Post by Dansdaughter on Jul 19, 2009 10:53:32 GMT
Right just in case you didn't know it's supposed to be set out like a diary.
[glow=red,2,300]Paradox[/glow]
This journal depicts the battle between the forces of good and evil. Emily Isis Fortisque 1311
It started out a normal day, I have no idea how I got stuck in the middle of this, everything turned upside down that day, but I suppose it had to start somewhere. My quarters were practically sparkling, my desk had been polished and organised, the vials and flasks arranged on the rack, clothes packed in my trunk, books stacked and my hair bands hidden from view, it was good it hadn’t been like this in months.
I gave a large sigh of relief and threw myself on to the bed narrowly missing a bunch of freshly cut flowers, the bed groaned at the sudden force, it was very old I’d had it since I was 4 when my father was alive.
My father was the greatest hero of Gallomere; he had charged at the hordes of demons and undead in the Great War and made his way to Zarok where my father slaughtered him where he stood before dieing, mortally wounded.
Obviously I had my suspicions; let me explain, being the daughter of Sir Daniel Fortisque meant that I knew him more than most, yes there were many tales of his daring deeds but they were only tales, but King Peregrin loved his tales so much he soon gave my dad the title of King’s Guard, next thing he knew, he was leading the first charge into Zaroks hordes of un-natural creatures, unfortunately he had never fought before, the closest he had come to fighting was when he fell in a thorn bush while gardening. Needless to say he was killed, I don’t know when, but he was shot in the right eye. Though to this day people believe that Sir Daniel Fortique was the saviour of Gallomere. And so they should, hope is the most powerful weapon.
Although shamefully I am relieved he is dead, if he saw me now, I know what he would say “Battlemage, I can understand battle but why mage?!?”
He hated magic, a lot of the time he would slay evil witches in his stories though he was good friends with both the forest and pumpkin witches, I suppose it would always be a mystery but I still love him.
Today was my annual visit to his crypt and what seemed like my annual tidy up. I sat up and pulled a dusty trunk from under my bed, I locked my trunk with an enchantment where I only to touch the lock to open it, as I did a soft light flowed across the seams of the trunk, as the light faded it clicked open to reveal my armour which was based on my fathers. I slipped it on, it fitted exactly, of course it only covered my legs and chest so I had to wear my mage robes underneath the armour but I do like the hood and cape to be on the outside.
As I finished adjusting my armour I remembered to pick up my amulet, which was hanging from one of the torches.
This amulet gave me the right of passage to cast spells, amulets in the right hands can be devistating, since an amulet binds to the owner, once both are bound the closer they are to each other the more the casters spells are amplified, but spells are only learnt by defeating creatures.
Now it has been 25 years since the Great War, so creatures were a tad scarce in Gallomere so I don’t know too many spells, I use them mostly for cooking, nothing much else to do. I don’t have to worry too much about people trying to steal the amulet ether since now this was the last one and nobody knew it was an amulet, anyone that did try and steal it usually ended up in the graveyard.
As I walked through the courtyard with the vibrant bunch of flowers I noticed a strange man, he was dressed in clothing I had not seen in my lifetime facing the stain glass windows from what I could see he carried a walking stick and was reading a map, I slipped my flowers in the holders on my horse and approched the strange man, I discreatly peered over his shoulder, it was a map of the castle with a red ring round the castles library, before I could walk away the man spoke “ you know, that is quite rude Miss Fortisque” I took a step back in amazement it spoke in a low tone, as it turned I soon realised that it was not a man, it was a demon, at least I thought, I snapped out of my amazement and summoned my sword.
A faint outline of a long sword solidified and as the beast fled down the corridor, I followed, I knew where it was going and I used a short cut to the library. I ran my fingers down my blade a whispered and spell at which the sword glowed and formed into a blade of fire.
I walked down between the laberinth of books checking for the demon. I hadn’t had this much fun since the cook was chased by a dragonfrog. My footsteps echoed down the corridors as I remembered the look on the cooks face, but they couldn’t be my footsteps I was stood still, I jumped from behind a bookcase to find the demon reading a book, it’s red skin reflected off the bright pages of the book. I drew my sword and briefly swiped the air towards the creature, at which point it turned and stared at me, for no apparent reason I felt an ungodly amount of hatred for this beast, “you are so much like your father, irritating and brave” it snarled, I coldly replied “you are unworthy to even utter his name” it chuckled and threw me at a pillar, I cried out in pain and surprise as my arm cracked against the pillar, which soon collapsed narrowly missing me, I lay there astonished at the demons strength, but as it stood over me I saw in his walking stick a green jewel.
I now understood, it had zaroks jewel. How, I did not know but without the other six of Zaroks artifacts it could not keep that power. I heard the foot steps of the guards. The demon laughed and vanished along with the book, I cursed myself for letting my guard down and explained what had happened to the captain of the guard, who soon reassured me that the king would be informed. The king had gone on a “Business” trip so I did doubt that he would get the message in time but what could I do? I wasn’t allowed to fight yet I hadn’t finished my initiation.
I returned to my horse with my arm in a cast. I clambered on and rode to my fathers crypt. The graveyard that surrounded the crypt always gave me the creeps, I could of sworn the trees were peering down at me but I trudged on. The crypt itself was beautiful, the undertaker was particulaly fond of my dad and cleaned it every week. I personally have never seen the undertaker. As I opened the gate I looked up and saw the sign “FORTISQUE”. I suppose I might end up here one day, it was an exclusive spot.
I walked down the steps and met a gargole who politely greeted me, the gargole was worn and old, I had seen it quite often over the years and it was the only one I knew that didn’t insult you. Gargoles tended to resent people mainly because we can move from place to place which they cannot, they themselves are stuck to pedistalls or walls and can only speak in first person narrative for the rest of eternity, but this one was good company. “She returns once again” it cried in joy “good to see you once again I hope the year has been good to you?” I replied, the gargole nodded “ it has had many visitors this year it is thinking of going on vacation” we both chuckled and I then walked through the entrance, the stone walls were decorated with the family crest, which is a skull diagonally cut into two colours generally black and white. Torches lined the walls that lead to my fathers resting place there he lay in his armor, at least he can be at peace now.
I had made sure that he would not walk the earth again, even if zarok came back now and raised his undead army, my father would not join his ranks, I had embalmed him with a potion I had made, which would eventually run dry when he completely decomposes but I don’t think the demon would try to raise and undead army… no the guards would catch that demon before it could even lay it’s eyes upon the artifacts, I ajusted my fathers eye patch, I could of sworn I heard a voice every time I moved the eye patch. He had a hansome face and well groomed black hair, hair as black as ravens wings. I can see why people believed his tales. I looked at his skin, the embalming fluid worked well, he hadn’t really decomposed, now I layed my flowers down next to the slab. Suddenly a rush of cold wind washed over me, I froze.
I had no idea what just happened, was that magic? A second rush of cold air but this felt closer. I suddenly felt the room warp and return to normal I looked around, this was the most bizarre day I had ever had. A faint glow crawled out from under the door to the left of me which lead to the next room, I peered in through the key hole. My eye widened as I saw two figures and a large mechanical heap that hummed and whirred. It seemed to puff out steam into their faces I couldn’t make out who or what they were.
I could hear one yelp of annoyance at the steam. I think it was a woman, the second figure was wafting the steam around and mumbling curses I assumed that was a man, I stood there gaping in amazement and as the steam lifted. I saw a skeleton and a mummy with pale blue skin.
The skeleton was wearing a golden version of my fathers armour. I quickly glanced at my fathers corpse and then back at the walking corpse, I stood bemused as the figures stepped off of the mechanised monster, I could not help but gasp as they set foot onto the floor, the sound echoed around the room, the skeleton quickly turned and drew his sword. I clambered behind the slab where my father lay, knocking several torches off their stands. I could hear my heart pounding against my ribs, I wasn’t fit enough to fight two undead creatures, I couldn’t even wound a demon.
The door slowly creaked open. I could hear the clattering of bones drawing closer, I could feel the colour draining from my face. I hated undead things, the fact that they usually eat people really bothered me. The mummy spoke softly “Daniel, you didn’t tell me how handsome you were.” I felt like I had heard that voice before.
From what I could see in the dull reflection of an old shield the skeleton was inspecting the corpse, I couldn’t help myself I drew my sword and bellowed at the creatures “STAY AWAY FROM MY FATHER!” The mummy took two steps back in surprise but the skeleton quickly threatened my neck with it’s sword, as I gulped I could feel the edge of the blade tickle my neck, I spoke again but I could not hide the nervousness in my voice “now what manner of creatures desecrates such a noble mans tomb?” My eyes now fixated on the blade, which now dangled dangerously close to my throat, the mummy seemed to hide behind the skeleton who had changed expression and was now smiling, though now I realised it had no lower jaw, which would explain the mumbling. “Dan what’s wrong?” the mummy asked, (personally could think of a few things that were amiss.)
