"Wow, a gold bengalaas even with my voting him a three!"
-Mark4
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| The Quest: Chapter 2 | | | Author: | | | IP: | sdn-ar-0XXXX | | Date: | 08/06/00 09:08 | | Game Type: | Other | | Labels: | none | | Report Rating: , # of Ratings: 1, Max: 5, Min: 5
Lifetime Rating for Frozen~SCV AKA ScreamStalker: 7.0000 |  |
Chapter 2: The Quest
Following the announcement that the quest would begin at dawn, Rone and his four companions were quickly ushered away from the cheering mob by royal escorts. They were taken to the Palace where all were personally greeted by the Sultan Jerhyn. The King thanked them several times for their bravery, but regrettably could not house them in his home due to personal matters. The company was instead put up in a small makeshift hut just inside the city gates. Better to get an early start the Sultan has assured them, but Rone wasn’t so sure.
The night closed about them quickly and the five ate a small meal of bread, dried meat, and warm ale. After dinner was consumed, Rone and the Barbarian quickly lit a small fire in a pit that had been constructed for them earlier. All gathered around to share haven from the desert’s chilling nights, all save Sheen who preoccupied himself in a darkened corner of the camp. As he idly poked at the fire embers with his boot, Rone found himself wondering about the dark Priest. Of all the company, he seemed the most intriguing, and Rone wondered how it was that he had become what he had.
The night wore down and very little passed among the group. Rone started several times to begin a conversation, but always withdrew at the last second, not sure what to say. He was just about to try again when the blond haired woman spoke up.
"Well," She said."Since all of us are going to be traveling together for the next few days at least, I think we should all get to know each other better. My name is Aliza, and I am an Amazon warrior from the island of Philios. I was selected by a group of elders to travel north to the Rogue encampment and learn what I could of the demon invasion. I soon became swallowed up by the town, and with the help of my rather large friend," she gestured toward the warrior,"set out to put a stop to the reign of terror that seems to be controlling several lands." As she finished she sat back on her heels and drew her knees close to her body, obviously awaiting someone else to relay their personal story.
A moment passed, then Aliza’s giant friend spoke up. "My true name is Colt and I left my home to travel south on my own free will. I do not seek fortune or fame, only the competition. For I have yet to meet my match in a head to head battle, and I begin to wonder if perhaps I never will."
Rone was struck through by Colt’s swift speech. He had never met his match? Surely the demons he had already faced would have proven him wrong to some extent, but Rone detected no exaggeration in the man’s voice, and saw none in his eyes. Before he realized what he was doing, Rone began to relay his own tale to the strangers he barely knew.
"I, like Aliza, was chosen to travel to this forsaken village, though not for the same reasons. My successors asked that I preach the visions of Akarat to these unenlightened people, but when I tried to do so, I only received panic stricken responses. I hope to cleanse this land and return to do what I was set here to do." Rone sat back, a small smile etched on his face. He was glad that already a trust was growing between most of the members of the small band. And was even more pleased when Visala spoke up.
"I also came on my own free will." She said. Her voice a small, soft whisper. "My teachings tell me that a great Emergence of Evil will rack the four lands with fear and disease, and that my whole purpose for perfecting my art is to test it against this enemy. When the Dark Wanderer emerged some months ago, several others from my clan left to test themselves, and none returned. I decided to bide my time, and spent it studying and perfecting. When I heard that the evil had appeared here, I knew it was my chance to discover my true power."
Another lapse of silence overtook the four, as each pondered over what the others had said. Funny, Rone though to himself, that the purposes that drove him were much like Aliza’s. He began to turn it over in his mind but startled when Colt’s strong voice struck out. "And what of you Dark One?" he asked. Turing to face the Necromancer as he did so."What propels you to fight for what is right and true?" He paused, waiting for an answer, but instead got a look that sent shivers up Rone’s spine.
