Woo! Here we are again!
This fort's description and such was inspired by a game I've played, I'll tell you all at the end of the chapter
Chapter Eight
Emerald Hold
Upon entering, the troop looked around the main room, a staircase on the left wall lead to a heavily collapsed hallway and it ran around the upper perimeter of the room, directly above the main entrance was a small hallway that they could barely see a staircase to the third floor in.
Along the right wall was another staircase to an open hallway, the middle staircase led to double doors, one was partially open revealing a worn balcony.
All around the main floor were random strewn objects and rubble possible from the last attacks or just the aging of the hold. Upon further inspection there were two doors beneath the left and right staircases, most likely leading to the dungeons.
The group gathered around Soren and Mia with Fistivus and Lune in the back dismounting from the horses.
"So what do we do now?" Mikel asked.
Soren looked around "Not sure…let's look around on the second floor for some place to rest for the night…"
"What? Why would we stay here!?" Lyle stated, as if to answer a bright light followed by a loud crash of thunder shook the building as an intense downpour began.
"We are not going to drag Fistivus and Lune through this…no matter what they say!" Mia stated, turning to Lyle who nodded slightly and backed away.
Wyre nodded and glanced around "It was also getting dark…with those Korgans and the Dune Guard after us…I wouldn't want to get caught by them out there…we're good but there are still only six of us and it would be impossible to protect Fistivus and Lune."
Wayu looked form Wyre, Soren and Mia to Lyle and nervously coughed "We….we should…go…"
The group picked up their gear and moved up the right staircase noticing at the top was another set of stairs along the wall up to the 3rd floor, ignoring it they continued down the hall and passed several open doors to ruined or empty rooms before reaching a corner.
As they followed it the group came across some less-than-nice but better than what they'd seen rooms. Splitting up into pairs consisting of Soren and Mia, Mikel and Lyle, Wyre and Wayu and Fistivus and Lune the group prepared for a long and storm ridden night.
Several hours into the night, Mia stirred, sitting up from the old bed and rubbing her eyes before stretching and yawning. She glanced over at Soren and smiled before quickly turning back to the door. "What was that?"
The trueblade grabbed her gown and almost ran out the door before doubling back to pick up her sword. "You can never be too careful."
Outside she stared down the hall in both directions. Ultimately she decided to head to the left which would take her to the collapsed hallway. However, seeing as the place is mostly even there should be a staircase to the 3rd floor on that side as well.
Reaching the ruined hall she heard what sounded like steps upstairs and quickly ascended. She noticed that the perimeter was once again outlined, this time linked to the high ceiling above the 1st floor leading to the fourth.
She also noticed a shadowy figure along the opposite wall, she stopped herself from yelling after the person and moved along the wall, noticing the strange paintings hung every same amount of feet as well as pedestals for torches, most of which were missing or old and worn.
She ascended again into the fourth floor, the staircase led to two large, fancy doors that opened into a large ballroom with a very decorative and old chandelier collapsed in the middle. "Is that what I heard fall?" she shook her head, quickly dismissing the thought and continued along.
The room was vast and open, if the figure did run in here, she would've seen it. The corridor around the ballroom rounded on itself and she was at the opposite double doors, one was opened the other was on the floor. Continuing down the hall it led to more rooms, taking a quick glance was another staircase. Deciding against it she followed the hall further down and turned to walk towards an open balcony. The storm was still raging outside and she was not going to get her nightgown wet.
Sighing, the trueblade turned to leave before hearing a splash, flipping around quickly she drew her blade. Facing the balcony again Mia stood there, pointing at the empty air. Maintaining her calm state she backed away and turned slowly. Something had to be here and despite her enhanced reflexes, she could not see it, if it was violent she would need to be close to call for help.
Deciding on the vastness rather than the crowded corridors she kicked open another pair of doors and re-entered the ballroom.
Once again she heard something get kicked across the ground; spinning again she aimed her sword at Lyle's neck.
Stunned, she stared at the green haired swordmaster and whispered to him.
"Lyle? What are you doing here?" he shrugged "Probably the same as you…I heard some shuffling…though it looks like it was just you."