The skeleton lowered its sword and replied in a mumbled voice “ no Kiya nothings wrong, it’s just...This is my daughter.” I lowered my sword and looked quizzically at them both. I stuttered slightly “b-b-but how? Why? Who are you?” The mummy stepped closer for a better look at me, then the skeleton chuckled and turned to the mummy and gestured towards me “Kiya allow me to introduce my daughter, Emily Isis Fortisque” he gave me a beaming grin while both I and the mummy glanced at him in astonishment. I pointed at him and asked, “How do you know my name?” He quickly replied, “I’m your father. I know this is a little confusing...” I quickly interrupted “hold on you could be lying, answer me this, what was your favourite possession?” he paused deep in thought, then some how he blushed and quietly said “Mr quacks, my uh, teddy” both Kiya and I burst out laughing.
After a minute of laughter he carried on speaking “yes, yes very good but now I would like to introduce you to Kiya who is a mummy from Egypt” Kiya nodded in agreement and replied “your father rescued me from my eternal slumber” a smile crept across my face as I asked “by accident dad?” He shook his head “no, no I am a real hero now, we both have travelled back in time from 1886 and I’m glad you kept me safe” I blushed then turned to the fleshier Dan and replied “a hero in 1886 huh… since you’re, you know… dead, who woke you up?” I sat on the end of the slab and watched as Kiya stroked the lifeless dans’ hair.
He groaned and then explained, “Actually I was awoken twice, once in 1386 where Zarok once again raised his army of the undead along with myself, he soon regretted it. The next time an odd man named Palethorn found Zaroks spell book and set about conquering London. But…” I turned and looked at him and gestured to carry on.
Kiya explained, “we had thought Palethorn was defeated but the first journey back in the time machine we arrived in Zaroks arena where instead of finding Zarok we found Palethorn instead” I walked over to the metallic lump so that was a machine, I had heard of such a thing but never actually seen one. I started to probe at the machine, I asked, “uh… what did this Palethorn look like?” Kiya looked at me and replied, “he did have red skin and a walking stick but those are the only obvious features.” My eyes widened as I asked, “Was he wearing strange clothing?” Dan nodded.
As he turned towards me he realised whom I was talking about. I stood astonished at what had just happened, how easily time could change, only a few minutes ago I was thinking if should get some more candles, now I was dreading what would be outside.
I quickly rushed to the entrance “I think know I what palethorn is up to we have to get to the Captain of the Gua…” the words turned dry in my mouth. I was staring at a wave of zombies clawing through the gaps in the fence. I felt the colour drain from my face. This was my worst nightmare, stuck amongst a horde of flesh eating zombies.
I had no idea how I was going to get out of this.
I slumped and sat against the wall, mouth wide open. I watched Dan and Kiya walk pass to observe the situation, my father turned to me and said, “You haven’t seen this before have you?” I slowly shook my head then remembered that in the crypt there was a secret passage to the mausoleum. “Dad I know of a passage in your crypt, it leads to the mausoleum on the hill” he shook his head, picked up his sword, rested it on his shoulder and said, “right lets go.”
We walked briskly back into the crypt, I approached one of the tapestries and lifted it to reveal a small circle etched with symbols, I held my hand almost on top of the circle and took a deep breath and formed a small blue sphere which floated into the centre of the circle. If my dad had a jaw it would be dropping, I turned and confronted him “I know, I know I’ll tell you everything once we’re safe” the door clunked open and I stepped through the doorway.
[glow=red,2,300]Chapter 2[/glow]
I have often wondered what my father would have been like as an actual hero, I could see by the way he walked, he was more confident, now with Kiya by his side he seemed more relaxed but I could see him every now and then glance at me in disappointment, I could only nervously crack a grin as I lit the dark corridor with my glowing fingertips.
Kiya comforted me with a beaming smile, why she was so happy I don’t know but I’m glad someone was. We approached the exit, where I once again opened the lock with the small sphere, the stone door rumbled open.
Dan stepped through the doorway and checked inside, I soon followed the room was huge; the room seemed covered in stain glass windows. We followed the long elegant carpet to the section that was locked by a gate.
I sat on one of the benches beside the gate; Kiya joined me on the bench and spoke to me softly “I don’t quite understand. Dan do you not like magic?” Dan sat anxiously on the bench opposite and sighed, Dan then unwillingly explained, “no, I don’t like magic one bit” Kiya turned to Dan and replied “but magic brought us together Dan, I’d of thought you’d be more understanding of what Emily is…” Kiya gestured towards me, I caught on and explained “uh battle mage, I’m a battle mage” I blushed as Dan stared at me, he soon replied “Battlemage, I can understand battle but why mage?!?” I knew he would say that. I shrugged “what else was I suppose to do, you died when I was five!?!” Dan tried to interupt but Kiya gave him a sharp look which stopped him in his tracks, I continued “thank god I did find this amulet otherwise I would of starved!” I slumped on the bench and whispered “I had no one else…”
I felt an evil presence, I could hear hollow, sarcastic clapping coming from behind the gate, we turned around. It was Palethorn, he was on the other side of the gate, he spoke in a calm sadistic tone “well, well, well Dan I knew you didn’t have a heart but I didn’t think you were heartless” Dan jumped up to confront Palethorn, Kiya stood by Dan’s side, I stayed on the bench and only gave an unimpressed glance. I didn’t care Palethorn was here I was still in shock that my father was dissappointed in me. Any way there was no way to get to Palethorn the gate was locked from the inside.
Dan glared at the ominous figure “what are you up to Palethorn?” Palethorn soon after chuckled and replied “you really need to stop mumbling Dan, but I do need to be off, now I have a map of the whereabouts of Zaroks artifacts, so I have a very busy schedule.”
The cracking of glass echoed though out the mausoleum. The stain glass window behind Palethorn began to crack. It was a failsafe, Zarok placed an enchantment over the tombs before he was banished, so that tomb raiders would not desecrate the tombs and Palethorn obviously disturbed the tombs, I knew what I had to do. I immediately jumped to my feet and positioned myself in front of Dan and Kiya, Palethorn backed away but before he could escape the doors in the mausoleum slammed shut forcing the stain glass window to shatter into a cloud of shards. As the dust lifted, I stood arms outstretched unharmed along with Dan and Kiya, who were both astonished at what had just happed, Palethorn on the other hand was covered in cuts, the glass decorated his suit.
The glass seemed to have a life of it’s own, it withdrew from their resting places to form a humanoid shape. It was a stain glass demon, Palethorn exclaimed “bugger this” he then knocked the gate before vanishing in a cloud of green smoke. The gate swung open, it was cut to pieces. After palethorn had escaped I soon realised the sharp pain shooting up my arm, I quickly put my arm back into the sling.
Dan quickly drew his sword and wielded his shield; Kiya then drew two blades from her boots and advised me to sit this one out, so I stood and watched by the gate. The daemon threw several shards around the room, Dan pulled off some impressive somersaults to dodge the shards. I shielded myself from the shards. Kiya started to run along the shards of glass that had embedded into the wall, Kiya was approaching the creature, while Dan was distracting the demon by hurling shards back at it. I watched in amazement, they were a good team. Kiya jumped towards the daemon, tearing its glass back apart, the daemon writhed in pain, it desperately tried to claw Kiya off its back, from under it’s glass ribs I could see a beating heart which was made of a bright red crystal. Dan tried to throw a shard into the demons heart but tripped at the last moment. I knew I had to strike the heart. I summoned all of my might and abruptly jolted my hand foreword sending a bolt of lighting hurtling from my fingertips. With a mighty crash the demon came shattering down along with Kiya.
Dan helped Kiya to her feet and looked at me bemused “how many spell do you know?” I shrugged “that was a first for me” I tried to hide the fact that knocked seven bells out of me and decided to sit down and take a breather. Dan decided to rummage in amongst the glass shards, while Kiya dusted herself off.
I rubbed my temples and let out a sigh or relief, as the pain from my arm lifted, I looked under my sling and watched the veins in my arm pulse a luminous green, I was taken aback at what had just happened I must learnt how to heal by destroying the daemon. I straightened my arm and exclaimed “I think I just learnt how to heal!” Kiya smiled and clapped in excitement “wonderful! That will come in handy.” Dan continued to rummage through the shards and muttered under his breath.
Kiya tumbled over a rolled up piece of parchment, Dan caught Kiya while still looking through the shards. I walked over to the parchment and unrolled it “what is this?” I passed the parchment over to Kiya who inspected it with Dan. Dan face lit up “this must be a spare map to Zarok’s artefacts, wow a lot has changed” I was confused as to what he meant “what’s changed?” Dan chuckled “well when I was brought back in 1386 there was an enchanted forest right there” Dan pointed to where a tree was on the map, Kiya and I were a bit baffled as to what he was on about “uh dad enough reminiscing we need to get to the artefacts before Palethorn does. Some how.” Dan nodded “your right. Ok I think we should go to there first.” Dan pointed to the centre of the graveyard to an artefact named “Anubis stone”. I knew we would have to get out of the mausoleum sometime but I couldn’t help but dread the thought. I slipped out a small green vial from under my armour and took a sip, Dan noticed me at the corner of his eye “what is that?” I slid the vial back under my armour “a potion” Dan looked at me impatiently “yes I know that, where did you get that?” Kiya abruptly hit Dan on his arm making his armour jolt forward and Dan immediately rubbed his arm while muttering to Kiya, I sighed, “If you must know I made it, it revitalises magical energy” Dan paused in thought and shrugged. Kiya stepped towards me and held out her arm, which had a rather deep slash that lined the whole of her arm. She smiled “would you mind healing me?” I peered over the gaping wound. I shuddered. I wasn’t squeamish but that was a wound that would make a knight squirm. But a wave of my hand the cooling green light washed away the wound and resealed the bandages. Kiya smiled and looked passed my shoulder, for a moment I wondered why but I soon realised Dan had been intensely observing over my shoulder. My heart fluttered both in fear and joy, my father was getting used to the idea that I used magic.
