Xavier closed the level-up prompt with a smile. He took a moment to examine the one for defeating the ooze and was floored. The creature alone had netted him a whopping 2300 xp. It was becoming clearer to him that the creatures in his lands were becoming more dangerous. He would need to be far more careful in his travels, that and he needed to focus on his own growth. Granted he had only been in Arath a couple weeks and already was level seven, but he had people who depended on him.
He searched about the crystalline garden carefully, having been ambushed once was enough for him and he wanted to make sure that there was nothing else lying in wait before he did anything else.
The garden was immense, it took him nearly an hour just to search the space for other creatures. Luckily, it seemed that the only one that called it home was the ooze he had killed.
Returning to the corpse of the creature, his nose scrunched slightly. The odor rising from the dead beast was horrendous, it seemed that whatever gave it form vanished with its death and it was rapidly decomposing, its mass spreading into a thick noxious puddle filled with the crystal shards that had been visible within its body. Crouching at the edge of the puddle he wished he had some vials; he was sure there was something that the substance could be used for but unfortunately, he had no way of recovering any.
He reached out carefully and tried to pick up one of the shards. That was a mistake, as soon as his fingers touched the semi-viscous liquid there was a soft hiss and pain blossomed in his fingertips. A quick glance at the corner of his interface showed he had lost several hit points just in that momentary touch. The damn thing was acid given form. He was not sure how the crystals survived being within it but assumed it was the same way glass bottles were used to hold various caustic liquids back on earth, the crystals were just resistant to acid.
He pondered for a few moments on how to retrieve the shards but ultimately decided to leave them for now. He had a limited amount of water and didn’t know how much deeper the caverns went. During his search he had noticed another passageway leading even deeper into the underground and it had not slipped his notice that the quest for “Whose House 1” had not updated further to indicate he had fully explored the location. He had come to a crossroad. He could continue exploring, realizing the danger was only increasing the deeper he went, or he could go back to the village and see if Ella was awake and ready to travel again. If she was, he could return with her and Valkra and reduce the dangers slightly.
Ultimately, it was the fact that people were relying on him that tempered his decision. He had found the place and now had a map to help him return to it easily. From what he could tell it had been decades if not longer since anyone else had been in the tunnels and caverns it would hold for a few more days while he got reinforcements.
His mind made up, he rose and started back towards the passage that led back to the hallway and ultimately the surface. His ears strained for any sounds that would indicate another ooze or spiders but thankfully nothing echoed in the dark except his own footprints and the soft drip of water in the distance. It took him several hours to wind his way back to the surface, he had lost track of time in the tunnels and had not realized how long it had been until he came to the shaft that led back to the forest. Looking upwards he could see stars shimmering in the sky above. His rope still hung where he had left it to allow him a relatively easy climb back out of the ground, but where it had been just after midday when he started his delve it was now the deep dark of late night.
Sighing, realizing he would not be making it back to the Rynthavael for a while, yet he placed a hand on the rope and started his ascent. The climb up was more difficult than the simple rappel that let him into the shaft, but his body was more than up to the task. He marveled as he climbed at how much the couple of weeks had changed him physically. He had never been weak per se, even though he had a mostly sedentary job when he lived on Earth, and his hobbies for the most part were not much different, he had still taken the time to go to the gym semi-regularly just to stay healthy. Despite that his body had been slowly yielding to his lifestyle and was getting softer and rounder. Now, however, he had barely any pudginess remaining on his form and his muscles were noticeably larger.
Soon he was over the lip of the shaft and laying upon solid ground once again. He remained there for several moments just letting his body rest and recover from the climb before he rolled to his knees. As he did so he could have sworn he saw a momentary flash of movement out of the corner of his eye, a flash of white in the otherwise browns and greens of the surrounding forest. Cocking his head he looked to the area closer. Just as he was about to push himself to his feet and head out, he felt a sudden pain in the back of his head and darkness consumed his consciousness.
