Chapter 200 – Floor 26: Part 1
Floor 26 – A Caravan Across the Winter-Blight Badlands.
The Winter-Blight Badlands is a desolate and treacherous expanse stretching hundreds of miles. A frost-covered wasteland that contains nothing more than jagged ice formations, barren rock and dunes of hoarfrost crystals.
A pale, icy mist shrouds the entirety of the Badlands, making navigating the expanse difficult for all but the most seasoned guides.
Despite the harsh conditions, the Winter-Blight Badlands are a crucial route for those seeking to trade in the hospitable and wealthy regions on either side.
Crossing the Winter-Blight Badlands is a test of endurance and skill.
Caravans must be prepared for sudden snowstorms, ice-covered terrain that can cause vehicles and animals to slip, and the ever-present threat of frostbite.
It requires careful planning, sturdy equipment, and the expertise of seasoned guides familiar with the shifting patterns of the land and the few creatures that inhabit this wasteland.
The owner of a Caravan has requested the assistance of the God of Alchemical Concoctions to see their goods across the Winter-Blight Badlands.
Escort the Caravan and ensure that it arrives intact.
Reward: Word of Power: Hide
Blend in with the shadows and your environment. Eyes will be more likely to slide past your location, not taking heed to your presence.
Mathew buttoned his jacket and adjusted the thick wool scarf around his neck. The cold was biting, reminding him of his time on the Punishment Floor. The wind blew incessantly, and the flat, barren ground meant there was no shelter aside from a few rocks or a small crack in the land.
He had never seen snow like this before. It was like small, sharp crystals that refused to stick together. Instead, it gathered in areas like sand dunes. Some of the snow drifts rose hundreds of feet into the air, and even the heavy wind could move them.
Thankfully, Mathew had accumulated enough Aether in the last few Floors to outfit himself in thick winter’s clothing and survival gear.
Midnight, Mathew’s magical horse, let out a snort and shook the snow free of its black mane. Despite being a statue infused with mana, Mathew had purchased the animal a thick blanket and other clothing to protect it from the cold.
If they were going to be traveling across this wasteland together, it was the least he could do.
Shading his eyes from the sun’s glare, Mathew was thankful that the Shop had a pair of sunglasses for purchase. He couldn’t imagine how the others in their caravan were faring against the harsh sunlight reflecting off the endless, sparkling snow-plains.
“See anything?” One of the guards asked from her own horse. She was blowing onto her hands in an attempt to warm them. Lira wore so much heavy clothing that she looked like a ball on her horse, and even then, she complained of being cold.
Mathew met them a few days ago, just as he had appeared on this floor. After meeting with the caravan leader and being introduced to everyone, they had immediately left the city to begin the two-week-long crossing.
“Not really. What kind of creatures did you say inhabited this place? All I’ve seen is snow and ice.” Mathew replied as he turned away from the landscape to look at their guide, Garrick. Tanned and rugged, his face was heavily wrinkled from the harsh elements.
Without a guide, the caravan wouldn’t make it far in a place like this. There was some kind of magnetic field that affected compasses, meaning they would need to rely on other methods of finding the proper direction.
“Not much, so close to the badlands. You might find a few rodents after we enter the Ice Haze, but it’s bad luck to see them.” Garrick responded as he smoked from a pipe. Mathew could smell something sweet rising from the bowl of the pipe as the smoke drifted toward him.
“Why’s that?” Mathew asked. It was Lira who answered.
“Because there are only two things for monsters in the Badlands to eat. Rodents and us.”.
“Good to know.” Mathew said as he turned Midnight around and had the horse trot back to the caravan. Several of the guards followed him while Garrick stayed to scout the trail.
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The caravan was an odd mix of vehicles. There were horses and carts piled high with goods, along with wagons drawn by oxen, mules and all other manner of four-legged animals. Dozens of enclosed wagons were interspersed with the ones carrying crates and boxes.
Entire families were making the journey across the badlands, making the Caravan an interesting and lively company in the evenings. Then there were the merchants and traders, their guards who numbered nearly a hundred, and the other miscellaneous groups that were along for various reasons.
All told it made for a line of vehicles that stretched for nearly a mile and were visible on the horizon to anyone with an interest in finding them.
Pulling his horse alongside the lead wagon, a brightly coloured enclosed carriage pulled by a team of four horses and gilded in gold, Mathew spoke with the Caravan leader who poked his head out from inside.
Aric was a large man, one whom Mathew wouldn’t have expected to lead such a caravan on such a dangerous crossing. A former adventurer turned alchemist, Aric used the proceeds from his trading across the Badlands to fund his expensive Alchemic pursuits.
“How’s it look?” Aric asked.