Without further notice Dan stepped out of the broken window onto the hill. The hill was tall enough to be partially shrouded in a thin layer of cloud. As soon as I stepped outside a gust of wind chilled me to the bone, I stood on top of the hill overlooking a wave of decomposing corpses trying to climb the hill, thankfully they would topple after a certain height and tumbled through several other zombies in the process.
Through chattering teeth I asked, “do you want me to even the odds?” Kiya looked at me curiously “how will you do that?” I smiled. I had learnt how to roast 5 boars at once this should be easy, now that no one would complain about how crispy it was. I put up my hood and closed my eyes. I focused purely on the bottom of the hill. With the swift flickering of my eyelids a wall of fire rose from the ground inches from the zombies. With all my strength I pushed the wall of fire back towards the gate, evaporating the zombies to ashes. After I had finished I fell onto my back and with a thump lay face upward, I looked at the amulet that was tucked into my chest plate; it was as pale as my skin. I hadn’t used that much energy before. Dan and Kiya kneeled beside me to see if I was ok, I smiled up at them both and sipped from the vial once again “not bad huh?” Dan smiled “yeah, but it looks like you need a bit of practice though.” Kiya gave him a rap on the shoulder; Dan and Kiya pulled me to my feet. Dan and Kiya set off down the hill. I knew better then to walk down. I summoned my shield then quickly jumped on to the shield and sped off down the hill, while dodging the ash piles and rocks I gave Dan and Kiya a beaming grin and waved as I rushed past. When I eventually came to a stop I saw them both, they had done the same and surfed down the hill, they weren’t too bad, there were gonna be a few dents in the shield but nothing that a hammer can’t fix.
I cheered them the rest of the way down the hill, as they came to a stop I could see the excitement on Dan’s face and the terror on Kiya’s. I couldn’t help but laugh. Kiya abruptly started to straighten what was her petrified hair. Dan cheered, “That was fantastic! What do you call that?” I smiled smugly “dirt boarding” Dan continued “I hadn’t felt that alive since well when I was alive” Dan patted me on the back. I smiled “so defeating evil means nothing to the great Sir Daniel Fortisque?” Dan chuckled “ah you know what I mean.”
As we were talking Kiya approached the gate and drew one of her daggers and swiftly stabbed the lock “ta da!” the gate swung open, well I was impressed. I started to walk down the path but froze to the spot as I watched a crowd of staggering figures clamber up the path, Dan chuckled and slapped me on the back “try to turn your fear to aggression, that’s what I did.” I wondered if it was really that simple, well I had to do something I couldn’t just freeze every time something came round the corner. I shrugged off my fear and charged at them, crying out in rage I bulldozed my way into the horde, I hacked and sliced until the zombies were in tiny little chunks. I was quite chuffed with myself I didn’t know how easy it was; well I wasn’t afraid of zombies any more. Dan clapped and cheered enthusiastically “Yeah! That’s my girl!” both Dan and Kiya had watched as I mowed down the undead crowed, I blushed and sheathed my sword, I gave out an embarrassed chuckle “uh yeah shouldn’t we…” I gestured down the path, Kiya and Dan set off down the path.
[glow=red,2,300]Chapter 3[/glow]
The closer we got to the little house the stronger the stench of rotting flesh became, I assumed this was the undertakers house, by the time we reached the door I had stuffed the corks from my vials up my nose as to avoid the smell, Dan wondered why I was complaining, Kiya found it highly amusing. Dan rapped on the door. There was a short pause then the door creaked open to reveal a short hunched figure with glowing green eyes, the small man picked up a shovel near the door and leaped onto Dan. Dan and the man wrestled on the ground, I drew my sword and Kiya drew hers, Dan shouted “Don’t kill him he’s possessed!” Kiya then grabbed the little man and pulled him up so that his legs dangled in the air. Dan stood up and dusted himself off. I was confused “what do you mean possessed?” Dan pulled two lengths of string from the inside of his chest plate “ one of the spells in Zarok’s spell book allows the caster to control the living as well as the dead” I looked up at him in terror I was at risk, what stopped palethorn from controlling me? I quickly looked away and sheathed my sword and nervously asked “a...any way uh where’s this Anubis Stone?” Dan and Kiya finished tying the undertaker to one of the many wooden beams that lined the room, the undertaker gnawed at the rope but Kiya soon stuffed an old sock in his mouth.
We then started to look for some sort of switch, as the map shows a tunnel that would lead to the stone. Kiya soon found something behind the chest of drawers, Kiya called me over from my search from the sock draw I was relieved. Kiya and Dan stepped away from the wall so that I could get a better look. It was an old hole the rim was decorated by an ancient language. I looked into the deep dark hole at the end a tiny blue light could be seen. Dan crouched beside me “can you translate it?” I focused on the text that lined the hole and nodded slowly “it says something about a switch at the end of this hole…” I stood up and looked up in thought “but there is no way to reach it”, Kiya looked at Dan’s head Dan looked back at Kiya puzzled, but his expression soon turned to surprise as Kiya took Dan’s head and dashed out the door. I didn’t notice until Dan’s body fumbled about irritated. It shocked me to see my dad without a head but luckily Kiya returned shortly with Dan’s head on a severed hand, Dan seemed to have simultaneous control of both his body and the hand. Dan looked up a Kiya “next time ask” I looked down at him and couldn’t help but laugh “handy” Dan frowned. Kiya nodded and placed Dan in the hole.
The sound of skittering faded I turned to Kiya and asked, “So how did you meet my dad?” Kiya smiled and sat on the rickety bed I joined her, “I met your father for the first time when he released me from my tomb but I feinted under the stress from being released from my tomb” I had no idea what a tomb was but I could guess it was like a crypt, she continued “the next thing I knew was in professor Kift’s laboratory, there I fell in love with your father, he was so brave and heroic. I wanted to help so when your father couldn’t be in two places at once I volunteered to go, your father strongly advised I didn’t but I am very persuasive. Anyway I went to investigate but a monster almost killed me, but Dan arrived just in time to kill the creature but a funny thing happened after the fight. I saw two Dan’s the one that saved me was dressed in strange tribal clothes the other that had arrived was dressed as a Victorian gentleman, when they both touched they both formed as one and created the gold armour that he wears now” I hollow clunk could be herd from the hole which was soon followed by a frustrated cry, I chuckled softly “that explains a lot. Do you guys have any more tricks I should know about?” Kiya paused briefly then shook her head. Suddenly the sound of stone grating against each other filled the house and the wall where the hole grew to reveal a long dark corridor. I stood and peered down the dark corridor, little Dan came skittering from the dark archway and Dan’s body picked the head up and put it back in its rightful place. Kiya took one of the old barely lit lanterns that were sitting on the small table in the centre. I gestured towards the dark corridor “after you.” Dan took the lead and we soon followed.
It wasn’t long before I got tired of walking around aimlessly in the dark, it felt like hours since I had breathed in fresh air. The musky air in the tunnels clouded all around us I could just see the light from the lantern, when this is all over I will make sure I will not step foot in another dank, dark, musty corridor again. As we turned round a bend the smell of rotting flesh hit me it was so repulsive I began to gag, Dan stood still I could tell he had found someone. Dan suddenly dashed no more than two feet before disappearing. Kiya soon joined him. I struggled to follow but when I reached where Dan had disappeared the air was clear and fresh. I was astonished but the smell was still getting stronger. I encountered a dead end. I knew they couldn’t have vanished, so I began to ready myself to push the wall, I rammed at the wall. But to my disbelief it was an illusion and I had fallen through and landed flat on my face on the other side. I was a bit woozy but I could vaguely see Dan and Kiya fighting what seemed to be two men, but as I regained my full senses I could see that they actually were decomposing demons. One a smartly dressed, well spoken Lizardman with peeling skin the other a scruffy, gruffly voiced dogman with no skin what so ever the sight of these creatures almost made me throw up. I now knew the source of the smell was coming from them. Once I had once again stuffed the corks from my vials up my nose I then got to work on these demons I had a bone to pick with them. Once again using full concentration, I summoned a wall of fire to surround them both; I could hear the shrilled cries in horror of the creatures. Dan nodded at me to deal the final blow, at which the room became silent. Once the smoke had cleared I could see that the room was decorated in an unknown ancient language, and at the centre of the room the crisp corpse of the dogman turned to dust but as for the Lizardman he had seemed to disappear. Thankfully they did not have the Anubis stone, but we soon would. As Kiya pulled a substantially large leaver the Anubis stone raised from the centre of the room. Dan briskly took the large shield like stone from its pedestal; the stone itself was decorated in an Egyptian manner from what Kiya had told me. The centre of the stone was a scarab, which had brilliant vibrant blue wings, which decorated much of the shield.
