Caer Draegyn Valley_RP

The long, dark tunnel twisted and turned, quickly growing colder the further in it went. Smaller tunnels splayed off from the large main corridor, branching off into darkness, though most of them were dead-ends. All manner of critters and dark things lurked in the shadows of the caves, peeking out at visitors and travelers alike, watching. The further one goes, however, the more they feel a Presence watching them. The deeper one goes, the more aware they are, it becomes a solid feeling, pressing on them.

If one means harm to any inhabitants, the pressure will grow until it becomes a physical pain. Blood will begin to flow from extremities like the pressure of the ocean a thousand miles deep. The strange magic is older than anyone can remember. Clearly, the inhabitants were something more than simple elves, to have created such protections. The valley cannot be seen at all from above; seamless with the rest of the mountains.

Eventually, however, innocent travelers will reach the light at the end and it opens into a vibrant green clearing. Large trees line the area like powerful ancient guardians, the thick bark looked strange, however, as if each piece was placed specifically to create a design on each and every tree.

The tunnel path continues across the northern edge of the clearing, then heads off into the forested tunnel. Following the path leads one through the trees into the valley itself. Rolling hills and a few distant forests are clear for miles. The distant mountains surround the valley, as if protecting it from outsiders and other dark things. The wide path has turned into an old road, wagon ruts worn down, but clearly have not been used in centuries.

Off to the right is a single large two-story house, quaint and relatively small, but well-kept and clean. Just behind it is a large greenhouse, and a smaller building with several kiernos playing around in the open grass between it and the house, identifying it as a kennel. Behind that is an extremely large, three-story barn. The large doors stood open and one could see the brightly lit red walls inside and the other side of the barn, standing open as well, which led out into the large, fenced pasture. A few strange horses could be seen in the pasture, munching quietly, and a couple of foals chased one another around, neighing gaily.

As one passes the simple outbuildings and continues down the road, the bright highlands are vibrant with life; insects hopping above the tall grass, which swishes to and fro from rodents beneath it as they foraged. Occasionally, the drum of a rabbit sounded as a hunting hawk dived for prey, only to come up empty. It circled around and continued searching. Along the left side of the road, the forest continued, but though it seemed dark, there were no deep shadows except for the thick canopy. It didn't seem dreary and thick with unimaginable things. As one continued, on the right was an enormous lake, the further towards the center one looks, the deeper blue the water gets. It is unknown just how deep the lake is and abruptly, something moved beneath its depths; long and serpentine, it fades quickly, leaving the travelers wondering just what else lived in its depths.

Eventually, up ahead, one can see what looks to be a large village. Speeding up, one quickly reaches the city, only to find it long since abandoned. The dusty streets and empty houses show nothing amiss, just no inhabitants, as if everyone simply packed up and left. As one explores the city, it looked as if the people left at different times, not a mass exodus, but the mystery remains of just where they all went. The houses themselves have thick Celtic scroll work up and down the eaves and sides, each seemingly telling a tale of who lived there and what happened, if only its story could be read.

Varying signs of decay are here and there, but simply from disuse. Entering some of the houses caused rodents and birds to scatter, fleeing into crevices and out broken windows at the intrusion.

Beyond the city, a smaller path leads up the mountainside, disappearing into stairs, carved into the mountains. The stairs fade upwards, no doubt traveling to yet another mysterious place. For several long moments, the stairs continue until finally, it levels out. The roar of a waterfall grows louder until one reaches a cliff. Looking down, one sees an enormous waterfall, cascading thousands of feet below into misty depths. The now small trail winds along the edge of the cliffside, set into the wall as if carved out by a giant's hand. The deafening falls cause the rocky trail to be quite slick, so making the path treacherous to use.

As one walked around the outer edge of the waterfall ravine, a large house set into the cliffs appears. Thickly overgrown with vines and looking much like the rock it rested inside, the house was clearly abandoned, much like the city below. Wandering closer, one finds the large double doors. They open with a creak, revealing a large open room with thick wood flooring in the same, scrolling pattern as the city buildings and the forest trees. The age of the wood clearly predates the city, however, leaving one to wander even further into mystery.

The large empty room leads into what could have been a dining room. Off to the left is a kitchen, to the right is a living room, though the entire house is devoid of furniture. Off to the right is a small hallway, leading to several rooms. At the end of the hall is the only fully furnished room in the house; a library chock full of books of any kind. Its also the only room that looks to have been recently inhabited. Dust that coated the rest of the house was clear here. The floor was the same, specially treated wood grain as the rest of the house.