S1-3:The other races
By User: Drak'rrth In an underground room, a figure approached a rack of costumes.
He gingerly took one off the rack and put it on.
Suddenly, he disappeared.
I woke up by the glow of a torch. Uncurling my tail, I got off the slab and extinguished the light. Then, I headed outside.
It had been at least a month after I had made my way into this alternate universe through the mysterious complex with its equally-mysterious costumes. Though I had progressed a lot since then – gotten integrated with the clan and its customs, gotten a name – and, of course, turned into a full-fledged dragon along with a partially-draconic mind and morphing powers – the full magic was left to the sorcerers.
Though I still remembered my old life, it had largely become meaningless now. My attention was now spent full-time with the clan, mostly as a scout and/or guard. There was no time for reminiscing over the past.
Until that morning…
As per normal, I took off in search of food in the forest. Though the caves did host a small farm of sorts, I preferred it wild. I thought it had more flavour that way.
I morphed into my full-dragon form in all its glory and swooped over the forest, looking for prey. Finally, I spotted something lying in a clearing and decided to see if it was edible.
As I approached, however, I realized that it was an anthropomorphic dolphin. There was only one way I could think of that would land a sentient dolphin all the way inland.
It was another traveller, and he had come from the complex.
Luckily, he was human enough that he could survive for a while without water. However, I had to work fast, so I took off for the nearest salt-water lake, conveniently near the clan mountains. I left him there to revive while I reported back to Vralylth.
While my stomach growled, Vralylth consulted on a course of action with his advisors.
Finally, he said, “If this is the same case that used to plague you in the past, we must by all means help this other traveller and bring him back here. Perhaps he may be able to provide insight on this issue.”
On the way out, I grabbed a cow and instant-BBQed it. I morphed and stuffed it into my mouth before taking off.
The guy had recovered by this time, though he was still a bit disorientated and confused. I morphed back in anthro-form and talked to him.
Apparently, his name was Jim and he had followed the same advertisement I had responded to. He had just finished morphing when he was transported here and had fainted from drying out in the sun.
I carried him on my back up to the cave, and from there to the throne room. There, he repeated his story while Vralylth listened, and after that was taken away to recuperate.
Then Vralylth said, “Drak’rrth, we have had a similar case to yours just now. The scout found him in the forest, a few miles away from your location, although he was a lizard, and was conscious.”
“I suspect that these two may know each other, so I want you to take him to our dolphin friend. You can discuss with them on your situations.”
With that, he summoned the visitor, who appeared a few moments later. I took him to the dolphin’s temporary room, and we made small talk along the way.
I asked, “What’s your name, and where did you come from?”
He responded, “I came from your world, though I hardly think that, or my real name, will be of any use now. No, I have decided to use a name I had previously used only online.”
“And that is?”
“Seaphilsa.”
I stopped dead in my tracks. I actually knew this guy, back on our Earth. We were fond of chatting with each other till late nights, and he was one of the reasons I regretted staying here – not that there was many, of course.
Anyway, I was glad to meet a figure from my old life, even if only my online life. “Remember the guy you used to chat with till 2am?”
“Don’t tell me, you’re that guy…”
“Yes, only I’ve taken a new name, “Drak’rrth”.”
“What on earth made you choose THAT name?”
“Uh, I simply thought it up. Not that the other names were any better. Come to think of it, what made you choose yours?”
We chatted about old times all the way until we reached Jim.
Jim was sitting in a saltwater pool, and looking a lot better from when I first found him. Apparently, the sorcerers (our in-clan medics) had simply fed him and let him rest.
Eventually, we turned to more serious topics.
“Right, from what I understand of this game, we were teleported near to where our species’ hometown – or such − is located. Naturally, I’ve found mine, so we just have to find you two somewhere,” I said.
I continued, “I have a good idea of where you are supposed to go, Jim. This mountain is near the ocean, so your destination should be obvious. However, Seaphilsa, I have no idea of where you are supposed to go, though.”
“But we do have an idea,” Vralylth suddenly interjected, coming up from behind. I actually jumped when he spoke. “We have known of a small underground cave entrance at the foot of the mountain, but no one has volunteered to risk exploring inside.”
“However, now should be a good time, since there is nothing to lose anyway. This is the only suspected area where we think there are lizards. Otherwise, we will be at a loss at what to do, as the next recorded sentient lizard habitations are a great distance away.”
I suddenly wondered, “Dragonlord, how many such settlements are there?”
“My scouts assume that many species of animals have at least a group that has reached sentience, and that they are scattered all over the globe.”
Hmm, I thought. That meant that there could potentially be a lot of other similar victims scattered around the globe. I kept that in my mind for later.
“I will go with them and help them look for their race, Dragonlord,” I pledged.
“Do we get a say?” Seaphilsa inquired sarcastically.
Vralylth and I both turned to them. Vralylth spoke, “What are your viewpoints?”
Jim cheerfully spoke up, “I’ll look for the pod myself. It’s not as if dragons really swim, and you’ll have your hands full with the caves.”
“I’m more concerned with this anthropomorphism business. I’ll rather be fully human or fully lizard, not just some weird hybrid. I don’t suppose your magi can conjure something up?” Seaphilsa asked.
Vralylth considered, then replied, “We could use a variant of the one used on Drak’rrth – the only problem that it is permanent. As you see, he took the potion, but will you?”
“I have no desire for life on boring old Earth. I’m in!” Seaphilsa immediately replied.
Jim took slightly longer. “I read the sign, and I don’t see the practicality of accumulating 400 costumes. As much as I hate to say it, I’m taking the stuff.”
