Kingdoms of Amalur: Rise of Faith
Creation.
It is the ultimate expression of life, death, and rebirth. It is born, it lives, it dies, and then it is reborn. Each time, it is born with different rules on which it is governed. This was the will of the Creator.
But there is one thing that is forever constant; the need for balance between harmony and discord. Good and evil. Life and death.
Though… there is one who which the rules do not apply. One, who can change one's Fate without fear of punishment.
And how this person came to be… I do not know.
Nor do I want to...
Excerpt from the Architect's Log, 9th Cycle of Creation
-
From the beginning, we were wrong. And only now, well into the second decade of the conflict, have we begun to understand the mistakes we have made.
We lived in harmony with the Fae, in a world awakened to new magic. Perhaps we should have foreseen what might be born on this rising tide. What force might awaken. A force powerful enough to twist even the eternal and immutable Fae folk.
But Gadflow, the new King of the Winter Court, surprised us all.
Singular among his people, he was all that the other Fae were not; aggressive, ambitious, visionary. He had power like none we have ever seen… terrible and deadly. He and his followers, the Tuatha Deohn, believed that a new god was to be born in the east, beneath Gadflow's crystalline fortress in Amithyn. In the name of that god, they marched to war against the young races of Amalur.
Against a mortal army, no matter the power of their god, we might have been victorious. But the Fae are creatures of magic, not bound by the laws of life and death. Each Tuatha fallen on the battlefield would soon rise again, for the Fae do not know death as we do. How could we stand against such a force?
For ten years, the war raged. For ten years, the armies of Man and Alfar fought and died. But as our numbers dwindled, we knew it was only a matter of time. Our fate had been written.
At least… that's what we believed…
Until you died...
Excerpt from Alyn S journal, Year 929
-
Chapter One: Revival
Klurikon: Undisclosed location. Year 922
It had been a long, hard fought battle.
The party that had been patrolling near the citadel of Mel Senshir had been caught by surprise by an enemy force. However, that had become the norm instead of the exception, and thus, the surprise didn't really give them the advantage. As such, by the time the battle came to an end, the enemy force were completely dead.
However, it was a pointless victory, as the majority of the defending party had been slaughtered, with only one soldier surviving. Panting, blood dripping from his side, he struggled to stay on his feet, knowing that he had to return to Mel Senshir with his report. They had to be warned of this latest assault.
This was definitely not how he had expected to live his life. He had hoped to perfect his tarot reading skills, and make a living as a part of a traveling band of entertainers. Not fighting for his life in a hostile land, against a foe that never seemed to end. He had been extremely lucky so far, but it seemed as though his luck had run out.
As if to prove his point, he heard a battle cry in the distance. Realizing that he wasn't going to be able to get away, he brought his sword up, as another wave of Tuatha emerged. If he was going to die, then he was going to take as many of them as he could with him.
Five minutes later, he had joined his comrades in death, the pack of tarot cards he carried with him flying away across the ravaged battle field. His last thought was a wish; that someday, someone would be able to stop the Tuatha, and free Klurikon from their endless blood lust.
-
Allestar Tower, Year 925
The sound of wood against stone echoed all around them, as two gnomes pushed their cart down one of the massive hallways, carrying their cargo to its final destination. This was a journey they had done so many times, that they didn't really think about it anymore. Not that they wanted to think about it, anyway. It wasn't something anyone would want to think about.
"So, what do you think this one is? Alfar? Varani? Could even be a Jottun!" one of the gnomes mused, jotting down notes into a notebook. Conversation was really the only way they could keep from thinking really deeply. "Always a surprise, eh Guran?"
The other gnome, Guran, snorted. "Eyes on the job, boy," he sneered. "Don't matter what it is. Dead's dead. And be thankful for that, after all we've seen." He came to a stop before a disposal shaft, sighed. "Pull the sheet back, though. It'll need to be in our report, one way or another."
The young gnome pulled the sheet back, and began writing as he observed the body on the slab. This was a task he had done so many times, that the sight of a half mutilated corpse no longer disturbed him. So, it was only with a hint of surprise that he laid eyes on one that, for all intents and purposes, looked like it had just passed away mere seconds ago. "She appears to be human, about five feet, six inches. Tan skin, slightly longer than shoulder length brown hair. Musculature is indicative of a warrior. All in all, she's not in bad shape." He peered a little closer. "Looks to be of Almainian Descent. Know how you can tell?"
"Turn her over. See if she's got a stick in her arse." Guran chuckled at his little joke, before returning back to the business at hand. "Make sure every detail goes into the report. You know he'll want us to be thorough."
Encel nodded, quickly writing. This was his task; cataloging every single body; from what had formed perfectly, to what needed to be worked on. This way, the Professor could tweak the formula in a certain way for better results the next time. "It's amazing just how well the body held up, without immediate decay. Better than any I've seen so far. It's almost as if she was alive for a moment."
"I'm just glad it's not moving. Must have been born under a lucky star, this one."
"Okay, that should be it. Anything else we need?"
"Unless you'd like to name it, I think we're done. Time to put her with the others."
