The Dark Realmz
IC Central [RPG ONLY] => "Ayenee Nexus: Where Imagination Knows No Bounds => RP Archives 2005-2019 => Topic started by: Soleus Blackthorne on February 18, 2006, 11:48:17 AM
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" Fall back..Fall back"
Soleus's general yelled for a retreat when they were so close to having the orcs and goblins defeated. Already one of the Darkthorne generals had fallen before Soleus's hammer and that left one Darkthorne leader in charge of this army. The body of the one who fell before Soleus was engulfed in flames sent out by his hands as the troops ran past him. There was no sun in Luskan only cave walls, a city over a empty, black chasim. The city was in ruin when they found it and was slowly falling into more ruin from the war. The Darkthrones had taken up refuge in two caves one formerly a dungeon of some sort and the second a maze. They'd captured some of the snake women in the maze and made them into new soldiers. This was not good since Soleus's side had no reasources to pull on for soldiers, besides his golems.
The healers of Soleus group were kept in the city even while in battle. The archers and catapults struck from the city while the infantry and calvary struck on the ground. Magical explosions lit the scene around Soleus as he stood in his armor with his black hammer in one hand and the darkthorne blade in the other. Two eath golems stood behind Soleus acting as his personal bodyguards. He would not let this battle continue for anymore years, it'd already taxed his men and their sanity. Though they did not age while within Luskan they dead, and death in a trap was animalistic. Soleus charged forward towards the army, his frost shield killing off the enemy which got in his way. Before him stood an orc general who fired at Soleus with his crossbow striking Soleus in arm.
Soleus still determined continued forward while the orc reloaded and fired again. This time the bolt struck him in the leg bringing him down to his knees. Soleus looked up and the air around him wavered with a sudden pulse of energy. His visage became distorted as the distortion moved forward quickly slowly taking on form. It appeared like a ethereal tear drop slowly taking on form as it flew towards the orc general who was reloading. As it came closer it elongated into a solid black spear and pierced the chest of the orc general. The golems picked up Soleus in their arms and began to carry him back to Luskan. The battle was over for now, but soon as always it would continue. They were short on supplies and would soon have to face the horror of starving to death, besides just dieing in battle.
" I will kill you..every last one of you..my people will be freeeeee.." Soleus shouted as the golems fled towards the gate with him. Once the gates shut behind him, his generals looked to him questionably. For he'd ignored the order to retreat and nearly perished in his lust to end this battle. Had he fallen the people would have become demoralized and crushed beneath the next attack. Soleus sighed and nodded towards them, " I know I'm like my father always wanting to end the battle swiftly to lose less....it will not happen again, but we shall win this fight." Soleus laid down against the nearby building his wounds bleeding while he awaited healing. The healers knew he wanted his men healed before himself, he could last.
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The cell she was in, was only 6 feet by 4 feet at most. the cold stone walls were thick and damp the far beneath the ground. It was day 6 of her interment here, waiting for release, waiting to discover who kept her and why. She tried to keep moving in the small cell, counting out the steps repeatedly but still the time dragged. it was only the once a day meal of watered down juice and stale bread that told her of the days passing
The healer was careful to keep the dark cell picked up. using the small hole in the corner for what is was intended. She pushed the damp old hay that made her bed in pile to one side so as not to step on it and further trample it. What she didn't know was that she was deep in the caves near Luskan. She licked her dry lips feeling the weakness of not eating these passed days wash thru her. Had she seen herself, she would understand why. She was filthy from the muck and mildew of the cell. her hair was matted and her face smudged. Her lavender blue eyes looked weary. her clothing in ruin. She sat again on the straw dozing to pass the time
Her name was Gemriana Sherbrooke and unknown to ehr she was kept her because of her healing skills they could be used here and not for the attacking army. She dozed off and on for the next hour, sounds of rats scurrying in the darkness outside her door, waking her intermittently. She raised the hem of her simple dress, once blue now brown and stained, and wiped her face with it. She stood, her hand slipping out in the darkness to the stone wall she knew was there, using it to steady herself from the dizziness that swept over her. She needed to get out of here before she was too weak to try. There was no window in her room, the slit in the outer wall having been filled in with mortar and stone years ago. She moved again to the small hole in the floor. there was remnants of an iron grate over it. She grabbed the grate and tried pulling it with all her strength again, repeating what she had been doing off an on for 6 days now.....
Gem grimaced knowing what the hole was really for and ran her finger along where the iron gate met the stone. She worked for a while, picking at the old crumbled stone, and grabbing at the grate pulling. At last she felt what she hoped for, there was movement in the grate. She worked harder, concentrating even more as she kept working at it...again she pulled and with a sudden movement, the rotten mortar released the grate. She fell back wards at the sudden movement, hitting her head again the wall "ow" she said as she thumped. Despite the stink, she moved closer to the hole and leaned in listening for what she suspected was below...a cistern and tunnels of slimy water deep below
Gem bit her lower lip and slid her legs into the hole, lowering herself as much as she could until she could no longer hold on. Death by cistern was surely a better option then death by starvation. With that she let go and slid down the excrement and slimy mold covered hole, sliding down the tunnel until it opened onto a giant pool of foulness below. She went head under then when she came up, retched several times. She tried to catch her breath and retched again, not that there was anything in her stomach to vomit. As she hoped, here was a slight current, ever so slight that lead south, though she didn?t realize it...she began to follow the current, hoping that it lead to freedom
Gem, as she swam in the cesspool, from time to time, she would grab the slimy stone wall to rest then continue retching again and again.. The foul river seemed to become more and more water filled, less and less excrement. Finally she found the end, the place where the sewage drained into a shallow river...There was one major problem. bars covered the stone exit to freedom......
She leaned her head against the bars as her hands gripped them, tears of frustration fall down her dirty face ...all this way to be stopped by bars again. "DAMN IT" she shouted out loud, knowing she was likely the only one that could hear it....sobbing she stood there, hearing the sounds the battle beyond..
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Soleus had drifted off to sleep, while asleep he dreamed of things he could not understand. In his dream he had seen a woman, a cell, and a river he had awoke startled. Not sure as to what the dream meant for normally he had no dreams here. This place had long taken his dreams from him for he knew they were useless. Soleus however now felt that this dream was trying to tell him something. The only source of water in the town was the well which went down to an underground river. A river...if his dream had been correct they and there was a tunnel below leading to the remaining Darkthorne hideout... They could travel down along the tunnel and finish the battle once and for all and be free of this retched place.
Soleus laughed, but it was only a dream, he couldn't really believe a dream could he? Soleus noticed his wounds had been healed and the men were honoring those that had fallen recently.
" Gundar come help me rise.." a large bald man in black armor walked over to Soleus helping him up. His family had the ability to regenerate, but that ability was dampened here. He'd found many of his bloodborn abilities to be useless here. As if this place dictated the laws of one's life as well as time. Gaia's cradle was said to be in one of the caves here. Gaia a goddess, Soleus had wanted to find this goddess to heal his father. Now he just wanted to be free from this place to see the sun and moon once again. Smell the fresh air and feel the breeze upon his face, to see trees and...home. Soleus walked over to the bodies which were covered and knelt down before them.
" I am sorry my brothers and sisters, but I am proud of your sacrifice today. Each of these people had a name and a life just as each of us does. They were willing to lay their lives down so that we could continue our's. That is an act in and of itself that deserves our tears and laments, I shall see you all on the other side."
Soleus watched as the bodies were lifted one by one and placed upon the eternal burning flame of Luskan. The flame was located just in the center of the city a large circle from which fire errupted. They knew not what purpose it served before their time, but since their arrival it had been used for much. Soleus was sad and angry for he'd led more people to death and still had not defeated the Darkthornes. He took his black hammer in hand and walked off his golem bodyguards following him. Walking over to the gate he hit the wench which opened the main gates and walked out. Touching the ground with the hammer he began to summon more golems as many as he could this time. Arrows from the darkness began to hit the ground around him.
The people in the town ran towards the gate yelling for him to come back in. But he would not listen, more golems rose finally blocking the arrows which came dangerously close to him. The people watched their leader's madness unfolding as he summoned up a good twenty golems. Standing Soleus looked to the golems and gave them their mission, to hunt down the Darkthorne leader and destroy him. Turning he went back inside as they set out on their mission. Walking into the town he stoped by the well and looked down. He remembered his dream of the tunnel and the women, he swore he heard something. Turning to Gundar he said, " lower me into the well..." Gundar looked at him like he was crazy.
" I said do it!" Soleus climbed up on the well placing his foot in the bucket, he'd have to see if there was anything he could swing to below. Checking the rope to make sure it would hold his weight he nodded for Gundar to lower him. Slowly he began his descent towards the river below hoping his strange dream was true.
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Gem stood leaning agaist the bars, resting her head against the old metal. Yet this metal didn't look as old as the metal grate covering the privey hole in the cell. She tries grabbing it and shaking it but it doesnt budge.
Stepping back she looks at the opening studying how it attaches to the rock outlet into the river. Maybe, just maybe she could use her skills to move the rocks. Concentrating and looking at the stones, she pictures them moving....but nothing happens. Unknown to her, the strange place and her current deteriorated condition prevent her innate telekinesis from working...
Taking a deep breath, she shivers....She'd die of cold in the river if she didn't dry off and find warmth. She looked around the opening for a ledge or something to get her from the water....again nothing...
Picking up a rock from the river bottom, her desparation takes over...She starts to bang the rock against the metal.."Help meeeee!"
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Soleus looked to the right and left of him finally noticing a ledge which he could stand on. He began to swing the rope back and forth finally finding purchase on the ledge. Almost slipping he looked down to the water below a small walkway led down to some underground cavern. They'd never investigated far down here because of the strange tribe of semi-human beings which lived down in the sewers. They didn't side with either the Darkthornes or the Blackthornes so they were left alone. However they still were unknown to him and the others. Soleus's powers were weakened in Luskan which he didn't like. Something was dampening the powers of all the beings here, almost as if it were keeping some sort of balance.
Soleus heard something in the distance, it sounded like a voice. Someone was down here and crying out for help as well as clanging on something. Something metal, was there some sort of prison down here or was his imagination getting the best of him. " Hello? is there anyone down here?" Soleus found his footing on the slippery stone and made his way down. Into the labrynth he went, he stopped and knelt down to touch his hammer to the cold black stone. At first it resisted his attempt to summon a golem which was strange. Finaly he tried again this time adding his own power into the summoning. A black rock golem began to rise up from the stone floor it's eyes glow with a bright purple light.
" Who has awoke me?" Soleus stumbled back, for never before had any of the golems ever spoke. Soleus was shocked, the golem looked to him with eyes which told of life and intelligence. This was no ordinary golem, or was it even a golem? " What, who are you?" Soleus said to the golem with a confused look on his face. The golem looked around and said, " Has the great halls of Luskan fallen to the corruption which has plagued us for so many years?" Soleus was confused he had only heard through old books of Luskan's history. A proud race of elemental knights had once guarded this place protecting Gaia's home. They had been destroyed by some evil elements which had found their way here. " Luskan has long been fallen dear golem.." Soleus said as he regained his footing and looked on into the darkness.
The golem looked to him confused, " Golem? why dost thou call me so? I am Ertos once a great warrior whom protected this city for many years before the corruption spread into our fair city. I was betrayed by my own countrymen and fled down here only to be slain. I....I sense it now....the stone I inhabit...something has happened I'm alive again..or somewhat. How did you do such magic for one whom does not show to hold such powerful magic?" the golem said looking at his stone hands. Soleus didn't know whether to be insulted or to disregard the golem's words as madness. " I'm not quite sure as to how your soul was placed into the golem I was summoning...apparently this rock is magical...it might explain the dampening of everyone's powers. I think my family used such rock once long ago..hmm this must be where they got it from."
Soleus had almost forgot the voice he'd heard calling for help, he looked to the golem and said," Pardon me golem, but someone was calling for help moments ago...can't you hear the banging metal sound in the distance?" The golem turned and shook his head, " let us go help then, I sense my destiny has somehow become bound to your's." Soleus didn't mind having a new friend such as the golem, but if he encountered anymore surprises like this he might decide to turn back and bring more men. Soleus found his way with the golem to a place where the river ran into a barred tunnel. Someone was on the otherside banging something against the bars. Soleus held up his ceremonial Blackthorne dagger and summoned up a simple light spell into the dagger watching it flicker.
