Path to Edhelraen, Isodera Forest, a week later.
The last eight days have been a nightmare to Zagul, the constant breeze and threat of frostbite made everything he was doing a pain in the ass. He planned to use a week to travel as fast as possible and stop by a village and buy baits and start hunting, but that in itself was something considerably hard as he needed to carry a lit torch if he ever wanted to live through the snow. The horse however, was completely fine and if the Lacerta could guess he'd probably cackle at his suffering right now. Thankfully upon checking from the top of a hill with a monocular, no trace of anyone aside from his own horse tracks. Good, that means he can actually start his plan.
Sure, before he thought that this was just him asking to be killed, but still, way better than risk the unpredictability of people, was to risk the unpredictability of animals. What he needed to do first was to cause havoc amongst the predators and animals in orded to hopefully drag the Apex Predator out of his lair. Of course this is a task that takes a lot of time which means he rushed through the snow in order to buy enough time for him to work, and the first task is actually to start a camp for himself. For Zagul it was easily done as his decade worth of experience has some lessons on foraging and hunting, even if not a pro he can handle himself.
After a few minutes of search, he found a nice place to camp, enough for him to start the initial procedures. Firstly, with a spade he dug the snow around the area he wanted his tent to be, the horse peacefully eating the small amount of grass that was left as the Lacerta worked. Then he picked up the pre-made tent that was on the horse's luggage and prepared the small shelter in record time, immediately going after the firewood kit he was given and promptly starting a fire. With the tools, the cracks of burnt wood started as the warmth embraced the very much needed body of his, as he took a few minutes of rest.
He tied the horse to not go too much further away from the camp, grabbed his sword, bait and knife and proceeded to go to the woods. If he remembered correctly from his geographic lessons before he became a slave, this is the Isodera Forest, one of the forests with the highest number of animals in the entirety of Vyzar. The nearby villages do an annual competition to hunt as many game as possible and do an entire festival of kebabs and smoked meat that even some nobles came to try. Good memories, but he needed to focus right now.
The fire he made was creating a swift smoke that served as a beacon for him to track his place if he needed. For now, he focused on things like holes where small animals might hide, coves, berry fruits, trees and anything worth of relevance as he crawled silently on the snowy forest. In this season, it's difficult to find animals as they will hide or hibernate until spring comes over, so any clue is a must that he needs to exploit in order to succeed. Thankfully, he didn't need to search that much deep to find a clue, but it was a really odd one.
It was a trail of multiple people, but Zagul didn't know of which species. That would be normal if not for the fact that he specifically deviated from the normal road used in this region to come to this place inside the forest, meaning that a tribe was here for the best case scenario or anything from criminals to worst. He decided to investigate it since he already was going in that direction anyway, but kept his guard up even more now as he tried not to freeze. Each step having a crunchy sound as the snow was stomped, the trail looked to be recent despite most of it being covered by the morning snow, which told the Lacerta that this was likely done an hour ago.
He heard some chatter up ahead, so he tried to pay attention to what they were saying or doing.
“...animals are getting scarce every day.”, A man with clothes made out of pelts spoke.
“Thanks to this stupid weather, no less.”, Another man with similar clothes completed the complaint.
“Shit is never easy.”
“I told everyone that if we farmed we'd be good but no, everyone needed to say that ‘meat is the warrior's food' bullshit!”, A leaner man said, his frustration and mocking of the meat remark audible even from far away.
“Screw you, Suth! You only suggested that because you can't hunt even if you were starving!”
“That's because I wouldn't have energy to do it!”
“Enough!”, The first man shouted authoritatively, “Bickering amongst ourselves will solve the issue?”
There was a awkward silence after that.
“Then start working.”
The group was well equipped for hunting, if Zagul has any credit to judge. The leaner guy, Suth if he heard it right, appeared to the tracker of the group, looking for any possible leads to any prey while the other two looked to be the guys that did the heavy work. If these guys are hunting here for a while and didn't get any game to show, that drastically reduces the chances of his plan to work out, but then again, he has bait that attracts certain types of animals. That's why he was searching for clues of which animals are in this forest instead of actively hunting them. If the clothes they are using is any indication, they hunted more mooses and deers than anything else here. A bear would be preferable, but beggars can't be choosers.
