3 Chapter 3 : Eh? You Sirius right now?

Copy of the repeating cuneiform markings found on the Cathedral Platform.

(*random runic scribbling*)

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The water is so clear I can see the shine from the river stones. I refilled my canteen and dropped two sterilization tablets inside. I've yet to see any animal tracks on the river embankment, but I did find some kind of dead dry grass underneath the newer green growth. After macerating it a bit, it should take a spark nicely. 

The Stone laid path followed the river closely, I can see the river comes straight from within the Broken City and as the Two get closer to the city I can make out where they diverge.

 The water seems to be coming out from underneath the outer most wall to continue flowing the direction I just came from, which according to the compass on my watch after testing it, is north. I'm able to see what looks like a massive Gate or at least something like that with two squat stone buildings off to either side the opening.

As I get closer I see that both of the roofs have collapsed inwards like some big impact hit the top of the buildings. The buildings look to be a rest position for the guards of the city to control the flow of traffic in and out of the gates. The door ways are covered in pieces of rubble, it would take far too long to try to investigate the interior, so with that avenue closed I walk closer to the gate. 

It's a large metal portcullis in front of a metal door intricately engraved with more of the Cuneiform, or at least what's left of it is intricately engraved as the entire left side of the 30 odd-meter doorway has been melted into a thin hardened puddle of slag lying across the stone pathway. Whatever caused this damage must have been huge. I haven't seen artillery blasts cause this much damage, at least it seems old as there is lichen growing over some of the burn marks in the stone, plus I'm sure whatever could cause this type of damage would be pretty obvious in appearance or at least wouldn't need to be camouflaged in this environment. 

I'm just happy I have my way in, I'll need to keep my guard up and try to find some high ground to see if I can spot any places of importance or anything that sticks out in the cityscape. 

As I enter the gate I can see that it has a large antechamber section with a platform built into the wall on the right side and another partially destroyed gate this time as if it was knocked over with some great weight. as the moorings in the wall have snapped and gone with the door and is laying on the ground. The platform leads into an alcove in the wall, I can see molten lumps of metal scattered on the ground along with scattered burnt patches of ground. There isn't any smell of carbonization, whatever caused the patches must have been the same thing that destroyed the gate long ago.

I decided to go through the alcove on the platform in hopes of getting to the top of the wall or finding a window to look out on the inner part of the city. I take one of my karambits in hand as a precaution as I don't know what could be inside the walls.

 As I approach the alcove I focus my intent on my ears and grab my flashlight and step into the stone corridor. Inside is a narrow T-section hallway, it goes forward and splits off to the left and right leading to archways. The air tastes stale as if there hasn't been any movement or proper airflow through the chambers. 

I start off by heading down the left hallway as it's closest to the inner part of the wall. Following the small hallway, it leads to a sitting area with a long bench style table covered in a thick coat of dust and cobwebs, it's littered with various plates and cutlery, a few strewn bits of what looks to be metal body armour in collapsed piles with dust covering the inside as well. 

I can see at the other end of the room is another doorway with stairs that curve off upwards and to the right. I make my way there trying not to disturb the items I see, as it feels eerie, it looks like the place hasn't been touched in hundreds of years. 

I climb the stairway, it does go upwards in a spiral fashion, it has unlit sconces in the walls and a thick layer of dust coats the floor and walls as well. The craftsman ship on the wall is amazing, it all looks as if it's been made out of a single piece of stone. I can't see any seams or gaps in the stonework at all. 

I continue to climb, I've yet to see any windows or arrow slits, every couple of meters I come to see sets of body armour strew in haphazard ways but no mounting system in the walls. I stop and investigate a set of armour, Mainly just some sediment and dust....Son-uva' hoser, I knew it. It's decomposed bone, I can't tell how old, but given how stale the air is inside of this place it must older than I'm willing to admit.

I probably won't be finding any natives in the city then. I'm not sure if that's a comforting thought. Yeesh, I'll be in a real city of the dead, would this classify as a necropolis? Fuckin' right eh! It's a true blue ancient city of the dead!

Call me Indie bitch! 

Ok, just chill out for a minute. There could still be animals and maybe even traps in this Necro-Mountain and I walked in here. I need to keep my head on a swivel and be prepared for anything. 

"Hooo, sorry there for disturbing yah Sir Jack, I'll put your bones back." 

I don't really have a thing for Gods or Saints, but I hope whatever happened to these soldiers, it wasn't painful. I pour a little water on the helmet and polish it in silence for a moment. Before leaving I decide to say a little prayer as I'm sure the people of their time had some form of last rights. "Glory to those who've Fallen, in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti."