His magic was very weak down here and the spell almost fizzled out on him. He applied more power to the spell which was more then one would have to use just for this simple of a spell. " I'm Soleus Blackthorne and this is...err Ertos my companion, who goes there?" He looked towards the bars seeing a female figured illuminated in the gentle glow. Strange he didn't know any of this was down here.
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She stopped banging the rock against the metal bars that were her newest prison. Had she heard something? or was it mearly echos in the tunnels, teasing her with the thought of rescue. . Was she starting to loose her mind, she wondered. She banged again against the bars, this time in a simple pattern. Anyone eharing it would know it was intentional and not just the sounds of falling rock.
After the passing of several minutes, she hears somthing outside...what she can't be sure. so she bangs harder this time calling out "Can any one hear me!?" Despite the banging she hears the drawing of a sword, that distinct sound that only a sword leaving it's hilt makes.dropping the rock she takes a step back from the grate, blinking at the soft magical glow of sword...
"I'm Soleus Blackthorne and this is...err Ertos my companion, who goes there?"
Gem blinks as she tries to under stand the words...Blackthorne? Had he really said Blackthorne?...."I am Gemriana Sherbrooke, ally to the Blackthornes" Would he beleive her? Would he think this a trap? She had no idea that where she stood could mean the end to the war at last. That an escaped prisoner of the Darkthornes might cause their down fall....... Was Soleus related to Rebecca, Reeese and the others....To her as if only 2 months since she had seen them, but oddly something told her much more time had passed for them. Where she had been during the passing was a mystery even to her....Even Reese wouldn't recognize the thin, pale filthy prisoner as herself......
"M'lord, Please, let me out...can you open the grate?"
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Soleus looked off into the darkness with some hesitation as he pondered her words. Ally to the Blackthornes, here of all places could this be a trap? No if it was the Darkthornes they would have already tore down the grate and attacked the city while they slept. The Darkthornes were easy to predict and this was not the kind of trap they would spring. The tribe which lived down here was not likely to use a trap either. They tried to avoid the surface dwellers at all cost so it must be true. How could an ally of the Blackthornes end up here, though he hadn't seen the outside for so long. Perhaps things back home had changed? When he left Reese and Rebecca and the others still ruled, but that was coming to an end. An invasion force like none other had attacked and his father became injured by a Darkthorne blade.
Soleus had fled with his father trying to find a way to heal the damage done. Only to kill his father by bringing him to this cursed place and not getting him the help he needed soon enough. Though the Darkthornes were to blame for that henderance. " I don't know how an ally of the Blackthornes came about finding their way down here...but I'll have you out in a moment." He'd be ready just in case something did happen as he turned to his new companion. " Ertos can you open the grate?" The golem moved forward and plunged into the water which came up above his knees. With a small effort he grabbed the bars and began to bend them looking in to the woman the golem said, " Do not fear me I am here to help you" The bars groaned finally snapping from the pull placed upon them.
Soleus only hoped he had made the right choice by letting this person go. Once he got her back up to the city and had her wounds tended, food and drink brought to her, and maybe a bath from the smell of this place. Then they could talk more and he could better understand how she came to be here.
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Relief washed over her like a wave as the Golem stepped forward to pull at the grate. The noise of his efforts echoed into the tunnel from which she came.
"If you are truly a Blackthorne then I do not fear you...yet"
She climbed out ofthe river whole and stood a few feet from the odd pair of men. Now that she was free and standing just feet from them, her petite form was clearly visible.
"thank you m'lord Blackthorne, I am indepted to you for saving my life"
She look at her self and then at them chuckling at the state she was in "Not exactly a prize at the moment" . Her clothing, stained we and torn hung on her curves. Her usual cloak, daggar and medicine bag were all long gone as were her shoes.
"How is it that the Blackthornes are here? and where exactly is Here, m'lord?"
As the man started to move back in the direction he came, she followed him as she spoke......
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OOC I will be offline Feb 26 thru March 6th visiting Mickey Mouse with the kids. Gem/Deb
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Soleus laughed, " I could ask you the same thing, but then I'm guessing it's fate that brought us together. As for Blackthornes being here, I'm the only one here besides two of my cousins who act as my generals. I'm not sure..I might be the only one left alive in the realm itself. I've not seen my family in sometime, nor can I remember how long we've been trapped here. I brought my father Desmond here for he was wounded beyond our capabilities to heal. I'd heard of this place through legends, it was said to be a timeless place. Had I studied the legend more maybe I would have come across it's true qualities. Oh yes it's timeless, for you do not age here, but death is still here. My father's last breaths were taken here as was many of my loyal soldiers."
Soleus held his head down low as he recounted this memory and tale. Ertos the golem spoke, " Our legends once told of a race like yours Blackthorne that came here when Luskan was still young. They sought aid against a dark enemy whom had followed them to this land. Perhaps fate has tied us all together for it was that same dark evil we fought. In the end the scales were set to balance once again and the memory of those fighting was wiped clean. Those creatures in the dark tunnels that are half man are the evil which has become primitive like the beasts of the wild." Soleus looked back to the golem now thinking more on his situation.
Turning back to Gem he spoke again, " Here is Luskan city in the mountain veil the gate before Gaia's cradle were life began. Were a lone Blackthorne noble and a Darkthorne army have been battling for years. But that might soon end now, for you must have come from somewhere? The tunnel you came down were does it lead to? While I'm asking where did you come from and how do you know of my family?" Soleus was very curious about his new companion Gem, for it had been years since he'd seen someone new. Especially someone whom knew of his family and might hold the secret to winning this battle.
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As they walked, Gem listened to her rescuer, trying to concentrate as best she could given her current condition...
"..I brought my father Desmond here for he was wounded beyond our capabilities to heal. ..."
"Desmond?? Desmond is your father?" She stops walking and looks at Soleus, "How is that possible? How can he have a son your age when he had no childen a few months ago?" As the golem tells the legend, Gem studies the noble's features...yes he had the Blackthorne look about him but...It had only been a few months since she and Desmond were engage, then he dissappeared. after a few weeks she began her search for him, traveling about the realms trying to find him. Yet it was as if Desmond has been swallowed by the ground itself. And some how the fates were playing a game with them...Desmond's son...
As Soleus questioned her she looked into his eyes for a moment then looked down thinking.....
"Tis a long tale I think M'lord Blackthorne, starting long ago for most but only months ago it would seem for me....I would ask that questions wait until I have had at least some fresh water to drink"
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Soleus nodded and began to wander about the time frame of their meeting. Months and years seemed nothing in this place, could he be sure he would exit this place in a time frame suiting him? Or would he come out fifty years after the destruction of his lands, or worse before his lands ever existed? Such things could not be pondered or worried over for long for there was no way to be sure. Soleus came to the steps where he had entered and looked over the bucket rope. He looked to the golem and back to the bucket rope.
" Ertos you said that you fled down here, where was it you entered, perhaps there is a passage way I did not discover?"
The golem smiled and walked up the steps and with a thundering punch of his fist the rock wall fell. The rocks had been placed there sealing up the existance of a hidden door. The golem pushed the door open and they could see a storage room. The door to the storage room was sealed, and the shelves held many magical herbs and spell casting reagents. Soleus was amazed for he'd not discovered this room as of yet. Walking into it he pushed open the storage door to reveal a cellar of sorts with various items about it. On the wall were stones which glowed lighting the room, there were large cask with spigets, no doubt holding wine. There was a loom and bails of yarn, spindles, and various sewing instruments.
There was a table with clothes upon it still in good condition and another table with various weapons and armor upon it. This table was next to a forge with molds, and ores, an anvil and bellows. They were apparently in some sort of shop cellar, in the back of this room were stairs heading up the wall. The wall had a certain shape to it which spoke of a hidden door. Looking about Soleus found a lever behind some crates holding crossbow bolts. He pulled the lever and the sound of stone grinding on stone could be heard as the secret door slowly slide open.
There was also food down here which was still in the condition it was after it was made. For even the food in Luskan never age nor ruined which is how they had survived for some time besides the gardens which existed above. There was a stack of books near the crates which Soleus looked through finding one entitled " The arrival of the Blackthornes" he put this book in the satchel at his side. It was curious that this was the first item he'd found in Luskan which hinted that Blackthornes had been here before. It might prove interesting reading later on, maybe give him some insight to his family that had gone lost.
" Luskan never ceases to amaze me with it's mysteries...Lady Sherbrooke I think you'll find some clothes there maybe some which fit you. Take what you want and need of this room I'll see to it you are giving lodging so you can bath and rest. After you've recovered some of your strength meet me at the castle."
Soleus wrote down the directions to a small tavern in the far north of the city which had houses around it for guest. She could rest there and then they could continue their talk. He'd not over tax her in her condition and he knew how valuable rest could be to one who'd been through imprisonment.
Soleus escorted her to the tavern and it's lodgings after she had gathered supplies from the shop. He wrote down the directions to the castle from the tavern so she could find her way. Even though he'd done this he left guards there to help her find her way when she awoke. So she knew his father...perhaps it was fate which played it's hand in this game. Soleus went to the castle and sat in the throne room reading over the book he'd found in the shop. It was in a language similar to his own, but it had vast differences which made it almost ancient. The book was proving to be very interesting for none of the accounts in it had been recorded in his family's history. It was written by someone who travled with another Blackthorne from his family whose story had never been recorded because he'd come to Luskan and died in Luskan.
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Gem felt tired but relieved to be out of the muck from the river, content to follow this Blackthorne as he led her. When they stopped at the bucket, she frowned...how would she ever find the strength to climb to the top? Thankfully Soleus already was asking the Golem of another way out....
Once in the shop cellar, Gem looked at Soleus "I have no money to pay for equipment...she pulls a simple gold and silver ring made of elven craftmanship and places it on the table " this will have to do"She then grabbed a simple dress and cloak, some fruit and a leather bag and herbs to use as a medicine bag. She also took a daggar and hilt. All of this she wrapped in the cloak and carried to the tavern.
As she entered the tavern, many faces turned to looks at the filthy bedraggled woman with the nobleman. Some mistook her for a slave, others for servent. None could imagine the woman hidden by the filth.
Soon she was bathed, and sleepting in a warm soft bed with a fire burning softly in the fireplace. T
he night passed uneventfully and after breakfast the guards escorted the healer to the Blackthorne stronghold.....
The woman who entered was slight of figure, lithe and graceful. Her very contnence radiated tranquility and optimism. Her flaxen hair contrasted to the dark blue cloak on her slender shoulders. It was a mass of soft almost unmanageable curles that fell down her back. Yet it was her eyes that drew a person to look at her. They were an unusual shade of lavender blue which were filled with wonder and amusement.
Her voice was warm, clear and soft when at last she spoke as she approached Soleus she bowed respectfully to him "M'lord Blackthorne, I am deeply indepted to your kindness "
Looking up at him she smiled then began to tell him what she could....
(OOC to be continued on next post)
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Soleus offers her a seat and she mvoves gracefully over to it, removes her cloak and sits. Her dress is simple and slightly big for her but considering how she came by it, it was good enough. The daggar and leather bag both hung at her waist.....
"I would imagine you you have many questions as to who I am, so I will begin at the start...
I was born on a small farm, my father left when I was a toddler. My mother, a healer, taught me her trade until her death when I was 15 but my powers were much more thne hers even when I was a child...I have a gift beyond the realms...that was 3 years ago.
After that time I wander the realms, looking for my father, using my healing gifts to keep myself in coin enough to survive.
Once day I was in a tavern and I met Rebecca Blackthorne...she was very kind to me and allowed me to live in the Blackthorne Castle. I had a small room on the second
floor. That is where I met all the other Blackthorns...Reese, Vincent, Stormie, and your father Desmond.." She pauses a moment, thinking back to her friends a moment
"I don't understand how it is that time has passed so much for your family and its been only 2 years since I was last with them...." She shakes her head confused then
looks at him "Desmond, your father, saved my life last year...He was 22 at the time and I was 17"
"Desmond dissappeared a few months ago and I have been looking for him, I came here a few weeks ago " She pauses " But there was no war between the Blackthrones and the Darkthornes when I came here....."