He decided to go back after following them for a while with no success in their hunting. If anything, this showed that the plan he made has a low chance of goin through, but he needs to try it. The idea McTavish did to basically put two enemies to battle each other while he could wait and conserve his energy was too good to pass, so much that an idea struck his mind: he can possibly recruit these people to his side temporarily. Zagul will offer them a way to hunt and lure prey and in exchange he'd ask for their help in stealing the crystal. That can work if the tribesmen actually do not care about laws and consequences, but he'd need to scout them to see if they are actually a tribe or just unfortunate people that happened to choose a tribe lifestyle.
Which can very much be the truth. The Ruins that the coastal areas of Vyzar has were once countries with formidable presence and influence, but now to see them in that state meant that the people that once lived there now live somewhere else, which can be here as well. Again, he can't be sure right now, so for the sake of his own mental state, he decided to collect some berries to change his diet, even if just a bit. The fire was still lit and he very much welcomed the warmth that it provided as well as the tent's comfortable interior. Way better than sleeping on top of his horse or on the ground. What was also better was that he could eat without worrying too much about the caravan since he bought so much time with his rush.
He decided to pick up the last of his rations and eat properly along the berries he previously collected, making a crude but sweet juice he could drink without any care on the world. A very much needed pause in his life now that he thinks about it. Years as a slave, his fight with Connor, the constant preparations to Koloss and then the sailing to Vyzar, he never really had a moment that he could genuinely stop and rest. The wounds he had on the fight were gone by now, meaning that he didn't need to be in pain anymore, he could eat without a time limit meaning he actually could enjoy the food and drink and he has a roof, even if humble (and temporary), that he can call his own. Zagul is not oftentimes positive, thanks to his own misfortunes, but this small change in perspective was everything he needed right now.
After finishing eating and offering a bit to the horse, he decided to sleep. A decent night of sleep.
----------------------------------------
Time until the caravan arrives: 7 days.
In the morning, the Lacerta decided to immediately scout the area he saw the tribesmen. As he fed the horse, gathered his camp and left the place, he trotted to the same area hoping to see them again. In the meantime, he decided to see the possible outcomes for this plan of his. If everything went according to what he envisioned, which is the least likely scenario, they would quickly work for him as long as he solved the possible problem of food shortage the tribesmen have. Then of course, things can escalate or deescalate depending on the people and animals, but for now, thinking of the worst case scenario, he'd need to do this alone with little to no predators to succeed, which again, not preferable.
Zagul came to the conclusion that the in between would be that he managed to convince some of them and lured some predators, making it a fifty-fifty chance of going well. Then again, he needs to check how the tribesmen are doing. As he followed the trail that was now well covered by the morning snowstorm, he continued on the path he assumed they took yesterday. If he wasn't mistaken, the place had a cave nearby, oftentimes used as a shelter if travelers didn't have a decent tent to rest in. And surely enough, the cave was occupied by the similarly dressed people he saw before.
Inspecting with his monoculars, the Lacerta saw that the three hunters he saw weren't there right now, with what looked like an elderly person and two females, probably one being older than the other. The race was now very much discernable, Moperans, they have pale, almost bluish skin, and their eyes shimmer like frost, reflecting the icy landscape around them. They usually thrive in the cold, finding beauty and peace in the stillness of their environment. How can they love winter and have complete disdain for the summer and its warmth? Zagul has no idea.
They are usually led by the wisest and most powerful among them. Though they tend to keep to themselves and sometimes are aloof to other species, they respect those who respect their cold domain. Their interactions with others are cautious, as they prefer the cold over warmth, obviously. That puts a lot of thinking on how to interact with them since this is not really a good thing. Not even on the racist side but more on the “how the hell I am going to start this conversation” side. The only thing Zagul remembers about this species aside from their appearance and the God they preach to is that they have almost no magical aptitude. If one of them reaches the level of Martial Artist, it's a thing to celebrate. In summary, they like snow and winter, despite not being able to grow crops.
Bad news? Things got complicated. Other news? They are indeed a tribe, which can work if the Lacerta plays his cards right.
He sighed, “Now where are the other three?”
