As they left the market square, the group stumbled upon a small alleyway that led deeper into the heart of the Blackmarket. The alley was narrow and winding, lined with ramshackle buildings and dimly lit by flickering torches. The sound of raucous laughter and drunken singing drifted out from the doorways of various establishments along the way.
King Alexander and his entourage stumbled upon a humble bookstall, standing out for its simplicity. Four books chained to the table caught the king’s eye, and a tired-looking merchant behind the stall looked up as they approached.
“Ye can settle yerself and peruse any tome ye fancy,” the merchant said. “A mere gold piece fer each o’ them two, and a hefty three gold fer the rarer orc jest book.”
The king surveyed the books, taking in their worn covers and well-thumbed pages. The way he chained them to the table spoke of a greater value than the coins the merchant sought.
With a nod, King Alexander drew out a gold coin from his pouch. “I shall partake in the reading of the Smelly Chelob,” he said, sliding a coin across the table.
The merchant unchained the book and handed it to the king. As he opened its pages, he found a crude rhyme scrawled across them, one that spoke of a green and stinky creature that dwelled in a well. It was not the most inspiring of reads, but it was amusing in its own way.
The king read on, flipping through the pages of the other books. Each contained its own unique tales, from skipping rhymes to orc jokes.
“Indeed, this assortment of books doth hold great intrigue,” mused Haemon, as he perused the pages of a particular tome. “It stirs memories of a bygone era, when life was simpler and the weight of responsibilities felt less burdensome.”
“Yes, it’s quite fascinating,” Old Croll added. “These books grant us a window into the past, allowing us to peer into the lives of those who once inhabited this illustrious city.”
Bloud nodded in agreement. “And who knows what other hidden gems await us as we venture further into the depths of the Blackmarket.”
Alexander smiled. “Let us press onward, for there is much yet to uncover,” said the king. “May we fill our journey through this realm with wonders and revelations?”
With a gracious nod and a warm smile, King Alexander expressed his gratitude to the merchant for their wares. He turned away and walked towards the bustling marketplace, navigating through the throngs of people.
Alexander turned to his advisors. “What did you guys think of the books?”
Haemon replied first, “I enjoyed reading the skipping rhymes. They reminded me of my childhood, and I feel like I learned some new ones that I could teach my grandchildren.”
Old Croll added, “I found the orc jokes to be quite humorous. They’re a good way to lighten the mood when we’re on the road and feeling down.”
Vasos chimed in, “I read the Smelly Chelob and found it to be a unique and amusing tale. It’s interesting how such a simple story can bring a smile to your face.”
Alexander smiled. “I’m glad we could all find something worthwhile in those books. They may seem simple, but they contain valuable lessons and perspectives that we can all learn from.”
“Do any of you know where we might find the Smelly Chelob?” King Alexander asked his advisors.
Haemon nodded, “It may not be an effortless task, my lord, but if we ask around, we may locate the creature.”
“I will not rest until I have found this Smelly Chelob,” King Alexander said. “I am determined to uncover the truth behind this tale and discover what makes this creature so special.”
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As he wandered the dark alleys of the Blackmarket, he asked around for information on this elusive creature. After several hours of searching, he approached a group of orphans. “Excuse me, young ones,” he whispered. “I am in search of a creature called Smelly Chelob. Do any of you know where I might find it?”
The orphans looked at each other, unsure of how to respond to the king’s request. Finally, one of them spoke up. “We know where it lives, your majesty,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But it’s dangerous to go there. The creature attacks anyone who comes near.”
King Alexander nodded. “I will take that risk,” he said firmly. “Please, tell me.”
The orphans exchanged glances again, then one of them stepped forward. “Follow us,” he said. “But be careful. We don’t want to see you get hurt.”
With that, the orphans led the king and his entourage through the twisting alleys and dark corners of the Blackmarket, finally coming to a small, abandoned building on the outskirts of town. “This is where Smelly Chelob lives,” the orphan said, pointing to a broken-down door at the back of the building.
King Alexander thanked the orphans and approached the door, drawing his sword as a precaution. He pushed the door open slowly, peering into the darkness beyond.
Inside, they came to a small well, its surface slick with a green and slimy substance.
“Smelly Chelob lives down there,” one orphan said, pointing to the depths of the well.
Alexander peered down, squinting in the dim light. “Thank you,” he said, handing each of the orphans a few gold coins. “I’ll take it from here.”
As the orphans scampered off, Alexander was considering his next move. Suddenly, a voice emerged from the dark well.
“First question,” the creature growled. “What is the name of the demon prince who rules over the kingdom of hell?”
King Alexander thought for a moment before confidently answering, “The demon prince is named Belshazzar.”
The voice said, “Impressive. Second question. What is the name of the ancient, long-forgotten kingdom ruled by the dreaded Shadow King?”
“The ancient kingdom is called Arkethia,” Old Croll answered quickly.
“Correct,” Smelly Chelob said. “Third question. What is the name of the powerful artifact said to grant immortality to its wielder?”
“The artifact is called the Heart of Eternity,” Haemon replied confidently.
“What is the name of the legendary sword wielded by the hero Ketharion in his battle against the dark forces?”
“The sword is named Dragonbane,” the general said without hesitation.
“Fifth and final question. What is the name of the hidden kingdom ruled by the elusive Spider Queen?”
“The kingdom is called Arachnos,” Vasos answered confidently.
As King Alexander watched in amazement, he saw the water in the well beginning to stir and bubble. Suddenly, Smelly Chelob, a large, green hand emerged from the water, followed by a hulking figure covered in slime and mud, standing nearly twice as tall as the king, his putrid stench overwhelming.
The thing pulled a bucket from the depths of the well and removed a large sack. He carefully placed it on the ground and slid it towards King Alexander with his large, hairy leg. The sack looked heavy, and clinked of gold coins.
The king took the sack, trying not to wince at the stench emanating from Smelly Chelob.
As the creature descended back into the well, the king inquired. "Why did you create such a challenge?" Smelly Chelob paused, his gaze meeting the king's, eyes gleaming with an eerie light in the darkness of the well.
“I put up the challenge to test those who think they are clever,” he said, his voice echoing eerily. “But you, King Alexander, have proven yourself worthy.”
And with that, Smelly Chelob disappeared back into the well, leaving the king. Alexander peered into a large bag filled with gold and glowing orbs.
King Alexander and his entourage gathered around the table in Smelly Chelob’s hut, counting the coins and orbs they had won. Haemon meticulously counted the gold, while Bloud and Old Croll examined the orbs among them.
Pikener spoke up, breaking the silence. “I still can’t believe we actually met Smelly Chelob and won his quiz,” he said.
The king nodded in agreement. “It was quite the adventure,” he replied. “We couldn’t have done it without each other’s help.”
Haemon finished counting the gold and looked up. “We’ve got about 200,000 gold here,” he announced. “Plus 10 orbs? That’s quite the prize.”
Bloud whistled in appreciation. “I never thought I’d see this much wealth,” he said, grinning. Haemon, Bloud, and Old Croll looked at each other in astonishment before Bloud spoke up again. “These orbs are rare magical items that can alter the surrounding reality,” he said.
Haemon added, “They are highly sought after and can be used for a variety of purposes, such as granting wishes, opening portals, or even reshaping reality itself.”
Old Croll nodded in agreement. “But they are also incredibly dangerous,” he warned. “If abused, they can bring chaos and destruction to everything around them. We’ll need to be careful,” he cautioned. “We don’t want to draw too much attention to ourselves.”
The king nodded. “Agreed.”
He ordered his trusted companions to gather the coins and orbs and place them in a secure chest. They then continued on their journey.