Solo Warrior 35: Of Kings and Crowns

[Bungleau]

Missy Hissy pulled the lever hidden behind the fallen statue and slowly rode the grinding elevator to the surface. The sun shone bright after the dim light of the shrine, and she paused for several moments to let her eyes adjust. There was sand, just as there was at the entrance to the shrine, but more vegetation, and she could smell the salty tang of a nearby sea in the air.

She released her daggers from their sheaths to make sure they were working smoothly, then resheathed them and headed toward the smell of the ocean. The thud of rope on boxes and the tang of steel hitting steel reached her ears, and as she stepped into a clearing, a party of seafaring travelers greeted her. After a brief discussion, during which they wanted more than she was willing to give, steel flashed in the sunlight, and in a few moments, with balls of fire and ice raining down from the sky, she was surrounded by disintegrating corpses. Interesting... Jathil's mind tricks seemed to be so effective now that she could cast a firestorm on herself, and suffer no ill effects.

She realized that the giant body of water in front of her must be the fabled Lost Sea, unviewed by sentient eyes for centuries. How the pirate group had arrived there surprised her... perhaps they had surfed through the trees, as rumors abounded, or perhaps a miscast Vanish had done them in. In either case, those who operated outside the law were often found in strange places, and they were no longer a concern for her.

Wading into the shallow salt water, she stretched out her arms and began swimming. Following the shore, looking for items of interest, she soon found an island with a small opening. She was confronted by an old samurai, whom she promptly slew, and retrieved an ancient sword from a giant boulder. Thoughts of an old legend of a boy who became king by withdrawing a sword from a similar stone crossed her mind, causing her to laugh. What would she want with kingship? To be beholden to all those below her, to be in fear for her life, lest she upset one of them? To sleep every night, not knowing if she would wake up in the morning? To eat a meal, not knowing for sure if the food was good or poisoned until it was too late? That was not the life for her, to be sure.

Heading west, she found a clearing with the remains of a wooden cart. This must be the marker for Talrik's treasure, she thought. Inventorying the two chests that had fallen from the cart, she found little of interest. Pulling out the map Talrik had given her, she studied the words. Nineteen measures due south... but there was naught but the wild sea in front of her! Stepping back into the water, she swam out, diving periodically to check the bottom of the sea.

At long last, she saw something in the depths, and diving deeply, defending herself from several crabs, she found more treasure chests. These must have fallen from the ship, while those on shore had been salvaged.

As she opened the last treasure chest and scoured its contents, she looked around before heading to the surface, and nearly lost her air. Before her, in the depths of the sea, was the remains of a lost city... it must be the fabled city of Collaseum!

[bsftcs]

Well written, Bungleau. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[ZaRos]

And yet another well written chapter of Missy Hissy adventures [img]smile.gif[/img]
You have been working pretty hard these past days haven’t you?
Well I would just let you know that you work is appreciated [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Wyvern]

HUrrah!!!!

Yet another chapter!!! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Gives us even more reasons for which to be thankful!!!

Good one, Bungleau!!!


Wyv

[Bungleau]

Thanks for the kind comments, all. I'm on a roll, all of a sudden. I think the curses Missy has been uttering in my name are starting to take effect... she's been near the doorway to Cet's tomb since May or thereabouts...

My goal is to get caught up to her in the story in the very near future. That leaves Collaseum and the pyramid, for the most part, to go. And stay tuned, brethren and sistren of Ironworks... you will have the chance to decide the future...