Tales of Mancia, Book One: Beyond the Frozen Grove Options

[redsrock]

Tales of Mancia

Book One: "Beyond the Frozen Grove"


CHAPTER ONE

"I thought you said you didn't believe in magic, Verick? What happened to all that talk about magic being a myth and nothing else? Now all of a sudden you've changed your mind?"

"I know what I said, Arvus, just shut up for a second, alright? Damn, you can be annoying sometimes!"

Verick and Arvus Junson were freelance adventures as well as brothers, working for no one in particular. They simply hunted for treasure and sold it to their favorite merchants in the many large towns the country of Haven had to offer. Haven, ruled by King Leonard Fervine, is the "power region" in the world of Mancia, sort of the capital of the world in a way. Haven hosts Mancia's largest largest army, largest population, and richest country as well.

The two had been searching through a small cave when Verick had mistakingly kicked a tiny stone box hidden within the many rocks on the cold hard floor. Upon opening the box he found one green heavy stone. The gem itself seemed to glow with importance, though neither of the men recognized it; that is until the more intelligent of the two, that being Arvus, had whipped out his massive book of gems and stones. The two searched for what seemed like hours until on exactly the five hundredth page they came across what looked dead-up like the stone Verick had discovered by sheer luck.

The book claimed the stone (which had no "official" name) to have magical powers that held the key to a whole other dimension. Obviously no one had yet to discover such a stone, and the authors of the book heavily suggested that the story of the stone of was a hoax and nothing more. Now it appeared as if all of that was about to change.

"I mean...just look at it, Arvus," Verick said with a tone of extreme awe and waving his exited and shaking hands through his medium length set of black hair, and then across thinly-trimmed beard. The two brothers were the same age of twenty-nine, though they were not twins. Throughout their many adventures they had come across plenty of mystifying artifacts, but nothing could match the stone Verick had discovered.

"Okay, fine. We found a rock that looks quite similar to what the book describes," Arvus said with his arms folded and rolling eyes. The book of stones had been put back into his large leather pack. "But that doesn't mean the story is real, or if this stone really is what the book says it is. If anything I think it is a simple coincidence."

Verick threw his hands up in the air in frustration and then yelled, "Wow, how ironic this is! You've always been the one reading books about magic and all that crap, and now that we're face to face with something that could really actually have magical properties you want to dismiss it!"

"I read the material because it is interesting and entertaining, Verick," Arvus replied, his tone rising defensively. "That does not mean I think it is all real. True, I think there is some kind of basic magic out there in the world, but do I think a mere stone holds the key to a whole new dimension? Certainly not! Think about for a second, Verick, and then maybe you'll see how ridiculous all of this is. The 'gem' you speak of is probably nothing more than a simple rocked painted green, and planted here to make a fool of someone like you."

Verick was really getting angry now and at that moment he wanted nothing more than to strike his brother in his hairless chin with his fist. It certainly wouldn't have been the first time the two had fought. But when Verick eyed a tiny pond of water in the far corner of the cave he ran straight to it, motioning for Arvus to follow and forgetting about pounding his face in for a moment.

"Alright, Arvus, we'll have it your way." Verick then pulled a dirty piece of cloth from his pocket and raised it in the air for Arvus to see. "I will dip the stone into this puddle of water and scrub with the cloth. If the paint comes off and it really is only a stone, I will wash your boots with my tongue."

Arvus began laughing histarically, his long blonde hair moving irratically, but when he saw that his brother was actually telling the truth he tried his best to calm down, even if it was fairly difficult to do so. "But if I am right about this stone, and it does have magical powers, then you are going to tear that particular page out of your book and eat it right in front of me."

Arvus was no longer laughing, and was now looking rather offended but at the same time extremely confused. What in the world is he thinking? Does he really actually believe that rock holds the power to another world? He must be out of his mind... "Fine, I agree, Verick. However, I think you are making a big mistake," he replied towards Verick, again starting to laugh a bit from the silliness of the situation.

"We'll see," Verick whispered, just before sinking the stone entirely into the puddle of water. He began scrubbing it vigorously with the cloth, back and forth, back and forth. This went on for some five minutes until at last he brought the stone back up. What he said at first made him cringe, and Arvus laugh with amused joy.

