Quest for the Cosmic Forge

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Veronica studied the various notes tacked to the tavern's wall. The job offers, as always, seemed to center on the retrieval of artifacts believed to reside somewhere within the massive labyrinth at the edge of town. That was of little surprise to her, of course, since the labyrinth had been the village's chief source of income, and fatalities, since its discovery.

No one really seemed to know which came first, the village or the labyrinth, but the two seemed to compliment each other so well that no one seemed to care. It served its purpose fairly well, weeding out the hopeless adventurer wannabees from those with actual talent. For those who could prove themselves in the labyrinth awaited high paying jobs as mercenaries or bodyguards. It came to be for the village's many adventurers that their status lied with how far within the labyrinth they could survive. Those who had made it deepest and survived to boast could get the best jobs, while those less fortunate could only hope to aspire to their greatness.

And so, Veronica looked among the various requests, hoping to find some reason other than her own ambitions to go beyond her personal goal. The deepest she had ever gone was the fifth level, fairly average yet remarkably good for one lone dracon. Her potential obviously showed, though she wasn't about to risk her neck on the sixth level without probable cause.

Skimming over the hanging sheets of torn paper, napkins, and whatnot, she noticed a slight nudge, barely noticeable and not at all if she hadn't been expecting it. The cat-like felpurr had been watching her for quite some time now, and Veronica had been anticipating her move.

Veronica followed the would-be theif cautiously across the crowded room, then picked up her pace as she lost track of her. Pushing her way past two large patrons, she abruptly stopped as the felpurr had turned to face her.

"What is the meaning of this?" the felpurr asked in a calm, smooth, seductive voice.

"I should ask the same of you!" Veronica sparked.

The felpurr's cat-like face pulled back into a wide smile that proudly showed off her pointed white teeth. "I am afraid that I do not know what you are implying, dracon."

"My coin purse," she said bluntly, pointing to the leather pouch the felpurr casually held in her paw.

"My... coin purse," the feline purred, darting her eyes to Veronica’s side. "I'll admit that I've seen worse con artists, but typically one would hide her own coin purse before accusing another of stealing it.”

Veronica’s claw instinctively dropped to her side where she found her pouch still hanging where it had been, but with a note neatly poking out of it.

"What - ?"

"Just a little late night reading I thought you might be interested in," the felpurr said melodically as she turned to leave. "And know that I am not the only one who has been watching you."

The thought was a little unsettling to Veronica. She studied the many faces in the tavern, looking for another who may be interested in her. She stopped only once, gazing upon someone wearing a long cloak that completely covered his features. At first glance, she would have thought him a mage. But then she noticed that a pair of curved sheathes securely hung from his left side.

“Looks to be some sort of warrior…”

She pondered a moment what this one's interest in her could possibly be. But as she started towards his booth, he promptly stood and made his leave of the tavern. This only made her feel more uneasy. She started to follow him, but by the time she reached the tavern's exit, she found she had already lost him in the night. She re-entered the tavern, feeling even more on edge. When convinced that no one else seemed interested in her, she unrolled the scroll the felpurr had stuck in her pouch. It read:

Hail, adventurer!

Do you seek fame and fortune? Then please read further!

Llylgamyn is not what it once was.

The kingdom has fallen and its people have moved on.

Five generations after the defeat of the Maelstrom a new king was born. So loved was he that the royal family was once again granted merit in the political system of Llylgamyn. Eventually the council decided to dissolve and restore exclusive rulership to the royal family.

It was not long for the true colors of the king to shine through, however. Rumors quickly spread throughout the kingdom of his alliance with demonic beings, and his dabble in the dark arts. His queen was whispered to be a perverse harlot, torturing men of the kingdom for her own pleasure. In an attempt to gain more power, the king joined forces with an unknown wizard. Together they began to wage magical war on other planes of existence. During one of their battles they became aware of an artifact of amazing power.

The Cosmic Forge.

The Cosmic Forge is a magical pen of divine power. No one is sure of its origin, but it is said then whatever words were written with the pen would we woven into the fabric of the universe, and thus would become reality.

The king and the wizard managed to obtain the pen, and with it they scripted things so unspeakable that no mortal could attempt to even imagine the horrors. Fortunately the two soon became jealous of the power that they had discovered, and they engaged each other in an epic battle.

Legends say that the lights of magic could be seen flashing in the windows of the castle, and the very ground shook. Eventually everything fell quiet, and neither the king nor the wizard were seen again.

That was nearly one hundred and twenty years ago. The kingdom is no more, its name is remembered by very few. No one knows what happened to the king, the wizard, or the pen.

