Prologue
Shouldn't Have Gone in There.
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Icy winds whistled down from snow capped peaks onto the small band of tightly wrapped adventurers fighting their way through the snowy fields below. After the calamity four years prior the climates all over Eorzea had been flipped end over end. None more evident than that of Coerthas, the once fertile greenery had turned to ice, snow, and frigid… freezingness. At the back of the group trudged a weary Hyuran male with an all encompassing heavy woolen cloak and cowl. Breath misted before him as he peered out of the fur lined hood at those in front of him.
How was the Lalafell beating him… how was she not sinking into the snow over his head? Those damned fancy boot-shoes she'd crafted before their departure seemed to be easily keeping her aloft. Not so with Levy and a few of the other less fortunately clad members of their party… those suits of plate mail and chain may help in some cases… but walking through the snow was not one of them.
"How much farther Vallio?" The blonde shouted from the back to their highlander leader in the front. He didn't seem perturbed in the least by their current icy plight… perhaps he had a cousin that was from an equally frigid clime or something.
"Should be right around the next bend," the man hollered back while to him without stopping. Good, he needed a break from this nightmare; hopefully these ruins hadn't been walled off or picked clean by the Ishgardian's just yet. They had been discovered by a man who lost his way some two weeks prior, and Vallio had been present in a tavern while he explained the oddities he'd glimpsed briefly before monsters had set upon him.
"Getting cold feet, Levy?" The tall bow wielding Elezen questioned from mid group back to him… then laughed at his own pun.
"My feet froze about an hour ago, the only thing keeping them from turning black and falling off is the thought of getting there before we turn to sculptures."
"Quit you're whining, Hyur!" Exclaimed the Lalafellian healer who had turned back and motioned angrily at him. "And keep your eyes open for any would be attackers. That's why we have you bringing up the rear!"
The blonde rolled sky blue eyes and took another look around. The spear strapped to his back would be easy enough to unleash should anyone come too close, but the only encounter they'd had thus far was that of a simple snow wolf. The creature had been easily dispatched by their Elezen archer – Kyraal before it reached fifty paces from them.
Silence reigned once more as the group walked the remaining fifteen minutes to the large cavern. Each member of the little party did their respective jobs whilst they kept their eyes peeled for sudden attacks by the more vicious creatures that inhabited Coerthas. Of course, Levy was constantly complaining about many things in his head as they went, the cold was still a dominant one. Followed closely by the wind, the Lalafell, the slight itch on his back he couldn't scratch, and the cold. Damned Coerthas weather.
The cavern entrance itself was a mostly frozen walkway with large boulders and other rocks piled outside. Perhaps a landslide of sorts happened during the Calamity causing the face of the mountain to fall away. The worn metallic doors certainly looked old enough for their supposed Allagan origins. If that were the case, then they could be getting a hefty payday after this one; especially if they raided deep enough inside of the place.
It had been two weeks already, so before long The Holy See would lay their stake to the place and seal it off from most everyone. The Ishgardian's were a fiercely suspicious lot, of that he'd had plenty of experience in his brief time here. "All clear," Vallio called back as he stepped through the half destroyed doors and into semi darkness. Kyraal went in next, followed by Artessa and finally Levy after un-holstering his Steel Spear and setting it into a loose grip.
"Take a minute to let your eyes adjust, tie off the pack Chocobo, then we'll continue on." Their leader said as he sheathed his sword and set his shield on the partially frozen ground.
There were nods of acceptance and Levy sat reluctantly down to rest his cold weary feet after placing his spear within hands reach to his right. The boots he wore were not built for comfort, they were made so he could continue to have feet long into the future, and he did very much like having his feet attached to his legs. The Steel Haubergeon and the armor that 'came as a set' with it had done its job quite well thus far. He still had all his body parts, and aside from a few scars, was in an overall in good shape, it wasn't like he'd been shot with an arrow anywhere horrendous that would stop him from being an adventurer.
"Should we not warm ourselves a bit before going any further?" Levy questioned the others.
"We haven't the time to waste on such things." The Lalafell stated, she was in a rush since before they had left. Then again, she was from Ul'Dah and time was money there… well, everything was money in Ul'Dah. Levy hated the place quite a bit. Extremes everywhere he went, too cold, too hot, too dry, too cold, too cold… it was too damn cold right now and he wanted a fire. Freaking Lalafellian woman didn't have to suffer through the slow thaw of partially frozen armor.
