Don't Touch Mysterious Stones

Don’t touch mysterious Stones

Frank came to. Looking around he found himself before a dragon in a flashing dungeon battle. adventurers all around struggling to fight the massive beast.

Frank’s hands let up, his grasp on the staff faltered and the spell that it was sustaining died away.

“Randolf! keep up that protection spell!”

Randolph? Whose that? Frank thought to himself.

“RANDOLPH!” An adventurer clad in armour shouted as the tail of the dragon swatted the armored man to the ground.

Frank panicking dropped the staff and shouted “RETREAT!!!”.

He dashed for an opening that looked like an exit in the dungeon walls. his vision became a haze as he tried to remember what got him here…

=========

All the soldiers stood in a circle. The captain held out his hand grasping straws. “You know the drill. The shortest straw has to investigate the stone.”

All the shoulders chuckled and moved in close, taking one after another until everyone had a straw.

“Alright hold em out”

They all put their hands forth showing their straws.

“Looks like you’re the unlucky sucker Frank” said one of his mates as they all chuckled, slapping him on his chain mailed back.

“Fine, fine. I’ll be the hero” Frank reluctantly sighed.

They all turned toward the clearing behind them. In the middle of the oak and birch forest there was a mossy opening where you could see the blue cloudless sky. Most would think it be a great resting spot from the darkness of the forest, but now the clearing was laid with charred sigils in the ground and in the middle of circles of blackened grass and smolder was a curiously colored stone; A rainbow of turquoise and jade with runes that glowed blue.

“Alright frank, see if you can dislodge that thing and we can take it to the court wizard and call it a day”

They all approached the stone, 6 Soldiers circling it bringing their kite shields to attention as Frank double checked his gauntlets to make sure they were fitted.

He crouched down ready to lift with all his might, and took hold of the bottom of the stone where it started to curve into the ground. With one grasp Frank felt Nothing, Not a sense of nothing but everything calmed as if he entered a dream relaxed and all sense of worry left him.

======

Frank looked back at the adventures seeing if they were following and saw a ranger leaping through the air behind the dragon launching an arrow into the dragon’s jaw line as it twisted its head to see the suprise attack.

The dragon screeched as another adventurer, what looked like a paladin of the white order by the insignia on his gambison, threw multiple white stones which accelerated into piercing attacks into the dragon’s eyes blinding the dragon. The armoured adventure came to, hoisting himself up and taking his Pike, throwing aside his tower shield and charging toward the dragon driving the pike right into the dragon’s throat.

The dragon yelped, flailing about as all the adventures backed off and after a couple minutes of screeches and wailing fire spewing all over itself, the dragon went limp to the ground, its struggle ending.

“Randolph what was that!?!” The armoured adventurer stomped toward Frank and pushed him to the ground.

“Im sorry I panicked.” Frank looked around as the other adventurers gathered their weapons and gear giving him glares.

“The dragon stopped its breath attack and you panicked? We have been through much worse.. What? is your mana all drained or something?”

Frank looked around and shyly gripped at his… robe… why am I wearing these robes he thought to himself. “Yea I guess I’m all drained out…” he said jokingly scratching at his head and giving a shy grin.

The armoured adventure squinted, glaring him down. “Fine…” he turned away “alright crew gather up the eggs and grab whatever we can carry. Id Like to get out of this lair before it gets dark outside.”

The ranger came over to Frank, “need a hand?” The ranger reached out her hand. Frank looked through the dim cave to behold a tan complexion with pointed ears, no mistaking it, a wood elf with her gentle eyes beaming at him in a kind smile.

“Thank you madame” Frank took her hand and was hoisted up smiling at her.

“Madame? Did the dragon actually break you or something?” The ranger chuckled, giving him a shove.

“Ha, yea maybe it did.” Frank blushed.

The paladin and the armoured adventurer looked at each other curiously overhearing the interaction.

“OK come off it guys save it for the tavern.” The paladin shouted joyfully.

Frank followed looking upon the limp dragon once again giving him a fright as he realized once again where he was. He followed the ranger’s lead in taking out some butchering tools and proceeded to help butcher what they could carry from the dragon as he looked upon the dragon and its layer.

These adventurers must be very experienced to have been able to take down a dragon… Frank thought to himself. A wood elf ranger, white order paladin and a tank… a great match up for a group of adventurers. He thought trying to grasp where he was and if he was dreaming or not.

====

After looting the cave and dragging a whole crate of dragon scales, and a couple dragon eggs, they emerged from the dragon’s layer into a jagged landscape. Rocks and bushes covering the hollow they were in that lead into the cave.

“Welcome back team! I knew you guys would Vanquish the dragon. Tell me all about your triumphant fight!” A small gnome emerged behind some rocks with a lute strung around his back.

The armoured adventurer walked past him not heeding his presence.

“OH it was terrifying”. The ranger stepped up to the little gnome humoring him a story of their valiant fight. “Randolf cast a fire protective ward on us as we were engulfed in flames. Vorlock like always bore all the swings the dragon could wail at us. Meanwhile I leaped around driving my piercing arrows into the dragons hide and Tresh used his holy might to smite the dragon. And finally Vorloch drove the finishing blow his pike stabbing right through the dragon’s throat.”

“Oh glory do tell more!” The gnome exclaimed happily as he pulled around his lute and strumming a few cords.

“Stop yapping you two” Vorlock the armoured adventurer exclaimed as he huffed the crate of dragon parts into a hand cart. “We got to make it back to camp before dark else we be overtaken by some trolls”

With some exclaimed remarks the party wound their way through the rocky landscape toward another hollow where they had their camp set up.

