004: Clasp of Emon
It was late by the time they arrived at their new keep, nestled in the Tal'Dorei countryside near the capital. The members of Vox Machina quickly found their bedrooms and promptly crashed, too exhausted to exchange many words. They had just fought and defeated a dragon, and the weight of the battle hung heavily over them.
As the others slept, Naruto tossed and turned in his bed, sweat matting his forehead as he muttered incoherently. Inside his mind, he was running through a vast expanse of darkness, each step causing ripples as if he were treading on water. Flashes of lightning streaked across the void, making his heart race and an old scar ache.
Visions of his home in village in flames, a man with ringed purple eyes in the centre of its destruction amidst the rubble and smoke.
The darkness overtook that vision as quickly as it arrived seemingly before new visions invaded his view.
"NARUTO!" a voice he hadn't heard in nearly five years screamed his name, the sound of a thousand birds crackling into existence.
"SASUKE!" a much younger Naruto shouted back, the familiar hum of his rasengan charging up echoing in the darkness.
"What the hell is going on?!" Naruto thought in panic as he continued to run. "I need to get out of this darkness," he thought, his heart pounding as a chilling killing intent targeted him.
His eyes widened, his body freezing in place as a familiar pair of golden serpent eyes, highlighted with purplish eyeliner, appeared before him.
"No!" the Uzumaki thought, "Why can't I move?!"
"Kukuku, Uzumaki-kun, long time no see," a new voice spoke, echoing from all around. "Such a disappointment, you who contain the power of a bijuu are still only human, only mortal." The figure said before stepping out of the darkness showing their true form.
"Orochimaru!" Naruto shouted at the voice of the once-thought-dead sannin. Recognising the arrogant smirk, the ghostly pale skin.
But the thing that scared Naruto the most was the fact that the snake sannin, was dressed in an attire. 'Those are noble cloths from Tal'Dorei, you can't be here…'
"The Whispered One sends their regards, kukukuku." The human snake laughed his sinister laugh before a wave of purple and black arcana surged from the once shadowed figure, forming a giant magical snake construct that lunged forward, jaws snapping open as if to devour the teen.
Naruto raised his arms in a futile defence, unable to do anything else. But just as he seemed to be consumed, his eyes snapped open, and he shot out of bed. "Gah!" he shouted, rolling off his bed and landing face-first on the cold stone floor.
He lay there for a moment, feeling the chill of the stone against his arms and chest. Whether from overheating or sheer terror, his body had reacted to the nightmare.
"Fucking, I just want to sleep," the blonde cursed, rolling onto his back and sitting up. "I need to clear my head," he muttered, dismissing the nightmare as a figment of his overactive imagination.
Naruto quickly went to the wash basin, splashing water over his face and torso. His hand briefly recoiling away from his scarred chest as his mind flashed back to the very day he deflected a lightning cover fist a few centimetres away from his heart. The phantom pain left the teen groaning as he stretched.
Making ways to the door as he passed his jacket and Leviathan axe, its frost rune glowing a dim blue, he exited his room and stepped into the courtyard. The late-night chill awakened him further.
Trinket was outside seemingly asleep before he stepped out as the usually armoured grizzly raised its head at his exit toward the outside. The Vex's pet quickly yawned before returning to their sleep.
As he entered the training portion of the rear courtyard, he walked straight to the padded wooden dummies that had never been used before.
"It's still early; I'll limit this to movement work," Naruto thought, taking a martial arts stance, feet planted firmly apart. He took a deep breath, his muscular form expanding, and as he began to tense, he exhaled and released the breath he was holding, disappearing in a burst of speed, leaving lightly indented mounds of grass in his wake.
The blonde unleashed a volley of strikes and kicks against imaginary foes. If sleep wouldn't come, then he would tire himself out by battling the demons in his head.
An hour had passed, and specs of light began to peek over the horizon, heralding the arrival of dawn.
"Stronger!" Naruto intoned, his voice echoing in the stillness of the courtyard as he lashed out with a heavy tornado roundhouse kick. He backed up, feigning an attack, ducking and weaving as if he were in the midst of a fierce battle.
"Power and form are equally important for the technique to be fully effective," he recalled his last sensei's words, a mantra that had driven him to improve his taijutsu. A confident smirk spread across his face as he seemingly moved even faster, kicking up imaginary dust before lunging in low, slightly off to the side. He planted both hands on the ground, pushing hard with his arms and core, and lashed out against a padded wooden post.
To his surprise, even with the padding and the freshness of the dummies, he heard a loud crack. His leg followed through with force, and the dummy gave way, launching across the yard and creating a small racket as it skipped across the ground.
"Whoops?" Naruto thought, blinking owlishly at the remains of the post where his strike had connected. A yawn overtook him, and he decided to end his training session. He walked over to a large tree in the courtyard, seeking its shade as he settled down to watch the sunrise in the distance.
As he sat there, he noticed the main keep doors swing open, revealing a familiar head of white hair emerging in her prayer robes.
'Pike?' Naruto thought, observing her as she seemed lost in her own world.
"By the Everlight," the cleric whispered to herself, her gaze fixed on the encroaching horizon.
"I didn't know you liked to watch the sun come up," Naruto called out, a playful tone in his voice. "G'morning, by the way."
