An Epic Adventure

LunarLavendula

Edgepeasant
Original poster
FOLKLORE MEMBER
Invitation Status
Posting Speed
  1. 1-3 posts per day
  2. 1-3 posts per week
  3. Slow As Molasses
Writing Levels
  1. Give-No-Fucks
  2. Intermediate
  3. Adept
Preferred Character Gender
  1. Male
  2. Female
Genres
Fantasy, paticularly Dark Fantasy. Generally I will try anything if it has a good strong plot, magic or mystery.
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line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> The shouts of the city guardsmen echoed around the city, as a slither of a tall man darted across the rooftops. It was midday, and any normal thief would be keeping themselves out of trouble, but this man clearly did not know the meaning of the word. Although, that curious, bright glint in his eye suggested otherwise. It wasn't so much as he didn't understand what he was doing was dangerous, more that he enjoyed it. Sought it out, even. That was just the type of person Raiden was.

Today is a good day! He thought to himself, leaping down into a dark alley and pressing his back to the wall as he heard the thundering of feet pass by. Out of sight, out of mind. A sagging bag of gold was clutched in his left hand, an apple and a tattered parchment in the other. The parchment looked well worn, and with good reason. He'd been holding on to it for a week now, and every day the idea it had helped plant in his head grew stronger and stronger, like a seed spreading its roots into deep soil.

The stories were buzzing around the tavern nightly, growing more and more elaborate. A dragon! the patrons cried, huddling round the large worn tables to listen into the juicy tale. They say he's fierce, they say he's old, they say he's eaten thousands of people in his time! Think of how many herds of cattle! Dangerous, they said.

The dragon holds riches beyond a man's wildest dreams, they said.

That twinkle in his eye again. Not in Raiden's dreams, of course, there was not enough money on the planet to satisfy him... but he could make do with an average person's lifetime supply, at least for now. The young thief had been listening in, to all these different stories, and now... he licked his lips, today was the day.

Not just because it was a good day.

But the Captain of the Guard was planning on paying a visit to this dragon in a day or so. Raiden happened to have a slight issue with authority. He also happened to like the idea of the Guards pitching themselves against a big, nasty, fire breathing dragon...

..And wouldn't it be absolutely marvelous if, supposing they survived, they realized that the riches they sought had mysteriously disappeared? And wouldn't it be so wonderful if, for some reason, there happened to be Raiden's ransom pinned to the wall? What a coincidence that would be. How did that get there?

Pah! he spat, unrolling the parchment to get a good look at his sketched face. A pathetic ransom indeed. Barely chicken feed! Not for long, he thought with a menacing type of glee. Such an insult would not get past him without consequences. Oh no, you reap what you sow...

It wasn't long before the dark-haired lad was out the city gates and into the forests beyond. He'd been planning, scheming, for some time now. It had taken him a while to get the necessary goods together, this man's chest plate, that guard's greaves.. Raiden's eyes searched the underbrush, looking for something. Ah, yes. This was the spot where he'd stashed his gear. That dragon's gold was as good as his.

A good, no, a glorious day indeed.


 
A great shadow flew across the forest towards a tall mountain. Clutched in the dark creature's talons were shimmering gold and jewels that glinted in the sunlight as they flew towards a rocky mountain. Black wings pounded and legs extended outward as they landed at the entrance to a large cave. No life grew there, and the ground was scorched and covered in ash. The black scaled beast smiled as it carried its prize inside the cave.

The inside of the cave was bursting with treasure. Stacks of gold coins, piles of gems, mounds of finely crafted armor and weapons all littered the room, as well as the occasional bone. Sitting in a large pile of gold and jewels was a girl with extremely long, fiery red hair, fair skin, and bright green eyes. She looked up and glared at the black beast that stood before her.

"Welcome home... Father." said the girl.

"Ah! Hello, my dear Pearl." said the dragon happily as they folded their large black wings and threw their treasure to the side. As the dragon walked towards the girl they started to shrink and transform until they were no longer a dragon but a man. Even as a man though, they were still very big and towered over the girl. They had long black hair kept neatly in a ponytail, bright green eyes that matched their daughter's, and were dressed in fine black and red robes that looked to be made for royalty. He held his arms out expectantly.

"What did you do?" said Pearl, as she ignored her father's outstretched arms.

