The Concealed Chaos Series: The Dark Discovery

By S.G. Winter and S.J. Mounsor

The world of Tannrias is soon about to face dark forces of destruction that have yet to be discovered by most of these diverse groups of races who consider Tannrias their home. During these dire times of the darkness that has yet to consume the realm of Tannrias, full of life, some groups since the beginning of their establishment have revealed to the world themselves as holy, righteous folk based on their appearances and actions, but looks and actions can always be deceiving.
Sidgbrienn Trosgrid, the son of Chief Rogradin Trosgrid of the island Throzgar, suffered an ill-fated omen according to Throzgarian culture. However, fate may not yet have fully abandoned the young Throzgarian. It may indeed show him another path which will use him as one of the prime pieces Tannrias may depend on for delaying the darkness that is growing there. In addition, fate may have Sidgbrienn cross paths with folk who are willing to help him against the forces of wickedness and corruption for the same reason Sidgbrienn defies the two conflicts while others may simply join him for their own agenda. Can these different agendas affect the future of Tannrias and others in the long run, and can some factions established in Tannrias be involved with the mysterious darkness that has yet to reveal itself?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503531796

Book preview

THE CONCEALED

CHAOS SERIES

The Dark Discovery

The Dark Discovery, Book 1 of the Concealed Chaos Series

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S. J. Monsour and S.G. Winter

Copyright © 2015 by S. J. Monsour and S.G. Winter.

Cover Illustration By: Marvin Paracuelles

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 06/10/2015

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CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

PROLOGUE

T HE WORLD OF Tannrias has always been full of magic, mystery, bloodshed, and adversity. Ravlinar, one of the continents of Tannrias, is currently and has been for many countless years, struggling with dire issues that are getting more and more active and destructive. In addition, these issues will eventually be capable of obliterating many of the life forces dwelling on the continent or maybe even all life forces throughout the other continents on Tannrias if not stopped. The land of Ravlinar is commonly known as the mother of the valiant, tough iron-forging dwarves from the Vourgraun (Vor-grawn) Mountain Kingdom in the far west of Ravlinar. There are the graceful, beautiful forest-dwelling e lves of the Quilvarian Keys southwest of Ravlinar. Beyond the Vourgraun Mountain Belt live the Verugrians, olive-skinned humans whose race also dwell in the other continent, Shastikan. They share the land with giant feebleminded ogres who occupy the Verugrian Desert—the lurking green-skinned orcs who enjoy riding and roaming Ravlinar’s plains for pillaging and hunting, for the most part.

The middle of Ravlinar is home to the complex, self-absorbed humans spread throughout the six human cities in the center mainland of Ravlinar, including their capital, Geldra. These typical mainland humans are well-known for always seeking wealth and what is best for them, thus putting themselves before others. East offshore of Ravlinar is the only traditional group of humans from the island of Throzgar (Thr-oz-gar) who are not easily indulged by money, closely attached to their gryphons, and known to be some of the most courageous humans throughout Ravlinar.

These are not the only people, creatures, and places in the land of Ravlinar. There are many others, such as the Grimm Grove Forest, which many of the mainlander humans believe is the vilest place in all of Ravlinar, and the legendary city of Valushra (Va-loo-shra), said to be buried beneath the Kelsis Ocean, unseen in millennia. It has only been mentioned in tales or books in some of the Tannrias athenaeums. Therefore, only the Sacred Sages and Lerrevrahs, could possibly know the answer to this mystery. However, the few books regarding Valushra, briefly mention the existence of blue-skinned creatures.

Centuries ago, in a region most of the people of Ravlinar refer to as the continent’s mainland, which lies east of the mountains, a group of city-states were run by clerics united under the banner of the Cleric Order led by an immortal arbiter known as Silgris. The arbiter resided in Geldra, the capital city of the six mainland cities, controlled by the Cleric Order. Silgris has been spreading the Cleric Order’s particular faith throughout the human mainland cities, creating a new official faith and godlike patron while successfully converting most of the commoners either by will or force throughout the predominant six human cities of Ravlinar. Through Arbiter Silgris’s authority, he established six keepers under him within the hierarchy to control the six cities.