"Where I come from and what my purpose is are of no importance to you."Sheen growled. "Simply know that you will not stand in my way. I only chose to accompany you because I know the four of you would not last one minute in the Aranoch. As it is I am beginning to doubt my judgement on that matter." He again sat back into the darkness, saying no more.
For an instance, Rone thought he might have to stand between the two men, but Colt simply shrugged and turned back to the fire. Another long moment passed in silence, and one by one, the five members of the company rolled into their sleeping blankets and dropped off to sleep.
Morning came without incident, and the band set out swiftly into the desert. The old man that had originally pleaded with the people to accompany Colt and Aliza on their quest he told them all the previous evening to travel west after leaving the city gates. "Follow the mountains." He had spoke. "The Halls of the Dead lies only a one day journey from Lut Gholein, but beware, many dangers await you in the Aranoch."
As they walked, Rone began to become numb to his surroundings. They had seen no other form of life, and only the bleached bones scattered here and there indicated anything had ever traveled that way before. The sun was unbearably hot, and pounded down on the members with relentless persistency. Rone was just about to ask for a small break when the attack came.
No one had seen it coming, and the small party was spread out before they knew what was happening. Several small dark forms darted this way and that, springing high into the air, razor sharp claws tearing as they landed. Rone was knocked to the ground by one of the monsters, and he screamed as its talons tore into his arm. He tried to rise but more creatures flung themselves at him, keeping him pinned to the desert sand. Rone would have been lost had it not been for Colt. Brandishing two gigantic broad swords, the Barbarian hurled himself into Rone’s attackers with blinding speed. Three went down before they could react and the other three fell soon after.
But the battle was far from over. Cat monsters charged over a nearby dune, the closest bearing spears, while the trailing attackers threw exploding potions. Aliza dropped to one knee as they approached and let loose a barrage of arrows. Her motions were so fluid that everyone had a tough time following them. Several of the foremost demons dropped to Aliza’s flaming projectiles, but still more remained. Rone drew his own sword and shield and stood shoulder to shoulder with Colt, ready to destroy the oncoming hordes.
But they never got to. From out of the haze came Sheen’s minions, two armored skeletons and a Golem composed of mud charged straight into the carnage, heedless of anything but their orders to destroy. Most of the felines fell swiftly, overcome by the ferocity of this new enemy, and those that were not killed fled back into the desert.
Slowly, the little band came back together to access its injuries. Both Rone and Colt had suffered slashes from the sand leapers, and Visala had a small burn on her right leg, courtesy of the exploding vials. Aliza and Sheen were unharmed. The wounds were quickly bandaged and the five resumed their trek, wary now of another attack.
Hours passed and nothing happened. It was now well past midday and the sun was starting to set in the western horizon. The five had stopped only twice to rest briefly and once to consume a small lunch before returning to their walk. Nothing much passed between the five, only an occasional question or comment. Rone was beginning to think the old man wrong in his calculations, for they had seen no sign of any cave. Much less any dwelling at all.
He was still brooding over it when the Great Hall rose in front of them. It was a giant entrance, a rectangular mouth opening directly before the small company, greeting them only with an impenetrable blackness. Pillars surrounded the opening, most crumbling or deteriorating in some parts. Bones were everywhere. Piles that came up to Rone’s waist and contained the white discards of every shape and size. Nobody said anything, nothing had to be said. A small tent was erected fifty yards from the cavern and sleeping pads rolled out. No fire was built, and the company consumed a tasteless meal of water, beef and bread.
Night approached quickly, a cold shroud coming to wrap around the bodies of the heroes and chill them through. Rone wrapped himself as tight as he could in his sleeping blanket, and closed his eyes. The Halls of the Dead stood watch over them all, and as the Paladin slowly drifted into slumber he imagined the horrors that awaited them just inside the black maw.
Chapter 3 will continue the quest of the 5 heroes from Lut Gholein as they travel into the depths of the Halls of the Dead and lose one of themselves in the process. Look for it in two weeks.
Frozen~SCV AKA ScreamStalker
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