Somewhere, inside the Verdant Maw currently there was the constant sounds of wind howling, through the narrow canyon as a girl sprinted, her breath ragged, her heart pounding against her chest.
That girl was Eshara, after she saw how powerful the member of the Marionettes was she knew she had to do something. She couldn't stay in the clan, help was needed after the easy defeat of there warriors.
'Father, Uncle, you have to survive this. We need you to make a comeback, no matter what it takes.'
She wasn't even sure how, as she barely knew anyone outside the clans. Where could she go what does she need to do? Those questions scared her.
Distracted as she rounded a boulder bend, she collided with three figures, she looked up to three men standing before her.
Eshara staggered, fixing her disheveled hair, and her gaze locked onto Riven at the forefront of the group. He had a fierce gaze, that had look up at her, because the ashborn clan were all tall she was 6'5".
She also meet his with a desperate tone. "Please... help me! My village... my clan... they're about to be destroyed. You're the only ones who can help us fight back."
Riven crossed his arm, his eyes narrowed as he assessed Eshara. "Why should we risk our lives for a stranger?" he asked.
"I... I don't know what else to do!" Eshara voice trembled, but she quickly steadied herself. "We have something... something of great value in the village. If you help us, I can promise you a portion of it. It's the village treasure…something that could be worth more than you can imagine. Please." she added, stepping closer, her hands cupped.
She had came to a quick realization if she, didn't get help what the point of having the treasure now, when the Obsidian Clan and Marionettes, could get it.
She saw that, Riven hesitated, her eyes flicking to his companions. Jareth who gaze was assessing the girl, because just like Riven they both knew where she came from.
'Asborn Clan needs help…last time I passed, they never leave the Maw neither had conflict with others…who?' He wondered.
Eshara gazed returned to Riven.
"You're asking us to risk our lives for a treasure," Riven eyes brows perked up. "But what is it worth to us? How can we trust you?"
Before the Eshara could answer, everyone heard a distant rumble echoed through the valley, faint but unmistakable sound of a battle. Riven's eyes sharpened, and he turned toward the sound. Eshara breath was caught in her throat.
"Wait..." she stammered. "That's... that's where my clan is! They're fighting is getting worst! We don't have time to waste!"
The Riven paused, his hand gripping his muscles. He weighed Eshara words carefully, then glanced over his shoulder at the Jareth. Who nodded, a silent agreement.
He rubbed his temple, he knew better than to believe anyone so easily. People lied, used others, made promises they couldn't keep. Loyalty was a currency he had learned to hoard, and this woman this stranger hadn't earned it.
Yet, there was something about her... something raw in the way she held herself together. She wasn't begging for mercy, not quite. She was asking, and there was a difference. But asking was a dangerous thing in a world where you could be betrayed by a simple word.
'Still, there also another coincidence… the temple Garudd talked about is also in this same direction does. The Asborn have something to do with it.' He thought.
Riven exhaled slowly. "Fine," he said. "I wasn't planning to help anyone else beside Sarah right, but the fight is too close to ignore. You want our help? Lead us there, and we'll fight. But as for your treasure... it better be worth the risk."
Eshara eyes widened in relief. "It will be! I swear it! If you help us, you'll get more than you've ever imagined."
Riven expression softened slightly, but only for a moment. He nodded once. "Then we have a deal. But remember this…if you deceive us, there will be consequences."
With that, the group set off toward the distant sounds of the clash, their steps quick and purposeful.
In fact why Riven agree was that the treasure, he has a different way of being heroic than Mira, he needed something in return but of course there also this situation where, he's trying to save Sarah for a reason.
Either way, Eshara led the way, her resolve hardening as they approached the chaos ahead. The promise of help had been made, and now, she could only hope that the treasure she had spoken of would be enough to ensure their victory…and the survival of her people.
Uncle please be alive!
A while later, the group arrived at where they saw a battle that had came to and end, smoke and dust swirled in the dry valley air, the ground littered with bodies some groaning, others motionless.
Eshara heart pounded in her chest as she sprinted ahead of the group, her eyes locking onto a horrific sight. Her was just speared through, there village massive log wall.