Encel shrugged, and did just that. 'Better make her more than just another number,' he thought, before jotting down the first name he came up with. He wasn't really sure why, but it just felt right. "Well that's it for you, then," he told the body nonchalantly. "Better luck next time."
Guran quickly lifted his side of the cart, allowing the body to slide down the shaft to join the other failures. Then, they both sighed in relief. There was still a great deal to do concerning this, though they thankfully wouldn't have to make this journey again today. The Professor wouldn't be ready for another attempt until tomorrow. After they finished their final duties, they would get some dinner, then go to bed and try to get some sleep, while not thinking about the day's failures.
Without another thought to the body they had just dumped, the two gnomes began the trek back through the Tower.
Not knowing about the events that were about occur very soon, or of the miracle they had just let slip between their fingertips.
Especially since neither one of them had thought to really check and see if she was actually dead...
-
And thus was the end of another day at Allestar Tower, quite possibly the most remote location in all of Amalur.
It was constructed over a decade ago; a decently sized tower built into the side of a mountain, deep within the Region of Odarath. It was a place so remote, that only the neighboring village of Gorhart was even aware of its existence. And those very villagers stayed far away, due to the rumors that circulated among the villagers. Stories of black magic and demonic summoning were the most popular, though not the only ones.
The gnomes stationed there had no problem with that. If anything, they actively encouraged the stories, as it hid the true purpose of the Tower. A purpose that many sensible people would have been repulsed by, and for good reason. The experiments going on in there were morally and ethically reprehensible, not to mention a direct insult to the Gods themselves.
But they had no other choice. It was either this, or total annihilation.
It had been almost eleven years since the Crystal War began, when the Tuatha Deohn had launched their first attacks on the villages and cities of Klurikon, beginning their push across the Unseelie faelands. For the first time in their respective histories, Dokkalfar, Warsworn, Gnomish, and Almainian armies all united to battle against a common enemy. And, for the better part of those eleven years, they held their own very well. Their last fortress of Mel Senshir was proof of that.
But every year brought reports of more casualties. Every year showed a far more definitive strain, as they were running out of able bodied men to send to the front. Every year brought forth more stories, as their enemies vicious, relentless push continued unabated. Something needed to be done.
And so, two of the gnomes most radical scientists came up with a plan so crazy… it sounded like it came out of one of the Almainian fantasy/horror novels, and with no hope in hell for it to work. But they were so desperate, that they decided to give it a shot.
Unfortunately, nearly five years of failed results were beginning to prove that it was just that; a fantasy. Never mind the fact they had managed to create their first perfectly formed body, and were beginning to fully unlock the secrets to bring the souls of the dead back. This latest failure could very well be the last straw, and could see the whole project shut down if their Templar decided to cut their funding. And so, they simply went about their business, hoping to get as much information as they could before that moment, unaware of what was coming their way.
And unaware of what was happening down below, or what was coming for them now.
-
Encel turned in his latest report, then began his trek down the hallway to his room for a few hours of sleep. Such was life in Allestar Tower. Attempting to return the dead to life took most of the day, and it was a tiring process. The sheer calculations that were being tweaked on a daily basis, the careful funneling of energy into the process, as well as the physical exertion of transporting the bodies to the incinerator. And there was the ever present danger of their whole thing being shut down.
He still remembered the day that he had been selected by Professor Fomorous Hughes to help him on this seemingly mad endeavor. Back then, there was a great deal of hope in the project, though he did have his own reservations. What would happen if the Council decided that this was a bad idea? Was it even possible to achieve this kind of impossible feat?
However, Hughes and his partner had had some very promising results in their beginning tests, which was simply utilizing the formula that he and a colleague had developed to create a biological body, in that case a dog, as well as his calculations for successfully putting a soul in said body. That was more than enough for him to join, hoping to be a part of the greatest success that was to come. Sadly, as the years went by and the bodies kept cropping up, that success was becoming more and more of a pipe dream.
Encel still believed in the Professor's research, and fully understood the reasoning behind it. The Tuatha were systematically wiping their army out, year after year. They were simply running out of able bodied men and women to fill the ranks. If something wasn't done soon, they would simply be overrun. And no one was eager to send children out to fight.
And then there was the Summer Fae Court to take into consideration. For whatever the reason, they weren't even lifting a finger to fight their corrupted brethren, if they even could. Of course, no one had even bothered talking to them about this. In the eyes of the other races of Amalur, no Fae could be trusted to do what is right. Hence, the Professor's desperate attempt here at the Tower. Unfortunately, they were not making progress fast enough, and their superiors back home were becoming frustrated.
'Well, we've managed to avoid detection from the Tuatha for five years,' he thought to himself. 'With a little luck, we will be undetected for another five, assuming that our funding will continue.'
Those were his thoughts when he turned a corner… and saw an arrow embed itself just above his head. Then his thought became, 'I really should be careful with what I believe.'
-
Slowly, ever so slowly, consciousness emerged, and a person took their first real, deep breath.
It stank of filth and decay.
