The four woke in unison, each looked to one another with an absolute confusion shared between them, had they not all died moments ago? Was this the afterlife? They didn't know anything but they had woken on a beautiful path in the forest. With the unknown before them a new adventure begins, a strange adventure.
"What, the, fuck?"
Surprisingly Corbin was first to say anything and that was all he said, hell I wasn't gonna say anything at first i was terrified! But I suppose that one of us had to. Eden looked up from the ground, not only confused, but partially in despair he began to ask
"So.. are we dead?" We certainly died so i just nodded, but Sebastian stood up and glared around. Sebastian was always oddly strong but this was more than id expected even from him. Sebastian looked back to us and said
"well, we're alone, we're in a visually normal forest, I looked in my bag and I have everything from before, check your stuff guys." It wasn't like anyone would say no considering the circumstances, soon all of us learned we have everything we had on us from before, but there was no sign of our fatal injuries besides small tears in our clothes where our much larger injuries had occurred.
"Okay, so we have two choices as far as I'm concerned, assuming it's the afterlife like we had believed a messenger of Visah will lead us to our respective fates" Corbin seemed to wince in annoyance to what Sebastian was saying
"or we follow this path and hopefully it leads to the same. although, we could assume nothing, take the path or wait. I suggest speaking up if you feel hunger or any feelings that would help prove we're alive." Sebastian continued until Corbin spoke up once more
"let's skip the formalities and just vote between two options, path or wait."
"Why don't we leave the path?" Eden said after the silence.
"What the fuck did I just say, I give you two valid options and you say fuck that lets go for a stroll in the damned forest?!" Corbin shot back at Eden, everyone was a bit surprised as Corbin's anger was more than we expected. Eden tried to calm Corbin
"Woah, i-I was just saying, like, if we're dead then Visa-" "DON'T TALK ABOUT FUCKING VISAH!" Corbin interrupted in a blind rage
"YOU THINK WE'RE GONNA BE TAKEN TO THE NEXT LIFE BY VISAH? BY THAT FACELESS PETTY NAME?! ALL THAT WORTHLESS NAME IS, IS IT'S THE NAME OF A TRAITOR! I-Ive had enough of trusting the God's for now, let's just take the fucking path" The mood was much different than before, we all knew Corbin's upbringing was religious at first so I suppose the feeling of betrayal is natural. Eden seemed to want to speak but merely nodded at Corbin, and we all started walking in silence. It lasted until we started hearing stomachs growl apparently none of us listened prior. We started acting more normal set a camp up and made some food from what we had packed prior. Something was different about everything though, usually walking all day and setting up a camp makes one tired but we all seemed relatively well, not that we couldn't sleep, but we still had energy. We discussed it for a few minutes before deciding it was better to discuss in the morning so, bedtime for the dead guys.
-Dreams-
"Brother Corbin, you said you wished to demonstrate your balance for Visah, please begin when your ready" a middle aged man dressed in a black and white robe said to the young boy in similar robe beside him the boy quickly followed with
"of course brother Selley, thank you, may Visah appreciate the balance I practice for her".
The boy drew forth shadows and light, bringing them close then apart, together and around, moving his full body both powers flowing around him, he ended with a bow as the light and dark began to fade. The monastery was quiet for a moment before multiple voices spoke in unison
"For Visah we balance, may she protect us as her followers".
-Conscious-
The night had been full of odd dreams for me, but when I looked to Corbin he seemed to be somewhere within rage and sorrow. I stood and started packing my things before Eden pointed down the path ahead of us
"Look at that, a small group of rabbits, guess it's more normal a world than we thought" it seemed to lighten the mood for a moment so I chimed in
"alright then, let's pack and get a move o-" a violent crack resounded through the forest, I scrambled to my blade as the others got in position and brought magic forth, I didn't even think about testing our magic until now but with the others lighting theirs up I felt obligated. The flames came forth, wings and a sword far stronger than any flames I'd called before, it confused me for a moment before a large boar type beast bashed through the trees into the clearing around the path. Sebastian moved first with Eden on his heels, Sebastian's gravity magic active he struck it in the stomach with his staff sending it upwards, Eden leaped and swung down with a grand strength tearing into the beasts front left side. It was amazing to see, my friends and I had never felt our magic as it was now but we had no time to relish it, the beast roared in pain and thrashed to each side to throw Eden off, he lost his grip and was flung into a tree sword still in the beast.
"Alister now!" Sebastian called out as he prepared for a second advance, so I took to a run and used the wings to propel me after I had my attack planned, focused on the greatsword lodged in it's body and threw blades of fire at the beast from below keeping my back to Sebastian. If not for his gravity magic his feet hitting my back at a dead Sprint and bounding off of me might have hurt like a bastard, but Sebastian could lighten his body as well as weigh himself down for a finishing blow, driving his staff into the greatswords pommel and forcing it to cut from where it was to the beasts chest. The boar like beast slumped over itself it's tusks digging into the dirt before it. The last vestiges of life leaving it's body.