The Sacred Sages, the first gods acknowledged by many in Ravlinar during the ancient times, have been mostly forgotten since the implementation of the Cleric Order’s doctrine. In addition, the Cleric Order is determined to silence other faiths practiced by people under their authority. Some of the old Sacred Sages are still worshipped by some of the other races out of the Cleric Order’s reach and power. Few of the old Sacred Sages are still strongly served by large groups of people in Ravlinar, like the Throzgarians, dwarves, and elves.

As to whether the old Sacred Sages were once mortals who ascended to godhood based on bold heroism, pure of heart, or simply started out as gods who intervened in dire times to save the world of Tannrias, nobody, including the servants or the scholars of the Tannrias athenaeums, knew the answer and probably never would. The Sacred Sages—or any other spirit, including the Lerrevrahs—are capable of doing almost anything with their perplexing forms of magic. It is not fully understood by mortal scholars and mages. It has always been difficult for the people in Ravlinar to fully understand their chosen Sacred Sage’s works of power or the creation of their powers of magic. Therefore, many did not completely understand their own deities. In conclusion, many of the mortal beings in Ravlinar just accepted how the Sacred Sages, along with the Lerrevrahs, possessed omnipotent power over who worshipped them. The only way to know these godlike beings is to go to the Plains Pride Valley, the afterlife where all the dying souls go to dwell in each of their Sacred Sage’s eternal halls.

From their establishment to the present day, the Cleric Order has still been successfully winning many of the commoner humans’ support throughout the mainland cities to serve the order’s chosen deity, known as the Beacon Beyond, the Overseer of Tannrias (or simply the Overseer), and the New Sage. The New Sage was the god’s common name for many in Ravlinar who were outside the Cleric Order’s control. There was no official surname for the order’s patron, unlike the Sacred Sages, who, according to their main servants, had given names. The Cleric Order stated that their god was, in fact, the only one who rules Plains Pride Valley and therefore denounced the other Sacred Sages, who were believed to rule parts of the valley as well. Arbiter Silgris, the leader of the Cleric Order since its establishment, had the other Sacred Sages almost nearly erased and mostly forgotten by the mainlander humans under the order’s rule.

Silgris is the only human known as the Beacon Beyond’s chosen, not aging like the rest of the common humans. The people in the Cleric Order under his authority had outstanding powers of healing and knowledge, and numerous charities were set up for their mainlander servants. Business and trade with other groups on Ravlinar increased their cities’ prosperity. They made deals with the Throzgarians, also known as the gryphon masters or sky riders, to prevent orc raids on the human mainlanders’ farms and cattle outside the six cities. The Cleric Order’s work and power has utterly satisfied most of the mainlander common people of the six cities.

The orc clans throughout the continent are notoriously known as a nuisance enemy force, constantly making raids in Ravlinar since the beginning of time and always treating any other race with brutality. The green-skinned orcs are originally from the Graaduge Peninsula, which is north of Ravlinar. Between the Graaduge Peninsula and mainland Ravlinar, there is a mysterious tunnel below the water that leads to and resurfaces just south of the peninsula to the mainlands of Ravlinar. This route easily allows the beasts to arrive on the mainland to raid and hunt the other living beings and animals on the other side of Graaduge since the early discovery of the tunnel. Yet despite long-running conflicts with the orcs, some find out that they are not the biggest threat to the people of Ravlinar. The Cleric Order may not truly be what it appears to be in the eyes of most of the commoners under the order’s authority. Since the beginning, the Cleric Order has always had a deep plot that it intends to keep secret from its supporters.

Sidgbrienn (Sidg-bre-in) Trosgrid, son of the current Throzgarian chief, Rogradin Trosgrid, suffered from a tragic omen, losing his wife and child during childbirth, forfeiting his claim to succeed his father as chief. Knowing that he no longer had someone to pass his inheritance down to, Sidgbrienn does not want his name to be forgotten and lost after he leaves this world, for Throzgarians take great pride in their history and heritage. Despite having no son, fate is still somehow in the favor of Sidgbrienn and some of the people who aid him on what he is determined to face. The task that awaits this young Throzgarian will not only have his name remembered among his people but also throughout Tannrias. However, if he fails, it could mean the end of Ravlinar and all who live there.