Brown eyes slowly slid open, a pained groan left her mouth; the first sound to emerge from her throat. 'What the hell did I drink?' was the first thought she had, quickly followed by, 'Why does it smell like the dead?' Understandable questions, considering the fogginess in her head, and the stench surrounding her.
Her head turned slightly to the left… and was quickly brought to full awareness. The second question, it seemed, had been answered immediately, as she quickly took in the sight of a half decayed corpse, practically on top of her.
Panic set in as her gaze took in her immediate surroundings. She was, quite literally, surrounded by a pile of the dead. She began to struggle, managing to free an arm and shoving the dead body off of her. Clambering to her feet, she took stock of her second unsavory view of the day.
She was literally at the top of a pile of bodies, all of them at various stages of decay. Whatever was going on, she had obviously been mistaken to have been among them.
Resisting the urge to vomit through sheer force of will, she began to quickly making her way down, taking care not to trigger an avalanche as she did so. And when her feet finally touched the ground, she felt a hint of relief, despite her leg muscles protesting. She stumbled away, finally sitting down. She had to, as she had to calm down. She needed to know how she came to be… wherever she was. And panic was not a conducive way of finding out.
Except, as she tried to recall the last thing she remembered, she began to realize that she couldn't. In fact, when she tried to remember anything, she had the same result. It was as if she had no memories to speak of. She didn't know what she looked like. She didn't even know her own name. Not a single thing.
An immediate look around convinced her that maybe, just maybe, her identity was not her most pressing issue at the moment. Getting out of the hell hole she had found herself in for whatever the reason, was. And, slowly getting to her feet, she resolved to do just that.
She started walking, little pebbles stabbing at the soles of her feet. It was a minor discomfort, but it made her wish for boots. 'At least I'm clothed,' she thought, 'even if they look like they last saw the sun thirty years ago.'
As she continued walking, studiously ignoring the other piles of bodies, she began to figure out what she did know about herself, doing a mental inventory. For starters, she could string thoughts together, which was good. She had motor functions, more so with each passing moment as the stiffness fled. Hearing, sight, touch were all accounted for. And, despite having no memories to speak of, she was clearly intelligent and disciplined, as well as aware of her surroundings. So, she wasn't starting at the same level as a newborn babe.
Her choice in direction proved fruitful, as she soon came upon a rotted door. Nearby, a slab of rusted metal caught her attention. Thinking that she might need a weapon of some kind, due to whatever creatures might live here, she quickly grabbed it, managing to pull it out after a few good yanks. "A sword… or what used to be a sword," she muttered, giving a few swings. Satisfied that it didn't immediately crumble to dust, she pushed the door open, stepping into the hallway. It wasn't much, but at least she was armed.
In a few years time, in a far off land, she would think back on this moment, to that very sword in fact, and realize that it all started here. Every triumph, every failure, every single revelation, began with a rusted sword. Not really the most auspicious start for a story of heroism.
But then again, when are they ever?
-
"The Tuatha are here!"
The entirety of the Tower was alive in a way it have never been before… which was not a good thing this time as Encel ran through the hallways, screaming out every few seconds. Gnomes were immediately exiting their rooms, running and screaming in every direction, silently praying to the Gods to save them, begging and pleading for some form of mercy.
But there was no mercy to be had. Not on this night of nights.
After half a decade of peace, the unthinkable had happened. The Tuatha had found them. And they were not in a merciful mood.
Already, fully armed warriors were storming the lower levels, striking any living thing that moved down with near fanatic zeal. Their cruel laughter ended up being the last thing those gnomes would ever hear, and it was enough to send chills down their spines.
The centurion guards moved in, blades flashing. They used their short stature and incredible speed to great effect. Within the first few minutes, they were able to cut down the invading force's first wave without any casualties.
Sadly, that was only the first wave. The second wave came in almost before the last body hit the ground. They brought with them several archers, who were shooting at the defending force the second they entered. It caused enough disarray for the Invaders to cover the distance, crashing against their line.
The line broke as seven centurions fell, the rest falling back almost immediately. They simply didn't have the numbers to hold them back for an extended period of time, and thus followed the protocol that had been set up for this situation; retreat toward the main lab, collecting any noncombatant they came across, and set up their defense in a more contained environment so as to give the civilians time to escape. Along the way, they activated the traps that had been set up, just for this kind of incursion.
Emboldened, the Tuatha pressed their attack, uncaring of how many of their kind fall. Their Master would reward them when they were reborn.
-
The woman grunted as she pulled her blade out of the body of a giant rat, blinking a little at how… easy it was. It felt like it was something she had done numerous times before. Yet another question that she would have to ponder on when she was finally in a much safer place.
She had been walking down a corridor, doing her best to be quiet so as not to draw attention to herself, when she had stumbled across two of the massive rodents, tearing away at a corpse. Before she could think to find a way around them, the rodents had turned, took one look at her, and attacked. And before she could even think about that, she had whipped her "sword" around in a smooth arc, hitting the first one dead in the head. Of course, it didn't really slice through and through, but it was still sharp enough and strong enough to kill the rat. She had immediately dodged the second one, avoiding its slashing claws. Before the rat could turn around, she had killed it as well. And somehow, the hunk of rusted metal still endured! Sighing, she continued on.
