Rushing from the tavern, Sean glanced around the streets to see if anyone else had picked up on what they had. It didn't look like it. The few players that were here looked too rattled or where still exploring the town. Mark tugged his arm to lead him quickly through the town. Sean pointed to a few NPCs, asking him if they should ask where the mine was. Mark only shook his head and told him gruffly over his shoulder. "No. I know where it is. I noticed it before when I was wandering around. It's the only mine that is closed off to the town."  Sean increased his walking speed to keep up with him, asking bluntly. "If it is closed off than how do we get in?" Mark smirked, stating out rather obviously. "With the password." Sean rolled his eyes, but let Mark continue to lead him across town to the mine. Descending a large stone staircase to an open courtyard, there were a few mines spaced out in a half circle. Each had a large iron brazier that had large glowing red crystals in the shape of a roaring fire in them instead of real fire. Although, when Sean stared at them, he saw how they seemed to flicker like a real flame lived within them.

Sean's skin prickled at the sensation of powerful magic here. Mark pointed to a mine that had a set of iron bars chained shut before the entrance and told him coolly. "That one." Sean inched closer toward it, uttering out uneasily. "Are you sure?" Mark nodded, then from one of the other mines came distant screaming. Sean jerked to look in that direction, hearing someone calling out to someone. He could hear the person saying their torch had run out and they were lost. Mark touched his arm, making him jump. Giving him a worried look, Mark asked a little worried. "Are you alright?" Sean pointed to the other mines, informing him anxiously. "Didn't you hear them?" Mark glanced up to look at the mines, then shrugged out casually. "I didn't hear anything." Sean pointed again but lowered his hand as he swallowed. Did being an Elf mean that he had better hearing than Mark? Mark touched his cheek, telling him comfortingly. "It's alright. We're level three, right? These minions should only be level one or two. Stay close and I'll watch your back."

Sean nodded, withdrawing his bow and exhaling out to calm himself. "Let's do this." Mark withdrew his greatsword and approached the gate. The second that he passed between the braziers, a low chime went off. Mark rested his sword over his sword as the metal skull lock came to life. Its ruby eyes glinted in the deep eye sockets as it asked in a rattling voice. "You wish to pass into the tribute mine of Sir Duncan?" Mark lifted his chin, boldly answering. "We do." The skull cackled to itself, then stated out. "Oh, what fools you be. Additions to this mine, you will inevitably be. Though if that is your wish, answer me this. What is it you wish to garner from venturing yonder?" Mark glanced at Sean briefly, before answering hopefully. "We wish to fight for Honor." The skull stilled in its movement, before inclining to say a little excitedly. "Nothing gets by you, I see. Go forth. He waits for thee." The skull snapped its iron teeth together in a soft 'click' that unlocked the iron gate.

The chain uncoiled like a snake from the iron bars, allowing the gate to squeal as they opened it enough to let themselves in. Sean hesitated, letting Mark lead the way inside the dark mine. Lingering just inside the entrance, Sean let out a startled cry as the iron gate slammed behind him and locked back up. Mark reached back to touch his side, asking him softly. "Are you alright?" Sean nodded, taking a jagged breath. Mark looked into the dark abyss, then asked him hopefully. "Think you can give me that night vision again? I don't want to light a torch and give us away." Stepping in front of him, Sean put his hand over Mark's eyes again. Charging up the bar for his magic, he waited for the frame around it to turn white and then said the words to cast it. There was a flash of blue and Mark's eyes shined green as he lowered his hand. Nodding to him, Mark smiled as he told him in a whisper. "Thanks. Stay behind me. And if you have any way to keep healing spells handy... watch my back. Sean made the symbol to bring up his spell menu that allowed him to access four spells. He'd get more slots as his level increased and each slot allowed him to store power into the spell to save him casting time. He had only a max of three charges for two of those spells though.

He'd have to be sparing with it. Right now, Mark needed night vision and healing. So, whenever his magic bar refilled, he swiped down the magic bar to fill a power gem slot for one of his spells, until both spells were maxed to three free charges. Mark waited for him fill the slots and to recover his full magic bar. Afterwhich, Sean told him that he was ready. Mark inhaled deeply, then quietly started to venture deeper into the mine. The mine was built like a maze. It was confusing to navigate through since it all looked the same. Every entry way had a square arch supporting the jagged rock walls. There were no lanterns and beneath their feet, rocks and splintered bones crunched softly. After wandering around a bit, Mark stopped and crouched down to observe the floor. Sean watched him spread his fingers across the dirt, his face forming into a focused and determined expression. After a few seconds, Mark smirked as red paw prints shimmered over the ground. Glancing back to Sean, he told him promptly. "I know where to go now."

