Xeiana Winning Entry

Dakota’s head was still reeling from the display of the Goddess’ power. The skeleton had become more than an old relic that was perfectly preserved, now it seemed like the past was indeed returning to them, in more ways than one. Sitting down in his tent, he glanced at the gargoyles and Gurahdi who were running, and at times flying, around in a panic. However, at the moment, his mind wasn’t processing what he was seeing. From what he gathered from Pandoria’s words, in time, these old reptiles would be roaming around once again in Mistica, in fact, hadn’t he seen at least a few of them already around?

His purple eyes studied the various ores and minerals that were scattered around on his desk. Nothing has yet been dug up that resembled the fossils Pandoria has shown him, although he had an inkling of a thought that a few lucky Misticans had gotten their hands on a completed skeleton somehow.

It was then when the racket of the others around him truly reached his ears.

“They’ve taken the relics-”

“The talisman is missing!”

“-couldn’t find them, they-”

The Traveler leaped up and grabbed one of the arms of the nearest guard, determined to get to the bottom of what was happening. He did see some Imps nearby earlier, but surely they couldn’t have gotten that bold. How could they have gotten past Blackrock’s guards?

“What is happening?” he questioned the rather large gargoyle. The gray skinned male lowered his head, pointing to the vaults within, explaining what the imps had done. The Lirionox’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. So they had managed to not only evade the guards, but even avoided getting caught by the Gurahdi stationed outside as well. This sudden boldness, even in the safety of the shadows, did not bode well. The King of the Imps, Mephitic, had to be up to something, and with the talisman, who knows what he could do. A foreboding feeling swept over him, casting a shadowed look on his face.

Of all the times that the imps had been repelled, they have finally succeeded in wrecking irreversible havoc. It was no longer their mischievous tendencies, but they had taken relics that had been not been seen for a long time, and it was like they were robbing not only Mistica of the past, but the past itself, and they had to stop it now.

“Gather a few of the Gurahdi and your fellow gargoyles for a search party. We’ll see if we can track those imps, knowing them they may leave a trail to follow in their haste to escape, so we must act quickly! Send a few back into the vaults to see what all was taken and to make sure they don’t come back a second time.” The gargoyle nodded and flew off, presumably to talk to both Raimia and Blackrock to relay the plan. Dakota rubbed his forehead, looking at the quarry before deciding he should take a look at the vaults himself while the parties were quickly rounded up. He could only picture Alan in there worried over how the relics were being treated in the grimy hands of the imps.

The voice of his old friend had indeed echoed through the cavern as he entered the vaults, having to sidestep past a very large gargoyle and his wings. Alan was hobbling back and forth through the wrecked room, a hand tracing where relics once stood, even the skeleton had been taken away. The library of Raimia’s had been ransacked as well, several scrolls stolen from where they had laid on the bookshelves. Sadly, as Alan had found out, although the cave paintings and art had remained, several of the items left behind were damaged. A few scrolls and writings torn and tattered, some minerals dropped and destroyed in their haste to be taken.

For something as grand as the discovery of the Lost Door, to having most of it being stolen from underneath their noses, it was a heartbreaking event to have happened. He felt a slender hand tap his shoulder, bringing him out of the silent mourning for the view in front of him.

“Sir, we’re ready outside to scout out and find the imps.” Dakota nodded to the female guard, looking at the Gurahdi and other gargoyles behind her, all ready to leave at his instructions. Time was of the essence right now, and they had to move quick before the imps had a moment of intelligence and retraced their steps to cover their tracks. The quicker they left, the better the chance of succeeding, even though he would have preferred to work alone, in this case, he couldn’t afford that luxury. Alone, there was a good chance he would not find the trail in time.

“Alright, let’s go. We cannot linger any further here.” With that said, his group left the vault and the quarry, heading to where the Gurahdi guards had last seen the imps heading in, towards the mountains of stone and sand. They were blessed that the sun was being half hidden behind a group of clouds, able to walk quicker and faster without becoming exhausted by the heat. Nearing one of the mountains led to their first discovery. As Dakora climbed a small ledge, his boot crunched on something, and when he moved his foot, in the sand, there was something that gleamed red.

Bending down to investigate the gleam, he picked up a broken gem that had come from the quarry. Seems the imps were being rather careless with their trophies while they ran, most likely attributed to their victory. He held it up for the rest of the group to see.

“Looks like we’re on the right trail. Fan out in this direction; there is bound to be more clues on where they are headed!” Standing up, Dakota balanced the gem in the palm of his paw before his fingers closed over it. Determination flowed through him as he slipped it into his pocket. He would find the imps, and they would pay for the desecration of the quarry. For Alan, Raimia, Blackrock, and the rest of Mistica, he promised that.