Tag: treasure

#Lore24 – Entry #334 – Fantasy Month IV #29 – Parting of Ways, Leaving the Wildlands

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos

It has been some time since I last wrote in this journal, for I have been immensely busy with my work in the ancient Cathedral of Eminent Tranquility.  I would spend nearly a month within the chamber working on my initial studies of the chamber, with the rest of my party rotating out to make supply runs to Vindinium and report our success to Commander Asselin and Lady Armenia, as well as deliver my messages to the Great Library.  It did not take long for the Emperor himself to learn of the discovery, for by the end of that first month, the army would establish a secured route between Vindinium and the ruins, with more than enough soldiers to keep the area quite safe, as well as escorting many of my brothers and sisters from the Library to the site to assist with cataloguing the many documents and relics I had found.

Lady Armenia and Commander Asselin would join us for a time, though I was far too focused on the work to recall much of what we discussed.  I daresay I was possessed by a need to know all that I could that I had never felt before.  I do recall Lady Armenia pulling me away for at least a night, though, making sure that I ate properly and got at least one proper night’s rest.  She likewise released me from my “armor” and restored my body to its original state, her fun having been had, and recognizing that I had found something that even she could not tear me away from.  She was quite pleased with the outcome, and we would remain friendly with one another in the coming months, though I would see little of her, as she would leave the area to return to her duties within Draconis Magna, leaving another priestess in charge of the temple she had created for Yurisaya.

I would remain within the region of the ruins throughout the winter, well into the next year as I led the Library’s researchers in our work, though I would be forced to deal with the Emperor’s own arcanists and archivists as well.  I’m told I became quite snippy with them at times, refusing to yield to their “authority” and, as I recall, blatant stupidity at times; for a wonder, I was not chastised for my actions, though I’m sure I will likely have to deal with some of the consequences in the future.  Being diplomatic and working my way through the Imperial political machine is not where my skills lie.

With summer in full swing now, I have finally come to an end of my time in the Wildlands.  Thanks to the work of the many archivists Mother sent to me, we have completed the initial phases of our work of cataloging the scrolls and books and have packed them for transport to the library.  I will be overseeing their safety along the road, though I doubt anyone would dare attack with the size of the Imperial guard that has been set to escort us.

I said my goodbyes to the Heroes of Vindinium, who had, in the time since our plunder of the vault, grown quite famous locally for their investment in the town itself.  Shassk would be remaining in the area, with many of his clan joining him to continue safeguarding the draconic ruins.  Gresilda would stay on as the leader of the growing Erisayan presence in the area as a new temple was constructed, and Ellisar was even staying, feeling that there was much more to learn from the region, even starting his own fledgling arcanist school.  It seemed that civilization was indeed coming to the Wildlands.

Risai and Korvalis were growing quite restless, though, and would be traveling with us back to the Empire until they decided exactly where they would adventure to next, though Risai said she would visit Lady Armenia before setting out. 

It also seems that I have earned the Emperor’s attention as well, for I learned, upon the day we would begin our return journey, that Aishi had been assigned to safeguard me on the way and for the foreseeable future while another of the Stellae Illustris would be assigned to Commander Asselin.  I can’t say I was pleased with this development, though at least some of her interests in me have waned in the months since I was last in the redoubt, the loss of my chastity gear and magically altered anatomy making me less appealing to her now, though she would continue her teasing and belittling of me in that smug way she had about her. 

It would undoubtedly be a trying journey back to the Great Library, but given the focus I had developed over the last few months, I had every confidence I could continue to withstand her attempts to have me begging her for release, which I no longer craved every moment of the day.

For now, though, I will finally allow myself a chance to rest.  I think I’ve earned one.

#Lore24 – Entry #333 – Fantasy Month IV #28 – Treasures of the Ancients

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos

After our brief meal and rest, finding no more bandits around us, we made our way to the vault entrance.  As we descended the massive steps to the door, the runes that had been placed upon us began to glow and hum, resonating with the energy within the complex.  Unfortunately that meant that my accessories did so as well, but by this time, I had such a narrow focus on reaching our goal that I was able to ignore the steadily increasing vibrations completely. 

Approaching the massive doors, the magic within them stirred, glowing lines of golden light tracing through the many draconic runes inscribed upon them.  Shassk took the lead as we reached the bottom of the stairs, calling out to his ancestors in the draconic tongue asking for their blessing and permission to enter, recounting our perilous journey so that they would be aware of how much we had struggled to seek their wisdom.  He knelt before the doors, and we all followed suit, holding our breaths as his voice echoed over the growing power. 

Finally, with a creaking of hinges that could very well have been the sound of a dragon’s roar, the doors swung inward, a rush of ancient air blowing out as if it were the breath of a massive being.  As we looked up, ancient arcane lights ignited along the walls, following the contours of the massive chamber beyond.  As the golden light began to grow, we saw that it illuminated what had once been the ancient dragon’s private chambers, and the literal treasure trove that lay within.  Piles of gold and gems mixed with various relics of an ancient time littered the central area, sizeable enough to earn gasps from most of my party, and though I knew it was only the tiniest fraction of what had once been there, the remnant that was left behind when the ancient dragons had left this world, it was more than they could have possibly imagined.

