Chapter 1 (The Cave) Draft dump

Before you read...

What is a Lagari?


Lagari are humanoids, but also have a few unique (and slightly animalistic) traits of their own. Most notably is the drooping, flattened ears at the sides of their head, along with their powerful legs that allow them to leap several feet into the air. Naturally, their legs also allow them to stick most falls and landings without taking considerable damage to themselves.

Their eyes are known to glow brightly in the dark, and aid them in their travel through the vast cave networks they often reside in. They have a thin layer of fur that’s most thick around the collarbone and neck, resembling tufts of soft wool. They grow hair just like humans would, though it’s typically softer and coloured after their fur.

Even though they sport traits from a few animals, Lagari have mostly humanoid facial features.

They reside within a underground part of the world, and make their living in vast underground caverns linked together with winding tunnels and chambers. Despite being humanoid and much like us humans in terms of intelligence, they're not on top of the food chain.

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It was a while since the first two scouts left the team. The rest of the Lagari remained silent and attentive as everyone stood at the edge of the cavern. Despite living underground all her life, Zeita failed to make out what could possibly be ahead. She’d uncomfortably shift on her feet a bit, crossing her arms as everyone around her investigated the area around the cave.

Unlike previous ventures, she wasn’t left with only her mother at her side. Many other of her kind stood next to her, silently at the edge of the gaping hole within the darkness. Luminous clumps of moss hung in tangled ropes from the nearby walls.Amidst the darkness, the Lagari’s eyes seemed to look like a small group of fire flies, glowing slightly among the dark while the dull, blue lights cascade across the floor of the cavern.

The chamber around them was clear and open. The cave mouth itself had opened nearby their home some time ago. The whole matter was enough to raise suspicion from her people -- unexplored places usually meant danger, after all, especially with one so close to them! Everyone remains still and silent at the edge. Zeita surveys both her sides, finding the other members of the company stepping forwards to curiously look up and down the walls, some reaching out to curiously drag fingers along the surface.

“--Alright. Enough waitin’ around here!” Henrik breaks the long silence. Zeita’s head turns to look towards him and offer a shy smile.

“...Pap, we can’t even see in there. Why’s that? And where’s Ida and Ansel?” Zeita mentions.

Henrik wrinkles his nose a little, squinting as he attempts to step forwards and peer through the blackness of the cave.

“Can’t say. Weird things happen in these caves. You’ve been with us long enough t’know that.” Henrik dryly remarks, before gesturing for the rest of the Lagari to follow him as he steps towards the darkness.

Twenty Lagari traveled in the group. With two wagons for ten. The cave was fortunately wide enough to accept both, but they were forced to move in a single file. Zeita kept close to her father and mother. Very little light was seen. This wasn’t a problem to Zeita or the other Lagari though. At least, normally it wasn’t. Darkness was simply something they grew up in.

“...I can’t see a damn thing…” Zeita murmurs, peeking over her shoulder cautiously.

“Am I going blind?” She deadpans.

“Maybe.” Karla, her mother, mentions as she nudges at Zeita’s side.

“Strange things happen in strange places...and to be frank, this isn’t even the weirdest thing to happen to use. A little dark never hurt anyone. We’ve lived under a rock for centuries, y’know?” She mentions.




Zeita nods. “Yeah...just feels weird...wait.” Zeita comes to an abrubt halt. One that lead to the rest of the group to stand still. The cave mouth was more or less a wide and open passage; nothing too out of the ordinary was within it. Not a single spec of life could be seen. Everything was silent, save for the idle chatter. The company very often thought of expeditions such as this as every day things. Chatter and talking was essentially, just something that everyone did to pass the time.

Several nervous glances traveled across the cavern as the rest of the company stood silent. It took Zeita a moment, but after noticing a few stares of the area ahead, she’d hear her mother speak.

“...Something definitely isn’t right here...look close Zay. I knew somethin’ was up when it was all dark, but now I KNOW something’s wrong.” Karla says.

At first, Zeita didn’t see it. But a cursory look over the path ahead allowed her to notice something was indeed wrong. It was like a literal mass of darkness ahead. A ‘wall’ of black that hid whatever was beyond the cavern. Even more, Zeita could see that shadows were visibly shifting ahead. Like wispy trails of smoke, the darkness swirled and flowed along the ground, rolling in a heavy, dark fog that occluded all sight.

“...That’s kinda scary.” Zeita bites her lip, but reaches behind her to draw her greatsword.

“Arm yourselves, Lagari!” Henrik commands. “The path is dark. We cannot see anything beyond the shadow. So, keep close and arm yourselves. For now, leave the carts behind us. It’s best we stand as close as we can in case something dangerous is bumpin’ about ahead. We’ve no clue where Ida and Ansel went, but try to be on the lookout for them.”

