Crimson Trial

Mar 05, 2009

I had finally leveled up to 41!
My training had advanced to a point where I could begin what is known as Artifact Armor quests!
I excitedly told this to Sha-chan and he, as always, offered to help!

We made our way to San d'Oria and I spoke to a very full of himself Elvaan named Sharzalion.
He claimed to have a really great story to tell me, but first I had to fetch him some Orcish Dry Food.

The Elvaan have some weird food preferences. First that woman in Jeuno wanting raw meat, and now this..?

I learned that in order to find this food, I had to hunt around in Davoi.
There, the Orcs hide this stuff in storage holes that blend in with the ground.
On top of that, I needed a key to get into any said hole, if I found it.

This was starting to sound complicated, but Shagrath and I headed out anyway.
We roamed through Davoi for a while and did find several fake holes.

While we were plodding through a brook, I realized something was shooting arrows at us.

Ooff... Ahhh! Sha-chan!! Owww- Wait!! Something is shooting at us!!

What? Where?

Another *thwizz*. This one caught me in the leg and I stumbled. One knee pierced the surface of the water as I tried to respond with a sleep spell.
But what to cast it on? I couldn't see anyone or anything. I glanced up to the top of the banks that towered above me.
Nothing but sun glare met my eyes.

Shagrath came splashing around the bend just in time to heft me out of the water.
I leaned my back to his and looked around, near panicked.
I could try to sleep or bind or gravity but-- where was the assailant?

My ears were pricked up searching.. searching for a sound that would betray my attacker.
All I could hear was the babbling brook. At first.
Then came the sound of a thunderous stampede.
Their sick green faces and beady eyes met mine.
Uttering deep guttural sounds they urged forth.
I gasped- high pitched, like a child.

Oh no Kia--

I don't know what Shagrath said next. I just felt the arrow pierce my arm, my leg, my ribs.

Sl--sleep!!
Something was sleeping... I tried to retreat.
B-BIND!

The cold water made me even more aware of the hot life force trickling out of my wounds.
Cruel brook, she steers it away and around... this way and that. Away from me, the one who needs it.
A shield crashed into mine and the pain of the arrow prick in that same arm flared anew.
The foul orc parried my sword swing and sent residual pain through my clenched hand, up my arm, stunning me.
Then another assault from the other side.
Sha-chan was attracting the attention of as many as he could, but there was a mass of them.  Even too many for one as mighty as he.

A shield slammed into the back of my head.
The cold water reached up to coddle me.

Kia-- hold on!! Hold on!

Hold on--? To wha--
I pulled myself onto my knees and reached for Shagrath's leg. If I could somehow lean on him for strength-
The orc's were determined to stop me. A sword swung low. I blocked it with my shield and fell into the water again.

Rolling thunder somehow muffled and amplified at the same time.
Cold weaving her baptismal tapestry of red, gray and tan.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A warmth filled my body and I heard the voice of big brother.

Kiamo...

Wolf? Oh! Where is-- Oh no is Sha---

I'm right here.

And there he was.
Shagrath and big brother Wolf had pulled me from the chilly clutches of the brook. Sha-chan had slain the pack of vicious orcs.
We were on the bank under a rocky overhang, protected.
I felt so ashamed that I had been so foolish as to not keep the sneak and invisible enchantments up, but glad for their aid.
Imagine if I had tried to do this alone? No... I should not do that.
Shagrath pressed a Davoi Storage Key into my hand.

Are you okay now, Kia?

Y-yes. Thank you Sha-chan for the key. Thank you Wolf for the raise.

I saw a storage hole up on top of the hill when I passed by on my way to raise you, but we will have to go through the Monastic Cavern to reach it.

Of course... of course it would be there. This sucks!!

The men shared a hearty chuckle.
I blushed and rested, licking my wounds. Examining the key.

Well, Wolf, I do not have ninja support for sneak and invis. I should go to town and change before we go through there.

No- I can cast the enchantments on you Sha-chan.

The whole way? I don't know if that would be safe.

Then I will go through it alone. This is my quest, my burden. And Wolf, I saw you take payment from Shagrath. Why? To come to my aid??
Are we not friends?

Well... You see... there is a matter of the Outpost Warp fees and--

Are you KIDDING ME?! Next time leave me for dead! I can't believe this...

Kia, it's fine. Wolf is just-- ah.. frugal.

Absurd! FINE- Then I will pay you for this raise. And what is the fee for an escort through the cavern?

You are not paying a thing Kia...

Let's get going, she is fine if she can argue.

Gurrr....

Oh come now Kia, growling isn't very becoming.

Shagrath tried to tease, but I was so annoyed that his own brother would demand reimbursement that I could only scowl and follow Wolf.

I made sure to put up sneak and invisible after we entered the cavern.
We ran past a horde of Orcs. I wanted to jab my sword in their meaty necks, but that would have brought the whole army of them swarming down on Wolf and I.
Shagrath waited for us outside since he did not have the ability to cast his own enchantments.

Wolf and I emerged from the cavern at the top of the other side of the hill.

Kia, would you cast Invisible on me. These Orcs will come after me even though I am 75.

Oh? Certainly. For a nominal fee, of course.

Wolf scowled, but Shagrath, who could still hear us since he was on the other side of the perch, chortled at my gibe.

I set the enchantment on Wolf and myself and crept up to the storage hole.
After making sure no Orc's were peering in my direction, I dropped the enchantment and shoved the key in.
With satisfying click, the hole opened and I grabbed for the Food.

We raced out, careful to avoid detection.

I turned over the Orcish Dry Food to Sharzalion and he told me a strange story about the spirit of a man...
When he was through, he rewarded me with a Fencing Degen!












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