[STORY] -> Awaken - Part 6 - Dismay Down Deep

Kogg lead the elated party back to the tomb, south-east of the tree with the deep gouge. The plethora of pretty flowers and busy bees on the isolated island in the lake would see to the nest's next days. The wandering winds carried Kogg without having him exert too much effort to stay aloft. Once more they entered the clearing to see Kogg perched in the distance on the upper stone ring. The tomb's stone gleamed in the afternoon sunlight.

“Here, let me,” urged Orvus as they both approached the statue of the bee. The old man obliged, removed four capped bamboo flasks from his pack and gestured towards the statue. Orvus was a bit older than his good friend in the faded blue cloak, but still managed to mount the statue and get a foothold on the wings. “I can see it! How fascinating...” Orvus remarked, staring over at the ocelli. “Here, hand me just one,” requested Orvus, reaching down and grabbing the offered flask. Just as the old man before him, he poured the honey down the hole. “Another!” Orvus said eagerly. The old man handed him the next flask, “Give it time, the honey runs thick.”

With two more bamboo flasks of honey offered to the statue, Orvus climbed down. Kogg cawed impatiently at the two, urging them to get on with it and turn the statue the rest of the way north. Together they pushed counter-clockwise. The statue began to rotate with the periodical sound of stone grinding on stone. As the statue faced northwards, it halted. Then, an unnerving sound was heard by all. Something beneath them had broken. “By the twelve!” spouted the old man almost falling over. The whole of the fourth step and platform with the opulent statue started to sink.

After they stewed in the awe and utter terror of the moment, Kogg cawed at them in support. The old man looked up at Kogg and smiled. “Orvus, it's opening!” said the old man, as he ambushed him with a hug. Click! The fourth step was now level with the third. “This is mad,” Orvus muttered. They both stumbled as both the third and fourth circular steps sunk and became level with the second set. Both watched in anticipation as the three steps came into alignment. Click! They waited a moment, yet the three steps continued no further.

“That's it?” Orvus said, disheartened. “I think not,” said the old man, “here, come help.” They both stood firm and exerted force on the statue, in an attempt to rotate it back facing east. Kogg was incredibly excited now, and hopped up and down. That statue gave in and without too much effort, they had managed to get it back facing eastward. Again, from beneath the two heard something give way. The fourth circular step platform with the statue started to sink lower than the third. It continued down and when they were waist deep, Orvus looked at his friend, “We could still climb out at this point.” The old man smiled at Orvus. The platform sank deeper, and deeper until even the statue was beneath ground level. They both looked up the shaft they were sinking into, then the old man sat down.

Kogg's excited cries had grown faint as the light dimmed and it grew darker. Orvus sat down next to his friend and put his left hand on the old man's shoulder. “How much longer until this stops?” he questioned. The old man thought for a moment, “I don't know. This is the part where I became very excitable and the vision ended.” Orvus felt slightly worried about how they'd get out of this tomb, if it was such a long ways down. His train of thought was thwarted as the surrounding walls slightly started to fluoresce. It was bright enough now that the two could see each other, and Orvus could make out a slight smirk on the old man's face.

“Look, there!” The old man pointed at the base of the wall near the floor in front of him. An opening in the shaft was emerging. When it was large enough to walk through the whole of the fourth platform came to a halt. Orvus kept his hand on his friend's shoulder, allowing him to lead the way. They made their way down the hall, avoiding rubble by aid of the fluorescent stone's light.

Soon enough, the light down the tunnel grew brighter and they entered a larger room. The air was breathable, and seemed to be ionized due to the apparent odour. A number of stone columns divided the room in two, and on the other side of the room was an altar. “Orvus, look!” the old man said, poking Orvus. “There's an altar across there, and something is levitating above it.” The old man was right. From across the room Orvus could make out a beautiful stone, jagged, catching the light of the room and emitting back every fathomable colour.

The two approached the stone in anticipation. “If Kogg were here he'd be going insane right about now,” laughed the old man. “He probably still is,” Orvus joked. They were near enough to the altar now and could make out carvings just like the ones on the arches above ground. The stone levitated and seemed to pulsate with energy. “I don't see any way out of this room other than the way we came,” said Orvus, slightly concerned. “There must be more to this,” said the old man as he reached out to grasp the stone. A blinding flash of light filled the room as a huge golden bolt of electricity was emitted and struck the old man. A secondary wave of energy travelled from the old man to Orvus and both of them were thrown backwards across the room. The room fell silent, and nobody stirred.

Awaken

Part 01 - A Message to Orvus
Part 02 - The Lake Beckons
Part 03 - Night of Rest
Part 04 - The Tomb's Secret
Part 05 - The Deep Gouge
Part 06 - CURRENT