CHAPTER 1

N OTHING BUT RED and orange light of fire filled the air within the Highway Caverns. The dancing fires placed in dwarf-forged metal containers were placed every fifty yards to guide all those who traveled through the highways. The lights would also drive away the cave goblins, for they did not like bright areas. If not for these fiery beacons, nothing but darkness would fill these enormous tunnels like it did many of the other vacant trenches randomly scattered about, connecting parts of the main caverns below the surface of Ravlinar. The passages made by the dwarves from Vourgraun were, in fact, massive tunnels of rock from the Vourgraun Mountain penetrating deep beneath the surface of Ravlinar, in which most, if not all, dwarven trade and travel throughout the Ravlinar undergrounds took place.

The main highways were large enough to carry the dwarven armies throughout Ravlinar in short order and throughout all the main roads of the Highway Caverns and were about forty feet high and wide. Therefore, some parts eventually led to the surface, allowing the dwarves to venture only for a short time to get certain resources, for they stretched that long below Ravlinar. These openings were where dwarves would establish bunkers to regulate their interactions with the surface societies. Indeed, these were the main roads the dwarves heavily relied on for delving, establishing new stations, expanding their empire, traveling, and doing trade and businesses.

Most dwarves did not like the open roads like many other races. They often felt vulnerable in open areas. They were much fonder of confined areas to settle and work in.

Fifteen delving dwarves traveled through the Highway Caverns and came across a giant boulder with a dash of air blowing through the sides of it. The company concluded that there was a hollow trail trench beyond the blockage and assumed there could be riches beyond it, along with new areas to explore. The company of dwarves included an ogre with yellow skin, no hair, and ugly teeth called Big Rock, who stood nearly three times the height of his dwarven masters. Being an ogre, Big Rock possessed more strength than all the dwarves with him, and he used this to break the boulder down, giving them a clear path through one of the trenches of the Highway Caverns’ main roads.

For many years, since the Vourgraun Kingdom established its capital in the mountains, the dwarves had been going to the Verugrian Desert to capture the strong, but weak-minded ogres to do work that would have taken the dwarves too long to accomplish. Yet these ogres were not really considered slaves. They were treated like pets that were used for what they were good at and were often chained, yet rewarded with mountain goats and other types of fine, juicy meat to eat for doing excellent work. It seemed often hard for the ogres in the Verugrian Desert to hunt their food. This must have been one of the reasons why these big creatures adapted well toward dwarven captivity.

Big Rock, after just several hits with his powerful hammer, finally broke the giant boulder that stood in the dwarves’ way. As the company progressed through the clearing, Graldin Hollowfoot, the leader of the delvers, suddenly saw one of the statues of Nhurgrod about several yards ahead, on top of one of the rock hills about eight feet tall. The nearest highway was not often used, and these tunnels around it had long been abandoned. However, it was no surprise to the dwarves to see one of these statues in the tunnels as several trade routes used to run through here before the dwarves finished their main highway down the center of their territory years ago.

Nhurgrod, one of the old Sacred Sages, was known to be favored by the dwarven race, for his statue portrayed him as a giant, stocky dwarf holding his hammer and anvil. Those were Nhurgrod’s main tools, said to be of obsival, the finest known element in all of Tannrias. Some believed that only the Sacred Sages were capable of having such a substance. Tools made of obsival were much harder than diamonds and not brittle. Obsival never grew dull like many other substances gradually did. It was said and believed by many of the dwarves that Nhurgrod himself used his tools to build the Vourgraun Mountain around his great forge, and once he completed his great work, he set to an even greater task, forging the dwarven people and appointing them to settle in the Vourgraun Kingdom exclusively.

Since the time of Nhurgrod, dwarves had continued to build and expand the Highway Caverns. Many dwarf workers throughout various times would randomly place and create statues of Nhurgrod throughout certain parts of the caverns and in many other trenches or routes for praying to Nhurgrod for safe travels. These statues were found scattered, signifying that Nhurgrod was watching over their burgeoning empire and reminding dwarves of the protection he offered to the honorable ones who put their lives at risk for the greater good.

As Graldin and his company came across the statue, they all decided to bow down in a moment of silence in honor of their Sacred Sage and praise him for their own personal blessings. Despite being a powerful sage, it was said that Nhurgrod also possessed honor, gentleness, and affection for all those who either followed him or just simply respected him. It was also well-known by all the dwarves that besides wickedness, chaos, and the Lerrevrahs, there was one other thing that Nhurgrod cannot tolerate and utterly despised: deceitful and honorless beings who betrayed others for personal gain.

