The South's Plight

Leaving the Comfort Zone

Maverick sat on his cot as the others prepared their rations. He had done it earlier. The elf gave out a brief sigh. They were leaving. Their journey began now. Soon things would really matter. They'd be in an entirely new country. They wouldn't just be there quickly. It wouldn't be a hit and run operation. They would dig their roots deep within the country, then upturn the country quickly and let the army finish them off.

He wasn't exactly enthusiastic. But he liked cold weather more than humid and hot weather. Maverick looked back up at the group upon Morpheus' words filling the tent. "So, guess this is the last time we'll see this place, eh?" The raven haired boy gave a solemn nod in reply.

Magnus then spoke up, Maverick unsure if he was being serious and optimistic, or an asshole. "At least now we can get our own home." Virgil spoke up as he packed his medical supplies into a knapsack. "Just what I need. To live with you hooligans." He received a chuckle from Morpheus and then the room was plunged back into silence.

The wind stung their faces, the smell of the salty sea filling their nostrils. They rode along the beach. They had travelled all the way to the Northwest coast, traveling along it. They had a week before they reached the country. The sound of horse hooves on brittle dry earth could be heard. They rode off into the distance.

Soon nightfall came, and they were still alongside the coast. Hadrian had gone off to collect wood for the fire, while the others settled down. Little did they know, more was happening than they expected.

Deep in the heart forest a body was being dragged back to a Bandit hideout. The boy had cloth wrapped around his mouth and eyes, and his hands were bound with metal cuffs. He couldn't scream. He couldn't see. He couldn't move. He was alone, and no one knew.
-------------------------------------------------------
Back in camp all members of the party had passed out, exhausted. There was no fire, and they had settled in the sand. Maverick was the last to settle, but had to push it away. He needed sleep anyway. The moon only rose further into the sky as the night proceeded, Hadrian possibly being miles away.
-------------------------------------------------------
The next day... Hadrian awoke sore and tired. His legs ached and around his mouth wa too. He looked around, making minimal movement as to not hurt himself. He saw gray walls surround him. Last he remembered he was on a beach. Not in whatever this was.

He looked down to see all of his gear missing. He couldn't even curse, it would hurt too much. It took him a moment to realize he had gone out to get wood. Now it appeared he was in a cave. The sound of metal clinking against rock could be heard in the distance. Hadrian closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep.

He was awoken by someone kicking him against the floor. It was a man clad in fur armor, mixed in with iron. He wasn't sore any more. But he didn't know how long he'd slept. In reality, it was hours. Not days.

"Get up, before I beat you all the way back to where you came from." Hadrian somehow had the strength to stand, wobbly at first. Wobbling, he stepped forward, leaning against a damp cave wall for support. "Off to the mines you go." Hadrian was too tired to complain. He knew he was captured.

The clinking came closer and closer with each step. Soon the sound of voices could be heard. Quietly stumbling, he lost track of time. All he heard was a door shut behind him. Then he finally understood. He was trapped. A slave.

No one approached him, just ignored the boy. He picked up a pick axe and headed off into a secluded part of the cave. No one was there. They assumed it was picked dry. Hadrian fell asleep again.

A sharp stinging was upon his back, burning and awakening Hadrian. He glanced back and saw a giant insect, the size of his leg, but much wider. Taking the pickaxe, Hadrian slammed it down upon the insect, filled with new energy. A sickening crunch was made.  A shrill shriek was soon after, it echoing through the cave.

Hadrian plugged his ears in pain, but the insect was clinging onto life still, enraged. He looked at the black insect as it lunged forward towards him, it's large pincers snapping together. He hopped back swiftly and as it jumped he swatted it out of the air, it hitting the wall, then falling upside down on the cave floor. It's arms wriggled helplessly and its ferocity only seemed to increase. He doubled handed the pick and slammed it down as hard as he could. A geyser of a pale green goop sprayed from its abdomen.

Hadrian let out a sigh, then walked out of the tunnel to see if he could negotiate. Someone would want something out of that bug. Or a task done. Upon exiting the tunnel he received strange looks and glares. A man in tattered clothes and a gray, long beard was in a corner, mining slowly. He looked as if he'd been traumatized, seen too much to recover from. He also appeared to be having a hard time mining. Hadrian approached the man, and awkwardly spoke up. "Hey, um sir? Do you wish for a bit of assistance?" The man turned around, looking at him. "Ah, yes. But first, what is your name?" Hadrian absolutely forgot about customs. "I'm Hadrian, and you are?" The man went by the name of Geb. They shook hands, the man still looking shaken. Pale, as if he'd seen a ghost. Hadrian helped the man mine, and as a reward he got stale bread, dry beef, and three lockpicks. Hadrian could make that work. But he needed to get some others to help. A prison break. Except he was escaping from slavery. He had to motivate the people. But first, he had to ignite the spark. That was where it all began. One Ember into an inferno. And so it began.