"I was not requesting your input, Woman." He stated rather coldly, see, there was that word again. It was working its way into his very nature. "I do believe that Vallio is heading this little venture of ours."
"Enough," the man in question stated while rubbing the bridge of his nose. After a few moments obviously lost in thought the Highlander spoke once more. "We press on in five minutes." Levy made to make a complaint, but was cut off. "That's final," the man silenced any protests with a glare.
The blonde sighed and shook his head. He hadn't survived as an adventurer this long by taking chances, but he also hadn't had this sort of adventure before now. He would push forward like the rest of them, lured by the thought of monetary gain and renown. Pulling the thigh high chain boots slowly off; Levy grimaced and set each of them to the side before trying to thaw his feet by rubbing his hands around the still mostly dry socks to warm them up. A light sigh escaped his lips along with a large cloud of visible vapor.
It wasn't long into his foot soothing escapade before, "get ready Levy, Kyraal, we're headed out." Their large framed leader made his way to his own feet after recovering his round mostly wooden shield. The man was relatively famous in the adventuring circles, so Levy had been lucky to know the man for the last six years. If the two hadn't met before the fields of Carteneau, then he probably wouldn't have made it through that terrible day at all. In a way, Levyrian wanted very much to be like the Highlander. A sturdy shield for his comrade's, a valiant fighter, and a just man when presented with darker temptations; or so he had seen of the Highlanders character thus far.
After the thought of that battlefield four years ago flashes of magic, screaming, the thuds of heavy Garlean Magitek walking around, and blood washed through the back of his eye lids when they closed before reaching for his boots. If Vallio said that they were ready, then they were ready. Truth be told, putting the boots back on was far worse than when he removed them. The icy tendrils from their still partially frozen chain links seeped easily through the socks he'd just warmed enough to be satisfied.
After grasping the haft of his spear, the blonde forced a smile onto his face before throwing back his fur lined cowl and taking the first step further into the labyrinth below. Their Lalafellian and Elezen comrades both held large torches to illuminate their surroundings. The walls were decorated with decorative fresco paintings of the glory of some ancient civilization that had long since crumbled into dust. It's glory pilfered later by the likes of his kind and countries across the world.
"What do you think of them Artessa?" The Elezen questioned as he motioned around them at the depictions.
The Lalafell hummed as a finger tapped down onto her chin. "This was a storage place of knowledge, perhaps a library, museum, or laboratory of some sort." Levy rolled his eyes once more, as if you could guess as to what sort of place this was after gazing at a few paintings, pottery and the like. Next thing you knew she'd be claiming to be one of the foremost experts on dungeons such as these.
"You… you think so?" The Elezen questioned while not trying in the least to hide the excitement from his voice.
"Keep your concentration on our surroundings," Vallio called back from his position at the front of their line. "These ruins have been opened up for a while now, there's no telling what's taken up residence here."
"Of course," The Lalafellian stated as she continued to do just the opposite. Each time Levy's gaze came upon the woman she was staring at something with her head cocked to one side or the other. Their slow pace had given her plenty of time to-
"Hold," Vallio stated while holding his shield forward and his sword up in a stopping motion to those behind. A low growl echoed from somewhere down the dark passage ahead of them. "Kyraal, shoot a fire arrow into the darkness ahead of us. Levy, Artessa be at the ready for what may come, and do not for Twelve's sake let the lights go out."
"No Problem," The Elezen replied as he handed his torch back to Levy and used the flame to light one of the few specially made arrows. The blonde had always liked seeing the way archers moved, fluidity and grace, every movement precise. The flaming arrow flew down the hallway a short ways passing by and illuminating a small pack of snow wolves before slamming into a vase and shattering it at a 'T' intersection. The vase it hit exploded and rained fiery liquid onto its surroundings sending the wolves into a panic.
"LEVY! To the front!" The Highlander called and the Midlander followed instructions after laying the torch on a pedestal to the left side of the corridor. His spear was at the ready when the five snow wolves charged in fear, anger, and anticipation back towards the awaiting party.
The leading, soon to be dead wolf, leapt at them with a snarl. Vallio side stepped the beast, Levy was already there spear hooked onto the ground and braced for impact. The beast, due to its momentum, impaled itself about half way down the shafts length. Quickly pulling his spear back and kicking the beast off of it, the blonde spun around catching a glimpse of Vallio bashing in the head of another wolf with his shield. The tip and haft of the blondes spear slammed into the side of another wolf sending it tumbling to the side while an arrow took a fourth wolf in the eye sending it crashing heels over head before coming to a stop some feet further.
