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Bryan Chisler of Monsters (#10812)

Owner: 0x6684…Fa55

The Tale of Bryan, Chisler of Monsters

Bryan stood, broadsword swinging idly at his side, and contemplated the path that brought him here. It all began with a map, taken from the corpses of the Brine's misshapen denizens. This chart had led him northeast, up through the wicked mountains, and after much hardship to Dream Master Lake. It is there that he claimed the Hidden Key, and entered the Wild. Through Frog Master Marsh and The Thorn he battled both man and beast, his faithful war hound Kaius at his side. The two conquered realm after realm of the Wild until only the Quantum Shadow remained. Bryan and Kaius entered the bleak, black expanse, disappearing from the ken of man for a year and a day. When they emerged as triumphant conquerors, Bryan held the Rune of Brass clutched tightly in his left hand and an eldritch glint shone in his eye. .

The role of conquering ruler soon began to chafe. Yearning for challenge he took Kaius and ventured into the desert heat and sand of the Southlands. Slowly roasting in his armor Bryan searched the great desert, finding little but endless sand. As far as the land's edge every tomb and temple lay raided and stripped bare. Of the monsters that once roamed the vastness, all that remained were legends and bones. Turning his back to the howling wind Bryan traveled north, searching always. Desert was now replaced by mountain tundra and dense forests, but the results were the same. Every cave and dungeon, every oak grove and toadstool ring already cleared out by prior hands. Of the great beasts only skeletons remained, and any scraps of treasure long since discovered and removed. He found himself burning for just one more mystery, one adventure not already completed by the endless ranks of mighty warriors and legendary mages.

Surely it could not just be him? Grand adventurers had cleaned out the lairs and crypts of the world and now must surely find the boredom as stifling as he did. Without being able to achieve great deeds these great heroes must find their potential squandered, they must crave the challenges they themselves eliminated. It was while contemplating this that the idea occurred to him, what if he could provide that challenge to the others. 

What if a new order of monster were to appear? One that would test the heroes of the world to their limits and beyond? Would it not be the Ultimate Adventure to create them and dispatch them to the secret places of the world? As these thoughts occurred to him, Kaius began whimpering and he felt the Rune grow hot in his clutched fingers. 

As his beloved dog backed away Bryan felt heat spread from the rune, his arm bursting into greenish flames. As his sword began to melt into his arm the fire spread across his limbs and body. Every nerve screamed as his melting sword, shield, and armor flowed across his form encasing him in red hot, liquid metal. As the metal filled his eye sockets the pain overcame him and he knew no more.

When he awoke, Bryan was naked with no sign of his clothes or possessions other than the Rune clutched tightly in his hand. Towering over him was the still and silent figure of a giant, seemingly sculpted from brass. At his feet Kaius crouched, growling up at the metal figure. Reflexively reaching for a sword no longer there, Bryan lunged for the figure only to be casually thrown aside as though he was a rag doll. 

Sheer surprise shook him. He, who had wrestled great Wyrms, who had defeated trolls and giants hand to hand, had been cast aside as though he were the merest farm boy. Enraged at being treated so dismissively he leapt upon the brass figure, throwing a wild haymaker as he did so. It took him a moment to realize that the sound of breaking bones on impact came from his own fist. As he gasped in pain the brass figure looked on, impassive and silent. As Bryan raised his broken fist he hesitated. For the first time in years he faced an opponent who was his equal, perhaps even his superior. He lowered his fist.

Feeling warmth in his other hand, Bryan looked down to see the Rune of Brass softly glowing there. “The Ultimate Adventure”, he whispered. At the sound of his words the brass giant nodded once, turned on its heel and retreated from view, leaving Bryan to contemplate his newfound inspiration.

As the decades wore on, Bryan mastered the Rune of Brass, using it to create the most amazing constructs and beings. To fill the void left by his fellow adventurers' exploits he sculpted monsters of titanic strength and speed. From treasure guardians to city leveling titans he repopulated the world of challenges. It is said some of his creations could even threaten the fate of the very world upon which he walked.  

As the years crept slowly past, the stories grew. A wandering man, perhaps a retired adventurer or demigod, that walked the lands with his metal dog. Wherever he would go, impossible beasts and improbable creatures would appear soon after. Of course many discounted these tales as fever dreams or too much drink, but even so the legend of Bryan the artisan of opponents grew in the telling. 

In his endless quest for challenges Bryan has spent recent years peering into otherworldly realms, and found them all wanting but one. On a distant world he scryed the forms of massive metal beasts roaming mountains called the Worldteeth, and the agitation they cause among the locals. Perhaps the natives of this Moonstone Empire would be up for the Ultimate Adventure….

Entered by: 0x6684…Fa55 and preserved on chain (see transaction)