"Come on! your right side is practicaly unguarded!" Turno swung his sword around and smacked the flat of his blade agaisnt Gharik's side. The new knight was practicing with his new sword. Gharik and Turno were fighting in the training hall of Aden Castle Town, and the elf was just winning and winning.
"I'm telling you, I'm not used to this yet!" complained Gharik as he sat down, nursing his bruises. Shadow walked through the door, laughing.
"You better learn quick, because i have other things to teach you." She said, smiling.
"What kind of things?" asked Gharik
"I'm going to teach you how to cast arcane spells." answered Shadow. Helping him up, she took his hand in hers. "First leason." Shadow's hand started glowing. "I want you to focus. Think only about my hand."
"Um......why? It's your hand, and it happens to be glowing from your magic, it won't help me any." Said Gharik blatantly.
"Don't say that." Scolded the young mage "Just do what i tell you."
Gharik complied silently, and began looking at her beautiful hand. It was still glowing slightly orange, but as he watched it, it occured to him that he couldnt quite place the color. When he thought it looked orange, it reminded him more of a redish color. When he thought it looked red, it became almost golden. A warm feeling sprang up all over his body, and his vision suddenly started glowing the same color.
Shadow smiled and sighed "You're eyes look alot better when they're magical." Gharik was suddenly startled, and lost his concentration.
"What did i do....?" he asked slowly.
"You managed to master fire. Quite easily i may add." answered Shadow
"I felt warm all over..." He began, but was cut short by a harsh voice.
"It's too bad you'll be feeling cold very soon human."
Gharik, Shadow, Turno, Yarro, Winsum, and Uzza all whirled around to see Sashakra standing at the door of the training hall. The dark elf looked over the party and smiled.
"Turno, I didn't expect to see you here." He said
"I never expected to see you ever again!" answered Turno glaring at the invader. "How did you get here?"
"The guards outside somehow managed to fall asleep. Come now, Dance with Death!" Shouted the Drow, whirling his spear around his head.
Turno charged at him, sword and shield in hand. Sashakra swung and narrowly missed the elf. Swinging again, they clashed their weapons together. Then with an expert push, Sashakra flung Turno's sword out of his hand, and punched him hard in his stomach. Gharik reacted instantly, He and Uzza charged together at the Dark elf before sashakra could skewer Turno.
"Feel my pain, puny one!" Shouted Uzza, pulling out his massive two handed club, and swinging down upon Sashakra.
The dark elf moved quickly and fluidly out of the way. When Uzza's club had smashed the ground where sashakra had been, heput his spear under the orc's body and pulled upwards. Catapulting Uzza away and making a long gash in his chest. Shadow and Winsum were circling him now, and Gharik was about to engage him, but the dark elf did the unexpected by rushing straight at Gharik, grabbing him by the neck, and dissapeared in a blinding blue flash.
Shadow screamed out. The fight was over as fast as it began, and the man she loved was beyond hope of her saving him now. With nothing left to do, she fell to her knees and started crying. Winsum was helping Turno get up, as he regained conciousness, and Uzza had his hand on his cut firmly. Yarro was busy inspecting the spot where Sashakra had dissapeared however. He ran his finger over a tiny layer of dust that had appeared there.
"Just what i thought." he said. Everyone looked at him questioningly.
"You see." he explained "This dust has formed due to the fact that it was a spell that the dark elf casted, it was a magical scroll. The kind that takes someone on the other end of the destination to finish it."
"How does that help us at all??" Winsum demanded.
"Let me finish, it also happens to have a relatively short range. So this dark elf may be somewhere in Aden Town still." Said Yarro.
Turno spoke wearily "The dark elf is named Sashakra. He was once my brother, and now serves an unnamed god."
"An unnamed god that may have a cult located somewhere in the very castle of aden?" asked Shadow, remembering what Gharik had learned. "That is practicing black necromancy?"
"There's no other explanation, i suppose" Said Turno "We must warn the king, and have the entire castle searched. Gharik may still be saved."
Gharik, however, regained conciousness on top of an altar chained down. Looking up he saw the High Priest of the Unnamed God.
"I have nothing that i may want to hear from you or say to you, except welcome to my horde." Said the priest, as he plunged his ceremonial dagger into Gharik's chest.
