Colostle #3: The altar

Exploration Phase

After defeating the armed stranger and discovering the map fragment, I had barely enough time to catch my breath when I felt the familiar rush of wind above me. Another gargoyle swooped down, its stony claws gripping me tight, lifting me off the ground before I could react. What was with these creatures? First one carried me away from the bandits, and now this? The Colostle was playing some kind of twisted game with me.

The gargoyle soared upward, through layers of mist and cloud, until it deposited me with a thud onto a hard surface. As I stumbled to my feet, I realized I was standing on a coastline, the endless waters of the Colostle’s seas stretched out in front of me. Thunder cracked above as a storm surged, far too close for comfort. I turned my gaze downward for just a moment, trying to get my bearings, but when I looked back up, the storm had raced forward—almost unnaturally fast.

That’s when I saw it. The storm’s center.

Through the swirling winds and the water spouts, something dark and massive loomed within the chaos. At the eye of the storm, where the winds seemed to warp and twist around it, stood a massive electrified rook. Its form was monstrous—its size easily that of a colossal tower, bolts of lightning flickering around its battlements and balconies.

The winds whipped up around me, dragging me into the air, tossing me like a ragdoll until I was pulled into the rook’s eye, crashing down onto one of the platforms that jutted from its side. I groaned, trying to regain my footing as the platform crackled with static energy.

Yet the rook... it didn’t attack. It knew I was there, but something held it back.

I walked cautiously, the two massive doors ahead of me creaking open as if by some unseen force. As I stepped through, I was met with a sound that chilled me to the core—a hideous laugh echoed from the shadows beyond. And then I saw him.

A man dressed in the black spiked armor of the purple flame army stood before me, his eyes gleaming with cruel recognition.

"Rookstalk, is it? Still alive after all this time?” His voice dripped with mockery. “We should’ve finished you off with the rest of that miserable village."

I froze. My fists clenched as his words stirred up the memories—the flames, the chaos, the destruction. This wasn’t just some random encounter. He knew me, knew my village and what they had taken from me.

Behind him, the treasure caught my eye. A large, gleaming golden device, perched atop a stone altar, pulsing with energy. It looked like some kind of control mechanism, intricate gears and symbols etched into its surface. It seemed to connect directly to the massive rook beneath me, like a conduit of power.

The man continued to taunt, but something felt off. His movements were unnatural—too smooth, too mechanical. It was then I realized the truth: this man wasn’t real. He was a mere illusion, some kind of pre-recorded projection, meant to taunt anyone who dared come close to the device. The purple flame army had left behind their ghosts to haunt this place.

As the projection flickered and faded, I approached the golden device. Its power was undeniable, and when I touched it, I felt a strange connection ignite within me. It was as if the device linked me directly to the rookling, strengthening our bond, increasing my control over its abilities. A surge of energy pulsed through me, heightening my combat skills and awareness.

This device—whatever it was—had something to do with the control of rooks. It was a relic of the same magic that the purple flame army used to command their burning-eyed beasts. Somehow, this was connected to their plans. Maybe this was the key to unraveling the mystery of the black-armored army.

I pocketed what I could from the altar, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. This control device might be just what I needed to get closer to the truth. But there was still so much I didn’t understand. Why had the rook let me live? And why had the gargoyle brought me here?As I glanced back toward the platform’s edge, the storm still raged, relentless. There was no turning back now. With the treasure firmly in my possession, a new sense of purpose surged through me. This device was more than just a relic; it was a key to unraveling the truth. If I could find others like it, perhaps I could finally uncover the mystery behind the purple flame army.

I took a step forward, gazing out over the storm-tossed sea. This journey had become more than just a fight for survival. The Colostle wasn’t a chaotic expanse of rooms and landscapes—it had a purpose, guiding me forward. Every room, every encounter, was bringing me closer to the answers I sought.