Vandelman Village, Tirisfall Glades.
Prince Aizah was at the last stage of his jouney. First, there was a battle with a gnolls in the forests. He really liked that experience, becouse he was able to try his power, check his limits in practise, and learn some usefull information about his limitations.
Then, he visited mills of Agamand, where he found out that nobles can't decide on even the simplest things.
But now, after the hard day with nobles, he was finally at the destination. Vandelman Village wasn't the most important place in the area, but was a community center, and mostly, a base of expancion.
This place had been noted as the perfect village to expand.
Land was fertile, giving a noteble amount of grain. Smaller fields adorn the land, with is locked, surrounded by the hills, making this a save place.
The most improtant place in the area is Vandelman Village itself, being a base of trade, servicies and administration.
This land is also know for it's gold and copper mining, but lately giving less and less, unknowingly to anyone in capital.
But this place is also know for other important manner. Being the place of cementaries and tombs.
This area is know to be common place to burry the people, becouse of it's terrain, it gives hope to people for calm afterlife, and, becouse of it, Vandelman Village takes no money for the upkeep of the grave. Only if the crypt is being build, there is a payment.
It is roughly estimated, that here's lies from 20 000 to 200 000 people, depend in counting graves, or people burried in at all. This also means, that there are often pilgrimages here, to visit the dead, making this place a important center for the Church of the Holy Light, who oversees this area, collecting most of the taxes.
As prince approched the land, many of its citizens started to hide themselfs from him. This, of course, confused him, but he neglected the strange actions of theirs, clearly not intrested to speak with them in person, or worst, trying to get some information from them using force.
Few more minutes it took them to finally arrive at the villige entrence, which was, for his good will, properly guarded. He stared to get sceptical about savety of this place for the moment.
As he stopped between many houses, with were simple, wooden huts with little to know entrences for sunlight, he was approched by the local guard, who of course, had to knell before him.
"First Prince Ainzah of Lordaeron, how unexpected" He said, with a frightened voice. Why all of them were so terrified of him?!
Ainzah just nodded, going foward on his horse. He looked around, but found out that there was no living soul gathering, with was strange, in comparison to Brill, where, even if a city is much bigger, were proportionaly speaking, many more people waiting.
He finally stopped, being at the what was probably center of the village.
When he was about to jump from the horse, guard stopped him.
"My magesty, you can't just go like this, you will dirty your royal suit!" He tried to argue with his prince, loosing of course, as prince did not care for his words.
"I know i will dirty my shoes, what's new?" He stated asking to the guard, who couldn't give back the anwser.
Ainzah sighed, giving order to his men to take care of themselfs and his horse.
Then, he looked at still scared guard, terrifing him even more.
"Show the way to the town hall" Said the guest.
Quicly, scared men showed the way.
This was really a dead city in this moment. No one beside him, his men and this fellow next to him was outside.
Finally after they arrived at the town hall, prince entered the building.
In here, he was able to find few people, all of them looking nervous, but remembering to knell as he walked.
He stopped, looked around and asked with a harsh tone.
"What is wrong with you people?" He stated, with a deep voice.
They looked at him, until one man finally spoke. He was wearing a fine suit, clearly showing he was mayor of this place.
He knelled before the prince with respect, and then, slowly, said in a welcoming tone.
"Prince Ainzah, first prince of the Menethil Family of Lordaeron, how can i honor your visit in our village?"
Prince looked at him, inspecting.
"I wanted to visit my realm, nothing more" first he said, but continue.
"But i found out, by looking around, people show that they are not intrested in my arrival, spending their time on activities in homes" He tried to play angry lord.
Mayor was already panicking, when royal tone of prince changed.
"Of course, i'm kidding with this. But still, i'm intrested. Why are you people hiding from me? Is this some sort of local tradition, or there is some holiday i forgot about?" He jokingly asked.
Mayor, now clearly little relaxed by state of emotions of his lord, anwsered.
"We...were afraid that you came becouse we didn't send enough materials, my lord" He knelled, ashamed of himself and his actions.
Prince was silent for the moment, until he stared to laugh.
"Hahahaha, are you serious?" He asked."All people living in this village are hiding becouse they are scared of being punished becouse of the suppling problem? Did you imagine me as some mass murderer?!"
Mayor jumped.
"Of course not, my lord, how could we even think of something like this! This would be outrageous, shaming entire village for their disloyalty!" He stared to scream in nervous state.