"Ho! I see you've ran into this runner!" a young man called out to us jogging from the direction the beast first came. Quite a beautiful man actually. The man had a bow at his side and quiver on his backside strapped to a brown leather vest, one of many worn leather pieces on him. Before he got closer the only thing I had noted was the look of knowledge in his eye. Sebastian stepped forward and called back to the man
"Ho there, I'm guessing your a hunter?" The man was much closer and began to introduce himself
"I am Seth Vassana, as you can see, I'm a fairly slow hunter" he said with a chuckle before continuing to speak staring right at Sebastian
"I was hoping I could corner this one before others came across 'er".
"Hey uh, we aren't exactly hunters, but we are a bit lost" it was Sebastian who spoke, we needed information and directions. Seth's expression perked up for a second but he settled.
"well uh, this path connects up to two roads to nearby towns but I could point you towards the fastest although, this hunk of meat right here would make the trip a bit strained." It was clear he was asking for the beast, he had been chasing it prior so I looked at the others and then to Seth
"we, don't really need it so if you can make use of it then you can have it, you said the path splits so which way should we head from there?". He not only have us directions but a small map of the town and it's neighboring towns, the one we were heading to being the dungeon town Maeceenns (pronounced May scenes). Quite a helpful fellow, at the time i kinda hoped to meet again.
After entering the dungeon town the four are greeted by a familiar sight, a large crowded street leading to a dungeon surrounded by parties of adventurers and merchants.
"This.. this is just weird okay. It looks damn near exactly like Maceeiss.." Eden said glancing around, it was true, the road layout, the stonework of the buildings and even the merchant stands, inn's and taverns looked incredibly alike to the town in our Homeworld. The key differences were the people, that and the dungeon we could just glimpse from our position. What we knew as a Minotaur skull leading into the earth was that of a reptilian monster, horned with three crimson red horns emanating a wrathful air. That feeling turned us back to each other, Sebastian grabbed Eden's shoulder before repeating the same gesture to Corbin and I
"okay, I don't like this, but that's not important, first we need to figure out money, obviously we're in another world or life or so and we need to ascertain the currency in use and likely drop into the dunge-" Sebastian was cut off abruptly
"no, no way last dungeon trip got us practically shredded how about we just offer to work in a tavern for a week to sleep in their lower floor?" Eden was being realistic but waiting tables and cleaning up isn't quite, adventurous enough for us . After much discussion, well, arguing but in the end we decided to go to the Dungeon, Sebastian and I peaked Eden's adventurous side and Corbin had no input, he seemed to be troubled lately.. Whilst we walked down the road i was lost in thought, I wouldn't consider myself troubled, but everything was getting confusing. I died for sure, I felt myself fade. The damage the others sustained was fatal, we are all currently alive within physical margins in a foreign yet familiar place. Then there was what to do next and why, motivation has never been my strongest function so the reason to continue on as before was something I didn't exactly know. We stopped a market block from the dungeon, a building we expected to see but not quite: The DUCC (pronounced Duke), The Dungeon control committee. (There was initial confusion as the why the U from Dungeon had been used for the acronym but it boiled down to the committee and public preference and the aesthetic.)
Sebastian stopped us all and only said to wait, heading into the DUCC presumably for a scroll containing the current dungeon monsters. When he returned he shook his head and spoke
"sorry, never heard of any of these things, looks like we go in blind either way..". of course, but needless to say we moved on without much chit chat.
When the four arrived before the dungeon the crimson horns reflecting sunlight was almost a deathly invite in, if not for the uncertainty of their emotions and minds they may have yet turned back.
-Corbin-
The feeling of entering the dungeon was the same as always, but within the Maeceenns dungeon was not the cave like battleground we knew, but a scaley and fleshy catacomb. It was almost disgusting to me, whatever chaotic magic or energy these dungeons spur from could form to resemble the insides of a giant reptilian monster.
The others were chatting calmly although I couldn't stand to fuel the chit chat when our focus should've been on the monsters within the organic structure. Almost as if to spite me it was that moment when the first sound of danger rattled out, specifically the ring of a blade against hard material. Someone was already fighting ahead of us in a rounded section
"Lets get out of here" as i spoke i turned to Sebastian, who already had his staff ready and magic at hand like the bleeding heart idiot i know, i rolled my eyes and unsheathed my daggers, simple and strong ones i quite favored. When we got into the chamber two young men were engaged against a monstrous creature that had a lanky head and long ears with a body that was much bigger at the bottom, pear shaped in a way and with incredibly muscular legs that pulsated with energy. The monster had thin arms with stiff looking hair that i had to assume could cut flesh and the strangest thing on the stomach.. a pouch. a skin pouch, it was weirdly familiar although i couldn't tell why. It was a stupid thought so i put it aside, the fight was seemingly one sided in the creatures favor, the two men were injured so Sebastian and Eden quickly took charge as Alister and I attended to the men.
"Let us help you" Alister spoke calmly although he seemed clearly aware of the injuries they had, flesh split open from blunt and brutal impact as well as small lacerations as if small needles or knives were used. as we began patching them up the monster stomped the ground twice sending tremors out
"Eden now!" Sebastian cast his magic lightening their movements as Eden drew up his greatsword and rushed the monster, with a strengthened slash at the most waist like part of its body Eden rolled his body and shoulders into it yet stopped dead in his tracks a clang noise ringing out.
