Disclaimer: I do not own MediEvil. I do have a copy of the game itself, but the rights, properties and all that jazz belong to Sony Computer Entertainment, this also inclues Mr, Miss and Nellie Mad. I made up a few names for the other possessed villagers, but I don't own them either. I created Griff, the Keeper of the Halls, so that's a bit different.

Author's notes: There was a lot of material to cover for Gallow's Town, so this part will be broken into two chapters since one can only write so much for a chapter. I will post this one up first then, I should have the second part up in a while. Enjoy!

-MediEvil: The Hero that almost Wasn't-

Chapter 10: The Mystery of Gallows Town- part 1

Zarok was losing patience with how slow his conquest was going. Standing at the foot of the Gallowmere Assylum, he waited for his scouts to retun. The skies above were frozen in eternal night, thanks to the sorcerer's spells. But that did not stop the clouds from blocking out the moonlight, making things even harder to see that usual. As he contemplated torturing the Mayor again, a sound like shuffling feet approached. It became so dark that Zarok could not see who it was, but he recognized the telltale clanking of his scouts.

"Hail, Herr Zarok!" one of them saluted.

"How goes the search?" Zarok asked. It was more of a command than a question.

"Not yet, sir. We searched the farmlands but found nothing."

Zarok exhaled in disgust. "It seems that fool was more clever than I thought." He then produced a piece of parchment and a stick of charcoal through magical means and scratched on it for a while. "Here are your new instructions. I expect results or else you'll be sorry I made you!... and one more thing. If you happen to meet that boneheaded fool, Fortesque, you are to terminate him immediately!"

Once more Daniel found himself within the Hall of Heroes. He was beginning to wonder exactly how the powers that be knew where and when to bring him to the legendary ediface. The skeletal knight wearily walked past the table and statues of Tim, Woden, and Stanyer and climbed up the stairs. Dan paused, only to yawn. "Zzz... geez, who'd thought being a real hero was such hard work?" No one answered him. Griff wasn't even around to interject his usual brand of verbal bashing. No, the knight was all alone except to the stone residents here. His first thought was to give his new Chalice to Ravenhooves, but the prince was quiet as a mouse. "Well, now what do I do?" He looked around, and a little ways towards the stairs, Dan spotted one staute glowing with an unusual radience. He trekked over and remembered this statue: A woman, slender and powerful, dressed in what he could only imagine to be the fashion of some distant land, the most strangest thing, at least to Dan, was the innumerable brass rings she wore on her legs, waist, left arm, and even a few around her neck. She held a great spear and stood as if she had just slain a mighty beast. "What could be the harm in it?" Dan asked himself as he placed the chalice before this wild looking woman. The Queen of the Amazons.

Immediately, the great warrior woman turned her fierce looking eyes towards the silent skelton standing before her. "Dan, Dan, Dan. Tell me, what's a warrior queen to do to meet someone like you?" She asked in a sultry voice.

"Huh?.. what... me?" Dan fumbled, he was expecting such a warrior to talk about things like that.. but he thought it wise not to question the issue further.

Now the Queen was amused at his taken by surprise. "Don't be shy, baby- I've seen you giving me the eye. You may be weak and feeble like all men, but I like you, Daniel."

"Oh no..." Dan couldn't picture that image nicely.

"Oh, I love a man who doesn't talk back!" the warrior woman gigled. "I think if you return I may take you for my husband."

Dan gulped audibly. This invitation sounded like something more frightening than the Stain Glass Demon.

"Now listen up sugar: your bow and arrows are fine for itty bitty jobs, but if you wanna pack some serious heat, you should take this spear."

That was something Dan was delighted to hear. "Great!"

"Think of me when you throw it." Tapping her own spear upon the floor, the weapon appeared before Dan. It was a wooden shaft about a good six feet long. The spearhead looked large and menacing. He had to admire the idea that such a simple weapon could be so fearsome. Eager to test it out, he left the Halls poofing out the same way he came in.

Griff returned a few minutes later, with a bag slung over his shoulder. He walked over the gargoyle head and eased his bundle to the ground. "So, was Fortesque back from the Gorge?"

"Yes, came and went, he did." The ornament nodded. "Yet I think something scared him before he left."

Griff chuckled at the idea. "I'll bet the Amazon Queen took a liking to him. I wonder if he'll take her up on getting married?"

Both the gargoyle and the Hallkeeper looked at each other for a bet, then they both burst into laughter, the idea was just too hilarious.