Ainzah was amused, but also sad that his arrival made such a problem for those people.
Now, he showed his autority.
"Now you. First, say your name, becouse i will not talk to someone who didn't show the respect to say his name! Second, send someone to inform people, to return to their normal life, becouse this makes for strange situation and lose in productivity" Shouted Ainzah at the man.
Man was scared now, more then he already was. But listened.
"My name is Arren Mogrove, and i am a mayor of Vandelmar Village!" He saluted, now proudly and manly.
He looked at the person to his left and ordered.
"You, go and spread the words. Say to the people, that they are expected to get back to work! Right now!" He yelled at poor man, who went running out of the building.
Well, this was unexpected change of events.
Royal Son was asked for few minutes of time for them to properly prepare, which he granted, and then, magic greater then his happend. Town had retruned to life. In few minutes, all people went back to their usuall duties, like nothing really happend earlier today.
Mayor Arren was now ready to let his prince in. Ainzah took that offer, going to his office, where he was served all kinds of sweets and hot tea.
Now, he could talk with the man.
Conversation was started by the prince.
"So, Mayor Arren, why was everyone scared of me visiting the place?"
"Prince Ainzah, this was becouse of logical thinking. As you might know, our land is controled by tax collectors from the cleargy, who despide being a holy teachers, are often quite demanding in their payment. Often then not, we are given harsh conditions we must collect in time, or we are being stripped of wealth." He anwsered.
Ainzah thinked. Was this becouse of the reqierment his family administration placed on this region, or was it becouse of the cleargy powerhunger. He need to speak with them at some occasion.
Mayor continued.
"That's why when we had learned that you will be visiting us directly, like no other nobleman from capital ever did in good motive, we were scared to the core that we will meet our demise"
Well, that explain the logical motive. They were scared, and tried to hide themselfs to save their lives. Smart, but could it be he would arrive here for this exact reason, they would fell for their treachery. A bad end.
At least now he knew. Now, he must state his reason for the visit.
"Now, i decided to visit this realm you oversee, as i am intrested in my people state of living. I want to know if institutions of our administration are present here, and if my people don't live in total poverty. It would make me sad to spot a dying men on the street, becouse he was not able to afford such a simple thing as food."
He took a breath.
"On the second reason, i wanted to visit a cementary, to pay respect to people that are sadly no longer with us. Memory of them is as important as the lives of the living ones"
Mayor was watching his prince not believing what he hears. He was supriced that there was someone in higher states that care for the people that much.
"My lord" He fell to kneel. "I didn't expected such mercy from you. Such a benevolent ruler you are, my prince Ainzah. Worthy of his title, worthy to rule people of Lordaeron in future"
Ainzah smiled.
"Thank you, Arren Morgrove. Your words cheer my soul" He state, taking a sip of his rasberry tea and tasting the wheat cookie with jam. He enjoyed simple things after all.
Then, it came to meeting few more important people of the village.
There were few that he had heard a names:
In town hall he meet where Miss Elreth, a advisor to Arren and Mr. Mordo Zoonez, another advisor, this clearly taking care of trade and supplying.
He meet lady Isabelle, who he know was one of the students in Dalaran once, but couldn't affort to learn more then 2 years. She was after general magic training, learning basic spells and science lessons, now using her knowleag as teacher in this town.
He talked with Mayor on many subjects, but then it came to gold mine.
"Arren, can you anwser me, why you stopped with sending a gold? I was not informed of vein ending, so what happend?"
He clearly didn't like the question, but Mayor anwsered.
"We have problems with infestation, my Prince. We found a tunnel full of cave spiders, and those bastards spead like crazy in tunnels. We had hard time keeping them in mines, not to spead much around, which was hard enough of the task. We don't have enough men, and we can't afford to hire mercenaries to do so"
"Spiders you say?" Ainzah seemed intrested. Understanding the problem, he had to find a solution.
Well, best solution is to fight them of course, but he had to know more.
"Can you tell something more about them?" He asked.
Mayor thinked, and gave the second best anwser.
"Myself, no, but i know the people that were dealing with a problem. Let me call for them" He said and left the room.
Few moments later, he came back with 3 people.
He went fast with their names.
"First, our mightiest warrior, Dannal Stern! Then, hawk eye of the village, Xavier the Huntsman, and a cutting specialist, our fighter, David Trias. Those three are the best we can offer, and with the most knowleage"
He went back on his seat, letting Ainzah ask the questions.
