Serpent's Coil

[Khaiyne]

Journey to The Serpent's Coil (by Kerryanne Leach)

Even the mountains themselves are overrun by the forest. Theirs is the same dense green that reaches up until it is lost in the eternal mists that shroud their peaks, but these are not the great mountains. The Great Shattered Mountains of the far north do not roll pleasantly before the eye, softened by their dense foliage, no, they rise from the forest, jagged and bare save for the lichens that cling doggedly to the rock above the tree-line. They stand like spears thrust to ward off a foe, or a village's perimeter fence protecting those within its fold. There is a narrow passage between the peaks to the north-west. Before the destruction it had been a well-worn path, wide and an easy climb for the trading caravans of llama; now it was a treacherous route, but the only one. It wends its way above the canopy, through steep gullies strewn with loose rocks that shift relentlessly underfoot. Dragging your feet ahead, they pull you off balance, sending the unwary tumbling down into crevices so narrow as to trap a man. It is only the very brave or very stupid that tread the path alone.

As they breach the final crest they are awestruck by what greets their eyes. Dumbfounded, feet rooted to the bare rock, mouths gaping wide in surprise, they struggle to take in everything their eyes behold. Maybe four meters below their feet the ground is flat and green with the same undergrowth that thrives in the deep jungle. For thirty-five meters or more the land extends out and then comes to a sudden, initially sheer drop, mirrored more than one hundred and fifty meters to the west. It is if the Creator had carved a great 'V' in the mountain. The apocalypse had caused them to spew their fiery life-blood to condense the waters into choking sulfurous mists as the rock was wrenched away, tearing away the rock, earth and trees where they had built their university, casting it into the sea. From where it had once been joined to the land was now a mighty gorge tens of meters deep, almost a kilometer wide at the top, narrowing in its descent to no more than six meters at its nadir. The rock face was cracked where the turmoil had pulled the earth up and away, exposing the strata laying diagonally from the base. Water spewed from these deep cracks, torrents cascaded from within the heart of the earth, as if she bled from the gashes inflicted. Waterfalls tumbled over her exposed rock-face, gathering as an angry, turbulent river that crashed through the narrow chasm as it made its way to new stretch of sea that separated the land from the exiled university. And on its very edge stood a solitary building. Huge, its carved stone walls reached ten meters or more from the ferns that hid its foundation, so well-constructed that even the roof had not caved away, though tree and vine now thrust their way up through the stone.

They clambered down and strode purposefully toward the ruin, their excitement building with each step. Would they find the path down to the Serpent's Coil hidden within this ruin? What wonders awaited them within its collapsed halls and corridors?

It was deathly quiet, no chattering monkeys, no bird-song, not even the incessant clickings of insects and, as the men became aware of the silence, their stride lessened and their grip tightened on the weapons they carried.

[Bella_Fein]

Nice! Love the blurb as well Kerryanne! Is this the same continent as Val'Pyr? Looks like the same 2 people.

[Bull]

Love the light on the 3 jutting rocks.

And good stuff combining the words & pics! (am waiting patiently for more from you Kerryanne )

[Justin]

More amazing artwork

[Kerryanne Leach]

Yes Bella, it's on the same continent as the Val'Pyr Gateway.
Sorry Bull but the release of storylines isn't up to me, but there are plenty waiting for Da Boss to approve for your delight...well I hope it's delight...later on.

[Striker]

Gr8 work.

Out of curiosity, when we can expect some first screens of actual landscape?;P

[Saint]

Looks awesome as usual.

[Emra]

Looking good like always, I love the realism mixed with a hint of fantasy.

If there is one thing I love in a game, its explorable islands-- especially if they have cool old buildings on them, or hidden dungeon entrances in them.

[Borborygmus]

i hope my desktop will enjoy wearing this

and thank you for continuing to make my chosen continent so attractive for all my victims to want to live on!

[Mippins]

I'd like to build a hovel or small dwelling and a rope bridge, and inhabit it!

I'd be cool with the sandbox world if PC's could clear out areas and claim them, causing Monsters to have to invade the dwelling to reoccupy or some such system.