Inspecting a bit away from the cave, there was a trail that he judged to be recent, from the looks of it. Zagul gave a kick to the horse and galloped away enough to not be noticed, but still maintained his sight on the path. What he needed was to find them in a precarious situation and appear to be their savior to give a good first impression. The challenge was to keep the relationship points on the positive, since he kind of needs to be warm in order to live, which can bother the others. Given that he will save them they probably won't question too much about that, hopefully avoiding this problem.
As he followed the trail, the snow began to fall more heavily, obscuring his vision. Zagul tightened his cloak against the biting wind, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of movement. The trail led him through a dense thicket of frosted trees, their branches hanging low with the weight of the snow. Just as he began to wonder if he had misjudged the direction, he heard faint voices carried by the wind. He decided to move cautiously as he pulled the reins of his horse to avoid startling the group ahead. Peering through the trees, he saw the three hunters he had been searching for. They appeared to be in a heated discussion, their gestures indicating frustration or distress. One of them, a young man with a determined expression, seemed to be directing the others towards a makeshift sled carrying an injured member of their party.
He decided to cover himself and the horse behind a big boulder and wait for a moment of opportunity.
“Shit, shit, shit!”, The leaner man from yesterday, a human, raced against the storm and the thick snow as he tried his best at running.
He didn't have any injuries from what Zagul could see.
“You fool! You had one job and you managed to fail that?!”, The Moperan said angrily as he carried the fallen comrade, “Are you trying to kill us?!”
“I didn't think it would try to ambush us!”
“Have you ever hunted in your pathetic life?!?”, He said in complete exasperation, “That's what predators do to prey!”
A wild pack of cougars was spotted by the Lacerta, just behind the trio who desperately ran away from them.
“I guess it is a pack of cougars. Anyway, that's my opportunity.”, Zagul thought as he galloped full speed towards the animals as he left his hiding spot.
The horse showed no fear as its owner ordered him to go to a possible death, but Zagul himself was worried as he didn't have much proficiency using a sword. Be it as it may, he needs to try saving these idiots, probably solving two problems with a good swing. And a good swing he delivered as he unsheathed his blade, cutting the thorax of one of the cougars, not killing it, but making sure that the felines changed targets. Zagul dismounted the horse, slapping his leg for him to run away as the predators circled around him. He grabbed his knife too just in case, always switching focus to another cougar in case they tried to pounce him on his blind spot.
The Moperan and the Human watched as the Lacerta purposefully put himself in a bad position to drag the attention to himself instead of them. They don't know where he came from, but felt great relief that they aren't the main target anymore.
“Lirau be blessed! We should get out of here before he dies.”, The human tried to coerce his fellow mate to flee as soon as possible.
“Of course not [Human].”, The blue skinned man refused with a determined look, “He bought us time, we need to help him and return his generosity.”
“What!?”, He was genuinely confused, like throwing a cucumber next to a cat, “We can go home! Why waste time here when the possibility of death is, mind you, real fucking big?!”
The tribesmen gave a very judgemental look to the human, “You humans are all the same.”
And promptly dropped his fellow Moperan in the ground as he grabbed his spear, rushing to attack the cougars.
“You idiot! We already lost a good hunter! We can't lose another!”
The protests were eagerly ignored.
One of the predators tried his luck, but a quick sway and slash was enough to leave the creature maimed. The other three attacked at the same time, and while Zagul successfully dodged the first and attacked the second, the third managed to bite his arm, the scales of the Lacerta protecting just enough to not be a laceration. The Morepan appeared just in time to pierce the skull of the slippery cougar that was firstly slashed that almost did a sneak attack on Zagul, pulling the spear as it cracked the bones of the creature's cranium.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
“Good call.”, Zagul commented as they are back to back, prepared for another attack of the cougars.
“A pleasure.”, He answered, still focused on the predators.
The blood of the wounded animals melted the snow as it was tinted with the red warmth, circling around the two hunters deciding whether or not it was worth the trouble to continue the attacks. The healthiest of the cougars decided to foolishly take the initiative, attacking the wounded prey thinking it was the most favorable kill, but simply putting the sword Zagul had in his hand on the attacker's way was enough proof that it was a dumb attempt. The sword cleanly slashed a paw of the cougar, making it trip on itself, giving a golden opportunity to the spearman to finish the job by gutting the creature. That was enough to make the remaining critters leave the area, the risk being too much of a tradeoff.