He inspected those 3, and then started.
"So, you were the ones to deal with a spider problems. What can you say about those beasts?"
First to anwser was warrior.
"My lord, those beasts are no challenge for might blow of axe. Their bodies are weak, but agile. It's hard to hit them directly."
"Well then. Huntsman, what can you say?"
Hunter with a crossbow on his back knelled, then spoke.
"Prince Ainzah, i can add to that that they are mostly dangerous in numbers. They differ in size, probably depending on the age, but from what i know, they are not that dangerous"
"Like you even fought with one" Commented the man named David.
He catched Ainzah attencion.
"Those beast are venomus. They apply the poison that is slowly killing their enemy. We had a case when one of our men was bitten. We had to fight hard for his life. Our priests helped him, but it was close."
Prince understanded now his enemy, and it meant that this will be hard fight. He will probably had to fight in tunnels. Web will be a problem, knowing spiders, they usually use one. Venom is another thing to worry about. One bad moment could mean end for someone. Armor will be needed.
Fighting the beast will not be that hard, as long as they will land good hits and spells. Spiders seems to be weak in natural defence, so, killing them is easier. Cutting legs is the most important part, then, finishing blow.
After continued talk, he decided to move. They had no time.
He looked at them.
"You 3, prepare for the fight. More armor covers the body, the better. Mayor, call for people that can help with entering the cave. We cannot let them escape. But if someone don't have armor, he is not going. One unlucky bite, and he could be dead. I don't want dying man" Ainzah spoke.
All of the nodded.
"Now, i will talk with my unit, and we will prepare too. You are dissmissed now. Prepare" He ordered, leaving the room.
Hour later
An task force was formed from the fiftheen soldiers of Ainzah, the planning trio, and a volunteers who decided to help.
In total a group of 32 people, under the lead of Prince Ainzah and Sir Marwyn.
At the hour of 4 p.m. they marched towards the mines. There wasn't a clear road towards it, only a pathed dirt.
After about 30 minutes, they were at the place. From not far they already spotted the webs around the trees and vegetation. Many small spiders lurking in the grassy landscape.
When they entered the area of the mine, shadowy figures started to lurk around.
Xavier was first to spot their movement.
"Incoming from the right!" He shouted, as 3 cave spiders were already charging towards them. He pointed his crossbow, fireing on the first one, bold penetrating his head.
Prince looked at the beasts, but ordered calmly.
"Prepare yourself, spready in groups of 3, fight the same enemy at once!" He commanded.
Slowly, more spiders came from around them. Many people engaged in combat.
Soldiers fought the enemy, most often cutting it's legs, then finishing. Spitting web was somewhat problematic, but a sword could deal with it.
Group of 5 spirers engaged Marwyn and Ainzah, who were prerared for them. Lord Ainzah with a Fireballs in both of his hands let the spell flying into enemy, setting both creatures on fire.
Marwyn blocked the bite of the first one with the shield, bashing it back into it's head, continued with a sword slash, leaving head of the beast open.
Other two attacked from the side.
Marwyn tanked the left one, again with a shield, but when right one jumped he was defendless. Spider dipped into his armor, but not enough to go in. Fangs of the beast broke, along with the rest of the body, after it was hit by a shard of Ice Lance. Beasts body was now laying dead, impailed with a thick, sharp ice.
"Care Friend" Commented Ainzah, helping Marwyn get up after he was pushed by the beast down.
They dealt with the beasts, many fallen dead around. Legs of the beasts scattered arounds, blood spilled around battlefield.
Ainzah called his small squad of soldiers.
"Now, we will go inside. Care. I expect that there as smaller pathways inside the cave, where they can hide and attack, right?" He asked one of the joined soldiers, who was a miner there.
"Yes, yes they are, my prince" He said, somewhat ashamed.
"Don't worry. I expected that. I just wanted to confirm."
They prepared, and entered the cave. Inside was even worst, covederd with web all around. Their torches were a miracle, being able to clean the way.
Every spider in the cave was being either squashed by a boot or, in bigger cases, just slain.
The way inside was preety easy, until they entered into crossroad of many tunnels. Four exacly speaking.
"I always love good, old horror and mistery cliché" Commented Satoru part of Ainzah inside his mind.
