The Drunk
Prologue
It had been a dark cloudy thunder had begun to rumble off in the far distance. Farnham had been sitting talking to Ogden the barkeeper, talking about the coming storm. When he saw them he had frowned, almost a hundred riders all clothed from head to foot in black, thundering down the rolling hills. He saw a man come to greet them, one of the many travellers who regularly came through Tristram. He raised both hands in greeting...He was cut down by one of the riders who produced a wicked looking blade. The other riders trampling over his bleeding body. The riders stormed through the village. Farnham rushed out at some of the mounted shadows but was knocked conscious by a galloping horse.
When he awakened he went gone to the fountain where a gathering of seventy or so men stood, some of them included the King's personal guard. At the centre of them stood The Archbishop Lazarus. He was a tall man clothed in an immaculate flowing white robe holding a staff almost as tall as himself. His white hair was only beginning to recede; his bright green eyes seemed to burn with an inner fire. He spoke with such charisma and power that it seemed to enchant all who heard it. He spoke of the foul beasts that killed many, desecrated the church and kidnapped the King's precious son. He cried out for all who considered themselves men to accompany him, their Archbishop to the Labyrinth to stamp out these desecrators. A great roar went up among the gathered men. Farnham, who had also been entranced by Lazarus's words, yelled with them "For the King, for the Archbishop" for a second Farnham turned and saw the town's storyteller Cain leaning against a nearby wall, his eyes filled with sadness.
That night many of them had entered the church. Led by Lazarus they travelled deeper and deeper into its shadowy depths. Frahnam shivered beside him were his fellow friends and townsmen also a few Knights old king Loeric. The shadows of the labyrinth seemed to surround them ahead. Griswold stood beside him a huge double-bladed axe in his hands "I don't like this" he whispered as though speaking loudly would mean instant death. "How does Lazarus know were he is going?" how should I know?" Frahnam hissed back. Suddenly out of the darkness Frahnam saw a shape. As the intrepid group came closer it became clear it was a lectern upon it was a black book. Lazarus snatching a burning brand from a nearby wall approached it. He slowly lifted to book open. His tall form blocked the book from sight but Farhnam could see his green eyes. When he first began reading his eyes filled with shock then he began devouring the pages reading them at an alarming rate. Suddenly he snapped the book shut. The men rushed to him whispering to him, asking what the book said. For many of them it would have been useless to open the book themselves for they could not read. He waved away there questions a small smile forming on his lips "nothing of importance" he said his voice sounded strange as though he was talking to them from afar." We must press on," he said striding away the frightened men following closely on his footsteps.
Soon they reached a huge cavern he stopped taking in a deep breath of the foulair. "Yes" he whispered "here" Suddenly he rushed off vanashing into the darkness. Farhnam felt his heart sink as Lazarus disappeared he had been the power that ran the men inspirering them to venture into this black pit. Now he was gone. One of the men wailed "Archbishop? Where are you? Where are you? His wail turning into a terrible scream of fear. In the darkness something writhed noises suddenly rustling from all sides "The bastards run off" said Griswold readying his axe many others also readied their own weapons but stared uncertainly into the darkness. Frahnam felt terror gripping at his heart. A hulking shape began to close in behind the group. "LOOK OUT" screamed Frahnam many turned to see an inhuman horror charge towards them It was almost eight feet tall it skin a horrible reddish hue in its hand was a huge cleaver as big as an axe many raised their weapons in defence the monster just cut them down where they stood other smaller creatures flocked behind screaming horribly. Frahnam terrfied followed Griswold helping him cut his way though the smaller creatures. The two of them rushed for the nearest door. Inside were a few of the small hideous demons gathered around a child their wicked blades tearing at his flesh. With a roar Griswold charged towards them and Frahnam at his side between them they killed or drove off the demons but Griswold took a slash to the leg "Are you alrite? Said Frahnam his voice trembling "I'll be fine" He grunted back scooping the crying child.
"You do realise though...we have to come the way we came" said Griswold staring at Frahnam. "I know" he whispered back his hand shaking. They stared at each other for a second, walked to the door. Frahnam took a deep breath, kick the door open and they rushed out.
Frahnam charged into a group of goat headed monstrosities. He fought like a man possessed, two of the abominations were dead by the time they realised they were under attack the other two growled at him their voices completely inhuman Frahnam matched them blow for blow then opened the hairy chest of the one on his right with vicious riposte dark blood almost black seeped out quickly covering the stone floor but with this move he opened himself to the other beasts retaliation. He was sent flying with a mean shoulder barge Frahnam might have cracked his skull but something broke his fall. He looked up in time to see Griswold cut the Goat man down from behind. Farnham scrambled up he turned to see what he had fallen on. It was the body of Aldo; one of his best friend lying face up his expression was twisted by horror. Farnham felt tears sting his eyes, and then he stumbled away with Griswold.
They faced though the torch lit rooms ignoring everything except escape. They raced up a flight of stairs. Hope flickered in Farnham's chest they would make it he thought then a figure stepped into sight. It was covered in black spiked armour the sword in its hand had runes engraved all over it and they seemed to thirst for flesh. Griswold gently almost lovingly placed the crying baby Wirt onto the floor "good luck" he whispered to Farnham "you too" he replied his voice breaking. They rushed at the demon who hissed and ran to meet them. It moved with inhuman swiftness its deadly sword flashing before it, driving them both back. Farnham would have been killed had Griswold swung at the creature with his Great Axe, forcing it to parry his powerful blow. Farnham realised that the two of them could not overcome the demon they were both tiring quickly and the nightmare before them sowed no signs of slowing Farnham swung his blade with all his might at the demon swung with equal power, for a second Farnham feared his blade would be knocked out of his hand but instead he heard a horrible screeching sound of metal on metal and felt his blade come free swinging it at the demons head which came clean off no blood spread from the decapitated body. Farnham looked at his sword in surprise it was broken in half it took him a second to work out what had happened the demon had cut though his blade but the shattered end had still proved deadly. Throwing away the hilt he picked up the demons sword and its ebony scabbard. It was unnaturally light the Runes along its edge blazed malevolently when the hilt touched his hand, quickly sheathing the blade he and Griswold ran out into the night the screams still pursuing them out of the terrible place. Then it hit home, his friends all dead. So many bodies' he fell onto his hands and knees weeping pathetically his sobs racking the whole of his body. "Come on I'll buy you a drink," said Griswold Wirt still in his arms.