That is, hopefully, until now. Through extensive research and study, I believe I have located the very castle in which these events unfolded. But there's no guarantee as to how safe it is, especially if any of the dark magics used there still linger. This is where you come in. I will be requiring your assistance to help in exploring the target castle. Of course, you will receive payment for your aid. This and other details will be discussed in the inn’s lobby when the tavern closes tonight. Please come alone.

- P. Wolfblood

"Most interesting," Veronica thought as she rolled up the parchment. "This could be the very chance I've been waiting for to get out of that dank old labyrinth once and for all. If word got out that I helped find this Cosmic Forge thing, I could become a legend!"

Her mind was made up before she even tucked the rolled parchment back into her coin pouch. Of course she was going! She made her way past the patrons to the bar. The bartender, who also happened to be the tavern’s owner, was busy covering a platter with tankards of ale.

"I'd like to pay my tab," she stated.

She couldn't have gotten his attention more easily if she spun him around and kissed him on the lips. He quickly turned to her and began rummaging through the disorganized mass of papers in the pouch of his apron.

"Ah, Veronica," he said, finding the slip he was looking for. She had been at the village for several months and had become one of his more distinctive patrons, so he could easily recognize her from her voice alone.

"Only two tonight?" he asked disappointedly.

"Sorry," she apologized with a slight grin, "something came up."

"Alright, then," he said, the disappointment still evident in his rough voice. "That'll be twelve gold pieces."

"This should cover it," she said, laying a handful of coins on the counter. She always overpaid when she could afford it. It was a good tavern and she took special delight in knowing that she did a bigger part in keeping it open than many of the other patrons.

"This some kind of joke?," the bartender spat after she had turned and started for the door.

"What?" she asked, dumbfounded as she turned back to face him.

He gestured at the pile of coins she had left on the counter.

"Is there a problem?" she asked.

Still pointing at the pile, he explained, "What kind of fool do you take me for? You can't possibly think I would accept rocks for payment!"

She ran back to the counter and stared at the 'coins' in disbelief. What lay on the counter were actually a pile of stones painstakingly cut and polished into the exact shape, width, and feel of gold coins. Her face flushed with anger and embarrassment.

“Y-you know I’m good for it,” she stuttered. When he didn’t look he was buying it, she continued, “Just give me an hour. I’ll catch that damned cat and pay you what you’re due.”

“Cat, is it?” the bartender groaned. “I don’t suppose this is that same 'cat burglar' that seems to have been stealing from others lately?”

“The very same,” she answered. “Please, just one hour.”

“You know the rules, Veronica,” he said unsympathetically. “No one’s allowed to leave the bar 'till they’ve paid for their drinks. Now go over there and sit with the other deadbeats. You can help me clean up when I close.”

Veronica mumbled curses at him all the way to the lone corner table. She had gotten to know that particular table quite well in her months at the village, though rarely when she was sober enough to know that she was out of coin. A male rawulf sat at the table along with a male felpurr. Neither of them looked any more intoxicated than she did.

“You too, eh?” the felpurr slurred as Veronica joined the two at the so-called ‘deadbeat’ table. When she failed to answer he continued, “She’s a sultry lass, she is! I could tell you how she took my coin pouch, but I don’t figure a lizard or a dog would care for it. Just suffice to say that’s not the only pouch she got a hold of tonight!”

He bellowed with laughter as Veronica revised her earlier assumption on his alcohol intake.

The time passed slowly without much conversation between the three of them, though she did get the implication that the male felpurr went by the name of Kunor, seeing as how he only mentioned it to her a couple dozen times, usually followed by his drunken attempts to come on to her. All the while, the rawulf sat quietly at his section of the table studying various scrolls and books without really acknowledging the presence of either of them.

A crack of thunder and the unmistakable sound of pouring rain resulted in the emptying of the tavern a few hours early. Veronica and Kunor got to work on the tasks given to them by the bartender. By now, Kunor had sobered up enough to do his work without much trouble and they were finished by the time the tavern would have normally closed. It was then that Veronica realized that the rawulf hadn’t left his notes the entire time they spent cleaning.

“What’s going on?” she asked angrily as she stormed up to the table. “Why haven’t you been helping us?”

It was then that she first saw his face the entire evening. She peered over the edge of a piece of parchment he had been studying and she made out a pair of wide, inquisitive eyes made wider through the thick lenses of the glasses he was wearing. Despite the look of him, she could tell he wasn’t much older than herself, but rather looked more mature for his age.

“I’m not helping because it's not my place to,” he answered in a voice that while wise, also seemed to reflect a degree of arrogance and superiority over her. “I mearly chose this table to get away from the riff-raff of the other patrons.” And as if to close the matter, he pulled his parchment up to block out her face and went back to his studying.

She would have liked to rip that parchment from the rawulf’s paws and teach him better manners, but decided it was best not to make a scene. After all, she didn’t want to be stuck explaining things over to the guards and miss the meeting at the inn.

