Denizens of the Labyrinth

The tepee of the chief was small on the outside and much larger within. The Mana that wreathed the material used to build the tepee was magnificent and Jazmel could not help but try his best to analyse it while he was there.

“You see the breath of the land?” the chief asked, and it took Jazmel a moment to realise he was describing Mana. Jazmel nodded and the chief nodded too, in understanding.

“You are blessed with a gift from the all father, it takes a humble spirit to take the time to learn how to see the breath of the land.” He explained and Jazmel listened to him as he spoke more.

“Can you see it too?” he asked, and the chief shook his head.

“I cannot, the father has gifted me in other ways. But there are some in my tribe who can see it the way you do.” He admitted and before Jazmel could ask him more, he turned to the rest of them.

“I know what it is you seek, but I have to admit. I do not think you have what it takes to complete this task.” He confessed and everyone grew tense with confusion.

“What bothers your land?” Baek asked, curiously.

“You might be the only one who can survive. But these others are too young, they have seen too few moons.” He expressed and Jazmel felt a little discredited but held his tongue.

“We are being hunted by the worst of creatures.” He said and opening his hand. Mana built up into a miniature figure of a creature and Jazmel immediately felt the fear from the chief immediately.

Baek hissed and kissed his teeth.

“A Wendigo.” He sighed and the Mana figure dissipated in the hand of the chief.

“They come every night and try and take us. We are expecting them tonight.” The chief said and Baek nodded.

“I will leave you to plan.” The chief said and when he left; he bid his attendants to bring food and water for the party.

“What is a Wendigo?” Katie asked and everyone turned to Baek who took a seat and from his storage, drew a flagon of tea and a small cup.

“Do you understand the tiers of monsters and creatures of the labyrinth?” Baek said and while the others nodded, Jazmel did not but Baek settled in to continue.

“We grade all our items and creatures via tiers. It is how the system ranked us and as such we do the same for all other things. A tiered creature is usually stronger than the seeker rank of its equivalent. That is how it tapers out for us all; I could never defeat a tier IV monster on my own. not currently at this tier anyway as it is a Master, but anything below that. While it could be difficult, I would be able to do my best.” He explained and everyone nodded.

“So where do named creatures come into this?” Katie asked.

“Named creatures are the highest of their tier, so expect a mutation or hybrid situation if you come across any such creatures.” He sighed and sipped his tea a few times.

“A Wendigo is a hardy tier III creature. It is considered undead, but it still clings to life, it is like a candle caught in the wind and it seeks life to boost the flame of life in itself.”

“A Wendigo is a seeker who turned cannibalistic, and the taint of human flesh made it rot from within.” He explained and the tepee grew silent.

“Do not allow it to bite you or scratch you and if it does, you have to burn it out of your body. Immediately!” Baek looked them all in their eyes, individually. Nailing down the seriousness of it.

By the time they left the tepee the moon was already in the sky and the tribe were huddled with their backs to a great bonfire in the centre of their camp. Jazmel steeled himself with their own courage and watched as denizens who did not have the system linked with them, readied themselves for a fight.

A howl ripped through the valley and Bannerman’s own hackles rose. “That wasn’t a wolf.” He growled and immediately Jazmel could see the Mana building in his limbs as he grew in stature and his canines and claws glinted in the fire and moonlight.

The first of the Wendigo bounded into the camp. Its body grotesque and stinking, flesh hung off its skeletal frame a gaunt body that looked almost ghoul like, but it head had bony antlers protruding from its scalp and where it had once been a man, the body had begun to look like the twisted soul trapped within.

The fire raged and Baek stepped forward, a short sword in hand and Mana wrapped along the blade. He struck out, the slice striking the wendigo hard and knocking it on its back. It shrieked in shock, but not pain; something Jazmel realised also. The shriek seemed to wake everyone up, the tribe rushed forward, Jazmel and his party leapt in to strike, and they soon began stabbing and jabbing at the underbelly of the creature.

Its screams began to pull fear from the others and Jazmel felt it in his stomach, but his trait won out. When he held a sword, he was keen, focused and calm.

DING!

…

YOU HAVE OVERCOME YOUR FEAR OF THE WENDIGO

…

+3 WIL

He gained stats but before they could do more. Another wendigo appeared, tearing into the camp. It made to strike the tribe from behind, but Bannerman was there, with all the fury of a wolf. He rushed into it and Katie leapt after him, her chains whipping around her filled with Mana.

Another wendigo appeared but Jazmel and Sadé were facing it. She burned it with fox fire, and it rushed off. So, they were scared of fire and Sadé eager to rid it. Chased after it. He followed her.

“Wait!” he shouted but she was already hurrying after it.

They chased it through the undergrowth, it attacked before running away and toppled a tree here, but Jazmel was beside her and he cut through the trunk before it even fell. Sadé did not use her skills for fear of burning the trees around them but they soon broke free of those and found it backing off at a cliff face. It faced them now, challenging them and snarling in defiance.

Thunderfire!

She yelled, and a singular bolt of Mana wrapped in the blue flames from her kitsune abilities hit the wendigo. This attack was different to the others, the thunder seemed to paralyse it and while it froze the fire did the true damage, wreathing the body in flames and burning it quickly. In minutes it was as black as charcoal and slumping to the ground it whimpered as it died. Soon turning to ash and dying.

DING!

TIER II WENDIGO KILLED

…

EXP REWARD

+1 STR

+2 AGL

+1 DEX

He felt his body realign itself as new stats settled and he watched as she did the same. Probably garnering more than he as she had been the one to kill it. Still holding his sword, they locked eyes as he was about to tell her to head back towards the camp. But his eyes, his eyes picked up something behind her. A much larger body of Mana was rushing from behind he rushed forward sword raised.

The larger wendigo from the camp had followed them and was now preying on Sadé. He rushed forward and before she could whirl to see what he was doing the wendigo was on him.

He thrust up into the stomach with his sword and pierced its stomach. It bit down into his shoulder, and he cried out as it tore into him, the bite was deep, and he felt his neck wet with blood. The charge had carried it over the cliff face, barrelling into the dead wendigo and then also himself. All three fell over the cliff and into the deep river below.

He heard someone scream his name and while he imagined it was Sadé, he felt like he had heard it in his head too.

DING!

QUEST COMPLETED!!

…

REWARDS TO BE GIVEN

The water rushed into his mouth and the bite of its cold seeped into his shoulder wound, leeching the warmth from him.

He fell unconscious. Clutching to the already floating body of the wendigo. The river was fast moving, and he did not know where he would end up.