Removing his dagger from Gharik's body the High Priest turned to Sashakra.
"Prepare his body to become one of the undead." he said sharply
"Understood my lord." answered Sashakra, he snapped his fingers and 2 undead zombies entered the room of sacrafice. They moved towards the altar but Sashakra noticed a human warrior standing in front of it, wielding a rusted with both his hands.
The high priest turned to see what his servant was staring at, and gaped at the human figure.
"Who are you and how did you get here?" he demanded.
"My name has long been forgotten, and you shall soon know how i got here. In the name of Shillien, i defy your god and sentence you to death." Without further adue, he raised his sword. Or perhaps it was already raised, Sashakra couldnt tell for sure. All he saw was the strange human move in one quick flash and stab the high priest through the heart, then proceeded to slice the two zombie slaves in half. The dark elf knew he had to react in the only way he could, by running. Sashakra turned and fled the temple of evil that was hidden in the dungeons of Aden.
The human turned and looked at Gharik, for this was why he truly came. swiftly and silently, he lifted Gharik's body up and dissapeared with it.
Meanwhile, Winsum had just finished telling the situation to the king of Aden. He listened intently and summoned up the castle guard to search the entire town. Winsum lead Shadow and 3 guards down to the dungeons.
"This is where Gharik was suppose to be held in his first visit here." Said Winsum, opening up one of the cells. They walked inside but were taken by surprise by what they saw.
There was a rotting corpse of an old man lying on the floor. Winsum inched closer and noticed he was holding a blood-stained paper she carefully removed it from his hand and read it out loud.
"3 doors down, 3 blocks down, 1 good punch will open it."
"what the heck does that mean?" she asked after reading it.
"That's how we get to Gharik!" said Shadow urgently.
Gharik awoke on the beach of his birthplace, Talking Island. He had no idea how he got there, but looking at his chest, he saw that the place where the knife had pierced him was gone.
"Am i dead?" he said aloud at last.
"No fair! get back here scaredy cat!" he heard a voice yell behind him. Gharik turned to see two children running his way, one chasing the other across the beach. He saw they both had dark red hair, and the one chasing was a little bigger then the one being chased.
The older child finaly caught up with the younger and tackled him. laughing slightly, the younger one turned onto his stomach and cast a spell that sent the older boy flying into the water. Gharik laughed as he realized he was watching himself wrestle his younger brother Haydeos. He watched his younger self pick up a rock from the bottom of the ocean and chuck it at Haydeos. His younger brother cast another spell too late and the stone clunked him in the head. He sat down and started crying loudly, then he heard another voice.
"Gharik! Haydeos! what are you two doing??" said winsum, running their direction.
"We were practicing." explained the younger Gharik running onto the shore. "But Haydeos cries too easily."
"Oh shut up" said winsum "you're not exactly strong yourself" as she smacked him in the back of the head, it knocked him onto the sand.
The scene changed before his eyes, suddenly he saw himself in the middle of a burning house. it was the house that he would have grown up in with his family. Gharik watched in horror as his younger self climbed out of the window, half pushed by his mother. She had gone back inside to find Haydeos, but when gharik reached the ground outside, he saw his borther already out there also.
"Mommy!?" Haydeos screamed as they both saw her dissapear into the hollocaust, oblivious to their cries. That was the last time he saw her. Winsum came running over from the temple to see what had happened, followed by two of her teachers.
"By Einhasad!" exclamed one of the priests. "Where is your mother?"
"She went back inside, looking for my brother when he's right here!" sobbed Gharik
Winsum shrieked as she saw the roof of their home collapse.
The scene changed again. Gharik was now standing on the water, near Gludin Harbor. He looked out to the waves and saw his teenage body floating towards him, almost lifeless, and not moving at all. The older Gharik looked around franticaly, hoping that someone could end this nightmare. He saw instead a young elf girl dive off the docks and swim towards his body. Dragging Gharik onto the docks, he placed her hand onto his mouth and withdrew it quickly bringing a spout of water out of his body, and waking him up with a start. She then just ran away as fast as she came.
