We were sent to exterminate a nest of mimics, it was dangerous and rewarding. Dangerous because elder mimics can take on the shape of beast and counter moves they have memorised, so basic strategies won't work. Rewarding because mimics keep hoards of treasures in order to study them and properly disguise themselves.
However this time I'm rather confident because this time we have a inferno mage on our side, I didn't bother asking her name because why would I? She knows why we're here and we know why she's here, we all want treasure and with her here it's only a question who can run the fastest after the flames settle.
There are rules though whilst plundering a mimic nest: 1) mimic check anything that's there twice. 2) first kill, then take. 3) be picky, not greedy, take something valuable and not a bunch of tin. 4) mimic check the floor.
The last one I made from personal experiences, it happens way to often.
...
We arrived at our destination, a cave that probably used to be a mine. We have quite the terrain advantage, or at least she does. Now I'm no magus but I pretty sure that 'inferno' is the third highest rank a fire mage can reach after that comes 'phoenix' and above that is 'dragon'. There is also 'Calamity' but that can be achieved by any element and even some magic less beings have reached it. If I'm not mistaken there are also variants but I don't have the knowledge to talk about them.
I take in a deep breath and put on my mask, which honestly is just a bunch of rags that cover my mouth and nose with charcoal in between but hey it gets the job done. Oh, that guy seems to have forgotten his mask, sorry buddy but with an inferno mage that whole cave is gona be filled with smoke. A determined look formed in his eyes and then he took a breath so deep I thought his gut was going to burst. Really? You plan on holding your breath for the entire time? But one thing is clear if he dies I will take his coin.
...
Dam, he's going quite strong with just one breath, he might make it. I have only heard of people from fishing villages who have been trained to spearfish maur- möär- moer- some fish that starts with m, holding their breath for this long. Now that I actually pay attention he is quite tanned and has a short spear with a hook at the end, meant not to kill but to catch. What was the nearest fishing village again? That floating one, but half of them float. Oh yeah it was the one that tames sharks.
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...
The mage came to a stop, and so did we. She made the hand gesture for 'faker' and 'old' then raised two fingers without turning around. Great, two elder mimics and this deep in the cave they probably prepared themselves. Now for the hard part of the job.
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All of the sudden smoke filled the air and a immense sense of danger came over me. I tried to figure out what is going out by looking around but my vision became a blur and it became hard to breath. What now? What now? What now? What now? What now? What now? Will I die like this? THINKTHINKTHINKTHINKTHINKTHINK. I have an idea but it will take a lot of time, but it might be my only solution.
Mimics only copy the look of something they can't become something they haven't seen. And that's exactly what I'm gonna do, come up with something on my own!
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Well that was weird.
The two elder mimics just formed a wall, don't get me wrong a great disguise. But doing it while people watch isn't that effective. Especially if one of them can turn sand into glass.
If I have to be honest this whole 'extermination' has just been a uncomfortable walk, even for the inferno mage considering she only casted one spell and has just been pushing the wall of flames. Or is it hard to keep a single spell up? I don't know.
Then the flames abruptly died out, everyone panicked for a second but calmed down as fast seeing that we reached the end. And that guy is still holding his breath, I'm impressed.
Ope, before I forget. I stab the ground with my dagger and sure enough a hiss of pain came from down below. It didn't take long to kill it considering that we're 6 people. Some looked at me questioningly but you only need too explore 5 abandoned places to become paranoid. I look over to the guy still holding his breath, or spend one night on the open sea.
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I looked over all the valuables that have been hoarded. Mostly jewellery of different sizes, some things were there twice but I didn't bother mimic checking them, I let the others do it. My eyes land on a silver wring with a crimson rubin on it, no its not exactly silver, platin? I newer really had the luxury of learning all that one makes jewellery from by heart, unlike some other people.
I picked it up and closer inspected it, I'm gonna be honest with you I have no eye for jewellery this could be the world's most expensive piece of metal craft or the cheapest attempt of copying luxury yet all I see is a ring. However I have an eye for crystals and this ruby is looking mighty fine. I'm keeping this.
I put it on my ring finger and it fit perfectly.
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The sentient one's make their way out of the cave and once out one of them let's out a ungodly deep breath and winced some weird sounds.
"Now for the obvious question, what will we do with everything we earned?"
"Isn't it obvious? Sell of course!"
Answered my host.
"That's why it's a obvious question!"
Laughter broke out, except from the one still that's still wincing.
"Also why are you wearing that ring? You usually don't wear what you plan on selling."
"Oh, I'm keeping this one. Unlike the other one's I can't really figure out it's value."
"Give it to me, I'll figure it out for you!"
"No, I know how fast you can run!"
Laughter broke out again and this time the wincing one joined. Well I guess I managed to pull it off, I'll be able to sustain myself on her blood. There will be problems with this but give me a break I need time to think.
"Besides it has a fine ruby, I'll get it enchanted."
Well fuck