Legends of Amacia Srandi: Last Bastion of the Caverias

Selina edged forward while everyone watched Hannibal slowly calm down. She gently touched him on the shoulder asking, “Are you okay, my prince?”

Just feeling Selina gentle touch and voice in his ear dissipated the residue of Hannibal’s Rage to the point he let out a trembling sigh. “Yes, princess,” he replied softly, his anger and rage spent with much of his strength. “I am now. Thanks for helping me calm down.”

“That’s why I’m here,” Selina purred, latching on firmly to his free arm. “You had a pretty bad case of the Rage there, one of the worst I’ve seen. I’m glad you managed to keep it under control.”

“Me too,” Hannibal said softly, turning to look Selina in the eye. “You’re always there to help me keep that beast under control. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Selina replied, kissing him briefly on the lips. “Is that thing really gone now?”

“Yes,” Hannibal answered solemnly. “Samhein and his crew vacated rather quickly when he realized how outmatched he was, even without me wearing Grimm’s Mask. Apparently my encounters at Olympus and Poseidia raised my power levels far more than I realized.”

“I’d say so,” Selina purred, cuddling close for a moment.

“Is it safe to approach him Selina?” Enoch called out.

“Yeah, you guys can come over here now,” Hannibal answered wearily, “The Rage is gone now thanks to Selina. She helped me put it back on the leash.”

Everyone gathered around the entrance while Hannibal and Selina turned to the team. “What was that?” Andrew asked intensely. “I felt that...that thing try to swallow my mind and force me to walk into it. Is that what that demon is capable of?”

“Yes,” Hannibal said grimly. “That’s just one of Samhein’s more potent abilities. He has the capability of mesmerizing any intelligent being and overriding their will if the victim is caught unaware. Had I not broken his spell, those of you who were entranced by him would have actually fed yourselves to him. You saw how Samhein eats when we encountered him in Kartoom, Andrew. Remember how he swallowed and digested the basilisk I killed before coming after us?”

Andrew shuddered visibly, saying, “Yeah, I do remember it. It’s one of the most appalling things I’ve ever witnessed. That thing consumed the basilisk in less than two minutes, adding its mass to its own body. You say that’s what it would have done to me?”

“Not just you, but everyone here he ensnared with his hypnotic call,” Hannibal replied ominously. “You’d have been digested alive, and that’s how Samhein like it. He prefers live victims who are in utter terror as he eats them slowly, taking his time as he actually digests them alive. Apparently, he feasts not just on the physical body, but also on the emotions of his victims. That’s why he goes to such lengths to terrorize his prey before eating them. After all, fear is one of the strongest, darkest emotions any intelligent being can have.”

“I now understand why you told me, Emily, and Tyr to run when it came after us in Kartoom,” Andrew said softly. “Thank you for saving us both there and here, uncle. I’ll never forget it.”

“You’re welcome, Andrew,” Hannibal stated, patting Andrew on the arm, “I couldn’t let Samhein swallow you like the blob he is when I had the power to stop him.”

“I’d also like to thank you for breaking the demon’s hold over us too,” Nemesis rumbled gratefully, “I’ve never had such a powerful dark mind try to take me over like that. Even the Emperor didn’t have that power. I’ve always been immune to such attacks, but for some reason, that demon got in. How did he do it?”

“Samhein is not just any demon or demon prince,” Hannibal answered darkly. “He’s a demon lord almost on par with the Black Prince. What makes Samhein different from the Black Prince is not just his powerful psionic and thaumaturgical abilities, but his cold calculating logic. Samhein doesn’t let his anger run amok as the Black Prince does, so that makes this demon lord very dangerous. He plots and plans with ruthless meticulous precision. Chances are he knew the weak points in your cybernetic systems, which allowed him entry. However, your mind and soul are exceptionally strong, almost as strong as Samhein. Furthermore, you have an ace in the hole Samhein failed to predict or notice.”

“What’s that?” Enoch asked in fascination.

“If you remember, Nemesis is paired with Tsang, the guardian of Tsang Chi of Atlantis just as I’m paired with Caverias,” Hannibal stated while looking at Nemesis with a wry smile. “Remember, you saw it right after I first arrived at the Red Tower when he showed up unannounced where I got Tsang to show himself. You also saw it up in the throne room when we banished Legion. Anyway, Samhein didn’t know Tsang and Nemesis are a team when he tried to take him just now. The snare failed when Tsang helped Nemesis repulse the invasion of his mind, body, and soul by Samhein’s siren song, just as Caverias did the same for me.” He looked to Assad, Tau, and Josephine, adding, “That’s also why Assad, Lord Tau, and Josephine were able to resist the overthrow of their will by Samhein’s hypnotic call. Each of you have a very powerful guardian angel who stepped up and did battle for you, keeping you from succumbing to Samhein’s corrupting call. All they had to do is stand in the breech long enough for the Lord and I to break Samhein’s spell over you.”

