Drums In The Deep

The air in the beautiful crystal kingdom of Oephidia in the subterranean realm hung heavy with the scent of quartz and amethyst. Queen Melinoe surveyed her court, her serpentine tail easily as long as two tall men, coiled regally upon her throne. Her throne, a majestic crystal masterpiece, etched with ancient knowledge and magic. Shaped like a coiled serpent, its head rising above her like a shimmering canopy.

Her emerald scales glistened like polished jewels in the cavernous chamber, their color as vibrant as the lush jungles that dominated the Naga Kingdom.

Despite her serpentine lower half, her upper body was undeniably human, her porcelain skin flawless and her fiery red hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of flames. Her face perfect as she possessed a captivating beauty, with features both delicate and strong. Her crimson lips, slightly parted in a frown, hinted at the power and authority that resided within her.

Her beauty was a sight to behold, a true masterpiece of nature. The contrast between her snow-white complexion and the fiery hue of her hair was striking, making her features stand out like a work of art. Overall, she was a vision of loveliness, a true gem that shone brightly in the midst of the mundane as her fiery gaze swept across the court, demanding answers and obedience.

Below her, her advisors, a motley crew of naga nobles with scales ranging from deep emerald to fiery crimson, shifted nervously. 

"Tell me again," Melinoe hissed, her voice echoing through the cavernous chamber, "why the Eye of Naga is not within its rightful place?"

A venerable naga elder, distinguished by his snowy white hair and beard, stepped forward. His crimson scales glistened in the light, mirroring the deep red hue of his piercing eyes. His name, Veridian, his crimson eyes held the weight of generations of service to the naga throne. "My Queen," he rasped, his voice deep and resonant, "we have interrogated every soul in the city, every guard stationed at the temple vault. No one admits to seeing the thief, no trace of forced entry exists."

Melinoe uncoiled a segment of her massive tail, her scales rasping against the stone floor. The sound sent shivers down the spines of the assembled court. "Then they lie," the queen snarled, venom lacing her words. "The Eye of Naga was not stolen by a phantom. It was taken, and someone knows by whom."

She turned her gaze towards a figure shrouded in shadow at the back of the chamber. A tall, slender naga with scales and eyes the color of twilight emerged from the darkness. Xylo, the royal assassin, bowed low, his hood concealing his face.

"My Queen," Xylo spoke, his voice devoid of emotion, "I have investigated every whisper, every rumor that has slithered through the city's underbelly. There are whispers...of Garuda involvement and we found a crimson feather which supposedly belongs to a Garuda."

A collective gasp rippled through the court. The Garudas, majestic bird-like humanoids who dwelled in the mountain kingdom of Kragnir, were ancient rivals of the Nagas. Generations of animosity simmered between the two races, punctuated by sporadic outbreaks of bloodshed. The Garudas could take various forms, including human-bird hybrids, and many possessed the ability to turn fully human at will.

"Garudas?" Melinoe spat the word like a curse. "Those feathered abominations dare steal from a Naga queen?"

"The evidence is circumstantial, Your Majesty," Veridian interjected, his voice gaining a sliver of its former strength. "Perhaps we should consider other possibilities before..."

He was cut short by a deafening roar that reverberated through the chamber, shaking dust from the gold vaulted ceiling. The massive golden doors guarding the entrance to the throne room opened inwards. In the doorway stood two figures bathed in an ethereal glow – Zym and Zola, the twin guardians of Vaul. Zym and Zola's white skin and brown hair, shimmered with an otherworldly magic, and their eyes, the colour of molten amber, burned with urgency.

"Queen Melinoe," Zym boomed, his voice echoing in the throne room, "I'd request you see reason. Stand down your warriors, we need to carefully uncover the truth about your missing relic."

Melinoe hissed, her fury barely contained. "Reason? You speak of reason when the Garudas have stolen our most sacred relic and we even found their feather where it was stolen?"

"A theory unproven. Anyone could've planted the feather while stealing the relic." Zym countered, his voice firm but not hostile. "I have come with my sister, Zola, and as guardians of the realm, we offer our aid in uncovering the truth behind the missing Eye of Naga."

Zola stood beside Zym, both radiating an ethereal golden light. She was beautiful but unlike her brother, she wore an expression of a much calmer determination. "We have reason to believe the theft is a ploy to ignite a war that serves no one except for those who stand to benefit from it," she stated, her voice resonating with the authority of a guardian.

A tense silence descended upon the chamber. Melinoe narrowed her eyes, considering their proposition. The idea of working with the guardians, who maintained a precarious peace between kingdoms of the realm, was not what she had in mind. Yet, the thought of blind retaliation against the Garudas without concrete proof was equally unappealing.

"Very well," Melinoe finally conceded, her voice dripping with frustration. "You will have your chance to uncover the truth and prove us wrong. But if you fail...then a war is inevitable." She trailed off, the threat hanging heavy in the air. 

Zym and Zola shared a wary glance. The situation was far more volatile than they had anticipated. 

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High above Oephidia, in the surface world, the aerie city of Kragnir lay nestled amongst snow-capped mountain peaks. Atop the majestic aerie city of Kragnir, a piercing wind whipped across the skydeck, carrying the scent of snow and pine. King Eothis, ruler of the Garudas, stood at the precipice in his humanoid form, his gaze fixed on the endless expanse of clouds below. The feathers of his wings, the color of a twilight sky, shimmered in the sunlight, catching the glint of the golden bands adorning his powerful wings.

His golden armor and regal attire conveyed immense power and authority, and his piercing gaze and muscular physique conveyed strength and confidence.

