The Runic Alchemist

At times, Anthony thought everything that had happened to him after he left those two kids alone was for the good.

For a while, he genuinely searched for the two beastmen he had once entered the hidden desert dungeon with. For weeks, months, and even a full year. In the meantime, a war broke out between Eldoris and Ashenvale; somehow, Eldoris won.

The two beastmen Anthony knew had told him they led a small crew of mercenaries based in the eastern Dawnstar border region.

But only after searching for the two distinctive beastmen did he realize they were not mercenaries, but a rebel group consisting of Dawnstar and Ashenvale pathfinders and mundanes who had run away or were thrown out of their homes.

Somehow, Anthony had found them after a series of failures. It was quite a famous band of thieves. Full of beastmen soldiers and knights who had renounced their lord's services after the Eldoris' execution of their leader. Some human warriors who were also treated badly or were forced to do things they didn't like were also part of the group.

Unlike the common bandits, they did things systematically. Their organized and strict code of conduct had soon made them a brotherhood cherished by many. They hunted beasts and monsters, even other lawless bandits, protecting many villages, looting rich merchants, and using the money collectively to make a better living space for the brotherhood. While giving a significant portion to the nearby villages.

The two beastmen he had come looking for were actually one of the leaders of the brotherhood.

They maintained their distance from the nobles, so they were never hunted with too much fervor. The lords of the regions thought it better to let them be. There was a sort of relationship between them; the brotherhood did not participate in wars or border skirmishes, but it did protect the region from dangerous monsters and other rogue elements of society.

Anthony managed to meet the bear beastmen who had his left hand missing, and the feline with an eyepatch. Their names were Ronanor and Tahira, commonly known in the brotherhood as Brother Ron and sister Ta.

They weren't generous enough to give him all the hidden dungeon information they had in their first meeting. They gave him an offer: he could join the brotherhood for a few missions and could earn the information or accompany them in the dungeon when they would go there with Brotherhood pathfinders.

Anthony figured arranging a meet-up with the kid, Maximus, and the Brotherhood would take too much time, so he had to gain the information. It wasn't easy, but that's what he had promised to the kid. So Anthony got to work.

The brotherhood, along with Ashenvale, became more aggressive with time. Their aim had changed with several leaders dying; it was now a true rebel group. They had allied themselves with many beastmen and other lawless groups determined to occupy land in Ashenvale.

They fought everyone; no country or nobles had their loyalty. The simple looting of merchants had turned to killing and even raping at times. Nobles were not spared at all; instead, they were the ones most targeted. The brotherhood made of soldiers and knights had become full of common criminals and the same bandits they once fought against.

The villages they supported were now the ones they collected money from. Terrorising common men and women who were just trying to survive the warring period.

Anthony had become an integral part of the Brotherhood in a year. More trusted at times than some beastmen themselves. In one of these core member meetings, Ronanor and Tahira made a decision that was shocking to say the least.

The plan was to split the Brotherhood, leaving all the reckless guys behind; some of them, mostly older members and trusted companions, would find a way to join or stay on the good side of the Eldoris army commander, the ferocious spellmaster.

She was cleaving her way through the Ashenvale land with unmatched strength and some strange tools in hand. It was inevitable that Ashenvale lords would lose, and so will all the small groups trying to occupy land with brute force.

Their mission was a long one, choosing Eldoris's side and remaining in the background. In truth, they were spies for the beastmen rebellion groups' alliance. Before the mission, however, Anthony was given the dungeon information he had worked so hard for. And with it a choice to leave if he wished.

Coming into the good graces of Eldoris's commander was not going to be easy; the core members had decided to snitch on their own group that had gone out of control. Meaning, even after the successful execution of the risky mission, all the members will be hunted down by other beastmen rebellion groups, unaware of the secret plot.

Anthony had worked hard only for the dungeon information. It would be a lie if he said he didn't care for some of these fellow companions he had risked his life multiple times, but that feeling was not strong enough to take on a suicide mission. He accepted his earned reward and left before the night of betrayal.

Through his beastmen connections he knew the boys were living in Eldoris. It was a surprise to him, specially knowing maximus was the Morph Vialist. The Spellmaster was wreaking havoc using his miraculous potions. And he had also heard some rumours of Sam being a special powerful warrior with mysterious powers.

The first time he had heard it. the image of that lightning striking the boy back in their village had immediately resurfaced. With a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead, the memory had left behind a smile on Anthony's face. He knew that boy was special.

Anthony couldn't wait to reunite with them. He was truly excited.

But before he could reach the borders of Eldoris, a giant black wolf blocked his path in the dark of night. It was just rumour when he was with the Brotherhood, even the high ranking officers only talked about it in hushed voices. But just hearing the deeds mentioned in the rumours Anthony knew the man called Shadow Reaver was not someone he would ever want to meet.

At first he thought his Brotherhood friends had betrayed him, by revealing even his info. But the strangest thing happened and he was spared from a death by both Eldoris and beastmen hands, and was thrown in the dungeon for some reason.