Zectas Volume I: Enigmatic Village of Nanahuatl (14 page)

 

 

 

After examining the items he quickly equipped them. He took out his dual knives and stood before the mirror. He can't help but admire his new look. He felt like an elite ninja assassin as he executed 16 slashes in the air in lightning speed.

 

 

This is really a great quest. He hasn't even completed it yet he already received items. Then it dawned on him, this quest must be really difficult. If something is to good to be true, then most likely there is a catch to it. He needed to know everything about this quest, imagine all possible scenarios and outcomes if he wants to have a sliver of hope of completing it.

 

 

"Thank you so much for these items. I thought that I would be stuck with my novice outfit until I get to a main city. Regarding the quest. I was wondering if we could have a strategy meeting with Darius as well. If two heads are better than one then four heads will give wondrous results."

 

 

"We don't mind at all. We would also like to explain in detail the results of all our years of investigation as well."

 

 

In that same hour four minds were melded into solving one difficult riddle. How to liberate the village of Condortl. It took them 4 hours, one would give out suggestions and plans while the other three will try to see the drawbacks and potential flaws in the suggestion. Finally they've thought of a strategy that has a 30% chance of success.

 

 

Smoke was glad that he had such reliable and wise NPCs as counsel. Even if they will not join him on this quest they had given him everything that he would need to complete it.

 

 

"Darius I'm off. If I don't make it. Well I'll see you in front of the fountain..."

 

 

"Are you really leaving after saying something so ominous? You should always think positive and say something like 'When I return I shall bring spoils worthy of a heroic general' or something along those lines."

 

 

"I find that thinking passively tends to hurt less when your expectations are not met but I'll give thinking positive a try... I will only return after I've completed the quest."

 

 

"Well that wasn't really what I was looking for, but I guess that will have to do."

 

 

Smoke headed towards Mt. Aeriloc the trip should have taken him about 70 days but he did it in 60. He avoided all encounters with monsters. He needed to keep all of his items and equipments in optimum condition for the quest.

 

 

As he reached the base of Mt. Aeriloc he looked for three trees that were slightly taller than all the others. This would lead him to the path that James and Howard took in order to spy safely on the lizard people.

 

 

Fifteen minutes passed, climbing on the path of Mt. Aeriloc he found a creature out of place in his map. 200 meters ahead was a huge griffon. He thought that their nests would be higher up in the mountain. As his gaze looked up the mountain he found that there were a lot of griffons flying all over the mountain top. This one must have started building its nest in the lower parts of the mountain to avoid competition with the other griffons.

 

 

Checking his map for alternative routes he found that he could either go higher up the mountain or down below but he would need to travel between tree tops. He instinctively chose the latter. He was accustomed to working on high places and traveling between trees shouldn't be so hard with his insane agility and dexterity.

 

 

Nimbly jumping from tree to tree it took smoke another hour to see the village. It was noon time and he could see the village clearly. The village was smaller than he had imagined. It was about 1/3 the size of Nanahuatl Village. While looking for a base camp to start his first phase of the plan he heard sounds of fighting.

 

 

It was from across the village. He quickly went to the source of the sounds of fighting but paid attention to stay hidden at all times.

 

 

On the other side of the forest from Condortl Village was a huge clearing. It was about twice the size of Nanahuatl Village and in this clearing were thousands of lizard people.

 

 

Their shacks were built hastily and offered no protection what so ever. They were being attacked by the griffons. Because of the high reproduction rate of the lizard people they had a lot of younglings. The younglings were easy picking for the griffons.

 

 

Smoke continued to observe the scene with much scrutiny. In the nursery of the younglings there were residents of Condortl Village forced to guard their future oppressors. Their purpose was more of a distraction rather than a guard since other griffons took the human guards instead of younglings as their prey.

 

 

The invasion lasted about 30 minutes. There were about 50 surviving griffons carrying around 10 younglings each and 5 dead griffons were left behind in the lizard people encampment. The lizard people started feasting on the dead griffons.

 

 

It was a mutual food cycle, because the lizard people had increased its population this also increased the food source of the griffons and their population as well.

 

 

He went back to the tree top which he had chosen to be his base camp. He saw that Condortl Village was actually empty. He tried looking for the entrance to the mines where they were digging for Vitalis. He saw that it was quiet some distance from the village.

 

 

Smoke moved closer to the entrance of the Vitalis Mines, there were around 10 entrances. When night time came the enslaved residents of Condortl started to slowly come out of the mine's entrances. There were men, women, children and old people who came out of the mines. He estimated that around 50 to 60 persons came out of each entrance.

 

 

His heart was crushed as he saw the tattered people of Condortl. They had been living under these conditions for almost half a century. He was inspired once more to complete this quest at all costs.

 

 

He spent the next 7 days observing the surroundings, confirming a few things, and continued on the phase one of their plan. He found out that the griffons attack was a daily occurrence and they always came around noon time. At night the residents of Condortl were separated into groups of 5 and stored into their respective cages.

 

 

One virile lizard was assigned to keep watch of one cage but the guards would meet near the weapon vault at the center of the village to hold a slug fest against each other. They also used this fight as a form of gambling as they placed bets on the fighters.

 

 

The village was poorly lit at night. Torches were sparsely scattered across the village. Which was one of the important factors in their plan to liberate Condortl.

 

 

On his eighth night. He proceeded with phase two. Smoke had a vague idea as to who were the leaders of Condortl. He had prepared a stealthy route towards the leaders' cages. He planned to visit them during the fist fights of the virile guards.

