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Description
Kalderasha the Great, takes his daughter Valentina, Lady Rosalind of Alexandria, and Bangerz & Mash with him on a task to retrieve precious stones requested by the Hermit on top of the waterfall in order to get the ingredients needed to complete a ritual.

*This drawing is actually a 14" x 17" and took me about 10 hours here and there. This is my first ambitious drawing of this size using colored pencils and markers.

(The Story continues...)

Before Bangerz and Mash return to the group they notice everyone clearing out of the chamber. They quickly return to Kalderasha.

"Kalderasha sir, the monsters have cleared out of the chamber" Mash informs.

"Is that so?" Kalderasha asks skeptically.

"It is, we saw them leave" Bangerz confirms.

"It sounds like a trap..." Kalderasha says suspiciously.

"What other choice do we have father?" Valentina asks.

"Better to error on the side of caution, we are not warriors dear" Lady Rosalind reminds Valentina.

"I understand, what do the monsters look like anyways?" Valentina asked curiously.

"They are scary Ms. Valentina" Mash whispers seriously.

"They are not! They are just short over muscled little gray skinned people" Bangerz laughed.

"Hmmm..." Kalderasha narrowed his eyes nodding.

"Little you say..." Lady Rosalind notices Kalderasha's quiet affirmation.

"Perhaps my father can deal with these little gray people should they be hostile?" Valentina looks to her father for reassurance.

"Very well, let's proceed" Kalderasha quickly answers after thinking for a moment.

Kalderasha leads the group down the way until it opens up around the corner into a average sized chamber. Bits of different colored crystals protrude out catching any light sparkling with a radiance. There were some wheel barrels full of different colored broken bits of crystals. A few pick axes lay near the spot where they were mining the crystals. Bangerz and Mash quickly dashed toward the wheel barrel grabbing five different colors except purple.

"Do you think we have enough Kalderasha?" Bangerz asked showing him as he returned.

"We must retrieve every color, including that purple stone I see in the corner as well" Kalderasha answered as he took a few of the small pieces of crystal examining under a torch light.

"That Hermit only asked for three different colors" Lady Rosalind pointed out.

"Yes, but you don't know him like I do" Kalderasha answered shaking his head.

"The more you speak of him, the more I question his honor" Lady Rosalind narrowed her eyes as she held her torch looking around.

"Would you like me to hold the torch Lady Rosalind?" Valentina offered her assistance.

"No thank you dear, too bad a certain daughter of mine isn't as loyal a family member" Lady Rosalind replied.

"You see Mash, this isn't so scary is it?" Bangerz whispered.

"I guess not..." Mash shrugged.

"Search the wheel barrel for the purple colored crystal" Kalderasha instructed the boys.

"Yes sir!" they both answered.

"Who is your daughter?" Valentina asked.

"Her name is Jessica" Lady Rosalind answered.

"Oh Jessica, I think I have heard of her, but I do not travel much. I have only been to your village a couple of times with my father for brief shopping excursions" Valentina explained.

"Yes, she is now my only child and she ran off to "avenge" Alistair" Rosalind said almost bitterly.

"I'm sorry, but I truly believe Jessica will be just fine with the small group of travelers she left with" Valentina adds.

"Lads! Can you not find a purple crystal?!" Kalderasha asked impatiently.

"I'm sorry sir, but I don't think there is one in here" Mash explains.

"I don't see one either, but I do see one over in the corner, a huge one!" Bangerz points out in the dim reaches of the torch.

"Hold this!" Kalderasha orders handing his torch to Bangerz picking up a pick ax.

"Have you lost it!? They will hear us!" Lady Rosalind scolded.

Kalderasha ignores her and quickly takes a swing at the thinnest part of the protruding purple crystal. It makes a loud sound as he strikes it.

"Kalderasha!" Lady Rosalind looks around nervously.

"There is no use talking to him when he has him mind made up" Valentina replied.

Another loud strike echoed through the chamber as Lady Rosalind vigilantly looked around nervously.

"Bangerz! Mash! Come close!" Rosalind warned feeling a sudden presence.

"Grrr...Raal Tualle Var-hille da rawk!" a deep voice shouted.

A short but stocky gray skinned dwarf appeared accompanied by three muscular mole men holding smaller pick axes. The dwarf had a thick black beard and yellowish looking eyes. His death looked horrible, but he carried a big pick ax and didn't look like one to be trifled with.

