The tenbrous plainsman's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

The plainsman needed to understand the runes before going further. They spread their journal open on a flat rock and compared the glowing symbols to their notes. The dancing figures in the light moved in patterns—seven dancers circling one empty space. The eighth god's absence, marked in stone. They pulled out a piece of charcoal and copied each curve and line. Learning to read these markers was the first step. Without that knowledge, they'd wander the desert forever, chasing shadows instead of truth. The sun dropped below the horizon. The runes stopped glowing in the fading light. The plainsman needed more time to study them, but darkness was spreading fast across the desert. They reached into their pack and pulled out an iron lantern shaped like a skull. Sharp spikes jutted from its surface. They lit the wick inside and hung the lantern from a twisted root nearby. Harsh light spilled across the carved stone. The runes came back into view, their edges sharp and clear. The plainsman returned to their journal and continued copying. Each symbol brought them closer to reading the path. Each line meant one step less between them and the temple.