-Runed dagger-
Long ago, in the forests and wilds, was a small swampland, encompassed by various trees, brush and vines. The swamp was home to various animals, ranging from passive to agressive, all in complete balance. The passive out-numbered the agressive, but the food chain favored the agressive. The law of nature in the form of survival reigned supreme. This swamp was also the watering grounds for many animals and people alike. The nearby villages all steered clear, for the most part, of the Swamp, unless it was absolutely necessary to go down and retrieve water or supplies. People used to claim the swamp was "mystical" and "enchanted" but nobody could ever recall how or why. The young boys of the village would always dare each other to go into the swamp, and bring back proof they were there. None of the young boys were quite daring enough to take on such a task.
All their lives the village people told stories on the monsters that live in the swamp, Giant snakes with ripping teeth, viscious Wyrms descended from dragons, even a legend of a pack of wild Boar mysteriously enchanted by living in the marshlands. The children grew to fear the swamp and its surroundings, and the village grew in size. Soon that small village became a Town, with hundreds of people, not just a handful of houses, but large areas covered with them. The size of the town grew to be quite impressive of that time.
As a result of the growing size, and population, the growing need for food, water and medicines became an issue. Hunting parties that raided the wilds for deer and Sheep, began coming back with less and less food. The stock in the storing house began to dwindle down to scarce findings. the people became ill with hunger, and became edgey. The townsfolk started to shut themselves inside their houses, those with less than others began begging, and even stealing from those with much. The grand merchants with all their gold, began to move on, and make the trip to the city of Buya, thousands of paces away. Trapping what they could find on the way.
The Mayor of the city, known to many as Kungail, began to panic at the decreasing status of his city and called upon his advisors to seek out what to do. His meeting was declared with all granduer taht a person in this state could muster, but to his dismay none of his advisors were left. They had all taken the long journey with merchants and peddlers. As the Mayor slumped into his chair by the small but warm fire, he began to doze off.
With his eyes shut and his slumber beginning his thoughts began to run away from him, back to his childhood. Where he and his boyhood friends stood at the edge of an old village, starign into the trees of the forest surrounding, all gone now in the name of progress. His friend daring him to go into the swamp, and bring back anything as proof he'd done it. The dare being his own fault for bragging he's not afraid of "anything at all." So with a smug look on the childs face, he sprints into the woods, running fast and hard, he slows to a quick walk and takes in all the changes. He ties a rope to a tree to find his way back and continues on..
-Knock knock-
The mayor, startled out of sleep and lack of nutrition shouts and he jumps and looks around. The door opens, without him giving permission... His anger flairs as he begins to find his voice to teach this intruder a lesson when...
An old woman, with a walking stick enters the room with slow, small steps. Showing obvious pain in each she takes. He calms himself cursing his temper under his breath, and begins to ask the woman why she's there.
"Don't bother asking that question." She quickly and curtly says, "If you don't know why I'm here, then someone else must be sending out your decrees."
-he studies her for a minute and begins-
"What advise can an old woman like you give to me in this dire time?" Holding his hand to his head
"You seek advise, but then are quick to dismiss anyone who's came to help? Not very wise if you ask me." She shakes her head, "At any rate, Mayor, your town is in great need of my help."
"What is it you can do for us?! Can you provide us with food, with water, with Cures?! Old woman, leave me now to think, I must find a way to work this all out." He turns to walk away, but the old woman stomps her stick to the ground and her voice grows deep and forceful.
"You sit down and hear me out..." She pauses, and when he does nothing she gets louder; "Now!"
-He sits himself on the chair as she walks her way up to him, he's got a curious look in his eye, thinking she's more than she seems.-
"Now, I know you have the resources nearby to save this village, and I know you know where they are. What you need, is buried deep within the Swamplands, a magical place, but a great source of food and water. More than plentiful to support this crowd of people."
"But that swamp is dangerous, nobody has gone in, at least not come back from." He says in a small desperate voice.