Sean stared off into the empty tunnel, asking perplexed. "How? What did you do?" Mark stood up, answering as he led him onward. "Apparently, wondering around unlocked a 'determined hunter' skill stat for me. It said I can track up to one prey a day for up to an hour. I decided to track Honor. I can see his pawprints." Sean raised an eyebrow, looking ahead to see nothing. Tightening his grip on his sword, Mark led the way a bit more quickly as he followed the tracks. Upon passing through a square archway, the walls suddenly lit up with bright blue crystals that brightened up the cave in a blue glow. Sean touched the vein of glowing crystal along the dark walls and the sharp protruding blue crystals. It was both beautiful and chilling to behold. It had to mean that they were close. Moving through the winding tunnel, Mark came to a stop as they reached the entranceway into a massive circular clearing. In the center of the room was a statue of the knight in solid blue crystal, and on the stone slab that he stood upon were melted candles that were laced with cobwebs.

Clearly no one had been in here for quite a few years. Mark held out an arm to keep Sean from entering the room, telling him cautiously. "I've got a bad feeling about this. This looks like a boss room... but I don't see Honor. Do you?" Sean looked around, shaking his head as he told him. "No. Weird... Maybe he spawns in?" Mark took a deep breath, hefting his sword with both hands, upon telling him seriously. "I'm going in. Hang back and stay alert." Sean reached out for Mark's shoulder but stopped himself from stopping him. Mark walked into the room, bracing himself for an attack. Nothing in the room moved. It was eerily quiet. Sean licked his lips, restraining himself from following Mark into the room. He had to force himself to stay focused and search for any sign of movement. Thick clusters of blue crystals lined the walls, floor, and domed ceiling. Most reflected Mark as he walked farther in toward the statue. Raising his sword, Mark tapped the statue's shoulder tentatively. It didn't move.

Mark lowered his sword, his hand slowly reaching out to touch a glinting silver whistle around the statue's neck. Tugging the whistle off the statue's neck, Mark showed it to Sean and uttered out. "Guess we have to call him." Sean's breathing increased as Mark put the whistle to his lips and blew into it. The shrill dog whistle making Sean flinch as it rang out in his sensitive ears. The tune of the whistle echoed around the room, causing the crystals to start shimmering as they produced a soft jingling sound. The sound was pleasant and calming. Then Sean heard it. It sounded like the soft cracking and popping of ice. Sean's eyes darted around the room trying to pinpoint where it was coming from. It was so subtle that he doubted Mark could hear it over the sweet tune of the crystals. The whistle burst into metal dust within Mark's hand, seconds before Sean shouted out to him. "MARK! ABOVE YOU!" Mark looked up quickly, backing himself up into the statue of the knight. From a large cluster of crystals on the ceiling, the form of a dog fell and easily corrected itself to land flawlessly onto all fours.

The dog was made entirely of solid blue crystal with glowing white veins along its body that led to solid shimmering diamond eyes. The dog bared its sharp diamond canine teeth at Mark, its back breaking out in sharp diamond hackles that shimmered in the light. Mark hefted his sword, stating out disheartened to it. "There you are. I don't want to do this... So, don't do anything rash." The dog stood its ground, growling deeply with aggression. Mark stepped cautiously toward it, easing his sword up with hesitation to strike. Sean wondered if Mark would really hurt it, until he noticed the hackles on the dog's back starting to glow with a blinding white light. Tensing, Sean yelled out. "MARK! RUN!" Mark cursed, diving to the side as the dog let out a loud bark that spewed shards of diamond crystals. The crystal shards impaled the rock wall as long and thick as short swords. Mark rolled up onto his feet, snapping out a bit startled. "BAD DOG!" The dog snarled at Mark, then quickly dashed toward the wall.