Startled by his voice, the halfling spun around, her robes fanning out gracefully as she turned. Her bare feet met the grassy turf, nearly slipping on the fresh morning dew. "Naruto?"
Naruto offered a small, weary smile in return.
"Problems sleeping?" Pike asked, concern crossing her features as she approached him.
"What gave it away?" Naruto replied, a hint of sarcasm in his voice, just before his body jerked in response to the phantom pain of his scar.
"Naruto?!" Pike exclaimed, rushing over to him. Not a single thought of her worthiness of the Everlight crossed her mind as she met her friend. Her hands glowed with the divine touch of the Everlight.
Pike's eyes widened, as they always did whenever she laid eyes on his scar. 'So close to his heart,' the cleric thought, her fingers tracing the outline of the old injury, leaving a potent golden touch of arcana.
Instant relief washed over Naruto as the golden light enveloped his scar, and the phantom pains began to fade, retreating into the same realm as that nearly forgotten nightmare.
"If anything is bothering you, I'm the healer; you should come to me," Pike chastised lightly, allowing the golden light to fade from her fingertips.
Naruto frowned at her words, opening his mouth to speak, but no words came out. After a few silent moments, a smirk formed on his face.
"Awww, is the holy woman worried for me?" Naruto teased with a light laugh. "Should I fear for my chastity?" he added, chuckling, but the laughter was cut short by a magically enhanced armoured fist to the gut.
"Naruto," Pike growled, her fist embedded in the blonde's midsection.
"OOOFU!" Naruto gasped, momentarily stunned. 'I forget she can hit harder than most,' he thought, straightening up and allowing his back to release several satisfying pops. "I deserved that; bad joke," he managed to cough out.
"Hrmph," Pike snorted, but a sweet smile returned to her features. "Yes, it was." She turned slightly, feeling a warmth creep up from the base of her neck. "Spending too much time with Scanlan," the halfling nodded to herself.
"Well, as an apology, how about we watch the sunrise together?" Naruto suggested, spinning around to face her, oblivious to the reddening of her cheeks as he began returning to the tree where he had been sitting.
Pike nodded, her trust in her words wavering, but she followed him and sat beside the Uzumaki. They both leaned against the sturdy trunk of the tree, sitting shoulder to elbow as they gazed toward the rising sun. In that moment, two friends found solace in the peace granted to them that morning, away from the turbulent worries of the past, present, and future.
Two opposites.
One raised in light, nurtured by it, and allowed to grow and flourish.
The other left in the dark, moulded by it, restricted and sabotaged at almost every turn.
And yet, two friends—allies, not the same.
Pike's nose twitched, before she sniffed the air. "You need a bath."
"Yeah I know, I'll take it after the sun finishes doing its thing, I'm going to Gilmores this morning, got some shit to move and things to set in place." Naruto answered as he leant back to get slightly more comfortable.
"Wakey, wakey Pikey," the deep voice of Vox Machina's heavy spoke up as he lightly prodded the young clerics cheeks with a finger.
The halflings eyes flitted open as her eyes locked onto the face of her dearest friend.
"Grog?" Pike asked as she shifted her body upwards slightly allowing for a blanket that wasn't there before to fall into her lap.
"You all right? Were you sleepwalking?" the goliath asked as he offered the girl a hand up.
"I'm ok, just must of fell asleep watching the sun come up..." Pike said before pausing and looking around for her companion this morning. "Have you seen Naruto?"
Grog paused to think before nodding. "Yeah he wanted to borrow the bag of holding a bit ago."
"Ah well he did say he was heading to Gilmores earlier," Pike muttered as she remembered as she accepted Grogs hand to pull her up.
As the halfling climbed to her feet a deep rumble came from Grogs gut making Pike smile.
"Come on buddies let's get some breakfast eh." The halfling cleric suggested much to the half giant's delight.
AT the same time inside Emon at Gilmores Glorious Good's Naruto stood fully dressed in his usual attire, axe included holstered on the back of his coat.
The blonde former shinobi had pulled out the dragon's skull out of the bag of holding and was speaking to one of Gilmore's employees as the main man himself was out of his store at the moment.
"Is it possible to turn this into something useful," the whiskered teen asked as he threw his hand back pointing at the once great beasts decapitated and bloody head.
"Anything is possible for the right price," the bookish looking half elf stated as she pushed up her glasses and began to inspect the former dragon's head. 'They actually did it…' the vendor analysed as she walked around the skull taking in all of the details from the snout being split through, a damaged eyeball along with a fractured eye socket. "I am sure we could offer you a large sum of gold to take this beauty off of your hands."
"I'm sure you would Cassie," Naruto laughed before he stepped closer to the shop keep. "Nah I've got some ideas love," the blonde smirked as he began explaining what he wanted to do with these dragon remains.
As Naruto left Gilmore's Glorious Goods, he glanced up at the sky, ignoring the pair of guards patrolling the storefront. Their conversation, though hushed, reached his ears.
"Isn't that one of them? The slayers of the blue dragon?" one guard whispered, prompting his companion to look up at the blonde teen with curiosity.
"Him? He's a bit young, ain't he?"
"My brother said he was at the palace yesterday with that group of mercenaries."
Naruto tuned out the conversation, focusing instead on navigating the bustling streets of Emon. The city was alive with activity, the morning sun casting a warm glow on the cobblestones. The air was rich with the scent of cinnamon and spices as Naruto turned down a side street, finding himself amidst a vibrant array of food stalls.
