The river was substantial at roughly 10 metres wide and was flowing steadily southward. The water was clear enough to see the rocky bottom near the banks, however the deeper portions remained murky.
AJ descended to the water's edge. The river's surface reflected the evening sky, orange and pink hues dancing across the moving water. Small fish darted between rocks in the shallows, and insects skimmed the surface.
South, AJ considered, looking along the river's course. Valentra lay somewhere to the southwest. Following this river would take him towards the river that passes through Valentra while potentially leading to interesting discoveries.
He remembered Aldric's mention of a ravine system that was largely unexplored and potentially contained valuable resources. The merchant had said it was east by northeast of Valentra, which would place it somewhere south of this general region.
Perhaps the river leads to that ravine, AJ thought, it won't hurt to follow it either way.
He began following the river southward, walking along its western bank where the ground was firmest. The sound of flowing water provided constant companionship as he travelled.
The sun set fully, leaving only starlight to illuminate the landscape. AJ took a small break to contact Lily before he continued to walk into the night. The river reflected the stars, creating a ribbon of light that made navigation simple.
He walked through the night, covering significant distance. The river's course remained relatively straight, only occasionally bending to follow the terrain's natural contours.
Dawn of the second day found AJ still following the river. The morning light revealed subtle changes in the surrounding landscape. The grasslands were giving way to rockier terrain, with more elevation changes and outcroppings of stone breaking through the earth.
By midday, evidence of other travellers appeared. AJ spotted footprints in the muddy sections of the riverbank and the remains of a campfire on a flat stone outcropping.
AJ examined the tracks carefully. They seemed fresh, probably from within the last day. A single person, moving south along the river just as he was.
He thought of Richard, the nomad had mentioned heading east to visit settlements in that direction. If he'd found this river and not wanted to try crossing it then following it south would be a logical choice.
The tracks continued along the bank, and AJ followed. He wasn't actively pursuing what may be Richard, but he was still interested in the possibility of encountering the man again.
The afternoon brought more changes to the landscape. Trees grew more densely here, their roots gripping stone outcroppings that lined the water's edge.
AJ paused on a rise overlooking the river's course. The water had narrowed slightly, flowing faster through a channel cut deeper into the surrounding rock. Ahead, the terrain suggested significant elevation changes.
The ravine, AJ thought, studying the landscape.
The river's sound had changed too, it was no longer just a steady flow. Underneath the main current, he could hear a deeper rumble, like water falling from a great height.
AJ continued forward with renewed interest. The ravine represented unknown territory, largely unexplored according to Aldric. This indicated either significant danger or simply difficulty of access, what mattered to AJ was that whatever was at its bottom remained up for grabs.
The sun descended towards the horizon as AJ followed the river through increasingly dramatic terrain. The banks rose higher, becoming cliffs as the water carved its way through the solid rock.
The rumbling sound grew louder as he continued approaching.
AJ walked until darkness fell again, then stopped. He found a flat section of stone near the river and settled down for a night of rest. The river's constant rumble provided a soothing white noise that filled the darkness.
---
Dawn broke, causing AJ to stir from his slumber, he stood up, stretching his human form before continuing south along the river. The terrain became increasingly hard to navigate with steep drops and narrow passages between stone walls.
Then, ahead, the terrain ended.
The river simply... stopped. Or rather, disappeared over an edge.
AJ approached carefully, emerging from between two large boulders to find himself standing at the precipice of a vast ravine.
It stretched before him, a massive wound in the earth that cut through the landscape for what had to be kilometres to his left and right. The opposite wall stood around 200 metres away.
And below...
AJ stepped closer to the edge, looking down. The ravine's depth was staggering, at least a few hundred metres, possibly more. The bottom was lost in shadows, though he could see the river's water falling as a waterfall that cascaded down the cliff face before disappearing into the darkness below.
The rumbling he'd been hearing made sense now. The waterfall's constant roar filled the ravine, echoing off stone walls and creating a sound that drowned out nearly everything else.
Standing here, looking down into that darkness, AJ understood why exploration had been limited. The descent would be treacherous, the depths unknown, and the return climb potentially impossible for normal humans.
But he wasn't a normal human.
AJ smiled slightly, his human features showing anticipation.
"Wouldn't get too close if I were you."
AJ turned sharply. Richard stood about 10 metres back, leaning casually against one of the large boulders. The nomad's pack rested at his feet, and his weathered face showed pleasant surprise.
"Richard," AJ said, relaxing slightly. "Didn't expect to run into you out here."
"Could say the same." Richard pushed off from the boulder, approaching with an easy gait. "Though I suppose we were both following the river, weren't we?"
"Was probably your tracks that led me here," AJ confirmed. "I take it you're camped nearby?"
Richard gestured vaguely towards a cluster of trees back from the ravine's edge. "Set up last night, just past those trees. Figured this was as far south as the river would take me." He looked past AJ towards the ravine. "Quite the sight, isn't it?"
"It is." AJ studied the man's face. "Have you been down there?"
"Me?" Richard laughed. "No, no. I'm a nomad and rookie trader, not an explorer. This kind of thing is well beyond my capabilities." He moved closer to the edge, peering down with what seemed like casual interest. "Don't know much about it, truth be told. Just stumbled across it following the river, same as you."
Something in the way Richard said it made AJ's attention sharpen slightly, though he couldn't figure out why.
"Have you seen anyone else around here?" AJ asked.
"Not a soul. This area's pretty remote." Richard turned back to AJ, his expression friendly. "What brings you this far out? You're a long way from Millbrook."
"Like you, Millbrook was only a quick stop, I'm out exploring," AJ replied simply. "Looking for resources, unusual locations, anything that might be valuable."