Of course, that wasn't the only thing she was thinking about. As she walked, she began to notice a strange feeling within her. It took a moment for her to realize what it was; familiarity. It was as if she had walked down similar corridors before. That feeling did nothing to give her relief. If anything, she felt even more ill at ease.
She came to the conclusion that she had indeed been somewhere similar before, and she definitely did not want to be there. A feeling that she
After a few moments, her gaze landed on another door, one that looked like it had been maintained a little better than the last. Hoping that it was the exit from this hellhole, she quickly opened it.
It took only a few seconds to realize that no, this was not the exit. Instead, it looked to be an archive of sorts, pretty well organized in fact. Plenty of scrolls and books set on shelves, ordered by the date. The oldest ones, covered in a thick level of dust, looked to be pretty old. She quickly guessed that this was a research facility of sorts, and this was their archive. For a moment, another flash of familiarity gripped and then for a brief moment, an image though her mind...
A smaller room, though with more clutter. A gnome with a full black beard, raging at something...
Grunting at the brief spike of pain, the woman braced herself against the door frame, allowing the brief pain to dissipate. 'Okay, at least I know that I've been in a similar place to here,' she thought. 'Also, I'm probably just suffering from amnesia. Still doesn't explain why I work up in a field of corpses.'
Curiosity bubbling within her, she walked into the room, pulled one of the scrolls off a shelf, and took a quick look at the date. Then, she grabbed what looked to be the newest scroll from another shelf, and compared them. "Five years," she muttered. "What the hell are they doing here?" She opened up the newer scroll, looking it over. "Human female most likely from Almain region, about 5 ft, 6 in. Brown hair color, slim muscular build..." She looked down at her own body for a second, blinking. "Hold on..." She took a look around, trying to see if there was a mirror nearby. There wasn't, but it didn't really matter. She had a terrible feeling that she was the one this scroll was talking about. Her stomach churned. She would have thought that this was impossible… and then remembered where she had woken up. "They thought I was dead… but why? What the hell is going on here?" She needed to know more… but not at this moment.
She quickly grabbed a nearby sack, and shoved a few random books into it, before heading back out. Now that she knew that there were others here, she wasn't going to stick around to be found and captured. At the same time, she needed some answers, now more than ever.
But as she exited the room, she began to realize that getting out might become a little more difficult than expected, due to one thing. Sounds were coming down the hallway.
Sounds that seemed to be comparable to screaming.
Some instinct compelled her to run in the direction of the screams. She didn't understand why, only that she had to. If it was someone who needed help, she would never forgive herself if she simply ignored it.
The second she emerged from the hallway, she had the thought that she probably should have just ignored it.
Gnomes were running every which way, trying to flee from what quickly turning into a massacre. Warriors dressed in black and red armor were killing anything that moved, and wasn't one of them. She saw one gnome on a catwalk try to escape, only to be cut down, and quickly got out of sight. "That's it. Where's the exit?" she growled, taking off in one direction and discovering that, yes, she could indeed run.
Her flight soon brought her to a dead end, where the only way she could continue on was to jump down into a pretty large cavern. 'Great, just great. Well… maybe I can find a safer way to get down.' With that thought, she began to turn around.
"You! Up There! Please help me! Please!"
Her head snapped back down to room, just in time to see a gnome cowering behind some pretty large boxes. And there, at the entryway, were two of those soldiers, weapons approaching the hiding spot.
Once again, the woman didn't even hesitate. She quickly moved forward, leaping right down without a second thought. Instinctively rolling to blunt the impact, she slammed into the first warrior before they even knew what was going on. Then, before that warrior could get to his feet, her sword was out, decapitating him. She quickly rolled out of the way to avoid a similar fate as the other warrior finally recovered, and attacking. She swiftly blocked a second attack, forcing the attacker back.
The two assessed each other for a moment, as did the gnome. He saw that the new warrior was without armor or shield, and only a rusted sword. But she looked to be calm, level-headed. Not only that, she had the advantage of speed on her side. He couldn't see her face, but he was willing to bet that she was not a Tuatha sympathizer.
Her opponent, by contrast, was armored from head to toe, with a better maintained blade. However, he was also slower, and completely mad. He was more akin to a rabid animal than an actual person.
The Tuatha charged, an animalistic snarl emerging from his throat as he brought his sword down. She dodged to the side, kicking him for good measure in the backside as he roared past. His balance disrupted and unable to stop, he charged directly into the wall, slamming into it head first. It was enough to knock him out, and he slumped to the floor. He stayed down.
The woman took a deep breath, finally relaxing. "Definitely know how to fight," she murmured to herself.
-
Encel slowly crawled out from behind his hiding spot, truly shocked that he had survived, after he had seen so many of his colleagues being cut down. He knew one thing; after this, he was never going to go anywhere without the whole Odessa army behind him.
