The Wasteland

Deep in the heart of the wastelands, the Agori finally come across Malum. Malum had been exiled from Vulcanus for acts of brutality in the arena. He now wandered the wastelands looking to pick a fight - a fight he would most certainly win thanks to his fire claws and spiky Thornax Launcher. Malum smiled grimly, “So you’ve tracked me down. Am I supposed to be impressed? Do you think that means I’ll spare you from my claws?”

Wasting no time, the Agori hurriedly explained the situation to him. Malum listened thoughtfully, waiting for the Agori to finish before snorting. “So… Vulcanus needs me now, is that it? And they send you? Pathetic. Well, I will do nothing to help Raanu or any of those other Agori weaklings. However - if you could find me some ammo I might be able to figure something out.”

Thinking quickly, the Agori considered that maybe the Zesk or Vorox could be of assistance at this moment, seeing as they were friends of Malum. That was not the case, however. The Agori spotted a Zesk as it emerged from the sands to attack. As the traveler raised his Vulcanus Torch in defense, the Zesk howled at the burning desert sun and tunneled back under the hot Bara Magna sands. Frowning, the Agori reasoned it would be better to come back when he could offer it something to eat.

The encounter with the Vorox was even worse. The Agori entered the bone-lined desert cavern in search of the horrid Vorox where he heard a small crunching noise coming from behind me. As he turned to see where the noise was coming from, he found himself face to face with the ferocious Vorox. It bent down and swept the Agori up, all while flaring its nostrils. As the Vorox opens its jaws, the Agori managed to wave his Vulcanus Torch in its face. The beast dropped him and scampered off into the darkness. The Agori was lucky this time… but perhaps next time he should return with the right scent for the job.

The Agori decided that his best choice was to give Malum one of the Thornax fruits that he had been growing thanks to Raanu. As Malum received it, he said, “Ahh… Lock and load - Thornax launcher is ready to go now. Ok… well thanks, I guess. Look a deal’s a deal. Here’s what I think you could do to solve Raanu’s little raider issue, at least for a bit. You know they bone hunters… they are a simple bunch. I bet if you feed ’em a good meal they might not be so agitated. Why don’t you make them some of this little stew? But if you make it wrong, well, you won’t live long enough to regret it, so you should probably test it first. Try giving to a Zesk, they’ll eat anything. Just be careful, though — they might mistake you for lunch - but I guess that’s what you get for being a nice person. If the Zesks like it, try telling him the bone hunters have a lot more. The Zesk might get the Vorox to raid the bone hunter camps looking for it, which will tie the hunters up for a while.”

Malum gave the Agori a recipe on how to make Thornax Stew. According to the blueprint, it required 5 Thornax and 1 Rock Salt. The Agori traded with Malum ten of his Thornax just for one batch of Rock Salt, and with it he managed to cook up one batch of Thornax Stew. Now all he needed to do is feed it to some Zesk.

The bestial Zesk lurked beneath the sands of the Bara Magna wastelands, ready to attack anyone who passed by. This task that Raanu had sent the Agori on was a vigorous one, but he had agreed to it. As he made his way, the Agori pondered that he must risk his own survival to save that of Vulcanus.

He heard a noise from behind him that gave him chills, “Zzccckkk…”

The Agori encountered the Zesk as it emerged from the sands to attack. It looked hungry. Now was the time for the Agori to give it lunch… before he became the lunch.

With as much calm as he could muster, the Agori gave the Zesk a batch of the Thornax Stew that he had made earlier. Catching a whiff, then taking some cautionary bites, the Zesk took a quick liking to it. The disgusting beast slurped down the Thornax Stew and stared coldly. It then spat a smelly slime from its mouth that covers every part of the Agori’s body, covering him with the Musk of the Vorox. This scent would discourage the Vorox from eating him. Now, if he could get some more Thornax Stew to some Vorox, this might earn their trust in fighting the bone hunters.

The primitive Vorox ambushed his foes with his stinger tail, sword and spiky Thornax Launcher. His fury made him a fierce enemy of any Glatorian that dared to cross his path.

As the Agori entered the bone-lined desert cavern in search of the horrid Vorox, he heard a small crunching sound coming from behind him. “Grrrzzzzcckk…”

As he turned to see where the noise was coming from, he found himself face to face with the ferocious Vorox. The creature bent down and swept him up all the while flaring its nostrils. It seemed the Agori had gotten the right scent, as the Vorox placed him firmly back onto the ground. Best to act now, before he changed his mind.

The Agori gave 5 batches of Thornax Stew to the Vorox, and in return, it gave him a Stinger Oath.

Upon returning to Malum, the ex-Glatorian snorted, “Nicely played. Take that back to Raanu and the bone hunters should stop their raids on Vulcanus, for now atleast. Oh, one more thing, tell Raanu to never bother me again.”

The Agori returned to Raanu with the news. The elder listened closely, before exclaiming, “Malum did it - this stinger oath is a close as the bone hunters come to a peace treaty… He must have had to face the beasts in their own lair. Perhaps he’s not so bad… What’s that? You did this? But… you are no Glatorian! Well I should have known Malum would not go to such great risks for us. Your courage has surprised me. Here take this badge and wear it so that all of Bara Magna may know of your deeds. I hate to ask more of you, but I regret to say this is only a temporary solution. Perhaps, if you still have more bravery in your heart I could convince you to seek out another hero. Head deep into the jungles near Tesara and seek out Tarduk. He and his Glatorian champion, Gresh, may have some idea of how to save Vulcanus.”

Pausing only long enough to build his Rank 1 Agori Honor Badge, the Agori left to seek out Tarduk.