Viktor, a relatively young tamer who had been cataloging the creatures of the Lost Lands for many years, arrived back in Luna. Leaving his beloved pet llama, Gherkins, at the stable, he decided to visit the local bank. He wanted to set his affairs in order and begin preparations to publish a book on his findings. As he entered the central area he saw an incredible animal with a mounted rider. The creature looked like a very large dog but it's long, thick, silky fur was as bright as the sun. 'Sir' said the tamer, 'please tell me what is this fabulous beast you sit upon!?' The rider laughed and replied, 'He is an incredibly rare Elven mount of blaze hue!' adding 'There are but a handful in all the lands, he came from the Twisted Weald.' 'But I see you are a human, only Elves may ride the Cu Sidhe, unless you have special boots…' Viktor was intrigued, 'Where can I purchase these fantastic boots?' 'Well', replied the rider, 'it's your lucky day! I happen to have a pair for sale.' He smiled warmly at Viktor 'A great bargain at only 100 sovereigns', the rider enthused 'I bought them for myself, but I discovered I actually had Elven blood from some obscure ancestor, who could have known?'
The young tamer was so overcome with the desire to own such a beautiful animal he paid for the boots without question and made plans to travel immediately to the Twisted Weald.
After many days of searching the Weald the young man had become frustrated, there were many plain grey or beige creatures resembling the wonderful beast he had seen at Luna, there had even been a few in interesting shades of metallic fur but nothing that shone like the sun. 'I need to find some way of boosting my chances' thought Viktor. So he decided to approach a local mage with the hope of obtaining some magical item to aid in his search…
Crankantilus, the Master of the Mages guild was an aged and cantankerous fellow, 'Who are you and what do you want?' 'Ughhh I ermm need a magic item making' stammered the tamer. 'Well of course you do!' snapped the Mage, 'What are you looking for, I don't have all day!' Viktor gulped, he sure was a cranky fellow… 'I need an item to boost my chances of finding a rare coloured creature.' The Mage looked disappointed 'Oh is that all? I hoped it might be something more interesting!' 'A Totem of Chromatic Fortune will cost 300 sovereigns and I require the items on this list.' He scrawled on a piece of parchment and threw it towards the tamer. 'I devised a plan to make one some time ago, but I didn't get much interest until now, it should be a simple task.'
The young tamer read the list and happily handed over a bag of sovereigns, soon he would have his lovely new mount!
'Hmmm looks like I am off on another expedition,' Viktor muttered to himself as he perused the list. 'Let's see what I need to find…good thing my new book, 'What I found in the Lost Lands' is doing well!'
The list read:
A spot from a Snow Leopard
Frost Spider web
Two hairs from the mane or tail of a Nightmare
Breath of a White Wyrm
Slime of a Giant Toad
A Stygian Drake scale
A Phoenix Feather (not one of those ugly pink varieties, an old-fashioned rare red one!)
A banana from the cave of the Great Ape
It took quite some time for the young man to acquire all of the requested items, some were relatively straight-forward but some were very difficult to obtain and the tamer almost lost his life on more than one occasion. Somewhat battered and bruised he started the journey back to Britain and finally he returned with his treasures to the Mages Guildhouse.
'What on earth happened to you?' snorted the Guildmaster 'You look like you went 10 rounds with the Legendary wrestler Mikael Tysson!'
'Don't start old man, I have your items!' Viktor was in no mood to be trifled with!
Looking into the bag, the old mage gave a grunt, 'Not perfect, but they will do.'
He took the banana from the bag and proceeded to peel it.
'What are you doing?!' exclaimed the tamer, 'don't you need that for your spell?!'
'Oh it isn't part of the magic item,' the old fellow gave a chuckle, 'I just heard the Cave of the Great Ape had really delicious bananas, and it seems it was true!'
Next he took out the beautiful red phoenix feather, he sighed happily, 'I've always wanted one of these…' taking a small knife from his belt he cut away the end of the feather making a quill pen. 'I will be the envy of the whole guild!'
'What about my Totem?' growled the Tamer, whose patience was wearing a bit thin. 'I didn't come here to do your shopping for you!'
Crankantilus spoke around a large mouthful of banana 'Come back in 3 days, I will have something ready for you by then, magic cannot be hurried!!' scowled the Mage.
Three days later the young tamer, who was feeling a lot less young lately, returned to collect his magical item from the Guild. He knocked on the door a few times but there was no answer…
The door was not locked so he pushed it open, but the room was empty…
'Where has that annoying old fellow gone!' he thought to himself. In the middle of the stout oak desk was a note and sitting on top of it was a bizarre contraption that looked like a sturdy pole, the central part seemed to be a short, thin log and the items he had collected were attached to it with twine. It was absolutely hideous! 'Oh well, appearances can be deceptive…' thought Viktor.
He read the note;
I have been called away on a serious matter concerning a missing sea dragon stable master, it's probably just gone invisible.
Your Totem of Chromatic Fortune is finished. I am confident you will find what you are looking for.
P.S The item has 3 charges and each charge lasts for 20 minutes, it was the best I could do with the average items supplied.
Regards, Cranky
'Damn that Mage!' seethed the young tamer, 'let's hope it actually works!'
After another arduous journey young Viktor reached the Twisted Weald for the second time, he planted the Totem firmly in the centre of the area where the Cu Sidhe roamed and began his search anew. Half an hour passed with no luck and the poor fellow began to get desperate.
All of the animals were plain, dull coloured creatures, not what he wanted at all.
'Maybe if I kill them, some nicer ones will spawn' he thought to himself. He approached one of the hounds and struck at it with his dagger, the blade tangled in the thick fur and the furious creature turned on him with a snarl, snapping viciously at his hand. Suddenly a dozen pairs of eyes were looking at him with hatred, as one they sprang towards him, he ran as fast as he could for the cave exit, barely escaping and completely forgetting the Totem of Chromatic Fortune in his haste!
Poor Viktor limped back to the Mages guild feeling very sorry for himself. His clothes were in tatters and he was covered in scratches and bites. The old Mage met him at the door, peering at him through his thick spectacles, he raised a large shaggy eyebrow. 'How did your hunt go?' 'You look like you went 20 rounds with…' he stroked his beard thoughtfully, 'Or maybe I shouldn't ask…'
The young tamer wept, his voice breaking as he croaked, 'All I wanted was a Cu Sidhe, golden like the sun' he sobbed loudly 'but I got nothing for all my efforts!'
The old man shook his head trying not to smile 'You didn't say you wanted a Cu Sidhe, you only said you wanted a rare coloured animal!' 'Hmmmm I can make another Totem, but it will take even more rare ingredients, cost 10 times the price and last half as long….'
'I think I'll stick with llamas!' the despondent young man sniffled.
'I can make a nice Totem to summon a rare pink energy llama…. not sure how safe they are to ride though…' said the old man, but Viktor had already gone.