She leans back looking at him "Last week I was walking from the forest where I had been looking for goldenrod, and herb...someone grabbed me from behind...who ever it was was twice my size and despite my fighting I was no match...He threw me in a cell somewhere in Luskan...where I am not sure.... the cell was tiny it had no window and a hole for ...well you know.....A grown man would not fit in a hole that size....but I did and after 6 days of starvation, abuse and indications of my fate, I escaped. From there I simply swam in the sewers " She shudders remembering the vile smell " Until I reached the grate..."
She smiles looking at him.."Why would fate, keep me here, where the passage of time scewed, until the son of Desmond, my life saver, would find me? and why would I be a prisoner held in a cell...If it was for my healing skills, it would not pay to keep me ill...had it been to be a slave or breeder...they would not have kept me in the cell...and why didn't they just kill me? .....No they were keeping me FROM something and the fates or their fears wouldn't allow my death...so why am I here?"
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Soleus had retrieved her ring from the abandoned shop, respecting her need to pay. When she was done speaking Soleus presented the ring back to her. For Luskan had been abandoned when they came to it, the shop's owner was long dead. Time had a way of being distorted here in the lands of the Blackthornes, but here in Luskan it seemed worse. It was a natural distortion used as a means of defense for Gaia's cradle which he still had no idea as to where this place was. Though now he now longer needed it's healing abilities, there were only a few healers in his rag tag little army.
" Why are you here, why are we here it is a question everyone asks of themself. When we came to Luskan it was abandoned, but it was the only refuge offered to us in our flight from the pressing Darkthorne army which pursued us. A villain by the name of Mythocles had overthrown the Blackthorne family and using a powerful spell took our longevity from us. Slowly he also took our magic, which made the elder Blackthornes weaker and though my uncle Reese tried he failed in defeating Mythocles, ascending to a god in front of my father and mine very eyes. My father Desmond and my uncle Vincent defeated Mythocles after Reese had weakened him enough for such an event to happen. But they were doomed no matter whether they beat him or not."
"Their time was over and it was time for their children to take their places upon the stage. I did not want to lose my father and when a Darkthorne blade pierced his heart I fled with him here to Luskan in hopes to stall death's embrace so that he could be healed. But slowly the magic and longevity came back to our family, only after my father's death. I'm not sure if any of the others Blackthornes survived. If so they've no doubt labeled me a coward by now for leaving them to fight off the remaining Darkthornes..but my father and sister were all I had in this world. My sister...I know not if she survived either, but I had to do what I had to do. Father had risked his life so that our family could once again takes it's rightful place in old Velusia."
" By my accounts which took place some odd forty years ago and your's which took place two years ago. It would seem one is guided to where they are needed in time here. Also by your accounts my fears are true the Darkthornes have been getting supplies outside of the Luskan Veil, but they have not got any reinforcements so that must mean the Blackthornes survived, for we are deep in Blackthorne land on the outside. A the Darkthornes would not want to cause too much of a ripple outside or they would give away their presence to the surviving Blackthornes... This book I found in that shop details the life of another Blackthorne who came here when the lands of Blackthorne were new. It talks about a fruit, an apple which our ancestors took of and became cursed."
" This other Blackthorne came to Luskan seeking passage into Gaia's cradle to plant the apple so that the land would once again become balanced. It seems this took place nearly a thousand years ago, when the recorded history of the Blackthornes was first written. He was the second generation of the sons and daughters of Merrlin, but he was followed here by the children marked with Cain's mark. I think this means he was followed here by Darkthornes. This would mean that our family has been here longer then even the known recorded history, which is odd because this time in history is blank in the outside world's history." Soleus took a breath for what he was about to ask her was not good.
" This means that perhaps there is something within the tombs which could aid in our fight against the Darkthornes so that we can finally leave this place. But the book also talks of some great evil which prevented my ancestor from getting the apple to Gaia's cradle. It talks of a powerful artifact which was lost to my family for many years, the accounts are all written by the resident sorceress of Luskan whom apparently fell in love with my ancestor and recorded the events of his coming to Luskan up to before his attempt to find the cradle. I hate to have to go into the crypts in search of something I'm not even sure exists there, but it might be important. It says the staff of Merrlin will show the way when the way is not clear. I'm thinking this staff might be able to help us out of the veil of Luskan once we defeat the Darkthornes which our time is running out."
" The veil will only allow our exit for another fourteen days according to this book which means... we have to be swift. I didn't think of asking to you to come with me, until you told me your tale. I think that somehow our destinies our joined, but it could be dangerous. I'm going to give you this signia ring, which only those given nobility in the lands of Blackthorne can own. It allows Blackthornes to communicate to the wearer of the ring from great distances. My cousin Arteas once owned it before his death...if you don't want to go I understand, for it shall be full of peril, but this ring will allow me to know that your safe whether you come or not." Soleus had found out a lot from the book, but he was not finished reading it. There might be more in it that he should know, but he was already determined the staff of his ancestor's could lead him and his people to freedom.
According to the book the staff's location had some strange ward protecting it. Soleus had seen a vision which told him this was the path too take, but in his vision Gem was there as well. He wasn't sure if this had something to do with her or if she came with him in his quest.
-
She nods smiling, taking the ring back and slipping it back on her slender finger. .
" But they were doomed no matter whether they beat him or not."
She looks away for a moment to hide the tears forming in her eyes...her friends...gone ...all of them... She used the edge of the cloak to dary her teas then looked back at Soleus
" By my accounts which took place some odd forty years ago and your's which took place two years ago."
"Forty years!" ....she looks shocked...she was 40 years older on the outside world...her friends would be old, grandparents or perhaps dead...."40 years" she mutters...
His mention of the book and its contents brought her back to reality ...
"You want me to go back..there into the tunnels?" She looks at him surprised she looks at her hands for a moment while he continues to tell her of the quest he is proposing.
"I think our destinies our joined, but it could be dangerous. I'm going to give you this signia ring,"
She takes the ring and looks at him, looking at his features, so like Desmond's...
She stands and walk toward him kneeling before him.."Your saved my life, as did your father, there is no doubt that I must come on this journey with you" She slides the ring on her finger. "We must prepare, pack lightly and leave as soon as we can..."
Once he agrees, she takes very little time to pack, returning to the shop to gather what she needs for healing. Though she was not used to a short sword, she took one anyway.
At his chosen time, she will meet him for the quest
-
Soleus went to make preperations for the quest, though the tunnels they were going into had not been investigated. The crypts sat at the far back of the cavern which Luskan was in. Soleus chose four of his best knights to follow them into the crypts, for their skills. Soleus stopped in his tracks however, for there was something odd. It was quiet....too quiet, the Darkthornes by now had found out of their prisoner's escape. Why had they not attacked, or why were they not attacking as normal? What could they be up to, perhaps it was not wise to go into the crypts. Soleus felt the burning Darkthorne taint in his blood start to rise again. He quickly held his hand to his leg and began to chant the spell. As the magic coursed through his leg and fought of the Darkthorne infection he sighed.
They were not that much different anymore, if not for his father's spell Soleus would become a Darkthorne and give into his darker self. Soleus looked into the mirror within his room, the mirror had become warped and his reflection looked back mocking him. Turning away his cloak lifting up in his swift movement, his anger rising. " Blasted curse...this has to work or all is lost, I will be lost for eventually as my father's journal states the infection will build up an immunity to the spell and..I shall be overrun with all the guilt and anger I've for so long been able to hide..." Turning he walked over to his wardrobe and took out a few of the potions which held the spells power within them. For magic may not work where they were going and should it not he'd need something to help.
In the dark caves of the Darkthornes he knew something was brewing, no doubt they also knew of this battle's end drawing near. Soleus met back up with his four knights and Gem to brief them on what was about to happen. The golem stood over them like a monolithic statue of an age long past. He would require the golem's strength in this task, everyone there had their purpose and skills and they would need all of them to get through the darkness ahead of them.
" Gundar is going to provide us with cover fire should we be ambushed on our way to the crypts. Now these crypts have never before been explored because they are too far away from the safety of the city should a Darkthorne attack occur. So I'll tell each and everyone of you now, if we are attacked flee to the city, even if I should fall. I will not lose anyone over my life, we are all equal here, for we all fight for our survival. I'll try to explain everything else once we reach the crypts, for nothing will matter if we don't."
Making sure everyone was ready Soleus walked towards the far Southern wall of the city where the gates leading out to the bridge were. The crypt doors could be seen in the distance nearly a half a mile away. Taking the lead Soleus walked out onto the bridge crossing it, nothing seemed out of the ordinary so far. Leading the group their march towards the crypts did not encounter any troubles which did not make Soleus feel at ease. Reaching the doors to the crypt he slowly turned the skull key in their gates and listened to the rusty henges as they moved inward. As he walked into entrance of the crypts the sounds of bells rang out through the cavern. Turning back he could see a change wash over the city, it's ruined walls seemed to become new as the shouts of battle rang out.
Soleus halted in his entrance of the crypts as he noticed the Darkthornes pouring out of the two caves to the North. They were assaulting the city, which had somehow changed. He noticed dark figures appearing all through out the city as his soldiers began to do battle with them. Soleus began to move towards the city, but one of his knights grabbed his arm preventing him. The golem looked towards the city and said, " so the battle never truly ended, for there are the armies of Luskan fighting the evil which came after your ancestor." Soleus began to gain a grip on the situation now, so the reason they never found remains of Luskan's former inhabitants was because they never truly died. But what kind of magic simply made two opposing armies disappear and halt time itself?
He was at a lost on what to do, should he return to the city and help defend it, or pursue their freedom in the crypts?
-
Gem nodded respectfully to each of the knights as they were introduced. Not aware of her back ground, they wondered what this woman could do to help them in the crypts....But if their commander said she was coming her always had a reason.
She looked at the massive doors of the crypt as Soleus moved to open them, and whispered a prayer to her goddess for her blessing. The sound of the sudden onslaught of war makes her instinctivly duck and cover her ears until she realizes the noise was not aimed at them....
"How sad that hate should never rest in this place, that even the ghosts would fight in this place."
Gem looks into the crypts, stepping quietly to Soleus.."We must go inside and close the doors...I...we must do this at once" She didn't know how or why, but their lives depended on them going inside...immediately. "NOW" she shouted, quite unlike her, and pushed Soleus inside. As the group enters and starts to close the doors, they just make out a firey mass aimed right were they were standing just moments ago...
-
Soleus looked out at the pit created by the blast, in the distance he could hear the horns of Blackthorne blowing declaring war. The decision had been made and he could only hope his people survived this new terror long enough for them to do something. Soleus turned to one of the knights and asked him to check the stairs leading down into the crypts, the golem followed with Soleus, Gem, and the other three knights. The knight checked with each step for traps making sure nothing slipped past his gaze. So far there had been nothing until they entered a long hallway. As they made their way to the end of the hallway something was triggered. Stones began to fall from the entrance of the hallway coming towards the group. They easily made their way out of the hallway, but now they had no exit from the crypts.
" Perhaps this wasn't such a great idea..now we're trapped even more then we were before..." Soleus sighed. One of the knights patted him on the back and said, " we will find a way to help the city and get out of here, but if you give up now then we've lost." Soleus seemed to take this to heart and urged the group onward. They came to a door with the images of skulls and death, people dying and a tree in the background. Soleus looked to his family insigna which was a golden tree of life. It resembled the tree on the door to the point that the tree on the door was even gold. Soleus began to look at the celtic runes carved around the doorway sensing a magical ward present. It was a complex weave of magical threads layering over one another to create a barrier and a trap all in one. He turned to Gem and said, " do you see it Gem? Whoever made this door put a complex weave over it to keep people from entering. I'll need your help some of the magical threads have to be dispelled at the sametime or we risk springing whatever trap is in place."