Xavier had no idea how long he had been unconscious. What he did know however was that the world was still black, he couldn’t move, and he had a headache the size of a moon. There was nothing in his interface that indicated he was blind or paralyzed, however, and his heath bar was full. He struggled for a moment and soon realized he was bound and blindfolded. That realization gave a new surge of panic, and he began to struggle harder to move.
“Yes, I see he’s awake,” came a feminine voice from the darkness near his side. “No, that’s not necessary yet. We will let the elders decide.” The voice fell silent for a few seconds, “no, I know the only humans this deep into the forest are raiders. The elders will still want to talk to him, just like with the others.”
Xavier stopped struggling and listened to the odd one-sided conversation. As his panic gave way to more rational thought, he slowly took stock of his situation. That he had been taken captive was easy to grasp. He seemed to be strapped to some sort of sledge as now he could feel he was at an angle and shifting slightly from side to side. The sensation of his “bed” being drug across the ground near his feet only seemed to reinforce that prospect.
“Fine, you win. Give it to him.” The feminine voice sounded irritated but resigned.
The feeling of movement stopped, and a strong hand gripped his face, fingers digging into the back of his cheeks were squeezing them forcefully into the gap where his jaw started. A move intended to force his mouth open. He tried to resist and turn his head to escape the grasp, which seemingly worked until he caught a rough backhand which set his head spinning again. The hand gripped his face once again, and this time forced his mouth open. A liquid soon filled it and he started to splutter before the hand covered his mouth and another pinched his nose forcing him to swallow or choke. As the liquid poured down his throat, he felt everything slowly fading to black and unconsciousness swallowed him whole once again.
As the haze of unconsciousness slowly parted Xavier realized he was upright. It seemed the contraption he was bound to was propped against a tree and he was no longer blindfolded. Cautiously he opened his eyes. The light of early morning dawn filtered through the trees illuminating the small campsite he found himself in. Nearby was a small smokeless fire and he could make out the silhouette of a form seated next to it tending to whatever was filling the air with the plesant aroma of cooking meat and herbs. A low rumbling growl came from near his feet, and he looked down. A huge cat lay mostly silently there, its massive frame stretched out with an air of calm vigilance. Its thick, snow-white fur shimmered faintly in the soft light filtering through the canopy, the dark rosettes along its body accentuating its sleek power. Piercing ice-blue eyes watched Xavier intently, unblinking and calculating, like a predator sizing up both prey and environment. Though relaxed in posture, the slight twitch of its tail and the subtle tension in its muscles hinted at readiness, a guard ever alert to the faintest sign of threat or escape.
Xavier tensed unable to move away from the frightening beast, his attention so held by the panther he didn’t notice the woman who walked up beside the cat and rested a hand on its head. “I didn’t think the dreamveil sap would knock you out for that long.” Her soft but firm voice pulled his attention from the cat to her. His eyes widened slightly as he realized she was another species of Animari that he had not met yet. Not making the same mistake as he had with the spiders, he triggered insight.
Name: Lianna Froststride Race: Snow Panther Animari (Iskari) Disposition: Untrusting
Level: Unknown Class: Unknown Active Effects: Unknown
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Description
Description: The Iskari are a race of Animari descended from snow leopards, renowned for their stealth, resilience, and connection to cold, mountainous regions. With pale skin marked by faint rosette patterns and thick, snow-like hair streaked with silver or black, they move with feline grace and precision. Their piercing blue or gray eyes reflect sharp intelligence and a predatory nature. The Iskari thrive in harsh environments, leveraging their exceptional agility and survival instincts. Fiercely loyal and protective of their kin, they are skilled hunters, trackers, and warriors, embodying the quiet strength and adaptability of their snow leopard heritage.
Stats
Health: 200/200 Stamina: 210/210 Mana: 170/170
Name: Frostclaw Disposition: Wary
Description: The snow panther is a large, elusive feline native to cold, mountainous regions. Its thick, snow-white fur, patterned with dark rosettes, provides excellent camouflage in snowy landscapes. With piercing ice-blue eyes and a long, bushy tail for balance, the Snow Panther moves silently, making it a masterful predator. Renowned for its agility and strength, it can leap great distances and traverse treacherous terrain with ease. Snow Panthers are fiercely territorial and highly intelligent, often regarded as symbols of resilience and grace in the wild. Their natural stealth and survival instincts make them both feared and revered by those who encounter them.
