[PQ] Into the Ruins

And so the merry band entered the ruins. But though they approached it with varying degrees of watchfulness, no amount of preparation would save them from the threats and mysteries found within these crumbled buildings and winding streets. Indeed, as with everything else in this strange new world, the ruins were not always what they seemed. Nor would this simple quest for knowledge and treasures be without danger. Perhaps the group triggered a long dormant spell. Perhaps it disturbed some ancient creature. Or maybe it was just one of those weird occurrences that seemed all to common in the bubble, but whatever they did, something stirred. It started simply at first, with wisps of mists too small and too hard to see in the dark, even if the men were looking for them. They flowed across the ground, the wisps growing into ribbons, which grew into strips that eventually swirled around the feet of the men in a silent cloud. Then, they surged forward and formed the figure of an enormous bear directly in front of the leader, Enigma. Without missing a beat, the mist bear roared a challenge and charged forward. Its jaws closed around the man’s shovel and wrenched it from his hands, snapping it in half, while one clawed paw swiped the man’s left arm, leaving slices in the flesh there that quickly welled with blood. Seemed this monster of the mist wasn’t so insubstantial that it couldn’t leave wounds. And it was fully intending to.