With that said and the urgency of getting to their goal, Soleus sat down in front of the door and took out his ceremonial Blackthorne dagger touching the blade to awaken it's magic. He gave the dagger to Gem and took out one of his magical swords. Together they'd have to cut each thread on his mark.
-
Gem moved along the hallway approaching the massive magical door, stopping in ther tracks.."I've seen this before, I passed through a door such as this when they took me to the cells...but it was different...the tree wasn't gold...it was black and dead looking..."
She moves closer to Soleus then takes the daggar from him. "There is something we should be wary of beyond this door...I can feel it..."
She looks at Soleus, "Another trap just inside the doorway"
-
" A dead tree...that is the insignia for the Darkthornes, but these ruins are very old. Could it be this war has been raging for longer then first thought? A lot of this is not even recorded in my family's history. According to our history the war started a thousand years ago, but these ruins would make that war even older." Soleus got to work with cutting the magical threads which guarded the door. With a hesitant push, he opened the door which swung inward. Dust began to rise from the centuries as the clang of rock against rock sounded.
The door opened up onto a room with burning urns, the sight which really caught their eyes however was the people. There were men and women inside scantly dressed laying about on pillows, the walls were covered in tapestries and silk flowed down from the ceiling. Soleus had expected to find things which would be unexplainable within these crypts, but this went beyond his expectations. A large table sat in the center of the room with food and drink laid out upon it. " We've been expecting you Soleus, come why don't you and your group come in and eat and relax before the long journey ahead of you."
Two of the knights began to walk in, but Soleus halted them walking in himself. " Where are my manners Lords first.." said one of the knights he halted. Soleus gave the knight a disapproving look for he had not intended such. He was merely trying to be cautious for there was some sort of powerful magic in the air here. Soleus was met by a beautiful woman dressed in a dancer's garb she offered him a cup of wine. The smell of her perfume and the wine itself seemed almost too intoxicating. He felt as though he were dreaming, his thoughts slowly becoming clouded. Soleus turned back to the group, his eyes seemed enchanted.
" Come in " he said as the knights slowly began walking in, the golem behind them. Soleus had three male knights and one female, one of the younger male knights turned to Gem to see if she was coming. Already the woman who had greeted Soleus began to wrap her arms about him giggling as she seemed to be eager to please him. Soleus's began to drift into two seperate thought paths one, said for him to not trust the people here and to make his way to the other side of the room where another door was. The other said for him to drink the wine and to stay for a while. Looking about he saw now that some of the people within the room were dressed as warriors and scholars which set them out from the rest which were dressed in the manner of pleasure slaves.
The people here seemed to not even noticed where they were, nor care. They seemed to simply be enjoying themselves as if this were some exotic tavern.
-
The door opened slowly into the room.....Inside there were skeleton moving around, all dressed in what must have been fine silks at one time. There were skeletons dressed in the moldy remains of a dancer garb. This one immediatly moved over towards Soleus.Others laid onthe tatter remains of pillow with a table in the center of rotten, moldy, bug covered food. Yet it was the smell that hit her the most...a smaell of rot and decay centuries old.....
When Soleus turned back to the group, his eyes seemed enchanted. Gem looked at him in shocl an horror, then raised her hand and slapped Soleus face with all her might.."Wake up!"
None of the skeleton people seemed to pay any attention to the lone female of the group...was this a trap set to delay men who vivist here she wondered....
The sound of the slap against Soleus cheek echod in the room. This drew the attention of the warrior skeletons. AS if they new there was one who had not been fouled. the warrior skeletons stood and walked towards the group drawing their swords
-
Soleus was hit hard the resounding echoes of that slap brought attention unwanted. He reached out and grabbed Gem's hand his face contorted with rage, but slowly the fog on his mind lifted. He looked to her now with eyes clear and turned to see the room as it really was. The golem came into the room slapping one of the warrior skeletons to the wall causing it to shatter. Soleus turned to his knights and said aloud, " A TRAP! They are not what they appear do not let them draw you in." He reached out and slapped one of his knights hard causing him to wake up and then on the next.
They grouped together in the center back to back, Soleus pulled Gem over next to him. " Thank you..,but perhaps next time you could be a little easier with the slapping?" He rubbed his jaw which still stung with the slap and red impression of her hand. The skeletons were not easy to dispatch for where a living warrior would fall from a fatal wound the skeletons continued on in their fighting. The golem gave them an edge in the fight however as did Soleus's magic weapons which warded against undead disrupting the magic which created them. Having taken out the warrior skeletons the only ones that remained were the non-warrior ones which did not seem to pursue battle with the group. Perhaps they did not know what they were? Or maybe they only served one purpose and were not allowed to engage in battle?
Soleus walked over to the next door noticing the same gold tree, but with the dead, black tree below it like a reflection in a lake. Each door seemed to give more mystery to the legend that already existed. The two tree's roots merged together almost making their roots one. Soleus did not sense any wards upon this door, this did not make him clam though. For if the doors were no longer warded then the traps would surely be on the other side. He pushed this door open as he had done the other one and his jaw went slack. A vast city lay before them, but not like a city, for it was a city of tombs. A necropolis in other words, a city of the sleeping dead, were life did not exist save in a dark memory.
-
Gem felt his iron grip on her slender wrist, cringing. Soleus could easily snap her bone if her wanted. But more then that it was the look in her eyes that fightened her. The rage that ran so deep like a massive rift in the land.....He continue his grip on her as he slapped the other night and with in moments they were all back to normal.
As he rubbed his jaw at last realeasing her wrist she looked down slightly blushing. "Fear makes one very strong it would seem"
Gem moved towards the second door, biting her lower lip.."What surprises might lay beyond here? " she whispered as she looked at the insignia on the door "It would seem that the two clans are the reflection od one and other...the good and the bad"
As the door swung open she gazed upon the massive city of the dead. Crypt after crypt line up all of natural stones with in the area. Some more decorative then other. Some it better repair then others. The pattern seemed almost circular with a massive white stone tomb in the center. This one was more ornated then the others that surrounded it and it seemed newer some how...
-
As they made their way through the city of tombs, his gaze fell on the center tomb. The elaborate sculpture of four beings each representing an element, surrounded a center figure atop the tomb. The symbols below each also marked certain cities in Velusia, Zalentra, Peacecraft, Haven, and Latern's Hold. But also there were symbols below these, writing around the top of the tomb, one of the characters was for the house of Demise. The center figure had the symbol of the united tree of life and death. Everything it seemed tied into this one sculpture though it's meaning was so obscure it meant nothing to Soleus. Suddenly music echoed through out the necropolis, music from an organ which played hauntingly.
There high above on a ledge sat the pipe organ and at it's seat was the last leader of the Darkthornes here in Luskan. It was also the one Darkthorne Soleus had heard of and never wanted to meet. " The Phantom" Soleus said, the one Darkthorne whose identity was a mystery even to the other Darkthornes. No one knew who he was or where he had come from, the only thing about him they knew was his talent and liking for music. Though he perverted the art of music with his dark arias and lonesome melodies which could haunt a man to his grave. The Phantom turned and laughed saying, " welcome to the final act of our play, where tragedy is the star and the players, but pawns in a cosmic game played by unknown and unseen hands."
As the phantom stood wearing his black mask, his black body armor which seemed more like an exoskeleton or skin rather then armor. The sound of ticking could be heard coming from the phantom, more machine and less living being it seemed. Darkthorne orcs came walking out of the tombs with crossbows in hands ready to launch their bolts onto the group. " Do not try to use your powers son of Blackthorne, for you will find magic does not work here. I wondered when you would find your way down here, and I see you brought the key with you." The phantom looked to Gem, which brought a curious glance from Soleus. " What do you mean key, what does she have to do with this?" asked Soleus. The phantom laughed as he began to walk down a long row of stairs.
" You mean to tell me you do not know? Hahahaa.a....my dear cousin Reese brought this one back to life. And it would appear even he had been searching for this place, for he left within her the key to open this tomb. It's not a physical key, but more like a power, all she has to do is touch the tomb and say the magic word which I happen to know..." The phantom disappeared behind the tombs, but his voice continue to speak seeming to echo through out the place and within Solues's head. " I've been here too long chasing ghost and little Blackthornes whom strayed too far from home. Once I capture the secrets of this tomb and of our two families I shall return to Darkthorne as it's new leader. And perhaps the power to crush your side of the family lies within this tomb, so I might also return to Velusia as it's conqueror."
Soleus wanted to act, but there were too many crossbows aimed at his companions. However suddenly Soleus looked back to the golem realizing he had a shield even without magic should he need it. " The tomb was carved from a rock which fell from the sky and created the veil within Velusia and Luskan. It is a seed from the god's placed here for reasons beyond mortal comprehension. Now if you would Soleus, you and your men, and pet step away from the woman or I'll kill you right now. I can still use the girl even in death should I be required to." The Phantom said as he reappeared with a crooked grin on his face. The Phantom didn't seem to care for this waiting game and held out an object which seemed to glow. The object was a bone, but from whom? It didn't seem to matter for from Gem's form some glowing essence emerged and floated to the bone.
" Now I have no need for the woman or any of you, the power is back to it's rightful owner, though he suffers from a mild case of death.." The Phantom turned to the tomb and said a word which Soleus remembered being carved on the flagstone of the Blackthorne's castle. No one had ever known what the word meant or it's purpose, but now Soleus knew. The tomb door began to fade away into the darkness of the chamber beyond. The Phantom stopped and turned to Soleus's group and said to his minions, " make their deaths painful I want to hear their screams echo through the tomb while I uncover that which I've sought too long for. Place them in the halls of the dead, I'm sure the dead are hungry from some fresh meat." The Phantom's laugh echoed as he walked down the stairs into the chamber and began to study the writing in front of another door.
Soleus and the group were escorted to a large set of doors which were pushed open and sealed behind them. Down the hallway in which they had been placed were side passages to smaller crypts and all through out this hallway were crypts in the walls which the dried bodies of dead long forgotten. A loud clatter could be heard in the distance and raspy moans which made Soleus's blood chill.
-
Gem looked at the massive tombs and the elegant carvings , trying to make sense of what she was seeing. She recognized nothing in the toms area. As the sound of a distant organ played, she was filled with dread. The sound making want to cover her ears. Looking up her gaze fell on the man...his words echoing in the room as he spoke. Instinctivly she spoke a silent prayer to her goddess.....
<< "I see you brought the key with you." The phantom looked to Gem.....The phantom laughed as he began to walk down a long row of stairs. >>
As the man came closer she knew almost instantly what he ment, as if Reese was again at her side the day she was returned to the land of the living. Until now she had never remembered the words he had spoken to her. His instructions were to hide the keys deep with in her spirit......hide the keys for the sun.......
<< The object was a bone, but from whom? It didn't seem to matter for from Gem's form some glowing essence emerged and floated to the bone. >>
'Keep them hidden' ...Reese had said, 'forgotten even to yourself until he needs them'................
She said nothing as the Phantom opened the door, nothing as they were sealed behind another.......'hide the keys' deep with in her spirit...... echo'd in her mind 'keep them hidden'
"Keys!" she said under her breath..."Soleus...Reese said keys....there are more then one...that phantom only has one of them...he won't beable to get deep with in...only I can" her words were hushed as the sounds of the moans were heard around them...
She looked around then back at Soleus...she blinked with clarity .."for the sun....son....Soleus thats you....Reese had me hide the keys for you....you suppose to open that tomb!"
There was more groaning followed by scraping noises and the sounds of stone falling to the floor.........
"We have to get as far away from here as we can until we can make our way back to the tomb. before that man finds us"
-
Soleus listened to Gem with interest as she spoke the name Reese. It had been years since he'd heard the name. Now that he thought back on it however he remembered reading about Reese's failed search for Luskan. Or had Reese actually found Luskan? For he had disappeared from records for years without ever giving acount as to where he'd been. Remembering some of the history behind Reese, he remembered one instance where he had returned obsessed with music. He'd claimed that Velusia itself sang a song which their kind could hear. A song...the phantom who obviously had musical talent...it was a hunch, but he guessed music had something to do with this mystery. Or perhaps music would have some role in unlocking this mystery.. Soleus began to recite a simple light spell to illuminate the darkness further ahead of them.