"What's he saying?!" Bangerz asked drawing his copper sword.

"I don't know, I've never seen anyone or thing like him" Lady Rosalind said pointing her torch and ice wand.

Kalderasha quickly drew both his staff and rapier as the gray dwarf drew closer to them.

"Bawzax!" the gray dwarf shouted as the muscular mole men rushed them.

"Oh no you don't!" Lady Rosalind shouted quickly muttering her incantation summoning a line of icicles to protrude from the ground stabbing and cutting each of the mole men. They were knocked off balance as Bangerz and Mash quickly pounced on them. Valentina quickly whispered her prayers for both Bangerz and Mash for protection. The mole men tried to counter the boys attacks, but the kids were too fast for them. The gray dwarf quickly advanced striking the ground where Bangerz and Mash were just moments before creating a shock wave knocking both lads off balance. Kalderasha immediately sprung into action slashing the dwarf mutliple times with his rapier then quickly summoned a fire ball blasting him back several feet. The moles quickly rushed at them again, but Valentina quickly blasted all three of them with her wand sending them reeling back again. The gray dwarf quickly recovered and advanced back on Kalderasha seeing he was the biggest threat. Before he could get to Kalderasha, a sizzle spell scorched him.

"They're retreating!" Bangerz shouted happily.

"Enough!" another deep voice shouted.

Everyone looked up to see an armored gray dwarf accompanied by two other gray dwarfs and a bigger group of muscular moles.

"We cannot fight all of them" Lady Rosalind replied to Kalderasha.

"We can run this way!" Mash shouted from behind quickly finding another exit out of the chamber.

"Now Valentina!" Kalderasha shouted.

Valentina summoned a bright pinkish light which blinded the other parties for a moment while they ran out the exit.

"Voo dhoul pol!" a deep voice echoed.

"Did you get the purple crystal?" Mash asked as they ran.

"Yes!" Kalderasha wheezed.

They ran for a almost a minute until they came to a dead end.

"Oh no!" Valentina said with a sinking feeling.

"We're trapped!" Bangerz shouted.

"Now what?!" Mash asked.

Kalderasha looked around. There were no other caverns as it emptied into a small mining area for the crystals.

"That's right! You're trapped!" a deep voice answered.

Everyone turned around to face their pursuers. The gray dwarf with the white beard stood facing them with three other gray dwarves and several muscular deep moles blocking any avenue of escape.

"Let us go! Now!" Kalderasha thundered.

"You are in no position to bargain with me you thieves!"

"Who sent you into my domain!?" the old gray dwarf demanded.

"No one, we are simply lost" Lady Rosalind answered.

"So you decided you wanted to steal my gems while you trespassed!?" the old gray dwarf retorted.

"Then you attack my kin!? Such crimes are punishable by hard labor! All of you will be my slaves!" the gray dwarf declared.

"We have no wish to fight with you, now let us pass!" Kalderasha demanded.

"Voo Yish bhoul du raipi!" one of the dark dwarves spoke up.

"You have only two options, you come quietly or we kill you here" the leader announced.

Lady Rosalind backed up and motioned for the kids to come close.

"Can we have a moment while I explain to the kids what is happening?" Lady Rosalind asked.

"I will give you one minute, do not try my patience! Any false moves and my people will attack!" the leader warned.

"What are you doing" Kalderasha whispered.

"Trust me" Lady Rosalind said quietly as she began reading a scroll.

"Whoo del cvell!" another dark dwarf mumbled.

"You fools! A spell! Bawzax!" the leader shouted as they rushed at them with their weapons. Lady Rosalind shouted the last of the scroll and quickly in a bright flash of light, they disappeared and reappeared at the entrance to the door.

"Valentina, open the door" Lady Rosalind shouted.

"What just happened?!" Bangerz demanded.

"Lady Rosalind got rid of the monsters!" Mash pointed looking around seeing no one.

"It seems Lady Rosalind had a scroll of that Evac spell that so many adventures speak of saving their life" Valentina explained.

"I didn't know you had anything like that" Kalderasha said with surprise.

"I knew something amiss may happen, so I took measures into my own hands" Lady Rosalind declared.

Valentina held the earthen key and turned it in front of her, and the secret entrance opened.

