Treasure At Isles Edge — Part I

A short story, loosely based on a D&D session I had the other day.

“Come on, we’ve found it.”

Sethas gestured for the others to follow him as he sped inside, crouching slightly to avoid having his bow scrape the roof of the tunnel. Kirggin, a stout dwarf, did his best to match pace behind. Another elf, Eilyn, gracefully followed, brushing her hands against the jagged stones as she did.

Although the trio would have been able to see just fine without them, small patches of a dimly glowing mineral were scattered throughout the tunnel. Their path winded downwards, past a series of dead ends, and ultimately approached a large chamber.

Sethas slowed, and brandished his bow.

“Expecting something?” Kirggin asked, without even whispering. He adjusted the heavy war-hammer that rested on his shoulder.

“Shush,” Sethas breathed, “I hear footsteps ahead. Go slowly.” With that, he strung an arrow tight and melded into the shadows against the rocky walls.

Kirggin readied for any potential danger by lifting his hammer from his shoulder, and wandered forward. Eilyn followed closely — one hand wielding a ritual dagger, the other open and ready to channel her druidess magic.

Ahead there was a chamber, much more smooth than the natural tunnels the trio had been traveling in. It was round, and covered in etchings of unfamiliar runes. At the center of the chamber there was a stone pedestal. Atop the pedestal — an old lock box, just the right shape to contain the fabled treasure map they sought.

Across the chamber, there was another entrance. Three others had arrived at the same time — pirates.

“Look here, mateys, this is our prize!” said the center one, who was only slightly more well-kempt than the other two. All three were grizzly men, who perhaps hadn’t properly bathed in months. For added emphasis, the pirate captain drew his cutlass and pointed it towards those across the chamber.

“Finders keepers, lad!” shouted the dwarf, rushing forward. Eilyn sighed, but smiled, readying herself.

With his free hand, the pirate captain brandished a flintlock pistol — a deafening crack, and Kirggin was slowed, stooping, and grabbing his side in pain.

The other pirates rushed forward, cutlasses in hand.

An arrow almost silently whizzed past Eilyn’s head from the shadows behind her, straight into the heart of one of the pirates, who fell instantly.

Eilyn took the other’s momentary hesitation to shapeshift. A wild purple energy swirled around her and her form stretched and transformed into that of a blackbear. She let out a wild roar and pounced onto the next pirate, mauling him.

Visibly terrified, the pirate captain did not back down at the sight of his comrade’s instant defeat. He rushed forward to swing his cutlass at the injured dwarf.

Kirggin met the blade with his hammer forcefully, not only denting it but launching it out of the pirate’s hand. The pirate stumbled backwards, afraid.

His side still bleeding, Kirggin gave a malicious glare and readied his hammer.

“No!” the pirate squealed, falling to the ground with his hands blocking his face as if it would help him. “My father will hear of this, and he will avenge me!”

“Not yet, Kirginn!” Sethas’ level-headed voice sounded from behind.

He stepped out from the shadows, putting away his bow. Eilyn had already transformed back into her slender elven form, and began inspecting the box atop the pedestal.

“Your father?” Sethas crouched over the cowering human.

“Cyrnock the pirate lord! I am his son! he sent me to — ”

“The name was enough.” Sethas nodded to Kirggin, who enthusiastically finished his swing, pulverizing the man.

“It seems we’re not the only ones who know about the treasure.” He said, raising himself and looking towards Eilyn.

In that moment, Eilyn had picked up the box from the pedestal. A single rune that was inscribed beneath it started to glow.

Soon, the runes that peppered the whole chamber began glowing, one by one, all within a matter of seconds.

The caverns began to rumble and shake.

“Run!” Sethas bolted the way the pirates had come.

Eilyn started to follow, but looked back to witness Kirggin struggling — he had lost a surprising amount of blood from the side wound he was still clutching.

“Come now, dwarf.” Eilyn said lightly, throwing an arm around Kirggin to support his weight.

Rocks started to tumble from the ceiling — dust and debris filled the air.

Sethas slowed as he neared the exit, which was more stable. He glanced behind to see his comrades following slowly, but unharmed. He scoffed.

Besides the dwarf’s flintlock injury, the trio escaped, somewhat battered, but unharmed. The daylight was nearly blinding, but everyone adjusted quickly.

Warm pale sands were beneath their feet again, and the calming sound of amber waves supplemented the chaotic crumbling of the cave mouth they had exited. Soon, there was only the sound of the waves.

“Let’s have a look, then.” Eilyn popped open the ornate box, and tossed it aside after grabbing its contents. She began to unroll it.

The trio gathered, peering at the map. It was almost like any other map of the Amber Isles — except, on this one, the dreaded Isles Edge of the southwest were mapped in much more detail. There was even a vivid red X-marks-the-spot.

“There.” Sethas said, pointing. “Now we need a ship.”

“A new one, aye?” Kirggin chuckled through the pain of his side, remembering how they had wrecked the previous one. “I think it’s time for a rest.”