The scene changed again. suddenly Gharik was in a blank world, with nothing but a long road ahead of him. looking behind him, he saw all of his memories in a ghost like state all reenacting on top of each other. How he first became a thief, how he aquired his favorite dagger, how he tamed his baby pet dragon, all of it. He turned back around to face the road, and saw the old man from the dungeons of Aden.
"Hello." the old man said simply.
"Where are we?" asked Gharik cautiously.
"Walk with me, won't you?" answered the old man. "I shall explain."
The two started walking down the road, they saw nothing but white in all directions. Even though the old man said he would explain, he kept silent. then Gharik had to talk again.
"Where does this road go?" he asked.
"A long way, in this direction." answered the old man "You won't know for sure until you get there."
"how did i get here?"
"The fact that you are niether dead nor alive seems to help."
"So what am i? is this just a dream state while i serv mindlessly as undead?" asked Gharik
"No, it means that you are niether dead nor alive, as i said before."
"how long will this road last?" he asked another question.
"Do you see the light ahead?" asked the old man.
Squinting, gharik was able to make out a faint light.
"yes."
the old man stopped and gharik looked at him.
"Your destiny is very great, Gharik The Dark Prince. Now you have a choice, you can either walk to that light and fulfill it, our you can turn back and reject it."
gharik looked down at the road and thought about this. He then began rememberin shadow and hw he had to find something out about her. He looked straight ahead of him, and put his foot forward.
Gharik woke up in a black and red lined bed. He heard a voice to his left.
Gharik’s small rescue party made their way through the dungeons of Aden Castle. Three doors down from where Gharik was once held, they found a very well kept cell, except for the fact that there were skeletons lining the walls on either sides of the doorway. Winsum boldly walked to the other side of the room and started tapping on the blocks that made up the wall. Shadow quickly followed suit. She held her hand up to the wall and closed her eyes.
“Well, there’s definitely magic around here.” She said at last.
Winsum called Uzza to her. She pointed a block to him and the giant orc smashed it as hard as he could. The block fell out backwards and the wall started moving, slowly opening up to form an arc. However, as this new doorway appeared, they heard noises from behind them. They turned to look and saw the skeletons that were hanging there, four of them to be exact, start advancing towards the heroes.
Shadow concentrated hard, and immediately created a ball of fire that was sent rushing towards the first skeleton. It gave form a shriek like fingernails on stone and collapsed in a pile of burning bones. Winsum pulled out two swords as to of the remaining skeletons rushed at her. She drove one of her swords into the skull of the first undead with her left hand, and swung her right hand into the second skeleton’s side, breaking it apart. Yarro was busy admiring the masonry work, while Turno and Uzza fought the last undead. The orc rushed at it quickly, stunning it with his fists and holding it up above his head. Turno took out his sword and proceeded to remove the head off the skeleton guard.
After the short fray was over, the party turned towards Yarro. The dwarf looked at the party and said “These stones are quite well put together.” Shadow sighed at his laziness and walked through the doorway.
“By Einhasad!” She said as she walked into a maze of corridors that went out from an octagonal room. “Which one do we take?” She asked to the rest of the party.
Winsum thought a moment. “We may have to split up” She said. “I, Turno, and Yarro will go down this way; you and Uzza go down that one.” She said, pointing to two different hallways.
Winsum lead Turno and the dwarf down the hall, which didn’t go very far indeed. It ended in a door encased in metal. She opened it up slowly and looked inside. It was a room that had an altar in the middle of it that was covered in blood. At its base was a human that wore the robes of a priest that were black, yet stained red also with blood. In his hand was a ceremonial dagger.
“What is this place?” She said at last. Turno ran and retrieved Shadow and her bodyguard, and the party looked around carefully.
"Where am I?" Gharik found himself asking to this new voice beside him.
"You are at your new castle in the Underworld, my son."
Gharik thought about what he just heard. It didn't make sense at all. He couldn't be in the Underworld, if it even existed, and his father died twenty years ago. So he began asking questions like he always did when he was confused.
"Why did you call me your son? And how am I in the underworld?" inquired the Dark Prince. "Does this mean I really am dead, and can now be with my relatives long ceased?"
"You are not dead my son." answered the man standing beside Gharik. "You are here because my servants brought you here after you were sacraficed to be turned into an undead slave. I raised you from death myself because your time has not yet come."
