3 THE MONSTER OF KAOREN LAKE 2

As the largest fresh water body in Varlaurea continent, Kaoren Lake located at southern part of the continent near the downstream region of the Great River. Its name means the "sea lake" for it so vast that ship have to took five days to sail across the surface of the lake. The lake is so big it even has its own weather pattern. Below those glistering blue waves, many bounties to be catch. And with it gentle tides, it accretion the shore, enriched the soil and help feed those first Downer's settlements when they first came to Varlaurea, after their long journey through the Age of Wandering. Many cities have thrived and flourish on the benevolent shore of the lake and come with the lake connection with the Great River, trade from the free cities of the Uppers in northern Varlaurea and Chihan empire in the east flow through Qualoh city, created the busiest trade routed of all Varlaurea.

It all happen five years ago, first there are only some isolated incidents occurred throughout many cities, some fishermen went missing when diving to harvest clam, pearl and seaweed. At first, the local officials only think it just accident, until thing escalated, from missing fishermen to entire fishing ship went missing. And two years ago in the fishing village near Qualoh, a survivor has been found. He claimed there was no accident, he claimed that his fishing boat and crews was attacked by something in the lake. "It's like a gigantic fish I never seen before" the fishermen assertively proclaimed.

Lord Buh Huy as that time did took noticed of this incident and ordered an investigation but came up empty hand. And thus that fishermen story became nothing but the rambling of a traumatized man and soon become mere rumour or spooky tale around the tavern table. But fishing ships still went missing, fear quickly rose among the people, they do not dare to go fishing far from the lake shore anymore. And then, another incident came to lord Buh Huy's ears, a trade ship from Chihan empire has sunk not too far from Qualoh, six survivors had been found and they all claimed their ship had been attacked by something, some kind of gigantic fish. The survivors claimed it torn their ship apart with just few rams, and swallow several sailors with just one gulped. A military search had been launched, but all they can find is only plank of woods, and torn pieces of sails floating in the water, no sign of the "big fish".

In following years, more and more ships were attacked, more and more survivor's testimony claimed the existing of this "big fish", trade is stagnated. Two navy expeditions had been launched by Lord Buh Huy, and in the second expedition a medium Junk ship had been attacked in front of the entire fleet. Despite the valiant resistant of the crew, with just several rams the monster torn the ship apart, and swallow the helpless sailors in the water. Witnesses estimated the monster length is about 100 lias (1 lia = 1 meters) at the least, its back cladded in dark red scales, with many foot-like pelvic fins protruded from the side of its body. The "fish" mouth is as big as the city's gate full of jagged teeth. With eyes glowing with a sinister red hue under the sun.

Upon hearing this news, Lord Buh Huy was quickly launched the third navy expedition to kill this monstrosity. Many volunteers had sign up; six warships had been launched with many volunteer civilian ships. But they attempt achieved little to no avail. Three warships and a large sum of volunteer ships has sunk, the rest are severely damage, more than 500 casualties. Enraged by the attack of Lord Buh Huy's navy, the monster retaliates shortly after, the number of attack increase. And about eighteen months ago, for the first time, the monster took it rage to Qualoh city. It suddenly resurfaces not too far from the city's port and before anyone can react, with a swept of it giant tail, the monster hurled a tsunami toward the port, damage many ships, buildings, infrastructures, washed countless people out to the lake and to their demise. Every several weeks the monster attack Qualoh and its neighbouring cities with tsunami, bringing death and destruction to the populations. Many names it had been called: The "Terror of the deep", the "Whirlpool of sharp teeth", the "Tsunami Maker", and the "Fins of doom"

The people are terrifying, some think the monster represented the wrath of the gods, and as the resulted of that, a cult has arisen and perform human sacrificed to the monster. Lord Buh Huy had tried his best to suppress those cultists and reassure the people that he will send a messenger to the capital and ask the Imperial Court for aid. When the matter came to the Imperial Court. The Imperial navy has dispatch a fleet of five Heavy War Junk, fifth-teen frigates, and ten galleys to help exterminate the monster but sadly, they're too, achieved very little result, the progress is slow, their ballista's bolts cannot penetrated even haft their shard's length through the monster's scale and does little damage to the monster, even the Imperial Court Mages accompany the fleet cannot cause much damage either, most of their spells kept getting deflect from the monster's scale, like there are some kind of magic had been infused in it. And the monster is cunning, it lurking under the waves hiding from the Imperial fleet and only ambushes the lightly armed patrol ships and slower logistic ships. The situation remands stalemate. Therefore, Emperor Lam had leaved his palace and solves the matter with his own hand.