" How could Reese have known I'd be the one attempting to open...nevermind I'd heard of many with the gift of fortelling in my family, perhaps he was one of them. Your right though about getting out of here and back to the tomb if you hold the second key then we have time to set up a way of getting in before the phantom, but we'll need the key he has as well I'm sure." Soleus's eyes landed on the walking corpses ahead of them the hallway was full of them from wall to wall. " My family hates undead of any kind and I have to get trapped with scores of them..." his skin seemed to crawl with the thoughts. The stench began to rise as the dead moved closer for their meal. Soleus pulled out a clasp with the Blackthorne insignia on it and held it out saying a single word, " Regamortumos" the symbol began to glow.
It'd been meant to hold back undead, but he wasn't sure if it could hold back this many. He ordered for the golem to lead them since he had little to fear from the undead. " The golem will lead us since he has little to fear from these creatures. I want a tight formation I won't lose anyone to the undead. Thats a death I wouldn't even wish upon an enemy let alone a companion. We'll take the passageway to the left, I only hope it circles round back to the crypts. Our people and our lives are counting on us in winning the day else all is lost and I mean all." Soleus order the knights to surround Gem they'd guard her even closer now that she had a role in this. If they lost her then everything would be for nothing, Soleus wanted to be free of Luskan and to do so he had to get whatever was in that tomb. " Gem stay close I don't want to lose you in these outer crypts, whatever comes ahead of us know that I'm here with you as your friend." He offered his hand to her before turning to follow the golem.
It'd been years since he had made a new friend and though he didn't say it she was starting to grow on him. Already she'd saved his life and helped him in uncovering a mystery he'd been spending years in trying to even shed light on. His hopes were rising thanks to Gem and he owed her for that. When all was said and done he'd make sure the other Blackthornes ( if there were any?) knew her part in all this.
-
The Phantom entered the tomb and was greeted with yet another door. The key however he had the key which should unlock this puzzle box's mystery. Placing the key into the door he attempted to turn it to unlock the door, but found the door to remained locked. Bells rang in the distance, with a nervous glance the phantom looked from the door out into the crypts. The dead had began to awaken, he mumbled a curse beneath his breath and existed the tomb. Already he could hear them banging against the stone doors sealing them away. The stone began to crumble under their furious blows, his orcs began to engage the dead only to find them not like any undead they'd faced. These dead were able to fight with their swords and maces and various other weapons. This was not expected nor was it welcomed at such a inopportune time as this.
" Fall back you stupid orcs, I won't have whats left of my army being killed off by the dead. Shite!" The dead moved faster then he had expected and already they were surrounding his orcs. They fell back alright, right into the tomb closing the door leaving him with merely a handful of orcs to work with. He killed one out right and slapped another cursing the orc's children to be born without reproductive organs. Now he was a prisoner in the tomb this was not good by a long shot. When he'd been of the Blackthornes he'd come to be labeled a coward for he ran from battle. He was a musician and a lover not a fighter though. Being recruited for this mission he wondered why the Darkthornes had chose him. After all he rarely fought now even after accepting the dark taint which had increased his abilities in battle since he could no longer die by normal means.
Still to be sent off to fight a small army with a rag tag army of orcs made him wonder. " You fools I should have slain you and reanimated you at least then I could chose what stupidity you subjected me to. Now we're all prisoners here the key does not work you morons. I can't believe you...raaaarrrrrgggghhhh!" The phantom slamed his fist against the locked door and began to beat upon it as if it would open. " We have to find a way out of here or some means to..." the sound of the undead outside the tomb was becoming so loud it had began to drown out the sound of his own voice. " The door I want it dismantled I don't care about using the key to open it anymore I want it torn to scrap not even the henges should remain." With that the orcs began to attack the door with their weapons trying to tear it down.
The phantom sat down and began to use the key to strip the door of it's enchantments which was a hard process with the lack of concentration he had.
-
Through large chestnut orbs, Lorek Blackberry peered downward; observing the theatrics below. Feeling secure in his position, the diminutive halfling eased closer to the ledge. Quickly sheathing, Lorek's eyelids descended then retracted. Refocusing upon his target, the thief's keen sight lingered upon a bone. The Phantom brandished it recklessly-- even in his own realm. A grin formed upon the halfling's angular visage.
Legs unbent to lead Lorek's frame to stand upright. The halfling stood four feet from the ground; a head shorter than the average human. He was also light-- weighing little under seventy pounds. These physical attributes staged agile movements coupled with superior coordination.
Soft soled boots silently glide against earth; pivoting at the heel to change Lorek's direction. Creeping slowly, the thief concealed himself in shadow; adhering to the walls as he sauntered downward.....
-
Unvek Corpsegutter one of the many orcs which had accompanied the phantom to the necropolis had survived the undead flood. Reaching the outer walls of the necropolis he looked about for some means of scaling the cave walls. After all high ground at this point seemed the safest thing yet. As he began to climb up the rock face he heard a slight noise. Almost like a footfall on unstable rock, the orc looked about. After a few good minutes he noticed where the sound had come from. There a few feet above him a dark form was making it's decent down the cave walls. Unvek didn't know what this form was or if it were foe or ally. At this point even a foe would be a worthwhile ally against these undead. Having been seperated from the other orcs Unvek could only think of one thing. Survival which was what he'd been doing for the many years they'd been trapped in Luskan.
Unvek was one of the orcs from the Gutter clan one of many small orc clans which had fallen under Darkthorne control. He had to hide his half blood nature however else he be slain by his own kinsmen. Unvek had some drow blood in him which is maybe why he was more suitable for taking on task that required smarts over strength. Unvek would wait for this entity to make itself visible to him before he engaged it in conversation. Right now he was just happy to be alive and not down there with the undead. Besides even an enemy had their uses when things became this bad.
-
As the sounds of the undead increased, Gem felt very little reassurance when the knights surrounded her. She new what the undead could do to a small party such as theirs.
He offered his hand to her and she took took. His hand was strong and rough against her small smooth skin. She smiled as she sqeezed his hand then looked foward.."We can do this" She whispered to him "I know we can"
The small group started down the hall way, towards the sound and smell of the rattling dead creatures. As they walked,
Gem glanced from time to time towards Soleus, looking at his features. There was so much of his father in him that it was easy for Gem to like him immediatly. Yet there was also no question that Soleus was his own man.
-
As they walked Soleus decided to take her mind off the coming undead.
" Not many people could consider my father their friend, he kept everyone at a distance. Everyone except me I saw a side of my father few could say they saw. I'm curious as to what you remember of my father, was he as stern as people said? I'm sure he was always putting on the act of being the strong silent type and letting people see him as they wished. Thats why I came here in hopes that he could be healed...he led us here. He said that before he died he had to make sure things were in order. I never really understood what he meant by those words. Perhaps he knew something about all this as well for Reese and him were close."
Soleus gave her a smile as he looked to her noticing for once that she was beautiful. Even in this situation and under these circumstances something about her just seemed unique. The golem let loose on the first undead they encountered the cracking of bone and loud moans caused the group to move tighter together. As the golem turned to allow them to get behind him and down the passageway Soleus looked ahead. So far there was not any undead this way, but with all the noise he couldn't hear if there were. Soleus turned to the golem and then looked up at the ceiling. He thought of an idea, " Eronos when I say move step back okay.." the golem nodded as Soleus raised a hand towards the ceiling and said, " Expos Combutos" a bright bolt of energy shot from Soleus's hand. The bolt hit the ceiling causing it to crack, it slowly began to slide down. " MOVE!" the golem began to step back as the undead followed.
For an instance Soleus thought the ceiling wasn't going to cave in as he had hoped. But then something above gave way and two large pieces of rock which made up that section of ceiling came crashing down. The path back was now blocked and they still had a few undead stragglers. The golem made short work of them. Soleus shined the light towards the walls of this new passage way. In the distance he could see light as a cold chill seemed to come from in front of them. " Be prepared everyone this place has shown it guards whatever secrets lie here so don't start thinking we're out of the proverbial woods just yet." Soleus smiled to Gem and then turned back to the direction ahead of them.
-
She smiled thinking of Desmond, Reese and all her friends..."Your father was very stearn and quiet...it surprised me when I saw the kinder gentler side of him the first time....He and I used to walks the estate gardens talking about everything you can imagine..." She looks at Soleus "I remember him talking about wanting many sons he could be proud of....I am glad to see he got his wish"
She released his hand at the sound of the death of an undead. It saddened her and made her wish she could have helped the creatures be at peace some how.
Once the new tunnel was in view, the small group stepped into it and started walking again, the tunnel was of dark stone and the floors dusty from lack of use. As they moved long the sounds of the undead were replaced with the sounds of running water. The path also seemed to be slowly be moving downwords deeper into the underground....
-
Soleus looked to the undead on the ground and back to Gem. " This place is ancient I'm sure whatever souls these beings had have long left these shells." Soleus could hear it now, the melody which his father had spoke of when they first arrived. The song of Velusia, it echoed through this passage, but it was faint. A haunting melody which seemed to speak of sadness and hurt as if the land itself were hurt. Soleus began to walk off alone being called by the song. Soleus stepped into a circluar room with water pouring down from four holes in the walls. The water flowed into the center of the room in a large round pool. Soleus looked to the round pool seeing his instead of his reflection that of his father Desmond.
Soleus's jaw dropped as he knelt down to the pool slowly extending a hand towards the water's reflection. The knights had already began to follow Soleus, but the golem awaited Gem before he would follow. " Father?" Soleus said to the reflection. " I have only a short time to speak with you so listen..there is no rest for us...in the otherworld...as long as the land remains in imbalance we can never truly rest...." Soleus listened, but wasn't sure what his father was saying. Something began to awaken in the dark depths of the pool. Something which had found it's way there and made the pool it's home. It's slumber was disturbed and one large eye looked upward towards the tiny light.
Soleus looked around the room to see the carvings on the walls. He noticed the familiar runes used in many of the books back home. " You must find the key to restoring the balance between our clan and the land." Soleus looked down at the image of his father, restore the clan? Thats something they'd attempted many times, but no one ever really got far. They simply killed more of one side then the other and then left them alone. There had never been any real attempt at mending the wounds between the two clans. Soleus didn't think it was possible on top of that for there was too much bad blood. Bubbles came up disturbing the reflection of his father. Soleus stood up and began to back away from the pool now sensing something awakening.
-
As Soleus enter the room with the pool, Gem stayed close beside him. As he knelt, she stood next to him, her hand resting on his shoulder. Gem heard no words and saw no refletion. All she saw was a black liquid pool bubbling. When he stood and backed away, she moved with him, speaking softly.."What is it, Soleus, what do you see? There is nothing that I see but a black pool..."
As the churning of the pool increased, so did the flow of the four streams that fed it, the water black as it ran towards the pool. Soon the water was like small waterfalls falling into the room, the pool bubbling so hard now, tht the water was escaping its sides and flowing into the ground around it. For every moment they stood there, the flow became stronger the gurgling worse until a dark form started to form with in the depths of the water, the form slowly coming out of the center oif the pool.
Gem backed away more nearly bumping into the Golem...for this form she feared though she didn't know why.....
-
Soleus could see one problem with the water pouring into the room. The water was not leaving the room now it was instead filling it. If it continued it would flood the whole passage they were in. The fear of whatever lurked in the pool was only subsided by the fear of drowning. The golem watched the pool with interest and this made Soleus ask, " What is it?"
" The tribes which live under the city of Luskan spoke of their god Terminus the dragon of the pool. They offered this god sacrifices to appease it, but when everyone was slain they were left only with their own to feed it. Soon they stopped feeding it and it rose up from the waters beneath Luskan and began to devour any in it's sight. It must have eventually found it's way to this pool, with a steady supply of undead to it every once in a while it must have gone into a slumber. It must have sensed something living near it's pool , this is the same foul beast responsible for the death of my beloved Lacuna."