'Maybe I should bring some goodies back with me,' he mused, deciding to wander deeper into the street market, unaware that several pairs of eyes were tracking his movements through the crowd.
In the shadows of the marketplace, one of the men observing Naruto raised a hand to his silver earring, lightly grasping it as small sparks of arcana flickered into existence. "Target located, should we make contact now?" he murmured.
After a brief pause, the shadow received a response. His eyes widened slightly. "What's someone from the Westruun chapter doing here?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
Another moment of silence followed before the shadow nodded to himself. "Okay, so we just observe for now? Got it, boss."
Naruto continued through the market, oblivious to the intrigue unfolding around him. The stalls were a feast for the senses, with vendors calling out their wares and customers haggling over prices. The vibrant colours and lively atmosphere were a stark contrast to the shadowy figures lurking nearby.
As he moved, Naruto's thoughts drifted to the events of the past days—the battle with the blue dragon, the tense meetings at the palace, and the camaraderie of his companions. Despite the weight of these responsibilities, he felt a sense of determination and resolve.
In the shadows, the observers maintained their vigil, their presence unnoticed by the bustling market. The arcane communication had set them on high alert, but for now, their orders were clear: watch and wait.
After purchasing several sweet treats and tucking them into his bag of holding, Naruto caught something out of the corner of his eye. 'Vax?' he thought, spotting the roguish half-elf stealthily making his way down a quiet alley, trailed by four unfamiliar figures.
'I guess a day off is too much to ask for,' Naruto mused, glancing upwards as he received his change. "Looks like we're working today," the whiskered teen muttered to himself, heading in the direction Vax'ildan had taken moments earlier.
Vax, clad in his usual black leathers, appeared to wander aimlessly as he turned into a narrower alley that led to a dead end. "Alright, you amateurs, come on out," Vax called, facing the smooth stone wall with casual confidence.
After a moment of silence, three figures emerged from the shadows.
"Is he the one?"
"Yes, he is."
"The one from Westruun?"
Vax already knew what this was about. "You're all members of the Clasp? Here in Emon…"
"He is the one," another member of the Clasp whispered to himself before turning away from the half-elf. "Eh, boss, what should we do?" the shadow asked, only to find no one there. 'Wasn't there four of us?' he idly thought.
Vax watched as the Clasp members looked around in panic, hearing familiar footsteps that brought a smirk to his lips.
Around the corner, Naruto emerged, his axe drawn, and its handle pressed firmly against the throat of the missing fourth Clasp agent.
"Settle down, boys," Naruto called out, applying more pressure and causing his captive to choke slightly. "Vax? You good?" he asked his friend.
"Hey, you're going to kill him!" the closest agent to Vax shouted before the half-elf could respond.
The frost rune on Naruto's axe began to glow, signalling its activation as ice crept along the blade. "Did I stutter?" Naruto threatened, pulling his arm back to bring the frosted edge closer to his prisoner's jaw. The cold was so intense that frost seemed to float off the blade. The remaining Clasp members backed off, visibly intimidated.
"Good boys," Naruto mocked, turning his attention back to Vax. "Vax, we good?"
"Yeah, we're good," Vax replied with a smirk. 'I may be a member of the Clasp, but fuck 'em all.'
The half-elf, who had been traveling with Naruto for the past two and a half years, walked past the goons. "Let him go, Naruto. I'm not the one they're after."
"Huh?" Naruto responded, shrugging before releasing the man and kicking him past Vax'ildan, where he was caught by his companions. "Then who?"
"Who do you think, noodle for brains?"
"Ah." 'Me, right. That makes sense, I guess.' "I felt like someone was watching me earlier; I just couldn't figure out from were."
Naruto glanced at his primary weapon and willed it to deactivate. The rune dulled from glowing to a cool iron grey, and the ice chipped away to reveal a somewhat normal-looking axe head as he holstered it on his back.
"Bastard!" one of the Clasp cursed.
Both Naruto and Vax glanced back, silencing the overgrown pup with their gaze.
"Look, they're members of the Clasp, and their boss really wants to see us," Vax explained.
"Fine, but since you seem to know what's going on, you're going to fill me in on these assholes," Naruto responded.
After following the four agents of the Clasp, Vax'ildan took a moment to fill Naruto in on his past dealings with the organization. He recounted the early days of their group, when he and his sister, Vex'ahlia, along with Percy and Grog, found themselves entangled with a gang of criminals. While Naruto was with Pike and Keyleth, trying to magically aid him in learning to speak Common, the others were fighting for their lives. The only way they escaped was by Vex'ahlia taking down one of the corrupt leaders, but it came at a cost—a permanent price on her head. To protect his sister, Vax'ildan pledged fealty to the Clasp, halting her execution.
Naruto absorbed the story with a silent rage, his left palm clenching into a fist, knuckles cracking from the tension. "From what I understand, this must be a different arm of the same beast," he whispered to his compatriot. "So, what do you think they want with me?"
"No idea," Vax'ildan replied, his tone serious. "This is the first time I've met this sect today. When I awoke this morning, I found a crow on my window ledge with a note."
"Lemme guess, an invitation," Naruto said dryly.
Vax's silence was confirmation enough.
