A Worthy Cause

Merath’s goal was in sight. For six hours he has made his way through these caves, and if the map was right, this damned artifact should not be far away. Unless the old man had made up the whole story from start to finish? No, it was unlikely, terrorized as he was. Few people lied to Merath with the blade of his sword pressing on their throat. The renegade keldon warrior entered into a wide cavern partially opened on the night sky. The moon was framed in the roof’s hole, bathing the place in a sick greenish light.
A green moon… It was true that strange things were happening these days. Turning around a group of stalagmites, Merath thought to the rumors about the phyrexian invasion. But this was not his business. During the twenty years he had spent traveling the world up and down as a mercenary, he had seen many wars and survived many perils. He had never sided with anybody, excepted of course for a substantial remuneration. If he managed to lay his hands of this mysterious artifact, he could sell it for a little fortune and finally enjoy more quiet days…

“Kavru Titan”
by Todd Lockwood © Wizards of the Coast

Suddenly, a mighty roar resounded, echoing on the cave walls. Merath felt a tremor in the ground, and a stalactite fell to shatter near him. Then he saw an enormous reptilian six-legged monster come out of the shadows. It was more than fifteen feet high, covered with shield-sized scales, and his mouth was big enough to swallow a man. The beast charged toward him bellowing, but Merath watched it approach blankly, fascinated.
Then his warrior reflexes finally sprang into action, and he rolled on the side just as the monster brought down his heavy leg to crush him. Merath finished his move back on his feet and dealt a violent blow of his sword to one of the median leg of the beast, but his blade bounced off the scales without dealing the slightest damage. With an amazing quickness for his size, the creature turned back and tried to sweep the human with a swing of its paw. He barely managed to dodge but felt the rush of air on his face.
If Merath had survived this long, it was because he knew when to fall back. Without losing a moment, he ran as fast as he could toward the small tunnel at the entrance of the cave, leaving the beast on the spot. Two seconds later, a violent shockwave shook the ground close behind him, sending him rolling on the stone floor. Merath quickly stood to face the beast, who had just achieved a sixty-feet leap. So be it! He would die as a warrior. Merath dived on his right to avoid a new blow, and managed to drive his sword between two scales. The creature bellowed in pain, but drew back one of its legs and hit the human before he could dodge, knocking him out and flinging him like a wisp of straw.

“Multani”
by Brom © Wizards of the Coast

When he awoke, Merath was still in the cavern. To his surprise, he was still alive and in one piece. The beast had not devoured him, and he felt quite alright while the blow he had taken should have broken his bones. A weird humanoid was standing above him, the green monster sit quietly at his side like a dog near his master. The stranger’s body seemed to be made of wood, and a strong aura of power emanated from him.
“What… What happened?” mumbled Merath. “Who are you?”
“I’m called Multani”, answered the wooden man in a deep voice amplified by the cave’s acoustics. “I felt the kavu’s trouble, and I came to see… Fortunately for you, Merath.”
The keldon didn’t bother to ask this Multani how he knew his name, not to mention by which marvel the monster obeyed him. The man of wood was quite obviously a magic entity.
“Well, thanks for your help, Multani. But… why did you save me?”
“Certainly not for the goodness of your heart or your respect of others”, said Multani on a casual tone. “Just because you are a good warrior, and that it would have been a pity that you die here in vain. Our world is about to face the greatest threat of its history, and we have no chance to defeat the Phyrexians unless each and every being of Dominaria resists with all its strength.” The warrior and the wooden man stared at each other, then Multani held out his hand. Merath took hold of it and got back to his feet. Oddly, he knew Multani was right. Anyway, if the Phyrexians won, he would never find a place to enjoy a happy life. So he had nothing better to do than join the fight.
And even if he met his end, he would have fought for a worthy cause at least once in his life.

Glossary (click on the chosen word to return to the text)
Phyrexians: Evil metallic creatures from Phyrexia, an artificial and unstable world (or “plane”). When Phyrexia was about to disappear, they launched a large-scale invasion toward the plane of Dominaria.

Text © P.O. Barome

Illustrations © Wizards of the Coast

This story was inspired by the Magic: the Gathering™ cards from the Invasion™ block.