Paths of Peril (Heather)
A call for help. Four strangers intent on making a name for themselves. Combine the two and splendid adventure is sure to follow. Unfortunately, this story doesn’t have a happy ending for many, but for the strangers set upon the task, the story is deserving of a telling, for the outcome has brought closure and life to many others.
As is common, this adventure starts at a noticeboard, where four folks from different walks of life each decided to take on the call: Missing Merchants. Several merchants had been reported missing on their route up into the Cloven Mountains and these strangers were tasked with bringing them home and dealing with the problem. The team: Dormark, the axe-wielding dwarf with a penchant for flare; Silco, an intelligent expert artillerist; Tydahr, a deadly weapon atop his trusty steed Gladys; and last, but certainly not least, Heather, the inspiring ball of energy.
After a trek up into the mountains, the team followed the well-worn path and quickly came upon the first of several findings. A merchant’s cart had been flipped on its side with no signs of life around. With a careful examination of the surroundings, Dormark was able to find tracks of the possible culprit. The issue? They showed up in one spot and then disappeared into nothing. The creature had to be very large, for the gait imprinted in the ground between each track reached up to fifteen feet. This discovery was no deterrent to the group though and they continued on up the path, determination set on their faces.
Three more merchant carts were found in progressively worse states of disarray, the last being found encircled by a disastrous massacre. It was during the inspection of this last cart when the creature made itself known as a large shadow passed over the group at the scene. All four faces looked to the sky, taking in the winged beast, some with awe, some with disbelief, all with fearlessness at the impending encounter. They quickly took up the path, following the creature’s direction until they came upon a nest, along with a second equally large creature and four accompanying smaller ones. Now closer, the beasts were unmistakable: a family of quetzalcoatlus.
Surprising the creatures hadn’t been an option and fighting quickly ensued as the group rushed in to take care of the problem. Specialties shined through in the rapid exchanges. Though the creatures were tough, the group of strangers coming together as a team were tougher. Heather’s arcane abilities hindered the creatures’ capabilities and kept her companions going strong. Dormark’s axe easily swung through the air and sliced into the beasts. Coupled with his deadly beams of energy, the dwarf was a force to be reckoned with. Tydahr, propelled forward by Gladys, used his mighty weapon to single-handedly dispatch one of the larger beasts quickly. And manifesting a cannon from seemingly nowhere, Silco’s magic and cannon blasts made easy work at finishing them off. Though the fight was intense and strenuous, it finished almost as suddenly as it began.
After a collective breath and a moment to compose themselves, the companions took up the lamentable act of trekking back to the carts and gathering up those that they could find, intent on being able to allow at least some to properly mourn those lost. And so, they hooked Gladys to a cart and made the journey back to the city, battered and bruised but surrounded by an air of accomplishment.
Though it was too late for many, the actions of these four selfless individuals have reopened the paths through the mountains, allowing for the lives of countless others to continue on, the threat finally eliminated.
This work is dedicated to the merchants who lost their lives and their families left behind. Our sincerest condolences to each and every one of you. May their memories be cherished and live on within all those who were blessed with the opportunity to meet them and even those who weren’t.
~H
The above story is an article written by my character Heather. She is an aspiring author and this was her first piece of writing published in the world’s newspaper after wanting to tell the tale of one of the adventures she’d gone on.