Soleus wasn't sure who Lacuna was, but this thing was large. Soleus looked to the walls of the room he could sense the water behind them. There would be no escape within these walls, Soleus went to look at the walls back in the passage when a long tentacle came flying out of the pool grasping him around the waist. Soleus couldn't reach his weapons, but he wasn't worried about that right now. The tentacle threw him back towards the walls of the cicular chamber. The walls were weak and cracked as Soleus was brought against them with violent force, dust and small debri came falling from the ceiling above.
" Gem get back!" Soleus managed to shout as the knights entered the mouth of the passage and began to take in the situation. One drew their bow and began to pull back an arrow muttering, " Damn it the blasted thing won't hold still..." the golem still stood in the room looking to the center of the pool with something similar to anger in his eyes. " I can hear their souls trapped in that beast's body.." the golem said to itself.
-
Gem started to lift her skirt and cloak as the water started to fill the room. At the current rate it would be minutes before they were ankle deep in the black brackish water, less then an hour until they were fully swimming....assuming what was in the water didn't kill them before that....
She saw the flash of a black, scaled tenticle fly out of the water and slam into Soleus. She screamed at the sudden quick snake like movement watching as a second tenticle slowly felt it's way around the pool opening. The arrival of the knights did little to allay her fears as the second tenticle moved ever closer to her...
Quick as lightening, a tenticle slams out of the water at one of the knights as Gem sloshes through the ankle deep water towards Soleus.
Drawing her daggar she slashes at the tenticle holding him by the waist, repeating the motion in hopes that the creature will let go........
As she stabs at the appendage, there is a deep gutteral screech, a sound so horrible that a wave a nausea fills any who hear it. Angered, the creature from the deep grabs at Gem's slender ankle, gripping it liek a vice as it yanks her off her feet making her fall into the water with a splash. She uses her other foot to try and kick the grip loose from her as she feels herself being dragged towards the central pool.
-
Soleus could feel the pain from the creature's slam attack as he was thrashed about like a doll. Just then one of the knights went flying back as the creature lashed out at him. Soleus cried out, " cut the tentacle ", but even as he cried it out Gem had already began to do just that. The tentacle released Soleus sending him falling down towards the shallow water. Thankfully there was enough water to break his fall so that he was not injured too badly. Soleus began to rise up out of the water, as he did, he saw Gem go falling back into the water. Soleus reached for his sword and quickly ran over spotting the motion of the tentacle gripping her ankle. He brought the sword down on the tentacle cutting it in two. Frantically he searched through the water to find Gem, upon finding her, he helped her get back from the creature.
The golem seemed to suddenly start moving walking over and picking up the knight who had been toppled by the tentacle. Lifting the knight out of the water as if he was weightless and helping him back on his feet. The golem grabbed the knight's double bladed axe which was slung over the knight's back. With axe in hand the golem began to slowly make it's way back towards the center of the pool, slicing through a tentacle that sought to reach out at the retreating group. Soleus now had time to examine the walls of the passage way finding them to be thin and old. There was no water behind them that he could sense and taking a chance, he grabbed his hammer. With a desperate attack he landed a blow on the wall causing it to break into another room.
Again he hit the wall and again, the other knights came over and started to help him. The walls on the otherside of the wall glowed as the ones in the chamber did. Soleus gripped Gem's hand and pushed her through, he then let his knights escape as well. Turning back to the golem he yelled, " come on let's get out of here". The water had not reached the hole they had made in the wall, but it was already waist deep to Soleus. The golem turned back to Soleus as the monster's head surfaced the water. It was much like a crocodile with many eyes covering it's head, many tentacles thrashed about it's shoulder's. The golem simply said, " No I have been given a second chance, I know now what I must do. Take care of Gem, Soleus if she is the key guard her with your life."
" My beloved wife's soul is trapped within this creature as are the souls of many of my commrades. I have a chance to free them and give them the peace they desire. Besides the creature can't kill me...I'm already dead." The golem jumped landing ontop of the creature's head and began to chop into the creature with the axe. The two forms before Soleus vanished beneath the water's surface, only bubbles marked their location and that they even existed. Soleus wanted to go back to help the golem, but the creature was far too dangerous for them. " Give it your best.." Soleus said before he climbed over the wall to the otherside. " The golem sacrificed himself and bought us time to escape." Soleus now understand why the water had stopped draining out of the room.
The creature's form was so massive it block the water's exit through the center pool. The golem was going to make sure the creature was dead and the exit in the pool cleared for the water to drain. It was a noble act, one that Soleus hoped he would have done had he been given the chance.
-
It was nightmarish as the creature dragged her and she fought to get air. Despite her kicking the grip tightened. As she saw movement, she relized it was Soleus carrying his massive sword. Once cut, the tenticle went limp around her ankle allowing her to rise to the surface and gasp for air.
She felt Soleus help her get to her feet and push her away from the pool.
Leaning against a wall, she watched as Soleus smashed a hole in the tunnel. Seeing the effect she grabbed a large stone and started hititng the fragile wall along with the men. The moment the hole was big enough she felt herself unceremoniously pushed through to the next chamber.
Looking back she saw the creature and the golem fighting and heard the golem's words. She cincentrated and said a prayer of blessing from her goddess, one that made the golem have a slightly better chance against the creature and made it harder for the creature to fight.
Once the knights and Soleus were through into the room, she checked them all for wounds. Scrapes and bruises were all she saw on the knights. Releived she looked at Soleus.."We must stop long enough to get dry...either by building a fire or finding a heat sore...else we will catch our death in these cold caverns.
She looked at their leader, Soleus, and smiled the bowed.. "Lest I forget, M'lord Blackthorne, I thank you for saving my life once more" She looked to the knights as well again bowing "And you m'lord knights, I am honored by your courage"
-
Soleus smiled, but they had been saving one another's life ever since this adventure began. Looking around he spotted some bone, how he hated what he was going to do. Taking out a small flask of oil, he piled the bones and poured the oil upon them and said the words, " En Flam" the bones became lit with flame. It was a small fire, but it would do well to lend some heat to their soaked forms. " Everyone check your gear, our food supplies have become wet I'm sure...if there is anything important that needs to be dried you best get to drying it." Soleus looked to Gem and motioned for her to move closer to the small fire. " I'm not sure what is ahead, but it seems we are getting close. I can feel the tomb somewhere further down this hallway, we will have to do what we can." Soleus thought back on all that had happened over the years.
Each and every struggle seemed like a test designed to see if they were worthy enough to walk away with the prize. He hadn't seen any Darkthornes nor had he felt any disturbance with the song which hung in the air. Apparently the Darkthornes had an obstacle in their way as well. One that held them back thankfully, now if it could only continue to do so for a little longer. They were moving into the end game, they had to be prepared for what came next would surely be harder then anything they'd already faced.
-
Nodding, she moved over to the fire and starts to warm her self by it. Quickly she takes accounting of her medicine bag. Made of otter fur, the contents ramined dried although tumbled about when she fell. Taking off her boots and cloak she spreads them on a rock to dry as they take a moment to rest.
From her bag she pulls out some of the hard dried fruit and grain bars to the others. Though she didn't relish passing and hour down here to dry off, she knew it was needed for them all.
The hour passed quietly for them all and soon they were packed and ready to continue on the journey. There was no sign of the golem.
-
Soleus had been looking over the new passage way they were in. It led them back in the direction of the necropolis. However with the amount of undead up ahead it would prove to be difficult to reach the center tomb. Some how they would have to get past the undead. Soleus had been working on a spell in hopes that it would do the trick. If it didn't then they'd have to find a way around or some way of leading the undead away. Soleus walked back over to the fire and looked to the others. " Okay I have an idea to try and get us past the undead, but if it doesn't work I don't know what we're going to do. If everyone is dried and ready, I say let's head out. The people in Luskan are depending on us as is everyone else." Soleus picked up what belongings he'd left by the fire, and turned around. Looking down the long passageway to whatever destiny awaited them was scary.
He waited for the others to join him before moving further down the passageway.
-
Looking down the long passageway, Gem thaought it seemed to go on forever. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly she looks to the others.."Well that looks like it lacks some of the enterainment of the other rooms. Lets hope anyways"
The group starts to travel down the long narrow dark passage. After about 15 minutes of absolutly strait walking, the tunnel curves. Once the group turns the corner they are met by a chilling scene. a massive cavern covered with Green phophoresence from lichen clinging to the walls. Adding to these is a gray luminosity from slug like creatures as large as a man's fist. They crawl every where in the massive cave room...on the walls, ceilings and floors giving the area an almost undersea like appearance. As if standing near the ocean, a strange salt tang is in the air.
-
The walls and pavement of the place are well-made but very worn. Obviously, the area is old. It feels alien and forboding to the small group. The shape of the stones and the illumination of the are are wrong for any cratures from the upper world, particulary warm blooded ones.
Gem bites her lower lip as they move more into the area.
-
Truly the scene before Soleus was a sight he'd never seen before, there seemed something familiar in it however. Soleus remembered hearing about an ancient meteor shower which had threatened Velusia once many many years ago. The same lichen had been found in many sites where those meteors had crashed into the earth. Soleus looked around the room, taking some of the lichen for later use. He noticed the large sluglike creatures apparently eating the lichen which grew here. There was a small rune circle on one of the walls, Soleus wiped away some of the lichen and began to read it. It almost looked like a key for some sort of puzzle, the words didn't make any sense however. They weren't even words if that, but more like sounds, Soleus was puzzled, but he knew that unlocking the secrets of this room would lead them back to the necropolis and perhaps turn off whatever self defense magic the phantom had activated when attemtping to use the key.
-
Gem looked at the runes, which ment nothing to her either. The Slugs creatures grossed her out but seemed harmless. She moved more into the large cavern looking around . As she did she noticed in one spot the lichen actually moving slightly. As she went closer she relized it was a crevass that was blocked by a wall of the stuff. Taking her daggar, she moved the curtain like wall and looked inside. It was a tight fit but she passed through the opening, any one much bigger would have trouble squeezing through....
((What Gem sees but the others can't))
The room was perfectly round and 30 feet in diameter. Inthe center was a small "island" about 5 feet in diameter and made of glimmering polished stone. In the center was a statue of a woman, carved from polshed blue stone. At his feet was a small alter with the remains of an ancient offering. A small bridge led from the room to the feet of the statue. What was unbelievable was that the entire room looked to be carved from one solid peice of stone. Judging by the color, it was a huge lavender-blue
sapphire. Though Gem didn't relize it the stone was the same color as her eyes. How the room ended up here there was no way to tell......
-
Soleus turned to see Gem's feet moving into the wall, Soleus thought his eyes were failing him. But no it was true, her form had passed through a space in the wall, a space covered by the lichen. Soleus ran over to the space, the knights saw him move and followed him. They could not see much besides a wall, or a floor and Gem's feet. " Gem are you okay?...uhm what are you doing...if your over there and we're over here, what if something dangerous is on the other side. Gem...what is on the other side?" Soleus felt helpless, he could not help Gem while she was on the other side and he could not fit through the space. He turned to the only female knight which had followed them down into these tunnels.
" Can you fit through this space?" Soleus asked, she looked at it and then to her armor. She then looked to everyone in the room with her, " if I remove my armor I think I can fit in there sir" she said to Soleus. He nodded and they tried not to watch as she took off her armor. In just her light shirt and pants, she slid through the crack into the other room with Gem. Soleus felt at ease now for at least there was one person in there to help Gem should something go wrong. " Your sword" Soleus said as he slid the knight her sword. She took it and her chain mail putting it back on now that she was on the other side. She walked over to stand by Gem, " wow..." she said looking at that which Gem looked upon.
Soleus heard her and said, " what is it?" he looked up to the ceiling thinking that it had moved a little. Impossible he thought, he turned back to the space Gem had crawled through waiting for an answer, when one of the slugs fell to the floor. It's moist, soft, slimey body cushioned the sound of it's fall which didn't attracted the attention of Soleus or the knights.
-
So intent on studying the statue on the island that it took a moment for Gem to realize someone was standing in the room with her. She looked at the knight for a moment surprised by the missing armour. "Lady Marissa, I didn't realize you had entered" she whispered to the knight.