Zeita boldly steels herself with the same determination that carried herself before, bracing herself and marching ahead once everyone dismounted the wagons. The Lagari soon formed a small unit, standing close to one another as they traveled straight through the dark. The mist wraps around them, and soon, darkness was all that Zeita could see.

She could still breath, even if the darkness billowed like a cloud of smoke. Nothing smelled off, but the fog covered everything to the point that she saw nothing more than empty black void. A hand squeezes her shoulder, prompting Zeita to almost jump, before turning to look over to her side.

Nothing but pure darkness. Though her mother’s soft hand gently placed itself onto her.

“We should try to keep shoulder to shoulder.” Zeita mentions.

“Maybe we can have some sort of buddy system.” Karla replies. “Do we have any rope?”

Henrik laughed a bit from the darkness. “‘Do we have any rope’...do you think I haven’t learned my lesson the last time we forgot it? Yeah, what’s on your mind, Karla?”

“Heh. Well, the idea might be a little restricting...but we could all select a partner and fasten our waists together with the rope. That way we’ll be able to know if something bad happens to someone in the dark. We can stick together easily, yeah?”

“...Isn’t a bad idea.” Henrik mentions. “But if something dangerous is causing this, we’re probably gonna want to keep ourselves at the ready.”

“I think we’ll be fine.” Zeita mentions. “We’ve worked together for almost eight years. I’m sure weighing each other down with someone familiar isn’t gonna stop us from busting whatever baddie we have to deal with ahead.”

“...Well. If you say so. Rope’s back at the caravans, though…” Henrik sighs.

“Omar, Milo, both of you fetch some rope from the caravan. Fasten to each other.” He says.

“On it.” Milo was heard, and soon enough, the two had apparently separated from the caravan.

Zeita remained still, and so did the rest of the Lagari. She felt the restlessness in her legs, her eyes trailing around her in hopes of finding either her mother or father next to her. But the only thing she could make out was the faintest outline, hidden away by the mysterious dark void. Zeita’s mind wandered over just how the others were managing...were they this restless? How did they keep themselves still in this blackness?

A few footsteps could be heard.

Tik tap tik tap.

They were very faint. But in the stillness of the dark, Zeita’s ears easily knew that something was approaching them through the dark. Something else was approaching. Henrik actually spoke up before the footsteps drew too close…

“Hello? Please tell me you’re the scout team.”

A silence follows, the footsteps stop.

“Henrik?” A woman said. “Henrik is that you?’

“You guys wandered in without us? We said we’d be back.” Ansel says.

“You took too long.” Henrik replied. “So now we’re gonna be buddying up and regrouping. Did you see anything ahead?”

Nervous laughter came from the path ahead. “...You kidding me?” Ansel replies.

“You’ve been here, you’re in here right now. We can’t see shit. Haven’t seen anything at all the whole way.” Ida adds.

“Concerning.” Henrik says glumly. “Well, stay here. We’ve gotta plan to keep safe in this mess. Milo and Omar are on their way with rope. We have no idea just how dangerous the path ahead is.”

“A plan huh?” Ansel paused. “What would that be exactly?” The footsteps soon came closer. Eventually, a pair of Lagari came through.

“Waa--” Zeita stumbles to the side, Ida awkwardly bumps into her, resulting in a bit of awkward bumbling in the dark. A few footsteps echoed through the canal as the two regathered themselves to rejoin the ranks.

“...You guys okay?” Henrik says.

“Yeah.” Zeita replied. “Ida and Ansel are just klutzes that can’t see in the dark.”

A bit of chuckles could be heard surrounding Zeita, which at least shed a little ‘light’ to the otherwise ominous situation.

Omar and Milo soon could be heard announcing their presence though, and before long, the rope exchange was under way.

“Karla? Where are ya.” Henrik asks.

“Right here hon!” Karla announced. Henrik had actually tossed a rope over to Karla. Zeita already preemptively backed off before they joined up, watching her mother brush past her for a brief moment before quickly disappearing into the dark.

“Ansel, you link with Zeita.” He instructs.

“Right here.” Ansel says, a rope is thrown Zeita’s way, and she’d quickly grasp hold of the twine before tossing it around her waist. Within seconds, the company all had their buddies. Omar with Milo, Zeita with Ansel, and Henrik with Karla.

Zeita tugs slightly on the rope, finding that it has just enough slack to give her a bit of space between Ansel and her. The darkness shrouded him entirely, with the only hint of his existence being the rope that lead to him from her waist. Before long though, the first few footsteps began.

“Lets go.” Henrik says. “Keep your wits about. If we encounter anything dangerous, try not to get its attention.

Everyone slowly began to step through the dark. It seemed almost endless. A vast void filled with nothing but black space that couldn’t be permeated even by Lagari eyes. A few faintly glowing, amber coloured dots could be seen amongst the shadows as Zeita wandered through at certain points, before fading away to black. The eyes of her fellow Lagari have adapted to settings like this for years; the idea of being blind had never really crossed Zeita’s mind.