“Yeah, I do remember now that you mention it,” Enoch replied, recalling the incident.

“That explains much,” Tau murmured. “Thank you for not hesitating in breaking the attack on us, milord. It once again shows the truth of the prophecies about you. We are forever grateful.”

Hannibal smiled warmly, but wearily, replying, “You’re welcome, my friends. I know you’d have done the same for me had our positions been reversed.”

“That we would have, son,” Assad chimed with a broad smile. “Have you noticed the taint of the Darkness has truly lifted now? I can sense it. All I hear now is the entity you say is Ariel calling. There’s no more interference from the Dark Powers that I can tell.”

“I feel the same thing,” Selina agreed, “The perilous dark pall is gone now. All I hear is Ariel.”

“Me too,” Andrew stated, relief evident in his voice. “That sensation of something not being right is gone now. Only Ariel’s call remains.”

“I feel it too,” Hannibal said softly, “There’s a peace that’s now settling over this whole place and Ariel’s call is now crystal clear. It seems Samhein’s interference jammed her call somewhat. Now it’s clear as a bell. She calls us to come and give her rest. What do you say we answer that call now?”

“Let’s do this,” Andrew chimed eagerly.

“What about the rest of the team,” Enoch asked. “Do you still want to go in and secure the tomb first now that you’ve run the demon off?”

“That would be my first instinct,” Nemesis stated. “Let’s follow through on your first thought, Hannibal. Let’s check out the crypt and make sure there aren’t any other nasty surprises waiting in there.”

“That’s a wise thing to do,” Assad agreed. “You should sweep the crypt first before allowing the rest of us to come in, milord.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Hannibal said resolutely. “Come on, let’s do this. Follow me but stay behind me just in case. If we do this, then let’s do it by the book.”

“We’re with you, Hannibal,” Samantha stated, readying her axe. “Just lead the way.”

“Nemesis, you and Andrew flank me as we go in,” Hannibal ordered, turning to the passageway. “Use your passive scans as we go Nemesis. I want to know if you see anything that even smells of a booby trap.”

“Aye, Hannibal,” Nemesis responded, “I’ll keep a sharp eye out for anything strange.”

“Andrew, if you start sensing something strange, let me know,” Hannibal said, glancing at Andrew. “Your early warning system kept us from stumbling into Samhein’s trap, which is impressive by any standard since Samhein is notoriously hard to detect. Keep your eyes and senses open to anything off.”

“You got it, uncle,” Andrew replied with a smile. “And thanks for believing me.”

“No problem, Andrew,” Hannibal replied with a wink and a smile. “You definitely have the gift. Keep using it and you will master it before you know it. Now come on. Let’s take a look in the crypt now that the darkness in there doesn’t feel like it wants to eat us.”

“Lead on, uncle,” Andrew chimed, readying his sword just in case.

With that, Hannibal turned his full attention to the actual structure of the passage now that Samhein and his minions weren’t distracting him. Looking intently into the passage, he immediately noticed the passage’s shape mirrored that of the entrance and that it expanded to seventeen feet in height by nine feet across at its widest point on its oval structure. The floor itself, which was merely five feet wide in the door proper, expanded to seven feet once past the door. The same type of crystal torches seen in the main corridors of the Labyrinth lay on either side of the passage twenty feet into the passage sitting at the wide point on the oval’s narrow axis. As Hannibal saw where the door had gone, his eyes grew wide and he cursed softly, saying, “Holy shit; this door is almost as thick as the bulkhead door at the main entrance. Look at this! It has to be at least five cubits thick. You can see it in the groove where it sat.”

“Whoa,” Harry breathed in stupefaction. “That’s one damned big door. No wonder it made such a racket when it opened.”

“I agree,” Samantha chimed up, equally cowed by the door’s immensity and alien nature. “I’ve never seen anything like that, even when I was a prisoner of the Cadre. This door has no equal.”

“That’s true,” Nemesis chimed in agreement. “This is a true marvel of engineering. Wouldn’t you agree, Andrew?”

“Yeah,” Andrew replied in awe. “It’s almost as thick as the door to the Red Tower’s core. It’s hard to believe our ancestors made something like this.” He lowered his sword and touched the door with his free hand. His eyes grew wide and a choking gasp escaped his lips as he staggered back as if hit.

Nemesis immediate caught and steadied him, asking with some concern, “Are you okay, son? You look like someone just hit you.”

