Old man of the mountain

Rufus took a deep breath and tried to steady his nerves. He still wasn't sure what to expect. The room they were in was small and poorly lit, with only a few flickering torches casting a dim glow across the walls. Rufus couldn't help but feel uneasy like he was being watched.

The old Sassan noticed Rufus's discomfort and offered a kind smile. "Don't worry, my friend. I mean you no harm. I simply wish to speak with you," he said.

Rufus nodded, still unsure of what to expect. But as the old Sassan began to speak, he found himself relaxing. The old man had a gentle voice, and his words were calm and measured.

"Alright. I believe that you do not want to harm us. But why do you want to help us?" Rufus asked.

The old Sassan smiled again and stood up from his chair. "Let us go for a walk. This room is pretty dim, isn't it? Not a pretty place," he said as he led Rufus outside.

A gust of cold wind hit Rufus's face as they stepped out of the room. The village of Alamut was small but vibrant, with people bustling about their daily activities. The sound of children playing echoed in the distance and the smell of cooking food wafted through the air.

Rufus couldn't help but notice the heavily armed guards stationed at various points throughout the village. They were watchful and alert, scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger.

As they walked through the village, the old sassan began to speak.

"Welcome to Alamut. The bastion of the order of the assassin and the haven of the Parsana sassans," he said.

The old Sassan led Rufus through the winding streets of the hidden mountain village. The air was crisp and clean, and the sound of laughter and chatter filled the air. Rufus saw that the village was small but bustling, with people going about their daily activities. The buildings were made of stone and wood, and the streets were narrow and winding as if they were designed to confuse anyone who didn't know their way around.

As they walked, Rufus noticed that there were no armored guards stationed throughout the village. Instead, he saw that the people who stood watch were assassins dressed in black robes, with their hoods pulled up to conceal their faces. They stood motionless, like statues, their eyes surveying everything and everyone who passed by.

The people of the village seemed happy and content, and Rufus could see why. The village was surrounded by tall, imposing mountains that seemed to protect it from the outside world. There was a sense of peace and tranquility here that he had never felt before.

The old Sassan led Rufus up a steep staircase that wound its way up the side of the mountain. At the top, they came to a massive stone castle that was carved into the side of the mountain itself. The castle was hidden from view from the outside.

"This is our home," the old Sassan said, gesturing towards the castle. "It has been our stronghold for centuries, and it is impenetrable. No one can enter without our permission. Well, no one knows even where we are"

Rufus's eyes widened as he struggled to form the words. "By now it must be safe to assume you are the...?" he started, but his voice trailed off as he hesitated to say the word.

"Oh, I am sorry," the old man of the mountain replied, "but I have cast a powerful spell on my very own title and name. No one except maybe the gods can say it out loud."

Rufus's curiosity peaked, and he turned to Suomi for answers. "You...you are a?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"He is a sorcerer, just like me," Suomi said with a hint of admiration in her voice.

The old man of the mountain let out a hearty laugh. "A great surprise to have two sorcerers in the same place at the same time, isn't it?" he said with a twinkle in his eye.

As they continued walking, Rufus grew increasingly impatient. "Okay, tell me," he said, his voice tinged with urgency. "What do you want from us?"

The old man of the mountain stopped in his tracks and turned to face Rufus. His piercing gaze bore into Rufus, and the air around them grew thick with tension.

"To stop the foolish gods and place the rightful ruler on the throne of the heaven of Sassan," he said, his voice low and gravelly. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, and Rufus could sense the gravity of the situation.

The old man's eyes bore into Rufus's, and for a moment, the two men locked gazes. Rufus knew that he had stumbled into something much bigger than himself, and he couldn't help but feel a tinge of fear mixed with excitement, though he knew the future would most likely be dark and unforgiving.