"Why not?" asked Gharik
"Because of your own will, and the fact that the dead cannot control the dead." Answered his father. "By that I mean you are now to become the king of the Underworld, and there is much work to be done, so get out of bed son."
"Well, I don't believe you. I must be dreaming as there's no other explaination." Gharik said simply.
"Well then, while you dream, I'll show you something."
The two of them walked out of Gharik's 'new bedroom' and through a very grand, old, castle. As they walked, Gharik saw all kinds of Shades and dark beings roaming through the halls.
note to readers, there are two types of dead beings in this story, the undead slaves (zombies, skeletons, etc.) controlled by the now dead high priest. and the naturaly dead shades. ty and have fun
one of these minions held out Gharik's sword to him. As he took it, his father spoke to him again.
"You'll be needing that, and you will be properly trained in it's use. As i know you've been stuggling with it lately. Now then, come here." He said, motioning Gharik to stand on a balcony. Moving foward and looking down, Gharik saw a truly awesome sight.
Hundreds of thousands of Shadow Warriors were all standing at attention, swords at their chests, all staring up at him patiently. His father gave them the at ease wave, and took Gharik back.
"That was your army, i may not have helped you believe this any more, but now you know your power and imprtance. Now i must tell you your mission. You know of the plot in Aden Castle correct?"
"Yes" answered Gharik. "They're creating undead zombies and may soon be using them to attack all of Aden."
"Indeed" his father said. "They will destroy all the cities, and the living army will be powerless to stop them, they will be added into the undead horde as well. This must be stopped by you, my son."
"Wait, why??" Gharik demanded. "Why me?? How did you become the king of the underworld, and why can't you do this?? I just want to go home!"
"Calm down Gharik, you will go home, I have always been the king of the underworld, but one day i decided to take the form of a living being and wander the living earth. It was then i met and fell in love with a beautiful woman. I had three children with her before I knew I had to return here. I'm sorry you grew up without a father, but here i am, and here you are." His father explained.
"You didn't answer the other part of the question..."
"Why can't I? I have tried returning to the living world again, but other powers have prevented it. A power greater than me has decreed that i have done too much as a living being so i must remain here forever more. I knew however, that i could still help the living by bringing you here and giving you this assignment. Believe me if you will, but know this, you shall become the Dark Lord, and you will save Aden. I'm going to send you back to the living world now. Farewell for now, son."
"Wait-" Gharik began, but he felt himself lifint off the floor and losing conciousness.
He washed up on Alligator Beach, armorless, with his sword strapped to his back. Totally oblivious to all around him....
alrighty, here we go
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A young alligator slowly slid out of the water, staring at the unmoving Gharik. It was looking for an easy meal, and thought it saw one. The big reptile was about to snap it's meal in half when a young elf came running up to it.
"Not this one, friend." said the elf to the alligator, who growled dissapointedly, and slid back into the water. The elf, named Ryath, looked a Gharik a moment, and noticed he was coming to. Ryath placed his hand on Gharik's back and made him cough up quite a bit of water. Gharik sputtered and spat, looking around.
"Where am I?" he asked.
"You're currently near the city of Heine, i hope you know where that is." answered Ryath
"Yes, i do. Although i have no clue how i got here." Gharik said as he stood up. They both saw a second elf approaching, who greeted them.
"Hey Nythandor, see if this human is injured at all, besides being soaked clean through." Ryath said to the new elf, whose hand began to glow blue. He waved it in front of Gharik's body for a few moments before saying "He appears to be fine."
"That's good to know. Listen, my name is Gharik, and i must get to Aden Castle Town as soon as possible if you can help at all."
"You're in luck Sir Gharik." answered Nythandor "My return spell is set there. We shall all go together, we have business there as well."
He grabbed Gharik's arm as Ryath took his, then there was the blue light that Gharik was getting used to, and they dissapeared.
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I don't have time for more, as my internet's still down at my house. But i'll still keep this moving.
Gharik burst into the throne room of Aden Castle. Seeing the King seated on his throne, he ran towards him. The king looked up in surprise.
"Gharik, you're alive and well I see." He said
"Yes, I am, thank you, but it's urgent that I speak to my sister." Gharik replied.
