Chaper One Estelier’s Hollow
A familiar voice rings in the back of your memory. “Within the Estelier’s Hollow, you will find the weapon we seek.”
Haga’s assignment was clear, but the location is uncharted. There are so many chasms that he must have tripped and landed on his head. Echoes of shrieks and deep bellows fill the cavern. Feeling his way through the darkness, he comes across his weapon. A long wooden staff with small carvings etched into the sides. Magical runes that would assist in empowering spells.
Tested his entire life, the young mage controls the elements of nature. Often feared by the non-gifted, mages tend to stick to themselves. Building small groups and even large guilds in major areas when necessary. With the war far to the south, a gifted acolyte not conscripted can make decent gold. This contract seemed suspicious from the beginning, however.
“Why would a powerful weapon from before the war be buried here?” Haga wondered. Suddenly, the cave grows noticeably quiet. Something is close by.
Haga’s senses alert him to possible danger, remembering his training, he considers the options.
Sparks of electricity flicker from the end of Haga’s staff as a static aura fills the air. He notices a shadow scurry deeper into the caves. The enchantment must have caught the creature off guard. Lifting his weapon, the mage aims towards the darkness. All manner of beast and insects appear to be agitated by the flickering of the weapon.
Using the light from his staff to travel an old worn path, Haga slowly moves forward. It leads him to a great chasm with a narrow bridge into what looks like a hidden passage. Something obscures the path however, “Are those cobwebs?” he wonders. Then he remembers the elder’s warning.
“Beware of the Matriarch Spiders that lurk within the caves Haga. I would avoid stirring a nest of fangs.”
He may have cornered the creature, but that only makes it more dangerous. Then he hears the skittering of legs although he can’t make out where it is hiding. Insect screeches and cries only make it more disorientating.
“Is there just one spider or, are you surrounded?” he wonders. Suddenly, a twinkle of light catches the corner of Haga’s eye. Just beyond the webs, an altar shines with some sort of artifact. Luck must be on his side, having already drawn his weapon, he initiates battle with the first strike.
“Striking the ground could cause an energy surge through all unknown enemies.” he figures.
Electricity begins flowing through the very walls of the cave as Haga strikes the ground with a charged staff. Two giant spiders fall from the shadows as they coil in the pain. Though stunned, the attack doesn’t appear to have killed the creatures.
A hissing noise grows louder in his ear. Another spider dangling in the air from a web was completely unaffected. Caught off guard, the mage is knocked back by the arachnid as it lunges forward. Trapped in between, he is now the one on defense. The battle with the spiders commences once again.
“Maybe I can cast an instant Fireball at the attacking spider and deal with the injured two!” Haga thinks to himself.
Most apprentice spells are defensive in nature, but fire is always good in battle. The very air around the attackers begin to engulf in flames as a ball of fire shoots from Haga’s staff. The spider begins writhing in pain. A fireball spell appeared to be effective.
Now the cave glows from the burning corpse of the spider and the echoes of its shrieks fill Haga’s ears. Turning to face the remaining spiders, he notices that they have come to their senses.
Sixteen legs begin to cautiously creep towards Haga. One is preparing its fangs for a strike, while the other seems more aware of the danger. Unable to react fast enough, he feels the fangs of the arachnid sink into his lower left leg. Then, falling to the ground from the force of the bite, the spider cautiously begins to wrap his legs in webbing.
Intense flashes of light emanate from his staff as Haga charges it with the last of his mana. The arachnids become confused and back off slightly. One spider at his feet quickly scurries off and away from the battle leaving the other to face Haga alone. With legs bound in web, he is running low on options. As long as he channels the light though the spiders appear to remain blinded.
Then Haga thinks back to what could be in the satchel. The old mages said these creatures would be a problem. With his free hand, he reaches into the bag. His employers had given him a satchel of supplies to be prepared. They must have known their weakness. Inside was a Fire in a Bottle spell.
“I was carrying this around the whole time, and nobody told me!?” he thought.
The glass shatters on impact after hurling the mixture towards the blinded spider. Flames quickly begin to engulf the arachnid. Screeching in agony as it burns, the creature falls. Haga hastens the struggle to unbind his legs. The cave grows eerily silent once more and all he can hear is the crackling of the embers nearby. He feels safe once more.
Freeing himself from the web, the adrenaline of battle wears off and a sharp pain shoots up from the injured leg. The wound slows him down, but he presses forward. Haga limps beyond the path ahead using his staff as a crutch. A corridor behind the thick webs appears to be some sort of room. Worn and decrepit furniture litter the inside. An old table with something written on it sits on the surface.
“I think I found the treasure they were looking for, but I’m not sure what they actually want.” Haga thinks. The three items resting on the table appear to be some sort of ancient relics. A really old and worn tome draws his attention. Stains and dust cover the leather-bound book.
“It might hold secrets the elders are after.” he assumes.
Reaching for the ancient tome, he feels as if there must be something important within the pages. Haga secures the book in his satchel and reaches for the next relic. Suddenly he sees a set of giant spider legs inching closer.
“Could it have been the spider that fled earlier?” he wonders as he starts backing away slowly. Suddenly, even more legs begin to lurk from the shadows. High pitched hissing echoes throughout the chamber now. It looks like Haga also found the nest.
As if being called to use the Ancient Tome, Haga reaches within the satchel once more. Blindly opening pages, he looks for a spell to cast. Many appear to be offensive in nature. Without warning, the book suddenly unleashes a powerful magical essence that fills the mage.
Fire courses through the entire cave engulfing everything in sight. Three hooded figures await outside the entrance for signs of Haga’s success. Startled by the quick burst of flames, they stare into the darkness. After a moment, one enters cautiously.
The motion of being carried forces Haga back to consciousness. For a moment, he can hear the others whispering “Yailin Cindersurge. Creator of the Ashbeast.” one proclaiming to another. Then the mage carrying Haga taps his back.
“I see you’re still alive adept? Your reckless actions nearly got you killed!” he says.
Each thought burns in his head, and Haga only grumbles motionlessly in an attempt to speak.
“Powerful mages often deposit relics this way to protect their interests. It is then up to future generations to seek out such knowledge. You will become a skilled Elementalist in time. Now, you must rest” he continued.
Chapter Two an Orcish Encounter