"Ah, that's why you were interested in that strange villa." Richard nodded slowly, his eyes briefly glancing over AJ's human form. "I take it this ravine has caught your interest?"
"It certainly has."
"Can't say I blame you. Must be something down there." Richard's tone remained casual, but his gaze had sharpened slightly. "Though I imagine getting down would be the easy part. Coming back up will be the tricky part."
AJ said nothing, returning his attention to the ravine.
"Well," Richard said after a moment, "I'll leave you to it. Just wanted to say hello, since we're apparently the only two people out here." He collected his pack, hefting it onto his shoulders. "My camp's back in those trees if you need anything. I'll probably stay another couple days before moving on."
"Alright," AJ replied, watching as Richard walked towards the tree line.
The nomad paused once, glancing back. "Be careful, if you're thinking about going down there."
AJ nodded.
Interesting, AJ thought, turning back to the ravine. Richard's behaviour had been perfectly pleasant, yet something about the encounter felt off.
But those concerns were quickly thrown to the back of his mind as the ravine took his full attention again.
AJ began walking along the edge, moving west away from where the river plunged over the edge. He wanted to understand the terrain better, identify potential descent routes, and most importantly, scout out ways to climb back up.
The ravine's edge was irregular, with sections that jutted out over the depths and others that receded into shallow alcoves. AJ moved carefully, testing the stone's stability as he went, with some of the sections crumbling under the pressure of his weight.
Vegetation clung to the cliff face in unexpected places. Thick vines grew down from the edge, their roots gripping cracks in the stone. They descended for significant distances, up to 30 metres in some cases. Some were clearly dead, their withered remains hanging limply against the rock.
AJ paused at one particularly thick cluster of vines. They looked sturdy enough to support his weight, at least for the upper portions of the descent. But relying on them for the return climb would be risky. Their condition varied wildly, and he couldn't determine which sections would hold and which would snap under stress.
He continued his survey, moving further west along the edge.
Then he found the first sign.
A length of rope was tied around a boulder near the edge. The rope extended down the cliff face. AJ knelt, examining the knot, it was strong, suggesting someone with relevant experience. The rope itself was weathered but had clearly been a high quality material.
He leaned over the edge, following the rope's path. It descended 40 or so metres before ending abruptly in a frayed, torn section. No sign of whoever had been using it, just the rope's severed end swaying gently in the updrafts from below.
AJ straightened, continuing his circuit. He found two more similar signs over the next hour. Another rope, this one tied around a different boulder, descending about 30 metres before its frayed end. And further along, metal spikes had been driven into cracks in the rock face, creating a crude ladder system that extended down quite some way before the spikes simply... stopped.
Each failed attempt told the same story. Someone had tried to reach the ravine's depths, had made it partway down, and then something had gone wrong. Whether the equipment failed, the climber lost their grip, or some other disaster had occurred.
He completed his survey by late afternoon, having walked nearly a kilometre along the ravine's edge. The ravine's depth, combined with the unstable rock and unreliable handholds, made it a death trap for normal humans attempting descent.
But AJ's abilities changed that equation significantly.
He returned to the spot where he'd first encountered the ravine, near where the river plunged over the edge. This section offered the best combination of factors, the waterfall created constant moisture that encouraged vine growth, the rock face showed more stable layering than some other sections he'd seen, and the width here was narrow enough that switching to the opposite wall would be feasible if necessary.
AJ stood at the edge, looking down into the misty darkness. The waterfall's roar filled his awareness, and spray created rainbow hazes in the afternoon light.
He could hear Richard moving around in the distant tree line, probably tending to his camp. The nomad would be watching, AJ suspected. Curious to see if he would actually attempt the descent.
Let him watch.
AJ began transforming his hands. His substance flowed and hardened, reshaping into tools he'd need for the climb. Two pickaxe-like implements emerged, their curved metal heads sharp and strong. They weren't going to be as good as purpose made climbing tools, but they would get the job done.
He tested them against the rock face, driving one into a crack to verify it would hold his weight.
Good enough.
AJ took one last look at the area around him and below, fixing his position in his memory. The return climb would require him to find this spot again, or at least somewhere similar. The waterfall would serve as a good landmark.
Then he stepped over the edge.
His left pickaxe drove into the cliff face, biting into the stone surface with a solid thunk. His right followed immediately, finding purchase a metre lower. AJ's feet pressed against the rock, using friction to support part of his weight while pickaxes bore the rest.
The waterfall roared beside him, its spray coating everything in a fine mist. AJ descended in measured movements, he found a rhythm, drive the lower pickaxe in, shift his weight, release the upper tool, swing it down to the next position, repeat.
The stone was slick from the constant moisture, but the technique worked. His pickaxes found cracks and irregularities, his slime substance allowing him to adjust the implements' shape slightly to better grip whatever anchor points presented themselves.
20 metres down, the daylight began to dim. The ravine's walls blocked direct sunlight, leaving only diffused light that filtered through the mist.
At 40 metres, he passed through a layer of vines. They hung limply against the stone, he tested one with a free hand. It tore easily under minimal pressure, they were completely dead and wouldn't be of any help for climbing.
The darkness deepened further at 60 metres. The waterfall's spray had intensified at this depth, creating a constant deluge that drenched him and his surroundings. His pickaxes still held firm, but the rock seemed less reliable here, the stable layering from above giving way to more weathered, and fragile, stone.
He looked up. The edge was barely visible now, just an irregular line of lighter grey against the darker stone. The distance already covered was substantial, yet the bottom remained hidden somewhere below.
AJ smiled, despite the challenging conditions, he was having fun.