"Look, you idiot, I told you it was paint! You sure hope you like the taste of-"

But then it was Verick who was jumping with joy and happiness, for he saw something that Arvus couldn't because of the fact that he was standing about ten feet away. It was true that the green-ness of the rock was something like paint and beyond the paint was regular stone, but carved into the stone was lines spelling out numerous words and phrases of a language Verick could not understand.

"Come here, look at this! There's some kind of scripture carved into the stone!"

Arvus quickly arrived at his brother's side and the two of them studied the stone closely, trying to figure out what kind of language it could be. Of course with Arvus being the intelligent one, Verick asked him if he recognized the carvings.

"No, none of this looks familiar to me at all," was his immediate response. "For a second it almost looks of the Tijion...or maybe even the Pantor...but no, that's not it. I..I don't have a clue what it says," he said perplexed and scratching his head in confusion.

With the stone in hand, Verick pumped his right fist high into the air and began to mock Arvus for not believing him. But Arvus quickly silence his brother with a raise of his hand and said, "But that doesn't mean the stone is magical, Verick. The book said nothing about a scripture of any kind."

"Did it speak of how to open the dimension?" Verick asked eagerly.

Arvus just rolled his eyes. "No, Verick, it said it was a hoax.....remember?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I think the book is wrong and I am right!"

"No, you are wrong, Verick," Arvus said, starting to get agitated once more. "Either way, at least we've found something of value. Let's go ahead and head back to Crestwood so we can ask the jeweler how much he thinks it's worth."

"ARE YOU NUTS?" Verick yelled at the top of his lungs, scaring the daylights out of Arvus. "We are NOT selling this thing, you idiot! This is our key to another world, brother! Can't you see? We will be famous!"

Arvus was now beyond agitation and instead almost to the point where he could no longer take his brother's ignorant immaturity. "Give me that!" He said to Verick while snatching the stone away and picking up its stone container from the floor, and placing the stone in the box. "We will-"

Suddenly his two hands began to shake violently and both he and Verick immediately noticed that the box was glowing with a bright green haze, almost of a bubble of sorts. Arvus dropped the box to the ground in fear, and the top broke off. Inside the stone was in the middle of the container, and it too was glowing a green haze. But now four rods from all four sides of the square container had somehow been stabbed into the stone, holding it in place.

"What in the name of-"

Before any of them could do anything the bright light first engulfed them, and then the entire room of the cave they were standing in. For a moment they were blinded by the light, until finally the brightness began to calm down. But something strange was happening. Arvus suddenly found himself suspended in mid air above the box, along with his brother right beside him. The strangest part was that when he looked down he could see his own body still standing next to the box with his hands shielding his eyes. His body looked like a frozen statue, and then he noticed that Verick's own body was doing the exact same thing. The 'suspended' Arvus looked at the 'suspended' Verick and the two of them were simply at a loss for words. The glowing of the stone again picked up and then the two found themselves swirling in a fast circle in the air, with green bubble also circling around them. The spun faster and faster, lower and lower, until the two of them were just inches away from smacking into one another mid-air.

But right before they could make contact everything went black, and neither of them felt anything but a rush of cold air.

[redsrock]

CHAPTER FIVE

"I told you we've been waiting," Vaalvier exclaimed with a widening smile.

Verick and Arvus stood frozen like a statue, unable to move, let alone speak. They were standing on one side of an enormous arena, on one side of a long stone bridge that extended to the very end that was far away. On both sides of the bridge was water, and on each side there was a tall column that loomed high into the air, almost entirely higher than the roofless top of the buildings. Surround the water and the bridge from all angles and sides were thousands upon thousands of seats, every one of the filled with Ibisarions of all shapes and sizes.

"I...I've never seen anything like this!" Verick yelled, though it was hard to even hear himself speak because everyone was screaming and cheering at the top of their lungs. "There's got to be at least half a million of them!"

"Three-fourths of a million to be exact," Vaalvier said proudly. "There are about seven-hundred thousand of us living here, give or take a little."

"Well, that explains why there wasn't anyone on the streets," Arvus said, his mouth hanging open in amazement. The screams were almost hurting his ears, but he didn't care. What he and his brother were witnessing was unlike anything they had been a part of before.

"Exactly. I wanted this to be a surprise to the two of you. This is a truly special event...for all of us. Come, let us meet the Ibis."

