Legend of Grimrock: Destiny’s Chance. (Part 3)

There’s a care taker that roams Mount Grimrock then.

“There’s a caretaker here,” I said, as I detached the torch from the wall. “If we can time it right, we must be able to see how he’s able to come through here… follow him out. There might be a secret passage he’s using to get around everything. Grimrock is said to be full of secrets.”

“I –tic!- hate to disappoint,” the insectoid said, shaking his head. “There is no –tic!- caretaker in Grimrock that lights –tic!- these torches.”

“Then how do they stay lit?” I asked, turning to face Blaz’tik.

“Magic,” Blaz’tik answered, matter-of-factly, as if I should have known. Seeing my blank expression he pressed on to explain, “When Grimrock –tic!- was made, magic was used –tic!- to light the torches. The flames –tic!- burn eternally, so long as –tic!- connected to Grimrock. Like a rose –tic!- the torch will continue to live; remove it from the wall, and its life and fire will –tic!- eventually begin to fade. Plant it back on the wall –tic!- and the fire will continue to burn, like a rose –tic!- replanted in soil. If you look closely, each –tic!- sconce is etched with magical runes. The magic that –tic!- runs through Mount Grimrock looks for these, like –tic!- veins of blood.”

“You speak like Mount Grimrock is alive,” Taren huffed, through his massive black nostrils.

“In many ways, -tic!-,” Blaz’tik explained, touching the wall fondly, “Mount Grimrock is very much alive.”

“Can I just say I hate magic,” I muttered through clenched teeth.

“Not surprising,” Silvertan hissed, barely audible, “considering your parents.”

I shot Silvertan a look that clearly spoke a single word; Silence. I slowly turned back to Blaz’tik. “You mentioned on the airship that you were a mage. What magic can you do to help us out now?”

Blaz’tik shook his insectoid head – something he, in the short time I have gotten to know him – did entirely too frequently. “None –tic!- sadly.”

“What do you mean none? You said on the airship that…” I began to protest.

“They took my spell –tic!- components. I have nothing to –tic!- cast any spells. Most of the spells I have –tic!- memorized, but without the proper –tic!- components, I can not cast anything.”

“Of course,” I sighed.

Nothing was going to be easy.

“What do you need for these ‘spell components’,” I asked, making air quotes with my fingers.

“Simple things. Moss. Bones. Dung of bats.”

Well that was a plus side. Most of that we could find here in Grimrock.

Assuming we lived that long.