His body limp, blood dripping onto the cracked earth below.
"Uncle!" she screamed, her voice raw with anguish. She dashed forward, ignoring the pain in her legs, stumbling over broken tree, stones and fallen warriors.
She had, alway felt like something was going to go bad between a Vertex Lack and Aegis Ward, also he had sacrifice himself awaken there curse but also wearing out himself. He was surely to die now, that he lost this fight.
She couldn't help but remember, all the time her uncle thought her how to fight, after he fight was away all the laughter and smile had disappeared after getting older.
Reaching him, she grabbed at his arm, trying to lift him, placing his hand behind his head, her hands trembling. His breathing was faint, his eyes flickering open as he tried to speak.
Behind her, cruel laughter rang through the air.
"Hah! I finally did it!" Srunok who had speared her uncle grinned wickedly, raising his bloodied spear high. His armor was battered, but the fire of victory burned in his eyes. "You always looked down on me, old man! But now, look at you! Pinned like a damned insect!"
Eshara eyes burned with fury, but before she could speak, another voice cut through the laughter.
"No more waiting! Destroy the whole clan!"
The command came from a the Marionettes member, standing atop a fallen Asborn Clan warrior, his cold eyes scanning the battlefield.
At his signal, the blue skin men, surged forward, some had weapons raised, ready to bring the final slaughter upon the village.
Then…
BOOM!
A sudden deafening explosion tore through the center of the everyone, a shockwave of sand and dust blasting outward. The charging warriors were thrown back like ragdolls, crashing into the ground, some of them not getting up.
Even, the fired air of the explosion spread more than it should have, that the Obsidian Warriors brought up therr sheild to block the fire and debris.
Eshara shielded her eyes as the force of the blast rattled her bones. The air grew still for a moment.
As the dust cleared, a lone figure stood at the heart of the destruction. It was, Riven
Around him, the bodies of defeated blue skin men lay sprawled, groaning in agony. The Marionettes member, stood amidst the wreckage, still on his feet but visibly intrigued at the sight of such explosion and somedare disrupt his fight.
Riven, scanned around at all the blue skin men and Obsidian clan Warriors, he wasn't worried yet because. He covered by a blue, intricate design shield.
It was his, Thalron's Bastion a small, rune-inscribed sphere crafted from enchanted metal. Upon being thrown, it triggers a dual effect, a devastating explosion and a momentary protective shield.
It was a, specially defense item he leaned in the past, that can no longer be find it hard to make so he rarely uses it.
"Blue Skin Men again…you weird creatures are everywhere I go…still your easy to kill but it's weird that there so many that listen to you." Riven gaze locked onto the Marionettes member.
He was short about, 5'5" he wore a half metal rusted black mask, pitch black eyes, he had a hooded long black and red robe, covered with intricate line and ancient, temple patterns.
Onto, the both side of his shoulder metal pads their were, three long red and black feathers, shark gauntlet arm covers.
Before the Marionettes member answered, his glare locked onto, Jareth who slowly walked down into the Asborn Clan, his eyes flickered.
"Ahh, so you're the ones Zackie told me about the big damn "heroes" who stopped the takeover of the Sand Vault." He let out laugh, shaking his head. "Damn, I thought you'd be taller. Or at least a little more… impressive."
He tilted his head, his grin widening. "But hey, credit where it's due…you killed so many of a our, creatures. That takes guts. Or maybe just dumb luck. Either way, I should be mad, right? Furious. Swearing revenge, all that dramatic nonsense. But honestly?" He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "I'm kinda excited."
"See, most of the people I fight? They scream, they beg, they run. But you?" He pointed a finger. "You actually think you've got a chance. That's cute. I like that."His eyes gleamed with something unhinged, something playful.
Then he cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders as if warming up. "So tell you what I'll give you the first hit. Make it count. Really put your soul into it. Hell, I might even pretend it hurts." He chuckled darkly, his grin sharpening like a blade. "…"
Before, he can continue Riven was just standing had gotten so bord but mostly frustrated because of time, that he dashed forward in blur punched at the Marionettes Member.