Gem took a step towards the little bridge, intent to get a closer look at the alter. On the alter, there were 2 gold inlaid shells with insides of of mother-of-pearl. One of the shells held gold peices covered in dust. The other had salt water snail shells, the occupants long dead.
Gem looked at the knight.."What do you suppose this place is? Some sort of Idol for a goddess or something?" Still she spoke in a whisper, not sure why. None of the slugs of the outer room were seen here, neither was there any of the lichen, yet the room was raidated an ambient glow like that of a full moon over the seas.
Carefully she put a foot on the bridge, moving closer to the female statue. As she looked closely, the women 'wore' a broach that had the a tree of light and tree of darkness just like the symbol they had seen on the doors before. Looking at the pedistool that the statue was on, there was faint lettering. Gem reached out and wiped the base to read the words. The moment she touched the statue a light flashed and she went limp...she lay at the foot of the alter, appearing almost sleep like.
The Knight with her grabbed her by the arm and pulled her off the bridge, the checked for a life beat. She was relived there was one, knowing that her duty was to serve Soleus and he had order that Gem remain safe. The knight called out to Soleus "Something has happend to the Gem, we have to get you in here...now!"
-
Soleus heard the knight and struggled as he might, he could not fit through the space. " Damn it all...theres got to be another way in.." it was then that Soleus noticed a slug fall from the ceiling, it was moving. They were sure to be crushed if they stayed in this room, and if they left then they could not be close to Gem. Soleus stood back ready to try his magic, but he found nothing, but vacant static. Something in the chamber was nullifing his magic ability, maybe it was the lichen, or something else. The rock...the chamber itself canceled out his magic, he remembered reading about how the Blackthornes sealed a powerful entity in a stone chamber, using certain rock. This chamber must be made up of that same type of rock, although maybe with another type as well.
This presented a problem for there was no way for them to get through the space and into the room with Gem. Suddenly a huge form came from the passage way they had left. The golem stood there dripping wet, the axe still in his hands. Soleus could not believe that the golem had survived, but somehow he had. " Golem, you think we could have some help again? Gem is on the other side of this wall, we need to get over there..." The golem smiled and came charging at the space Soleus and the knights occupied. They barely had time to move out of the way, as the golem slammed into the wall. He began to hit around the space that Gem had entered, as the wall slowly cracked, he moved the rubble aside. It was big enough now for them to climb through, the ceiling was nearly on top of them now. The golem reached up and put his hands against the ceiling, straining to hold it back just a little bit longer as the last knight climbed through.
Soleus looked to the hole the golem had made, it was not big enough for the golem. " Thank you again, I'm forever in your debt friend, now go join your wife and find peace..." Soleus and the golem exchanged a look, Soleus rolled into the room as he turned not wanting to see what happened next. A loud crushing noise, of rock being curshed and of heavy stone meeting stone was heard, it echoed through this new room. Soleus went over to Gem and touched her face, she was in some sort of sleep like state," What happened?" Soleus said to Marissa.
-
Gem felt herself falling...falling where she didn't know but around her were swirls of color and brief glimpses...Soleus.......a tree.....the cell.....snapshots of things she had seen but always mixed in with the swirling colors.....
As suddenly as it started, the dreams stopped and Gem stood on a windy desolate land. Yhere were no mountains, valleys or hills, nothing as far as the eyes could see. The land was little more the glittering blue dust and standing before her was the blue statued lady from the gem room.
"Gemriana Sherbrooke... you were brought here to heed my warnings, I am El-Morey and you have been foretold." The statue's mouth didn't move as she spoke and Gem didn't know what to make of this. Was it a dream? a nightmare?
The Statue reached out her hand to Gem, and Gem felt compelled to offer her own to the Goddess. The woman dropped something into Gem's hand. Though she didn't feel it's actual weight, she saw it there and looked at it in surprise. It was a small egg shaped stone of Diamond and itched into the stone was an equisitely crafted tree.
The tree of the Blackthornes. Gem looked again to the woman "You have the key to the kingdom, use it wisely or death will come to many" The status stopped moving as if returning to a solid form...
At the moment Soleus touched Gem gently, the swirling dream returned for a moment and Gem opened her eyes finding herself in the gem room with Soleus and the knights. She blinked confused at her dream until she looked into her hand finding the precious key stone....
"Soleus?" She looked at him confused
-
Soleus looked to Gem as she awoke, he was glad to see she was okay. Just as suddenly, he looked to her hand, there was something in it. The brief glimpse he caught of it made his heart skip a beat. Whatever it was he felt a strange feeling come over him. He felt a desire to have it, whatever it was, he had to move through that desire. It was almost contagious, over whelming, but he did it with sheer will. " Keep it to yourself, don't let anyone see it...I fear it has some sort of enchantment upon it. Don't let me see it again, it..calls to me, I don't think men were supposed to touch it."
Soleus believed this for the statue of the woman, and Gem's seemingly unaffected nature at holding the object. " What is it anyway? " he wanted to know, but not look, he feared he wouldn't be strong enough to take another glance upon the object. " Never mind....it's best I know little about it...we have to find a way out of here.." Soleus helped Gem up and told the knights to start looking for a way out. He'd stay by Gem until he was sure she was completely okay, " what happened you were laying here unconscious and next thing I know your waking up.." he didn't want to mention the object.
-
Gem looked at the stone in her hand as Soleus helped her to her feet. Gem quickly told the group about the dream, El-morey and the warning. "But I have no idea what she means by it all" She looks at the stone again "The stone has the Blackthrone tree on it"
She slide the stone into a pouch deep with in the folds of her cloak where it would be hard for someone to take it with out her noticing. She looks around the statue room then to Sol..."I think there is another way out of here...there has to be since we entere through a break in the wall"
She moved around the room, slowly and intently. After a few minutes she found what she was looking for. A secret door that lead to the south. There were no runes or magic sensed at the door that prevented them from going out. Slowly Gem opened the door to reveal another long dark hallway.
OOC Will be offline Friday thru Wednesday
-
Soleus looked down the dark hallway which Gem had found. The loud slight sound of moaning came to his ears. It led them back to the Necropolis, this meant they had come round in a circle. Good thought Soleus, but now they still had to deal with apparent undead in the Necropolis. That and the Phantom should he still be alive. " Hmmm I wonder...come let us go to the Necropolis...I think that object you have might be of signifigance, but we'll have to try it out." Soleus ordered the knights into a tight formation, they wouldn't go charging out there. All he wanted to do was see the effect that Gem carring the object had on the undead. It might be their way around the dead, a ward of sorts, though it might also just be another puzzle.
Soleus had another trick up his sleeves should the object do nothing to deter the undead. He began to move down the dark passageway, keeping a close watch over Gem, so that nothing happened to her. He'd almost lost her a few times already, he'd be damned if he did now.
-
They walked along that path slowly towards the moaning dead of the necropolis. As they did, Gem began to feel the stone start to vibrate, the closer they got the stronger its movements became. Her slender hand slipped into her pocket and pulled out the stone looking at it. The emblem on it was now glowing, red like a burning tree.
As the entered the necropolis, the emplem on the main tomb's color, match that of the little stone........
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The dead did seem to keep back, as if they were allowing the adventurers to pass. The object obviously gave them a sort of protection, a means to pass through the dead. This was good, but they still had to get the other key from the phantom. Course where was the phantom, as they neared the center tomb once more, Soleus noticed a few dead orcs. It showed that the Phantom and his group had been attacked by the dead and suffer a lot of casualties. The dead slowly began to part, moving back towards their tombs, their eyes however kept watch over the group as if waiting for them to mess up. Soleus walked up to the tomb door and studied the runes there, now being able to. They were ancient as all here were, but they spoke of a holy relic, something with the tomb that would " mend the cracks of the broken kingdom?" Soleus didn't understand it fully.
It spoke of a heart,body, mind, and soul that all had to be united again, that this object in the tomb would bring about the healing process. Soleus could hear banging on the other side of the tomb door, the phantom and his remaining orcs must had sought refuge inside the tomb. " I think our enemy lies on the other side of this door...Gem, I want you to open the door to the relic, the knights and I will deal with the Phantom and his orcs. We'll draw them out here, I'll get the key from him and throw it to you, once you got it, close the door and get the relic, we'll do the rest....this is it, it's time to end this once and for all." Soleus put his hand on the door and pulled it open, wondering what the reaction inside would be.
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The Phantom and his orcs noticed the door to the tomb opening. He saw Soleus and orded his orcs to advance and attack. He'd deal with Soleus himself, the Phantom turned and grabbed the key out of the door. Placing the bone key in his belt for safe keeping. He couldn't risk it falling into the hands of his enemy, not now that they were so close to getting the relic. The door had proven to be well made, despite all their efforts it did not give in to their force upon it. The phantom drew his sword and exited the tomb, he was not a skilled fighter, but he knew that with his Darkthorne strength he should be a match for Soleus. As the orcs began to engage the knights, the Phantom stepped out in front of Soleus, " So you've come to die at my hands rather then dying to the guardians of the tombs...so be it." He began an advance on Soleus, lunging with his sword.
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"Once I am inside, you may not have the protection of the stone, watch your back for the undead...." As Soleus put his hand on the door and pulled it open, Gem too was wondering what the reaction inside would be. She moved to the side, to allow the Orcs and the Phantom to make. As the Phantome began an advance on Soleus, Gem could not resist placing her foot in the way, attempting to trip him before he could begin lunging with his sword. The Phantom was not stupid, and seeing the movement to his side, he stepped over her foot and swong a fist towards Gem, slamming her in the side of the head. The hit was enough to make the healer see stars for a moment, but if nothing else, she had distracted the Phantom long enough to give Soleus the initiative.
She slipped inside the tomg, studying the inner door as she waited for Soleus to toss her the key. As she read the runes carefully, some she understood, others she didnt, she saw a spot where the stone would fit into a grouve, like another key. She looked at the stone and moved towards the tomb opening again, hoping that enough of the stones power would effect outside the tomb and protect the knights and Soleus.
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Soleus watched Gem carefully, as she distracted the Phantom, he made his move, snatching the key away from the Darkthorne. Soleus threw the key across to the tomb, it slid across the floor stopping just inches away from Gem. Soleus struck at the distracted Phantom's sword, since he was distracted he was off guard. If he could move the Phantom's sword aside now, he would have an open attack. He was too close to attack with his sword, thus is why he went to deflect the Phantom's blade and open a widow of attack.
" For Velusia!!" Soleus cried as he brought up his hammer, realizing that being close, was not so bad. After all the hammer was made for close range attacks. He would bring it up towards the Phantom's jaw in an attempt to hit him with it's elemental force. The knights were defeating the orcs with relative ease, for the orcs had become demoralized by the attack of the undead, cutting their number over half. With the fire in the knight's eyes the orcs felt their end coming near.
" Gem, you've got to get whatever is inside..quick!" Soleus was not lying, for the moment Gem placed the object in the keyslot, the ceiling above began to drop down pieces of rock. This could only mean one thing, that eventually there would be no more cave, and possibly no more Luskan. What Soleus did not know what was inside, the golden apple that had started the clan's fall into seperation, the imbalance that plagued the land, and the darkness that threatened to consume it all. It all revolved around one little apple that had been eating by one of his ancestors. The fruit that had been growing in Velusia when the Blackthornes and the other clans arrived from another realm. A voice had called out, telling them to never eat of the fruit, of this tree.
His ancestors foolish in their defiance of the voice, did what was asked not to do. And the land had never been the same since, the apple must be taken to the space in between Velusia and Belgada, it must be planted to heal the lands, and cast aside the veil.
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The Phantom's momentary distraction almost proved to be his undoing. As Soleus knocked his sword aside, to prevent him from blocking, the Phantom brought up his hand just in time to grab Soleus's. He looked down to see the hammer, " Now now is that any way to treat your elders boy?" The Phantom began to hum a song, the very air before him began to distort. He said one word, which was all he had to say now that the bardic magic he possessed was being summoned. " Back" a blast of powerful concussive force was exuded from the Phantom's voice, directed squarely at Soleus's form. It would only cause the Phantom to move back a little, but Soleus, he would be sent flying as if shot from a cannon.
