New Fantasy writing/modelling comp

As the group reached the outskirts of Wolfwater village I hesitated, turning my head from side to side. "Do you hear that?" I said.

All the others, except for Seth, looked at each other and shrugged.

"What is it, Safiya?" he asked. Being a fellow magic user, Seth never questioned my reaction to unusual manifestations.

"Tis’ a faint but persistent hum. There be magic here and about."

"I must be deaf, I do not hear anything." Teagan said.

"That is because you do not possess magic, you big oaf," Seth replied raising one eyebrow.

The rest of the party began to move toward the village of Wolfwater.

"You proceed, I intend to examine this further to see where it may lead."

“In that case,” Markus interjected, “I am coming with you. We would not want to lose our magic user down a veiled chasm or some such trap.”

“That is most kind, Master Rogue, but I shall not venture far from this persistent thrum around Wolfwater, but thy company is welcome.” We ventured closer to the grove just yonder of Wolfwater. The vibration became weaker the further into the thicket we tramped. “I believe the source of this energy leads underground,” I said. “Tis’ weakening.”

“Then likely there be a cave of sorts,” Markus replied.

“Indeed, we must return and our companions.” As we headed back toward the village, Markus faded into the shadows to scout ahead, only to leap out in front of me and put his finger to my lips.

“We are being watched, make haste to the village.”

We quickened our pace and arrived to see the group standing around talking to a half-orc that although simple in appearance, stood proud and carried himself with conviction. His grey-streaked hair told me, he had experience and age on his side. The only weapon of sorts he harboured, was an axe for woodcutting. I chose to step forward and speak.

“Good day, Master Orc. My companions and I need supplies. We are just passing through and good mistress Murbil came highly praised for her worthy wares.”

“So your companions expressed. Of late, those folks left to find greener pastures for trade. What brings you and yours here? We have no inn or tavern and in truth no time for strangers. I suggest you move on.”

“Did ya find the m—” Teagan began to blurt out.

“—there be no mushrooms out there, sorry, Master Teagan,” I interjected.

Teagan frowned until Darius made eye contact with him and subtly moved his eyes toward the orc keeping his head still. With a slight nod Teagan shouted, “Well, I am starving! I want food!”

“Your big friend here looks agitated,” Gnaabak said stepping back.

“Aye, he does become quite troubled when he needs to eat,” Seth said with mock seriousness. “We tend to keep our distance when he be ravenous.” We all tried to muffle our smiles by clearing our throat or coughing. “We shall not be travelling this night as we have already travelled a goodly way and if our big friend does not eat soon, I, for one, do not want to be too close to him at that time.”

Gnaabak hastily pointed to a cottage on the outskirts of the village. “You and yours can slumber there for the night, it belonged to Murbil Kilmir before she abandoned the folks here. Take what you find, but be gone at first light. I hope not to speak with you again.” He turned and stormed off without looking back.

“The orc expressed displeasure at our presence, my friends,” I laughed. “But many thanks to our big friend here, we have a dwelling to slumber in this night at least.”

As we walked toward the cottage, I noticed many of the cottages appeared abandoned or boarded up. Many of them revealed darkness with no candle glow anywhere. Villagers all around us were closing their windows and battening them down as well. Something be very wrong here. First the ambient energy and now this.

We arrived at the cottage just as the blood-red dawn began to creep over the village, tinting everything it touched. I looked out at the twilight as the sun bowed its head to the horizon. This place is quaintly pleasing if there be not such a feeling of dread in my belly. As we entered, it became obvious that there had been some form of struggle. I began looking around.

As Teagan pushed through the door, splinters of wood echoed around the almost empty hut. Being a gnome’s abode, tis' hard to house such a bulky stature. He thumped about looking for food knocking things down as he rummaged for food. As luck would have it, he found a stale crusted loaf and some cheese. Sitting down at the oak table he made himself comfortable.

Markus turned over and searched through anything that could be moved and after finding a few coins and gems, he started on the dust-covered floor boards. He picked up a book and threw it aside. Seth caught it before it fell to the floor and sat down to study it. As he did, Markus heard something scrape under Seth’s foot. Markus dove onto it and picked it up.

“Show me that, Markus,” Seth said reaching for the leather strap.

Markus recoiled his hand. “I want it back, Master Mage, it be worth gold.”

“God’s teeth! Little Master, I just want to see it, looks important, I shall return it anon.” Seth studied it and found an etching of the same shaped object in the book he had caught earlier. “Seems we have stumbled upon a fanatical cult, my friends, this is called the Providence Eye and it is enmeshed in dark and ancient magic.

At that moment Katia burst through the door. “I have found signs that these folks did not leave willingly. There be lifeblood smeared outside and footsteps that halt abruptly leading to wagon tracks. We have a snatching, as Master Beargrim supposed.”

“Aye, and there be something in those yonder woods,” Markus said. “When Mistress Safiya, followed the magic, I saw things. I cannot say what, but on the morrow I shall investigate further.”

“My creature friends agree, and they saw an opening at the base of a mountain, likely it be a cavern or cave,” Darius added.

“We cannot leave these folks in such peril! We must aid them and find the source of the magic I sensed when I entered this place. Rest well, my friends for methinks we have to help, if we be not too late already.”