As Graldin Hollowfoot and the rest of his party went farther from the main roads of the Highway Caverns down the tunnel, they each noticed the hollow trail began to grow darker and darker. Be putting up some lights, will ya! Graldin loudly shouted to his men, seeing how none of them did.

Me utmost apologies, explained one of the delvers, quickly shuffling through his bag for lantern oil. The delver pulled out his torch from the bag and lit it. Here you go, the delver stated, lighting the lantern he carried.

The fifteen delvers had each of their torches ignited, and their path eventually got brighter. Not that it mattered, the dwarves had very keen senses in dark areas and could easily find their way around, the way they were trained to do as younglings. The torches were more of a safety measure against the gangly cave goblins that wandered and lurked around these trenched tunnels of the Highway Caverns leading to where only Nhurgrod knows.

Though the cave goblins could be dangerous in groups and accustomed to living in the dark, light hurt their eyes and kept them from getting too close and attacking. For a long time, dwarves could never figure out how these creatures were created and who their maker was. Some believed they were related to the orcs and possibly ogres, yet there was no valid proof to confirm this.

While having a brighter view with the torches and continuing on foot deeper down the trench for a few miles, the delvers suddenly stumbled across some cave waters with bright moon ore attached to some of the walls, shining and giving them a clearer view.

Overjoyed by what they found, Graldin yelled, Collect some water if needed, and we be having an hour break here!

Yay! many of the dwarves in the company shouted after hearing their leader give them permission to finally have some free time. All the dwarves in the company started getting loud as they socialized. Some dwarves took a nap, others collected water, a few took their clothes off excitedly to jump in the cave pools to relax, and others pulled out their snacks and started munching on them as if they had not been fed for weeks, not caring about crumbs getting caught in their beards.

While everyone was relaxing and enjoying themselves in the main camp area for some time, one of the scouts came running to Graldin, shouting, Sir, you might be wanting to come see what I found! Dardash intensely shouted.

What is it? Graldin asked, putting his hand on the young scout’s back to help him stand up and breathe better.

I not really be sure, sir, the delver said, still heavily breathing. It seems to be an unusual corpse. I only saw some of it from a distance, Dardash told Graldin.

Graldin decided to go with his scout. While on their way, they noticed Big Rock had apparently fallen asleep.

Should we be bringing the ogre with us in case there is anything big up ahead? the scout asked Graldin, hoping he would say yes.

Nay, replied Graldin. You should know by now that after pushing ogres too much to where it annoys them, they be then starting to get agitated and could simply just smash your body to the ground with just one foot. We be needing to keep these giants somewhat appeased, especially if they are sleeping. I wouldn’t think it be wise to wake the giant beast if I were you, Graldin warned.

The scout then realized his blunder and said, I’m sorry. I be forgetting about the ogres’ temper completely, Dardash said.

It is no big deal, Dardash. You just need be getting used to being around them, Graldin reminded the young scout. Now show me what you found. I be more eager to see what awaits beyond than continuing lectures on the giant beasts, Graldin eagerly instructed.

They continued down the trail Dardash had come from, leaving behind the chatter of the delving party. Graldin followed Dardash with a torch in his hand and a ready hammer in case cave goblins were lurking about behind the dark walls of rocks and stalagmites through the narrow trenches.

Dwarves considered these cave goblin creatures to be feebleminded creatures in Ravlinar, which was another reason the dwarves believed them to be cousins of the ogres and orcs, except cave goblins were a bit more gangly and smaller than both orcs and ogres, making them a bit easier to fight. The only time these cave goblins would attack dwarves was if there were very few dwarves who were lost, dwarves were about to die near their camps, or if the cave goblins were cornered and their lives depended on it.

Despite being feebleminded creatures, they still were smart enough to realize they would not stand a chance against a huge company of dwarves with thick armor and strong weapons. The cave goblins’ simple, dull stone weapons would not even do damage if they blocked or tried to stab the dwarves with them. Therefore, many cave goblins would hide if they saw many dwarves or just a few armed and armored ones, knowing their weapons would not easily penetrate through the dwarves’ fine forged armor.