Vaalvier began walking down the slim, stoned path. Verick and Arvus, not really knowing what to do, followed in pursuit. As they did the screams rose louder and louder, shaking the entire building.

"This...this place is so huge!" Verick yelled to Arvus, trying his best to speak over the cacophony.

"Yes, it's nothing like I've see before!"

Ahead Arvus could see Vaalvier smiling proudly, and Arvus couldn’t say that he blamed him. The entire arena was jam-packed with so many people. The width of the place was vast; it was difficult to see some of the people because they were so far away. Arvus looked upward and noticed that there was no ceiling, and that as the seats went further back they also rose as well, giving the place more depth.

Within a few minutes they had made it across the bridged path and were about ten yards from a large and decorative throne of dark red and orange, hewn from a stone similar to that of the buildings in the city.

Sitting in the throne and holding a long metal staff with three feathers was large female Ibisarion; one feather being green, the other orange, and the last yellow. She was a tall and plump female Ibisarion, who Verick and Arvus assumed was the actual Ibis herself. She had wide grin spread across her wrinkled face, rivaling that of even Vaalvier himself.

After a few more minutes of cheering she stood and raised the staff into the air and the noise ceased almost instantly. Now that she was standing Verick noticed just how large she really was, which just happened to be more than he originally thought. She had enormous arms and her stomach was almost bulging in a way. She was wearing and bright yellow and orange robe, so it was quite arduous to tell exactly how big she was.


"Welcome to the city of Tagroth, Saviors of Mancia!" At that moment the entire place once again erupted into applause and screams, startling the two brothers. The Ibis's shining black hair was woven in a large and tightly formed bun at the very tip of her head, signaling that he let free the hair would likely fall to the floor, even given the fact that she was quite tall compared to the other Ibisarions.

The two brothers simply looked around at everyone, with Verick waving meekly and Arvus just standing there, not knowing what to do. The Ibis let this go on for another minute or so until she once more raised the staff to silence the enormous crowd.

"For hundreds of years we've been waiting for this moment, to finally meet and adore our beloved Saviors! For many years you have struggled to keep our lands barren of the Zervigei horde, fighting many battles to keep our city of Tagroth from falling! Such a life has been hard for every last one of us, this I know! But now the time has come for a new era! No longer will we play the role as defender! Oh no, soon we shall become the attackers!"

Her powerful and deep voice somehow boomed throughout the entire arena, echoing off the massive walls and traveling through the seats in which the Ibisarions sat. They began cheering like mad men and woman once more, before quieting down at another raise from the Ibis's staff.

"Let this day mark the beginning of the end to our struggles! Soon the ultimate battle shall be won and we will be united with the Zer and his Children of Scife!" She exclaimed, pronouncing Scife with a silent-c.

It appeared that her speech was over, for the Ibis stepped down from her throne and began walking towards Verick and Arvus. That was when Verick noticed a slim and fit Ibisarion female walking alongside the Ibis. Even of a different race, Verick still immediately found the Ibisarion very attractive, almost mesmerizing in a way.

"Hello, my Saviors! Welcome to Tagroth!" The Ibis was now right in front of both Verick and Arvus, both of them just now noticing how tall she really was. She easily stood taller than they, perhaps by a few heads (and in Haven, the brothers were certainly considered tall). "I see you've already met by advisor and special agent, Vaalvier. Please follow me to my chambers and we can discuss matters in private. Besides, we have to give the people time to set up the festivities. It shouldn't take too long, no more than an hour or two I would say. Come, follow me!"

She immediately turned around, heading past the throne, with the other woman Verick fancied following behind her.

"What do we do now?" Verick asked.

"I guess there's only one thing to do. If we want our questions answered we must follow her," Arvus answered. The two took off for the Ibis, who was now being lead by five armored Ibisarions with short spears. They were decked out in a full garment of a dark orange and red armor, a material neither Verick nor Arvus had yet seen in Mancia.

"These guys are a lot more muscular than the others," Verick whispered to Arvus, who nodded in return.

As they walked toward the Ibis Verick looked back at Vaalvier. He was no longer smiling, instead standing where he was before, his arms folded and having an irritated expression on his pale green face. Once he realized Verick was looking at him he quickly smiled and waved, very slowly.