My attention was drawn to the much more important and valuable items within, though, for as the light continued to grow, I saw completely intact wall panels that were covered in draconic script, detailing the history of this land from ancient times, saw the blank panels from where the histories had stopped being recorded.  I likewise saw stacks of ancient scrolls and tomes, carefully stored and preserved, though likely still fragile even with the preservative spells that warded this chamber.  It was these that I approached reverently, only guessing at what knowledge could be found within.  Never before had a vault been uncovered that contained so many written records that were still intact!  My mind was already working on a plan of just how I would go about cataloging all of this knowledge, of the steps I must take to record absolutely everything that we found inside. 

I was momentarily overwhelmed, and soon realized that I would need help, and for that, I must get word to Mother back at the Great Library.

I knew not what this discovery would mean for the region known as the Wildlands, but I knew with certainty that our discover would change the region forever.  I was just as certain that I had far too few parchments, blank journals, and writing supplies to do what I must.  My true work was only just beginning, though I had just survived an adventure I could never have imagined I would ever have undertaken. 

What a time to be alive.  For this experience, I am ever thankful to the gods for their many blessings and those of the ancient dragons that were here before me.

#Lore24 – Entry #75 – Fantasy Month #15 – Dragontail Isles

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

I would very much like to travel the seas someday, and perhaps at least view the Dragontail Isles from a distance, for exploring these islands is, at the very least, extremely dangerous, but the potential gains could be immeasurable if a proper expedition could be mounted and the gods were willing.  The Dragontail Isles are a smaller island chain that is attached to the southern region of a larger archipelago, the Dragonmaw, and are the only part of the archipelago that have been explored in any way since the Great Cataclysm, if not before.  Ancient magics of unimaginable power protect the main body of the Dragonmaw, and dangers far more mundane yet just as deadly protect the Dragontail Isles.

Consisting of a dozen small islands and countless atolls between them (the reefs of which make navigation through the area extremely challenging, as the alternative name for the Isles being the Great Graveyard of Ships indicates), the Dragontails share a generally long and narrow profile, and seem to have been formed through volcanic activity.  The climates are generally tropical, with frequent storms blowing in from the seemingly eternal tempests surrounding the greater Dragonmaw region, and most of the islands have some significant coverage of cypress trees in the coastal swampy areas, with some possessing nearly flat profiles, while others possess some significant rocky, nearly mountainous, areas.  The largest of these isles is approximately five miles long and two wide at the widest point.

The islands have varied inhabitants, though the locals mostly consist of pirate groups who use a few of the coves, and who have struck deals with the primary local population, kobolds.  The kobolds living here are tribal in nature, and generally more savage than those found within the Empire and other settled lands, and are especially territorial, not taking well at all to those who would dare set foot upon their lands.  They can be dealt with in some cases, as the pirates who make use of the islands have proven, likely through gifts and tribute (perhaps an echo of the ancient dragons receiving such gifts from those who would appease them).  Records are filled with stories from survivors of the savagery of these kobolds, who tend to slaughter interlopers without mercy, using their trained drakes as flying and swimming mounts and beasts of war.  Notably, some tribes are reportedly quite skilled saboteurs for all of their savage nature:  able to breathe beneath the waves, they approach moored vessels under the cover of night or during storms and proceed to tear the ships apart from below, collecting any stored treasures at their leisure once the crews have been dealt with.

It is the many hundreds of confirmed shipwrecks over the centuries that draw treasure hunters to the Dragontails, and one island in particular draws the most attention, Cypress Isle, the tip of the tail, so to speak.  Furthest from its sister islands, Cypress Isle is surrounded by the remnants of lost ships, but still has the easiest approach of all the islands in the chain.  Though not the largest, it has the most history associated with it, with tales of treasures buried upon it spanning centuries, and confirmed signs of habitation by groups other than the local kobolds, with at least one ruined fortification still visible along the coast.  Accounts from multiple survivors of shipwrecks upon the island likewise report smaller signs of civilization deeper within, reportedly even a graveyard haunted by the restless spirits.  It is the accounts of these survivors that also help to fuel the belief in great treasures upon the island, for their accounts are filled with descriptions of markers that supposedly point to treasures, manmade swamps filled with wrecked ships beneath the surface, even pits filled with deadly traps and ancient treasures.

Of course, such tales are not unique to this region, for there are countless such islands spread across the face of Andyllion, but I will admit, as skeptical as I am of such stories, enough similarities exist amongst the tales, and from multiple time periods, to make such stories at least plausible.  Likely there is a significant amount of wealth to be found from the shipwrecks alone, but what the kobolds do with their plunder hasn’t been determined.  Some assume they simply add it to their vast treasure hoards hidden within the volcanic tunnels below the islands, while some believe they may transport it, perhaps through these same tunnels or via their drakes, to the islands of the Dragonmaw, for it seems only the kobolds are able to reach these lands (as observed by a handful of explorers who noted their flight patterns from a distance, then tried to follow them in, only to be rebuffed by the storms).  I wonder if there is some intelligence to the storms, or simply an ancient magic preventing any who doesn’t share some form of draconic heritage from approaching them.  An expedition consisting entirely of kobolds could perhaps test the theory, but it is doubtful that any kingdom would fund such a folly.