve Iggy.
She found the dverge still marching forward. His face was ashen. She grabbed him with her tail and pulled with all her strength, dragging him toward the exist. There was a rush of current, then Isgerd and the dverge were dumped with a rush of water into a room. The water drained through the floor. Although gasping for air, Aesa was already trying to revive the sembling. The dverge sputtered water in a rage of curses. Isgerd flopped in a pool of water, before changing back to human form.
As soon as Isgerd's transformation was complete she rushed to help Aesa with Poksok. She prayed to the gods. Poksok spit up water. The water stung Isgerd's hand. She rinsed in one of the pools of water in the room. Her hand was red and blistered. Isgerd wondered about this, but healed the wound without comment. Poksok shook like a rattle, and moaned. "Pah! That all you got Thor?" said Ignatius.
Aesa and Poksok began looking for a way out of the room. They poked the walls, checked the floors but could not find a device or a means to leave the room. Ignatius leaned on the wall and everyone looked at him expecting the wall to give way. It did not. He shrugged. Isgerd sat in the middle of the room and began to meditate. The others continued to try to find something they missed. Isgerd's head began to hurt, and she felt a sense of urgency. She thought of Norgard. A wall vanished near Poksok.
On the other side was a well lit room with a large table covered with an incredible feast. The smell of fresh cooked morsels reminded them they had not eaten in a while. A beautiful mithril fountain with dancing alfar figures centered the room. Nice cots lined the walls. Magnus, Kara, Sigurd and the rest were gathered here. The scars in the walls indicated that Magnus had been chopping it with his ax. The wounds were already healing as he stopped to look at the opening where Aesa and the others hurried through to join him. Isgerd was the last to join the others. As soon as she was in the room, the portal she had come from was gone. She banged on the wall, but it was solid. Magnus paced in frustration.
"We've been trapped here since we were separated. Good food, warm surroundings and a nice bed are no comfort if we are trapped here," said Magnus.
Aesa grabbed mouthfuls of roast boar and drank as much mead as she could gulp. "You complain about the Norns too much. They gave you a feast and you are in a hurry to spurn it before your kin has all shared in your good fortune, "said Aesa.
Magnus looked humbled. "You are right, I was not thinking of my kin. Forgive my poor hospitality," he said.
Aesa described the traps they faced, explaining why they were wet. A warm fire in the central hearth helped to dry them. The smoke vanished into the ceiling, but they could not find an exit for the fumes. When they were finished they settled in for sleep. They did not keep a watch since they had no way out. Magnus was first to awaken. He noticed a golden door had appeared. It was receding into the south wall, leaving a gaping exit. Magnus peered beyond and saw that there was a staircase, three men wide, heading down into the darkness as far as he could see. To each side of the stairs the walls were translucent, but he could not stick his hand through them. Magnus kept his foot in the threshold in case the exist started to close.
"Wake up, we have a way out," he shouted.
The others grabbed their equipment and joined him. They went back to fill their bags with food and drink. Doskev was the last to get up.
"Are you okay?" asked Isgerd.
Doskev rose like a heavy sail raised by an undermanned crew, but nodded affirmative.
When the last of the group left the room, the door slowly closed and then vanished. Down into the inky abyss was their only option now. The blackness, dulled even the sound of Iggy's armor. As the hours wore on, their minds were wrapped in the dark fingers of their surroundings. Aesa wondered if this was how madness felt.