Jaago Vaultbreaker checked everything thoroughly.
Dynamite? Check.
Safecracking tools? Check.
Those thin knives for wall climbing? Definitely.
And lockpicks? Done.
The rat set a look of grim determination on his face then headed out.
There was more than one way to crack into a vault. He'd probably found them all. And this one, oh it was a big one. The Vault of Jumhavar, hidden deep in the jungles of the Southern Belt.
Jumhavar had once been a shining bastion of civilisation. The golden furred rats of the jungl had traded in crops such as coffee and rice, had had vast steppes of waterlogged field, wih cities that grew to the sky. And with trade and prosperity came vaults.
No one knew watcame of the golden furred rodents. All that was known was that the jungle took over and concealed almost everything. The vaults below the city were mostly bare except for one. This one had eluded so many treasure hunters. Many went but never returned. Jaago had not been given his title but by The Great Rodent, he'd make sure he lived up to his namesake. He'd be the one to break its code, and make out with its treasure.
It wasn't as if he'd been hired. He was the greatest thief of all ratkind. With his splendid offwhite fur that held a tint of the lightest brown, his sharp earsa nd, in his opinion, his good looks, it was he, Jaago Vaultbreaker, who uncover the secret treasure of Jumhavar! So he had a big point to prove.
His guides went as far as they dared. They were rather surly, dark-furred rats with scars to demonstrate they either fought everything that came their way or detoured specifically so they could fight everything in their way. But even such battle-hardened rodents dared not go further. 'You're on your own. Just down there and-' The sound of the brush as they fought to get away.
'Wait, down there and what?' He sighed as he watched them go. 'Cowards! Fine. I'll go myself!'
Hah. He didn't need them. He headed on down the vine covered path atht for all the world looked like a giant snake had made it. He quelled those thoughts instantly, alogwith a nagging feeling he'd been here before.
The once great pyramids were buried beneath vines and foliage. It was with some effort he found his way in. He grinned as hacking at the leafy green, a gap was exposed in a wall and he slipped in.
This was underground but even here the impressive frescoes decorated the walls. Greem slimy algae made traversing parts of this underground basin almost imposible and more than once he thought he haerd sounds of living creatures.
Yes, he was not deceived. He recalled this. The first level in was what had been a conduit for water to flow in for their magificent water features. Now cut off from the river, water remained and in a giant pool, there was a giant toad. Not just a giant one that could fit in two hands. This one was huge. It could tower over him. He watched it crawl to another pool and found another gap. Another way down.
He was quick. The toad sighted him too late before he danced toward it and was down to the next level.
Right, toad down, now this one was... Oh no. A feeling had stolen over him that this felt familiar. Creatures of the jungle resembling panthers but with tendrils on their backs stalked here. They had gotten in from the time of the city's collapse. He hung on the wall, feeling with his feet for footholds.
How did he know this? Well, okay he's read about waht previous explorers had found, yes. But why here did it feel so acute like he'd always known waht was here? He even knew waht the strange panthers were, a representation of a deity who had not lived past the destruction. The name Aklabeth made it to his brain but from where he did not know.
Enough of this. There were big cats down here and he had to evade them. He had no way to fend them off.
Softly softly towards another entrance, one he knew for sure went to the vaults below. Something moved and what appeared to be an innocuous pile of rocks moved and stretched. He suppressed a shriek and darted for the entrance, a doorway with timbers half rotted. Just in time!
There was a shaking of the earth. He clung to a wall and closed his eyes and prayed.
-Aklabeth... Garmivar... Protect me!
The quake stopped. He blinked. He could have sworn those words were spoken by him. He blinked but shook himself. He couldn't dwell on it. He had to move forward.
And there before him. It was the vault! The door was ajar and he could slip in just enough. If he was clever he could be in, hop out with treasure, in again, out until he had enough to take back with him. It was all so easy now!
And what a sight greeted him. It was finely carved gems of all shades, all cut precisely. They'd been master gemsmiths and their skills were highly sought after. His paws danced over red gems, green ones, ones as black as onyx, others marbled. How had no one managed to make off with these?!
'Oh ho! Jaago, me old mucker, you are going to be rich!' He opened a bag out to get the smaller gems in, sweeping them in. 'Let's see. A new house. Oh, two new houses! the king's favour, ha ha. And this should get me... Yes this would get me so much more.' He giggled like he was back in school and closed the sack.
Something else had caught his eye. It almost whispered to him.
On a plinth, a serpent icon supported a large gem. He reached out gingerly but stopped.
-The Great Garmivar welcomes you... Accept this gem...
He paused. 'Who are you? Answer me!'
-Do you not recognise me?
Jaago fell back and heard something fall. It was a large statue. No, it was a statue carved out of obsidian. As he watched, its fatures became known. It was another rodent but frozen in a look of shock. He squeaked.
'No! I don't!'
-You forgot you belonged here once. And you invoked me.
'I've never belonged here! I hadn't even seen this place until today!'
-You belong here. Accept my offering. Become one of us again.
Jaago's feet betrayed him. They pushed him toward the gem. It was pulsing now. The serpent icon seemed to look alive. He tried to squeal a protest but his voice failed him. His hands reached out, fingers questing for the gem.
They closed around it. The gem felt unnaturally warm.
His fingers lifted it.
With horror, his fingers became a green shade like malachite. The green flowed in waves as he sought to drop the gem. Finally he dropped it but the change was quickening. Fur and skin became hard. His feet suddenly felt heavy and they too had become gem-like.
'No-oo!' He could only grunt as arms hung uselessly by his side and legs became dull as lead. He could no longer move his tail.
'Garmivar please... spare me! I implore you!'
Images of offerings to the Great Serpent statue, guarded by his loyal cats of Aklabeth rose up. One last great offering, one last sacrifice to stop the city collapsing-
All thought ceased. There was no sign of Jaago's entry. In fact, the only additional thing was a newly constructed statue in malachite of a follower in supplication.