Challenge Submission Delvaria: the Stone

[TrashPanda]

I stepped into the cavern and sighed with relief. "So far so good." I looked around the large room and took in my surroundings. The walls were cracked in places where the roots had outgrown the space they were contained and wrapped around the pillars nearby. The air was heavy with the smell of moss and mildew. I looked across the way to see a small pedestal and upon it…. My quarry…. The stone.

Now I will admit there are two things here that seem very cliche. One the name and two where the stone was conveniently placed. Like every game I had ever played back home.

The stone was called so due to the fact that noone had ever been able to collect and identify it. Until now.

I came to this world by accident. Transported during a comic con of all things. I was attending the event as a hero of mine.

Indiana Jones.

Not only was I dressed as him. But my oh so loving mother had named me after the character. Indiana Jones Martin.

Yeah. Shocker.

As I stand here. The iconic brown jacket, white button up, brown jeans and the iconic hat. It would have won the costume contest. If whatever that had transported me here didn't send me here.

Oh well.

I stepped across the chamber after removing my side bag. Hand on my hip ready to draw my whip at the slightest aggressive movement. A bead of sweat appeared on my forehead as I made for the pedestal.

"Alright Indy. A simple grab and we get out. Easy." I said to myself.

I get to the small set of steps leading up to the pedestal. The light from above conveniently shining down on the treasure. I groan slightly from how cliche that too was. "Whoever created this world needs some creativity."

I slowly take the first step when I hear footsteps behind me at the entrance. "Damnit. I knew you would have been already down here." The woman's voice cut through the silent chamber. I could hear the sheer annoyance in her tone.

Turning I smiled. Attempting to show no sign of my earlier nervousness. "Why of course I would be, love. I would be ashamed if you and your gold rank adventuring party were to be me down here. Which begs me to question? Is this proof enough for me to join the party?"

She glares at me. "I would never invite a pervert such as you into my party."

"It was one time and it was your party that said. Hey, just enter. She hates people who knock. It just so happened that you were changing on the other side. More of your fault than mine really." I said defensively as I was backing up the stairs towards the pedestal.

I could see that what I had said struck a nerve. She growled and drew her blade. "Don't make me kill you here treasure thief."

"Ouch. I am hurt that you would call me such things. Saying I steal treasure. Seriously. If I remember correctly, you all were down here for the same thing right. To claim the stone. Not much different feom my goal." I said as I was now walking around the pedestal. One eye admiring the stone and the other to the warrior. Both were quite beautiful. However, one had a grudge against me. Sometimes I wonder why.

My hands hover over the stone about ready to grab it.

"Don't take it! Or…. I'll…. I'll…" she frantically stumbled through her thoughts before finally saying. "I'll claim you robbed the stone from my party after we found it."

My eyebrow raised in confusion. "You mean to tell me that the gold rank adventuring team will lie to get the honor of saying they found the stone? Yeah right. You're strong, honorable, and gorgeous, but a liar? Nope." I shook my head. "Don't see it in you to do so."

Without thinking. I pick up the stone and hold it aloft. Looking at the woman. Her face is a bright red from a blush. She was about to say something before the room began to rumble and shake.

I looked down and noticed a small fragment sticking up from where the stone was. It was trapped.

"Damnit. Cliche traps too." I spring into action and run down the steps. "We have to get out now! This whole thing is going to collapse on us!"

I watch as she looks at me in confusion. Above her a small section of the heavy stone ceiling was starting to give way and fall.

"Shi-, watch out!" I run forward and slam into her as we get just out of the way from the crushing force from above. I scramble to my feet, picking up my side bag and stuff the stone within. I then reach down and pick up the now angered woman. "How dare you push me!" Ignoring her I take her hand and begin to pull her out of the chamber.

"Complain later! If we live to be able to hear it!"

We had ran down the long series of halls and rooms all the way out of the dungeon.

The fresh air filled our lungs as we stopped about a hundred feet away. I looked at her with a smile. "Seems we live to compete again."

She then growled and said. "Reckless and irresponsible! Thats what I think about you!"

I laugh. "But effective, love."

She then sighed in frustration. Then lunged at me. Before I could dodge. It was then I noticed it wasn't her fist to strike me. She grabbed my shirt and pulled me in with a rather forceful kiss. I pinned my hat down onto my head to prevent it from falling off.

After a moment of kissing and a slight moan escaping the woman. She shoved me away. "Don't get any bright ideas, thief. That one was for saving me."

I would of have responded with my usually snarky remarks. However I felt there was something else there.

I smiled and let it go for now. I pulled out the stone and began to inspect it. Now that I had the stone. What was it? What was its importance? The mystery to finding the dungeon was difficult enough. Only to lead into another mystery.


I sighed. "Yet another bit of work to solve the stone itself."

The young woman scoffed and began to gather her belongings. "Another useless artifact I suppose. Something to stow upon a mantle."

Using my hand I began to wipe away a bit of dust on the stone. The smooth surface then began to warm and glow lightly.

"Upon the gain of this stone from its resting place. Its owner shall gain a great boon." The voice echoed within my mind.

My eyes went wide as I said. "Boon? What boon?"

The woman turned and began to say something rude. But the sight she saw around me. Had her stunned silent.

"What is going on?"

I shrugged then in front of me. My character sheet showed up. It read.

Name: Indiana Jones Martin

Class: Explorer level 10, Rogue level 3, (new) Hero level 1

This is one of the small stories of how I had arrived to Delvaria and became greatest dungeon diver ever.

One misadventure after another.