I insisted that I looked after the stone. I then took the satchel from around my waist and opened it wide to engulf the stone. I had enchanted the satchel to carry an infinite amount of items. The stone swiftly disappeared into the dark infinite space. Part of the enchantment allows items to be accessed by thought, which has come in useful more than once.
I unplugged the corks from my nose; the ends were darkened with blood. I must of hit the floor harder than I thought, I dabbed my nose with a dishcloth that I had pulled from my satchel. Kiya beamed a brilliant grin of satisfaction as she turned to the wall but her smile soon faded when she tried to walk through. The wall had turned solid. Dan walked up to the wall and pounded a single skeletal fist on the wall. I walked up to the pedestal and leaned against it “what now?” Dan turned to Kiya and whispered, “there’s no way out” I could hear him but I appreciated that he didn’t want to cause any panic. But I couldn’t see any way out the inscriptions on the walls and the floors were too worn away to read, and there was no sign of a door. I dabbed my nose again and put the dishcloth way, I noticed a single minuscule droplet of blood fall in the centre of the pedestal.
The droplet sizzled and steamed. The room started to shake then the floor started to crumble beneath us.
[glow=red,2,300]Chapter 4[/glow]
For a brief moment while we plummeted down what seemed like a bottomless hole, I thought that this could be a dream, I have had many dreams where I was falling but I would usually wake up by now. Dan and Kiya both screamed in an odd harmony, I closed my eyes and focused on purely on slowing our decent. I could feel the fast approaching ground. The screams faded we slowed but it wasn’t enough to completely stop our decent. The clattering of bones and clanking of metal echoed round the large room. Dan slowly pulled himself up; I faced upwards breathing in deeply and slowly. I clenched my teeth and pulled myself up. I popped out one of the corks and swigged the whole vial and shook off the sharp taste of the viscous liquid. Dan lifted Kiya gracefully on to her feet. They started to kiss passionately but I looked the other way how was that possible anyway? “Get a crypt guys” I gazed around the room nothing but seared rocks the room was like an arena. It wasn’t too long before our host arrived, a small scrawny man walked from behind the pile of large rocks, the man was dressed purely in green his felt hat was tilted as to hide his face. He carried a flaming crossbow with him. Dan’s expression changed “Tim?” The man looked menacingly up at Dan, his eyes glowed a distorted green “hello Dan, long time no see and Emily my, my you’ve grown.” I stepped back in astonishment “uncle Tim? But your…” Tim lifted his green tunic to reveal several blood stained holes in his decomposing torso, he chuckled “now it’s time for you to meet your maker” Tim swiped his hands upwards and the floor started to crack and break apart and reveal a lake of lava that veined across the arena. I was dangerously dangling on the edge; I struggled to regain balance I could hear my cape being seared by the lava. I jumped on to a large patch and quickly summoned my sword. Dan and Kiya were dodging ball of fire that Tim had created using his crossbow. Tim wasn’t my real uncle he used to look after me when I was small, whenever Dan had to go with the king to open some new Mc Cluckings Tim was there to tell me my fathers adventures some of the times he would scare himself by accident it was strange to see him like this. As I started to enclose on Tim he then turned his attention towards me throwing three large menacing fireballs towards me. I grinned as I somersaulted to the left then back to the right dodging two of the fireballs finally I flipped backwards and gracefully landed on my feet. Without breaking a sweat in this swelteringly hot room I beamed a grin at Tim and replied, “You still have a bad aim.” Tim snarled and sharply swiped his hand upwards, immediately a wall of fire that rose from the lava around me, leaving me trapped inside. I hastily placed my hand on my chest plate and activated the enchantment, which was to freeze. It was a frost shield; the summers were very hot in Gallomere. Thankfully I could feel the effect after a short moment, the heat soon felt like a light summers breeze. But the enchantment could only last so long under this pressure. I could see over the top of the flames Kiya trying push a rock to split the wall of flames. There was a brief moment where the flames parted to reveal Dan and Tim both throwing things back and forth to each other. There was a sudden crash and a large boulder came tumbling down splitting the wall of fire.
With a sigh of relief I hastily pulled myself up onto the rocks and onto the next patch of land. I turned the enchantment off as I was starting to freeze now I was out of the fire. Kiya smiled and nodded then ran off towards Tim, I quickly followed. Tim had created a pillar of molten rock so that he could fire at Dan below.
It’s time to stop playing around. I swiftly drew a slim sharp spear from within the satchel and whistled loudly. Every one stopped and turned towards me, I steadied the spear gazed at Tim and finally threw the spear and the spear hit true and pierced directly into his decaying torso, the crunching sound echoed round the room and through my ears. There was a mighty crash as Tim fell to the floor. Then the area was silent and the lava slowly turned back to rock.
It was ironic really Tim was the one that taught me to use spears and bows. I slowly walked over towards the pillar, which had turned to stone once again and swiped my hands downwards. The rock slowly started to sink back into the ground. As I waited for the pillar to sink fully into the ground I glanced over at Dan who was helping Kiya out from beneath a rock. The pillar had finally sunk into the ground and Tim’s hunched over skeletal corpse was now visible, the spear had only just gone through Tim and peeked out from the other side, I bent over and picked the spear from his corpse then wiped the crusted blood onto the sand. Once the spear was clean I placed it back inside the satchel. I stretched. I was aching all over. That was the only thing the potion couldn’t fix, the bruises. I turned towards Dan and Kiya they were both struggling to lift the rock. I rolled my eyes and chuckled “ let me help” I punched the air and the rock shattered, showering Kiya with small pebbles. I glanced over my shoulder at what was left of Canny Tim it was such a shame to see his corpse be defiled. I was going to make sure that Palethorn was going to pay. But I was just glad I was alive. I waved my hands across my face and a green light flowed across my armour, revitalising me. Now I was ready for any more surprises that Palethorn might throw at us. I was glad that Karl Sturnguard wasn’t here he’d have a field day, he’d say how he was bound to fail because he didn’t have a shield. Karl was a proud German shield smith. Well he did defeat Zarok’s left flank with only his shield, so he had a good reason to gloat. Him and dirk steadfast would always bicker over swords and shields. I still thought he was an absolute nut ball.
Dan had finally pulled Kiya from the rubble and started to help brush the pebbles off, Kiya glanced over towards me briefly then continued to brush the pebbles away, but she then looked at me in a very peculiar way. It wasn’t long before I found out why, a skeletal hand rested on my shoulder, once I realised I recoiled in horror and turned round to see Tim gazing into my eyes, I could hear Dan and Kiya yelling at me to get away but it was too late. Tim had launched his grotesque skeletal and closed it round my neck. I squirmed but it was no use. Tim’s grip tightened and I was lifted from the floor.
Chapter 5
I tried to gasp for air, but Tim tightened his grip once again. I looked into his eyes and could see the real Tim inside screaming through his eyes. I couldn’t set my eyes off him; the longer I stared I felt like I was falling. The undead Tim then started to give out piercing scream as his eyes flashed into a violent green. The light embedded in the back of my eyes, blinding me. Tim’s grip then suddenly loosened and I dropped to the floor. I scrambled away rubbing my eyes, Tim’s scream faded as the sound of cracking skin surged round the room.
Shortly after I felt Dan’s bony hands lift me to my feet. Warped figures moved about in the blurred arena, Kiya exclaimed, “are you alright?” I blinked furiously to regain my sight before I replied, “I’m fine he just blinded me a bit” as my eyesight returned I watched Dan roll his eye as Kiya flew in to give me a flying hug. Once Kiya let go of our embrace and when I caught my breath I glanced over toward Dan who was now sweeping his rake like fingers through the pile of ash, which was previously Tim, Dan had found a small orb like stone.
Kiya seemed keen to inspect the stone; she dusted it off and asked for the Anubis stone, which I happily supplied and I then understood that the stone fitted in the centre of the scarab.
Once the stone was completed it glowed a luminescent blue and shook violently and briefly shone a beam of light onto the pile of ash. This made both Dan and I jump several feet back in shock, as the ash whipped up into a cloud. I squinted through the dust cloud and Tim’s figure was revealed behind a fog like shroud. Tim gave me a broad smile then saluted and Dan returned the salute “thank you sir I can now finally pass onto the hall of heroes, if you ever desire my help don’t hesitate to visit” and with a supernatural wisp of wind Tim faded away.
There was a long pause before Dan broke the silence “Palethorn is going to pay for this” I slowly nodded “he will soon enough but what did Tim mean by visit?” Dan swivelled on his heels “uh… what the hall of heroes? Well… if we want to go there we need to collect trapped souls to be able to be summoned there.” At which I responded, “Oh that’s nice but really what is the hall of heroes?” Dan paused in thought “ well to put it bluntly heaven exclusively for heroes” Kiya clapped her hands in excitement “you told me about this you have a statue up there don’t you?” I look at Dan with a look of slight disbelief which he nodded and replied “it’s true I lived up there for a good couple of centuries, but the statue won’t be there yet until well I decompose” I shrugged “ok if you say so, anyway… we could go if we use this” I pulled the amulet from my chest plate and dangled it in front of them both, Dan grinned and clapped his hand together “right then lets go!” And with a blink of an eye we were gone.