Andrew stared at the door in utter astonishment, saying distantly, “Yeah, Nemesis; I’m all right, just completely shocked by what I just sensed from that door.”

“What did you sense, Andrew,” Hannibal asked, looking him in the eye. “You must tell us for I felt your shock at what you sensed.”

“It’s hard...to explain,” Andrew breathed, “I’ve never felt anything like it before.”

“Just take your time and do the best you can,” Hannibal instructed gently. “I know you can do it.”

“It’s madness,” Andrew said in complete fearful bewilderment. “How can I comprehend it when I have no frame of reference to explain it? I have no words that can convey what I sensed other than this place is completely alien, powerful, and ridiculously ancient beyond any sane belief. It feels old as the world itself with a power and history no one can comprehend. We should tread very carefully in here and not disturb whatever power created it.”

“I hear you,” Hannibal said soberly, “I sensed something similar when I started interacting with the guardian on the door, but apparently it didn’t shock me the way it has you. Did you get any images when you touched the door?”

“Not really,” Andrew admitted, “It hit so fast and hard that no one thing came through clear. Only the sensation of an unfathomable history so ancient and alien came through in a way I could comprehend it. The rest of it is utter madness to me. I doubt I’ll ever be able to make any sense of it enough to truly be able to share it.”

“Hmmm, interesting,” Hannibal murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “The way you speak of it is very similar to what I felt when I first got hit by the Teacher of Tiamat. However, I don’t think you’ll have the trouble I did since you were apparently reading the history of this place without realizing it, not having the blister knowledge of the ages forcibly downloaded into your mind. Because of the way it’s affected you, I doubt you’ll be able to understand the full message you received right now. We’ll wait and let you slowly digest and tame the message this place relayed to you. I’m sure in time, your keen mind and intellect will get a grip on what you sensed. Until then, just push it into the back of your mind, if you can. Do you think you can do that, Andrew?”

“Yeah,” Andrew replied in a relieved tone, “Now that the adrenaline shock of what happened is subsiding, I think I can. However, I know this thing is going to drive me nuts until I figure out what hit me.”

“Don’t worry. You’re not going to lose your marbles because of this,” Hannibal reassured in a humorous tone. “I’ll see to it for I know what it’s like to go batty from being hit by an alien download, which I do believe this may be but not on the level I got. Just be sure to let us know if you feel it trying to overwhelm you.”

“Believe me, you’ll be the first to know, uncle,” Andrew replied, now smiling and much calmer. “Maybe after we get this place secured you can help me sort out this message, whatever it is.”

“You got it,” Hannibal declared, “Besides, I suspect you saw and sensed far more than you realized. I’m curious to know what it is for I do believe you’re right about this place being alien and ludicrously ancient. Shit, it would not surprise me to find out this is another Etherian facility like Tiamat.”

“Hmmm, that’s a thought that definitely deserves exploration,” Assad rumbled contemplatively. “But it’s something you can do when time isn’t such a harsh mistress. You have work to do. The Rising isn’t going to wait on us.”

“Right,” Hannibal agreed, “We can study this place after we secure it. Do you feel up to continuing in, Andrew?”

“Yeah,” Andrew replied firmly, “Let’s finish the job, uncle. Lead the way. Besides, I really want to see the crypt with my own eyes.”

“Very well,” Hannibal replied, turning back to the passage before them. “Let’s make sure the crypt is secure.” He tapped the scepter lightly against the floor, brightening the crystal spearhead’s glow to see the passage more clearly. The darkness retreated from the light fifty feet down the corridor, showing no obvious hazards. After looking over the passage intensely, he announced, “Looks clear; let’s go. Nemesis, keep your passive scans going. Andrew, Harry, Sam, keep your eyes open.”

“Right behind you, bud,” Harry replied. “We’ve got your back.”

“Passive scans are showing the way is clear,” Nemesis reported. “Fifty cubits down the passage, I can detect a much larger chamber, though I cannot tell how big because of the scans are still being absorbed like it was in the maze.”

“Good to hear,” Hannibal replied, “Thanks for the heads-up, Nemesis. Let’s move.” With that, he led them forward slowly. As they reached the first crystal torch on the oval wall, it lit up, followed by all the other crystal torches all the way to the end of the corridor where a pool of darkness waited. Hannibal paused for a moment, and then stated, “The crystals on the walls must be triggered by some form of motion detectors.”

“That seems to be the case,” Nemesis agreed, “though I cannot tell for sure. I’d have to engage in an active scan to find out, which I’m hesitant to do in here.”

“It’s all right,” Hannibal replied, starting to move forward again. “It’s best not to antagonize the machines in here with an active scan. Just keep your eyes open.”