Especially considering she’s spent all her life with perfect vision.

“How far did you go into this cave Ansel?” Zeita whispers, knowing full well not to make too much of a commotion.

“...Didn’t count, but not too far. To be honest, we started heading back after a few meters through the darkness. Didn’t really want to risk encountering something alone in the dark.”


A few low rumbles could be heard ahead, and though Zeita heard them, she found her feet continuing to step forwards regardless. The echoing noises seemed to slowly crackle, as if coming from the back of something’s throat. Zeita soon found herself stopping as she watched the rope at her waist slacken slightly, soon finding herself standing right beside Ansel -- shoulder to shoulder.

“...Its probably sleeping.” Ansel’s voice mentioned. “Something’s ahead, but I don’t think it seems to notice us. If it can even see through all this darkness.” Ansel says.

“We should probably keep it that way.” Zeita whispers. “...I think everyone else stopped moving...How far apart are we?”

Ansel and Zeita both attempt to look around their surroundings, but still found nothing more than empty blackness.

“...Who knows, Zay.” Ansel said. “I honestly think we should back off. This seems a little too dangerous for us.”

Zeita shakes her head. “...This is our job, Ansel, we handle the most dangerous stuff to begin with. It’s not like we can just leave this cave and...whatever that thing is alone, with it being so damn close to our house.”

“Movement!” Henrik’s voice spoke over everyone else. A few large foot steps could be heard crashing through the dark, heavy and thunderous, clearly belonging to something far larger than they were. These were no mere ‘tik taps’. They were thunderous stomps, pronounced by the reverberating, echoing growl that the creature produced from the back of its throat.

“Lagari, arm yourselves.” Henrik announces.

Without a second thought, Zeita prepared herself in her stance, drawing her blade. Ansel at her side, braced his shield and sword.

“Melee, duck. Archers, nock! Creature, if you are smart, stand down or speak.” Henrik commands..



“DUCK!” Zeita and Ansel both shouted, along with twelve or so other Lagari. Zeita and Ansel quickly ducked low to the ground, with Ansel bracing himself to crouch with his shield poised in front of him. Zeita kept herself low, blade at her side.

Only more growling emitted from the dark path ahead. As the crashing grew closer though, Zeita could make out the faintest outline of a serpentine shadow, looming through the shadowy darkness.

“Archers, fire at the noise’s direction!”

Several arrows could be heard loosing outwards. It didn’t take too long, but while Zeita could hear some skitter and skatter across the ground, failing to hit anything, a few had apparently hit the creature...because a loud, hissing roar shrieked from far ahead. The stomps grew heavier. Zeita could feel the very ground beneath her shake and quake as the monstrosity crashed across the ground.

Zeita hears a scream nearby, and soon enough, she watches as her rope jiggles and wobbles about. The rope goes taught, squeezing at her waist and forcing her to jump up from her crouching position as she boldly charges forwards, stumbling slightly in her sprint as she began to rush straight into the dark.

“ANSEL! Are you okay?!” Zeita barks.

“F-fine! We have a monster! Kill it! Kill the thing!” Ansel’s rope wobbled slightly.

“Ansel, I’m jumping!” Zeita said.

“Okay, go for it!”

Zeita sprints across the dark floor. Her powerful legs press onto the ground, and she’d spring straight into the air.

She soars, watching the rope beside her briefly straightening -- threatening to go taut before she took her high place. But soon enough, she finds it once more drooping into dip. She finds herself falling straight down for a grey scaled hide. She brings her blade down in a vertical strike, quickly cleaving straight through the hide and into the flesh. The long, coiled mass redoubles itself and retreats into the shadow, fading into the darkness, unseen.

Blackish blood splatters from the edge of Zeita’s claymore as she tumbles off to the ground.

“--Agh!” She’d yelp, finding the rope stiffening slightly as Ansel tumbles at the other end. It sent her falling flat on her stomach, but she was quick to redouble herself and jump back to her feet, turning to regroup with Ansel.

“I hit it!” Zeita announces.

“Good! Lagari, keep it cornered. Archers, hang back for now. Do not fire unless ordered by me!” Henrik announces.

A grey shadow swiftly surges through the darkness, and soon enough, Zeita was given the time she needed to briefly make out the bizarre thing’s form. Its body is mostly serpentine; long and grey, clad in scales with a row of frilly spines along the back of its head. The neck lead towards a massive head that appeared to lack any notable eyes, with instead an enormous mouth that stretched across its visage, opening to reveal dozens of needle-like teeth. It carries itself on large legs, but before Zeita sees the rest, she finds the serpent diving into darkness once more.

