Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Entangled Fate (1x1)

It was a quiet day in the village of Muckdale. In a tiny swamp community like this, not much is capable of prospering, since most people try to avoid swamps. But since of late Muckdale has been quite lively. The rumors of Crystal Caves being hidden away under the marshlands has attracted many would-be treasure hunters. Crystal Caves' crystal forms were known to contain magic in its purest form, and are very popular to put on top of a staff so that mages could channel their magic with no hardship. The various individuals made for good coin, as the only inn in town, Jonathan's Mudbank, was completely filled up every day and night.

The town isn't big. It contains of a mere fifty houses that all float on top of wooden platforms, connected to each other with rope bridges that hang above the murky water. The town only has got one shop near the stone road that leads to the big city; Reinstaten. The population consists of mainly Humans, though a few Dwarves live there as well.

Sylass figured out he was the only monstrous race in the entire village. Of course this gave him shady looks constantly, but the Lizard was used to it. He just had to remain calm until he had the crystals before exacting his revenge on certain townsfolk.

The young beserker was on his way to the main plaza of the town where his fellow excavators would gather. These people were part of the Miner's Guild, and were accepting individuals who would join in digging up crystals. Sylass had taken this opportunity with open arms and was on his way now to finally delve into the Crystal Caves.

Whilst walking through the village's main road - consisting of the broadest and strongest of the rope bridges the village had to offer - he sensed a presence nearby. He constantly looked over his shoulder, but could never find out what the presence was. He thought it seemed familiar to him, yet he couldn't quite put a finger on what it was.

Thinking about what it could be, he accidentally bumped into someone.

Sylass quickly turned his head to the male who bumped into them. The Lizard hissed at the man with no regard for who he was."Strange man be careful!" He snapped at him."Could have stepped on Sylass' tail." He remarked as his gigantic tail swayed behind him like a floating snake.

The man bumping into him had ruined Sylass' mood. Though a lot of things easily ruined Sylass' mood. Soon he reached the meeting place where the Miner's Guild would gather. Three Dwarves stood on a stage, wearing boiled leather outfits and golden emblems featuring a split rock with a red anvil resting on top of it. These were the actual members, and the blonde Dwarf stepped forward.

The audience were the typical scavengers, carrying large rugsacks, covered in all sorts of dust. Most of them were villagers trying to make a profit, though a few more exotic looking people were in the crowd as well. The blonde dwarf with the braided beard started speaking."Welcome, lads. I'm glad ye've decided to join us in our expedition. Together we stand a better chance at uncovering these crystals 'n sell them for a high profit. If yer lucky, ye'll even become a full time member of the Miner's Guild of Reinstaten."

Once his speech ended, the team headed into the swamps and made way to where possibly a cave would be. The trip was without trouble, and they reached a small opening in the ground, covered with moss and all sorts plants. The passageway felt claustrophobic at first, but once inside, there was much room, enough for the group to fit in. This was the beginning of the excavation.

after a few hours of mining, one of the scavengers screamed in surprise.
"I've found one! I've found one!"
the blonde dwarf ran over to him, pushing the people aside who had allready gathered around the surprised human. As he gazed to the crystal, he noted that it was glowing faintly, almost dark. He mumbled something in his beard
"What's the matter, master dwarf?" the scavenger asked
"This is only a lesser crystal" the Dwarf replied. "We'll have to move deeper into the mountain if we're to find them big ones."

The news that a crystal was found caused the men to dig even harder. This was it, their chance for glory! Even Sylass, who didn't even touch a pickaxe before, started to work alongside the men, to the pleasing of one of the dwarves supervising the workers.

Soon a long haired human man smashed through the wall and to his surprise he uncovered a lighted room. The entire room stopped digging in order to find where this light came from. The man started laughing out of pure joy. He had uncovered the Crystal Cavern in full. The light came from the huge amount of crystals sticking out of the walls. The cavern consisted of many wide hallways, like a true cave. The group stepped inside to witness this miracle at first hand. The dwarven leader laughed loudly."This is it, lads! The Crystal Cave! Be mindful, though. There might be bats in 'ere." He stated as he touched a blue shining crystal."This is legit, it feels warm. Start collecting, my friends!"

As if they went into a gathering frenzy, the scavengers went crazy as they realized the real amount of crystals lying there bare for the taking. There was a lot of chaos while they all tried to squeeze through the small gap all at the same time, and the sound of many stomping footsteps echoed through the caves. Some small cave animals like bats scattered in fear, not knowing where this horde of frenzied scavengers suddenly came from.

Instead of truly digging, Sylass simply grabbed all the loose crystals and put away what he could without being seen. A hard task, since the guild members' eyes were prying over everyone constantly. Though this was necessary. Most of the scavengers were trying to do the very same thing like Sylass after all.