[glow=red,2,300]Paradox[/glow]
This journal depicts the battle between the forces of good and evil. Emily Isis Fortisque 1311
It started out a normal day, I have no idea how I got stuck in the middle of this, everything turned upside down that day, but I suppose it had to start somewhere. My quarters were practically sparkling, my desk had been polished and organised, the vials and flasks arranged on the rack, clothes packed in my trunk, books stacked and my hair bands hidden from view, it was good it hadn’t been like this in months.
I gave a large sigh of relief and threw myself on to the bed narrowly missing a bunch of freshly cut flowers, the bed groaned at the sudden force, it was very old I’d had it since I was 4 when my father was alive.
My father was the greatest hero of Gallomere; he had charged at the hordes of demons and undead in the Great War and made his way to Zarok where my father slaughtered him where he stood before dieing, mortally wounded.
Obviously I had my suspicions; let me explain, being the daughter of Sir Daniel Fortisque meant that I knew him more than most, yes there were many tales of his daring deeds but they were only tales, but King Peregrin loved his tales so much he soon gave my dad the title of King’s Guard, next thing he knew, he was leading the first charge into Zaroks hordes of un-natural creatures, unfortunately he had never fought before, the closest he had come to fighting was when he fell in a thorn bush while gardening. Needless to say he was killed, I don’t know when, but he was shot in the right eye. Though to this day people believe that Sir Daniel Fortique was the saviour of Gallomere. And so they should, hope is the most powerful weapon.
Although shamefully I am relieved he is dead, if he saw me now, I know what he would say “Battlemage, I can understand battle but why mage?!?”
He hated magic, a lot of the time he would slay evil witches in his stories though he was good friends with both the forest and pumpkin witches, I suppose it would always be a mystery but I still love him.
Today was my annual visit to his crypt and what seemed like my annual tidy up. I sat up and pulled a dusty trunk from under my bed, I locked my trunk with an enchantment where I only to touch the lock to open it, as I did a soft light flowed across the seams of the trunk, as the light faded it clicked open to reveal my armour which was based on my fathers. I slipped it on, it fitted exactly, of course it only covered my legs and chest so I had to wear my mage robes underneath the armour but I do like the hood and cape to be on the outside.
As I finished adjusting my armour I remembered to pick up my amulet, which was hanging from one of the torches.
This amulet gave me the right of passage to cast spells, amulets in the right hands can be devistating, since an amulet binds to the owner, once both are bound the closer they are to each other the more the casters spells are amplified, but spells are only learnt by defeating creatures.
Now it has been 25 years since the Great War, so creatures were a tad scarce in Gallomere so I don’t know too many spells, I use them mostly for cooking, nothing much else to do. I don’t have to worry too much about people trying to steal the amulet ether since now this was the last one and nobody knew it was an amulet, anyone that did try and steal it usually ended up in the graveyard.
As I walked through the courtyard with the vibrant bunch of flowers I noticed a strange man, he was dressed in clothing I had not seen in my lifetime facing the stain glass windows from what I could see he carried a walking stick and was reading a map, I slipped my flowers in the holders on my horse and approched the strange man, I discreatly peered over his shoulder, it was a map of the castle with a red ring round the castles library, before I could walk away the man spoke “ you know, that is quite rude Miss Fortisque” I took a step back in amazement it spoke in a low tone, as it turned I soon realised that it was not a man, it was a demon, at least I thought, I snapped out of my amazement and summoned my sword.
A faint outline of a long sword solidified and as the beast fled down the corridor, I followed, I knew where it was going and I used a short cut to the library. I ran my fingers down my blade a whispered and spell at which the sword glowed and formed into a blade of fire.
I walked down between the laberinth of books checking for the demon. I hadn’t had this much fun since the cook was chased by a dragonfrog. My footsteps echoed down the corridors as I remembered the look on the cooks face, but they couldn’t be my footsteps I was stood still, I jumped from behind a bookcase to find the demon reading a book, it’s red skin reflected off the bright pages of the book. I drew my sword and briefly swiped the air towards the creature, at which point it turned and stared at me, for no apparent reason I felt an ungodly amount of hatred for this beast, “you are so much like your father, irritating and brave” it snarled, I coldly replied “you are unworthy to even utter his name” it chuckled and threw me at a pillar, I cried out in pain and surprise as my arm cracked against the pillar, which soon collapsed narrowly missing me, I lay there astonished at the demons strength, but as it stood over me I saw in his walking stick a green jewel.
I now understood, it had zaroks jewel. How, I did not know but without the other six of Zaroks artifacts it could not keep that power. I heard the foot steps of the guards. The demon laughed and vanished along with the book, I cursed myself for letting my guard down and explained what had happened to the captain of the guard, who soon reassured me that the king would be informed. The king had gone on a “Business” trip so I did doubt that he would get the message in time but what could I do? I wasn’t allowed to fight yet I hadn’t finished my initiation.
I returned to my horse with my arm in a cast. I clambered on and rode to my fathers crypt. The graveyard that surrounded the crypt always gave me the creeps, I could of sworn the trees were peering down at me but I trudged on. The crypt itself was beautiful, the undertaker was particulaly fond of my dad and cleaned it every week. I personally have never seen the undertaker. As I opened the gate I looked up and saw the sign “FORTISQUE”. I suppose I might end up here one day, it was an exclusive spot.
I walked down the steps and met a gargole who politely greeted me, the gargole was worn and old, I had seen it quite often over the years and it was the only one I knew that didn’t insult you. Gargoles tended to resent people mainly because we can move from place to place which they cannot, they themselves are stuck to pedistalls or walls and can only speak in first person narrative for the rest of eternity, but this one was good company. “She returns once again” it cried in joy “good to see you once again I hope the year has been good to you?” I replied, the gargole nodded “ it has had many visitors this year it is thinking of going on vacation” we both chuckled and I then walked through the entrance, the stone walls were decorated with the family crest, which is a skull diagonally cut into two colours generally black and white. Torches lined the walls that lead to my fathers resting place there he lay in his armor, at least he can be at peace now.
I had made sure that he would not walk the earth again, even if zarok came back now and raised his undead army, my father would not join his ranks, I had embalmed him with a potion I had made, which would eventually run dry when he completely decomposes but I don’t think the demon would try to raise and undead army… no the guards would catch that demon before it could even lay it’s eyes upon the artifacts, I ajusted my fathers eye patch, I could of sworn I heard a voice every time I moved the eye patch. He had a hansome face and well groomed black hair, hair as black as ravens wings. I can see why people believed his tales. I looked at his skin, the embalming fluid worked well, he hadn’t really decomposed, now I layed my flowers down next to the slab. Suddenly a rush of cold wind washed over me, I froze.
I had no idea what just happened, was that magic? A second rush of cold air but this felt closer. I suddenly felt the room warp and return to normal I looked around, this was the most bizarre day I had ever had. A faint glow crawled out from under the door to the left of me which lead to the next room, I peered in through the key hole. My eye widened as I saw two figures and a large mechanical heap that hummed and whirred. It seemed to puff out steam into their faces I couldn’t make out who or what they were.
I could hear one yelp of annoyance at the steam. I think it was a woman, the second figure was wafting the steam around and mumbling curses I assumed that was a man, I stood there gaping in amazement and as the steam lifted. I saw a skeleton and a mummy with pale blue skin.
The skeleton was wearing a golden version of my fathers armour. I quickly glanced at my fathers corpse and then back at the walking corpse, I stood bemused as the figures stepped off of the mechanised monster, I could not help but gasp as they set foot onto the floor, the sound echoed around the room, the skeleton quickly turned and drew his sword. I clambered behind the slab where my father lay, knocking several torches off their stands. I could hear my heart pounding against my ribs, I wasn’t fit enough to fight two undead creatures, I couldn’t even wound a demon.
The door slowly creaked open. I could hear the clattering of bones drawing closer, I could feel the colour draining from my face. I hated undead things, the fact that they usually eat people really bothered me. The mummy spoke softly “Daniel, you didn’t tell me how handsome you were.” I felt like I had heard that voice before.
From what I could see in the dull reflection of an old shield the skeleton was inspecting the corpse, I couldn’t help myself I drew my sword and bellowed at the creatures “STAY AWAY FROM MY FATHER!” The mummy took two steps back in surprise but the skeleton quickly threatened my neck with it’s sword, as I gulped I could feel the edge of the blade tickle my neck, I spoke again but I could not hide the nervousness in my voice “now what manner of creatures desecrates such a noble mans tomb?” My eyes now fixated on the blade, which now dangled dangerously close to my throat, the mummy seemed to hide behind the skeleton who had changed expression and was now smiling, though now I realised it had no lower jaw, which would explain the mumbling. “Dan what’s wrong?” the mummy asked, (personally could think of a few things that were amiss.)
