Zyxcsal: A New Era

The Hunt

The dwarves are a race native to the continent of Extraria, mostly in the northern parts and the western ones. The southern and eastern parts of the land houses the Elven race referred to as "Elidoren's Descendants". These small but hardy people take pride in their culture and their kind. And are also willing to prove their might when questioned by any who dare to do so. They were said to be rather primitive in nature due to their Warrior God Bjorn's teachings about their way of life. In contrast to the Elven Race, of which is regarded to be the second most advanced race in the world, second only to the Gnomes, the third one being the Humans. However, due to the conflict that now plagues the land of Extraria, some of the elven and dwarven citizens are forced to leave their homeland. The war waged by the Prince of the Elves and the King of the Dwarves boast many mysteries even to those who fight for the two sides. Rumors plague the lands along with visible confusion since they've been living in harmony for thousands of years and fought alongside the Gnomes in the "Battle for Liberation" against the Giants and Draconians.

As Darivan and Joehn reach the marsh, they make a halt. A strange glow caught their attention, so they press on. Closer they came, and yet the glow grows faint. The murky waters hinder their mobility, slowing them by the bit. Darivan battles the weight of his movements as he struggles to keep up with Joehn. His height is also his concern, for his head barely rises above the water. Asking Joehn to carry him would destroy his dignity, so he just kept it to himself.

" The glow is dissipating, Darivan? Where are you?" Joehn asked curiously, as he tries to search for his companion.

He spots the dwarf on top of a dead tree log, floating in the water.

Joehn called him out,

"Hey old man, need a lift?"

"Fuck, I just need to breathe a little. Don't even think of carrying me."

"Then I'll push the log."

"Fine, fine."

And he did walk towards the dwarf to push the log. Barely even able to move from his place, Darivan slowly slips off.

"What the fuck?"

"What is it?"

"Somethings grabbing my leg from the water."

"Aghh!"

The dwarf was pulled swiftly, Joehn was taken by surprise. Yet the thick mud above the water made it a difficult task to search for him. He whispers to himself,

"Of all the things I have to forget, shit."

Joehn carefully tracks the waters surface for any movements, not to make any sudden changes in the surrounding mud and moss.

"Fucking Berberoka. I forgot to bring a live crab."

Bubbles start to form around a few feet from his position, that was the sign he was waiting for. Within seconds of spotting it, Joehn reaches for the hilt of his sword that is now resting on his back. He raises it in an overhead position pointing the blade downwards, waiting for the bubbles to disappear.

And it did, a few seconds later. As swift as he could, Joehn stabbed the waters. He felt his blade hit something, but merely a shallow wound was inflicted on it. Darivan was flung out of the water and into the air, surprising Joehn. The blade was stuck, he refused to let go and as he grasped firmly he was dragged into the muddy swamp and was thrown out of the water just like the dwarf. Darivan landed on a small piece of land in the middle of the swamp while Joehn fell on a lifeless tree just by the vicinity.

The two men were dazed. Darivan tried to stand up, reaching for the battle axe strapped on his back. Joehn on the other hand, was already up on his feet on solid dirt after falling from the tree that broke his landing. The creature slowly emerged from the water, it was as tall as Joehn, with a skin seemingly thick with moss and rocky textured surface. It's back has a hulking bulge, almost reminiscent of the piece of land that Darivan landed on to, making it look like a fairly ripped hunchback. It's face was a mix of a human and an Orgrimer (a long thought extinct species of troll that was shepherd by the Gnomes). It let out a strange female like scream, creating ripples in the waters surface.