Unlike some Garudas who favored more flamboyant plumage, Eothis's appearance reflected his stoic and reserved nature. His face was striking, with strong, defined features that exuded confidence. His amber eyes radiated an air of quiet authority, drawing all attention to him. His skin tone, a rich, deep brown, created a stunning contrast with his wings.

A flurry of winged sentinels announced the arrival of Ethel, a young garuda envoy. He bowed respectfully before his king, his golden mane catching the sunlight like a halo. Unlike Eothis's muted tones, Ethel's feathers boasted vibrant hues of crimson and gold, a reflection of his fiery spirit and youthful energy. His youthful face was a mask of concern as he awaited the king's response.

"The guardians request an audience, Your Majesty?" Eothis reported, his voice cool and measured. "What brings the guardians to our doorstep?" King Eothis asked, his voice calm.

Ethel cleared his throat. "They claim, Your Majesty, that the Nagas accuse us of stealing their sacred relic, the Eye of Naga."

Eothis scoffed, a sound that ruffled his feathers. "The Nagas' propensity for self-deception knows no bounds. They've conjured up another fanciful delusion, thinking we covet that serpent relic. I must admit, their audacity is almost... entertaining."

"It appears that the Nagas have been misinformed, erroneously assuming that we are responsible for the theft of the relic. Regrettably, they are now propagating false information regarding this matter." Ethel continued, his voice laced with suspicion. "The guardians seem to think this is a ploy to incite war."

Eothis turned, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "War… a precarious dance. The Nagas are ever restless, ever seeking a reason to slither out of the subterranean realm and cause trouble."

"But surely," Ethel pressed, "we can't simply stand by and let them make these accusations unchallenged."

Eothis turned back to him, a glint of something akin to amusement in his eyes. "Patience, young Ethel. The guardians have offered their aid. Let them uncover the truth. If the Nagas truly believe we are thieves, their delusion will be shown and their deception will be exposed."

A low thrumming sound filled the air, growing steadily louder. Ethel narrowed his eyes, focusing on the distant southern sky.

"Looks like the guardians aren't wasting any time," he remarked, a hint of unease creeping into his voice.

Ethel followed his gaze. A pair of dark specks were rapidly growing larger, their forms soon resolving into Zym and Zola, their powerful forms cutting through the sky with impressive speed.

"Interesting," Eothis murmured. "Let's hear what they have to say."

Zym and Zola landed gracefully on the aerie platform, their arrival stirring a flurry of winged sentinels as Garuda guards swarmed around them, scrutinizing the visitors with wary eyes and respect. Zym held up a hand, his voice resonating with a calming power that stilled the guards' movements.

"Greetings, King Eothis," Zym said, inclining his head in respect. "We apologize for the abrupt arrival."

Eothis inclined his head in return. "Guardians. A pleasure, albeit unexpected. You come bearing troubling news, I believe."

Zola stepped forward, her gaze unwavering. "Troubling accusations, Your Majesty. The Nagas believe the Garudas are responsible for the theft of the Eye of Naga."

Eothis let out a sharp, derisive laugh. "An absurd claim, wouldn't you agree? We have no need for a serpentine relic."

"Perhaps," Zym conceded, "but the Nagas are on the brink of war. They demand solid proof."

Eothis' expression turned serious. "Proof? We have no time for their games. We have no reason to desire war with the nagas or care about their relic. Though we do not like them, we once set aside our differences and fought Xal'dar's army when his army invaded our realm years ago."

Zym shook his head. "They are a proud people, Your Majesty. Trust does not come easily. We believe, however, uncovering the truth behind the stolen Eye can prevent a war that serves no one."

Eothis considered them for a moment, his gaze flickering between Zym and Zola. "Very well," he finally said. "We will cooperate with you to uncover the truth. Ethel," he turned to the young garuda envoy, "you will accompany the guardians. I would like you all to look into everything, hinder nothing."

Ethel bowed his head. "As you command, Your Majesty."

Zola let out a small sigh of relief. "Thank you, King Eothis. We appreciate your efforts."

"Efforts?" Eothis echoed, his voice laced with a hint of skepticism. "Make no mistake, guardians, I expect this farce to be resolved swiftly. My patience, with the Nagas', has its limits."

With that, Eothis turned and glided back into the opulent halls of the aerie palace, leaving Zym, Zola, and Ethel on the windswept skydeck. Ethel regarded the guardians with a mixture of curiosity but a calm resolve.

"So," he finally spoke, "Where do we begin this scrutiny of yours?"

Zym and Zola exchanged a glance. The truth was, they had little more than a hunch and a sense of urgency. The theft of the Eye of Naga felt like a spark waiting to ignite a devastating inferno.

"We begin..." Zym declared, his voice firm, "by heading to Oephidia and speaking with those closest to the relic's disappearance."

Ethel nodded curtly. "Then let us waste no time."

Together, the unlikely trio – two guardians and a garuda envoy – took to the skies, their journey carrying the weight of the fragile peace and the hope of averting a war fueled by ancient animosity and a stolen relic.

Meanwhile, within the heavily guarded vault of the Naga temple, a lone figure cloaked in darkness examined the empty pedestal where the Eye of Naga had once resided. A smirk played on their lips, barely visible beneath the hood. This wasn't the first time they had manipulated events from the shadows, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. The theft of the Eye of Naga was merely the first act in a grand play, a play designed to ignite a war that would engulf the realm of Vaul and pave the way for their own nefarious rise to power.

The figure chuckled, a sound devoid of humor, and reached out a gloved hand, tracing the empty space where the relic once pulsed with arcane energy. "Let the flames of war ignite and burn until it consumes them all," they whispered, their voice filled with a chilling sense of anticipation.