Walking though the lower levels of the rejuvenation center, Tizarah took the lead with the receptionist. When an adventurer’s wound was beyond the Healing Talents and hospitals, they would come here. They would stay in stasis being repaired until they were ready to be reanimated. Room after room had adventurers frozen in the position of their untimely demise, being repaired. All of them perfectly preserved while the machines repaired them. All of them with eyes of questioning horror. Tirzah and the receptionist didn’t seem to mind at all.
For Royal it was like walking through a creepy non-wax museum. She took up the rear and could not help but shiver. Not only was it much colder than on the higher levels, the rejuvenation process was something that she’d been wary about. She saw an adventurer in a defensive position. The lady warrior was holding up an arm as if to block with a shield, but with no shield. Royal could only guess that something pierced through her defenses. The warrior’s eyes looked in horror at a large hole in her chest. Many tiny machines worked to put a strange substance into the exposed areas. Feeling a little sick, Royal realized that she had looked long enough and had actually was being left behind. Not wanting to be left alone in such a place she hurried to catch up with the receptionist.
They learned his name was Cyd and that he had been working there for a very, very long time. After learning more about him, they agreed that they could have a better use for his talents. Cyd became much more cooperative after hearing that. “You’re looking for Aa Dee Seven? From what I remember, the Metal Fortress was finally defeated ten years ago. The reports say that she was transported to a kingdom to the south.”
Tirzah was patient with her reply, “I know what the reports say,” she said trying not to insult his intelligence. “The whole story is often hidden, waiting between the lines waiting for you,” she paused to correct herself pointing at the top of her head, “if you ask the right questions.”
“Everyone knows how things ended,” she continued, “When they started fifty years ago, Aa Dee Seven was a polite defender with a long tower defense wall to defend this area from southern attackers.” She paused to look at an adventurer as she finished her story, and let Royal catch up. It seemed as though the adventurer was taking an over head swing with an ax or a hammer, only the weapon was missing, so was his lower body. Tirzah continued, “She defended things easily hold her ground. She designed her machines to upgrade themselves based on the attacker’s strategies and weaponry. She was good at anticipating their strategies and made additional modifications herself, staying at least one step beyond of them. With increased attacks, the defenses became stronger, but the wall never expanded.”
“After five years, the defensive technology of the wall increased more rapidly. The machines started building additions to the wall until it resembled a fortress. They continued to expand the fortress gaining ground towards the attacking kingdom. Rubin’s Trail was in danger of being taken over.”
Cyd thought for a bit to realize what she was saying. “Rubin’s Trail?” Cyd said with disbelief. “They’ve protected us for the last ten years.” Rubin’s Trail had been a kingdom that always had a positive view in the public eye. ‘A shining city in the dark times,’ was their motto. They always made sure to defend travelers from bandits and served as the source of law and order.
“They have dark times like any other.” Tirzah said calmly. “The wall was always meant to defend Bosstown. Still, it took five years before it made aggressive actions towards Rubin’s Trail. Something must have happened after the first five years. Do you have anyone here from about forty five years ago?”
“Yes. She would be in the lowest level.”
“Take me to her.”