His attention, which settled on the Tuatha slumped against the wall, soon shifted toward his savior. She was standing there, looking at her sword(if it could be called that) like it held answers as she recovered her breath. He made his way over. "Oh, thank you! Thank you!" he gushed. "Why, if you hadn't come along when you did..."
"Hmmm… Oh, I'm glad that I could," she replied, her attention focusing on him. "However, we should probably get moving. There were a whole lot more of them out there, and they seem hell bent on killing everything alive."
"You're right about that. We should… Wait..." He took a closer look at her, his eyes widening as he really took in her features. Features that had been perfectly still mere hours before. "I've seen you before… on the slab!" He took a step back in shock. "But… you… you were dead!"
She blinked a few times at that rather sudden statement, before realization set in. "Well, that explains quite a few things about why I was on top of that pile. But I feel perfectly fine."
"Yes… yes you are!" He almost danced in joy. "It worked! By the Tome, it worked! You're alive!"
"Wait… what worked? What are you talking about? Was I truly dead?!" Nothing was making any sense to her again.
Encel suddenly realized how he must be acting. "Well… you died," he explained, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I don't know how, or even when or where, I'm sorry to say..."
Her grip tightened on her sword. "If you don't know where I died, then how the hell am I here?!" she shouted.
The gnome now made another realization; the woman in front of him was scared, truly scared. He mentally kicked himself for not taking that into consideration. Of course she wouldn't know what was going on. She had just been brought back to life, for Mitharu's sake! "Your body was remade by the Well of Souls, and somehow… it brought you back. It restored you to your body, and it worked!" He looked around. "We need to get you to Professor Hughes! He's going to have questions for you."
"Will he have a way to get out of this place?"
"… That is the more immediate concern, isn't it? My apologies, Milady. It's just that..."
The woman shrugged. "Don't worry about it," she replied. "If this Professor can get us out of here, then I'll answer whatever questions he might have, if I can. Which way do we go?"
Encel started in the direction of one corridor. "We can go this way," he replied confidently. "Not many go this direction, and we can avoid most of the more obvious halls."
The woman watched him for a second, before deciding to follow. It's not as if she could really do anything else. Besides, there was one question that she felt this gnome could answer. "Who are those people, anyway? And why are they trying to kill you?"
Encel slowed for a second, thinking for a second before turning to look at her. "Oh dear… you really don't know?" He frowned. "Perhaps the process damaged your memory. Well… they are called the Tuatha Deohn, the enemy to all of the young races. The problem is, we've never seen them this deep in our territory before."
"Well, they're here now. Anyway, what's your name?"
"My name is Encel, and I am one of the Professor's assistants here."
"And where is here?"
"Allestar Tower. We're basically at the far end of the continent from Odessa and the other major cities."
"...Do you know my name?" the woman asked after a moment.
Encel shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, Milady, but I don't. I know nothing about you, aside from how you look. However, I decided to give you one. A bit whimsical, to be sure. I just figured that at least one person would be more than a number in a report." He smiled. "I named you Faith."
"Faith..." She rolled it on her tongue, testing it out, then smiled. "I think it suits me rather well." Her gaze shifted. "Now, here's a question that pertains to more of our current situation; What are these Tuatha after? This Well of Souls? What is it, exactly?"
"Well… the Well of Souls is just that; a metaphorical well where the spirits of the young races reside before and after life," he explained. "Our device, which is named after it, attempts to draw those spirits back to the land of the living, and into a body." He sighed. "As you are probably already guessing, you are our only success so far, but if we were to continue refining our experiments… I mean, can you imagine? An end to war… an end to death!"
Faith stopped moving, and turned to look at her gnomish companion in disbelief. Of everything she had heard so far, that had to be the craziest. "Alright, my memory is practically gone, but I don't need memories to know that you won't end war with his breakthrough. If anything, you'll make it worse. If we can do what these Tuatha do, life will stop having meaning to us. War would become nothing more than a game." Her gaze hardened. "What's more, this sounds like you are trying to play god here. And you're playing with forces that you barely understand!"
"Well, what else can we do?" Encel replied, his earlier enthusiasm dying down as an age old bitterness set in. "The Alfar, the Almain, and my people are being slaughtered by the Tuatha. Our numbers at Mel Senshir are dropping faster than we can replace them. If we do nothing, then we are as good as dead. Morality becomes more of a guideline when you're just trying to survive." He could understand where she was coming from, of course, but he also thought she could be a little understanding. She had been brought back by that device, after all!
With those words, Faith paused for a brief second as she thought about it. For anyone to think that this was the only way they could stand a chance at winning, it must be terrible indeed.
The gnome pushed a door open. "And here is one of the consolidators. It collects energy from the magic collectors."
"And that crystal?" Faith asked, pointing to the massive blue object just underneath it. For whatever reason, it looked… familiar to her. Definitely a feeling she was getting used to.
"That is a slab of Prismere. It's pretty much what makes the whole thing work, as it conducts and enhances the energy going through it. It is the ultimate conductor."
"...What would happen if that power flow's disrupted?"
As if to give her an answer without actual words, several explosions suddenly erupted, tearing those very conduits from their moors. Unleashed energy rippled across the walls and ceiling, being absorbed into the ceiling with no effect.
