A Fate Yet Unknown
Part I Tranquillity and no gravity! A weird feeling of infinity! Hooded view! Strange silhouettes in the dark. Whispering voices out of thin air. A mysterious singsong! What are they saying? What do they want? The voices... louder and faster. It sounds like a name... Is it my name? Looking into the darkness, searching for an explanation of what has happened... a dead and broken body on the floor...the voices again, ascending to an echoing thunder... pulling me towards them. The noise is getting louder and louder... a storm blustering inside my head... calling the name again and again. "Come with us, follow us!", the voices are singing... It feels so seductive...
Suddenly... the mist is gone. I can see clearly. The dead body... it is ME. No... Nooooo. I cannot follow those voices... I am not done here yet. I am NOT DEAD! LEAVE ME ALONE! I WILL NOT FOLLOW YOU! I AM ALIVE!
I feel coldness on my left cheek. I cast up my eyes. Slowly, because the brightness hurts. My tongue feels thick and swollen. I smell the stench of battle, blood and death. By and by, my eyes adapt to the light and I can finally see where I am. A small room, stony ground, burning coal basins in each corner, beds, and a small path in the South. The only way out? Blood is on the floor, a broken sword, a torch, and a ring. Traces of a fight? But where are the enemies? My clothes ooze with blood but I can't find any wounds. I feel exhausted, weak but alive. I can't remember anything. Neither who I am nor what I am doing here. Why did I come here? Shall I take the ring with me? Somehow, I think it belongs to me. Well, speculating won't get me anywhere. Let's get out of here. I will follow the path to the South. What a luck that the torch is not burnt down. The coal basins will help me to light it again.
Dead bodies lying around everywhere. Seems that there really was a battle, or better: a massacre. But who are the dead? Wait, what is that? A weird blue light in the North. It is not a flame! But it pulses like a heart. A cold, blue heart. I have a feeling that I am meant to go inside this shining light. I am afraid but curious as well. What shall I do? Run into the light or explore the dark floors further?
Part III have decided to ignore that blue light so far but I am not sure if it was a good idea to stay here and to explore this dark place. Now, I have lost the sense of time. I have no clue how long I have been roaming around in these dark and cold halls. This is a weird and a dangerous place. While I haven't found a way out of here, I've seen odd and strange things. West of the place I woke up there is another room that looks exactly the same. Here and there you see big cut blocks of stone that look rather like sacrificial altars than stones. North of that pulsing, cold blue light I found even more slaughtered bodies, more blood. The air is full of flies and the horrible stench makes me choke all the time. At least, I found some armour between all the carcasses, however, the shield and the blade I've found feel as if they are not made for me. In the North there were some shelves with books and scrolls. I did not understand half of them but I am convinced that something very strange is going on here. I am still with a blank mind, although this ring gives me food for thought. Does it really belong to me? Right now, I'm trying to catch my breath and am sitting next to a wooden door. It seems I am not alone here... I can hear someone pacing behind this door on the other side. Shall I try to talk to that person? Maybe the stranger could shed some light on what happened with me or at least on how to get out of here. Wait! What is this? It sounds like a riot. I can hear people, voices, clang of arms. Are they coming? What shall I do now? Talk to that person behind the door or shall I run into the blue light now in hope that it is an exit...?
Part IIIMaybe this person knows a way out of here. I will give it a try...
What a waste of time. That conversation with that strange person did not get me anywhere. I still have no clue why I am here. She is a prisoner here but unlike me she knows how she came here. Well, at least I know now that this place here was meant to become a monument of the victory of good over evil, a cathedral. But due to an earthquake it became a dark stronghold of evil scum. Now a cult is ruling this place, searching for unsatisfied, disgruntled and poor people to use them as thieves, and smuggler and the gods know what else. At least she can take care of herself.