Things were going smoothly, until the same scavenger that had uncovered the cave pulled on a cluster of Crystals."Damn it, come loose ya bugg-" Almost instantly the crystals he so desperately tried to pull loose snapped shut around the poor man. Not a scream was heard, only the crushing of flesh and bone. The scavengers stopped their digging and looked at the scene in horror. The crystals were moving!

A shape crawled out of the wall. Something that resembled a crocodile made entirely out of crystals. The thing made a bone chilling sound that could only be described as hundreds of crystals being rubbed against each other."Stand back!" The dwarven leader yelled. But Sylass didn't listen. This was what he did best."Let Sylass take care of shiny animal." He proclaimed as he drew his steel mace and axe. He took a few steps forward."Cowards better run." He hissed through his lips.

As Sylass Engaged The Crystal Crocodile, more creatures erupted from the walls, surrounding the scavengers and leaving them with no way to run. Those who had weapons grabbed them, and started engaging the monstrocities. The cave had swiftly turned from one of wealth, to one of death. several scavengers fell at the first clash with the crystal creatures, and they some of them quickly retreated again, forming a single fighting group with the dwarves screaming commands from the center

--

In a small underground corridor, only a few 100 meters to the miner's east, Gaunt put his hand up against the wall - sensing a medium type crystal hidden within. He used what minor nature magic he possessed to bend the rocks aside, allowing him to easily grab the crystal from the mountains' grasp. With a wave of his hand, he closed the gap again, leaving no trace of the hole that had been there only a second before.

As gaunt walked on, he heard a rumbling sound echoing through the tunnel he was in. He froze in his tracks, thinking that one of the crystal creatures he had sensed (whom he had left alone) earlier that day. When he realized that it wasn't, he started thinking.
"If There was one of those creatures hiding here, then there could well be several more hidden in the mountains' caves and crevasses..." he said to himself. suddenly he realized that the mining group he saw earlier might be close by and under attack by a crystal creature.

he knelt, closed his eyes and put his hand on the ground sending out a strong wave of natural magic with it. He sensed a large cave about 170 meters to his west, and several people running around in chaos there. Then he sensed a creature made of crystal, in a different form than the one he had encountered before. At that point his eyes shot open.
"There are more than one!" he almost shouted; He broke the spell and started running through the corridor in an eastern direction.

The cystalized monsters had different shapes. Some were animals, others were humanoid. A total of seven monsters.

"Calm down, you fools!" the blonde Dwarf proclaimed as he drew his fancy looking handgun and double edged axe."Magical caves like these always have got some guardians in 'em. Look at yer Lizard friend over there! He's not afraid." A panicking scavenger would not accept his boss's explanation."You knew about this!? I didn't sign up to fight monsters!" The dwarf spat to the floor."Lad, we specifically asked you if you knew what you were doing, and you said yes! Now what are you, a bloody elf!?" The man clutched his pickaxe tightly in fear. he was trapped and there was nothing he could do but hope to survive.

Sylass had heard the Dwarf's comment about him, which made him grin slyly. Finally some recognition he so craved. Without hesitation he jumped at the Crystalised crocodile, slashing at its legs with his axe and giving it a smash on the head with his mace. Yes, the Lizard Folk were ambidextrous, and could easily make two complicated moves with any tools. The mace seemed to do more than the axe. The creature didn't even feel the cut in its leg, but the smash made the crystals shatter slightly, which caused it to back off.

Sylass was not a smart man, but he knew much about combat. This was a good sign, and one he would make use of if he were to face another of such creatures.

As Gaunt rounded another corner, he heard a hard smack as if a blunt object smash into crystal. He frowned, and didn't know wether to call the wielder of the blunt object either foolish or brave.
Gaunt skidded to a halt at the end of the corridor. he stood in the shadows of an overhanging rock, on a small but steep cliff overlooking the crystal cave. Seven creatures had surrounded the scavengers he saw earlier, several treasure hunters allready lying dead all over the cave floor.

The blonde Dwarf shot one of the crystalised monsters, but to no avail. The impact left the bullet stuck in one of the crystals, but nothing changed to the creatures movements. It didn't even cringe."The head!" Sylass yelled as he smashed the crocodile a few more times."Weak spot is on head!" He yelled once more as he shattered the crocodile's head with one final smash. The crystal splinters flew everywhere. If these creatures had blood, it would have painted the cave red.

A scavenger using his pickaxe to vigorously defend himself had found another way to destroy a creature. A humanoid crystal collapsed to the floor as the man had cut off its leg."Try to split them! That works too!" He yelled as he turned around, but most of his friends were mortally wounded on the floor, or dead. This only enraged the brave scavenger more.

Sylass ran back to his group, not noticing the wizard lurking in the darkness. Though he could smell another presence nearby. Perhaps a scavenger that ran off? With his abnormally long tail he grabbed a crystal beast by its back leg and pulled it to him where he would smash onto it as well, trying to avoid its bites.