"That!" Encel replied, quite shaken by this. "They must have used prismere charges! Those would be the only things strong enough to damage it!"
"Well, I don't want to stick around and see what it can do to flesh! So let's keep going!"
It was fairly obvious that he completely agreed with her, and they continued on.
They didn't go too far before Encel stopped, ears twitching. "Hold on..." He looked around. "Do you hear something?"
Faith was about to ask what he meant by that, when she heard it as well. It only took her a second to know what that sound was; that of a device building up to detonation. "Get back!" she shouted, backing up. Encel followed, knowing better than to argue.
Their caution proved prudent, as the wall exploded ahead of them. And through the hole, two more Tuatha emerged, weapons coming out.
Faith immediately sprang forward, weapon coming forward to clash with the first one. Quickly blocking a downward slash, she whirled in a move so fast, it not only disarmed him, it left him no time to react before she literally stabbed him through the back. Before the life had left his body, she was already ducking under an overhead swing. Her foot lashed out, slamming into the Tuatha's stomach, forcing him back. And, before he could recover, her hand grabbed a dagger off of the other's body, and throwing it. Her aim was true, as he dropped like a rock, the blade right between his eyes.
Encel, who had taken cover once again, reemerged, gaping at the scene. "By the Gods, you must have been the scourge of the lands in your past life!" he got out. "I have never seen anyone move with such grace before!"
Faith scowled. "I just wish I knew how I can," she grumbled to herself, looking around. "We better keep moving. I have the feeling that we're being watched by someone."
Once again, Encel saw no reason to argue with her. Pausing long enough to grab a discarded bow and quiver of arrows, they left the area, swiftly.
-
Their forward progress was briefly halted when they almost ran into a patrol of Tuatha. Luckily, they were able to stop before they were alerted.
Faith observed the two of them for a second, before bringing her newfound bow to bear, notching an arrow, and taking aim. She let it fly.
The first Tuatha caught it in the back of the head, tumbling to the ground. The Tuatha next to him turned around, and got an other arrow in the chest. He collapsed as well, joining his co-patriot in death.
Encel whistled, impressed. "Swords, knives, archery," he murmured. "You must have been adept in every single kind of armed combat."
"Probably," Faith replied. "Most of this is muscle memory. I literally have not made any conscious effort outside of actually holding the weapon." She sighed. "I must have been doing this most of my life."
"Most likely." The gnome looked around. "This way. There is a tunnel that we can use to bypass most of the fighting. It'll lead directly to the main hall." He quickly went that way.
Faith followed after him, trusting in his sense of direction. It's not like she had much of a choice, did she?
Their journey soon brought them to a large room, which Encel informed her was where they kept some of the specimens that lived within the mountain. They didn't stay too long, since it would have been a bad idea, and vacated the premise immediately, barely paying attention to the fact that flowers were beginning to bloom in her presence, as if drawn to her.
Of course, even on this path, they managed to hit a few snags. For starters, there were quite a few spiders blocking their way. Very large, very hungry spiders who clearly had been picking up whatever they could get their claws on.
In this moment, Faith received her first two real clues as to who she once was. A: She possessed magical abilities. B: She really didn't like spiders. She realized both things as presently, she had electrocuted the arachnids to the point that there were actual scorch marks on the exoskeleton.
Encel chuckled. "Don't like spiders a whole lot?" he inquired casually.
"They look, act, and just feel creepy," Faith replied, shuddering. "And their webbing gets everywhere… much like the stuff covering this passageway." She sighed as she took in the blockade that had been set up. "It looks thick enough to stop a sword, so we're going to have to burn it down."
Encel took a look around, before picking up what had looked like a staff put together with tree sap. A weak flame promptly appeared around the edge, flickering. "I think I may have found a way to do just that. A fire staff." He handed it over. "Let's see if it has enough power in it to set the web on fire."
Faith took the staff, then walked over to the webbing, touching the tip of the staff against it. The webbing caught fire, burning away within seconds.
Faith sighed in relief as she dropped the now completely drained piece of wood to the ground. "Just enough power for one more strike." She looked around. "Now, I don't know about you, but I have spent enough time in these caves."
"Definitely. It shouldn't be much longer before we reach the main hall."
They quickly set off again, no longer trying to being quiet. If there was one thing they both agreed on, it was that their movements had most likely been discovered. Their only hope was to reach the tower's main hallway before the Tuatha reached them.
Luck, it seemed, was with them. Aside from a few more rats, they remained unopposed as they finally made to the Tower's main hallway… and immediately came across what looked to be about thirty gnomes who had managed to find refuge from the slaughter. And only a few of them appeared ready to fight.
One of those battle ready gnomes stepped forward, blade up. "Die, Tuatha… wait… You're not one of them..."
"Obviously not!" Faith replied, relaxing her guard for the first time since she had woken up. "And neither is my companion here."
The gnome's attention shifted, a look of shocked relief appearing. "Encel, you're alive!" he exclaimed.
"Thanks to this young lady here!" Encel exclaimed excitedly. "I was lucky that she ran into me!"