An evil bard was a nasty thing to mess with, especially after they had master the secret of sound. Now his every word could be a spell that could harm or protect him. The effect would last for another hour before he'd have to summon it up once again, but within that hour, he would be like a deity in force. As the last of his orcs fell and the knight's turned their gaze upon him, the phantom said another word, " Stop" the knights all stopped in their charge towards him. Their will power could break the spell, but by then he'd have won. He casually took his sword and plunged it into the neck of the nearest knight, instantly breaking his own spell over that knight. Though a fatally wounded knight would prove to be no threat at all to one who command the secret of sound.
The knight fell to the ground gurgling as the Phantom turned to look for Soleus.
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Hearing the movement of the key on the rocky surface, Gem grabs it up quickly, holding it tightly in her hand. She glanced at the other knights, to assure herself that the battle was going in a positive direction....
The moment Soleus yelled for her to get inside she did. slipping a small ring on her finger that glowed a soft luminescent light. Carefully she put the glowing key stone into the indentation, it took her several tries to get it just right. She then placed the skeleton like key into the lock and turned it slowly. The massive stone door groaned as it started to move, stopping and starting on its tracks as the built up sand and dirt in its tracks caused it to jam... Once the door was wide enough for her to fit through sideways, she grabbed the stone and key, pocketing them and entering the inner chambers. She didn't realize as she entered that the door slide silently back into place. hearing the final snap of the stone door close, she turned around looking at the door that now blocked her exit. She looked careflly at the inscriptiins on this side and noticed the samee indentation and keyhole here....her way out thankfully.
The inner chamber first impressed the in two ways...first one felt their own meekness and and humility. But as she stood there, she also started to sense her own inferiority and doubts, as if the room was feeding her such feelings. The antechanber where she stood opened into a huge circular room, much larger then it appeared from the outside. The circular room's floor was polished black granite. The floor continued up the walls , rising in tortured curves like dark waves frozen in time. As Gem stepped into the circular room the celing high above her sarted to glow a deep red hue, making the entire room look as if blood was running down the walls.
As the light filtered through the room, in the center a form started to take shape...There before her was a knight appearing, like no other she had ever seen.
His helmet was oddly bucket shapped with a black mane falling down the back. His armor entirely black and menacing. But the most terrifying feature wsas the glowing red eyes pearing through a slit in an otherwise covered face.....
OOC I have a picture of him, PM me where to send it))
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Soleus was thrown back into the undead, but for some reason they did not attack him. They helped him up, he hid amongst them as he saw the Phantom coming in his direction. Soleus waited and as he waited he saw an opening, taking aim on the inner thigh of the Phantom. He began to recite a spell of corrosive aicd, taking out the spell reagents from his pouch at his side. He crushed them in his hand, opening his hand he blew them and said the last word towards the Phantom. A round ball of redish, black, went flying towards the Phantom's inner left thigh. Soleus hated to try to hit someone below the belt, but he told himself it was a Darkthorne, therefore okay.
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But the most terrifying feature wsas the glowing red eyes pearing through a slit in an otherwise covered face.....
Gem stared at the creature, who simply stood there with his arms crossed over his chest and hs legs slightly apart. Looking at the "man" it was easy to see the shere power of him. Gem warily approached him and kneeled bowing at his feet.
"M'lord Knight, I am Gemeriana Sherbrooke, Healer of Quen, I seek the the great gift to heal the Darkthorne and Blackthorne clans"
She remained unmoving as she waited for the knight to answer....
((To be continued))
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The phantom was hit by the spell which caused fire to race up his leg and burn his flesh. He reached down in an attempt to put the fire out, only to find it was magical fire. The pain however kept his concentration distracted, not allowing him an opprotunity to douse the fire with magic. He jumped around for a bit before running off to find some sort of water source to put out the fire. The flames were spreading now, only given strength by the action of him running. Soon his whole body was covered in the flames as a scream escaped his mouth which began to melt. Fleeing down a tunnel in terror he finally found a pool by sheer luck and ran straight into it. His form disappeared beneath the water's surface, sinking down into the depths.
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Soleus had finally defeated his long time enemy, but at what cost? He ran from the crowd of dead and went over to the fallen knight, seeing the others begin to regain their control. He placed a hand on the bloody wound and began to cast his healing magic. The other knights came up to Soleus and placed a hand upon his shoulder, " M'lord it's too late.." Soleus would not give up though, not until he realized there was nothing he could do. He lacked the knowledge to bring life back to the dead. He only knew how to raise the dead and that magic he dared not use. Not on a companion, for he would not even use such magic on an enemy. The solitude of death was a part of the great cycle of life and he would not disturb that. He however blamed himself for the knight's death, if only he'd acted sooner. Perhaps there was more he could have done, the knights began to try and pull him away.
" We can't leave him here like this, we have to take him back to Luskan with us...he didn't deserve to die like this..here..." The other knights stood around Soleus nodding, as they all began to prepare the knight's body for transportation. Soleus turned back to the tomb, just as the moans of the undead became louder now. Something had happened and now the dead were no longer sitting idly by watching. They began to circle around the group, the knights and Soleus took up a defensive circle preparing for what might just be their last stand.
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Gem remained motionless, hiding her fear as the glowing eyes bore into her. She felt almost nausea with fear. At last the raspy voice answered her. "This is what the Thorn Clans send to claim the great magic? A mere mortal wench?" He starts to move towards her, circling around her form, each step full of the sounds of cracking bones and leather armour, The foul smell of death lingering behind him....
Gem remains respectfully motionless and silent. He stops again infont of her, his vile hand whipping out to grasp her slender troat. His skeletal body full of strength, lifting her as he glares into her eyes ..With her feet dangling her hands move to grasp his arm, hoping to loosen the grip so she can breath....
His raspy voice echos in the room..."You are not worthy of the great seed wench" Tossing her as of she were a ragdoll, her body slams into the wall opposite him. Dazed she slides down the wall, sitting with her back against it while she gasps for air...
"M'lord, I was sent here to collect the seed, I can not leave here without it...What is your price? I must have it to mend the two clans....
The Dark Lord turned looking at Gem with a malicious grin....."That is easy enough...your soul would make a beautiful addition to my...collection" He walks across the room quickly grasping her chin in his gloved hand.."I will give you the seed, Gem Sherbrooke, Healer of Quen and your soul will then be mine. I will allow you to leave this place to deliver the seed the foolish Thorne Clans. But when I call you you must return or every one you care for will die long and painful deaths until your return....Is it a bargain then Healer of Quen? Your soul to save the clans?"
Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the horrible deathknight. She had no choice ..."I accept because I must, but can I at least know the name of the one who owns my soul?"
"Yes my dear, of course, I am Lord Malak" releasing her chin, his fingers having left red marks, her offers his hand to her, holping her to her feet.
Then he takes from the folds of his robes a worn velvet bag and hands it to her.."I will be calling for you soon" as he says the words, he dissappears before her eyes, leaving her in the bloodred room alone.
Glancing in the bag to be sure she has what she needs, she moves towards the door. She could literally feel that what was in her hands was the right item, the magic to help the clans. She could also feel a havey weight inside her, the weight of someone who had sold their soul.
Licking her full lips, she opened the doors, taking the keys and item outside. She slipped the keys inside her cloak for when she must return.
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Soleus and the knights stood there admist the bodies of many undead. They had been fighting for what seemed hours waiting for Gem to return. Soleus wiped sweat from his brow, and took in a deep breath. How much longer could they hold this position? He knew it wouldn't be much longer for they all were starting to get fatigued. Their nerves were jumpy, their bodies shook, sweat poured off their faces. More undead came and Soleus again blessed their weapons to send the undead to a eternal death. The enchant had been the only thing keeping their edge against the undead. The sound of metal slicing through dried flesh and bone echoed in the necropolis. Soleus braced himself against the wall feeling he could go no more.
Suddenly the doors to the tomb began to open and the undead began to back away. They watched as the undead returned to their tombs and the battle began to end. Soleus turned to see Gem there with a curious bag, he watched her tuck away the keys. " Gem your alright! Oh thank the gods I worried about you for what seems like ages. So you have it?" Soleus was happy to see Gem, more so then could explain. Soleus and the knights gathered around Gem, ready to leave this place once and for all. Gem had become their savior, not just their's, but the entire family's savior in that moment. Soleus looked on Gem seeing something different about her that he could not explain. His eyes scanned over her with worry, his heart almost stopping in that instant.
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She smiles to the men, and holds up the velvet bag.."I am not sure what it is or does, but I know it is what we came here for". SHe moves away from the tomb, trying not to think about this place being her furture home.
She looks at the undead then to the Knights..."Where is Lord Tanner and the Phantom?"
"Wait never mind....we can speak of this when we are breathing the fresh air of the overworld, not here in the tombs..."
Gathering her self, she starts to head for the way out, saying a silent prayer to her goddess....
.
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Soleus and the knights looked to one another and nodded, they took their fellow knight's body upon their shoulders. Following Gem, up through the tunnels that were now the way home. As they emerged from the tunnels they looked upon Luskan. It still stood and the ghostly entities that once fought their were now solid, they stood there with pale white skin and grey eyes, white hair. They looked strange, they all wore black armor or clothing, their weapons were even black. They stood next to the people Soleus had brought to Luskan, the bodies of many orcs lay about in piles. Soleus, Gem, and the knights arrived at Luskan to hear of the great battle that had occured. Those trapped in Luskan by a spell, were released when they had entered the tunnels. The two warring forces began their battle once more, slowly becoming more and more physical instead of ethereal. When they defeated their enemies they turned to help the Velusians defeat the orcs.
Soleus ordered for everyone to begin to pack their belongings, the march home was about to begin. Soleus placed an arm around Gem's shoulder and told a few people how it was her that saved them all. Soleus had lands back in Lochland, lands had been begining neglected in his absence. He'd give some of them to Gem, build her a home there so she could leave in peace, give her the title of Lady. He was going to take care of her, for all that she had done. He'd even show her the sights of Velusia, he could already feel the excitement of going home. The caravan was ready hours later and they began the march out of Luskan, back to Velusia. The strange race stayed behind, saying that Luskan was there home, but they would see them again. For they were now free to leave Luskan anytime they chose.
The item Gem had collected had removed the veil from Luskan, freeing everyone within it. The souls of the dead were finally free to pass on into the after life. Luskan seemed different, almost peaceful now, as if the shadow that had lingered over it was gone. As they marched through the arched tunnel, something Soleus had longed to see hit their eyes, causing them to squint, the sun.
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Gem went back to the inn to pack for the travel back to daylight. It seemd like years had passed in the darkness, though for her it had been only weeks. She said nothing to anyone of the price she had paid for the Luskans to be free and made up her mind that she would live her life to the fullest until the Lord Malak called her.
When the caravan at last reached sunlight Gem stopped, smiling, then closed her eyes feeling the warm rays on her face. Climbing off the horse that had been Lord Tanners, she walked leading the animal's reins.
Her thoughts only of her blessings....
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Soleus walked not far from Gem, heading up to catch up with her, for their trip to Lochland would not take long. Not as long as they kept to Siem's pass, it was the shortest route to Lochland out here near Lantern's Hold.
" So I would ask you what happened in the crypt, but you haven't spoken of it at all. I don't want to bring back any bad memories or anything, but think of it this way. We're free finally, the sun, the cool breeze, the fresh air, it's a blessing. We've been done there now for so long, I had forgotten what the sun looked like, what clouds looked like. I've lost so many friends done there, so many innocents died fighting for this freedom. By us being here enjoying this we honor their sacrifice. When we reach Lochland...if it still stands, I want you to come stay with me. I have some land, nothing big, but it probably could use some work now. I remember I had a whole crop of vegetables, herbs, and fruits. I enjoyed simply making due on that, my father didn't know what I found so facinating about being a farmer. I think it's clearer to me now, then before, in the midst of all this death and destruction, to see something grow reminds you that theres more then just the chaos around you."
Soleus looked up the road towards the pass, then back to Gem, he hadn't notice just how beautiful her face was till the sun hit it.
Continued in Lochland thread