What‘s happening? Damn! The riot is coming closer and closer. I need to get out of here quickly. I can hear them laughing: "
Hihihihi!", "
Herba budinia ex!" What does it mean? Fire, sulphuric, shadows on the wall. They are coming... coming for me... "
Guess who we're hunting, hahaha!" Sabre-rattling! I can see them now. Monks, witches, hunters and others... "
Your end has come!" My blood freezes in my veins... I will die here! An assassin...next to me... whispering: "
Die!"... I stumble back... I feel the wall behind... Oh gods... did I just escape death to be slaughtered by a bunch of infamous bandits and old hags? I shiver, I close my eyes... I hear their laughter, I can feel their thirst for blood... blood... for a heartbeat... silence... tranquilizing darkness... blood... my blood...
Something is stiring in me! Something old and mighty, something magic. The last feeling before you enter the otherside?... No. The scales are falling from my eyes. Still, I do not know my name... but I do know my profession... and now I am sure it won't be my blood that is going to be spilt. I open my eyes... the assassin is still next to me. The others, only a few steps away, still laughing, pointing at me... Let's see who will have the last laugh. The assassin, how arrogant he looks at me... I smile, he raises an eyebrow..."
Exori flam"... an ash heap remains... No more laughter, silence of amazement... I turn towards the others.
"Are you sure you are the ones hunting?"It begins. I feel the power of magic in my veins, begging me to be unleashed... and I set it free...
It takes not even a minute and all of them are dead. Felled by the power of magic and anger, my anger. Now, that I know what I am, I have no fear anymore. I walk inside the blue light and find myself on another floor. More of this human scum. Good!... and the killing spree goes on.
They do not have a chance to flee or to defend themselves. I cast spell by spell, no resistance, only surprised faces. I am their judge and their executioner. No acquittal, only death... I fight my way out of the building, floor by floor, no one can stop me, who stands in my way dies fast...
Finally, sun light... I remember this place, but what brought me here... I do not know why but I am sure I will not find the answer here. I will leave this place. The quicker the better. I can remember a town. Maybe I can find more about my past there? So, what was the name?
Part IVTh... Thiso?... Thees?...Ah..Thais! Yes, Thais was the name. If I remember right that town is to the northwest of this cursed place. Let‘s see if I can find the way back home, and if it is really my home...
… I can't believe that I really walked all this way from the cathedral to Thais. That was very exhausting. Especially, the desert where I got lost for some time. That was an interesting place. I should travel there again to explore it further. But that doesn't matter right now. It is really time to unearth the truth about what has happened with me. After some days of traveling I could finally make out the roofs of Thais at a distance. And now, that I pass the gates of this town I know that it was the right decision to go here. I can feel some of my memories coming back. Still, there are gaps in it but at least I remember that I used to live in Thais. Also, the people seem to know me very well. They greet me wherever I go and show me a lot of respect. Even the town watch bowed when I entered the city. It feels like I am a famous person... The town is very busy today... people are running from house to house... even if they seem to be stressed, they look happy... Oh, they are decorating the streets with lampions and coloured ribbons... and everything looks clean as a new pin... this is kinda strange for a such a big town... I am really curious what's going on here... Oh... what a wonderful house... I know this one... I'm curious if I... Indeed, I can open the door... I'll have a look inside... Awesome! That's what I call a library... and all that magical stuff... wands, potions, instruments, runes... wait a minute... could it be, that... yes! Of course, all that belongs to me. This is my residence... This great house, the magic, the respect of the inhabitants... I do remember! I am the town magician of Thais! But why did I leave Thais? What happened at the cathedral... Calm down... one step at a time. First of all, I should take a bath and change the dusty and blood-smeared clothes. And then, I will try to find out what happened...
Ah now, I feel like a new man. Almost forgot about that ring I've found in my pocket. After I cleaned it from dirt I can clearly see that it is a wedding ring. Could it be that I am married? My house does not look like as if someone else is living here as well. Maybe Lynda, the priest of the Great Pantheon can tell me more. Ah, another person I can remember. Lynda! No time to lose! Let's go. Where can I find her? Yes, right. North. Hopefully, she can help me.
“
Hear me! Hear me! It is Kingsday, people, let us celebrate and sing! Decorate Thais and let the bells ring! Come to the arena to hear the swords cling! Let us rejoice! Hail to the King!”
