Now I'm sure you're wondering why these champions of the earth gods fought underground as opposed to just fighting on the surface like normal people (and thus legitimizing the fear of the things underground and strengthening the belief in what was going on?) Well first because once you let the creatures out of the dark places then they can take over more. Secondly they tend to stick to those caves because they don't like light. Third they are the freaking earth gods not the regular land gods, fighting in open fields would go antithesis to being of the earth! Lastly you might be wondering why not just seal the caves? Because then they can sit there and breed where you can't see them and emerge when and where you don't know where they are (on this point I can surely attest it doesn't matter, but Valrym was pretty serious about it).
And so it came to be that Valrym the avatar of dying gods set foot in a cave of his enemies to retrieve a weapon on the hope a champion would come. Valrym was dressed in heavy plate mail of his own construction, etched with different magics over the years (mostly for protectiong, wearing attack runes is a good way to get yourself blown up). He also was weilding his large hammer, because he never was much one for swords (despite making the weapon himself). The cave was massive and strewn with the last of the earth champions, it had been a failed offensive five years prior that had sent them down there, one last go at it to try and score a blow for everyone else that went disasterously (and now you are going to wonder why the darkness has not risen up and killed us all? Don't worry I say thats coming sadly).
The bodies of the soldiers were partially eaten and rotting, the entire cave was a testament to death. The creatures of the darkness were no where to be found, not even their bodies. Valrym had seen them eat their own dead in some kind of bizare cannabilisistic ritual. The soldiers hadn't even made it in very far, Valrym long suspected there had been traitors in the order, the creatures of the black were always ready to stop the Earthen soldiers as of late and this offensive had been especially futile, as if they too knew that a loss here would destroy their former enemy.
Val found the sword next to the last champion to wield it, his body was propped against a wall, the sword laying next to him probably where it fell when he died. There wasn't a sound in the caves, no creatures were stirring. Val considered it lucky most of the time he himself had to fight his way into these caves to retrieve the sword, but even their enemy seemed to be at ease for once. Valrym took up the blade and sheathed it, his task complete he turned around and came face to face with the spectre of a man. It wasn't a person, made no mind to hide that, the features were all wrong, eyes in the wrong place, mouth all messed up, arms and legs all of different lengths. No clothing either, overly pale skin marked with all sorts of nasty marks and sores.
"Avatar you came to collect your sword again? Will you send another champion soon?" The creature twisted its head around while speaking and then turned it back again, it was alarming to say the least.
"We have no more champions left to send." Valrym was tense, he didn't see others of these types of creature, but the Darkness was a tricky beast and deception was always on the menu.
"A shame, you were a good enemy, will you die with your gods I wonder?" The creature talked normal despite its appearence.
"No I will not, and eventually I'll come back down here and end you all."
"Doubtful," The creature smiled its ugly red yellow teeth stood in contrast to the rest of it, "You are welcome to try though, keep the sword it hurts those who try and take it, and be gone these places are not for your kind." The creature turned to leave, Valrym thought he could kill it while its back was turned, but there wasn't any point. He was there for the sword, he got the sword, and he knew it was just a good idea to leave before things got worse.
And so the sword returned with Valrym where it sat gathering dust until he stupidly gave it to a necromancer as a reward for saving his life from another necromancer. Fun story right? I tell you this one kills at parties. That I don't have and I'm not invited to, but the parties in my mind? People love it.
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