Walking away from the body, I really hope if any pathogens from the corpses were around they have died off and dispersed by now. I can't imagine what could have happened to suddenly kill the guards where they stood, there were too many for it to be a coincidence. I take my scarf out of my bag and tie it around my neck and pull it over my mouth and nose. Something is better than nothing.

I continue my ascent upwards at a faster pace for another ten or so minutes until I reached a door. I placed my ear on the door to listen for any sounds coming from the other side. I wait a full minute and try pushing the door open. It creaks loudly and I can see light coming from around a corner further into the corridor that ends ahead of me. I approach the light and see a terrace facing out towards the city.

The city vista sprawled out before me, I see many expansive one storey buildings with courtyards with rows of targets and what can only be classified as ranges for projectiles and a single pristine three storey Tower standing proudly near where the left side of the city begins to bend around the curvature of the second protective wall. 

To the right side, many buildings look to be in disarray and destroyed by large claw marks and animal-like footprints, only if there were some Kaiju sized anima...I'll think on that later...no way, right?

Ahem, It looks like this first area behind the wall is a martial training area where they trained soldiers and housed them like on military bases. I take my point of reference that's the tower I should be able to see it from the streets once I enter the city gate. I'll head there as it's a big land mark, if it's in this area it's probably important as it's the only building with very different architecture.

I retrace my steps through the guard wall and back into the antechamber. I walk through the large door that was knocked from its moorings and travel into the city.

After a quiet Walk through the cobbled stone streets, I see grass growing through carpeting the walkways. It feels like I'm in a Richard Matheson story, as long as no vampires come out I'll be fine. he hehe.

"Hyaaaaaa, hya, hya, hya,aah aah ahh aaoooooo!"

Fuck. 

Fuck me and my stupid brain.

I hear the call behind me, I move to place my back against a wall in between two buildings down a small alley-way and peer out.

Damn it! What the hell is this? Breathe, Focus or you'll get yourself killed.

Looking out, I see rounding a corner with its nose in the air a large humanoid type creature. It's clothed in leather scraps, It's body covered in coarse brown fur with black spots. In its furry clawed hand is what looks like a human femur with dark brown stains on the opposing end. I see sharp yellow teeth dripping with viscous saliva as it licks it's black furred snout and makes a guttural coughing sound only to be followed by yips of sinister sounding laughter.

Are you serious right now? A fucking Gnoll? If it's anything like fantasy has taught me it won't be alone. I hear what seems to be Two other yipping laughing replies coming from further in the distance behind the two-legged beast.

It looks like it has picked up my scent, I'll have to finish it now before it can group with the others. 

It pads slowly closing in on the alley. 

I need a plan, Fuck I look around and see a drain spout and some old decrepit barrels closer to the opening of the alleyway. There is a small spot with a ledge that I can climb on top of the wall. 

I take my scarf and rub my sweaty face and pits into it then tie it on to the drain pipe close to the barrels.

I can hear the heavy sniffing loud in my ears.

Fuck this will be close I haul ass up the ledge, grab my other Karambit, crouch just out of sight.

It's closer now, I smell the rotting Carrion stench emanating off of it in a thick wave, like the hyena bitch it came from.

Breathe, Focus, Isolate the movements

I can do this,...

I hope this works.

The Smell of rotting flesh is so potent I can taste it now, forcing down the bile in my throat I peek out of my hiding spot. It's back is to me it's grabbing at the scarf. 

I move.

Jumping down from the roof top I use the momentum and my body weight to plunge the blades into the back of the monster's neck, letting the monster break my fall. I tear the razor sharp titanium alloy edges along the sides of the neck slicing the muscles and part of the oesophagus. Thick arterial blood spurts out and covers my hands, I drive the beast further into the ground before it can grab any purchase with my knees and force the curved bloody knife into its beady eye socket and destroy the brain.

Jumping away from the body of the Gnoll, I stare at it and watch for any movement. 

Target eliminated.

I breathe a heavy sigh, the first thing I see in a new world and it's a bloodthirsty monster.

Not that I can say I'm any different. 

I know there are others so I quickly grab my scarf and rinse my blades and hands of the blood over the slowly cooling corpse of my enemy. I hear the yipping still off in the distance.

I run as fast as I can. 

I need to gain an advantage over my pursuers, If I can get to the tower I can set up another ambush and try to understand just what in the H. E. Double hockey sticks is going on.