At the confluence of the Ainsel River's main stream and one of its tributaries, there lay a fertile, level river bend. This was where Kueye's settlement of Claymen had made their home.
The bend was carpeted in bioluminescent mushrooms that exuded a thick fluid, glowing like a radiant rug that illuminated the entire cavern. Claymen moved slowly through the field, heads bowed as they harvested the fungi, creating a scene both dreamlike and serene.
Viscous Glow-Mushroom
A fungus cultivated and grown in the false night. A material used for crafting items. Found in or near the Eternal City. The thick, overflowing liquid possesses the properties of oil.
"The fluid from this fungus has the properties of oil and can delay the hardening of a Clayman's body. It is their primary food source," Loretta explained. "Humans can eat it too. The taste isn't much to speak of, but it's incredibly filling."
"I hope eating it doesn't make my stomach glow," Raven joked, plucking a Viscous Glow-Mushroom and examining the luminous liquid swirling within its cap.
"No need to worry about that. Once the liquid is exposed to air, it stops glowing fairly quickly." Loretta took the mushroom, a trace of nostalgia in her voice. "Master Blaidd, Lady Ranni, and I all ate quite a lot of these back then."
As the group walked along the riverbank, a magnificent architectural complex began to reveal itself in the distance. Two massive towers stood on opposite banks of the Ainsel, connected by a towering wall that plunged halfway into the water, completely sealing off the wide river.
"That is..." Raven looked toward Kueye.
"The Ainsel River Sluice Gate," Kueye replied. "Please wait here for a moment while I inform the High Priest of your arrival."
Just as Kueye finished speaking, a rapid clang-clang of a bell echoed from atop the gate. A large group of Claymen swarmed out from the side of the sluice, blocking the path and threateningly leveling stone harpoons tipped with glintstone at the expeditionary force.
Kueye hurried forward to intercept the lead Clayman. They stood face-to-face, motionless, as a strange silence fell over the scene.
Sensing the vibrations in the air between them, Raven realized they weren't silent; their voices were simply at an infrasonic frequency, far below the range of human hearing.
The vibrations grew more intense, and Kueye began to wave his arms—clearly, the exchange was not going smoothly. Finally, however, the lead Clayman lowered his harpoon and took a half-step back.
"I have acted as your guarantor," Kueye said, turning back. "Follow me now to see the High Priest."
"Thank you," Raven said. "But in guaranteeing us, aren't you worried we might harm him?"
"We are friends." Kueye seemed genuinely confused by the question. "Is it not natural to stand as a guarantor for a friend?"
Raven paused, then offered a small smile. "You're right. We are."
"Please give us a moment to decide who will meet the High Priest," the Monitor said. He stepped over to the Beastman Priest and lowered his voice. "Lord Selenzo, have the Kindred of Rot and the Black Blade Kindred ready. If a conflict breaks out, move in to support us immediately."
After a brief discussion, the Monitor, Raven, and Malenia detached from the main body and followed Kueye toward the sluice gate.
Looking at the gate, Raven could imagine the incredible craftsmanship and power of the race that had built it. It was every bit as impressive as the triple walls of Leyndell; even the mighty Ainsel River was forced to bow before it.
But the closer they got, the more Raven sensed its decay. The peripheral buildings were nothing but broken walls and ruins, and the statues had long since toppled. The Claymen living among the wreckage seemed indifferent, showing no interest in making repairs.
Map: Ainsel River
In the depths beneath the Lands Between, there are two great rivers: the Siofra and the Ainsel. The basins of these two rivers hold the ruins of a civilization that predates the Erdtree, ruins of a once-prosperous past.
Raven stopped before a relatively intact statue. It depicted a tall, elderly man cradling a stone tablet, draped in a robe from which numerous vine-like appendages emerged. He was certain he had never seen this figure before, yet it felt strangely familiar.
"Is this the deity you worship? I've seen statues like this all along the way."
"This may have been the object of worship for the ancient dynasty, but we have long since forgotten his name," Kueye said, leading them toward the high tower on the riverbank. "Too much has been lost to time—including the knowledge of how to repair these buildings and sculptures."
