The company halted upon a wet place in the roadless forest to rest. They pitched their tents fair upon the brow of a moss-clothed ridge of riven rocks whence a boulder could be sent crashing through the underbrush, whirling past the trees before plunging into the lake below
they ate the last bit of bacon and cooked the last oddly shaped wheatbread until it was charred.
Sora sat near the campfire, half-heartedly chewing on a piece of salted pork while the other mercenaries shared stories
[Scarred Mercenary: I tell you that Orgbar was definitely a veteran , for the black of his coat had become tawny with age. There was confidence in his gait and arrogance in that small, stinking eye of his… He rolled back his lips and introduced poor Sorden to his knife-like teeth. The little man had never before confronted the terrible, and he could not wrest himself from this breast. Just one bite…]
[???: You don’t seem very impressed, do you?]
A lean figure with light brown hair and large ears stepped forward. Sora recognised him as Chudo Underhill a Hoybltan a race of short, large eared, woolly footed people who are agile and sharp eyed
Chudo was one of the more friendly members of their twenty something group often talking with Sora
[Chudo: I guess a mage won’t be interested in weak monsters like that I bet you have the best tales to tell us]
Sora exhaled. [It’s not that. I just don’t have many interesting tales to tell.]
[Chudo: Not interesting? You scared the wits out of us with that wild magic stunt earlier.]
Thankfully Sora managed to cover up the rainbow veil casting as a bust of wild magic, but it definitely put the other mercenaries on guard against her
Apparently wild magic only manifests in powerful mages if they have not used magic for too long so as a result the rest of the group started to consider her to be some scary strong mage
[Chudo: Come now, surely you’ve fought something worth telling?]
Sora hesitated, then sighed. [Fine. There was a fight with a Crystal Golem.]
[Chudo: A golem, you say? Well, ...] He gave her a wink with his brown eye and stood up
[Chudo: Hear! Hear! Gather around our little mage has a great tale to tell]
[Sora:Eh? W-wait a ]
[Chudo: a force battle against a crystal golem !]
(This guy ! Aaugghhh) Sora cursed Chudo as everyone turned towards her with expectant looks
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Crystal golem a boss that players in can encounter in the crystal mountains similar to other Golems, the Crystal Golem is a large, hulking monster made of rock and minerals. However, unlike other Golems, who are all bipedal, it is quadrupedal using all four of its limbs for support. Its forelimbs are two massive slabs of rock, while its relatively small hind limbs are formed from a pair of smaller rocks stacked on top of each other. It has a small head and a short tail on opposite sides of its enormous, block-like body.
As its name suggests, the Crystal Golem’s body is dotted with crystals of varying shapes and colors. Its right limbs are dotted with spiky ruby crystals, with three serving as the [toes[ of its hind leg. Its left limbs have similar arrangements, but with sapphire crystals instead of ruby. Its tail features several large amber crystals, and most notable of all,however, is the round crystal embedded in the golem’s back, which changes colors to denote the boss’s current elemental affinity.
The most ANNOYING part about this boss is its ability to switch its elemental form, cycling through Ice, Fire, and Thunder (in that order) every time it is hit making it a nightmare for mage class players
However it definitely make a perfect epic battle fantasy story
[Sora: .....finally, after what felt like forever, Borin got a lucky hit right on a crack in its central gem. The whole thing shook, and then, boom! It broke into a million shiny pieces]
Sora just made up a dramatic version of her first fight with that boss
[Scarred Mercenary: A golem that changes elements, eh? Never heard of such a thing. Sounds like a right handful.] He stroked his scarred cheek, a skeptical look in his one good eye.[All those different forms… that’d be a nightmare to fight. You’re lucky to be alive, girl.]
[A Gruff Mercenary: Sounds a bit… far-fetched, how do you even use lightning as a spell]
In answer Sora pointed her index finger upward and a blast of pure electricity short out,curved into a arc and slammed into a nearby bolder destroying it
[Chudo: Aha! See? I told you she had stories! A Crystal Golem, huh? Switching elements… clever beast. You handled that well.] Chudo clapped Sora on the shoulder, a wide grin on his face, clearly enjoying the tale
Sora however winced at the contact as she returned back in control of her body but didn’t show it
[Chodo: well then let us hear another story from our mage now!]
Sora immediately had a sudden urge to fry him
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As dawn broke, they headed towards Count Elmsworth’s estate.
[Roderic : It is too quiet for this forest.]
He was a sturdy man in his late thirties with a strong build from years as a mercenary. A thin white scar traced a line from the side of his forehead to his left cheek
[Kyara: Kyara doesn’t like how it feels here..] the wolf girl growled
[Sora: what’s so bad about that ?]
Both turned towards her suprised making her feel uncomfortable
[Kyara: you sound very strange...yip]
Sora gave her a deadpanned stare
[Normally when we are crossing a forest..] Roderic began, his voice low and serious as if he was afraid something might hear him [[Normally, you’d hear the sounds of the beasts of the wood. Birds calling to each other, squirrels rustling in the leaves, maybe even the distant howl of a wolf. This… this quiet is not the usual way of things. It’s like the whole forest is holding its breath. That usually means something has disturbed the peace of these woods. Could be a large monster nearby that has scared them all off]
[Alaric: You might have noticed how… devoid of the usual forest creatures this area is. That’s thanks to the Count’s excellent warding field. Keeps the riff-raff, the wild beasts, away. Makes for a much more peaceful environment, wouldn’t you agree?]