"No…I heard something else…I don't know what but…"
As Mia turned away, Lyle kept eyeing her nervously, maybe it was something she did or just that she was standing there, but he didn't want to be there anymore.
"We should go back!" he whispered albeit somewhat loudly.
Mia nodded and sheathed her blade, heading back down the way she came.
One more crash caused Mia to spin about to the double doors opposite to where she entered, she passed those two while examining the corridor around the ballroom, now both laid on the floor, moving as quickly as she could she barely saw Lyle get thrown to the floor by a very large, muscular and intensely scarred man wearing the animalistic clothes of the Korgans.
Several thoughts went through Mia's mind quickly as she aimed her blade at him and backed away slowly.
"This guy is huge…how is he so fast? How did he evade my sight so many times? Was he the one that I was following? Can't be, he is far too big…"
The man turned to Mia and gave her a toothy grin before whistling "Well…I wasn't told that my prey would be so…delicious…"
At that moment, Mia realized that facing this hulking menace in her nightgown wasn't the best idea, and she probably didn't look too threatening, even with her blade out, which she wished now, more than ever was Ein'Tosen.
"Who are you?" she asked, backing away slowly and eyeing Lyle who had taken an elbow to the face.
"Surely you jest! I am the all-powerful leader of the Korgan Clan! I am Murawk!" he yelled at the top of his lungs before howling and laughing.
"Murawk? But you and the Korgans were killed by Joltam…which means…you have also been revived!?"
At Mia's statement, Murawk laughed before slamming his fist into the ground "Joltam! I need to find that fucker and end his life! However, I am being paid handsomely to handle you and your ragtag group of friends…why do you think I convinced Meloi to allow me the use of his earth mages to lead you here?"
Korgans and Dune Guard working together under someone who can bring back the dead…nothing about this situation was pointing to any good news.
Murawk lunged at Mia who leapt back and kicked off the wall flipping over the monster and landing near Lyle who she kicked.
"Get up! I need you!"
The swordmaster groaned slightly as he stood up, Murawk dashed over to Mia who dove aside from his fist, he quickly spun about and tried to kick her, his foot came into contact with her blade and she skidded several feet away.
Lyle made a desperate swing at Murawk who grabbed the blade with his bare hands "What are you doing, boy?"
"Protecting what is dear to me!" He yelled before releasing the blade as Murawk chucked it away. Lyle drew the two blades he kept at his side and made for a quick slash, Murawk rolled away and grinned.
"Three swords? Unique style, care to tell me where you learned it…I know for sure someone like you wasn't born in Regalshin or Pozem."
Lyle spun his two blades before quickly glancing to Mia and winking, despite her protest he charged Murawk again. The giant reached behind himself and pulled out a giant axe, grabbing it with both hands he slammed it into the ground. Lyle jumped and landed on the blade, he ran up to Murawk in another attempt to slash him.
The giant jumped away, leaving his axe in the ground and Lyle to cut through air again. Mia charged in for a follow up and Murawk responded by jumping over her attack and grabbing his axe as Lyle jumped off it.
With massive weapon in hand he began swinging it around, Lyle and Mia both began dodging the deadly weapon. Mia landed in a corner and quickly summoned the Branded Flame to her fingers, firing two bolts at Murawk who shielded himself with his axe. Lyle took that chance to tear into Murawk's back with both his blades.
Responding, the vile Korgan leader turned and knocked Lyle aside with a blow from the flat side of his axe to the swordmaster's head.
Lyle slammed into a wall and Mia lunged, jamming her blade into Murawk's left shoulder blade. With barely a groan or grimace, the man turned, eyeing Mia and laughing before grabbing her by the neck.
"It is an enormous shame that I have to end the life of such a beautiful trophy! Alas, a reward is a reward! I'll get over it."
"Brave Bolt!"
"ArcWind!"
A slicing gale and four strikes of lightning hit Murawk in the upper body he turned to see an axe fly into his forearm. With a weaker grip, Mia pried loose and kicked off his face landing several feet away and turning to see Soren, Wyre and Mikel enter the ballroom.
With Lyle on his feet again and trying to shake the fuzziness out of his vision the five surrounded Murawk and blocked him off from three of the four entrances into the ballroom.