Frank smiled and chucked the whole way, entertained by the gnome’s new draft of a song about them vanquishing the dragon. Exaggerating the story of how his bardic song drove them to victory with its inspiring touch.

Once at camp everyone began to wind down. Tresh came over to Frank as Frabk stood watching everyone go about their camp duties.

Tresh put his hand on Frank’s shoulder pulling him out of his clueless gaze. “You ok there Randolf?”

Frank looked up and gave a shy laugh “what me? Yea I’m fine. Better than ever”

“Ever since your spell failed you seem very…. Peculiar” Tresh said looking Frank up and down analytically

“Peculiar? Me, ah nah it’s just me. But… where are we…” Frank paused almost as if that was the end of his question but then quickly corrected. “Going? Where are we off to now… Tresh?”

“OH man you are funny when you are exhausted. I guess every great wizard has their limits I guess. Why don’t you hit the hay? I’ll take care of things tonight.”

“Thanks buddy” Frank patted Tresh’s shoulder as he looked around for what would be his bedroll. Seeing an open one that nobody seemed to go near he deduced it was his and went and collapsed on it and relaxed for a bit before looking around and grabbed a camp sack that was next to the bed roll and dug through it taking inventory of his goods.

All the basics for an adventurer: Rope, Spark rocks, Extra canteen of water, bread rations. And a few other helpful items.

While digging through he halted himself as he peered inside coming so close to touching it but drew himself back, A smaller rainbow turquoise jade rock that faintly glowed.

He looked around seeing if anyone noticed his shock. Everyone seemed to be gathering at a small bed of embers to chat about their plans from here.

Frank quickly tied his camp sack back up and went and sat by the patch of coal from breakfast they must have had from the morning before their fight.

“Vivian, what did you find?” Vorlock said starting them off.

The ranger, Vivian sat up scooting close almost deliberately to be closer to Frank, “Well I took a look and it seems we should be good. The trolls already overlooked this area for their daily hunting parties so we should be good for a night’s rest or if we wanted to break camp and head back to civilization without confrontation during the night we should be clear.”

“Excellent. Let’s rest for the night. I think Randolph could use it, He is clearly not in shape for a fight.”

“Ha yeah sorry guys…” Frank said grinning.

Everyone glared at him and then curiously looked amongst each other.

“Anyways. Tresh, you got warding duty since he’s clearly out of it. Volt…”

The little gnome sat at attention

“I don’t want to hear a peep from you once that sun goes down…”

“Yes sir!” The gnome saluted mockingly.

“I’ll feed you to the plain reapers myself if you draw any attention”

The gnome exaggeratedly shook as if he was scared but shrugged and smiled kicking his legs back on the rock he sat on.

They all dismissed themselves, Tresh climbed out of the hollow to place wards around the camp and everyone grabbed a bite to eat before retiring to sleep.

Vivian quietly snuck up on frank as he lay on his bed roll looking up at the sky trying to decipher where they may be.

“No meditation tonight?” Vivian said, spooking Frank.

“Meditation? Ah nah I guess I just need some shut eye.”

Vivian sat at the foot of Frank’s bedroll. “Randolph, you want to sneak off?”

“Sneak off?” Frank blushed thinking of what the connotation Vivian may be suggesting.

“You know… get away from these Baphoons”.

“Like sure… um lead the way…”

Vivian stood up taking Franks hand and pulling him up, looking around, nobody seemed to care as they slinked away from the camp after walking a hundred paces or so Vivian bound back knocking Frank to boulder with a dagger to his throat. Frank went limp in shock any suggestive thoughts fleeting away as he looked in the eyes of what he thought was a friendly elf to now a hunter ready to kill.

“Wha wha.. “ Frank stammered not being able to get any words out.

“What? You don’t think I know you?” Vivian dug her dagger into his throat, a trickle of blood dripped under the blade.

“Know me? Why do you think you know me?” Frank came to trying to reason and not give himself away that he didn’t belong.

“I think you should wiggle your way out of this one….” Another pain emerged in Franks belly, A second dagger slowly pressing in breaking through his robed top and piercing his skin.

“Im Just good old Randolph…ok… im tired and dont feel like myself without my.. My… mana…” Frank shyly said, trying to bluff his way knowing these adventurers were serious.

“I don’t think that’s enough to get out of this one.” Vivian grinned an evil grin like she was enjoying putting him under pressure.

Frank thought of any excuse he could come up with, do i tell them that I really don’t know what has happened over however long has it been and im not Randolph. What if they think I’m a changeling? They would kill me instantly… This elf seems to like Randolph but I clearly am not acting like Randolph…. Ah!

Frank calmed his nerves and sternly replied “Vivian, I need to rest. I’m done playing your games”.

Vivian continued to glare for a moment “Or What?”

Frank stood there stunned… What abilities did Randoph have? What kind of threat could a wizard make? Moments passed by as he stood frozen in staring at each other, daggers still digging in for what felt like an eternity

Vivian finally released her daggers and stepped back. “Fine, I thought you lost it enough I could finally have some fun but it seems you are still playing hard to get.” She pranced off back to camp while Frank still stood there stunned.

After a few minutes he lowered himself to the ground and started panting. Is that what Wood elves are like? He thought to himself. I naively thought I could get lucky with a woodelf… I am not cut out for this… Frank thought. I got a glimpse of how I should act. im no longer Frank, im Randoplh, hard to get Randolph.