"I'm afraid you just missed them. I sent her and the rest of your group to Gludin Village. There are rumors of that evil cult around those parts." The king said.
Nythandor spoke up. "I'm afraid I cannot teleport you there Gharik."
Gharik thought to himself, then ran out of the castle and headed to the royal stables. Flinging the doors open, he whistled loudly. Then smiled at what he saw.
A huge lizard walking on it's hind legs burst out of one of the stalls, and ran straight at Gharik. A creature known as a strider, they could run faster then any human, elf, or horse. This was why Gharik was here. It also happened to be the same strider that he had captured as a boy, when it was still a hatchling. He had left it to Winsum when he ran off to Gludin a few years back. Winsum then took it with her to Aden when she became a priestess, and Gharik was busy stealing.
"Let's go Ithilgore." Gharik said. "Bring me to Gludin." The beast understood, and rushed out of the stables and soon was out of the city, each giant step sending them flying across the ground. As he rode, Gharik noticed wings that were starting to grow from the Strider's back, Ithilgore was growing into a wyvern, and soon would be able to fly. This thought excited Gharik tremendously.
Then he reached to check his sword that was on his back. When he touched it, a voice floated through his head, startling him greatly.
"Greetings Gharik, this is your instructer speaking to you telepathicaly from the Underworld. I'm going to help you master your sword."
As Ithilgore sped onwards towards Gludin Village, Gharik was listening intently to everything that his (now enchanted) sword was saying to him. It covered everything from different attack stances, to twirling his blade through the air like it was part of his body. The Dark Prince would have sworn the blade was controlling him.
His mount was reaching the town of Dion now, and was prepared to rush straight through it, but Gharik heard the voice speak again.
"You must stop here. You need armor, go to the warehouse."
Gharik tapped his mount on the shoulder and told it to halt. He jumped down off from the huge reptile, and walked through the town, to the warehouse. There, on a stand, stood a full set of black armor. As he aproached, he could see blue runes start glowing across the front of the breastplate.
Noone said a word as he put on his armor, or spoke to him as he walked silently out of the warehouse. As if it were meant for him, and him alone. His sword once again spoke to him.
"This armor was made to deflect any arrow or blade. It shall be useful to you, but right now i must intruct you in the ways of magic. You are partially familiar with it, yes?"
"Yes, i am." Answered Gharik, even though he only used it once, and barely at that.
"Continue onward." said his sword.
Gharik once again jumped onto Ithilgore, and they rushed off again.
"I want you to focus your emotions and this sword, if you don't mind." His sword instructed. The wind rushing past his face was a bit of a distraction, but Gharik obeyed. He stared at his sword and began to think of all his emotions. His hatred, his fear, his love, and his courage all flowed through his mind. One particularly strong feeling of hate to this cult crossed his mind, and he saw his sword start to glow. Like fire, only slightly different. strangely, he didn't need to be told what to do now. He pointed his sword at a fence they were passing and released his energy. A huge ball offire shot out of his sword and burned up the weak wooden fence like kindling. The Dark Prince smiled at his own powers. Sashakra, the high priest (whom he did not know was killed) and all the undead minions of this unknown god stood no chance to him.
Gharik arrived at Gludin in the early afternoon. He rushed to find out where his friends were. By visiting the local temple, he learned that they were tracking down the cult in a long abandoned temple that was once used by lizardmen for their evil sacrafices. Gharik thanked the priests, and started off. South of Gludin, where his friends, and his destiny awaits.
Winsum was depressed, she was in her chambers thinking about all that had happened. True they had not found Gharik's body which meant that he might be alive, but it was highly unlikely at best. Shadow had stayed outside in the Aden Courtyard, burning up dummies left and right, in an effort to let some anger out. Turno was busy discussing his orders with the king, and Yarro was off selling his wares throughout town. (Lionna - WTS EAB 225k)
"-and there may be more, all across the land, i'll have your brothers find them." Said the king, as he finished his command to Turno.
"I shall find them and burn them, where ever they may be, my lord." Turno replied, bowing. He then went outside, looked up to Winsum's window and motioned her to come down. Then he turned to Shadow.
"There's a cultist's shrine a ways south of Gludin Village that we are to investigate, 'we' meaning you, Winsum, your body guard, and myself." He said at last.
