Ramzen

A night of dungeons!

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"The Grasscutters Hut was filled with trapped lumberjacks. The monster activity in the surrounding areas has brought their work to a stop. It's just too dangerous. But this has also stopped important deliveries.

Outside the gates was a man who needed to pass into the north marsh. A little girl who lived there was sick, and the postman had the medicine for her. The leader of the lumberjacks volunteered to finish the delivery. Rod looked strong, but I had my doubts, so I followed him.

The North Woods contained more undead, and it was a good idea I ventured in. Rod got hurt and couldn't finish the trip. It wasn't bad enough that he could die, but Rod would need immediate treatment. I'd see him in a sling when I went back through town. But the Marshlands were nearby, so Rod let me save the girl.

Her house was near the start, and only a few sahagins stood between us. They tried to ambush me, but I was too quick for them. I gave the girl's father the medicine, and it started to work instantly. The lumberjacks warned me about a cave in the marsh, so I took this opportunity to look for it.

I had to walk around the wooded walkways to reach various statues across the area. These statues would raise stone platforms that let me get to other places, including the cave. But it was locked! I went back to the inn, and the girl was running around. She told me she had a dream, and a woman was looking for me. The girl gave me the passcode for the door, and I entered Neida's Cave.

It's a water filled cavern filled with slimes who absorb fire (my magic) and bats that split when attacked. I was also assailed by sirens, water spirits who took on the form of a woman, who threw water at me. In the back was another demon who protected a crystal. Water Beast Hydorr fought me in a shallow pool with moving water. The stream kept me stuck in the middle of the room. Hydoor stayed under water to shoot things at me while it tried to eat me. When I broke its shell, it revealed itself to be an octopus! It did the same thing but was faster. Regardless of form, I was quicker!

Behind her was the water spirit Neida. She has watched over these marshes for 1000 years and is in charge of the water alchemy crystal. She warned me that the powers of Kefin have sealed away a stronger magic, but the seal is on the verge of breaking, which would completely desertify the lands with no way of fixing it. She then told me that only I could solve it and gave me the Water Crystal. As I approached it, those brigands appeared. They took off with the crystal and told me they were looking for the Fire Crystal in Ziebe!

I thought about returning to Xandria to report to Dorman, but I don't like giving bad news, and I didn't want the Ibur Gang to get too far ahead. Ramzen is to the east of the Woodcutter's Hut. It's a surprisingly large city, and I think it's because it is a river port. An old woman told me about the waterfall the crystal resided in and its connection to the Phantom City, Kefin. She tried to get 500 gold out of me, but I was poor again. She walked away, and I overheard her talking to the Ibur Gang. I won't lose to them again...

One of the houses was the home of a local researcher, Garam. His daughter, Masara, told me he went missing after searching the ruins of Ziebe to the east. So there are three reasons for me to have gone there! I would need a Watergate Key to get through there, and they had a backup. Taking the key to the ruins allowed me to reach the first sluice gate. To gt to the depths of Ziebe, I needed to form a river. I found a secret path to the fifth, which started the plank boat parade I needed to get to the center. There were more switches I needed to step on to open doors, and two were guarded by stone golems. They blocked all frontal attacks, so I had to jump around. Along with the fire elements in here, this place had the toughest mobs.

In the door maze area, I ran into Garam. He told me about this area's connection to Kefin and confirmed that the Fire Crystal was down here. And it was guarded by a terrible fiend.

Agnihune was a familiar foe. I battled something similar in the volcano of Illburn back in Frlghana. But this guy had more tricks. Spitting fire brought me to my knees twice. I could have used a better sword for this, as this piercing blade ain't good.

The Fire Crystal was behind it, and Garam caught up to me. He told me of a legend passed down in his family that a red haired adventurer would appear. His presence could lead to catastrophe, but he could also save this land. My hair keeps getting me into trouble, but it's also keeping me busy! He let me take the crystal, and we returned to Ramzen. Stein, Neina's dad, was last seen going north from Ramzen, and he left a note with Garam confirming that the Terra Crystal is to the north. Maybe. So I know my next destination. As I left, Dorman told me to go north too. I stopped by the weapons shop and bought a new sword. This one swings, so I'm excited to use it. But where were the Ibr Gang?"

-Adol

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These take forever to write! But I'm having fun. I think a better sword will be even more enjoyable!