"What about the monsters out there?" Mash asked.

"The monsters out there are nothing compared to what lurks in here!" Bangerz quickly explained as they ran out and Valentina sealed the door behind them.

"That was close, we barely didn't escape" Valentina sighed in relief.

"Let us go and collect our reward and be gone" Kalderasha advised as they quickly made their way out of the cave knocking back any of the monsters that dare get in their way. Once they were outside, everyone breathed the fresh air just happy to see the sky once again.

"Alexandria shall be saved" Lady Rosalind said as they approached the Hermit's house.

"Congratulations Kalderasha! I wasn't sure you still had it in you" the Hermit suddenly appeared.

"What were you playing at!? There were horrible monsters in there!? We could have all been slayed!" Lady Rosalind suddenly berated him.

"But we fought well!" Bangerz added in lightening the situation.

"That's right! No monsters stopped us!" Mash continued on.

The Hermit looked at them all as Kalderasha and the boys showed the crystals. The Hermit nodded his head with amazement.

"Very well, this calls for a celebration. Come and share your tales!" the Hermit said leading them back into his small house.

"Here you are" Kalderasha quickly said getting down to business handing over the crystal shards.

The Hermit looked at them with a quick approving glance and quickly handed Kalderasha a leather pouch.

"There should be what you need" the Hermit said nonchalantly.

The unlikely party carried on for almost twenty minutes with Lady Rosalind glaring at the Hermit just about the entire time only kept calm with the wave of Kalderasha's hand. The Hermit received more accounts of what happened from Bangerz and Mash than anyone else while getting an occasional nod or yes from Valentina who quickly returned the secret key.

"Those gray dwarves won't come above ground will they?" Valentina asked an obvious question.

"Who knows? That seal will only keep them down for so long, but they generally don't like the surface" the Hermit answered vaguely.

"Well if you will excuse us, we have our towns to protect, thank you for your hospitality" Lady Rosalind said begrudgingly.

"...wished I could say it was a pleasure" Lady Rosalind mumbled as they left heading to Farebury then back to Alexander to perform a ritual to keep portals from the netherworld from appearing inside the towns.

(The End)...for now

Description
Kalderasha the Great, takes his daughter Valentina, Lady Rosalind of Alexandria, and Bangerz & Mash with him on a task to retrieve precious stones requested by the Hermit on top of the waterfall in order to get the ingredients needed to complete a ritual.

*This drawing is actually a 14" x 17" and took me about 10 hours here and there. This is my first ambitious drawing of this size using colored pencils and markers.

(The Story continues...)

Before Bangerz and Mash return to the group they notice everyone clearing out of the chamber. They quickly return to Kalderasha.

"Kalderasha sir, the monsters have cleared out of the chamber" Mash informs.

"Is that so?" Kalderasha asks skeptically.

"It is, we saw them leave" Bangerz confirms.

"It sounds like a trap..." Kalderasha says suspiciously.

"What other choice do we have father?" Valentina asks.

"Better to error on the side of caution, we are not warriors dear" Lady Rosalind reminds Valentina.

"I understand, what do the monsters look like anyways?" Valentina asked curiously.

"They are scary Ms. Valentina" Mash whispers seriously.

"They are not! They are just short over muscled little gray skinned people" Bangerz laughed.

"Hmmm..." Kalderasha narrowed his eyes nodding.

"Little you say..." Lady Rosalind notices Kalderasha's quiet affirmation.

"Perhaps my father can deal with these little gray people should they be hostile?" Valentina looks to her father for reassurance.

"Very well, let's proceed" Kalderasha quickly answers after thinking for a moment.

Kalderasha leads the group down the way until it opens up around the corner into a average sized chamber. Bits of different colored crystals protrude out catching any light sparkling with a radiance. There were some wheel barrels full of different colored broken bits of crystals. A few pick axes lay near the spot where they were mining the crystals. Bangerz and Mash quickly dashed toward the wheel barrel grabbing five different colors except purple.

"Do you think we have enough Kalderasha?" Bangerz asked showing him as he returned.

"We must retrieve every color, including that purple stone I see in the corner as well" Kalderasha answered as he took a few of the small pieces of crystal examining under a torch light.

"That Hermit only asked for three different colors" Lady Rosalind pointed out.