"Hey, keep it down back there!" the lead agent hollered as they turned down another alleyway.
"Vax, who do you think he thinks he's talking to like that?"
"Cool it, Naruto. We're here," Vax advised, noting the large, dark, rusted iron gate ahead.
Naruto looked up and read the archway. 'Catacombs,' he thought. "We're going underground. Well, this should be fun," he muttered, glancing back for one last look at the clear blue sky. He took a deep breath, imagining the air would be far less fresh where they were going.
As they entered the darkness and descended into the depths, Naruto's vision shifted from colour to black and white, yet he could still see clearly. 'I don't know if this is due to the Kyuubi or the void, but dark vision rules,' Naruto thought as he observed the agents ahead.
"Come on, Naruto, let us be done with this."
"You know me, I'm always down for a troublesome time."
The winding journey took about 20 minutes, a path that would have left most lost, but Vax'ildan's knack for tracking ensured they stayed on course.
They emerged into a dimly lit chamber, and colour returned to Naruto's vision. Vax and Naruto halted at the entrance, observing around twenty figures with their faces masked from the bridge of the nose down to the neck.
"What's that symbol?" Naruto asked Vax.
"It's the mark of the Clasp," the half-elf responded, his fingers twitching near his blades. "This feels like a trap," he whispered.
"Oh, most definitely, but it's not like we can really do anything else at this point, right?"
"Right, but just try and hold your temper."
"I'll reign it in this time," Naruto responded coolly. "But if they start a fight, no promises."
The four agents had already bowed to the first row and then disappeared into the crowd at the rear.
"Let's get it over with," Naruto said, echoing Vax's earlier words, making the half-elf snort as they walked in step.
The pair stood before the ruling class of Emon's underbelly. Silence reigned for a moment before shuffling occurred among the Clasp members, and a man stepped forward.
'A noble's fashion sense, I see,' Naruto noted, glancing at the cane and footwear. The cloak, hood, and mask obscured much of the man's features.
"Vax'ildan of Westruun, welcome, brother."
Vax scowled at the faux term of endearment. "You're no family of mine. You know why I'm here."
"Oh, I know—a beautiful thing, the love of a sibling. The things we agree to do, eh?" The elder almost taunted. He chuckled quietly before turning to Naruto. "Now you, Mister Naruto Uzumaki, since your time here in Emon and the fact you are one part of the new champions, we decided to invite you to join the Clasp."
"Why me? You already have a champion under your employ," Naruto asked, nodding towards Vax.
"We've seen how resourceful Vox Machina has been over the years, and we've taken note of those among you with potential," the elder explained. "If not for your group's past dealings with the Clasp, all three of you would be under our employ, but the law of the Clasp is final, I'm afraid."
'So eventually you're going to go after Vex'ahlia sooner or later,' Naruto thought, glancing at Vax, whose face was set in a stern expression.
"One does not just join the Clasp. Even after an invitation, we have a task for you." The man paused, slamming his cane into the earth beneath his feet. "A mission, and once completed to our satisfaction, you will then be an official member of our ranks."
"Not hearing much of a choice here," Naruto muttered. "Alright, then what's the job?" he asked, noting more shuffling from the criminals standing behind the man.
"Good, good," the man said, moving aside to reveal a cloaked and covered woman. "You shall both follow my aide here as she fills you in on the details. But in essence, we have been hired by the Slayer's Take to secure a person and bring them into the walls of Emon in one piece."
"Slayer's Take?"
'Those crazies,' Vax cursed inwardly, curious about the identity of the target.
"Our benefactor is paying quite handsomely, and I believe it is the perfect test for you."
Naruto looked at Vax and sighed before nodding. "Fine, we'll take the job, but Vax and I will be enough. Your guys will only slow us down."
"As you wish."
"And we're taking a third of the cut," Naruto demanded. "For the short notice, my you have pissed me off fee."
The elder twitched but forced a smile and responded same as before.
"Each."
The elders jaw visibly moved underneath his mask.
"As you wish," the representative of the Clasp forced out agreeing to the terms.
Back outside in the open, Naruto and Vax'ildan rode swiftly on mounts provided by the Clasp, racing toward a town further up the Bladeshimmer Shoreline. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the landscape, but their mission was clear: locate a tiefling wizard and escort them safely back to Emon.
The salty tang of the sea filled the air as they galloped along the coastal path, the roar of the waves crashing against the cliffs a constant backdrop. The hooves of their horses pounded the earth with a relentless rhythm, sacrificing stealth for speed in their urgent quest. Each stride sent up small clouds of dust and dirt, a testament to their haste.
As the rugged coastline blurred by, Naruto felt the adrenaline coursing through his veins, a familiar sensation that sharpened his senses and heightened his focus. The wind whipped through his hair, carrying with it the scent of salt and adventure.
"Body up ahead," Naruto shouted over the wind, spotting the remains of a large troll sprawled across the path, its lifeless form a grim reminder of the dangers that lurked in these lands.
"Let's hope we don't meet whatever did that," Vax replied, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of danger or their destination. The tension in his voice was palpable, reflecting the seriousness of their mission.
As they rode, the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the landscape and painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The beauty of the scene was not lost on them, even amidst the urgency of their mission. Naruto's thoughts drifted momentarily to their task. The Clasp's interest in the tiefling wizard was unclear, but the promise of a handsome reward and the potential for uncovering more about the Clasp's intentions drove them onward.