“Will do,” Nemesis answered.

In moments, Hannibal and his small team reached the end of the passage. He stopped and said, “Just a second; let me take a peek. Hopefully, there’s a motion sensor in there too that will drive away the darkness as it did with that first crystal we passed.”

“Be careful,” Andrew urged.

“I will,” Hannibal replied, cautiously edging into the darkness beyond with the scepter lighting his way. Taking three steps into the dark chamber beyond, he stopped and searched intently, reaching out both visually and telepathically to get a feel for the chamber. It felt colossal as if it were an endless void. Seeing the dark stone walls to either side of the entrance to the passage extending off into the darkness that was absolute, Hannibal called out softly by instinct, “Seiaria eli septarius illuminos Caverias seti.” Even though he spoke in an almost whisper, the alien-sounding gibberish echoed prominently into the darkness beyond, slowly fading away. Just as the echo faded away, a prominent hum rose from the darkness beyond and Hannibal went into a defensive posture with the scepter. A faint glow then appeared from high in the darkness above him deep in the chamber, followed by a red scanning beam that swept Hannibal from head to toe in less than a second. The beam promptly disappeared once it finished and a brilliant but soft bluish-white light pulsed into existence, briefly blinding those who watched.

Blinking and shading his eyes with one hand, Hannibal quickly recovered his sight and stood agape at the impossible scene before him. “Oh...my...God in Heaven,” he breathed in utter awe as he found himself standing just three paces inside a round chamber three hundred feet across rising one hundred feet in height with a domed ceiling. In the peak of the dome hung a giant bluish-white crystal shining like a colossal floodlight, illuminating the entire chamber. Smaller crystal torches identical to those in the corridor lay equidistantly spaced around the perimeter wall at a height of ten feet. The entire chamber was lined with a brilliant golden alloy unknown to Hannibal’s experience that reflected the light in such a manner no shadows were seen. The walls were etched with both a pictorial history and unknown writing same as what Hannibal saw around the giant crystals in the elevator rooms of the Labyrinth. The detail of the pictorial history and writing was unbelievably precise. In the exact center of the stadium-sized chamber on a circular dais three feet off the main floor and thirty feet across lay the largest and most ornate sarcophagus he’d ever seen. The main crystal from the ceiling was shining a soft but potent shaft of light on the giant sarcophagus, showing it was the centerpiece of the chamber.

As Hannibal let his gaze drift around the chamber, he saw numerous other sarcophagi equally spaced around the center dais sitting approximately half way to the perimeter wall. Even though these sarcophagi were not nearly as large as the one on the dais, they were every bit as ornate. Each of these ornate tombs spanned sixteen feet in length, six feet wide, and stood four feet off the floor. Behind and between these sarcophagi lay literal mountains of treasure piled up to forty feet tall...gold, silver, and other precious metals mixed with every known precious and semi-precious stone and crystal, some of which were completely alien to Hannibal’s experience. The precious metals of these mountains were in the form of coins, bars, rings, bracelets, necklaces and other exotic accessories and trinkets, including bizarre statuary and idols. There were even fabulously ornate weapons mixed in with the accumulation. The precious gemstones mixed into the piles of treasure ranged from pea-sized up to those large as a fist with a small number of truly colossal gems twelve inches across cut to perfection and polished to a blinding luster. Around the perimeter of the chamber lay great displays of all manner of fantastic ancient weapons and armor, from medieval to alien and everything in between. The weapons glistened in the shining light of the crystals, showing them to be of the most exceptional artistry. To Hannibal, these weapons and armor displays suggested a trophy horde of weapons either found or procured in battle.

Hannibal finally found his gaze drawn inexorably back to the giant sarcophagus on the dais, which gleamed in the light of the crystal. The call that had led him to this place lay localized in that supremely ornate tomb in the center of the crypt. He heard Ariel’s plea telepathically from within the sarcophagus and nodded solemnly. “Not a finer place of repose has anyone had, milady,” he whispered to Ariel’s spirit he clearly felt now, turning back to the passage, seeing Andrew, Nemesis, Harry, and Samantha staring in utter astonishment with their mouths agape at the crypt before them...the wonder of it having stunned them into silenced. A soft smile crossed Hannibal’s lips as he enjoyed seeing them bask in the wonder of the marvel as he had. Waving to them, he said softly, “It’s okay. You can come in now. It’s safe. Don’t be afraid. The scanner you saw was just a minor device confirming who I am before turning on the lights.”

The quartet slowly entered the chamber, staring in total disbelief at what they were seeing. Yet, in spite of his astonishment, Nemesis instinctively checked for perils, finding none. Hannibal saw this and said, “Always the cautious one, aren’t you Nemesis?”