He stopped the group.
"Now, we have to split to get rid of them faster. We will make four groups, each one with leading person and someone that knows the mines."
After a minutre, groups were prepared.
First was under Prince. Second was lead by Sir Marwyn, third one was controled by Danal and David, rest was placed under Xavier the Huntsman.
"Now, if anyone end up bitten or bleeding, you turn back instantly! I don't want to see you dying. Is that clear!" He shouted to cheer them.
All of them saluted, honoring his voice and care for them.
Ainzah group went to the second tunnel. Path wasn't that hard, and they were attacked by only few spiders now. For now, the way was peacefull.
Problem is, there were few web pockets, where they found out the eggs. Fresh ones. Of course, egg did not withstanded a blazing fire of his spells, but this was bad sigh.
After a enterering with heavy atmosphere, he stared talking with them.
"So, how old are those mines?"
Men walking before him was first to anwser.
"From what we know, those mines are open for about 60 years, my high lord. First, they weren't intresting, but after a vein was discavered, popularity of this place increased. It's provide profit, that's important. More then a copper ores we had in other places"
"Hmm, intresting. How long has you been working here?"
"My whole life, my prince. My whole life. From the age of 8, to now, age 56. All those years."
"That's a long time you have spend here. What's your name?"
"Philip, my lord."
"Just Philip. You don't have a family name?" Asked intrested Ainzah.
"Well no, Prince Ainzah. Our family is not that imprtand to be remembered and used in public. And i am an only Philip in the area, so i don't need one"
"Intresting, you should use one? Like a work title. Philip Miner"
"Not to be impolite my Lord, but this sounds stupid. Why would i bear a name of my job?"
"Well, you don't have to use a name of a job. You can call yourself after the place, that is rather more common. Like Philip from Vandelman"
"Ehh, sounds better, but people alredy call me that if asking for me from far away"
Ainzah was thinking more about this. Why making a surname is so hard?!
"Anyway, Philip, do you have a family of your own?"
"Ya, i have my wife and to little bastards running around. George and Frank they are named"
"Good to hear. People with family have responsibilities, but have also support and care in times of need"
"Great words, my Prince. But allow me to ask, my prince. Do you have a family of your own? Sorry that i am unaware, but we do not often speak with such a people like you, a part of royal family"
This question took Ainzah offguard.
"Well, i do have family. After all, i am a part royal family after all"
"Of course lad, sorry, my lord, but i would like to ask, if you had a kids and wife of your own?"
"Well...it's complicated. But i don't have kids of my own"
"Hmm, i get it. We heard a tales of you thirs of knowleage. Isablella spoke about you few times. You are very wise, very powerfull"
"Huh, oh well. It's good to hear that i am really know like that"
"It just bothers me" He started.
"My prince, i spoke once or twice with the high cleargyman, when he was a pain in the ass as he is with taxes. And i often did not understand him in his high talk. But with you, my prince, i can talk like a simple man. How is that?"
Ainzah wasn't expecting this. Is his acting so bad that a simple countrmen was able to get it!? What should he do now?!
"This is becouse i traveled the land. I spoke with nobles and countrymen alike, and that's why i can speak with both. I learned it, to understand all sides." He lied to the man.
"Well, as expected from the royal one. You sure are wise and full of knowleage" He said happly to be able to talk with someone high like that.
They wanted to continue, but sudden sound of crawling around made them stop
"Wait, do you hear it?" He asked the man.
He looked around, but seen nothing. However, crowling sound was heard around again.
Ainzah prepared a Fireball already, giving him little more vision in darkness, but still, he was unable to find where the sound came from.
But the true horror came when he looked at his group, only to find four men insted of five.
"Where is this man?" He asked them. They also only realised that he was missing. He looked around with his orb of fire in hand, but he couldn't find him. He was long gone.
"Damnit!"
He said he will bring them home back...
"Now, rest of you, take care of yourself. Everyone is watching everyone, if someone feels something, he yells" He ordered. Everyone nodded, moving foward again.
He hoped everyone is okay beside this man. And even for him, he would like to find him as fast as possible.
As they continue to walk, a large cavern was open before them, full of small, crawling spiders. Lots of web around, making a floor sticky and uncomfortable.
But the thing was this was The Place. Place where those beasts came from.
It was quicly realised after a ton of eggs were spotted around, in groups. Also, many webbed corpses of animals laying around.