"Do you think this wizard knows what's coming?" Naruto asked, glancing at Vax, who appeared lost in thought.
"Hard to say," Vax replied, his expression thoughtful. "But if they're as powerful as the Clasp believes, they might have some inkling."
The town came into view, nestled along the shoreline like a hidden gem. Its quaint buildings and bustling docks stood in stark contrast to the wild beauty of the surrounding landscape, the sounds of laughter and music drifting toward them on the breeze.
As they approached, Naruto and Vax slowed their mounts, the urgency of their journey giving way to caution as they prepared to enter the town. The lively atmosphere buzzed with energy, but the two adventurers remained focused on their mission.
"Let's find our wizard and get back to Emon," Naruto said, determination in his voice.
"Agreed," Vax nodded, a steely resolve in his gaze as they rode into the heart of the town.
Once they dismounted, the pair tied up their horses and glanced around, quickly spotting a loud and bustling tavern. The sounds of raucous laughter and lively music spilled out into the street, drawing them in like moths to a flame.
They exchanged a knowing smirk, their camaraderie evident, and without a word, they strode toward the busy establishment. As they entered, the singing and chanting abruptly ceased, and all eyes turned toward them, curious about the newcomers.
"Don't mind us, friends," Vax said, offering a small wave as he and Naruto made their way to the bar. The crowd quickly returned to their loud drinking and singing, the atmosphere shifting back to its previous revelry as the pair posted up at the bar.
Naruto leaned against the counter, his back to the bar, and began people-watching while Vax'ildan ordered two ales from the demure, mousey-looking human barmaid.
'If I were a tiefling wizard on the run, where would I be?' Naruto pondered, his eyes wandering over the groups of men and women drinking and being merry. Some men were getting handsy with the serving girls, while others were engrossed in gambling games.
"You know what they say about hiding in plain sight," Vax whispered, just as the barmaid placed two frothy mugs filled with ale in front of him.
Naruto nodded, his attention shifting as he clocked a table of three men scowling in their direction. "Heads up, we've got company," he whispered, observing the trio as they approached the bar. 'An orc carrying a greatsword, a fire genasi archer, and a mace-wielding human cleric,' he noted, sizing them up.
The three men arrived at the bar, their focus entirely on the barmaid who had served them moments ago, ignoring Naruto and Vax.
"We know what you are, and our employer wants you home, princess," the cleric threatened, grabbing the smaller woman's wrist hard enough for her to wince.
"Hey, friend," Vax spoke up, drawing one of his daggers and spinning the blade between his fingers before stabbing it into the countertop with a sharp thud. "I don't think the lady wants you touching her."
The orc drew his sword, pointing it menacingly at the half-elf. "Mind your own bus—"
A filled mug of ale smashed into the orc's face, the vessel shattering upon impact.
"What the?!" the orc exclaimed in surprise, stumbling backward as he felt a hand grab the side of his face.
Forearm muscles bulged as the orc's eyes widened as the two-handed wielder felt its feet leave the ground half an inch before its world span.
"Down you go!" Naruto shouted, using the momentum to smash the orc through the nearest empty table, causing a horrible crash that drew the attention of all the patrons once more.
The human and genasi leapt back in shock as the small human barmaid's form began to flicker and change. In a flash of arcana, the human woman transformed into a light pink tiefling with black eyes and sclera, her white hair framing her face, accentuated by the curved horns atop her head.
'Not the tiefling, I was expecting,' Vax thought as a red skinned warlock flashed to his head before he drew his twin daggers ready for a fight.
"So, you're after the bounty too," the brown-haired cleric sneered, drawing his mace and raising it in the air, releasing a burst of blue light.
"Did that human just face palm Devvash?" the genasi stated in a panic to their heavy being dropped like that as an orc.
Suddenly, the patrons began to dissolve into particles of arcana, surprising both Naruto and Vax. 'Illusion magic?' Vax thought, his mind racing.
'Genjutsu, this powerful…' Naruto considered, glancing at the wizard with newfound respect as the vibrant tavern transformed into a lifeless void, as dead as a cemetery.
'Shit, he dispelled any magic in the immediate area,' the tiefling thought, humming to herself as she weighed her options, tempted to run now that her cover was blown.
As the illusion dissolved, Naruto, Vax, and the tiefling wizard found themselves standing amid a confrontation. The orc, genasi with fiery wisps for hair, and human cleric, now fully aware of their surroundings, readied themselves for a fight.
Naruto, instincts honed from years of combat, immediately took a defensive stance, his eyes darting between the three adversaries. "Looks like we're in for a brawl," he muttered, a smirk playing on his lips. But his smirk faded as he felt two heavy hands grip his shoulders. 'Oh shit!' he thought, as the raging orc hurled him across the tavern, crashing into several empty tables.
Vax'ildan, ever the agile rogue, quickly assessed the situation. "I'll take the archer," he declared, throwing a dagger toward the fire genasi, who was in the midst of notching an arrow. The genasi dove to the side to avoid the weapon, abandoning his shot.
The tiefling wizard, her disguise gone, summoned a flicker of arcane energy to her fingertips. "I'll handle the cleric," she said, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. With a shared nod, Vax and the wizard sprang into action.