Verick gave a weak wave back and he and Arvus followed the Ibis and the armored Ibisarions through a large entrance located behind the throne.

On the other side of the entrance were streets similar to where Vaalvier, Verick and Arvus had come from, but of course now they were on the other side of the city. Verick reckoned Tagroth was at least three times as large as Crestwood, the brother’s home and a large city in it’s own right and holding only around a fourth of a million people.

While walking through the streets it was becoming more and more crowded by the second. As they walked the streets gradually became more crowded. Apparently all of the Ibisarions had been released from the Arena and were now bustling to and fro, running full speed to get ready the festivities for Verick and Arvus.

"I take it they are all getting everything ready to celebrate our arrival?" Arvus asked the Ibis from behind.

She merely looked to her right, not looking directly at Arvus, and replied, "Oh yes, my people were so excited this morning when the fires were lit. They want to make sure you two are more than welcome in Tagroth. However, we shall speak more of the subject upon entering my chambers. It shouldn't be too much longer, just around the corner here."
And sure enough, just as they passed some kind of shop, the enormous castle loomed in front of Verick and Arvus's eyes. They stood there for a second, taking in what they were looking at. It was the first time they got a good close-up view of the structure. Soon the Ibis called for the two of them and the trance of amazement was over.

At top of the tiny hill they had ascended they then came to a single door of the castle. It was a good fifteen feet tall and was around ten feet in width. Without a moments haste the door immediately swung open, giving out a loud creak while the stone entrance opened, revealing the lobby area of the castle, or so the brothers assumed.

Inside they walked into a room decorated with various lavish carpets and curtains. Strange foreign flowers that neither of the two brothers recognized were spread out through the large room, accompanying paintings and portraits of different people. It was a truly beautiful sight, and again they were lost in amazement, or rather Verick at least. Arvus on the other hand was taking more of a look towards where the Ibis and the five guards were. They suddenly disbanded from the Ibis, all five going a different way and likely off to another patrol.

"Come, you two, there will be plenty of time for visitation later," the Ibis said proudly. Her beautiful daughter stood to her side, who(m) Verick assumed was the Ibis-in-waiting. He really couldn't see it any other way. "I know my flowers and many portraits attract you, but there are more important matters to attend. I give you my word that we may visit this same room some other time."

"I'm sorry, but this is just surreal. I...I am still having trouble believing all of this is happening. It's almost as if this is some kind of dream or something," Verick gasped as he began walking toward the Ibis.
Suddenly she took her free left hand and scratched Verick violently on the left forearm with her overly long but trimly cut fingernails, the part where the skin was exposed. Already crimson blood dripped down his arm. The wound looked as if it might leave

"What the-" Verick yelled, before something happened that took both he and Arvus by surprise, almost causing both of them to faint again.

A large glob of blood had dripped from Verick's arm and now a stream of the blood was falling to the floor. In a quick motion of her staff the Ibis stopped the blood in midair. The stream hovered in the air, a faint green light emitted by the staff engulfing it.

Verick no longer felt a sharp stinging pain, and instead felt quite...happy. That's when he noticed his entire body was being encased by the green light, and it was then that he realized this same light was what had come from the stone and the box, back at the cave in Haven.

"What are you doing to him? STOP!" Arvus screamed loudly, not knowing what was going on and only thinking the worse. He began running towards the Ibis when sudden a beam of white light erupted throughout the entire room from the staff, temporarily blinding his eyes. When the light faded, he saw that Verick's wound was healed.
"How...how did...I..." Verick was speechless, or rather was unable to say a full sentence. The fact that the scar and blood were gone dumbfounded him. It was a true act of magic, something that excited him greatly, but also scared him to death.

"By the Almighty Mother, why did you do that?" He yelled loudly at the Ibis, with anger now that he realized that he had been attacked. The Ibis herself was laughing with pride and joy, happy to give the two brothers a very small sample of her powers.

"You claimed everything to be a dream. I simply wanted to refute that preposterous idea. Now, did you not hurt once I scratched you?" She asked Verick, who could only nod slightly. "Precisely. What I just did was I have you a tiny taste of what powers I can give you. No...let me rephrase myself...what I will give you. However, all in due time is all I can say. For now follow me to my chambers. There is so much I need to explain."