Kingsday! Of course! King Tibianus is celebrating his reign! King Tibianus... a royal mission? That rings a bell... shall I pay him a courtesy visit? But what about the ring?
Part VWell, I am sure the king is quite busy on a day like this. And he might not be amused if it was him who sent me on a mission and I can’t remember... Could be embarrassing... Also, I am sure I will be granted an audience after the spectacle as well. So, now let's bring this ring to Lynda, and hopefully she can enlighten me.
Bleeding hell! She ignores my question about this ring. What's it all about? Instead of telling me the truth she wants to talk about blessings... Like I would need blessings... Well, let's see if she does know anything about my mission... Aha... After all we now have a discussion about the good and evil gods... I am curious... Oh wait... this sounds interesting:
"
The Gods we call evil are Zathroth, Fafnar, Brog, Urgith, and the Archdemons!" That sounds familiar... "
What about these Archdemons, Lynda?" "
The demons are followers of Zathroth. The cruelest are known as the ruthless seven."
… The Ruthless seven... Could it be? A mission against the dark forces...? Let's ask her: "
Can you tell me more about the Ruthless seven?" "
I don't want to talk about that subject!"
ARGH... STUBBORN PRIEST!!!! I felt so close... ruthless seven... archdemons... Zathroth... damn secrecy... a weird and dangerous place... under the earth... dark thrones... Zathroth... no sunlight... eternal darkness... ruthless seven... reigned by the creatures of the night... pure evil...
WHAT WAS MY MISSION... Part VI - Rise of the Archdemonswritten by Dark SpikeI made an attempt to visit the king but to no avail, DAMN IT! If not for this Kingsday I might have been able to speak with him. Maybe I can find some answers back at my house; I must be overlooking something. First I will search my private study in my library. Success! I've come across letters from the king and notes I've taken down, and what's this? An old worn down book, about summoning forces... what is this cold chill running down my spine? As I ponder the secretive shortly written letters, I realize I'm fumbling the wedding ring through my fingers... the ring... yes, I remember now the ring was part of my disguise, I was undercover, acting as one of the cultists to get information for the king about a suspected cult stronghold. I was there with one of the king's Royal Guards; she was playing the role of my wife. I'm still not certain why I was investigating this particular cultist site, or what I learned from being there, but one thing is certain, I must go back. If the cult found out about us she could be in serious trouble. I must hurry!
What an agonizing ride back, I'm saddened that I was the cause for that poor horse's death, but I could not waste any time. I've made my way back into the dark cathedral, this time better prepared, I've suited myself with supplies I found back at my house: robes more fitting than the heavy armors I had to scavenge before, and a proper wand and spell book that feel so much better than that awkward sword and shield. I'm truly ready for anything these foul cultists throw at me. I've made my way back to where it all began, in the room I awoke lost from my memories. I see the blood and broken sword on the floor, and suddenly the room starts to spin... I think I'm going to be sick... all the memories are rushing back to me, I'm so dizzy from the rush of the memories. Avalie was her name, we were found out about by the cult, and were ambushed, Avalie being a wielder of the sword and close combat had taken some severe wounds but continued to fight like a champion as I cast destruction from a distance, we attempted to make a retreat and lost the horde for a brief moment in this room, that's when I suffered a blunt strike to the back of the head, just before I fainted I remember seeing her running out of the room taunting the bastards to lure them to her and away from me...
Even though we were not husband and wife, during our time together in this place we grew fond of each other, that's why she knocked me out, she knew I wouldn't willingly let her be a sacrifice for me, but whatever we found was more important than the love we had begun to share for each other. WHAT WAS IT THAT WAS SO DAMNED IMPORTANT, it's the only missing detail, and the most important.
What was that? A flash of light down the hall… and another, whatever it is, it's getting closer.
"CHAMEK ATH UTHUL ARAK"… it can't be… Demons? Here!? No! It's not just any demon, but one of the Archdemons! What have these idiots done! I must warn the king! If I do not warn him, this could be the end of our world, we must prepare we must… dear spirits, he's found me, we are all doomed.
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The End---
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