Vax moved with the grace of a shadow, weaving through the remnants of the illusory tavern as he closed in on the fire genasi. The archer loosed an arrow ignited in dark red flame, but Vax twisted mid-air, avoiding the projectile with ease. In a fluid motion, he drew his daggers and engaged the genasi in a deadly dance, their weapons clashing with a flurry of sparks.
Naruto stood back up as the orc charged at him with the fury of a berserker. 'Great, a berserker,' he thought, smirking. "Turn me up," Naruto said, watching the orc swing his greatsword with reckless abandon. The blonde ducked the first swing and sidestepped the second, but the orc predicted his next move, seemingly bisecting him at the waist.
Naruto gasped, but the orc's target vanished in a puff of smoke, revealing a bisected echo avatar instead of the real Naruto. 'What?!' the orc thought, his rage cooling with confusion. Before he could comprehend the situation, the echo avatar exploded like a stun bomb, blasting the orc backward with blurred vision and a painfully loud ringing in his ears.
Naruto appeared behind the bar, where he had left an echo when he wasted ale on the orc's face. Glancing down Naruto hissed at the thin line of blood seed from his abs. 'That was shallow and too close for comfort.'
Drawing his axe, he blocked a stray fire arrow. "Oi, watch where you aim that thing!" he shouted, leaping onto the bar countertop and using it to spring into the air. He delivered a double dropkick to the orc's armoured back, smashing the orc into a booth.
"Stay down!" Naruto ordered as the orc began to recover and charge out of the booth with another wild attack. 'Why do they never listen…' he thought, sighing as he rolled aside to avoid the lumbering strike. Retaliating, his Leviathan axe sang through the air, severing the orc's leg at the knee.
The orc cried out in shock and pain, falling backward before seeing the axe above, arcing down to slash into his plated chest armour. "I tried to warn ya," Naruto said, shrugging as he rose and glanced over to Vax and their charge.
The tiefling wizard, standing her ground, faced the human cleric. As the cleric raised his mace to strike, she unleashed a bolt of arcane energy, striking him square in the chest. The cleric stumbled; his momentum disrupted. "You still have your mana? Well, not for long!" she declared, conjuring her ivory staff into her palms to aid her in battle.
Vax, having gained the upper hand, disarmed the fire genasi with a deft flick of his wrist, sending the bow clattering to the ground. With a final, precise strike, he incapacitated the archer, leaving him unconscious on the floor.
The cleric, now isolated and outmatched, hesitated, his confidence wavering. The tiefling wizard, her eyes alight with determination, stepped forward. "It's over," she declared, her voice carrying the weight of her resolve.
Realizing defeat was inevitable, the cleric raised his mace as it began to glow with power, casting a wary glance at his fallen comrades. "This isn't the end," he spat, smashing his weapon into the floor and detonating a flashbang, blinding everyone as he fled the now near-empty tavern.
As the dust settled, Naruto, Vax, and the tiefling exchanged relieved glances. "Damn, he got away. But at least we took down two of the clowns chasing after ya," Naruto said, kicking the orc's severed leg away as it lay lifeless on the floor.
"Let's get out of here before more show up," Vax suggested, sheathing his daggers.
'The orc is dead,' the wizard glanced at the half-frozen blood covered orc.
The tieflings gaze dropped to the fallen one with flame like hair. 'The genasi could be dead, and one escaped,' the tiefling thought, her expression initially hard due to one escaping, eventually softening as she turned to face her apparent saviours. "Agreed and thank you both. I owe you for intervening when you did. The name is Lillith, Lillith Dutarai."
The whiskered face blonde just flicked his wrist as his axe violently ripped itself free and returning to the blonde's grip leaving the tiefling in state ill awe at the blood filling the once lively tavern.
"And you're our target. The Slayer's Take hired the Clasp to bring you into Emon safely," Naruto responded, pointing at himself. "I'm Naruto, that's Vax, and we're your new guard detail."
Vax just waved.
As the newly formed trio exited the tavern, Naruto, Vax, and Lillith were struck by the stark transformation of the town. The once vibrant and bustling settlement was now a derelict shadow of its former self, as if a dragon had laid waste to it in their brief absence.
"No way," Naruto murmured, his eyes scanning the desolation. "Vax, this place wasn't destroyed when we got here, right?"
"It definitely wasn't," Vax replied, bewildered by the display of power. He turned to the wizard. "Did you conjure the entire town?" the half-elf asked, incredulous.
Naruto remained silent as they walked toward their horses, the eerie silence of the town pressing in on them. The lively community they had entered just thirty minutes ago was now a haunting ruin.
"I came across this decimated town as I was being hunted by a band of bounty hunters," Lillith explained.
"A band? Which means there will be more to come," Naruto deduced, glancing around the surrounding area, his senses alert.
"The sun's getting low," Vax noted, his gaze shifting to the horizon.
"Two of us have dark vision," Naruto stated confidently, scanning the horizon as he mounted his horse. He offered an arm to Lillith, lifting her up behind him. "I'll take those odds for you surviving the night."
"Are you sure? This is my life we're betting with," Lillith said, wrapping an arm around the blonde's waist.
Vax snorted. "Lady, if you must know one thing about us, never bet against anyone in Vox Machina, as damaged as we are," the half-elf quipped, tapping his head to indicate past traumas.
