Earthbane

When I told the Old One of my interest in the white man's magic, I had expected him to be angry. Instead, he said, "Follow."

We walked through the desert all day, and when the sky grew dark we stopped.

The Old One opened up his medicine pouch. He shared a pipe with me.

"If you have learned anything from me at all, then you can already sense that we approach a place of power. It lies beyond the ridge." As we approached, a snake slithered across our path. It had two heads.

And there it was. A great pit, filled with fire. And in the darkness, the fire seemed to filled with serpentine creatures.

"Here is where the European Warlocks cast the byproducts of their spells. Spoiled dragon parts. Watermetal. Firestone. You can see the seal of Hermes is starting to feel the strain. Not since the Necromantic Engines of the Second World War has there been such a concentration of magic."

"Here is the fate of the White Man and his magic. He has awakened something. And it will claim him."

With that, he stuck his knife into the ground. The Earth bled.

The Old One turned away. "Come. We have a long journey back. And when we return, I shall tell you how to fight the Earthbane."

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