"I-wh-Shit!" Eden rolled off to the side as the next attack came. It appeared to fight mostly with its legs, the pulsing energy releasing as a blast when the kick lands. Sebastian took chance at the opening the monster provided while reeling back from the blow. His gravity magic slamming its loose leg to the ground pulling it off balance for him to land his staff on its stomach. It was blown back a few feet before it slammed back down on foot. Angered by the blow it made a loud noise comparable to a scream of rage which lead to it charging us and then.. leaping. Leaping like a damn Coaco frog (A frog species from Homeworld that lives in a forest named Coaco. They can leap up to 9 feet because of a peculiar muscular structure they possess). As the monster bounded off the ground and flew through the air at us it put one of its legs out first, pulled back and ready to strike out at Sebastian judging by the angle it was falling.
"TRY THIS FOR IMPACT YOU FUCK!" Eden rushed ahead of Sebastian a large wave of magic forming beside him, When the monster got close enough he lifted and braced his greatsword flat to the monsters leg. I hadn't given it much thought, but the sight of that beasts muscles tensed up and pulsing as energy bursts struck Edens blade. Eden braced and using strength magic that rivaled The greatest adventurers in Avverth (although prior referred to as Homeworld the actual name within the would is Avverth pronounced Ahv earth). Seeing that was oddly inspiring although id be hard pressed to keep inspiration after the gods forsaking us.
Eden started to yell as he not only pushed it back but swung his sword throwing it back into the air
"Seb throw me!" Eden yelled with a grin. Sebastian quickly turned a strong gravity flinging spell on him throwing him at the beast with great speed and the strength of Edens magic
"I may not have the ground to brace on here! But neither do you!!" Eden swung through the beasts scraggly arms, needle-like hair breaking away and cutting into his arms. Sebastian raised gravity where the beast fell allowing Eden the momentum to carry a final slash down crashing into its skull with a mushy crack.
"Your friends there are really sumthin' mate" The older of the two spoke to me, the other was still watching Sebastian and Eden investigate and confirm the monsters death. The older mans hair was short calm black barely reaching his equally calm dark eyebrows yet oddly strong blue eyes, while the youngers was deep brown with blue eyes, seemingly family that shared a skin tone of golden brown the two of them were good looking considering some adventurers look like the tail end of a Doskun horse (Avverth's version of a donkey, slightly more of a proper horse breed but still the, forgive the pun, ass end of the spectrum).
"Yeah, let me tell ya, never seen someone go toe to toe in strength with a Kangar" The younger of the two said.
"Kangar?" Alister asked to which the two showed surprise
"You four ain't from the near towns are ya?" the older shook his head slightly with a chuckle
"well no wonda' your confused. Recently in the nearby dungeons Kangars have been spawning more, strong buggers they are but that one was exceptional. Anyways ya can call me Kade and this one Marna" Kade said with a beaming grin.
"so, would you mind telling us a bit about what's spawning lately we've not heard of most" Sebastian asked scratching the back of his head with a chuckle.
Half and hour of talking and short monster fights went by before we split from Marna and Kade. We had learned Kangar are the most recent spawns, as well as the prior spawns being: Ranns (pronounced ranz) a large Ratt like creature with mutated features and Littros (pronounced Leet roe ss) disgusting reptilian hound like creatures.
We found an area of the fleshy battleground that had large fungal and plant life in and around it, dungeons could be lived in if you were skilled enough.
"i suppose its time we set up a camp, Eden you take first guard duty while we set up Alister you get us a fire. Corbi-" Sebastian stopped short and rushed past Corbin to strike a Littros across the side of its head.
"As i was saying, Corbin you're on food.." Sebastian smiled and pulled his bag from his back and pulled out his tent supplies. At this point the other numpties began on their tasks, i of course started preparing to cook meat and various plants up to make a meal with the fire Alister started much faster than he could back home.
Not long after we sat around the fire with our food and the others even smiled.
"So i swing, and the Kangars kick felt like a Minotaur swinging another Minotaur that has an ancient magic hammer with the enchant equivalent of V-a deities rude finger" Eden laughed and grabbed his sword
"I swear my only expectation was for my sword to break, Didn't think id get the full swing off it was amazing!" Alister and Sebastian chuckled before Seb said
"It was amazing, which reminds me.. we need to talk about our now stronger magic."
-Dreams-
Air thick with smoke and ashes filled the boys lungs, his worries filling him more as he worked his way out of the monastery.
"Brothers! where are you?!" The boy called out with a quivering raspy voice.
"Brothers... Visah... Visah please! help us help them! Please!" The cries became more hysterical as the boy crested the exit hall, rafters and other burning pieces of building blocking his path he began to call forth shadows, anger filling him despite the balance he spent his life learning
"Enough. . . ENOUGH!!" he screamed with all his might as he tore through fire and wood alike. Outside a boy now stood, Charred clothes and burnt arms didn't bother him, only his gods abandonment did.