"Vox Machina?" Lillith repeated; curiosity piqued.
"You've got the very best of the best—the Champions of the Realm," Naruto declared with a grin.
"Naruto, it's been a day. I don't think that news has reached all of Emon, let alone Tal'Dorei," Vax explained, securing his supplies to his horse before mounting. "Look, Princess, Naruto here isn't wrong, but I'll warn you this: if it's one-on-one, always bet on Naruto."
"But it's not one-on-one. There's a score of hunters after my bounty," Lillith countered.
"Ha, it's not one-on-one for now! Give me a minute to really get going," Naruto stated loudly, holding the reins in one hand and his Leviathan axe in the other.
Lillith shuddered at the thought of wanton murder and the blonde's casual acceptance of it frightened her.
"Let's get out of here, Naruto. I want to make as much distance as we can while we still have light," Vax urged.
"I hear you, Vax," Naruto nodded, glancing back at Lillith, who was holding on tightly. "Hold on tight. While we're on the move from this point out; we're moving at one speed, together."
With a click of their heels, the horses dashed out of the destroyed town, retracing their steps along the path they had come.
The sun had long since set, casting a blanket of darkness over the wilds as Naruto, Vax'ildan, and Lillith set up camp near a freshwater stream. Two champions of the realm and a powerful illusion wizard, they were a formidable trio, but even they needed rest. Earlier, Vax'ildan had ventured out with Lillith to hunt, returning with five rabbits for their meal. The rogue, unable to see in the deep darkness under the overcast skies, relied on Lillith's keen vision to guide him.
Naruto had already kindled a fire by the time they returned, using his kunai to aid in preparing the food. As he tended to the meal, a nostalgic smile crossed his face. 'Hmph, I can eat things other than ramen, pervy sage,' he chuckled to himself, before a sigh escaped his lips. "Miss you, old man," he whispered, recalling his mentor with fondness.
The meal was shared in comfortable silence, the crackling of the fire providing a soothing backdrop. Vax'ildan eventually broke the quiet, suggesting they should rest before encountering the cleric or any more bounty hunters.
Naruto volunteered for the first watch; his senses attuned to the night as the others settled into their makeshift beds. The firelight danced across his features, casting flickering shadows as he kept vigil, his thoughts drifting to the past and the challenges that lay ahead.
The night was calm, the gentle murmur of the stream a constant companion as Naruto remained alert, scanning the darkness for any signs of movement. The weight of his responsibilities pressed on him, but he felt a sense of peace in the solitude, knowing he was protecting his friends.
As the hours passed, the stars emerged from behind the clouds, their light twinkling in the vast expanse above. Naruto found himself lost in thought but then felt something... 'Hmm?' he thought as a vibration emanated from deep within the earth beneath him. The bushes rustled to his right, prompting him to discreetly draw a kunai as a snout slowly emerged—a fox with wings and talons, the size of a direwolf, stalking toward the remaining cooked rabbits.
"You look young and hungry, girl," Naruto said softly, reaching for one of the rabbits. A low growl stopped him, and he locked eyes with the creature, maintaining eye contact as he tossed the rabbit toward it. The winged fox devoured the offering with ravenous hunger.
"Nice one, girl," Naruto whispered, glancing at his still-sleeping companions. He took a bite of the remaining rabbit before tossing it to the fox. But just as the fox prepared to dive into the next meal, it froze, head snapping up before bolting back into the bush, leaving the food behind.
'What the?' Naruto thought, standing up and gripping his kunai. He quietly approached the stream, looking in the direction the fox had fled. Birds suddenly erupted from the trees, their cries waking Vax and Lillith.
Naruto felt the vibration again, this time through his soles, as he looked down at the water rippling unnaturally. 'Shit!' "Vax! Earthquake!" he shouted, but it was too late as the ground began to shake violently. Naruto leapt over the fracturing earth, trying to reach his party.
"Fuck," he muttered, flipping over a collapsed tree and skidding to a stop as Lillith summoned her staff, slamming it into the ground to conjure a magical barrier that enveloped the trio, nullifying the earthquake within a localized space.
"I thought you were the illusion queen?" Naruto quipped, impressed by the spell shielding them.
"Barriers are the first things we learn as wizards. This is easy peasy," Lillith replied, a hint of pride in her voice.
"Pretty awesome there, Lilly," Naruto complimented with a smile.
"Lilly?" Lillith echoed, her cheeks flushing, though it was hard to tell against her pink skin. "We just met?"
"We fought together, and you're not useless in a scrap. So, we're friends now, simple as," Naruto said with a shrug.
'So forward!' Lillith thought, surprised by his candidness.
"Naruto, the horses are gone," Vax observed, scanning the surroundings.
"Hopefully, they got loose before it got too bad and managed to run away," Naruto replied.
"That's the best-case scenario," Vax agreed, knowing full well they had accidentally gotten many a mount killed, minus Trinket.
"Either way, I say after this settles down, we try to carry on in the same direction as the river was originally flowing, and we should find the coast once more," Naruto suggested.
"Find the coast; we just head south, baby," Vax nodded as the world around them calmed and stilled. This welcomed stillness allowed Lillith to drop her barrier, panting to catch her breath as sweat dripped from her brow.