After the two of them had tanked up on potion, and after saying goodbye to Jim (another dragon was leading him to the ocean), Seaphilsa and I cautiously made our way down the mountain and into the cave. We both carried torches, which I lit with one breath. Seaphilsa slightly regretted not taking a dragon costume.
The cave felt damp, and I detected a vague scent, like that of a lizard. I informed Seaphilsa and, encouraged by that, we pressed on.
We had not gone a fraction of the way when our way was barred by a dozen spears poking in my stomach scales – luckily, they held up.
“Who are you?” a voice called out. I had a feeling of déjà vu.
“Drak’rrth, ambassador from the dragons of this mountain, with a visitor, and stop poking me!”
The spear immediately withdrew, though it was still held cautiously at us, and the figure stepped into the light.
It was another lizard.
“What do you want here? No outsider has come here for a long time,” he said.
I explained, “As you can see here, my friend here is in need of a home, and you are the only known lizard clan around here, so could you please take him in?”
“That’s just insulting,” Seaphilsa complained, but by then the guard had scooted off.
A moment later, he returned. “The Witch-King has granted you an audience, but you would be wise to tread lightly on this issue.”
“I got the idea.” With that, we set off, guided by the guard.
In no time at all, we found ourselves in a large cave, with a lizard, wearing some sort of armour, seated on a “throne”, if that was the closest description.
“You may present your case,” the witch-king said. “I am Seiphilsaya, and I demand to know what your business is here.”
“As I have mentioned before, my friend here just arrived from somewhere else, and would like to seek lodging with your clan,” I irritably told him.
“And where did he come from, such that he is unable to return home?” he inquired.
“Another dimension, which has now closed its link with this place.”
He suddenly became alert, and said, “I know what you are going through, and I can help.”
“You see, some time ago, a madman came through a portal just outside the cave, taking my guards by surprise. When we captured him and brought him down, he had the audacity to offer me a partnership.”
“Apparently, he had just discovered something he called a “serum”, which allowed transformation from human into animal, all without magic. He intended to transform himself into a powerful creature and rule over this world.”
“However, he wanted more subjects under his rule, and so, he tried to enlist me in helping him coerce humans from your world here. He did not want anyone with outside information to encounter and inform the humans here of anything from a higher technological level, so he wanted me to help transform them into animals, beasts that the humans would immediately reject.”
“My magic takes effect only if it encounters a large part of the body, so he had me enchant several costumes into transforming their wearer into the animal they wore. The difference between his serum and my magic is that magic cannot be taken off easily, while his serum merely needed an antidote.”
“The fool, however, underestimated me. No doubt he intended us to suffer under him, and I decided to reverse the situation, so that HE would be subservient to me. Thus, I agreed, and here we are.”
“Now, I myself make you an offer. Join me, and together, we will bring down this lunatic, and rule the world with an iron fist! Refuse, and you will be the first to die!”
I thought the king had gone far enough with his delusions, and I replied, “You crazy reptile! Neither I, nor my friend, will take part in your self-centred plan! The world will not have an idiot like you, or him, controlling it!”
“So be it. Now, you will die…” With that, he rushed forward at me, and drew a sword and a dagger from his belt. I narrowly dodged, and the sword penetrated the stone. It hung there for a while, quivering.
Of course, I thought. The armour enhances his speed and strength! All I had to do was remove it, and he would be helpless!
Easier said than done, I soon found out. For one, he was fast enough to dodge most of my swipes and flames, as well as get in a few dagger thrusts. For most of the time, I was on the defensive.
Suddenly, a sword hit the armour at the back. It didn’t do any damage, but distracted him long enough for me to land a punch on him. Then, I quickly sliced and tore away his armour while he was still dazed.
Frustrated, he turned and bolted into a secret hole. I decided not to follow.
At that moment, two lizards stepped out from behind a secret door and gave chase – the king was not fully trusted, then – or it could have been us. Either way, it seemed as though they heard everything.
Another lizard – they all looked alike − came up to us and announced, “On behalf of our clan, we will accept your friend into our midst, for now. We will watch him and evaluate his usefulness to the general good. Also, we have rejected Witch-King Seiphilsaya as our leader and will accept a temporary alliance with the dragons.”
“They work fast, don’t they?” I mentioned to Seaphilsa.
“Seeing that I’m part of them – for now − I guess I should get used to it,” he replied.
To the lizard, I said, “We of the dragons thank you for your cooperation. May we join in battle against the former witch-king. But,” I asked, “what changed your minds so fast?”
He shrugged. “We rejected him the moment he spoke of taking over the world. We simply want to be left in peace, but we will fight if necessary.”
“I meant my friend Seaphilsa here.”
The lizard smiled slightly. “He proved his heroics when he valiantly attacked the witch-king while you two were engaged in combat, thus helping you triumph over the king.”
Seaphilsa blushed slightly, and his tail curled. “I just took advantage of the moment.”
“Nonetheless, my work here is done. I’ll report back to Vralylth as soon as possible. But let’s visit Jim first.”
As it turned out, Jim had found a pod, conveniently within sight range of the shore. Though he was playing with them, he spared a minute to talk to us.
“I’m grateful to you for saving my life back there, Drak’rrth,” he said.
“I’ll call upon that favour some day. We have two power-hungry maniacs on our hands, so if you see anyone make a bolt through the sea, inform us, would you?” I asked.
“No problem!” he replied.
However, we still had the many people scattered around the globe, endlessly searching for those 400 costumes. I knew that our work was just beginning, if we wanted to help most of them get out of here.
I relished the task.