The skeleton lowered its sword and replied in a mumbled voice “ no Kiya nothings wrong, it’s just...This is my daughter.” I lowered my sword and looked quizzically at them both. I stuttered slightly “b-b-but how? Why? Who are you?” The mummy stepped closer for a better look at me, then the skeleton chuckled and turned to the mummy and gestured towards me “Kiya allow me to introduce my daughter, Emily Isis Fortisque” he gave me a beaming grin while both I and the mummy glanced at him in astonishment. I pointed at him and asked, “How do you know my name?” He quickly replied, “I’m your father. I know this is a little confusing...” I quickly interrupted “hold on you could be lying, answer me this, what was your favourite possession?” he paused deep in thought, then some how he blushed and quietly said “Mr quacks, my uh, teddy” both Kiya and I burst out laughing.
After a minute of laughter he carried on speaking “yes, yes very good but now I would like to introduce you to Kiya who is a mummy from Egypt” Kiya nodded in agreement and replied “your father rescued me from my eternal slumber” a smile crept across my face as I asked “by accident dad?” He shook his head “no, no I am a real hero now, we both have travelled back in time from 1886 and I’m glad you kept me safe” I blushed then turned to the fleshier Dan and replied “a hero in 1886 huh… since you’re, you know… dead, who woke you up?” I sat on the end of the slab and watched as Kiya stroked the lifeless dans’ hair.
He groaned and then explained, “Actually I was awoken twice, once in 1386 where Zarok once again raised his army of the undead along with myself, he soon regretted it. The next time an odd man named Palethorn found Zaroks spell book and set about conquering London. But…” I turned and looked at him and gestured to carry on.
Kiya explained, “we had thought Palethorn was defeated but the first journey back in the time machine we arrived in Zaroks arena where instead of finding Zarok we found Palethorn instead” I walked over to the metallic lump so that was a machine, I had heard of such a thing but never actually seen one. I started to probe at the machine, I asked, “uh… what did this Palethorn look like?” Kiya looked at me and replied, “he did have red skin and a walking stick but those are the only obvious features.” My eyes widened as I asked, “Was he wearing strange clothing?” Dan nodded.
As he turned towards me he realised whom I was talking about. I stood astonished at what had just happened, how easily time could change, only a few minutes ago I was thinking if should get some more candles, now I was dreading what would be outside.
I quickly rushed to the entrance “I think know I what palethorn is up to we have to get to the Captain of the Gua…” the words turned dry in my mouth. I was staring at a wave of zombies clawing through the gaps in the fence. I felt the colour drain from my face. This was my worst nightmare, stuck amongst a horde of flesh eating zombies.
I had no idea how I was going to get out of this.
I slumped and sat against the wall, mouth wide open. I watched Dan and Kiya walk pass to observe the situation, my father turned to me and said, “You haven’t seen this before have you?” I slowly shook my head then remembered that in the crypt there was a secret passage to the mausoleum. “Dad I know of a passage in your crypt, it leads to the mausoleum on the hill” he shook his head, picked up his sword, rested it on his shoulder and said, “right lets go.”
We walked briskly back into the crypt, I approached one of the tapestries and lifted it to reveal a small circle etched with symbols, I held my hand almost on top of the circle and took a deep breath and formed a small blue sphere which floated into the centre of the circle. If my dad had a jaw it would be dropping, I turned and confronted him “I know, I know I’ll tell you everything once we’re safe” the door clunked open and I stepped through the doorway.
[glow=red,2,300]Chapter 2[/glow]
I have often wondered what my father would have been like as an actual hero, I could see by the way he walked, he was more confident, now with Kiya by his side he seemed more relaxed but I could see him every now and then glance at me in disappointment, I could only nervously crack a grin as I lit the dark corridor with my glowing fingertips.
Kiya comforted me with a beaming smile, why she was so happy I don’t know but I’m glad someone was. We approached the exit, where I once again opened the lock with the small sphere, the stone door rumbled open.
Dan stepped through the doorway and checked inside, I soon followed the room was huge; the room seemed covered in stain glass windows. We followed the long elegant carpet to the section that was locked by a gate.
I sat on one of the benches beside the gate; Kiya joined me on the bench and spoke to me softly “I don’t quite understand. Dan do you not like magic?” Dan sat anxiously on the bench opposite and sighed, Dan then unwillingly explained, “no, I don’t like magic one bit” Kiya turned to Dan and replied “but magic brought us together Dan, I’d of thought you’d be more understanding of what Emily is…” Kiya gestured towards me, I caught on and explained “uh battle mage, I’m a battle mage” I blushed as Dan stared at me, he soon replied “Battlemage, I can understand battle but why mage?!?” I knew he would say that. I shrugged “what else was I suppose to do, you died when I was five!?!” Dan tried to interupt but Kiya gave him a sharp look which stopped him in his tracks, I continued “thank god I did find this amulet otherwise I would of starved!” I slumped on the bench and whispered “I had no one else…”
I felt an evil presence, I could hear hollow, sarcastic clapping coming from behind the gate, we turned around. It was Palethorn, he was on the other side of the gate, he spoke in a calm sadistic tone “well, well, well Dan I knew you didn’t have a heart but I didn’t think you were heartless” Dan jumped up to confront Palethorn, Kiya stood by Dan’s side, I stayed on the bench and only gave an unimpressed glance. I didn’t care Palethorn was here I was still in shock that my father was dissappointed in me. Any way there was no way to get to Palethorn the gate was locked from the inside.
Dan glared at the ominous figure “what are you up to Palethorn?” Palethorn soon after chuckled and replied “you really need to stop mumbling Dan, but I do need to be off, now I have a map of the whereabouts of Zaroks artifacts, so I have a very busy schedule.”
The cracking of glass echoed though out the mausoleum. The stain glass window behind Palethorn began to crack. It was a failsafe, Zarok placed an enchantment over the tombs before he was banished, so that tomb raiders would not desecrate the tombs and Palethorn obviously disturbed the tombs, I knew what I had to do. I immediately jumped to my feet and positioned myself in front of Dan and Kiya, Palethorn backed away but before he could escape the doors in the mausoleum slammed shut forcing the stain glass window to shatter into a cloud of shards. As the dust lifted, I stood arms outstretched unharmed along with Dan and Kiya, who were both astonished at what had just happed, Palethorn on the other hand was covered in cuts, the glass decorated his suit.
The glass seemed to have a life of it’s own, it withdrew from their resting places to form a humanoid shape. It was a stain glass demon, Palethorn exclaimed “bugger this” he then knocked the gate before vanishing in a cloud of green smoke. The gate swung open, it was cut to pieces. After palethorn had escaped I soon realised the sharp pain shooting up my arm, I quickly put my arm back into the sling.
Dan quickly drew his sword and wielded his shield; Kiya then drew two blades from her boots and advised me to sit this one out, so I stood and watched by the gate. The daemon threw several shards around the room, Dan pulled off some impressive somersaults to dodge the shards. I shielded myself from the shards. Kiya started to run along the shards of glass that had embedded into the wall, Kiya was approaching the creature, while Dan was distracting the demon by hurling shards back at it. I watched in amazement, they were a good team. Kiya jumped towards the daemon, tearing its glass back apart, the daemon writhed in pain, it desperately tried to claw Kiya off its back, from under it’s glass ribs I could see a beating heart which was made of a bright red crystal. Dan tried to throw a shard into the demons heart but tripped at the last moment. I knew I had to strike the heart. I summoned all of my might and abruptly jolted my hand foreword sending a bolt of lighting hurtling from my fingertips. With a mighty crash the demon came shattering down along with Kiya.
Dan helped Kiya to her feet and looked at me bemused “how many spell do you know?” I shrugged “that was a first for me” I tried to hide the fact that knocked seven bells out of me and decided to sit down and take a breather. Dan decided to rummage in amongst the glass shards, while Kiya dusted herself off.
I rubbed my temples and let out a sigh or relief, as the pain from my arm lifted, I looked under my sling and watched the veins in my arm pulse a luminous green, I was taken aback at what had just happened I must learnt how to heal by destroying the daemon. I straightened my arm and exclaimed “I think I just learnt how to heal!” Kiya smiled and clapped in excitement “wonderful! That will come in handy.” Dan continued to rummage through the shards and muttered under his breath.
Kiya tumbled over a rolled up piece of parchment, Dan caught Kiya while still looking through the shards. I walked over to the parchment and unrolled it “what is this?” I passed the parchment over to Kiya who inspected it with Dan. Dan face lit up “this must be a spare map to Zarok’s artefacts, wow a lot has changed” I was confused as to what he meant “what’s changed?” Dan chuckled “well when I was brought back in 1386 there was an enchanted forest right there” Dan pointed to where a tree was on the map, Kiya and I were a bit baffled as to what he was on about “uh dad enough reminiscing we need to get to the artefacts before Palethorn does. Some how.” Dan nodded “your right. Ok I think we should go to there first.” Dan pointed to the centre of the graveyard to an artefact named “Anubis stone”. I knew we would have to get out of the mausoleum sometime but I couldn’t help but dread the thought. I slipped out a small green vial from under my armour and took a sip, Dan noticed me at the corner of his eye “what is that?” I slid the vial back under my armour “a potion” Dan looked at me impatiently “yes I know that, where did you get that?” Kiya abruptly hit Dan on his arm making his armour jolt forward and Dan immediately rubbed his arm while muttering to Kiya, I sighed, “If you must know I made it, it revitalises magical energy” Dan paused in thought and shrugged. Kiya stepped towards me and held out her arm, which had a rather deep slash that lined the whole of her arm. She smiled “would you mind healing me?” I peered over the gaping wound. I shuddered. I wasn’t squeamish but that was a wound that would make a knight squirm. But a wave of my hand the cooling green light washed away the wound and resealed the bandages. Kiya smiled and looked passed my shoulder, for a moment I wondered why but I soon realised Dan had been intensely observing over my shoulder. My heart fluttered both in fear and joy, my father was getting used to the idea that I used magic.