He was mixing something at a table covered with vials, books and reagents. There was a greenish cloud of smoke being emitted from the container in his hands. The land was flat enough nearly the whole way across the Badlands that he could work while his wife handled the horses.
“Frigid and empty. I think you’re going to regret asking for my help; you could have saved that Aether for something else.” Mathew responded as Midnight kept pace with the slow-moving carriage. Aric let out a snort of laughter.
“Aether isn’t worth anything compared to what I’m carrying in this carriage. It might be valuable to you, but it's nothing but dross to me. And don’t get too comfortable; I’ve seen monsters in the Badlands that will make anything you’ve faced in the past look tame in comparison.”
“Promise? Because all I’ve heard your guide speak about are rodents and snow drifts.” Mathew joked. Nodding his head in goodbye to the Caravan leader, Mathew went back to his place in line. He would ride Midnight until the sun set, where he would set up a magical tent that was warm, dry and better than any of the carts or wagons Aric had offered him.
When the sun finally set, and Mathew’s tent was assembled, he would join Aric, Lira, Garrick and a few of the other travellers and merchants around a fire near the Caravan leader’s wagon.
Mathew wasn’t sure how it started, but after the first few nights, they started swapping stories. Since he was a foreigner to this land, everyone was incredibly interested in his stories. They would take turns, with someone taking the lead to tell a tale each night.
“Once, an Ancient Dragon, Xaroth, grew jealous of the moon’s glow, which had outshone his own scales. He cast a curst, shrouding the moon in darkness and plunging the world into eternal darkness. The people turned to Lyra, the humble bard who could sway the hearts of kings with her song.” Aric spoke to the assembled crowd, which had grown each night to listen to their stories.
Aric, enjoying the attention, drank a mouthful of wine as the fire kept the cold of the Badlands at bay.
“With her lute in hand and courage in her heart, Lyra ventured into the dragon’s lair. There, amidst the smoke and fire, she sang a song of light and hope. Xaroth, moved by the beauty of her music, realized the moon’s glow was not a rival but a companion to his majesty.” Aric paused for dramatic effect and stood so that the fire’s light bathed him in its glow.
“Touched, Xaroth lifted his curse and restored the moon’s gentle light.” Aric finished. He took a bow to the assembled crowd as they clapped and cheered.
“Hang on, what about the necklace?” Lira asked from beneath her thick blanket. The Caravan Guard was frowning at the ending and shaking her head.
“What necklace?” Aric asked in confusion.
“The version I heard when I was young said that the Dragon made a Lyra a necklace out of his own scale and the light of the moon so that the darkness could overtake the land again.” Lira explained.
“I never heard of that one.” Aric admitted with a laugh.
“It’s a good story. Although, from what I’ve seen, I don’t think a song would be enough to move the heart of a dragon. Better to find something to stab it with than rely on music.” Mathew said from where he was sitting next to Aric.
“Well, Mr. Larson. Perhaps you would grace us with another tale?” Aric asked as he downed his cup of wine.
The night passed peacefully, with everyone eventually finding their way to their tents, carriages or wagons. When dawn broke, the Caravan found themselves in the midst of an Icy Haze. They had officially entered the Badlands.
The temperature dropped, and the wind picked up. Mathew rode midnight at the front of the Caravan, carefully watching for anything seeking to cause trouble. But this land was empty.
Under the guidance of Garrick, their guide, they wound their way around snow drifts as tall as hills and across the flat, frozen tundra. After two weeks, on the very last day of their journey, the peaceful expedition was interrupted by a ferocious roar.
A flying creature broke through the Icy Haze and descended onto the caravan in a flurry of wings, claws and teeth.
“Ice Drake!” One of the guards shouted as the flying creature slammed into a horse and picked it up with its claws. Mathew caught a look at the beast when it slowed from the burden of its prize.
Its body was a dark blue, covered in scales, and it had two back legs and batlike wings. It reminded Mathew of his Wyvern, but many times larger and feral. It clamped its jaws around the head of the screaming horse and bit down.
“There’s more!” Another guard shouted as arrows flew toward the descending beasts. More horses were attacked, and several of the guards were knocked down. A carriage tipped over, and panic gripped the Caravan.
Just when it seemed that things would descend into total chaos, a voice shouted loudly.
“Burn!”
Bright crimson flames erupted, driving back the Icy Haze and covering one of the creatures. It screamed in agony as it crashed to the ground. In minutes, the rest had fled while the guards used spears and arrows to finish off the writhing Drake.
While the guards were restoring order and the Caravan members were assessing the damage, Aric found Mathew still atop his black horse. The Caravan Leader smiled and patted him on the shoulder fondly.
“See, I told you it was worth having you around.”