"Ah, but that's where I come in, young man. I am the shaman of the east, many people call me Dawn." She says, as if he should know her name demands respect.
"What can you do to help me?" He asks.
She smiles and begins, "What you need is a spell to dis-enchant the swamplands and protect each of you who go in to seek out food and water. I can provide that, but I will require a few items that I do not have access to in my hut. My home is very near these Swamplands, and I have learned much about the spells in place there. I've researched it and studied many books with my kin, and we've devised a spell to help you in this task."
He stands up with light shining in his eyes, hope beaming out of his aura. "What do you need!? Anything! Anything at all, and I'll find it! I'll travel to the tops of the mountains and into the deepest mines! Tell me, what is it you need?"
She grins and pulls a parchment from her sack.
He reads it "The Skin from the sturdiest snake in the lands... The Finest meat from the rarest of Boars... The bark of the Enchanted tree... The hoof of the mightiest bull... The metal poured from the silver Ore..." He studies it more, "This will take a little time, but it will be done, You're welcome to stay at my inn while you need a place."
She smiled and he runs off to find volunteers...
---
His group of men came through with great success, bringing every last thing on her list. As she sets her candles out on the ground in a Nine pointed star, she pulls her Morter and Pestle out to begin the ceremony. The Cauldran brought to her over the fire is steaming and she begins her chant in the Magical languages, which to the normal mans' ears sounds like a rough song.
The ceremony takes hours, nearly half a day. The mayor and the townsfolk wait impatiently to see what is done. She finally emerges from the hut and calls to the mayor. "It is finished, the ritual is complete. Come here, Mayor and take this gift."
The Mayor pushes through the crowd and is handed something wrapped in a cloth. Feels light and heavy at the same time, and as he pulls off the cloth the object shows itself.
The crowd gasps at the site of this glowing dagger, with the power of her ritual inside. He looks down at it and back up to her, knowing what must be done now. With this dagger, he must travel to the depths of the Swamp, and slay the enchanter who lives in the deep. The Shaman smiles and tells him the watter will be dried up, for one hour. And one hour only. With this sword he must tear into the Enchanter's heart and dispell the surrounding area.
The mayor quickly dashes into his house and grabs some food, and some armor, and sets on his way. Along the way he sees many a bush, tree and vine, the same as the day he was young. He dashes swiftly for the time is nearing.
He watches the water dry up before his eyes and all at once the creatures attack... Snake, Boar, Wyrm and Bulls all rush at him in a stampede. He dodges through the masses with great skill and begins to find his way down the paths into the center. Snakes seem to come from nowhere, bigger than he hissing and spitting venom his way.
He dares not strike, for the Dagger must be un blemished when he strikes the Mage. He fends off a blow with his arm and suffers a mighty bite to it. He feels himself grow weak with venom.
As he stumbles further down, he finds what must be the end of his journey, and runs in.
He sees an old mage, with graying hair and a strong stick turn to him, chanting somethin to himself at the time.
The Mayor feels something hit him in the stomach from nowhere, and looks around. "It must be a spell. I have to get to him.. Ot maybe I do not.." The Mayor dashes to the side and hurls the small Dagger at the mage.
The Mage shifts to face him to chant another spell and is struck right in the heart.
The mage falls to the ground and bleeds his heart into the ground. The enchantment falls off the swamp, and the water does not return.
The mayor humbly walks back to his village, sick and dying. The Shaman greets him with a cure and begins to teach him what happened.
"Is he gone for good?" The Mayor asks.
"No my friend, his spirit still lives on... And in his heart, he will always carrying the dagger you slew him with. The Runed dagger of the myst."
From then on, everyone who steps into those caves, dan find all the same creatures as then, but with far less power. Every once in a while, you can find the Enchanter walking the depths, and if your lucky, and powerful enough to slay him, The sam Runed dagger of the Myst may just become yours.
Perhaps it may even save your village one day...
-Conse.