With a sigh, Zagul tended to his wounds, putting a piece of cloth around the forearm as an improvised bandage, “There is the end of that.”
The blue spearman dusted himself off, now looking at the Lacerta with interest, “Thank you for your assistance, stranger. But I must ask, why bother with us?”
Zagul assessed the man before answering. He was relaxed, somewhat as he just finished fighting, meaning that he wasn't outright hostile to him. The spear he was using was not pointed at him and his facial expression showed content and curiosity, but no discernable maliciousness. Sheathing his own weapons, he decided that it was as safe as it could get when you just met someone under mortal circumstances.
“I also need to eat.”, He said with a plain face, plain enough to not show inner intentions, but not enough to be eerie, “And well, you did need the help, so that's a plus.”
“True.”, He said, “My name is Kian.”
“Zagul.”, He presented himself with no hesitation.
There is no point in hiding who he actually is. After all, he is a slave first and foremost, but that part they didn't need to know.
“My God!”, The human approached them, pulling the other Moperan, or at least trying to, “You could have died, you know!?”
“No need to shout, little man.”, Zagul cracked his neck, “There are more predators in these woods.”
“Who are you? My father? Get lost, gecko.”
“You talking mad shit within punch distance, you know that?”, Kian spoke, rather impatiently.
“Let's get moving and actually do the thing we needed to do? Like, there are two carcasses there with fresh meat.”, The human pointed to the killed animals. He was rather bossy for someone that didn't do much to actually gather the meat.
“I agree.”, Zagul voiced his opinion, actually wanting a piece of meat for himself, “That can feed a family for a few weeks, especially in winter.”
“Glad we agree, but again, get lost.”
“He was the one who helped us get the food. He deserves to have a part of it. If not for your poor guidance my brother would still be awake.”, The spearman spoke harshly, his voice telling that there was no way he was being convinced otherwise.
Zagul just whistled for his horse to come back, getting one of the carcasses and putting it on the back and mounting the animal, “We can discuss this when we aren't in a snowstorm. I can barely see anything now.”
And indeed the snowstorm was getting worse, even for the Moperan, “Actually, I think we need to leave right now.”
“Yeah, I don't like the snow either.”, The human complied, even if not totally pleased with how things turned out.
==========
They arrived at the cave about half an hour later. The place turned out to be a good cover, a breathing space from the storm outside. And despite not being warm thanks to the lack of fire, it was way better than nothing. Zagul was welcomed with mixed looks, the Elder showed suspicion while the females showed caution, but again, no hostility. As they dropped the carcasses of meat, Kian proceeded to introduce him and how he saved them as he passed by. The Lacerta told a story that he was going to Edhelraen and wasn't sure where he was on route or not, the remaining Morepans clarifying that he was somewhat still on route, just a bit off. There was little reason to doubt his claims, even when he was a stranger, and he already was a better company than the human who always complained.
They properly introduced themselves as the older female took care of the game they brought, already pulling the sleeves to prepare a decent meal.
Kian presented himself again with a hand, which Zagul shook. He was a tall man, almost as tall as Zagul, a large build but not that much muscle, his clothes using the hide and leather of his previous prey covering the major parts of his body. Think of it as the Vikings clothes that covered everything, but still not as insulated thanks to the fact that they aren't as affected by the cold. The blue skin and rather strange round ears made him look like a goblin, if not the fact that the special has hair, albeit short even for females. His brother, Tarasuno, was about the same appearance, just the jawline and height that was different. There was also a scar in his head, going from his left eyebrow all the way to the back of the neck, a gruesome scar, but one that made him look tough. So for him to be in that bad of a shape was… something.
The females were the wife and daughter of Kian, Lawley for the former and Ballara for the latter. Zagul didn't take too much time analyzing their appearance, since it would be disrespectful to them, but noticed how the eyes are brighter than the males and how despite having considerable short hair, they still have longer hairlines than the males. Lawley used the standard attire with the difference that she had gloves to work as a butcher while Ballara has different shoes that have small heels. The Elder was visibly older than everyone, being the grandfather of the male siblings. He wasn't bald, but his hair was so short that he might as well be. Same clothes, add a cloak and some earrings and you have the spiritual leader of the tribe, or in this case, family. He is most likely the leader overall, since he is the oldest, but Zagul won't quickly judge things. His name is Kayland
Then there is the human.
