----------------------------------------
This is not a happy story. This is a tale about the Legendary Dungeon of Ao-Dranoth. The source of corruption, greed, and temptation for generations of heroes. It's history would add a new chapter today. The heroes gathered while the dungeon watched and waited.
The forest outside of the village of Morristown was lush and temperate as the summer was transitioning to the fall. The sounds coming from its depths broke the tranquility. A confrontation was brewing in the quiet woods.
“Flee or die, Goblin Scum! The Vanguard of Valus must pass. If you oppose us, you shall surely perish!” Darius boomed across the glade. The goblins had crept ever closer to the edge of the forest, blocking the group’s path. The goblins waivered, hesitant despite their score of fighters, they knew they weren’t as tough as the fighters before them, one-to-one.
Darius thought perhaps his warning was sufficient to route the miscreants, but then a larger Hobgoblin arrived, and his presence emboldened the goblins. He forced the cannibalistic creatures forward. With screeches and screams, the deformed humanoids charged.
“Damn it all, Darius! We don’t worship your god, Valus. We voted on this already. We are just called the Vanguard. You’ve got to stop that! I could have used stealth to take some Goblins down before they even knew we were here. If you would stop with your egotistical posturing, I could be more effective!” The team rogue, Goslar, hissed as he dove into the brush to the side. He knew his chances in a straight-up fight were poor. He was an opportunist, who used stealth and surprise as part of his arsenal.
“Don’t worry, Darius. At the least, I will have your back!” Kelsana spoke urgently. She was a ranger, skilled with a short sword and bow, but more importantly, she was also his fiancé.
“Stay behind me, my love! Your heart curse is too deadly. Use your bow and don’t let them close to you.” Darius bellowed. He pulled his long sword and banged it against his shield to ensure the charging goblins focused on him.
“Please. Goblins are little enough threat, Darius. Deal with that Hobgoblin and we can deal with this rabble.” The mage, Everdale, said contemptuously. He flicked his wrist and a pair of goblins tripped. The one on the left was exceptionally unlucky, as he fell disastrously on his blade. Everdale’s telekinesis was weak, but he used it very creatively.
The battle was joined! Darius, as always, was a focus for the goblin hoard. His sword harvested seven goblins as he charged forward and clashed against the Hobgoblin. Kelsana kept close behind sniping targets with her bow.
On the outskirts of the fight, Goslar would jump from the brush with the occasional surprise blade across the throat or backstab as the focused goblins circled the very visible and dangerous Darius. The mage Everdale was a mere blurred outline. The goblins could not focus on him while his enchantments were active. He continued to foul their attacks and movements with slight telekinetic pushes.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Darius traded several blows with the hobgoblin, his wide-sweeping sword strikes kept the pack of smaller goblins away. Kelsana would snipe targets when they presented themselves and used her bow as a bludgeon when one goblin came too close.
A group of three goblins surrounded Everdale’s flickering image. The beasts always chose to go after the weakest prey, and Everdale had yet to show any visible abilities to fight. The mage, cornered, dropped his imperfect masking spell.
The goblins howled with glee at finally fully seeing their target and charged. Everdale smiled and shouted a new spell.
“Geister-flinken!” he shouted as the charging goblins were almost upon him. In a blink, he vanished and the goblins collided. Goslar descended upon the disoriented creatures before they could regain their wits. Everdale laughed from above, safely perched upon a tree limb some ten feet overhead.
Darius was cut and bruised, with several serious dents on his shield, when he finally threw down his sword and grabbed the beast’s arms. With a yell to his chosen God, Valus, he headbutted the Hobgoblin leader - knocking him out cold.
The goblins sensing the quickly diminishing chances of victory scattered away from the group. The beasts were routed. Kelsana killed two as the creatures fled and Goslar tackled one and slit its throat. Darius picked up his sword and dispatched the Hobgoblin as Everdale reappeared amongst the group.
“Well done, as always, Darius. Take this potion for your wounds. The dungeon lies just over that rise. It wouldn’t be prudent to enter with injuries. We can save your lady, as long as your courage holds.” Mage Everdale said with a sardonic tone. He had a history of criticizing Darius’s past feats as mindless, but nevertheless effective brawn. Goslar scoffed immediately and rolled his eyes.
“Pardon my lack of faith, Darius. The town’s Chief was a dithering moron. He would have said anything to hurry us along and out of his town. This legend about a seed of immortality is a myth for rubes and peasants, guys. We are wasting precious time when we should be looking for a priest to break that curse! Kelsana’s life depends upon it.” Goslar pled.
“We don’t have time for other options, Goslar! Everdale had already concurred with the town chief. He thinks that, with this Dungeon Seed, he can brew a life-saving elixir. We must press on and make haste.” Darius proclaimed.
Kelsana, for her part, did not look very hopeful but rather tired to death. The necromancer’s death curse was draining her vitality, more and more every day. She summoned what little strength she had left and spoke.
“I’m sorry, guys. You warned me not to land that killing blow on that blasted necromancer. This is all my fault. I should have listened. I went for the kill and his death curse landed on me. I’m so sorry.” Kelsana moaned.
“Nonsense, my love! You did what heroes do, what you needed to do! Now, we shall fulfill our pact as a team and assist you in your time of need. The dungeon lies yonder. The solution to your dilemma is certain and within our grasp. Both the village chief and our very own mage have concurred. The seed of the dungeon of Ao-Dranoth contains your salvation. Let us waste no more time in useless discussion! We must make haste friends! Onwards!”
Darius charged forward. Goslar looked with concern to Kelsana and then over to Everdale. The mage lifted an eyebrow with a firm frown. Goslar rolled his eyes but followed the team’s leader. Everdale’s eyes narrowed with calculation and finally nodded. He beckoned the tired Ranger on. The team that called themselves The Vanguard entered the dilapidated entry to the subterranean ruins of Ao-Dranoth.