"But, who is she?"
"That's what we intend to find out. She came out of the Well!"
The guard looked at Faith again, this time in sheer disbelief, before catching himself. "Well, despite that, thank you." He returned his attention to Encel. "She better go see the old man. And quickly, before those bastards make another push."
Faith nodded, relieved by this. "Just point me in the direction of this old man," she said. "I've got questions too, and I definitely want answers!"
Encel nodded. "Hopefully, you'll get them, as will we. But you should see him alone. I must see to our remaining defenses." He held out a hand. Faith shook it. "Professor Hughes is directly ahead. Just keep going, past the top of the Well. He needs to see you. You are the most valuable thing in his world."
"Well, you certainly know how to make a girl feel welcome." She quickly nodded. "Hopefully, I'll see you again someday, Encel."
"If Fate wills it," Encel replied, smiling in farewell before heading off.
Faith quickly made her way to the gate, stopping only to grab a pair of daggers. She knew she was going to need some armor, but nothing she saw there would fit her. Deciding not to worry about it at the moment(because what good would that do?) she quickly entered, the gate shutting behind her. She could only hope that they barricaded it behind her.
And immediately found herself looking at the opening of the Well of Souls.
It was just a massive pool of glowing green liquid, with a swirling tornado of energy shooting all the way to the ceiling. It was amazing that it was still operating, even after all of the damage that had been done to it below. The sheer power emanating from it was so intense, it made her uncomfortable. 'I came out of this thing,' she realized, feeling frightened. Quashing that fear, as well as the near overwhelming sense of deja-vu that risen from her mind, she made her way to the other end of the room, going through the only door there.
Her journey was without incident. No one jumped out of the shadows to try and kill her, and no unfortunate accidents occurred. She considered that a plus after the day she had been having, as she finally reached her destination, taking her first look at the laboratory of Professor Fomorous Hughes.
Her first impression of the place was that of a library, considering that the number of books stacked around on every single table. But, as she continued to observe her surroundings, she began to see more of a lab. Notes and quills were scattered all over the place, and vials were stacked neatly on shelves. There were scientific instruments strewn about, and what looked to be journals filled to the brim with notes.
As well as the one occupant standing near a massive glowing urn, obviously making calculations for his next experiment. "Professor Hughes, I presume," she called out as she approached.
To his credit, the gnome didn't startle upon hearing the sudden voice in what was most likely his private sanctum. Instead, he set his instruments down on a table, hopping off of his stool. He looked her over for a second, a grin breaking out over his weathered features. "You made it," he breathed out. "Even after all you have been through… the Tuatha, your return from the dead..."
Faith sighed. She should have expected this reaction. "Look, Professor, I understand. Your experiment worked. I am here. However, we really don't have a whole lot of time. Right at this moment, I have only two questions. Where are we, and what is going on?"
"Oh… forgive me." The Professor had the decency to look sheepish, as he was quickly reminded of the situation that was occurring right outside his door. "This is my laboratory in Allestar. Everything here is dedicated to one thing; The Well of Souls. The pursuit of immortality." He sighed. "If we only had the time… there is so much that we could learn from one another."
"I would probably learn more from you than you could from me," she responded with bitterly. "I don't even remember who I once was. Hell, I don't even know what I look like."
"Oh… oh dear." Hughes took a look around, picking up a mirror. "Well, I think I can answer that question, at least." He handed it to her, then took a step back.
Faith brought the mirror up to her face, taking in her features. "Brown hair… slim muscular build… I'm Almain..." She sighed. "I was right. That scroll was about me."
"Ah… I see you found our records room." The gnome winced. "I apologize for that. One should not have to read what amounts to their own obituary. We simply did not take into account that someone would actually live… or that we would be invaded."
Setting the mirror down, Faith turned her attention back to Hughes. "Speaking of these Tuatha… how and why are they here? Why are they trying to kill everyone? Just what is going on?"
"...Well, I doubt you remember the war that is currently happening, but that's pretty much what is happening. For ten years, our warriors have fought, bled, and died across the seas, and we've managed to hold the bulk of their forces at bay. Unfortunately, we're facing an opponent that can literally resurrect themselves in a very short time. In short, they can replace troops faster than we can. As a result, I came up with the Well of Souls."
"Yes, so Encel has told me." Faith rubbed her head. "So why are the Tuatha here?" she asked.
"Most likely to stop my work. But I don't think that they know about you… not yet, anyway. That will definitely change, though." He quickly pulled a book off of the shelf, handing it to her. "What's important right now is getting you out of here. I may not be able to save the Well… but I can ensure that its only success is safe."
Now that was the best damn idea Faith had heard so far. "So, how do we get out of here?" She snapped her fingers when he didn't answer her, having started mumbling about his notes. "Professor, focus please!"
"Oh, my apologies! It's just..." His musings were cut short when the room suddenly shook. And then it did so again. "Blast it! They must have destroyed the other Focus Crystals! The Well will begin to destabilize!"