While the two dwarves continued on foot, the scout suddenly got Graldin’s attention, tapping his shoulder and pointing toward the unique corpses dwarves did not normally see in the Highway Caverns. As the two delvers cautiously approached the place, they stopped walking and suddenly held deep, horrifying expressions on each of their thick-bearded faces. The area was originally a cave goblin camp and now had over twenty corpses of cave goblins scattered about. The two dwarves exchanged puzzled looks as they looked around the corpses. Some cave goblins were torn to pieces with their flesh and bones exposed. Many lay dead on the ground, and other cave goblins lay dead against the walls with each of their chests ripped open. However, they were not the only dead things. The two delvers put on their masks to cover their noses and slowly walked through the dark area of the camp that was completely destroyed, stepping over the blue, pale-skinned cave goblins’ corpses scattered on the ground. The two dwarves stumbled upon a few other creatures they have never seen before. These creatures were dead as well but had mutated-looking skin that looked a lot like raw flesh. These unique creatures had beastly heads with jagged teeth looking as sharp as fresh-forged blades. Their eyes were bloodshot with dark red irises that looked as if blood was swirling around the seemingly glowing pupils. Thick, distinguishable black veins covered their bodies.

Graldin grabbed one of the creature’s wrists and examined its hand. The monster’s flesh was blistered and torn as if from overuse and the nails were the size of and as sharp as daggers. These creatures’ claws were black and stained with what looked like dark blood. Even in death, the creatures appeared to be in the midst of a blistering rage, making them look dangerous. However, there were only a few of these obscure-looking corpses. Graldin studied the beasts, not being able to fully recognize them, yet seemed somehow familiar to him.

What’s wrong? I thought you already be seeing this mess, Graldin said to Dardash, whose shocked face was looking down at the vile corpses around the dead cave goblins.

I told you, sir, I saw this scene from a distance, Dardash nervously explained to Graldin as he watched him cautiously walk through the scene. I’d be afraid to come here too close meself, not knowing if it be an ambush or not, Dardash frantically replied.

Smart indeed, lad. That is smart indeed, you did not come here yourself, Graldin told him. In fact, I feel two dwarves should not stay here for too long, for only Nhurgrod knows what trouble is right around this here corner, Graldin worriedly said.

After examining another creature for a few more minutes, Graldin called his companion’s attention. Quickly be checking around the tents and the pathways that be leading into this rut-looking camp. I be wanting to know how well planned this be. Indeed, do it quickly so we can be on our way out of here, Graldin commanded, aware that cave goblins or other beasts may still be alive, lurking near the area. Graldin had been a delver for almost two centuries. (Four centuries for dwarves was equivalent to about eighty years for a human. Graldin already had gray hair in parts of his beard and on his head as well. Nonetheless, it was difficult to compare the two races’ lifespans.)

Throughout Graldin’s years delving, he had come to learn quite a bit about the creatures that typically dwelled in the caverns and trenches, becoming familiar with common enemies like the cave goblins and with the tactics of some of the unintelligent races including the orcs. To his knowledge, the orcs were still somewhat smarter than the goblins. However, the orcs preferred being on the surface and were usually only encountered at certain entrances. The dwarf had never come across any such creatures lying dead with the cave goblins before. Graldin knew, however, that these were no feebleminded creatures. He was no old Sacred Sage or scholar by any means; however, he had learned a great many things over the years from travelers or the books sold to him from the athenaeums.

There was only one thing that was even slightly close to the description of these creatures in a book he could not remember off the top of his head. He still did not know if it was still common to find that book regarding various topics and rumors that have once been told throughout Tannrias in the athenaeums. Part of these corpses’ descriptions suddenly made Graldin remember the Lerrevrahs, malicious deities who enslaved or created creatures to serve their own needs. Just as the Sacred Sages produced living creatures to give the world life, the Lerrevrah were capable of producing slaves and vicious creatures that lived only to suffer and serve them. That particular myth that Graldin vaguely recalled only briefly explained the grotesque appearances of such creatures. The thought seemed impossible but suddenly sent an ominous chill of dread into Graldin’s spine, making him hope that it was not what he had thought it to be.

Graldin did not jump to any hasty conclusions about the corpses for now. After quickly observing the scene for a couple of minutes more, Graldin could tell that this event was recent, roughly a few weeks ago to a month, give or take, because he could still smell the stench all throughout the cave goblin encampment. Another reason was the presence of a great many insects feasting on what was left of the cave goblins’ corpses.

Observing the corpses for some time now, both dwarves kept their mouths and noses covered with their delving masks because of the thick, horrible stench filling the air around them. This be smelling worse than an ogre’s dropping, Dardash complained to Graldin, slowly stepping over the corpses.