Stats
Health: 320/320 Stamina: 500/500 Mana: 100/00
His gaze returned to Lianna cautiously, wary of Frostclaw but her words drew his attention. She was a figure poised with quiet strength and watchful intensity. Her athletic frame was wrapped in practical leather armor and a fur-lined cape, speaking of a seasoned tracker and survivor. Snow-white hair streaked with silver framed a face marked by faint snow leopard rosettes, her piercing gray-blue eyes locked on him with suspicion. There was no warmth in her gaze, only the guarded calculation of someone ready to act if needed. She carried herself with a blend of feral grace and cautious authority, her demeanor making it clear that she saw him as a potential threat rather than an ally. One hand rested on Frostclaw’s head while the other on the hilt of the sword sheathed at her waist. Over her shoulder he could see the shape of a well-crafted recurve bow and full quiver of arrows.
She stood there contemplating him quietly before she looked over her shoulder and called out. “Next time you should use less, we don’t want to kill him yet.”
Xavier followed her look and gawked as he saw a figure hanging upside-down by his knees from a sturdy tree limb near the fire. The figure’s snow-white hair was streaked with darker accents dangles freely, catching the flickering firelight, while sharp ice-blue eyes peer out with a mix of mischief and scrutiny. The figure briefly made a face at Lianna before turning its attention to Xavier, the faint grin no longer seemed playful instead it held an edge of wariness, as though he was silently judging Xavier’s every move. The faint rosette markings on his forearms and calves glint subtly, but his lean, wiry frame exuded readiness, his seemingly casual posture actually a calculated vantage point. It’s clear from his demeanor that he was watching for any sign of threat, his distrust mirroring Lianna’s sharp, unwavering gaze. Xavier took the time to trigger insight once more.
Name: Liosan Froststride Race: Snow Panther Animari (Iskari) Disposition: Untrusting
Level: Unknown Class: Unknown Active Effects: Unknown
Description
Description: The Iskari are a race of Animari descended from snow leopards, renowned for their stealth, resilience, and connection to cold, mountainous regions. With pale skin marked by faint rosette patterns and thick, snow-like hair streaked with silver or black, they move with feline grace and precision. Their piercing blue or gray eyes reflect sharp intelligence and a predatory nature. The Iskari thrive in harsh environments, leveraging their exceptional agility and survival instincts. Fiercely loyal and protective of their kin, they are skilled hunters, trackers, and warriors, embodying the quiet strength and adaptability of their snow leopard heritage.
Stats
Health: 170/170 Stamina: 150/150 Mana: 200/200
Xavier now knew who the woman had been talking to earlier. Seeing the same surname of the pair he was also now readily able to pick out similar features. They were siblings.
Liosan started to swing slightly back and forth from his perch as Lianna turned her gaze back to Xavier. “Who are you and why are you in the Silverwood?” Her tone was cold and mistrusting, the large cat at her side adding to the effect with a low rumbling growl. Xavier wracked his brain trying to figure out some way out of his situation, but his options were limited.
As he thought he glanced about, his eyes finally alighting on his belongings in a heap near the fire. Even from his location he could see that Vaeltheris’ appearance had shifted slightly now its hilt seemed to be that of a plain short sword, much less ornate than even the hilt of his new Emberstone Shortsword. That made him relax slightly, though the blade was soulbound he didn’t want it to draw more attention than necessary. The louder growl from Frostclaw pulled his attention back to the woman and cat standing before him and he finally spoke.
“My name is Xavier; I actually live deeper in the forest. I was exploring a new location I had found and had just come back to the surface to head back home. I honestly mean you no harm I just want to go back home.” He had a suspicion that keeping the details to the minimum would be better in this situation. No need to broadcast that he was a new lordling to potential enemies.