And as if that wasn't enough bad news, Encel suddenly barged in, panting. "Professor, Faith! The Tuatha have reached the lab! They're inside-!"
He was abruptly cut off as an arrow found a new home in his body, piercing him through and through. His final expression, one of pain and shock, he fell to the ground, dead before he hit.
Hughes went over to check him, as several more arrows flew over his head. Faith, after a moment of shock, took a step forward as well.
"No!" Hughes shouted, stopping her in her tracks. "We need to get you out of here, quickly!" He pointed to a door over to the side. "That will lead you out of the Tower! It's an emergency exit just for this reason! Follow the path until you reach the town of Gorhart! Stop for nothing!"
"Anything else?"
"Find Agarth. He's a friend, and he may be able to help! And no matter what, stay alive!" He would have said more, except the door flew open, admitting more Tuatha. Immediately pulling out a dagger from his belt, he waded into their midst, slashing at them one at a time. "Go!" he shouted, disappearing from view. Almost immediately, another explosion occurred, sealing the doorway so as to prevent anymore enemy soldiers could enter. She was alone.
Faith promptly grabbed several more books from the Professor's bench and shoved them into her sack. She then immediately ran out of the lab through the hidden door, pulling her daggers out. She had a very good feeling that she wouldn't avoid attention for long.
Her feelings were proven accurate, as she came across two more. Not even giving them a chance to act, she ran full tilt at them, driving her blades into their necks, continuing on as they dropped to the ground. The terrain was giving her no small measure of foot pain, but she would endure until she was safe.
Which quickly became more problematic. The ground began to shake more and more, as if the structure was no longer able to handle what was happening within its walls. It seemed that the Tuatha were hell bent on destroying everything, and had no qualms if they fell with it. "Must be nice to be a race of beings that can come back to life," she muttered to herself. "You don't have to be afraid of being crushed by falling rocks, or being stabbed through and through. Completely unfair." But there, there was the exit! She only had a few dozen feet to go. She was almost out!
And then… and then.
A sudden cannonade of rocks suddenly shot at her from the side. She quickly back pedaled, barely staying on her feet. She sighed, bringing her weapons to bear as a massive creature lumbered into view. "Of course," she muttered. "They brought a cave troll with them." It would have been too easy if she was simply allowed to leave.
The cave troll started making its way toward her, as the two Tuatha who had brought it with them beat a hasty retreat. She couldn't really blame them, as it looked that club it was carrying(which looked to be nearly as long as its arm, and probably just as durable,) could likely knock a person's head off if it ever connected.
Faith, by contrast, was feeling pretty inadequate with only a pair of daggers, an archery set, and a very rusty sword as well as no boots, no armor, or a shield. She was also at least five feet shorter than the troll. There was a good chance that she wasn't going to win this fight.
'Then again, I am already a walking miracle,' she mused, adjusting her grips on her daggers, 'so it may just be possible.'
The Troll lumbered forward with incredible speed, club swinging at her in an attempt to crush her rib cage. And it would have, had she not flipped back out of the way at the last second. The Troll might be fast, but it was not light on his feet. It simply meant she would have to keep on the move.
She also started to retaliate in kind, slashing at the creature's very tough skin in an effort to hurt it. If one could not get the killing blow immediately, then one settled with trying to hurt their opponent. Weakening them through pain, blood loss, or simple time was one such way, and she was putting it to the test.
Not that she avoided getting hit herself. Once or twice, the Troll managed to clip her with the absolute edge of its club. It slammed its club into ground at least three times, sending both debris and shock waves in her direction. She even got slapped once. While she hadn't gotten cut, she was aching in places she didn't even know she had. Once this was over, she was going to go soak in a body of water for the next month.
But her efforts were paying off. The Troll was beginning to slow down, though that was mostly due to how long it was taking instead of any actual damage she was doing to it. It was becoming clear that it was better designed for quick kills rather than extended battle. She just needed to keep up the pressure just a little longer.
The Troll suddenly charged forward, letting out an ear splitting roar as it brought its club up over its head. It moved far faster than she anticipated, covering the distance between them in about two seconds.
Faith trusted her instincts, immediately rolling to the right as the Troll passed, its club slamming into the wall. She was back to her feet quickly, leaping onto his back and bringing her daggers down. And, either she had very strong arms, or she was incredibly lucky, because her blades actually penetrated its skull with frightening ease. She jumped back down to the ground, scrambling away.
The Troll swayed back and forth for a moment, two daggers now firmly embedded in its cranium, before it collapsed in a heap, very much dead. A miracle indeed.
Faith had no time to celebrate, as the shaking in the Tower began to become more violent. It felt like it was giving up the ghost at long last. Noting that the two Tuatha were nowhere in sight, she started running, dodging pieces of the ceiling as she made for the exit. Freedom was right in front of her. All she had to do, was take it.
And she was definitely going to take it.
-
In a distant place, on the other side of the world, a malevolent entity watched the woman escape from the collapsing structure, a sense of anticipation going through her.
'At last, it begins.'
Here is Chapter 1 of a new story that I'm working on. It's essentially a crossover between Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning starring Faith. Let me know what you think.