Levy was upon his second victim in less than a moment, his spear running the creature through its throat and pulling free in time to see a white figure springing past him. Hefting the weight he hurled the spear through the air the short distance to his target. It slid easily into the beast's right side while an arrow collided with its head spinning the creature around before it came to a stop some feet away from a wide eyed Artessa.
"All clear?" Vallio questioned as he stepped back into their midst. A quick glance in the direction the man had come showed the Midlander that their leader had taken care of the wolf he'd bashed in the head and two smaller pups Levy hadn't noticed in the beginning. Pragmatism saw the two cut in half at his feet?
Kyraal's and Artessa's call's stating their conditions reached his ears drawing him away from the rather grisly scene. Stepping along, Levy made his way towards the Lalafell who was gazing curiously at the fallen wolf before her. Yet as he approached she glanced up, "so, you are not completely useless after all." The woman stated after flipping her raven hair out of her eyes.
Levy smirked at her and replied, "We have yet to determine if the same can be said of you." A Humph, was her reply as she hastily stepped away from the slowly expanding pool of blood near her feet then made her way over to where Vallio and Kyraal were standing. Placing a boot onto beast the below him, he proceeded to rip the steel tipped spear from his fallen foe before bending down to do much the same for their Elezen archers arrow. Never waste a perfectly good arrow. One of the few things he knew about his father was that the man had loved to hunt, and though Levy had not the coordination to do the same, he'd loved to go with the older man (when he was around) and watch whenever possible.
After rejoining his comrades some moments later he handed the arrow over to the brunette Elezen who thanked him with a nod before cleaning the tip with a rag, inspecting the haft, and finally placing it back into his quiver. "Let's press on then," Vallio stated after sheathing his clean sword and turning back the way they'd been headed in the first place. The oil, or whatever it may be, was still burning at the intersection ahead casting odd shadows in whichever direction they may decide to head first.
Their leader looked one way, then the next with narrowed eyes as he stood between the scattered patches of flames. Levy did much the same as he bit at his lower lip lightly. Which way should they head first? Either way could cause them problems, or make them rich. 'Dont'...*incoherent mumbles* escape...', a ghostly voice whispered inside of his head but he shook it away. "We head left first," Vallio stated and stepped lightly around the flames at their feet. "Watch for the fire, if it hasn't gone out yet then it won't easily be extinguished should it catch you alight as well."
After resuming their usual formation, the party moved in the direction previously stated. This corridor was much the same as the last, though the wall decorations had all but vanished. Small doors littered the sides, but none of them would open, and the glass panes were impossible to break by any of them. So, the lot trudged on through the dark only taking a short break for water some ten minutes later.
'Turn back... escape', echoed that whispering ghostly voice inside his head once more and he shook it away. The atmosphere was getting to him he decided as a large double door loomed ahead of them. Intricate carvings covered its center… writings perhaps. He couldn't begin to decipher them. The blonde watched as Vallio and Kyraal both stepped forward without hesitation and pulled down two levers that had locked the door.
'Don't enter', the voice called again. He was beginning to doubt his imagination was at play. However, ignoring any form of better judgment, as the others walked through the now open door, he followed after. The torch lights cast a glow about them reflecting off of shining metal, glass beakers of various forms, and sparkling piles of dust illuminating the room to a brightness Levy hadn't seen since they'd been in the daylight outside some hour or so before.
Wonder resounded through the Elezen's voice as he spoke, "by the twelve." Small stone tables littered the room to about waist height. Various bottles lay on them along with large piles of dust and… some cloth. Had they entered some sort of odd medical area? A shudder crawled its way up his spine bringing back that itch he'd had earlier in the day. 100 Gil for a back scratcher… would be a nice trade right then.
"Spread out and search the place thoroughly for anything dangerous before we try do more," Vallio stated as he glanced around. Levy nodded in acceptance of the order then moved towards a shelf full of concoctions. Strange liquids of varying colors filled them to the brim. 'Get out', that voice rang through his head again. 'Hurry', a heavy breeze blew through the room from behind him ruffling his blonde hair lightly.
"Hey, guys. I don't think-" Levy stated as he turned around to see them turn his way. Gleaming red eyes stared out of a black cloud that hung above the room menacingly. Sky blue's widened in horror before Vallio called them to the ready.