It was then, where they found out the beast behind the problem.
Giant Broodmother Spiderqueen.
A giant enemy spider, growing about 6 meters wide. Long on about 5 and 3 tall.
From her tips, a green liquid dipped.
Her many eyes deep and red.
Her body covered by green and black spiky hair.
In her mouth, a body of the man they were looking for, decapitated and empty of blood.
The grim scene, when she had spotted them. Squeezing the body, breaking it in half.
Ainzah looked scared for his life. It was then, when he spotted that his men had already ran away, leaving him.
In his mind he cursed them, but had to think hard to decide who was more inteligent in this situation.
He looked around, to spot the cocoons trying to move. Someone screamed from them.
It wasn't long for Ainzah to remember the voice of Xavier.
Prince prepared Fireball, aiming for those webbed inside. He had used less power in the spell, to not burn them by accident.
"Xavier, care!" He send the orb of fire towards, instantly covering web in fire.
Prizoners of the web instantly tried to let themselfs free.
Broodmother went up, all of her spiders around also.
Closest one jumped already on the Ainzah, when he heard a familiar voice.
"Shield Wall!" He heard Marwyn scream, placing a shield before his prince.
An extra field of force came, blocking the incoming attacks.
"Care, Friend" Marwyn said towards his lord.
Ainzah smiled, but prepared for the next attack.
Broodmother roared, splitting a Volley of Poison at the next.
Thankfull, no one was hit.
As Marwyn came with the rest of the forces, including the people that runned away, and with the group of Xavier found, they had a chance to fight.
"Don't let yourself be bitten. If someone is, he is out" He warned them.
Now everyone will take the fight serious.
Fight stared again. Everyone was most focused on blocking and fast hitting the legs of the beasts.
Ainzah was preparing his Pyroblast, when he was pushed by a Net of Web, shot by Spiderqueen.
It was then, when he was unable to defend, he was bite on the leg by lucky spider.
"Agghhhh, uhh" Prince growled in pain. He took a small dagger out of the belt, and impailed the head of the spider with it.
Beast went back, only to be bashed by a shield if Marwyn.
"My prince, are you alright?" He kneeled fast before him.
"Will do...Marwyn, behind you!"
There was a spider jumping on him now.
When Prince Guard was about to try to block with his sword, spider was pushed by the arrow to the body.
Huntsman call was heard by both Prince and his jumped towards them.
"My prince, it seems you been damaged" Said without much thinking archer.
"You right" Anwsered irritated a little bit mage.
Many spiders had fallen, but the few of them already fell to the Broodmother, who was in frenzy.
"Xavier, can you point her intrest at me" Said the prince, only to be center of focus of both of the people before him.
"What?!" they yelled at the same time.
"I will prepare a spell to deal with the beast, but i had to hit directly."
Archer first thinked he was insane, but then realise.
"Will do" he anwsered.
Marwyn also realised a plan.
"Everyone, fall back! Now!" He yelled toward the men.
As they started to run, horde of spiders run after them.
"Marwyn, help me stand" Prince asked his friend, and was instanly on his legs.
"Xavier, i count on you"
"Sure thing, my prince"
He pointed his hand at charging Spiderqueen.
"Hunter's Mark, Aspect of the Hawk, Track Beasts"
He felt the power coming over him.
"Can i get a fire on the arrow?!" He yelled.
His wish was granted by the fast fire spell.
"Now, eat this. Arcane Shot!"
A magic infused arrow went foward, directly towards the beast head, impailing the enemy.
Then, he run as fast as possible from the flood of spiders.
"Marwyn, now!" Ainzah yelled.
"Shield Wall!" He screamed.
Force field blocked the wave of spiders at the 7 meter deep inside tunnel.
Ainzah focused all his power into this risky test of power. Either he will able to do it, or he is lost.
"Now, felt the fire of the 7th floor. "Twin Maximise Magic: Hell Flame!" He let the spell and run with Marwyn.
A wave of dark flames run after them.
A screams of thousents of spiders burning into ash.
When they felt save, they stopped running.
The smell of ash and flame was slowly spreading around the cave.
"We did it, my lord" Marwyn said, proud of his prince.
It was then when he realised he lost consciousness, blood dipping from his mouth.
"My Prince!" He kneel before him, taking him on his back.
"We will save you!" he screamed and stared to run faster from the cave.
End of part 1/2