The dust began to settle, revealing the destruction surrounding them. 'It wasn't an earthquake,' Naruto realized, his jaw dropping at the sight before him.
"Something burrowed underneath," Vax echoed Naruto's thoughts, pointing at the exposed cave with a smashed-open tomb and several large chests, one spilling gold and gemstones.
"Gold," Naruto whispered, moving with controlled purpose, aware of the unstable ground.
"But—" Lillith tried arguing but was cut off.
"Doesn't matter, lady. To orphans, money is everything," Vax advised, running after Naruto.
"Fine, I guess," Lillith huffed, moving at a more reasonable pace. She glanced at the now-clear skies, the full moon illuminating the exposed underground chamber.
Naruto was the first to arrive, hopping over larger rocks and fallen trees. 'It looks like it was chewed up by a drill,' he thought, taking in his surroundings. Vax arrived shortly after.
"We should mark this area on the map and come back to explore with everyone," Vax suggested.
"Agreed, and way ahead of you. I marked this place down while you were out hunting, and considering we've barely moved 200 feet, I think we're good," Naruto replied.
"Excellent, and with this moonlight, I can actually see," Vax said.
"I'll check the other chests; you check the sarcophagus for any traps?" Naruto proposed.
"Already on it, kiddo," Vax said, making his way to the oversized coffin, normally reserved for royalty.
"Ha, kiddo… that's not what your sister called me last night," Naruto teased.
"Oh yeah, well…" Vax paused, noticing Naruto's axe glowing slightly. "Erm, Naruto, your Leviathan axe is putting on a light show."
"Huh?" Naruto hummed, drawing his weapon and observing the dull white glow. He stepped toward the mural behind the sarcophagus, the glow intensifying.
"Erm, before you check that thing, watch my back, yeah?" Naruto called out, stepping closer to the mural.
As Lillith entered the exposed tomb, she saw Vax standing between the ornate sarcophagus and the cracked mural, which was seeping arcana, spiraling into Naruto's axe.
"What is that weapon?" she whispered to herself.
"What the hell?" Naruto exclaimed as he was blown backward by a surge of energy, landing in a heap.
"Shit, Naruto, you good?" Vax called, rushing to his friend.
Naruto coughed, raising a thumbs-up. "I bit my tongue," he complained, spitting out blood before flipping his axe in his hand, inspecting it for changes. 'Well, the glow's gone, but that's new,' he thought, spotting a new rune inscribed on the axe.
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked aloud, looking up at Vax. "You don't speak Giant, do you?"
Vax shook his head. "Damn," Naruto muttered, contemplating. "What are the chances that Grog knows the Frost Giant's dialect for ancient runes?"
"Yeah, you're never translating that," Vax laughed, offering his hand to help Naruto up.
"Oh, ye of little faith," Naruto retorted, accepting the hand.
"I may be able to help," Lillith offered, overhearing their conversation. "While I can't translate Giant, I can sense magics."
Naruto and Vax exchanged a glance before shrugging, and Naruto handed over his weapon.
"I got the coffin," Vax said, hurrying to see if there was anything else interesting in the cracked tomb.
Naruto watched intently as arcana snapped into existence around his axe. Lillith's black and red eyes shone with a pink mystical aura, enveloping the Leviathan axe. The axe hovered in the air briefly before the light show ended. As it fell, Naruto twitched his wrist, and it flew back into his grasp.
"Your weapon was created by the frost giants, right?" Lillith asked.
Naruto shrugged. "I was given it by some woman in the north when I got separated from my party on a mission in the snowy peaks. She saved my life."
"Well, whoever made this is a master craftsman," Lillith complimented.
Naruto raised an eyebrow at the excitement on the girl's face. Noticing his look, she blushed lightly. "What?" she asked nervously.
"Since when does a magician know about weapons?" Naruto asked simply.
"I have hobbies," the tiefling argued hotly, causing Naruto to snicker at her response.
"Anyway, that blade seems to have absorbed the power of a rune and added it to itself."
"Do you know which rune?"
"That escapes me. For that, you would need to discover it on your own," Lillith replied.
"Meh, fine by me," Naruto shrugged as he re-holstered his axe onto his back.
"Undead!" Vax called out as he backed away from the draugyr, which slowly awoke from its slumber.
Lillith summoned her staff, causing Naruto to spin around while summoning his axe to his palm before flinging the weapon toward the undead. The axe flew like a buzzsaw, its edge gleaming in the dim light.
The End
A.N
AND DONE FIRST interaction with the Clasp
Kinda an original arc. In campaign Lillith is met being chased by bounty hunters and is save by the gang this one kinda does that but with only Vax and Naruto
Next chapter will finish this side quest and lead into the banquet which means you which power couple have arrived.
Thoughts on the interactions?
The Leviathan axe got an upgrade, but Naruto doesn't know how to utilise yet don't try and guess you won't get it I promise
Will be including Brok and Sindri
Now any romance will be as natural as possible Naruto is the youngest in the group and is almost 18 while the next youngest are Pike and Keyleth at 22 followed by Percy 27 the twins 28 and Grog is 40
The beastie that caused the cave in exposure will be met again.
Naruto made a friend, will she return?
Thoughts of Naruto against combat and how he utilises he combat and movement. (Switching between the knight and monk in combat)
Do we like Lillith and shout out to AmadeusG13 for the side quest initial idea.