"TAKE UP A SCATTER FORMATION!" The Highlander shouted as he pulled his sword from its sheath. Levy quickly followed suit as did the other two. 'RUUUN', the voice called out as Vallio charged in while shouting a battle cry. His sword swathed easily through the black mass of vapor and a ghastly chuckle echoed through the room around them. Bright lights glowed around the piles of sparkling dust as they swirled around and coalesced into vaguely ball like shapes which mimicked the larger floating specter in their mad laughter.
One of them flew menacingly at Vallio who brought his shield to bear; only for the little yellow ball to rise up at the last minute laughing madly before swirling around above him. Two others converged on Kyraal while a third danced sprightly around Artessa. With little hesitation Levy hurled his spear at the one circling the Lalafell and watched as it disintegrated into dust once more on contact. The black cloud shrieked angrily as it charged at him.
The blonde ducked behind one of the large stone tables and crawled towards a different one to avoid the thing. The cloud slammed into the wall he'd been standing next to sending the shelves crashing to the floor and the potions of who knew what sort skittering, splashing, and smashing along with them. A white vapor escaped from some of the now broken glass containers causing the black cloud the shriek again before floating hastily away after the two came in contact. Crawling back the way he'd come he picked up a few of the bottles and shouted out from his hiding place. "Throw the bottles at it!"
"ARE YOU CRAZY!? THAT'S OUR PAYDAY!" The Lalafellian woman shouted back from wherever she was hiding at.
"YOU WON'T GET PAID IF YOU'RE A DEAD, WOMAN!" He shouted back.
"AHHHHH!" He heard her cry out forcing him to his feet. He watched on enthralled by the sight as the black smoke enshrouded her. What the hell was it doing? With her mouth open and screaming, the black cloud forced its way inside a bit at a time before she it slammed shut and she collapsed onto the floor. Without much thought, the Midlander hurled a bottle at the now visibly smaller cloud causing it to turn back his way. Upon contact, and shattering, the creature shrieked and backed away hastily from the dissipating white cloud.
One bottle after another of the same type that held that white substance he hurled until he reached the woman's side. "Artessa! ARTESSA!" He shouted fruitlessly as he shook the tiny, limp frame. "Vallio, Artessa's down!" Levy said as he glanced back up to see the man slice through one of the golden balls which quickly turned back into the glittering dust it had once been. Judging from the pile at his feet it was not the first of its kind.
"God's Damnit!" The Highlander stated, "Form up, Close in and we'll stand together!"
Glancing once more to where he'd last seen the black cloud, Levy noted that it was… gone, followed closely by the male scream of their Archer. The black Cloud was doing the same to him that it had done to the Lalafell at the blonde's feet. When the Elezen's mouth clamped down his eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed into a heap on the floor. 'Seal shut', the voice in his head once more, 'hurry' it pleaded with him.
"LEVYRIAN, QUICKLY! GET OVER HERE!" The man shouted an order and the Lancer leapt to obey after grasping his spear in one hand and two bottles in his other. The blonde Midlander sprinted across the room and ducked under two of the small yellow and blue floating ghostly blobs who laughed menacingly at them as he passed. "Guard my back," the man ordered him as the two stood close and circled around to watch their many enemies. Some of the glowing, glittering dust floated up and reformed into the snickering blob ghosts before flying at them once more. They would never win this battle at the rate things were going.
The two ducked and Levy located the black cloud floating angrily across the room. With menace in his aim, the blonde hurled a glass container at the thing and heard it shriek as it shattered nearby and released a white cloud which attacked its counterpart with ferocity before dissipating. "Did you see that Vallio?" He questioned.
"I did. What do those bottles look like you're throwing?" He questioned. 'Please Hurry', the voice naggingly echoed once more. 'Can't win' it despairingly intoned. A whistling noise reached his ears just before the feel of Vallio's back left his own. Whirling around the blonde saw the standing figure of Kyraal with glowing red eyes and his head lolled lazily to the side.
A cough from below tore his gaze away and down to the Highlander who was laying on the floor with an arrow in his stomach. He coughed up blood and shook his head. "Get out…" he stopped and panted, "Levy, get out." Another whistling noise sailed past his left ear followed by a clattering breaking noise behind him. He looked up to see that Kyraal was pulling a third arrow.
The floating ghost blobs circled over head laughing uproariously. Turning around he hurled the last of his beakers at the black blob which screamed out painfully as it released another white cloud that attacked it. "I can't just leave you here Vallio."
"Go fool," the man stated weakly as he tried to force his way fruitlessly to his feet. A shrill laughter unlike he'd heard thus far drew his attention over to the standing form of Artessa on one of the stone tables with a mad glint to her completely red eyes.