"Won't we have any royal guards to help?" She asked, a bit surprised.
The elf replied "No i requested that it be just us four. We'll have my two brothers along after they do what they're going to be told."
"Very well" Shadow replied. "When do we leave?"
"How about now?" Winsum answered, joining them. She had two swords strapped to her back, Turno's two swords strapped on her waist and was holding Shadow staff. After handing them their weapons, she asked "What about Yarro?"
"I don't think he would care to come along with us..." Turno began, but was cut short by a gruff voice
"hey, you won't be making me stay here all by me lonesome would ya?" said Yarro, he was equiped with a specactular axe, and was wearing armor that almost looked too big for him, despite the fact that it didn't seem to hinder the little dwarf at all. "Let's head out, where's that orc?"
"He'll meet us at the city gates." Shadow replied.
Using a mix, between Winsum's magic, and the royal stable's finest horses, the party set out for Gludin. Having no time to waste, they stopped for nothing and noone. Yarro, not an avid horse rider, kept up a steady stream of complaints most of the way. Much to the dismay of the others, he felt he had to shout to be heard over the stamping of hooves.
"This horse is gonna throw me over his head! i can feel it!" he cried.
"If you dont shut the gab, i'll push you off that horse myself!" Turno said back.
When they finally arrived, they wasted no time in finding out the precise location of this shrine to the unknown god. They met with a certain elf, named Obsidius, in the Einhasad temple.
"I'd say about a good hourse run down south of here, following the road, do you need me to guide you?" Obsidius said.
"No, thank you, we'll find it." Turno answered.
They left their horses in Obsidius' care, and set out. On the way to this forgotten temple, they noticed the local wildlife andd even the Lizardmen that lived there seemed skittish. The party knew why, anything having to do with undead was bad for the area around it. They reached the entrance after a while, and knew then that it looked very forboding.
"Well, no sense just hanging around out here." Turno said as he walked in, the others followed suit.
they were imediately struck by a wave of cold air meeting hot air, as they walked down the ramp the lead from the entrance. At it's base there were two passage-ways. One of them, leading left, had a small blue glow. The other, going right, had a warm feel, and glowed red. The party stopped and considered this a moment.
"Should we split up?" Winsum asked.
"yeah, we'll be looking for an entrance into their shrine if-" Turno began, but he was cut off by Yarro.
"No need to look laddie, it's right in front of us." he said, pointing at the wall.
"you can see here, these little scrape marks and by the way the stone looks itself, that it moves, but it seems we'll have to split up anyways to activate what controls it."
"What do you mean?" Winsum asked.
"Well," Yarro replied. "It seems like this device is split up into two pieces. The makers of which probably like the idea of big extravagent ceremonies and the idea of one in the fire cavern and one in the ice cavern sounds very interesting indeed. Also these seem to need to be activated at the same along with this lever here to open it." He said pointing to a torch hanging on the wall.
"Ok then." Turno said at last. "Shadow, you and You-zah or whatever his name is, go find this control in the fire cavern, me and Winsum will go into the water one. You stay here, Yarro."
"Will do." The dwarf said, as he sat down.
"How will we know when you activate them?" Shadow asked.
"The makers wouldnt have wanted to shout, so they probably added some form of magic mirror or magic water that could see the other control, and for the lever here, i'll know when to pull it." Yarro explained.
"Ok, let's move out." exclaimed Turno. He and Winsum walked up the small flight of stairs leading to the Water tavern. They could feel the temperature dropping with each step. Winsum placed her hand on her forehead and casted a spell.
"Headache?" Turno asked.
"it keeps my body warm, just in case anything in here freezes me somehow."
"oh" said Turno, looking slightly embarrased. All the rooms seemed to glue with a pale blue light the came from nowhere. They didnt come across any form of life (or unlife) until they saw a strance looking creature that seemed to float in mid-air. When it saw the pair, it gave a horrid screech and began casting a strange spell at them.
Shadow and her bodyguard walk down the stairs leading to the fire caverns. She had dealt with fire most of her life, and knew perfectly well how to prevent it from damaging herself. The pair turned a corner, and were startled to see a band of kobolds. Wasting no time, Shadow quickly dispatched them all with a fireball. She then turned to her orc friend.