He quickly surveyed the situation, trying to etimate wether or not the scavengers and treasure hunters needed any help. He noted the odd lizardman he bumped into earlier that day fighting off one of the creatures, and a desperate scavenger taking another one on all the way to the back of the cave. However, they were quickly losing ground, for the creatures were slowly moving in on them and most of the treasure hunters were allready standing with there backs pressed against the cavern walls.

Gaunt decided it was time to interfere. He started weaving a pattern of complicated magic strings and shot three odd symbols at the ground behind the slow but strong creatures. three Granite Golems rose up from the floor and started raining blows onto the crystal creatures, quickly shattering five of them. as they started towards the last one - the one attacking the lizardling - it pulled loose from his captor's grasp and escaped back into the dark rocks. The mountain swallowed him whole.

The golems stood silent in the cave as Gaunt slid down the steep slope he was hiding on. He didn't dispatch them yet, as he didn't know yet wether or not the group would be agressive or neutral towards him. They were staring in awe at the three golems, and the man in black standing behind them.

Though the battle seemed won for the moment, Sylass had no idea these golems were summoned by a wizard. Being the hotheaded beserker he is, he charged one of the non suspecting golems, body slamming it to the ground and smashing at its head with both the flat part of his axe and the mace in a rapid manner until the creature would hopefully crumble."Sylass had enough of magic cave! Stupid monsters die now!"

The blonde dwarf stepped forward."Friend Lizard, those are not enemies! These were summoned by our rescueer!" Sylass did not listen."Sylass is rescuer! These things monsters! Monsters die!" In his bloodrage, he would not listen to reason.

Smiling, Gaunt dismissed the golems. Then turned to the still stunned group

"greetings, master dwarf", He said in an honourable tone to the dwarf seemingly leading the expedition. Many faces now turned to him, and looks of amazement were exchanged. They could clearly see that Gaunt was a Mage, but did they really just watch a display of conjuration? And not just any display, a talented one! for a mage to summon three Golems and make them attack in different patterns was an effort worth admiring.

For a moment Sylass thought he must've killed the other Golems with his mind, but it soon became clear they got summoned by the same man who had pushed him on his way to the plaza of Mucktown."Did odd man ruin Sylass' glory!?" He yelled at Gaunt as he got up from the pile of rubble."What maddening powers does odd man use!?"

The dwarf ignored Sylass."My friend, normally I resent magic, but you just saved our lives. Thank you. How can we repay such a kindness to you? Gold? We've got plenty of gold." He offered.

Sylass hissed. It was as if he hadn't done anything."Human fleshbags ignore monster once more." He thought to himself as he slowly returned back to the group.

Gaunt refused politely.
"It's enough for me to know that most of you were saved." he said.
He then turned to the lizardling. "This one however, is a real hero. Engaging several of the crystal creatures with just a mace and an axe is an admirable feat. Can i ask for your name, honourable Blackscale?" Gaunt smiled.

Sylass was ready to pound this man's head in. What was he thinking? Stealing away his glory like that. But now Sylass' demeanor changed. He got recognition. He grinned widely as he twirled his mace and axe around his pulse before putting them back in between his belt."Name's Sylass of Blackscale clan." He introduced himself."Odd man smart. Not many know my tribe."

Gaunt was very smart indeed to notice which clan he came from. Blackscales were usually much taller than Sylass, some of them growing up to three meters in hight. They also consisted of mostly black scales. Sylass was shorter and had more green scales than black ones. The only way Gaunt could have recognized him as a Blackscale was either Sylass' fighting style, or his bloodrage that didn't seem to end until everything he saw as an enemy lied dead on the floor.

"Must admit. Odd man powerful. Controls creatures of stone. Admirable." Sylass was always friendly to those who recognized his power.

"In any case." The dwarf went on."My name is Bier Rocksplinter, Delver of the Miner's Guild. I would be honored to keep you in our excavation of these caves. I'm sure you'll find Crystals to your liking that you may keep. It's the least I can do.

Gaunt smiled at Bier, nodding appreciatevely.
"i thank you, master dwarf"

as the scavengers resumed work on gathering the crystals, Gaunt turned to Sylass.
"greetings once more, lizardling. I had the honor of fighting alongside one of your clan once, he spoke quite highly of you, in fact!"

Sylass took whatever crystal he could find and kept it for himself. He no longer cared whether he was watched by the Dwarves or not. He had collect a couple of nice big chunks before Gaunt came by and spoke to him. He turned around, making sure his gigantic tail would not hit the human. The force behind that thing was something Sylass did not easily control.

"Clan recognize Sylass as equal, but rarely as 'highly'." He stated."Odd man must have talked to Kraltorr, or Shalish. Perhaps Ashen thinks better of Sylass now. Where did odd human learn to earn a Lizardfolk's trust?"

"I saved your clan's shaman when he was captured by a rival clan. and concerning the person who told me about you, He only just came of age. he must have been a nestling by the time you were fighting for recognition. he admired that in you, you know? I think his name was Ashkar, but I'm not sure if I remember correctly."