After nearly a year... (Nov 2014 was the last time I officially added to the story!)
Blaz’tik emerged from a small brush and help up a large sized egg. “Look what I found! There’s a few others here.”
“Something laid those eggs,” Taren noted. “Something fairly large.”
“Turtles,” Coy replied. “The western coast of this island is full of them.”
“Well that means we eat something other than these little crabs,” Tawmis nudged several crabs that had been skittering by his foot. “And now that we sort of have weapons; we start moving into the island itself and see if we can’t find a way off of here.”
“The only way we’re likely to get off of this island is when we’re dead,” Coy sighed. “And even then, we’ll just be food for something on this island. So I hope you have some spiritual belief that allows your spirit to transcend away from this island.”
“Can someone –tic!- remind me why –tic!- he’s with us,” Blaz’tik muttered aloud.
“Because I’m familiar with the island,” Coy answered shortly, not realizing that Blaz’tik was being sarcastic; though it was always difficult to tell when Blaz’tik was anything other than serious, as insectoids have no influx of their voice; it’s always the same, flat, clicking sound.
The sun was beating down on the four of them as they moved along the shore. At high noon, the sun was becoming unbearable hot, forcing them to take shelter inside a small cavern on the coast’s shoreline. “These a network of caves,” Tawmis noted, exploring the back end of the cave.
Blaz’tik returned from outside, holding a tattered parchment in his hands. “Look –tic!- what I found –tic!- jammed into a log.”
Taren, the massive minotaur, approached Blaz’tik and read it aloud:
“Dear Visitor,
Welcome to my island! I hope your journey was not too detrimental to your health. I think you will find this island to be the most wonderful, yet the most perilous place, on Earth.
I don't have high hopes about your survival, but maybe you can prove me wrong.
Better equip yourself before the night falls.
The Island Master”
Tawmis returned from the back of the cave. “Son of a… So someone purposely shipwrecked us?” Tawmis looked at Coy. “Demons of Dex, who is this ‘Island Master’ Coy?”
(1)
“I’ve seen him,” Coy answered, “but I can’t tell much about him. He’s shrouded in a black robe and wears a large key around his neck.”
“A wizard then,” Tawmis muttered. He glanced over at Blaz’tik, “No offense, Blaz.”
“None –tic!- taken,” Blaz’tik assured Tawmis.
Tawmis shook his head. “Why is it always wizards? I’m telling you, magic drives a sane person insane.” He looked at Blaz’tik again. “Sorry, again. No offense. It’s just it always seems to be wizards who are the main source of problems in my life. From my childhood to now.”
“It’s understandable –tic!- you’d feel as you do,” Blaz’tik assured Tawmis, his insectoid tone, flat and monotone. “I was –tic!- consumed by the magic of the –tic!- Undying One… and… for that brief –tic!- moment, I was… -tic!- not of my own mind.”
“Well,” Coy interjected, “I can promise you, without the insect’s magic, we would have never escaped the Grimrock dungeon. And without his magic, we won’t be getting away from this island.”
Taren came to stand, towering over Tawmis. “The rodent is bothersome,” his voice was deep and rumbling, “but he proved to be of great use while we were imprisoned in Grimrock. If he truly does know this island as well as he claims, he may yet again prove useful.”
Tawmis nodded in agreement. “I’m concerned that he may be using us for his own ends. He mentioned his people were on this island. What if he’s just trying to get back to them… and once he does, we’re as good as gone.”
“I shall endeavor to keep my eye on the rodent then,” Taren smiled, his teeth showing rows of glistening sharpened fangs. “I feel you’re concerned about our insectoid friend as well.”
“I am,” Tawmis whispered. “He’s not been the same since his mind merged with the Undying One. He’s not been able to channel magic – which, granted – I am somewhat thankful for. The less mages that exist in this world, all the better. But if this Island Keeper is some kind of mage – then having Blaz’tik at full power might be beneficial.”
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1. Demons of Dex is a reference to Petri’s (Grimrock developer) old school, rogue like game, see:
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