Alkadian Entaris Beldier III- Lost and Found

Looking up into the heart of the colossal azure sky made it almost hard for Alkadian to remember he was deep in the bowels of a mountain stronghold. The clouds and birds glided naturally on the wind, yet here he was surrounded by walls of the finest artisan stone. He had been exploring the structure for the better part of a day, and was overjoyed to discover it was fully abandoned, save for a few crawling undead, a pit full of sleeping Otyughs, Himself, A Stone Giant ally, and his beloved Rog'bael. He was already mapping out the floor plan of his new base in his mind, seeing as how he had been the only one capable of opening the door in who knows how many decades. The rights of discovery dictate that this dwelling was now his, on the basis of "finders keepers". Alkadian liked having things.

The sewage system and the water well all functioned normally. The design was practical, if not quite foreign in engineering. The audience hall seated a very large crowd. The sleeping chambers (though small) were plentiful and warm. He knew it was his destiny to have followers, and this place was practically made for accommodating such endeavors. In the pursuit of cutting a swath through the untamed wilderness, this was indeed a fine sanctuary. Not too far from the borders of mankind, yet still inside the unknown.

The origins of this structure remained a mystery to him. The stonework revealed no hint of culture. The histories depicted on the tapestries, both mundane and enchanted, held no clues as to the creator. The size of the furnishings all seemed to be made to accommodate those of human size, but would be acceptable for those larger. Indeed a unique structure, and a very practical for his needs. Almost too convenient....

In the deepest parts of the final corridor, an obnoxiously long hallway that declined for what seemed to be miles, Alkadaian came to the strangest of his discoveries. One single diverted doorway in the seemingly endless decent into darkness. He could hear the noises inside instantly. Heavy breathing. Three, maybe four creatures. He whispered ancient words and could sense the magic pulsing from the next room. With slow careful movements he produced his deadliest wand. With a thought he commanded his guardian construct into the room, following closely in step.

His elven eyes cut through the darkness of the chamber, and the architecture told him it was designed as a series of holding cells. The gates were barred, and he could sense the figures inside each one. He cast fear aside, and stepped forward, his monstrous bodyguard nearby. He turned to face the prisoners of this ancient structure and simple stared in a moment of disbelief. The cells contained his Allies. Stripped of their belongings and locked behind the heavy steel doors. He noticed that behind him, their gear was stacked into a few baskets, pulsing with magical energy. They looked at him in equal surprise. The cold and empty stone halls rang and shook as the echoes of his diabolic laughter flooded through the dark stone corridor.