Robin and his men descended, torches flickering against the damp walls. The air grew cool, scented with ancient stone and the faint metallic tang of old iron. At the bottom of the staircase lay a cavern filled with crystal pools, each reflecting a different color of light.
Robin lifted the crystal, feeling its warmth flow into his very bones. The raven, now perched upon his shoulder, let out a triumphant caw that echoed through the trees. The bird’s eyes glowed brighter, and the rune on its beak dissolved into a shower of silver sparks that drifted into the night sky, forming a constellation shaped like a bow and arrow—an emblem for the new age of Sherwood. Robin Hood Sherwood Builders Raven-RUNE
Robin smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting in that familiar grin. “Then let’s set forth, brothers and sisters. The people of Nottingham and all the townsfolk beyond deserve a chance.” The journey began at dawn. The first marker stood on a moss‑covered boulder near the old mill. Its rune glowed with a faint amber hue, and the air hummed with a low, resonant tone. The Builders stepped forward, laying a series of wooden levers and gears around the stone. As they pulled the levers in precise sequence, the ground trembled and a hidden staircase of stone revealed itself, winding down into the earth. Robin and his men descended, torches flickering against
Robin leapt onto the bridge, his boots landing with a soft thud. He called to the men below, and together they crossed, hearts pounding as the bridge faded behind them like a mirage. Robin lifted the crystal, feeling its warmth flow
Robin’s eyes narrowed. “The Builders… they were the ones who hid the gold for the people, right? If a raven from the north carries one of their runes, perhaps the old kingdom is trying to speak to us again.”
Beyond the chasm lay a cavern of perpetual flame, the third rune etched into a basalt wall, glowing a fierce orange. “Fire,” muttered Little John, eyes alight with the same hue.
The Builders set up a series of reflective mirrors, positioning them to channel the flame’s heat onto a stone pedestal. When the heat met the rune, the stone cracked, revealing a hidden compartment containing a single, perfectly cut ruby. As they lifted the ruby, the flame dimmed, and the cavern fell into a soft, amber glow.