For human standards overall, the guy wasn't ugly, but wasn't handsome either. He was wearing normal winter human clothes that promised that they'd help with the cold as well as the warmth, but ultimately failed at both. The man was surviving solely because he was Magic Sensitive, using the small amount of Éter in his coils to maintain his body temperature. He wasn't hiding it that well, if trying at all, to be honest. His appearance wasn't what made him discernable, what it did was his actions, constant complaints, pessimistic view and overall not being a nice person. That made Zagul question why the human was even there to be honest, but the Moperans might have a reason, or at least an old bond that still ties him to them. His name was Uzu, apparently from the Hammurabi Continent.
Yuri sure does make them look better than they actually are…
Zagul decided to take a time to himself and rest for a bit before night came. The light was dim but enough for him to study Connor's case a bit. He put down a few books, some in Vyzerian, some in Petruvian, some in other languages, enough books to keep himself occupied as the snow got worse or better as well as he waited for the meat to be prepared. As he studied peacefully (and somewhat cold), the original residents discussed about the Lacerta and if he was trustworthy enough.
“What do you think, Kian?”, Kayland asked as he tried his beard.
Kian crossed his arms, “For all I know, he is a decent person. Way more level headed than the human over there.”
Said human was complaining that they didn't have enough supplies for everyone, even more so that there's a new member to the hiding spot.
“I don't know why your brother bothered to bring him over. That's just annoying.”, The Elder frowned, “Still, he has his uses.”
“I doubt that. He couldn't track the predators for the life of him while the Lizard guy killed two of them.”, Kian then pointed at Zagul, “If anything that guy has already made himself more useful to us than Uzu ever did.”
“Even so, we can't just cast him out.”, The Elder shook his head a no, “We don't work that way.”
He sighed, “I know.”
“Dad, how's uncle?”, Ballara asked worriedly as she looked at Tarasuno.
Kian smiled to the young girl, “He's fine, just asleep now. The hunt was quite hard thanks to some factors, but it's alright.”
The emphasis was noticed by Uzu, but he didn't comment on it.
“Still, could've gone better, if not for the Lacerta over there.”, Kayland said wisely, despite being a very normal remark.
“Oh!”, That made Ballara immediately go after Zagul who was still searching for the correct book to start his research, “Thank you for helping uncle Tas and my dad!”
The straightforwardness was something that took Zagul off guard, but with a smile he managed to answer, “No need to thank me.”
“Enjoy your reading, sir.”, The girl said as she left to check in on her mother.
Said mother was still butchering the meat, having a struggling battle with the soon to be dull blade that just refused to cut, making Lawley use brute force even when not entirely necessary. Some parts were split, but there was a long way to go, not to mention that the fire wasn't ready, so there is that too.
“How's it going?”, Ballara asked.
“Hanging in there.”, She said before giving a big swing to cut a leg of the cougar, “Could do with a sharper blade.”
“Mister Zagul has a knife. You think if we asked he would let us borrow it?”, She suggested, her voice hiding her anticipation for actual food.
“If he doesn't mind, by all means go ask him.”, The mother said, again frustrated when the blade didn't cut everything in one go, “But do be polite.”
Meanwhile, Zagul finally found a book with promising answers. It was about a Alchemist that studied the biology of all species (within legal procedures) and documented all of them in a single book called “The Homomorphic Encyclopedia”, a book with a hard to understand title, but some amount of research in the dictionary allowed him to understand that “Homomorphic” just means Kin, Folk or people. They usually use over the top names for no reason, but that actually helped differentiate between the Heteromorphic species, which means twisted or transformed in some way, usually not the good one. Basically, Homomorphic just means “standard races with similar features and appearance”.
The first entry was in alphabetical order:
Aabrathyps.
They seriously gave themselves a double “a” just to be the first?
“Mister?”, The child approached cautiously so as to not disturb his line of thinking, at least not that much, “Can I borrow your knife? Mom needs it to cut the meat.”
Zagul eyed the girl next to him, sparing a glance to the woman trying her absolute best to cut the pieces, “Sure thing, but remember to give it back.”
“If I was a thief I wasn't going to ask for it hehe.”, Ballara giggled to herself as she picked up the knife.
Back to the first entry though.