Her father dismissed her question and instead pulled out a beautiful gold amulet shaped like a flower with a pearl encased in the centre "Look," he said as he held up the amulet "It's perfect for you." Without asking he slipped the amulet over her head and around her neck "There," he said smiling "You look beautiful."

Pearl sighed as her father doted on her. She was his most precious treasure. If only he weren’t so overprotective though. It was rare that she even got to go outside the cave. He had told her there were “evil people” and “dangerous beasts,” out in the world just waiting to eat her up. Why should she care? She was sure she could handle herself. After all, she was half dragon. As Pearl’s father continued talking, telling her of his adventures, she became angrier and angrier. Suddenly, her red hair burst into flame, her eyes turned snake-like and glowed, and smoke and sparks flew from her nostrils.

“Oh! So you tell me how wonderful your adventures are, and then you say I can’t even leave home!” she yelled.

Pearl’s father turned around looking shocked. His precious little daughter was angry with him... again? This was starting to become a regular occurrence. He was about to respond but then she interrupted him again.

“No! Don’t even start! I’m tired of listening to you!” and with that, she stomped off through a tunnel to her room, her blazing hair trailing behind her.

Her father sighed. She would be ready someday, but that day was not today. He turned around and went back out the entrance he came. Outside he placed a large boulder in front of the cave (though there was still a tiny space left that he missed), transformed back into a dragon, and flew into the sky. Maybe she would have calmed down when he returned.

Pearl held her head against the stone walls of her room and listened. Good. Her father was gone. She had changed into a deep blue and gold dress since the other one she had been wearing was burnt, and her hair and eyes were both back to normal. Perhaps now she could escape. She gathered some of her favourite things and began to step out the entrance when she heard a loud clang and her heart jumped in her chest… Had her father returned? No… that didn’t seem likely, but then what had caused the sound. Pearl carefully tiptoed from her room and poked her head out from around the corner to see what might have caused the clanging.
 
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line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> It took Raiden quite a while to put his armor on. He hadn't managed to cobble together quite a full set, but the chainmail and bits and pieces he had was enough for good coverage. If there was a dragon waiting for him, then at least he'd look the part of a dragon slayer. A shadow passed overhead, and he looked up to get a fleeting glance of the rumored black beast. Oh yes, the tales were definitely true. He wondered what havoc the creature had caused today.

Some rich fool somewhere was probably bawling their eyes out. That or charred to a crisp. Funny, he mused as he approached the nearby brook to see if he could get a look at his reflection. If dragons weren't so murder-orientated, he'd probably like to get to know one. Not just to steal its trove, of course, but their lust for treasure and blatant disregard for the law gave Raiden a slither of respect for them. If he could choose to be a mythical creature, dragon would be the one he'd go for. Or, something invisible. Then he could do whatever he wanted. Although, he thought as he gazed at his reflection, that would be more then a little disorientating at times.

The sunlight that sifted through the trees reflected off his armor, lighting him up and casting a shadow under his furrowed brow. Some of the gear had been buried longer than the rest, but it was all far too gaudy and noticeable for him. The poor soldiers and squires, who had kept it in such good condition, looking after it with such pride, would probably be screaming could they see the young thief slopping great lumps of river mud and dead vegetation across the fine metal to make it less noticeable.

Eventually he was happy with his masterpiece, and began to make his way towards the mountain, large kite shield strapped to his back. Occasionally the metal clanked, which annoyed him slightly, but he did his best to maneuver in a way that kept him unseen and unheard. As he climbed towards the cave, he heard the sound of large boulder, groaning as it was pulled with force away from its resting place. Raiden hid, imagining a claw of the great beast, pushing it into place as if playing with a toy. Little did he know the dragon could transform.

He held his breath, wondering if the dragon could sense him. Did he smell of man and flesh? No, the dead debris and muck should hide his scent well enough. It felt like an eternity until the black shape flew away, and he rested his eyes on the cave entrance.

Indeed, the creature had hidden it well with such a large rock. How was he to move it? That twinkle in his eye was back and he shoved the tip of his kite shield in the tiny gap he had spotted between the cave wall and the large rock. A branch might snap, he decided, and what a good way to test the workmanship of such a fine shield.

He threw his full force against the shield, armor clanking, and in amazement the boulder creaked and moved of its own accord. Not free of the entrance completely, but a large enough gap for a man in full armour to comfortably make his way through into the cave beyond.