[Kyara: Kyara still doesn’t like it.] Kyara mumbled, her tail twitching nervously.
Alaric gave a short, sharp laugh, looking down at Kyara with a sneer.
[Alaric: Of course you wouldn’t like it, would you, little wolf? That’s precisely the point. Keeps your kind out. So, if you’re feeling a bit… unsettled, consider it a sign the warding is working perfectly.]
He didn’t even bother to look back at her, his gaze fixed on the approaching gates.
In the distance, towering black iron gates appeared against the sky. Alaric, who had been traveling with them in the wagon, leaned forward, a smile on his face as the wagon rolled to a stop.
[Alaric: We’ve arrived. Welcome to Elmsworth hunting pavilion ] Alaric declared
The wagon rolled through the massive gates and into a spacious courtyard. Servants, who seemed to have been expecting them, moved quickly unyoking the horses from their harnesses and leading them to the stable,some servants approached the wagon, offering polite bows and hushed greetings, ready to assist the guests with their belongings – carrying their packs, weapons, and any personal items. One or two hurried towards the main doors of the lodge, presumably to inform Count Elmsworth of their arrival, while others began to secure the wagon and its remaining contents
[The Count awaits you, my good friends, in the grand hall.] Alaric said, gesturing towards the large oak front doors of the Pavilion
The large oak doors swung inward as they approached, revealing a spacious grand hall. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating the tastefully decorated space. Tapestries and portraits lined the walls, and servants moved silently about their tasks.
[Roderic Graves: This is impressive.]
[Kyara: It smells clean… but there is something grrr.] Kyara shivered
[Indeed the Count has exquisite taste]Alaric replied as he indicated to a set of wide staircase. [Please, follow me.]
The staircase opened into a vast, circular basement. The air hung heavy and cool. Alaric led the mercenaries onto the raised stone dias in the center of the chamber.
[Alaric: Gather around the lord awaits you]
As they gathered on the platform, Alaric stepped away from them and descended down the stairs in front
Count Valerius Elmsworth appeared on the upper level, overlooking the basement. He was a tall man, even in his advancing years, with a severe face framed by thinning grey hair. His eyes were sharp and cold. He wore a rich, dark velvet tunic with silver thread. Beside him stood two younger men, his sons. The elder was broad-shouldered and stern, the younger nervous, fidgeting with his sleeve. Both were finely dressed.
Alaric bowed deeply towards the upper level. [Alaric: My Lord, the mercenaries are here.]
Count Valerius Elmsworth’s gaze swept over the group on the dias from above, his lips thinning into a line. He finally spoke, his voice echoing down from the balcony.
[Count Valerius Elmsworth: Let the sacrifice begin.]
The moment the words left his lips, the dias lit up with a baleful red light from the carved array on the dias inset with terrible cryptic runes of red tourmalines and azure crystals.
“[By Yeoorm’s damn spear!]
[You son of a bitch, Alaric!]
[Damnit! Get off the dias!]
[We’ve been set up!]
Suddenly, from the shadows of three archways, heavily armed soldiers poured into the basement, their faces grim. They wore dark leather armor and carried swords,axes and spears
[Alraic: Rejoice! You shall ser-]
He never completed those words with flashing of light a golden flame awoke in the chamber it’s beams crackling with arcs of lightning scorched Alaric to ashes
The golden light struck the red energy, causing a violent backlash. Weakness spell faltered, swept away like dry leaves in the wind. Several soldiers screamed as they were bathed in the terrible light and struck by lightning
Just as mysteriously it appeared it vanished leave behind a group of very alive and dazed mercenaries
[Chudo: By the Great Krom… we’re still standing.] Chudo said, looking around at the carnage, then down at himself as if expecting to find himself charred like bad roast. [Thought for sure that was the end.]
[Mercenary 1: Aye, but what the fuck was that and did to… them?] He pointed a shaky finger at the piles of ash and bone fragments. [Just… burnt. Like they never were.]
[Mercenary 2: where are the essence? were they burnt too?]
[Roderic: That light… that gold blast… came from her.] Roderic stated, his voice in awe as he watched Sora. [She’s the one who did this.]
Sora stood on the dias, the faint golden light around her dissipating completely. Her expression remained impassive with her gaze now fixed on the grotesque, burnt figure of Count Valerius Elmsworth as he slowly began to rise from the cracked stone floor and remains of balcony below, a low, guttural growl rumbling in his chest.
Then he howled, a gut-wrenching ,ear piercing howl of despair for near his side lay the bodies of his sons one roasted black the other crushed to death by the debris
His gaze, burning with malevolent red light, fell upon the still form of Sora on the dias with a bellow of pure fury, the monster launched himself towards Sora.
But in that instant, the dazed mercenaries reacted.
[Roderic: Protect her! Kill that whoreson!!] Roderic roared, pushing past Chudo and drawing his sword, placing himself between the monstrous Count and the seemingly calm mage.
[Chudo: Right! Don’t just stand there!] Chudo yelled, scrambling forward, drawing his sword rushing into the fray
The fight had begun
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