The main entrance of the tower had collapsed, buried under rubble. Following Kueye, they ascended a spiral stone staircase on the exterior, climbing all the way to the summit. Looking down, the camp below was a blur of colors; even the massive Black Blade Kindred looked like tiny dots.
The Ainsel River roared beneath their feet, diverted into dozens of streams by the sluice. They fell like waterfalls from a height of over a hundred meters, crashing onto the other side of the gate. The earth trembled under the impact, the vibrations rising through the soles of their boots as white mist sprayed their faces.
"Can you still control this gate?" Raven shouted over the roar of the water. "Can you raise the sluice, for instance?"
"We can only raise it slightly," Kueye answered. "But we have no need to raise it fully. To do so would cause a flood that would burst the riverbanks and cause a catastrophe."
They walked onto the high wall connecting the twin towers. In the center, they saw a Clayman reclining in a chair. His abdomen was as bloated as a drum, and his head was bowed as if he were dozing.
"Grandfather Gibbs," Kueye said loudly. "These are the representatives of the outsiders. They killed two Ant Queens a few days ago, reducing the threat to our eastern territories..."
The High Priest slowly raised a hand, signaling Kueye to stop.
"I am aware. Let me speak with them alone." His voice was dry and weak, yet it was twisted together like a strand of spider silk, remaining audible even over the thundering water.
Once Kueye had departed, the High Priest stood up with great effort, leaning against his chair to face them. He folded his arms, and a blue-white light converged at his chest, forming a magic bubble the size of a basin that floated in the air.
Great Oracular Bubble
A sorcery of the Claymen, priests of the ancient dynasty. Releases a large magic bubble that floats slowly before popping. Charging the spell increases the bubble's duration.
The Claymen seek lost oracles within these bubbles.
"Come, look into this."
The Monitor and Malenia looked toward the bubble. At first, they seemed indifferent, but their gazes were soon locked. Their expressions shifted several times. Raven also focused his eyes, yet he saw nothing but a vast, grey void.
The High Priest reached out and poked the bubble. It burst with a soft pop, scattering like fireflies.
The Monitor snapped his head up, his eyes momentarily flashing with a predatory intensity before he masked it, his voice returning to its polite tone. "Is what the bubble shows... the future?"
"How could prophesying the future be so simple? Even I must be prepared to sacrifice my life just for a bubble to show a fragment of what is to come," the High Priest said, shaking his head. "What you saw were merely your own obsessions."
"Can you perform that sorcery again?" Malenia asked softly. Raven didn't know what she had seen, but there seemed to be a trace of a tear on her cheek beneath her winged helm.
"Do not indulge in illusions; they have no meaning." The High Priest coughed for a moment, then turned to Raven. "And what did you see?"
"Void," Raven said. "Nothing at all."
"Oh? Are you lost? It is said that only those with a path to walk can lose their way; perhaps this is proof of your status as a hero. Of course," the High Priest added, "there could be another reason. I, too, see only darkness within the bubbles, for I know well that my time is short and all things must come to an end."
Raven's expression flickered.
"Lord High Priest," the Monitor stepped forward. "We actually came here because we wish to..."
"I already know your purpose. All Clayman settlements will arrive within these few days. We shall fight a decisive battle against the ants here at the sluice gate," the High Priest said. "If you join the battle, we will provide you with all the assistance you need to reach the Lake of Rot once victory is ours."
The Monitor nodded solemnly. "It is a deal. Then, we shall not disturb you further."
As Raven and the others departed, the High Priest gripped the armrests and slowly sat back into his chair. As he released his grip, there was a sharp crack. A piece of dried clay fell from the back of his left hand and shattered on the floor.
Had Raven and his companions still been there, they would have been shocked by the sight.
Beneath the clay was human skin, and the back of the hand was covered in rotting scars—the unmistakable marks left by the Scarlet Rot.
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Elden Ring: The Unborn One's Journey Through Elden Ring(250 Chapter - Ongoing)
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