The Death Maze

http://fantasyart101.tumblr.com/post/96023481539/gallantgambler-brandon-liao

Cold cave water dripped down, echoing across the walls of the great cavern. 

The expedition was in trouble, and they knew it. They were lost.

Back and forth they'd gone, searching for the way out in the way they'd come in. It had to be there, how else had they gotten down here?

The cave seemed to want them inside. Walls would shift behind their backs, and sometimes right before their eyes, if only one of them were watching. Of course, this simply made the explorers all the more panicked.
Hours became days, and the urgency grew higher. Their shouts became louder, for help, at each other. How would they escape?
A sinister presence permeated the group, of this they were now certain. Huddled, starving, cringing in a corner without the strength to move, the dark force crept closer and closer. One by one, the explorers closed their eyes and never opened them again.
There did they lay until a century later, when another curious group fell into the grip of Turnor Cave, or as the ancients called it, the Death Maze.

Of the Hunter

http://otherworldrealms.tumblr.com/post/92439063697

In a sunlit cove, upon the bones of ancient sentinels, stands the Hunter

Stalking his prey, waiting for the moment to strike

He walks in shadows, lurks in the night, the dark is his ally

None hear him save those he wishes, none see him save those he targets, none live save those he misses

And the Hunter, never misses

Always with an arrow ready does he stand

Always with a steady arm does he pull

Always with a keen eye does he aim

Always do his foes fall

The swamp is his domain, the trees are his castle, the shadows are his battlements

Creatures of the morass, alligators, snakes, lizards and spiders

These are his friends, his allies, his army

They stand at his command, attack on his orders, kill at his whim

Who knows his name? None, for no one enters the swamp and lives

Who knows what he really is, what he really stands for? Who knows, of the Hunter?

The Swamp of Lost Souls

http://otherworldrealms.tumblr.com/post/92439073742/mr-dreamscape

"This is just downright spooky."

"Ya, for sure." A squeaky voice agreed. "Why do we have to go in here anyway?"

Los rolled his eyes. They'd gone over this ad nauseum before leaving the inn.

"Because," their tall leader remarked angrily, "the only cure for the Virox plague is in this swamp."
"Says who?" the first voice asked, a deep, raspy voice belonging to the only real warrior in the group, and he wasn't much of one at all.

"Says me." Los answered. "You don't need to know where all my information comes from. You do know you're getting paid, and that should be enough."

"You didn't say nothin' about goin' into no swamp." Rath replied in his heavy accent. Rath talked like he was always out of breath. It didn't inspire the greatest confidence in his fighting abilities.

"Yea." Ensil replied, his high voice seeming to carry across the entire swamp. 

"Perhaps not," Los replied. "but I did say it might be dangerous. But then again, it might not be. After all, we haven't run into anything scary yet, have we?"

Neither of Los' hired hands answered, merely trying to peer through the thick mist of the swamp.

The trio pushed on through the twisted maze of mire and trees and moss, looking for an old woman's shack. An old woman who was reputed to know anything and everything about sickness, diseases and plagues. 

Their arguments echoed out through the swamp, and to this day it is said they can be heard shouting at one another. For the brave expedition of three never emerged from the Swamp of Lost Souls, though they did earn the bog its eerie nickname.

You could have told me...

http://spassundspiele.tumblr.com/post/96244745836/brothers-in-arms-warlord-concept

"You could have told me he was a giant." Barcus grumbled.
The ground shook as the great creature took another step forward.
"No answer, huh?" Barcus asked, moving his shoulder to adjust the battle-ax strapped across his back.
Endu, his silent, brooding companion, merely watched as the mighty mountain guardian moved closer and closer.
"So, are we supposed to fight this thing or what?" Barcus asked. On this one, he expected an answer. None, however, seemed to be forthcoming.
Boom!  The ground shook as the giant took another long stride toward the weathered warriors.
"Uh, Endu?" Barcus' voice begged, the strain beginning to show. Boom! "Endu!?"
Finally Endu spoke, but not the words Barcus wanted, or needed, to hear.
"Quiet now, my friend. He cannot see our fear."
"Our fear?" Barcus remarked. "You mean mine. By your look, we could be watchin' a parade."
Indeed, Endu was as calm as a meandering brook in autumn.
In fact, Barcus had never seen Endu so much as concerned in the ten years he'd known the strange easterner. Deep down, Barcus had hoped to get at least some reaction here, but his dream was for naught.
"Perhaps I should speak for us both?" Endu asked off-hand, as though he were asking a polite favor.
"Speak? You mean we're not going to kill this thing?"
"Of course not." Endu replied calmly. "This is no foe."
The earth was rumbling as the giant approached. Barcus struggled to keep his footing, while Endu seemed not not notice the shaking at all.
The creature halted, just within striking distance. Tense silence passed between giant and human.
Barcus gripped his sword tightly, ready to strike. Endu stood perfectly still, his bow down, head up, considering the giant stranger.
Suddenly Endu bowed low, turned and dropped calmly off the round rock upon which he stood.
The giant looked down at Barcus, raised his great hammer, and swung it casually over his shoulder. Turning around, the giant thundered away, shaking the ground as he went.
Barcus was rooted to the spot for a long moment, first watching the giant stroll away, then facing his wayward companion.
Running to catch up, Barcus finally grabbed Endu's shoulder and whirled him around.
"Okay, what was that?"
Endu's face was sad, as though he's just heard some terrible news, or perhaps delivered it. The expression, so strange on his calm companion, threw Barcus for a loop.
"What, what is it man?"
Endu stopped cold. Barcus turned, looking at his old friend with genuine concern.
"He is dying." Endu said at last, a tint of sadness in his voice. "He has asked us to fulfill his dying wish."
Barcus blinked, even more confused. This was the last thing he expected.
"Well, what does he want is to do?"
"Find his companion." Endu said.
"But, there are no more giants in the world. I didn't even know that one was still around."
"There is one other." Endu replied.
"Okay, well where is he, or she?"
Endu shook his head.
"I have no idea."

Barrasque

http://mingrutu.deviantart.com/art/Earth-monster-469193590

It's name was Barrasque. A creature as old as the forest it had roamed for thousands of years. No one knew where it came from, nor how it came into being.
Did it truly live, with a heart and soul and feelings? Or was it merely an unnatural automaton made from natural materials? No one knew, nor did they deign to ask.
Until one day a bright, curious young lass wandered into the forest singing graceful songs of rainbows and sunshine and picking wildflowers.
From its habitat Barrasque rose at her insolence in intruding upon his solitude. Yet the child remained strangely calm.
For she was completely innocent, with no knowledge that she'd just stepped into the heart of nature's eminent domain, and its fearsome guardian.
To her,  Barrasque was merely another forest creature she might one day befriend. 
It's bewilderment at her courage gave the creature pause, for all who beheld the great and mighty Barrasque had fled before it. Who was she to stand before nature's greatest juggernaut unfazed and unchecked?
Her name was Misa, and unbeknownst to her and the great Barrasque, with their introduction a grand saga of wonder and adventure had just begun.