As they rode through the arid desert, the blazing sun bathed the landscape in golden hues, making the heat reverberate in the air. The wind blew softly, bringing with it the whisper of the sand dunes that seemed to dance around them. Al-Zahir led the group, his elegant silhouette cutting across the horizon. He walked with a natural serenity, his stick touching the sand with each step, marking the rhythm of the wind's path.
"My brave fellow travelers, allow me to tell you the story of this vast and unforgiving desert," Al-Zahir began, his voice echoing softly in the desolate expanse.
As he spoke, he gestured with his hands as if to bring the words to life. His fluid movements blended perfectly with the melody of the wind and the desert, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
"Many centuries ago, this region of Vrikhodour was a prosperous and powerful part of the Kingdom, where it was once a great capital of this nation," Al-Zahir continued, his eyes shining with the memory of stories passed down from generation to generation. "Its rulers, the ancient kings, were known as the Lords of the Sun, for they were believed to have the power of the divine star in their veins. They ruled for a long time with wisdom and justice, ensuring the prosperity of their people.
Kaizen and Xisrith listened intently to Al-Zahir, who seemed lost in the words flowing from his mouth.
"But power and wealth aroused the greed of other smaller kingdoms. Wars were waged and borders fiercely contested. The desert, once a place of beauty and tranquility, became the scene of bloody battles and attracted the presence of many monsters."
Al-Zahir paused for a moment, his eyes fixed on the rolling dunes ahead. It seemed to him that the sands carried the memories of a distant time.
"During these wars, powerful magic was conjured, ancient creatures awakened, and mysterious treasures unearthed, but the worst living curse was cast upon this region: the giant worms."
"Ah, we came face to face with one of them!" said Kaizen modestly.
At that moment, Al-Zahir stopped and looked at the two players with wide eyes. Seeing Kaizen's calm reaction, he looked at Xisrith and inquired:
"Your friend is joking, right?"
Xisrith hesitated for a second, but confirmed Psyker's statement. "No, we actually defeated a giant worm."
Again, the leader looked very surprised. "That can't be true. I didn't even see a giant corpse when I found it."
Hearing this, Kaizen pointed at Hellround, who was following them closely. "And it's all his fault that he ate half of the giant worm by himself and the other half disappeared."
This time, Hellround raised his snout at the other, as if proud and not at all sorry for what he had done.
After a few moments, Al-Zahir finally realized that neither of them was joking about what they were claiming. "Do you understand what you have done?"
They all shook their heads in the negative.
"The giant worms are ancient creatures, awakened by the chaos of war and fueled by the darkness that has spread across the land. They are ruthless predators, capable of devouring entire caravans in seconds. These creatures hide in the bowels of the dunes, sneaking up and emerging voraciously when they smell their prey. Their jaws are capable of tearing rocks apart, and their size is enough to make any adventurer panic.
Kaizen and Xisrith's eyes met, sharing both surprise and pride that they had managed to defeat such a creature.
Al-Zahir looked at them with a mixture of admiration and confusion on his face. "You two are truly extraordinary. Defeating a giant worm is a task few adventurers would dare face, and yet you defeated a bunch of Desert Abyssals. The courage and skill you displayed is admirable."
As Al-Zahir spoke, Kaizen and Xisrith's expressions grew shy as they felt appreciated for their accomplishments.
"However..." Al-Zahir continued, his tone becoming serious again. "...even though you have defeated a giant worm, you cannot underestimate the dangers that still await us. The desert is unforgiving and full of hidden dangers. We must remain vigilant and united to face any obstacle that comes our way."
The wind picked up, bringing with it a sense of urgency. The group resumed their march, with Al-Zahir leading them with even more determination. Every step they took was charged with the knowledge that the desert held ancient secrets and deadly dangers. As they moved through the arid expanse, Al-Zahir continued to tell the story of the desert. He described the mirage that deceived unsuspecting travelers, the treacherous quicksand that could swallow everything, and the scarcity of resources that tested the endurance of those who dared to cross it.
The surrounding landscape subtly changed as they progressed. Dunes gave way to barren, stony plains. The sun, now lower on the horizon, painted the landscape with orange hues and elongated shadows.
With each step, Kaizen and Xisrith felt the weight of history unfold beneath their feet, as if they were witnessing the echoes of a forgotten past. They knew that the distant ruins held precious secrets, but they also understood that their journey was far from over.
As they followed the wise and mysterious guide, the desert seemed to whisper its stories of times past, challenging the adventurers to discover its true nature and face the dangers that lay ahead.
Soon they arrived at the ruins they had seen so, so far away. And up close, they were even more impressive. Instead of the ruins being dozens of buildings, as Kaizen had previously thought, they were actually the towers of a single large building, most of it covered by the sea of sand.
…
Edited by: DrHitsuji
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