Without further notice Dan stepped out of the broken window onto the hill. The hill was tall enough to be partially shrouded in a thin layer of cloud. As soon as I stepped outside a gust of wind chilled me to the bone, I stood on top of the hill overlooking a wave of decomposing corpses trying to climb the hill, thankfully they would topple after a certain height and tumbled through several other zombies in the process.
Through chattering teeth I asked, “do you want me to even the odds?” Kiya looked at me curiously “how will you do that?” I smiled. I had learnt how to roast 5 boars at once this should be easy, now that no one would complain about how crispy it was. I put up my hood and closed my eyes. I focused purely on the bottom of the hill. With the swift flickering of my eyelids a wall of fire rose from the ground inches from the zombies. With all my strength I pushed the wall of fire back towards the gate, evaporating the zombies to ashes. After I had finished I fell onto my back and with a thump lay face upward, I looked at the amulet that was tucked into my chest plate; it was as pale as my skin. I hadn’t used that much energy before. Dan and Kiya kneeled beside me to see if I was ok, I smiled up at them both and sipped from the vial once again “not bad huh?” Dan smiled “yeah, but it looks like you need a bit of practice though.” Kiya gave him a rap on the shoulder; Dan and Kiya pulled me to my feet. Dan and Kiya set off down the hill. I knew better then to walk down. I summoned my shield then quickly jumped on to the shield and sped off down the hill, while dodging the ash piles and rocks I gave Dan and Kiya a beaming grin and waved as I rushed past. When I eventually came to a stop I saw them both, they had done the same and surfed down the hill, they weren’t too bad, there were gonna be a few dents in the shield but nothing that a hammer can’t fix.
I cheered them the rest of the way down the hill, as they came to a stop I could see the excitement on Dan’s face and the terror on Kiya’s. I couldn’t help but laugh. Kiya abruptly started to straighten what was her petrified hair. Dan cheered, “That was fantastic! What do you call that?” I smiled smugly “dirt boarding” Dan continued “I hadn’t felt that alive since well when I was alive” Dan patted me on the back. I smiled “so defeating evil means nothing to the great Sir Daniel Fortisque?” Dan chuckled “ah you know what I mean.”
As we were talking Kiya approached the gate and drew one of her daggers and swiftly stabbed the lock “ta da!” the gate swung open, well I was impressed. I started to walk down the path but froze to the spot as I watched a crowd of staggering figures clamber up the path, Dan chuckled and slapped me on the back “try to turn your fear to aggression, that’s what I did.” I wondered if it was really that simple, well I had to do something I couldn’t just freeze every time something came round the corner. I shrugged off my fear and charged at them, crying out in rage I bulldozed my way into the horde, I hacked and sliced until the zombies were in tiny little chunks. I was quite chuffed with myself I didn’t know how easy it was; well I wasn’t afraid of zombies any more. Dan clapped and cheered enthusiastically “Yeah! That’s my girl!” both Dan and Kiya had watched as I mowed down the undead crowed, I blushed and sheathed my sword, I gave out an embarrassed chuckle “uh yeah shouldn’t we…” I gestured down the path, Kiya and Dan set off down the path.
[glow=red,2,300]Chapter 3[/glow]
The closer we got to the little house the stronger the stench of rotting flesh became, I assumed this was the undertakers house, by the time we reached the door I had stuffed the corks from my vials up my nose as to avoid the smell, Dan wondered why I was complaining, Kiya found it highly amusing. Dan rapped on the door. There was a short pause then the door creaked open to reveal a short hunched figure with glowing green eyes, the small man picked up a shovel near the door and leaped onto Dan. Dan and the man wrestled on the ground, I drew my sword and Kiya drew hers, Dan shouted “Don’t kill him he’s possessed!” Kiya then grabbed the little man and pulled him up so that his legs dangled in the air. Dan stood up and dusted himself off. I was confused “what do you mean possessed?” Dan pulled two lengths of string from the inside of his chest plate “ one of the spells in Zarok’s spell book allows the caster to control the living as well as the dead” I looked up at him in terror I was at risk, what stopped palethorn from controlling me? I quickly looked away and sheathed my sword and nervously asked “a...any way uh where’s this Anubis Stone?” Dan and Kiya finished tying the undertaker to one of the many wooden beams that lined the room, the undertaker gnawed at the rope but Kiya soon stuffed an old sock in his mouth.
We then started to look for some sort of switch, as the map shows a tunnel that would lead to the stone. Kiya soon found something behind the chest of drawers, Kiya called me over from my search from the sock draw I was relieved. Kiya and Dan stepped away from the wall so that I could get a better look. It was an old hole the rim was decorated by an ancient language. I looked into the deep dark hole at the end a tiny blue light could be seen. Dan crouched beside me “can you translate it?” I focused on the text that lined the hole and nodded slowly “it says something about a switch at the end of this hole…” I stood up and looked up in thought “but there is no way to reach it”, Kiya looked at Dan’s head Dan looked back at Kiya puzzled, but his expression soon turned to surprise as Kiya took Dan’s head and dashed out the door. I didn’t notice until Dan’s body fumbled about irritated. It shocked me to see my dad without a head but luckily Kiya returned shortly with Dan’s head on a severed hand, Dan seemed to have simultaneous control of both his body and the hand. Dan looked up a Kiya “next time ask” I looked down at him and couldn’t help but laugh “handy” Dan frowned. Kiya nodded and placed Dan in the hole.
The sound of skittering faded I turned to Kiya and asked, “So how did you meet my dad?” Kiya smiled and sat on the rickety bed I joined her, “I met your father for the first time when he released me from my tomb but I feinted under the stress from being released from my tomb” I had no idea what a tomb was but I could guess it was like a crypt, she continued “the next thing I knew was in professor Kift’s laboratory, there I fell in love with your father, he was so brave and heroic. I wanted to help so when your father couldn’t be in two places at once I volunteered to go, your father strongly advised I didn’t but I am very persuasive. Anyway I went to investigate but a monster almost killed me, but Dan arrived just in time to kill the creature but a funny thing happened after the fight. I saw two Dan’s the one that saved me was dressed in strange tribal clothes the other that had arrived was dressed as a Victorian gentleman, when they both touched they both formed as one and created the gold armour that he wears now” I hollow clunk could be herd from the hole which was soon followed by a frustrated cry, I chuckled softly “that explains a lot. Do you guys have any more tricks I should know about?” Kiya paused briefly then shook her head. Suddenly the sound of stone grating against each other filled the house and the wall where the hole grew to reveal a long dark corridor. I stood and peered down the dark corridor, little Dan came skittering from the dark archway and Dan’s body picked the head up and put it back in its rightful place. Kiya took one of the old barely lit lanterns that were sitting on the small table in the centre. I gestured towards the dark corridor “after you.” Dan took the lead and we soon followed.
It wasn’t long before I got tired of walking around aimlessly in the dark, it felt like hours since I had breathed in fresh air. The musky air in the tunnels clouded all around us I could just see the light from the lantern, when this is all over I will make sure I will not step foot in another dank, dark, musty corridor again. As we turned round a bend the smell of rotting flesh hit me it was so repulsive I began to gag, Dan stood still I could tell he had found someone. Dan suddenly dashed no more than two feet before disappearing. Kiya soon joined him. I struggled to follow but when I reached where Dan had disappeared the air was clear and fresh. I was astonished but the smell was still getting stronger. I encountered a dead end. I knew they couldn’t have vanished, so I began to ready myself to push the wall, I rammed at the wall. But to my disbelief it was an illusion and I had fallen through and landed flat on my face on the other side. I was a bit woozy but I could vaguely see Dan and Kiya fighting what seemed to be two men, but as I regained my full senses I could see that they actually were decomposing demons. One a smartly dressed, well spoken Lizardman with peeling skin the other a scruffy, gruffly voiced dogman with no skin what so ever the sight of these creatures almost made me throw up. I now knew the source of the smell was coming from them. Once I had once again stuffed the corks from my vials up my nose I then got to work on these demons I had a bone to pick with them. Once again using full concentration, I summoned a wall of fire to surround them both; I could hear the shrilled cries in horror of the creatures. Dan nodded at me to deal the final blow, at which the room became silent. Once the smoke had cleared I could see that the room was decorated in an unknown ancient language, and at the centre of the room the crisp corpse of the dogman turned to dust but as for the Lizardman he had seemed to disappear. Thankfully they did not have the Anubis stone, but we soon would. As Kiya pulled a substantially large leaver the Anubis stone raised from the centre of the room. Dan briskly took the large shield like stone from its pedestal; the stone itself was decorated in an Egyptian manner from what Kiya had told me. The centre of the stone was a scarab, which had brilliant vibrant blue wings, which decorated much of the shield.
