== Fae with No Name ==
== Exaptation spin off idea ==
Koko swept her gaze around the antechamber of the dungeon even as feet felt for the tell-tale give of a pressure plate and its associated trap. One had to admit – dungeons became a lot more interesting after the transition, at least in the Chinese sense of the word.
This particular dungeon had been found by a patrol almost a month ago and quickly blocked off – its position in the forests around Arrun suggested it was one of the higher level dungeons. No one wanted a hunter to accidently wake up a high level boss. Even so as trade into Arrun increased and the mobs acclimated to new existences as actual creatures the guard was finding itself overtaxed and undermanned. So they had started to put out job offers, help with a checkpoint here, and scout a dungeon there.
It reminded her of the old quest system actually.
The job was to simply scout the dungeon, not clear it, so the Cait Sith had only assembled a small team of three. She eyed the pale hair of Ginko in the dim murk of the dungeon as the Sylph looked over a wall and its inscriptions. She continued her survey of the chamber as laid eyes on the sinewy form of the dragons as common as high level mounts among Cait Sith. The dragon turned its wedge shaped head toward her as if it sensed her gaze and held a dinner plate sized eye at her for a moment before continuing with its patrol of the chamber. "Cecile." Koko called out toward the dragon's owner. "You don't normally take jobs like this…"
"Not normally…" The younger Cat Sith spoke up from behind her as she sketched what looked like a tiny version of her own mount basking on rock in the sole beam of sunlight in the chamber. "But the pay was good for this one, besides given the nature of bosses the ecosystem of a place like this could be different from a normal cave. I mean – I doubt the boss is going to let any other apex predators stay here."
"Well, you always have the lesser bosses for the place." Koko suggested. "Find anything Ginko?"
"Just more chicken scratch – wish we could figure out the text in the dungeons." The Sylph replied as he made his way back over. "I'm actually glad we haven't found any mobs- given that Cecile's dragon." He thumbed toward the beast, who perked up at being mentioned. "Can fit in here – normally those types of mounts are meant to fight against players in open areas."
"Actually it has me worried." Cecile said as the other two fae turned. "I mean – why aren't there any other mobs here? Unless something scared them all away – or ate them."
The trio looked toward the massive doors at the other end of the chamber, slightly ajar but still closed enough to block all view into the next room. "Maybe just a quick look?" Cecile offered.
The other quickly agreed.
The dragon's snout was the first thing to enter the room as the fae had the sturdily built dragon be the first to enter the room – but even with the Dragon's brute strength the door groan on its hinges as they forced it open enough for them all the enter.
The sight that they found none of them expected. The room was, for lack of a better term, ruined as if a massive battle had taken place and toward the far end of the room lay the Skeleton remains of the serpent ike boss – a spear taller than Koko herself lodged through its head looking its jaws open in its final attack. The only thing more spectacular then the Skeleton was that final attack – a jewel like ball of ice sparkling in the few beams of light that entered the room.
Cecile look at the scene before the team before speaking "Holy crap."
"How long ago was this?" Koko asked. "Ginko – you haven't heard anything have you?"
Ginko shook his head. "No and beside that – look at this place, its covered in dust." He ran a finger on a half ruined railing. "No one or anything has been in here for at least six months – or the transition."
"So whoever did this might not even be here?" Cecile asked. "I mean-"
"Guys!" Cecile's comment was cut off as Koko, who had walked toward the ball of ice, called for their attention. "You need to see this!"
The pair, with dragon in tow rushed toward the Cat Sith's position and for the second time in as many minutes found themselves blind sides by why they saw. Inside the ball of ice stood a figure locked in a final pose of shielding his eyes from the storm of frost that had to have hurled toward him.
"Or he could still be around." Cecile said. "Why is this ice not melted?"
Ginko laid a hand on the orb. "Magic – likely some sort of stun attack, no idea why it's still in effect. Maybe he was fighting when the transition happened?"
"That doesn't matter right now – we need to get him out." Koko looked at the other two. "I assume you both know dispel?" She got a pair of nods in return.
The spell it turned out, despite its visual splendor was not particular tough – that or it was not meant to take three dispels backed by dragon breath at the same time. As the ice shattered Koko grabbed the figure, a salamander based off his armor and red hair, before he crashed into the ground. "Alright – Cecile, get Dresden to start a fire, Ginko – go back to the camp for some" It happened in an instant as Koko found herself grappling with the formerly comatose Salamander.
"What did you do to me?!" He yelled as he slammed the more lightly built Cait Sith into a column even as Koko tried to cry out for him to stop. "Where am I?!"
"You were stuck in …the ice." Koko said between breaths as the man's hand clamped around her throat, even as she tried to wave Ginko and Cecile off from trying to intervene. "We found… you …in the dungeon."
"What Dungeon? Wha...ice." Koko took a gasp as the man's grip loosened and went to keep him from falling as he started to slump – whatever energy had had mustered expended.
Koko tried to help the man up. "My name is Koko – who are you? What is your name?"
The man starred at her for a moment. "I don't know." He groaned. "Oh god." He muttered before fainting into Koko's arms.