They both watched the dog reach the wall and leap up to run easily around the wall with incredible speed. Sean raised his bow, stepping out into the room as an arrow of gold formed when he pulled the string back. Aiming ahead of the dog, he waited for his dot marker to meet with the dog's head. The dot flashed and he released, letting the system guide his arrow in for a hit. He was a few seconds too slow to get the critical, but he hit the target's shoulder. The dog yelped, flipping sideways off the wall to land on the ground and came running at him at full speed. Sean quickly raised his bow again, despising how slow he drew the string back, but his character didn't have enough skill with the bow yet. The dog almost reached him, when Mark intercepted him. Running straight into the dog's side so hard that it was sent flying into the wall. Mark stood in place, looking surprised that he'd hit it so hard with just his arm. Sean could only blush. They weren't kidding when they said the Aesir were tanks. The blow had barely even chipped Mark's health bar from the recoil.

Rolling his shoulders, Mark snorted out a bit cockily now. "Oh, that felt good. I'll tame this puppy." Sean nervously aimed his bow at the dog, yelling out to Mark. "Mark, be careful!" The dog rolled off the wall, shook itself, then began to charge itself for another bark attack. Sean quickly dashed out of its line of fire, but Mark just stomped straight toward it. Sean didn't get a chance to warn him, when the dog unleashed its bark. To Sean's surprise, Mark raised his greatsword out in front of him, letting the shards shatter against the flat of his blade as he flexed his wrist to rotate it in a circle before him. Not a single shard hit him. The bark ended and Mark flawlessly adjusted into a lunge stance. The blade of his greatsword filled to a solid gold light as it charged up. Then he surged forward into a lunge, his sword impaling the chest of the dog. The dog let out a sharp yelp, his solid blue crystal parts expanding away from the white veins of its body like it might explode from the inside. After a second or two though, it leapt backward off Mark's blade and staggered on its feet.

Mark lowered his arm weakly, panting out to Sean in a pained voice. "FINISH IT!" Sean noticed then that the dog's health bar was flashing in the red as it staggered around a bit disoriented. Sean aimed his bow at it, letting out a soft whistle. The dog stopped moving, jerking its head in his direction and sealing its fate. It had jerked its head right into a critical head shot. The dog took the arrow between the eyes and jerked up onto its hind legs with a gut-wrenching whine. Seconds later its body slumped to the ground, its solid crystal body softening back to a normal furry dog. Sean relaxed with a sour taste in his mouth as the little pop-up screen appeared before him reading 'Winner' and giving him a reward of pricy diamonds and magic power crystals. He accepted them, then asked Mark a little confused. "Wait... He didn't give us the Crystal Key...? What the hell?" Soon after the pop-up message was accepted and gone from his view, another crackling and popping sound came from behind him. Where a deep angry voice snarled out distortedly. "You killed my dog..."

Mark rushed to his feet suddenly, yelling out to him. "SEAN!" Sean didn't even have time to turn around before he was hit from behind and sent flying into a wall. The blow knocked the air from Sean's lungs, depleting his green stamina bar in one hit and taking half his health with it! Then after hitting the wall, he watched helplessly as his health bar fell into the red. His armor class was far too low to take hits like that. He was supposed to be a stealthy distance fighter. With his stamina bar depleted and slowly recovering, he was left immobile on the ground. If he attempted to crawl, it would just drain the slivers of regained stamina that he was getting and take him longer to get enough to get up. Stepping off the slab, the solid blue crystal knight unsheathed his short sword and pulled off his large shield from across his back. Approaching him, the knight raised his sword to bring down on him and Sean flinched with a scream. At the loud clang of steel, Sean opened his eyes to see Mark's greatsword had blocked the hit.

The knight pushed hard against Mark's blade, forcing Mark down to a knee beside Sean. Sean's heart raced, until he saw something happening to Mark. Mark's Aesir tattoos started to pulse and a loud roar of anger left him as his body started to swirl with red light. Mark's eyes turned red, and he shoved the knight back like he weighed nothing. The knight staggered back, then quickly lifted his shield as Mark aggressively started wailing on him with blows that knocked him back. Every powerful blow dented the knight's shield and took chucks of his health. Sean slowly risked easing up onto all fours, watching with fascination. He'd briefly read about it when he was choosing his race. This was a skill known to the Aesir as Blood Rage. It doubled the power of the Aesirs' attack and defense. Allowing them to bypass an enemy's armor class for two minutes straight and deal direct damage to them. Mark could only use it once per fight, but it would be enough to keep the knight off of him to allow him to recover. To Be Continued...