 

 

Smoke successfully reached his first targeted cage undetected...

 

 

"Shhh... Calm down. calm down. My name is Smoke. I'm here to free you."

 

 

"My name is Adder. Have you brought an army to kill all of these lizard people?"

 

 

"You could say that. Anyway I'd like to confirm that you're one of the leaders of Condortl correct?"

 

 

"Well I really wouldn't call myself a leader I'm still 25 and most village leaders are from the ages 40 and above but I do take the time to look after my fellow Condortlian."

 

 

"Right. That's all I needed to know. You see the army that is going to free you is actually you the  Condortlians."

 

 

"What?! You came here by yourself? How in the world do you expect us to fight them. The virile lizards have paralysis spray and we need weapons in order to do enough damage to harm them."

 

 

"I will provide you those weapons and about their paralysis spray I have something that could help somehow."

 

 

"Just how are you planning to do that?!"

 

 

"Adder, relax and listen to me. I maybe alone but this plan is our only chance for your freedom. I beg you to have faith and believe in me. I know that you just met me but I am your only hope."

 

 

"Fine! I guess we have no other choice but to give it a try. Even if it means death I would like still like to taste freedom. So let's hear your plan then."

 

 

"At noon the griffons come to attack the younglings of the lizard people right? During this time I will free you from the mines. There are only 20 guards at most. I've started digging inside the mines as well and placed some useful items for you. Once you've equipped those items rush out towards the exit and assault the guarding virile lizards. I will distract them, so they should have their backs against you. After we've killed the guards we will rush out towards the center of the village to open the weapon vault and slaughter the lizard people!"

 

 

"There are too many flaws in this plan. For one there are only about 300 adult warriors left. How do you expect us to defeat 10,000 virile lizards?"

 

 

"Well their attention will be focused on the griffons. I have also learned that there is a secret weapon inside your weapon vault that can deal a massive area damage."

 

 

"I've never heard of such a weapon. Where did you gain this information? This plan sure feels like a long shot. Well if those are all true and we could somehow access that weapon then I guess we do stand a chance against them."

 

 

"Of course now I just have to spread the details of this plan to the other leaders and we will commence the attack tomorrow noon."

 

 

"Smoke before that can I ask you to head for my wife's cage. You have to inform my wife Maxine she's located at that cage, the fourth one to your right. She's also one of the main leaders of our people she will help spread the word."

 

 

Smoke took note of the cage and nodded. He then silently ran towards Maxine's cage. The virile lizards guarding the captured Condortlians were still heavily engaged in their blood sport.

 

 

"Maxine? Maxine? Are you Maxine? I'm Smoke, I was sent by your husband Adder to inform you about our plan to escape and slaughter the lizard people."

 

 

"Escape? Slaughter? Are you insane? There is no way we could do such a thing..."

 

 

Smoke proceeded telling her the same plan that he told Adder. She began to understand the situation and saw that there was indeed a small chance that this plan could succeed. However it all heavily depended on that secret weapon inside Condortl's Weapon Vault.

 

 

"I know that this plan could work, but what about the human guards placed on the youngling's nursery? Will we just leave them to die? I cannot allow this. Please include this as you spread the plan, that I will be volunteering together with 3 others to guard the younglings. During this time the others should just concede. I’m proud of my agility. I can manage to dodge those griffons. I will find a way to get back here and meet all of you at the weapon vault."

 

 

"Wow that's quiet a noble thing to do Maxine. Alright I will inform everyone about your plan as well. So good luck for tomorrow then. I'll continue to spread the word as much as I can. I think the guards are coming back soon."

 

 

Smoke continued on to the other cages of the leaders and he relayed the 'updated' plan. Every Condortlian was excited. Not one of them got any sleep at all. They wanted to get to the mines and start looking for the items that Smoke had mentioned.

 

 

Morning finally came. As the sun rose so did the hearts of the Condortlians. They were too excited to extract their revenge. After being enslaved for so long this was the day that they had been praying for. They were escorted as usual into their respective mines.

 

 

Smoke readied himself on the platforms that he had built on top of the tree tops. He had built them to surround the entire Condortl Village. He could now move swiftly from one tree to another and gain an advantageous line of sight on the whole village. He had everything prepared. All he was waiting for was for noon to arrive.

 

 

The fated hour has finally arrived! It was noon time and the thunderous screeching of the griffons were echoed all over Condortl. The griffons could be heard heading towards the encampment of the lizard people.

 

 

Today there were only 10 guards on watch over the mines' entrances. The Condortlians came out equipped with gas masks made from the pelts of the rabid raccoons and sharp mantis blades.

 

 

Smoke learned the ability 'animal skin tailoring' from Howard Hide and James Jackal it was a special kind of tailoring that focused on animal skin/hide/pelt, there were no other passive bonus from the ability aside from being able to craft equippable items with certain effects.

 

 

Smoke had been crafting raccoon pelt gas masks on his way towards Condortl. The gas masks didn't have the immunity against the paralysis spray since he was still in the beginner stage of 'animal skin tailoring'. However Howard taught him a way to make one that would be at least 50% resistant to paralysis spray and lessen the duration of paralysis.

 

 

With those two items equipped the Condortlians felt invincible against the 10 guards. The guards tried spraying everyone with paralysis but they didn't stop and continued to hack the virile lizard guards where they stood.