"Yes, but you don't know him like I do" Kalderasha answered shaking his head.

"The more you speak of him, the more I question his honor" Lady Rosalind narrowed her eyes as she held her torch looking around.

"Would you like me to hold the torch Lady Rosalind?" Valentina offered her assistance.

"No thank you dear, too bad a certain daughter of mine isn't as loyal a family member" Lady Rosalind replied.

"You see Mash, this isn't so scary is it?" Bangerz whispered.

"I guess not..." Mash shrugged.

"Search the wheel barrel for the purple colored crystal" Kalderasha instructed the boys.

"Yes sir!" they both answered.

"Who is your daughter?" Valentina asked.

"Her name is Jessica" Lady Rosalind answered.

"Oh Jessica, I think I have heard of her, but I do not travel much. I have only been to your village a couple of times with my father for brief shopping excursions" Valentina explained.

"Yes, she is now my only child and she ran off to "avenge" Alistair" Rosalind said almost bitterly.

"I'm sorry, but I truly believe Jessica will be just fine with the small group of travelers she left with" Valentina adds.

"Lads! Can you not find a purple crystal?!" Kalderasha asked impatiently.

"I'm sorry sir, but I don't think there is one in here" Mash explains.

"I don't see one either, but I do see one over in the corner, a huge one!" Bangerz points out in the dim reaches of the torch.

"Hold this!" Kalderasha orders handing his torch to Bangerz picking up a pick ax.

"Have you lost it!? They will hear us!" Lady Rosalind scolded.

Kalderasha ignores her and quickly takes a swing at the thinnest part of the protruding purple crystal. It makes a loud sound as he strikes it.

"Kalderasha!" Lady Rosalind looks around nervously.

"There is no use talking to him when he has him mind made up" Valentina replied.

Another loud strike echoed through the chamber as Lady Rosalind vigilantly looked around nervously.

"Bangerz! Mash! Come close!" Rosalind warned feeling a sudden presence.

"Grrr...Raal Tualle Var-hille da rawk!" a deep voice shouted.

A short but stocky gray skinned dwarf appeared accompanied by three muscular mole men holding smaller pick axes. The dwarf had a thick black beard and yellowish looking eyes. His death looked horrible, but he carried a big pick ax and didn't look like one to be trifled with.

"What's he saying?!" Bangerz asked drawing his copper sword.

"I don't know, I've never seen anyone or thing like him" Lady Rosalind said pointing her torch and ice wand.

Kalderasha quickly drew both his staff and rapier as the gray dwarf drew closer to them.

"Bawzax!" the gray dwarf shouted as the muscular mole men rushed them.

"Oh no you don't!" Lady Rosalind shouted quickly muttering her incantation summoning a line of icicles to protrude from the ground stabbing and cutting each of the mole men. They were knocked off balance as Bangerz and Mash quickly pounced on them. Valentina quickly whispered her prayers for both Bangerz and Mash for protection. The mole men tried to counter the boys attacks, but the kids were too fast for them. The gray dwarf quickly advanced striking the ground where Bangerz and Mash were just moments before creating a shock wave knocking both lads off balance. Kalderasha immediately sprung into action slashing the dwarf mutliple times with his rapier then quickly summoned a fire ball blasting him back several feet. The moles quickly rushed at them again, but Valentina quickly blasted all three of them with her wand sending them reeling back again. The gray dwarf quickly recovered and advanced back on Kalderasha seeing he was the biggest threat. Before he could get to Kalderasha, a sizzle spell scorched him.

"They're retreating!" Bangerz shouted happily.

"Enough!" another deep voice shouted.

Everyone looked up to see an armored gray dwarf accompanied by two other gray dwarfs and a bigger group of muscular moles.

"We cannot fight all of them" Lady Rosalind replied to Kalderasha.

"We can run this way!" Mash shouted from behind quickly finding another exit out of the chamber.

"Now Valentina!" Kalderasha shouted.

Valentina summoned a bright pinkish light which blinded the other parties for a moment while they ran out the exit.

"Voo dhoul pol!" a deep voice echoed.

"Did you get the purple crystal?" Mash asked as they ran.

"Yes!" Kalderasha wheezed.

They ran for a almost a minute until they came to a dead end.

"Oh no!" Valentina said with a sinking feeling.

"We're trapped!" Bangerz shouted.