Ripping the axe out of his forearm and throwing it to the floor, the bandit grabbed his massive weapon and beckoned the group to come at him.
At that moment the ceiling above them broke and several Korgan bandits landed among the heroes and began attacking.
As they fought back Murawk lowered his axe and turned as a dark figure emerged from his shadow.
"What do you want? I thought we had an agreement!"
The figure nodded "I was to lure the prey to you and you were to kill it…she seems alive and well and this isn't a situation you can escape!"
Murawk laughed "Two magicians, two swordsmen and a guy with an axe…really? I can't escape this? Who the fuck do you think you are!?"
A spear shot through the air and as it passed by the figure, he waved his hand out, redirecting the weapon from Murawk's neck to his abdomen. Sinking into him the vile man took one step back before ripping the lance out. Wayu entered the fray, armed with another lance and aided the group in wiping out the remaining bandits.
Murawk laughed "I see…I was…what do you call it?"
The figure sighed "Idiotic…now let's go.
Murawk turned and ran towards the only unobstructed doorway. Mia noticed this and after killing another bandit, took off after him. The figure turned and fired dark bolts at her as Murawk tore through the wall and out into the storming night.
Dodging the attack she lost her momentum and the Korgan leader. "Mia!" she turned as Lyle's blades cut through a bandit that nearly reached her.
He spun and sheathed his blades before grinning at her; she thanked him and turned as the rest of the group approached.
Soren quickly embraced her and asked if she was okay to which she nodded with a smile.
"If I were entirely alone it might be a different story…good thing Lyle is a light sleeper."
The green swordmaster grinned and Mikel raised an eyebrow "With all of my snoring I'm actually impressed you heard anything else."
Lyle waved him off and laughed as Wayu returned having picked up her spear "Was that…"
Mia nodded "Murawk…the Korgan leader."
Wyre folded his arms across his chest "The supposedly dead leader of the supposedly extinct tribe reappears and threatens us…the Dune Guard…someone is making a mockery of death."
"Joltam released an official report, he was there the day they stormed the Korgan hideout and killed them all including Murawk." Mikel stated.
Wayu nodded "Yes, Murawk was incredibly stubborn and looked as if he was refusing to die through his will alone…but they confirmed after the battle he was merely a corpse."
Mia turned back to the ruined wall "What worries me was what led me here…as much of a monster Murawk is…it couldn't have been him that woke me up and led me here…it had to be the other person he escaped with."
Soren followed her eye line "The person looked ethereal…how could he have created any noise?"
Mia sighed and scratched her head "I don't know…each day that passes this gets more and more complex…"
Soren turned and signaled to the rest of the group "Let's get as much rest as we can…it sometime past midnight…we need to be ready for tomorrow."
The group split up with Soren looking at the lingering Lyle who caught his sight, after a short stare the swordmaster took off as well.
"Soren…sorry I worried you…I should've woken you up." Mia said in a low voice.
The Archsage turned to her and sighed "You really should have…but it's…I'm not angry with you…after all, you're alright."
He approached and kissed her cheek; she smiled and took his hand "Let's go get some sleep…"
As they walked off she nearly tripped, realizing her nightgown was an utter mess "Remind me to never fight in anything meant for sleeping in, ever again."
Soren shrugged "I figured it was common knowledge.
Mia playfully punched him and the two followed the rest of the group back to the sleeping quarters as the storm began to ease up.
The debut of another of the recurring villains: Murawk leader of the Korgan Clan as well as the ethereal figure's introduction
Anyway, Emerald Hold is like a call back (along with the whole 'vacation home' comment) from Tales of the Abyss' Choral Castle
Answers to some comments:
I actually named all the nations and a few key cities years ago while I was finishing New Emissaries. Sarhara being the Western Desert, yeah pretty obvious why, not sure if there were ever any other considered names, most times the first things that come to mind sticks with me and no other name sounds good (a lot of the characters here are named that way)
Lyle has some odd things going on with him if that wasn't obvious enough, several future conversations show a lot about him but he isn't a bad guy
That's all for now, see ya next week!