“FUCK, it’s got --AGH!”The creature shrieks and hisses loudly. Zeita hears the cry of one of the fighters, followed by the sound of tearing flesh. For a very brief moment, Zeita watches as one of the men are left flying across the room, suspended by a rope attached one of the other Lagari. He flails around, reaching desperately out at the air in front of Zeita before faiding away into the dark.

Steeling herself, Zeita charges forwards alongside Ansel. The two give a rallying cry to alert the others.

“LEAP! I’ll go for the head, you go for the neck!” Ansel says.

“Couldn’t say it better myself!” Zeita grips her weapon and soon enough, she’d watch as Ansel and her once more fly straight off the ground. They spring into the dark air. This time, Zeita poises her blade in front of her, over her shoulder as she plunges down to stab it into the creature’s neck.


A grey mass smashes straight into her body. She sputters as she’s battered into the ground, sent careening backwards. The rope quickly goes taught, squeezing her waist once more as her flying weight drags onto Ansel. The two scatter into the ground. Zeita slowly begins to rise up, breathing raggedly as her body aches from the landing. She saunters up, bringing her weapon up in front of her and using it as a prop.

Zeita goes still, sputtering not only from the breath that left her lungs, but the sight that lay before her. For a moment, the shadows had seemed to retreat. The darkness was beginning to fade. She wasn’t sure whether the creature had the cruelty to control the shadow for her to see what remained of her comrade. But Zeita’s eyes went wide with terror. Her body freezes and goes still, fur raising at the back of her neck.

One of the Lagari lay still and motionless within its maw, his arm slack and dangling from the creature’s mouth. The sound of crunching bone is heard as the beast bites into his flesh. Blood sprays from the body, matting the arm with crimson as it remains unmoving. The creature curls its head down.

“Fuck! Over here over here!” The other barked, as he drew a knife to steadily saw at the rope he was dangled from.

Zeita’s body remained frozen.

With one jerk, the creature caused the rope to snap beneath its mouth, sending the other guardsman flying. It hisses loudly, the shadows convering over its face to disguise the grisly scene. Zeita’s eyes stare at emptiness, giving a soft gasp -- a whimper, as she hears the thunderous stomps crash into the ground before her.

“LEAP!” Karla shouts in the distance.

“LEAP!” Henrik repeats.

“JUMP!” Milo and Omar shouted.

The shadow lunges straight for Zeita. Its massive head reveals itself. But in the nick of time, Zeita twists her blade upwards, poised over her shoulder once more. With one thrust, she quickly finds herself stabbing straight into the monstrosities opening mouth. Zeita screams in both pain and anger, as one of the enormous fangs rip into her arm. An audible crunch can be heard as her blade rips into the roof of the thing’s mouth. It hisses wildly, sputtering blood.

Her mother lands onto the side of its neck, sinking both her daggers straight into the flesh, dangling there while her father plunges his sword into the creature. Before long, she watches as the hissing, sputtering thing begins to retreat into the shadow, only to find Ansel appearing from the dark. He lands squarely on the beast’s skull, his blade tearing through the dome of the creature’s head.

Zeita drops to her knees, collapsing just as the creature did. Her hands bring her greatsword to the ground, propping against it as she breaths heavily. Soon enough, the darkness slowly begins to fade away with the creature’s last breaths. The shadows dissipate, and the darkness begins to slowly retreat. The shadows that once kept Zeita from seeing were now gone, and soon, she was now kneeling before the creature in the midst of a massive chamber.

A huge hole in her arm bled nearby. Her face felt pressure as she took in a deep breath, her hands both clutching tight around the handle of the weapon. Many Lagari were standing nearby, and soon, the rest of the company began to close in around the collapsed monster.

“...Is...it dead?”

The deceased creature, now no longer hidden by shadow, was essentially a colossal serpent on legs. It was eyeless, and carried a massive tail behind it that laid just as slack as the rest of the thing’s body. The shadows, having dissipated, revealed several creatures dangling from above.

Enormous caterpillars, roughly the size of a small wagon. They all hung and curled from the ceiling, emitting a bright glow at their sides as they dangled from above. The light wasn’t necessary for the Lagari to see, though many of them had looked up to take in the sights, at the very least.

“...That’s a lot of glow worms.” Milo mentions.

“Kinda scary. We may want to considering killin’ them when we can.” Omar said.

The conversation went over Zeita’s head though, as the girl silently kept herself at the ground, staring at the corpse of the monster she helped slay. Henrik and Karla both rush over.

Karla was first to grip hold of Zeita. “--Zay! Are you alright?”

“Fine.” Zeita eventually says, after a long pause. Her eyes hurt as her face felt pressure from the coming tears, finding it far too hard to speak in phrases longer than one word.

‘Someone, fetch up bandages.” Henrik says. “You did good, Zay.”

Zeita shook her head and stared at the ground. “...Not good enough.”