With anger guiding his hand once more, the blonde Midlander hurled his spear at the woman and watched as it impaled her through the chest, drug her from the table, and through the air a few feet, before her already lifeless form slammed into the ground and went still. The black smoke gushed from her mouth, nose, eyes, and ears then dissipated into the air like its white counterpart. Another arrow whizzed by him and he ducked down to see lifeless eyes staring up at him from Vallio's face.
Fighting back tears for his friend, his hero, and man that had saved his life countless times; he retrieved the man's sword, stood up, and charged recklessly at the archer. An arrow thudded into then pierced through his Haubergeon sending agony through his left shoulder not far from his heart. His right gripped the blade harder as he brought it up and then down at an arc half severing the Elezen's head before ceasing it's motion and getting stuck. Red glazed eyes blinked once before the body went rigid and black smoke poured from him and dissipated above.
The Black cloud shot at him and he dove forward onto the floor pushing the arrow further in and snapping it off. his body skidded a small ways due to the metal rings of his armor before slamming into another one of the many stone tables while the thing sailed over head screaming and laughing. The blonde hurriedly leapt to his feet and rushed back to the wall that held the bottles he knew worked. Grabbing at them he hurriedly started to throw them one after another at the cloud. As it screamed out painfully hurting his ears, the Blob ghosts started to rush at him angrily swarming him, blocking his vision and running into him throwing off his aim.
When had it ended? He wasn't sure… but the Black Cloud was gone, and the Blob ghosts collapsed one by one into their glittering piles. Panting and with several small cuts on his face he noted the horrid pain in his shoulder. The arrow implanted there caused everything to throb, and the world spun in circles… or maybe that was him. Blood loss… maybe?
Something slammed into his stomach doubling him over forcing wind from his lungs and he stared down at familiar boots. The blood covered arrow in front of his eyes sent a shiver down his spine. "Vallio", he thought as he weakly looked up before he was grabbed around the throat and slammed into the wall by the crimson eyed former Leader of their decimated group. The shelves that had once remained attached to the wall now crashed down around him sending more bottles skittering, breaking, and bouncing onto the floor.
The man threw him to the ground slamming Levy onto his left shoulder and forcing a silent scream to rend his lips apart. He still wasn't done yet, that THING was still alive, haunting him, trying to kill him like it had the others. Kicking a foot up he rammed it into the shaft of the arrow shoving it deeper into the walking almost corpse. Was Vallio's body still alive? Killing the other two had forced the black cloud out of them. Full crimson eyes glared daggers at him but there didn't seem to be any other effect as the body of his former friend lifted him once more from his place on the ground with unnatural strength; then hurled him across the room only to slam into more shelves. A cabinet nearby crashed down on top of the blonde Midlander snapping the arrow shaft inside of him and rending the cut on his left shoulder apart, not to mention bathing him in whatever substances it had held aloft for centuries. He felt them seep into his armor, his clothing, his eyes, his nose and mouth, he sputtered out all he could but he'd swallowed who knew how much of any form of the vile liquids. As his eyes began to close he heard footsteps slowly crunching glass below as they moved his direction.
Just before Sky blues fluttered closed they caught a glimpse of the figure coming to a stop above him. Glowing red eyes stared down at him from an expressionless face and all went black.
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER ONE
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Authors Note: Warning, this story contains Fantasia…
Chapters this long will not be commonplace... I just couldn't stop writing this one, and it wouldn't get where I wanted it without all this extra stuff...
The unspoken truth here is that if he'd thrown the bottles at the other two he could have saved their lives rather than killed them like he had. See what anger does to your sometimes rational thoughts?
I think it would be a cool boss fight, a group of adds you ignore, and the main one that occasionally possesses a member you have to save. If you don't break them out in time your whole party could be possessed and then it's game over. You have to use the certain glass bottles to harm the boss because no physical attacks work. Magic would though… to a degree. It's magic after all. The small ones you're supposed to ignore most of the time could cause you to drop the bottles you're supposed to throw sometimes, like in other dungeons (the rocks you feed to the worms in Copperbell HM at the final boss, etc).So you could have the more useless DPS killing the blob ghosts while the tank and other three either attacking with magic, healing, or throwing the bottles at each other and the boss.
The almost useless throwing motion gets used if this happens too!
Reviews are loved, Fav's, Follows, and all kinds of Miqobob's are appreciated.