"Now what?!" Mash asked.

Kalderasha looked around. There were no other caverns as it emptied into a small mining area for the crystals.

"That's right! You're trapped!" a deep voice answered.

Everyone turned around to face their pursuers. The gray dwarf with the white beard stood facing them with three other gray dwarves and several muscular deep moles blocking any avenue of escape.

"Let us go! Now!" Kalderasha thundered.

"You are in no position to bargain with me you thieves!"

"Who sent you into my domain!?" the old gray dwarf demanded.

"No one, we are simply lost" Lady Rosalind answered.

"So you decided you wanted to steal my gems while you trespassed!?" the old gray dwarf retorted.

"Then you attack my kin!? Such crimes are punishable by hard labor! All of you will be my slaves!" the gray dwarf declared.

"We have no wish to fight with you, now let us pass!" Kalderasha demanded.

"Voo Yish bhoul du raipi!" one of the dark dwarves spoke up.

"You have only two options, you come quietly or we kill you here" the leader announced.

Lady Rosalind backed up and motioned for the kids to come close.

"Can we have a moment while I explain to the kids what is happening?" Lady Rosalind asked.

"I will give you one minute, do not try my patience! Any false moves and my people will attack!" the leader warned.

"What are you doing" Kalderasha whispered.

"Trust me" Lady Rosalind said quietly as she began reading a scroll.

"Whoo del cvell!" another dark dwarf mumbled.

"You fools! A spell! Bawzax!" the leader shouted as they rushed at them with their weapons. Lady Rosalind shouted the last of the scroll and quickly in a bright flash of light, they disappeared and reappeared at the entrance to the door.

"Valentina, open the door" Lady Rosalind shouted.

"What just happened?!" Bangerz demanded.

"Lady Rosalind got rid of the monsters!" Mash pointed looking around seeing no one.

"It seems Lady Rosalind had a scroll of that Evac spell that so many adventures speak of saving their life" Valentina explained.

"I didn't know you had anything like that" Kalderasha said with surprise.

"I knew something amiss may happen, so I took measures into my own hands" Lady Rosalind declared.

Valentina held the earthen key and turned it in front of her, and the secret entrance opened.

"What about the monsters out there?" Mash asked.

"The monsters out there are nothing compared to what lurks in here!" Bangerz quickly explained as they ran out and Valentina sealed the door behind them.

"That was close, we barely didn't escape" Valentina sighed in relief.

"Let us go and collect our reward and be gone" Kalderasha advised as they quickly made their way out of the cave knocking back any of the monsters that dare get in their way. Once they were outside, everyone breathed the fresh air just happy to see the sky once again.

"Alexandria shall be saved" Lady Rosalind said as they approached the Hermit's house.

"Congratulations Kalderasha! I wasn't sure you still had it in you" the Hermit suddenly appeared.

"What were you playing at!? There were horrible monsters in there!? We could have all been slayed!" Lady Rosalind suddenly berated him.

"But we fought well!" Bangerz added in lightening the situation.

"That's right! No monsters stopped us!" Mash continued on.

The Hermit looked at them all as Kalderasha and the boys showed the crystals. The Hermit nodded his head with amazement.

"Very well, this calls for a celebration. Come and share your tales!" the Hermit said leading them back into his small house.

"Here you are" Kalderasha quickly said getting down to business handing over the crystal shards.

The Hermit looked at them with a quick approving glance and quickly handed Kalderasha a leather pouch.

"There should be what you need" the Hermit said nonchalantly.

The unlikely party carried on for almost twenty minutes with Lady Rosalind glaring at the Hermit just about the entire time only kept calm with the wave of Kalderasha's hand. The Hermit received more accounts of what happened from Bangerz and Mash than anyone else while getting an occasional nod or yes from Valentina who quickly returned the secret key.

"Those gray dwarves won't come above ground will they?" Valentina asked an obvious question.

"Who knows? That seal will only keep them down for so long, but they generally don't like the surface" the Hermit answered vaguely.

"Well if you will excuse us, we have our towns to protect, thank you for your hospitality" Lady Rosalind said begrudgingly.

"...wished I could say it was a pleasure" Lady Rosalind mumbled as they left heading to Farebury then back to Alexander to perform a ritual to keep portals from the netherworld from appearing inside the towns.

(The End)...for now