Lianna rolled her eyes as though she had heard that same story a thousand times before. “Troll shit,” she spat fiercely at his feet. “We know you are with the raiders. They are the only humans who come this deep into the woods. I am guessing you got separated after you sacked one of our villages and fell down that hole while you were searching for your accomplices. Liosan told me the only footprints he found in there and in the surrounding area were yours. You are a long way from the wildlands little human. No one will be coming to rescue you.”
With those words she turned her back on him and returned to the fire. Frostclaw remained where it was sprawled still eyeing him as if he was a meal just waiting to be delivered. When she sat near the fire she glanced back up to Liosan. “We will be able to make it home tonight. The elders will interrogate him and find out where the rest of his party are then they will likely execute him the same as the others.” She didn’t hide her contempt for him now that she felt certain of who he was.
As she spoke his hope started to fade. He was going to die and there was little he could do about it. Carefully he tested his bonds, but they were immoveable, whoever had bound him knew what they were doing. Slumping further he hung his head. The despair threatening to overwhelm him before he clenched his teeth. No, he wasn’t going to die like this. There had to be a way out of this situation. If he couldn’t escape before they ended up wherever they were going, then he would have to plead his case to whoever these elders were. It was clear that these two had already made up their minds about him.
Lifting his head he watched as the male, Liosan, dropped soundlessly from the tree and moved to join his sister by the fire. She retrieved a small pot from where it had been hanging and together the two split it contents. Seeing them eating made his stomach rumble loudly as he realized it had easily been hours if not a whole day since he had last eaten anything significant.
“Please,” he called out, “I haven’t eaten anything since at least yesterday morning. Could you at least take a little pity on me and give me something to eat?”
The pair turned to look at him, Liosan’s face a cold mask while Lianna’s was more measured. Eventually she rose to her feet, Liosan grabbed her arm, but she shook him off and walked over to where Xavier remained bound. “You do not need to be fed to be questioned. But I will not treat our captives the way you people treat yours. We are more civilized than you raiders are.”
It was clear she held serious animosity for the group she thought Xavier belonged to. He had a sinking feeling he knew precisely who she thought he was. He remembered the devastation left behind at Bramblegate.
She finally lifted her bowl and using the spoon still resting within the cooling stew she began to feed him. She wasn’t gentle about it, but neither was she cruel. It was simply the perfunctory act of feeding someone who couldn’t feed themselves. When the bowl was empty, she unceremoniously turned her back on him once again and moved back to the fire. It was clear she trusted the snow panther with guarding him implicitly.
Soon Liosan vanished back into the woods. The preternatural silence of the man was unsettling, though it made it obvious how Xavier hadn’t known he was there when he was first knocked unconscious. Shortly after he vanished Lianna leaned back against one of the trees and started to nap. As she did Xavier renewed his efforts to try and free himself. His movements caused Frostclaw to reach out with one large paw; the panther spread its toes and curled its claws into the soft dirt just short of Xavier’s feet. The threat was obvious, also the cat was clearly more than just a mere beast. Slumping once again, his helplessness clear for now at least, Xavier tried to rest.
A few hours later he was awoken as Lianna and Liosan moved the sledge he was tied to. They shifted him to where the handles that rose above his head slipped into a harness worn by Frostclaw. Once the contraption was settled into place Lianna returned to his side, she examined the knots still holding him bound and finding them as secure as ever she retied a blindfold over his eyes.
“I swear I mean neither you nor your people harm,” Xavier exclaimed. “I just want to return to my home.”
“Quiet,” she snapped. “Your fate is in the hands of the elders now. I recommend you hold nothing back from them, if they are satisfied with your answers, you will get a swift death. If you vex them then they have ways of making you spill the truth.” With those words he felt her move away from his side and soon the feeling of being dragged started up again. Xavier fell silent and focused on the sensation, and the map in his head. Somehow, it unerringly still tracked his location and showed him heading further north, into the foothills of the mountains.