"Remind me to ask what kobolds are doing down here." She said, the orc nodded in return. They set off again, down the winding corridors, killing any stray kobolds they saw. Then, they entered a large chamber that had large pools filled with lava around the room. In it's center, was a pedestal with a large red ball resting on it. As Shadow stood near it, she looked into and saw a different room that had a faint blue glow to it. This must be the device that helps her see when to activate her lever in time with Turno. She reached out to touch it, but then sensed an evil presence in the room. like lightning, she ducked and turned around in time to dodge an arrow that flew straight through were her head was a split second ago. The arrow had flown from a bow held by an undead archer that had sensed an enemy in it's temple. Two more were also starting to appear seemingly out of the wall across the chamber. Shadow called out to her bodyguard. Uzza responded by picking up Shadow's assailant. The skeleton began scratching at his powerful arms, but the orc was oblivious to the pain, he ran over to the nearest lava pool and threw the undead archer into it. With a horrible shriek, the creature vanished. Shadow was already readying her spells for the remaining two undead.
A gust of powerful wind was blasted at Turno, but Winsum reacted quickly and threw her hand in front of her counter-part, dissapating the spell. She then proceeded to cast a spell at the strange creature which put it to sleep. Turno ran foward and thrust his swords into it. It gave a disturbing gargle, then died. The pair looked at each other with questioning glances, but neither knew what the creature was.
They made their way through the damp and frigid hallways, until they too came to a large chamber. Turno saw a pedastel with a red orb on top of it, looking into it, he saw Shadow and Uzza, the orc had his hand on a button on the wall, and Shadow was staring patiently back into the orb. Looking around the room, Turno saw a similar button and motioned for Winsum to stand by it.
"On the count of now?" Turno asked.
"Now" Shadow responed. Winsum and Uzza both pressed their button at the exact same time. at first they thought they messed up, but after 20 seconds, they began hearing a loud rumbling noise.
"Get back! Now!"
not quite sure where this is leading myself, but i got a few ideas that need to be put in.
The small party stood in front of the now open passage way, not saying a word. Turno broke the silence with a quick “Shall we?” and led the way through this new corridor. It was long, cold, and dark. The only sounds coming from the scurry or rats on the floor below, or the far off sounds of nails on stone. Shadow had cast a spell in front of them for a small ball of light that floated before them as they walked.
Finally, they came to a large antechamber. Torches lined the walls, along with a strange vine-like plant that was dripping with a red substance. A stairway led to a throne in the back of the chamber, with tunnels leading off into the darkness, on the left and right of the throne. An aged Dark Elven woman sat on this throne, and Sashakra was kneeling before her. As Gharik’s friends entered the chamber, they heard the two Dark Elves talking. The woman’s voice was like ice, cutting to their hearts
“Are you sure that he will indeed find us here?”
“Absolutely, my mistress.” Sashakra answered. “We’ll need to prepare all our soldiers here to defeat him. He has been labeled as the greatest threat by our lord.”
“I know what our lord says at all times, lowly slave” The woman began, but then noticed Turno.
“It seems we have visitors. Please be so kind as to deal with them.” She said.
Sashakra turned, once more drawing his double bladed spear seemingly out of the air, and immediately rushed at them. Shadow threw a fireball at him, but he merely caught it in one hand and absorbed the flames. Jumping into the air, he twirled in a circle, and sliced where Turno’s head would have been if he had not ducked. The elf raised his sword and tried to run his Dark brother through, but Sashakra was already gone, circling around Turno with ease. Again and again their weapons clashed. Like a ballet, they were leaping all around the room. Uzza took his club from his back and charged at Sashakra, while Winsum and Shadow ran towards the Dark Elf Female, who was still sitting on her throne. The two young mages both sent spells at her, Winsum gathering up a large force of wind, while Shadow sent a stream of fire. Neither spells even reached the dark elf. Without even saying a word, or lifting her hands, the spells dissipated around her. Standing up, she stretched out her hands and gave a horrid shriek. The vines covering the walls shot out and latched around Winsum and Shadow, binding them tight and dropping them both to the ground.