“The note!” she thought excitedly, remembering the parchment she had been given by the thief. The tavern was closed and now she needed to get to the inn.

She walked up to the bartender, insisted that she had done everything he had tasked her to do, and requested the door be unlocked so she could leave.

“That won’t be necessary,” the rawulf piped in. “Have a seat back over here and we’ll get this started.”

“What… you?” Veronica asked, more astonished that she hadn’t figured it out before than anything else.

Kunor chuckled as he passed her and took back his seat at the table. It seemed he had it figured out a while ago. She grumbled something inaudible at him and made her way back to the table and sat in the chair she had been in for the last few hours.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” the rawulf began. “My name is Pongo Wolfblood. I have trained in the use of magic and will also be our guide on this expedition. I’ll assume you both read the back story of the castle we’ll be exploring, so I won’t bore you with repeating what you already know. The place is about a day’s walking distance from here. We’ll leave at dawn and make camp when we arrive, beginning our expedition the following day. Any questions?”

“Two,” Veronica answered. “One, where did your information come from? And two, who else will be accompanying us?”

“You see,” Pongo said, “due to my class and status, I’ve had the fine opportunity to study at many of the world’s finest libraries. This information comes primarily from my findings in the ancient tomes found in those places. And it will be just us three and a rogue I hired to help us with the occasional lock or trap. Onassa?”

Veronica and Kunor turned in the direction Pongo had called. Her mouth fell agape as she watched the thief that had stolen her gold come calmly strolling up to the table. However, before she could manage to ready her spear, her gold was already lying on the table in front of her.

“My apologies for making you go through that,” Pongo said. “But as hard as it was to get Kunor to remain where we wouldn’t lose track of him, I asked Onassa to secure a means to make you stay put as well.”

“Which raises another question,” Veronica said as she replaced her money pouch. “Why did you want us specifically?”

“That I must also attribute to Onassa,” Pongo said. “I’ve had her watching the adventurers coming through here for the last few months to find me some good help that will work for a fair price.”

“And what do you deem ‘fair’,” this time it was Kunor that spoke, not that Veronica wasn’t ready to ask that herself.

“You’ll each receive an even share of whatever kind of loot we come away with.”

Veronica had to admit that his reasoning for picking adventurers like her was good. If he resorted to using adventurers who were far more experienced and much better equipped for the task, he would have to pay far more than just what they found at the castle.

“Well, if there are no more questions,” Pongo said, followed by a yawn. “I suggest we all get an early rest and meet at the edge of town first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Alright,” Veronica said and stood from her seat. Kunor did the same. They said their farewells and went their separate ways. Pongo stayed behind to gather his belongings and Onassa and Kunor seemed to be talking of how they would spend the rest of the night. As for Veronica, she had a companion of her own waiting for her at the inn. She’d have some fun and then get as much rest as she could for the long hike the next day.

Lighting flashed in the windows and the outline of a cloaked figure could be seen peering in.

Author’s Note: Hey all. Thank you for reading the first chapter to my fan fiction. I was inspired to write this because I’m a huge fan of the series and because as hard as I tried, I couldn’t find Wizardry fan fiction anywhere on the net. For those that haven’t played Wizardry (or more particularly, the last three Wizardry games of the series) I’ll clarify what the races of the characters are. Also, because I’ve made a point not to really say what class any of the characters are, I’ll also include that:

Veronica – Dracon – Valkyrie

Onassa – Felpurr – Thief

Kunor – Felpurr – Fighter

Pongo – Rawulf – Bishop

Dracons are half-dragons. They have dragon-like heads and their bodies are covered in dark scales. Not to be confused with Lizardmen, which are another Wizardry race altogether.
Felpurrs are a kind of cat-person race whose features resemble that of any anthromorphic cat.
Rawulves (proper plural?) are similar to Felpurrs, only they’re like anthromorphic canines.

These are only loose descriptions, but they’re only there to serve the purpose of helping you understand what the characters should look like. As I go along, I’ll try to go into further detail on their individual descriptions.

The reason I don’t tell what their classes are in the story is because I use the classes very loosely. They’re there to provide some insight as to what their abilities are, but as the story progresses, you’ll notice that they don't act much like they probably should, given their class. Pongo is a prime example. Instead of a bishop, I like to think of him as more of a scholar without the deep religious bindings that would make him a proper bishop (and be a bit of a downer for an adult fan fiction).

With a few exceptions, the party in this story is based entirely on the party I used when I played through Wizardries 6, 7, and 8.

Thanks again for reading. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Please review and let me know how I’m doing. This is only the second fan fiction I’ve written and the first was several years ago and was only one chapter, so I may need some work on my writing. Hopefully, I’ll get better as I go. See you all next chapter!