Graldin nodded his head. Dwarves in general were tolerant about stench and similar things from always being in confined spaces, yet the smell of these particular beasts’ corpses was something they had never sensed before. Graldin decided to put a few of the creatures’ heads in his rucksack to report to King Morden what his party had come across during their expedition.

Dardash wandered through the goblin camp, trying not to step on many of the corpses and still observing the tracks, and wondered like any other dwarves who would come across this if there were a few slain not far off from this, Nhurgrod forbid. You think there are many more of these vile creatures lurking about in the Highway Caverns? Dardash nervously asked Graldin.

I wouldn’t conclude that these are obscure creatures just yet, Graldin said. I personally be thinking that these here odd corpses were in fact once cave goblins mutated by some odd disease which must have been spreading about, affecting other cave goblins as well as if it is some virus, Graldin assumed.

Could be. I wonder what disease it is, or do you believe that it is a disease that can infect our kind? Dardash curiously asked.

I not be knowing that just yet, Graldin said. However, continue to be wearing your delving mask in case it can be contagious amongst our kind. You wouldn’t be wanting to breathe in any harmful germs, Graldin warned.

Aye, I am not taking chances either, Dardash agreed.

Before leaving the area, Dardash astutely noticed another one of these creatures lying dead with the cave goblins’ spears in its legs and ribcage in the tentlike rock cave the goblins would make. The dwarves were quite familiar with these tentlike cave hollows beneath the surface. Dardash slowly crouched inside the tent, closely examining the wounds on the beast and trying to determine if it was a cave goblin mutated by some disease. Dardash noticed that a part of this creature’s teeth were lodged into a rib cage penetrating through one of the goblins lying next to it.

It be seeming like these things were hunting the goblins, Dardash told Graldin, who was just outside behind him. I don’t see any resemblances to compare if these dark-veined reddish corpses were once cave goblins, Dardash said to Graldin, continuing to carefully study them.

Only Nhurgrod knows, Graldin said with a deep, uneasy breath, eager to get moving.

Dardash focused on the strange creature and tapped it with his foot. Suddenly, the creature lurched forth and grabbed Dardash’s foot, letting out a terrifying screech, hurting both the dwarves’ ears. Dardash, surprised and caught off guard, tried to kick the creature’s hand off him with all his strength. It seemed the creature was paralyzed below the waist and could not stand. Dardash, with all his might, tried to step on the sinister fiend, yet the fiend’s grip was too strong to knock off. It continued yanking at his feet, causing Dardash to land hard on his back as the beast slashed at him with both its hands, and its razor-sharp claws, cut into the flesh of his legs, tearing through his leather, and chainmail as it loudly screeched.

After hearing his scout’s cry for help, Graldin quickly appeared from behind, raising his hammer over his thick, strong back and burying it right into the monster’s head, crushing the skull flat on the ground and leaving nasty bits of flesh on his beard and face. The creature’s head—or what was left of it—then slowly oozed across the ground and shimmered a bit before quickly drying.

Dardash was in shock, and his face drained white.

Are you all right? Graldin asked the scout as he helped him to his feet.

That b-beast’s claws shredded a p-piece of me boot, but the wound isn’t b-b-s-serious, Dardash told Graldin as the latter inspected the wound before standing back up. While the wound itself was not bleeding badly and did not appear to be serious, the scout was still in a state of shock.

Graldin started to worry. Only the Sacred Sages knew what diseases or poisons could be possessed by beasts such as this. He then rubbed his long beard, getting some of the flesh off of it, and quickly commanded, We be delving for rubies and other riches some other time, for now let us be going to the rest of the group and get out of here in case there be many more beyond.

However, Dardash stood there with a blank look on his face. Annoyed by this, Graldin smacked him across the face, causing the young dwarf to come back to his senses. A stern Graldin said, This could be a serious danger to our entire group as well as our kingdom. If we do not get out of here alive to inform the king and the people of what we be discovering, there could be more, and these fiends could come right at our front door.

I thought you said it could be just a disease amongst the cave goblins? the young scout asked.

Aye, it could indeed be, and I sure be hoping so, but we still be needing to report what we be finding here, for it is not something typical to be stumbling across in me many years down here, Graldin said while quickly readying to get out of