“Young fools.” The dark elf hissed. “You cannot fight evil incarnate.” Purple fire sprang from her fingers and shot towards the two girls. Shadow closed her eyes, expecting to be burned away, but nothing happened. Opening her eyes again she saw Gharik standing in front of her, wearing Night-Black armor, and holding a sword that pulsed with energy.
“I’d say this isn’t the time to exchange words” Gharik’s sword said into his head. “But you can say something stunning now before you attack, if you want.”
“I Am the Dark Prince! Attacking my friends is attacking Death himself!” Gharik shouted, as he charged at her. Sashakra saw his mistress in danger, kicked himself into the air, off Uzza, and landed in front of Gharik, causing the Dark Prince to halt a moment. One cut from Gharik sword split Sashakra’s spear in half. Gharik kicked him, sending him sprawling backwards.
Gotta go. just when it was getting good too >.<
Sashakra Held a Scroll that could have teleported him away in an instant, all he had to do was touch it and say it's incantation. He couldn't however, as his mistress was still in danger. As Gharik Brought his sword down, the dark elf pushed himself off the ground and spun to the right in one fluid motion. his weapon was broken, but he had another. Raising his hands, Sashakra felt the power of evil and summoned forth two flaming swords.
"Dance with death, mortal!" He shouted, and began to attack again.
"Allow me, my lord" Gharik heard his sword say to him. He felt compelled to automaticaly parry each of Sashakra's swings. Each connection of the magic metals produced a loud bang, with a shower of sparks. Gharik brought his sword down, nearly cleaving Sashakra in two, had he not blocked the Dark Prince's sword with his own, forming an X above his head.
"Cast a spell now." Gharik heard in his head. He did so, and was half forced to. He gathered up his energy and released it into the Dark Elf's stomach, sending him flying back again.
"Killing traitors is what i was made for, destroy the priestess."
Gharik again started running towards the Dark Elf woman, who raised her hands again, and started to chant. Suddenly, undead skeletons began bursting through the floor, quickly surrounding Gharik. Shadow and Winsum were still desperately trying to break free from their bonds, while Uzza, Turno, and Yarro were cornered by their new adversaries, though each swinging their weapons fiercly, keeping the undead at bay.
"They are nothing, obliterate them." Gharik heard yet again. He leaped through their ranks, smashed his shield into a skeleton with all the force of the Underworld, breaking it apart. He swung his sword into two more and watched the slice immediately begin to burn the undead.
A voice in the Dark Elf Priestess' head spoke to her.
"He is mine, i want his power."
She knew what was going to happen.
Sashakra had regained his footing and flung himself at Gharik again, who was finishing off the undead around him. Anger swelled up within the Dark Prince. He yelled as he swung his sword to parry Sashakra's. there was a sound like a thunderclap as Gharik's sword broke one of Sashakra's. The dark elf was dumbfounded, but continued to fight with one blade. It did not last much longer, Gharik was forced to fight like this, but gladly accepted the power. As Sashakra brought his weapon down upon Gharik's head, he brought his own up with such force, that he disarmed his opponent. In another swift motion, he stabbed Sashakra though his shoulder, let him drop to the floor, then faced the Witch again. Turno and his companions had managed to fight their way behind Gharik, and freed Shadow and Winsum.
"You are mine, human!" The Priestess said coldly.
"Silence!" Gharik yelled back as he swung his sword at her. With agility beyond her years, she evaded the blow, placed her hand directly on Gharik's heart,and spoke a single incantation. Purple flames engulfed him, a large tattoo burned through his armor and onto his chest. The Dark Elf laughed, using the rest of her now fading energy, she sent an explosion at the caverns above the group. She said "Serve Evil Incarnate, or die, mortal" Then dropped to the floor, dead.
Gharik had feinted. Undead once again began swarming at them, and the room was collapsing. Uzza lifted Gharik like a feather, as winsum shouted for everyone to get into one of the tunnels beside the throne. at the end of it they saw a pool of water that led up to the surface.
Turno looked back and saw Sashakra's body, limp as a puppet. Knowing this was agaisnt all common sense, he went and lifted his brother up, then escaped the falling rubble, into the water below.
in about 2 days, i'll be posting the entire story up till now, fully edited. (uzza is a dumb name, so i plan on changing it, cuz i can)