“It’s the way I am,” Nemesis replied softly. “I had to check, especially with what I’m seeing here. This is beyond anything I could have imagined. Even the Emperor doesn’t have a stash like this. I’m awed by the wealth and sheer majesty of this place.”

“Same here,” Hannibal agreed. “The only place I’ve been that comes anywhere near this is the Hall of Drakens in Tiamat. However, this place is far beyond it for it’s nowhere this ornate. The Hall of Drakens is just a cave mounded with treasures and a score of very large and magnificent draken statues. This room, on the other hand, is a true marvel, a wonder of wonders. I can see why the Caverias line started using this place as their final resting place. Its beauty has no equal, except for maybe in the halls of Heaven itself.”

“You’re right about that, bud,” Harry said distantly. “I didn’t think there was this much treasure in the entire world, and the utter splendor of this place is truly unsurpassed. I’m floored such a place even exists.”

“No arguments there,” Andrew agreed softly, stunned by the magnificence around him. “And you know the thing that makes this place such a wonder is how truly alien it is to us. It’s like this place belongs on another world or in another plane of existence. I’m truly honored and humbled to see this place. I feel strangely a peace here.” He promptly sheathed his sword knowing it wasn’t needed now.

“Me too,” Samantha murmured while slinging her axe across her back. “This place is right down magical.”

“Amen to that,” Harry chimed. “However, as beautiful as this place is, where is Ariel? Aren’t we here to pay our respects to her and lay Thoth with her after we secure it? Which of these giant coffins is hers?”

“You’re right,” Hannibal answered, finally shaking off the wonder of the crypt. “Thanks for reminding me, bud. As for securing it, I’d say that’s been done. There’s nothing hazardous to us in here, except for maybe our jaws falling off at the sight of the place.” His comment elicited a brief chuckle from everyone.

“That’s so right,” Andrew replied with a smile. “But where is Ariel?”

Hannibal pointed to the titan sarcophagus on the dais, saying, “If I’m not mistaken, Ariel is there. Because of it being the centerpiece of this entire place, logic dictates it’s the resting place of the king and queen of Amacia. Moreover, that sarcophagus is where I heard Ariel’s call the loudest. She is there. I know it.”

“Then shouldn’t we make sure?” Nemesis asked.

“We should,” Hannibal replied emphatically. “Come on. Let’s make sure Ariel is there.” He immediately started towards the dais with a spring in his step. Harry, Samantha, Nemesis, and Andrew followed close behind. No one sensed any hostility coming from any direction while approaching the centerpiece of the crypt. As they reached and mounted the dais, Hannibal noticed not just the fantastic ornate scrollwork, iconography, and images all over the golden sarcophagus, but also its truly enormous size. Like the other sarcophagi, this one spanned sixteen feet in length. However, its width spanned more than twice that of the others, reaching more than twelve feet across.

“Holy shit,” Harry swore softly as everyone gathered around the sarcophagus, “This is one huge coffin, Hannibal. Why is it so big? Is Ariel that big?” He promptly sat his war hammer down gently on the floor, letting it sit up on its head.

“I doubt it,” Hannibal replied, handing the scepter to Harry, who took it in his gloved hand. “Ariel isn’t this big. If I remember the records correctly, she should be about ten feet tall with a slender athletic build like Leila. This sarcophagus is far larger than she is. Just from the size of this thing, I suspect this is a double coffin and Thoth fully intended to be laid to rest with her in this thing.”

“Is she in there?” Samantha asked intently.

“I think so,” Hannibal answered, examining the sarcophagus from all sides. “Just give me a minute to make sure.” After a few moments of intense scrutiny, Hannibal discovered a plaque etched in the Stone Language on the left side just below the lid seal. “Ah ha,” he crowed upon finding the writing. Quickly blowing the dust off, he read the inscription silently. His face fell at what he read and a sorrowful sigh escaped his lips as he laid his hand respectfully on the lid, bowing his head.

“It’s her, isn’t it,” Nemesis asked gently, seeing Hannibal abrupt change of temperament.

“Yes,” Hannibal replied softly, letting his sorrow for the lost Queen show. “It’s her. This is her epitaph. Ariel lies inside this sarcophagus just as Thoth said in his last recording in the throne room. She’s here.”

“Can you tell us what it says?” Samantha asked.

“Yes,” Hannibal answered, “but first, we need to bring everyone else in here, especially Leila. Ariel is her sister and she should be here to hear me read the epitaph Thoth left for her.”

“I’ll go get them,” Andrew offered, quickly jogging away.