The metallic tang of blood was thick in the air, a cloying perfume that Kael knew would soon draw unwanted attention. Corvus, perched high above, let out a low, warning caw, his head cocked towards the deeper woods, confirming Kael's unease. He couldn't linger here.
He quickly gathered the spoils: the Tribal War Club (though he couldn't wield it effectively yet, it was too valuable to leave), the flint arrowheads, the bone whistle, the ochre stone, and the two Direhorn Wolf horns. He left the wolf's carcass and the tribesmen's bodies; he didn't have the time or the means to deal with them further.
His gaze was drawn back to the root-choked hollow. The fate of the first spearman, the one who had disappeared inside before the chaos erupted, gnawed at him. Was he dead? Had he encountered whatever energies or entities the System had warned about? Or was he, perhaps, still alive, a potential threat or even a source of information?
Kael knew it was risky, but the thought of leaving an unknown variable at his back, especially one connected to this clearly significant location, was unsettling. He had to take a quick look.
"Corvus, keep watch," he murmured, slinging the Tribal War Club onto his back – it was awkward, but manageable for now. He nocked an arrow, his senses on high alert, the Sylphwing Quill in his tunic seeming to vibrate with the ambient energies of the place.
He reactivated 'Silent Step' and approached the moss-draped entrance to the hollow once more. The warding symbols he'd uncovered earlier seemed to pulse faintly in his enhanced perception, their depleted energy a stark contrast to the potent, ancient aura emanating from within.
He pushed aside the thick curtain of Shadowmoss, his bow leading the way. The darkness inside was immediate and profound, like stepping into a pocket of perpetual night. The air was cold, damp, and carried that same musky, earthy scent, now tinged with something else – a faint, acrid odor that made his nostrils flare.
His eyes, though accustomed to the gloom of the deep forest, struggled to penetrate the oppressive blackness. He could make out the rough shapes of massive roots forming the walls of a narrow passage that sloped downwards. The silence from within was absolute, a stark contrast to the recent carnage outside.
"System," Kael whispered, his voice barely audible, "can you enhance my vision in this low light, or detect any immediate threats just inside the passage?"
[System Query: Activating low-light visual enhancement (User INT 10 dependent). Limited effect in extreme darkness. Scanning for immediate threats (5-meter range)...]
A moment later:
[Result: Visual enhancement marginally effective. Passage appears clear of immediate animate threats within 5 meters. However, the acrid odor detected is consistent with certain types of subterranean fungal decay or a byproduct of unusual energy reactions. High concentration of the previously detected vital/necrotic energies present. Extreme caution advised.]
Fungal decay or energy reactions. Neither sounded particularly inviting.
Kael took a tentative step into the passage, his feet crunching softly on the packed earth. The temperature dropped noticeably. The only light came from the faint glow filtering through the mossy entrance behind him.
He moved forward another step, then another, his bow sweeping from side to side. The passage was narrow, barely wide enough for him to walk without brushing against the gnarled roots. He could see a little further now, his eyes slowly adjusting.
Then he saw it.
Lying sprawled on the floor of the passage, about ten feet in, was the first spearman. Or what was left of him.
He wasn't mauled by a beast. There were no obvious signs of a physical struggle. Instead, his body was… desiccated. His skin was drawn tight over his bones, grey and papery, like an ancient mummy. His eyes were wide, sunken pits of blackness, his mouth frozen in a silent scream. His spear lay beside him, untouched.
A wave of cold dread washed over Kael, far colder than the chill of the passage. What could do this to a man so quickly?
[System Analysis: Deceased Humanoid (Tribesman). Cause of Death: Rapid, severe vital energy drain. Necrotic energy traces highly concentrated on and around the body. No external wounds consistent with animal attack or physical trauma. Estimated time of death: Approximately 15-20 minutes prior.]
Vital energy drain. Necrotic energy. This was no ordinary predator. This was something far more insidious, something magical, or tied to the potent energies of this place. The "Silent Watchers"?
As Kael stared in horrified fascination, he noticed something else. The spearman's hand was outstretched, clutching a small, dark object. Kael cautiously approached, his arrow still aimed at the deeper darkness of the passage. He nudged the spearman's hand with the tip of his bow. The fingers, stiff and brittle, released their grip.
The object was a small, crudely carved wooden idol, no bigger than his thumb. It depicted a hooded, vaguely humanoid figure with empty sockets for eyes. As Kael looked at it, the Sylphwing Quill in his tunic suddenly pulsed with a sharp, warning throb, and the faint, almost imperceptible hum of the ancient energies within the passage seemed to intensify, pressing in on him.
He felt a sudden, overwhelming urge to flee, a primal instinct screaming at him to get out of this place. This time, he didn't hesitate.