DESCRIPTION:
These beings are characterized by their extraordinary appearance, often possessing features that set them apart from ordinary humans. Common traits include radiant, almost otherworldly beauty, with eyes that might glow with an inner light, skin that has a slight luminescence, and hair that seems to shimmer. Their presence often exudes an aura of calm and goodness, making them stand out in any crowd.
MAGICAL ABILITIES:
These individuals possess in great majority potential to be Healers, but cases of them being Runecrafters or Alchemists occurred.
BEHAVIOR AND INCLINATIONS:
Typically, these beings are driven by a strong moral compass, with a natural inclination towards acts of kindness, protection of the innocent, and the pursuit of justice. They often feel a deep sense of duty to help others and fight against evil in all its forms. Despite their good nature, they can sometimes struggle with the expectations placed upon them and the responsibilities that come with their abilities.
PHYSICAL TRAITS:
- Eyes: Often glow or shine with a distinct light.
- Skin: May have a subtle luminescence or appear unusually flawless.
- Hair: Often has a metallic sheen or seems to shimmer.
- Aura: Exudes a calming, benevolent presence.
These beings are rare and are often seen as champions of righteousness in their villages, using their unique abilities to make a positive impact on those around them.
Number of Kin Registered in History: 200 approximately.
“Huh.”, Zagul looked at the entry with puzzlement, "That's quite a description," he muttered to himself.
He leaned back, letting the information sink in. The Aabrathyps sounded like something out of a fairy tale, too perfect to be real. Yet, the Homomorphic Encyclopedia had a reputation for accuracy, and the entries were based on meticulous research.
Zagul's thoughts were interrupted by a soft thud. He glanced over to see Ballara returning the knife, a satisfied smile on her face.
"Thanks, mister," she said, handing it back.
"You're welcome," Zagul replied, taking the knife and sliding it back into its sheath, although his mind was more focused on Lawley and her face of pure satisfaction of having a useful tool.
The speed at which she cut the meat was frightening…
His eyes returned to the book, skimming through the pages to find the next entry. This encyclopedia could be the key to understanding the Twinsouls and their roles in this world. As he turned the page, a thought struck him. If the Aabrathyps were this remarkable, what other incredible beings were documented within these pages? With renewed curiosity, he continued to read, eager to uncover more secrets and knowledge from the Homomorphic Encyclopedia. Hopefully the ones he needed, because despite it being good to understand and learn about the different species he couldn't really waste time on various entries. He then jumped a few chapters in the hopes the letter “T” would have an impact.
It didn't.
NAME: Tytanthrope
DESCRIPTION:
Tytanthropes are a powerful and enigmatic species, often linked with legends of werecreatures but far more complex and less understood. They possess the ability to shapeshift between a humanoid form and a more beastly, formida—
He decided to close the book. It was useful, don't misunderstand it, but it wasn't what he needed right now.
“Are you going to read all day?”
Zagul turned to face whoever said that, and to his distaste, it was Uzu.
“Why you ask, pink skin?”, Zagul said, his comment not hiding at all his racism and disgust for the man in front of him.
“Pink skin?! What!?”, Uzu pointed at the Lacerta, outraged at the disrespect, “Mind your tongue you imbecile gecko!”
The others inside the cave heard the commotion and looked at the two of them.
“Why should I? Weren't you the one to suggest leaving me behind to save yourself?”, Zagul said with a smug, snickering internally at the audacity that the human was demanding anything from him.
“Oh, don't you dare turn this against me.”, The human replied, crossing his arms, “Not everyone has a horse or weapons to properly face cougars in the middle of the snow, dickhead.”
“Fair point, but the problem still applies.”, He said, getting up, his knuckles cracking giving enough of a warning to the human, “And I suggest you be the little pussy you are and leave me the fuck alone.”
Uzu tried to face the staredown, but the fact that Zagul was taller than him and with his sword-arm already prepared to attack made him back down for now.
He clicked his tongue, “Just because you are correct that doesn't make you right.”
“Whatever you say, swine cunt.”
Kian approached calmly, “Uh, Zagul?”
“Yeah?”
“Can you tone down the swearing? There are kids here…”
“I won't promise anything.”
The Moperan wasn't reassured, but decided to leave it as it is for now.
“This is going to be a pain.”, Zagul pinched his nose.