I insisted that I looked after the stone. I then took the satchel from around my waist and opened it wide to engulf the stone. I had enchanted the satchel to carry an infinite amount of items. The stone swiftly disappeared into the dark infinite space. Part of the enchantment allows items to be accessed by thought, which has come in useful more than once.
I unplugged the corks from my nose; the ends were darkened with blood. I must of hit the floor harder than I thought, I dabbed my nose with a dishcloth that I had pulled from my satchel. Kiya beamed a brilliant grin of satisfaction as she turned to the wall but her smile soon faded when she tried to walk through. The wall had turned solid. Dan walked up to the wall and pounded a single skeletal fist on the wall. I walked up to the pedestal and leaned against it “what now?” Dan turned to Kiya and whispered, “there’s no way out” I could hear him but I appreciated that he didn’t want to cause any panic. But I couldn’t see any way out the inscriptions on the walls and the floors were too worn away to read, and there was no sign of a door. I dabbed my nose again and put the dishcloth way, I noticed a single minuscule droplet of blood fall in the centre of the pedestal.
The droplet sizzled and steamed. The room started to shake then the floor started to crumble beneath us.
[glow=red,2,300]Chapter 4[/glow]
For a brief moment while we plummeted down what seemed like a bottomless hole, I thought that this could be a dream, I have had many dreams where I was falling but I would usually wake up by now. Dan and Kiya both screamed in an odd harmony, I closed my eyes and focused on purely on slowing our decent. I could feel the fast approaching ground. The screams faded we slowed but it wasn’t enough to completely stop our decent. The clattering of bones and clanking of metal echoed round the large room. Dan slowly pulled himself up; I faced upwards breathing in deeply and slowly. I clenched my teeth and pulled myself up. I popped out one of the corks and swigged the whole vial and shook off the sharp taste of the viscous liquid. Dan lifted Kiya gracefully on to her feet. They started to kiss passionately but I looked the other way how was that possible anyway? “Get a crypt guys” I gazed around the room nothing but seared rocks the room was like an arena. It wasn’t too long before our host arrived, a small scrawny man walked from behind the pile of large rocks, the man was dressed purely in green his felt hat was tilted as to hide his face. He carried a flaming crossbow with him. Dan’s expression changed “Tim?” The man looked menacingly up at Dan, his eyes glowed a distorted green “hello Dan, long time no see and Emily my, my you’ve grown.” I stepped back in astonishment “uncle Tim? But your…” Tim lifted his green tunic to reveal several blood stained holes in his decomposing torso, he chuckled “now it’s time for you to meet your maker” Tim swiped his hands upwards and the floor started to crack and break apart and reveal a lake of lava that veined across the arena. I was dangerously dangling on the edge; I struggled to regain balance I could hear my cape being seared by the lava. I jumped on to a large patch and quickly summoned my sword. Dan and Kiya were dodging ball of fire that Tim had created using his crossbow. Tim wasn’t my real uncle he used to look after me when I was small, whenever Dan had to go with the king to open some new Mc Cluckings Tim was there to tell me my fathers adventures some of the times he would scare himself by accident it was strange to see him like this. As I started to enclose on Tim he then turned his attention towards me throwing three large menacing fireballs towards me. I grinned as I somersaulted to the left then back to the right dodging two of the fireballs finally I flipped backwards and gracefully landed on my feet. Without breaking a sweat in this swelteringly hot room I beamed a grin at Tim and replied, “You still have a bad aim.” Tim snarled and sharply swiped his hand upwards, immediately a wall of fire that rose from the lava around me, leaving me trapped inside. I hastily placed my hand on my chest plate and activated the enchantment, which was to freeze. It was a frost shield; the summers were very hot in Gallomere. Thankfully I could feel the effect after a short moment, the heat soon felt like a light summers breeze. But the enchantment could only last so long under this pressure. I could see over the top of the flames Kiya trying push a rock to split the wall of flames. There was a brief moment where the flames parted to reveal Dan and Tim both throwing things back and forth to each other. There was a sudden crash and a large boulder came tumbling down splitting the wall of fire.
With a sigh of relief I hastily pulled myself up onto the rocks and onto the next patch of land. I turned the enchantment off as I was starting to freeze now I was out of the fire. Kiya smiled and nodded then ran off towards Tim, I quickly followed. Tim had created a pillar of molten rock so that he could fire at Dan below.
It’s time to stop playing around. I swiftly drew a slim sharp spear from within the satchel and whistled loudly. Every one stopped and turned towards me, I steadied the spear gazed at Tim and finally threw the spear and the spear hit true and pierced directly into his decaying torso, the crunching sound echoed round the room and through my ears. There was a mighty crash as Tim fell to the floor. Then the area was silent and the lava slowly turned back to rock.
It was ironic really Tim was the one that taught me to use spears and bows. I slowly walked over towards the pillar, which had turned to stone once again and swiped my hands downwards. The rock slowly started to sink back into the ground. As I waited for the pillar to sink fully into the ground I glanced over at Dan who was helping Kiya out from beneath a rock. The pillar had finally sunk into the ground and Tim’s hunched over skeletal corpse was now visible, the spear had only just gone through Tim and peeked out from the other side, I bent over and picked the spear from his corpse then wiped the crusted blood onto the sand. Once the spear was clean I placed it back inside the satchel. I stretched. I was aching all over. That was the only thing the potion couldn’t fix, the bruises. I turned towards Dan and Kiya they were both struggling to lift the rock. I rolled my eyes and chuckled “ let me help” I punched the air and the rock shattered, showering Kiya with small pebbles. I glanced over my shoulder at what was left of Canny Tim it was such a shame to see his corpse be defiled. I was going to make sure that Palethorn was going to pay. But I was just glad I was alive. I waved my hands across my face and a green light flowed across my armour, revitalising me. Now I was ready for any more surprises that Palethorn might throw at us. I was glad that Karl Sturnguard wasn’t here he’d have a field day, he’d say how he was bound to fail because he didn’t have a shield. Karl was a proud German shield smith. Well he did defeat Zarok’s left flank with only his shield, so he had a good reason to gloat. Him and dirk steadfast would always bicker over swords and shields. I still thought he was an absolute nut ball.
Dan had finally pulled Kiya from the rubble and started to help brush the pebbles off, Kiya glanced over towards me briefly then continued to brush the pebbles away, but she then looked at me in a very peculiar way. It wasn’t long before I found out why, a skeletal hand rested on my shoulder, once I realised I recoiled in horror and turned round to see Tim gazing into my eyes, I could hear Dan and Kiya yelling at me to get away but it was too late. Tim had launched his grotesque skeletal and closed it round my neck. I squirmed but it was no use. Tim’s grip tightened and I was lifted from the floor.
Chapter 5
I tried to gasp for air, but Tim tightened his grip once again. I looked into his eyes and could see the real Tim inside screaming through his eyes. I couldn’t set my eyes off him; the longer I stared I felt like I was falling. The undead Tim then started to give out piercing scream as his eyes flashed into a violent green. The light embedded in the back of my eyes, blinding me. Tim’s grip then suddenly loosened and I dropped to the floor. I scrambled away rubbing my eyes, Tim’s scream faded as the sound of cracking skin surged round the room.
Shortly after I felt Dan’s bony hands lift me to my feet. Warped figures moved about in the blurred arena, Kiya exclaimed, “are you alright?” I blinked furiously to regain my sight before I replied, “I’m fine he just blinded me a bit” as my eyesight returned I watched Dan roll his eye as Kiya flew in to give me a flying hug. Once Kiya let go of our embrace and when I caught my breath I glanced over toward Dan who was now sweeping his rake like fingers through the pile of ash, which was previously Tim, Dan had found a small orb like stone.
Kiya seemed keen to inspect the stone; she dusted it off and asked for the Anubis stone, which I happily supplied and I then understood that the stone fitted in the centre of the scarab.
Once the stone was completed it glowed a luminescent blue and shook violently and briefly shone a beam of light onto the pile of ash. This made both Dan and I jump several feet back in shock, as the ash whipped up into a cloud. I squinted through the dust cloud and Tim’s figure was revealed behind a fog like shroud. Tim gave me a broad smile then saluted and Dan returned the salute “thank you sir I can now finally pass onto the hall of heroes, if you ever desire my help don’t hesitate to visit” and with a supernatural wisp of wind Tim faded away.
There was a long pause before Dan broke the silence “Palethorn is going to pay for this” I slowly nodded “he will soon enough but what did Tim mean by visit?” Dan swivelled on his heels “uh… what the hall of heroes? Well… if we want to go there we need to collect trapped souls to be able to be summoned there.” At which I responded, “Oh that’s nice but really what is the hall of heroes?” Dan paused in thought “ well to put it bluntly heaven exclusively for heroes” Kiya clapped her hands in excitement “you told me about this you have a statue up there don’t you?” I look at Dan with a look of slight disbelief which he nodded and replied “it’s true I lived up there for a good couple of centuries, but the statue won’t be there yet until well I decompose” I shrugged “ok if you say so, anyway… we could go if we use this” I pulled the amulet from my chest plate and dangled it in front of them both, Dan grinned and clapped his hand together “right then lets go!” And with a blink of an eye we were gone.