Upon his return to Gallowmere, Dan wasn't laughing. He was still in the Pumpkin Gorge, so he to walk back all the way to the Scarecrow Fields. It was a long and boring trip, having all the monsters killed the first time around. By the time he got to the signpost pointing to Gallow's Town, Dan was dead tired! "Oh... I'm not going to do cross country sprints again. I think my toes are ready to fall off." Just to be safe, Dan took off his shoes and heard a rattle inside. A good number of the bones had fallen off. "Why am I not surprised?" For the better part of ten minutes, Dan pieced his toes back to gether. There were a great number of bones that made up the foot, but if nothing else, the knight was learning a good bit of human physiology. It was an interesting idea but Dan suddenly had a vision; somewhere in another land, the scholars that would teach the subject would have a skeleton not unlike himself hanging around, for someone like Dan, it was a nightmare: countless faces he'd never seen before staring at him, completely naked to the truest sense. "Brr, I hope that never happens to me." With a shudder, Dan re shod his foot and walked down the road to his next stop in Gallowmere..

The Village of Gallows Town was q uiet place at best, too small to be called a city, but big enough to be more than a hovel. Quaint houses of wood and stone dotted the streets, it was a nice place for the whole of Gallowmere's populance to live. At least under normal circumstances, as of recent, the simple residents of the village were bewitched by Zarok's magic. Now enslaved them to his service; now these mindless drones stalked the city.

Mr. Mad, one such resident, gazed into the reflection of the ax he held. He looked decent in simple peasant clothes, but his eyes were hallow and perpetually spinning. Robbed of thought, he roared in confusion and choppd his ax into the dirt-trodden roads just at the outskirts. It was here that Daniel Fortesque entered the haunted village.

Dan couldn't help notice how quiet the town had become, save for torchlight burning in sconces here and there. He noticed Mr. Mad, but decided not to speak to the man, seeing as how he looked inclined to chop up the first living thing he saw. Fortunatly for the undead knight, Dan saw a gargoyle head mounted on the wall to his left. "Hey, what's going on around here?"

The gargoyle came to life at once. "Poor villagers- the master possesses them." It sighed. "It mustn't hurt them. Hurt guards though, they seek out an object of great power.."

"Are you serious?" Dan asked. "Blast that Zarok!"

"And you've every right to." A familiar voice crept out of the quiet. Then a just-as-familiar being dressed in a simple black cowl.

"...Griff, what are you doing here?"

"The gargoyle speaks the truth, Dan." The keeper nodded. "Zarok stripped these good people of their free will to strengthen his magical powers. So if they see you, they will try to do you harm."

"Okay, I get the idea." Dan scractched his skull. "Leave the villagers alone and hurt the guards.. but I don't see any around here?"

"Those guards have been snooping around under Zarok's order. If you want to find out what's going on, I suggest you stop beating your teeth and get on with it."

"Now wait just a minute!" Dan started to protest, but Griff vanished away and the gargoyle went back to sleep. "I hate it when he does that.." he groused as he walked down the streets. The first building Dan came across was the church. Evn it looked gloomy and abandoned. As Dan thought about going inside, a sound like laughter rose. Dan looked around and saw a little girl wearing a pink dress and a bonnet wandering the streets, Little Nellie Mad, all alone

. "Hey there, shouldn't you be at home?" Dan callled out, not thinking of what could come of it, considering he was a dead man. The girl did not respond.

"It's dangerous out here." Dan continued as he approached. "Can you hear me?" He was now standing over the child. She turned around and gave Dan a look of insanity that made him pale. Even worse was the fact that she brandished a large hachet and was lashing out with it! "Hey, stopping swinging that thing around!"

Dan backed away, but Nellie moved towards him,. She was hungry for her hachet to bit into something and she ran straight at Dan.

"...Sanctuary!!" Dan cried out as he dashed into the church doors and slammed them shut. Outside, Nellie was giggling like mad as she walked aimlessly away. "Good, she's gone." Dan slumped against the doors. Aside from a few rats here and there, Dan was alone. There were a few benches flanking a simple patterened carpet leading up three step to the priest's podium. Above it, Dan could only see a stone wall, except that there was an area that looked a bit more clean. "...That's strange. What kind of church would take down its cross?" Dan walked up the steps for a closer investigation. Something once hung on the walls until recently. "Hmm.." Before Dan could ponder the mystery furhter, he spotted a book on the podium and decided to read it:

A crucifix once stood here, but the mayor took it. Find a replacement and see how the church should really look.

As Dan turned to leave, he spotted an ecto-spring howling nearby. It was a comfort, if he should end up hurt in this town. But now he had to go look around and see if the Mayor was around.

"Uh oh.." Dan muttered. Nellie returned and eagerly gave chase. Dan ran down streets, making a good distance from the crazed hypnotized girl, but as he sighed, it metled away, another little girl, Sally, was waiting at the end, with a hatchet of her own. "Don't these people learn not to run with pointy objects!?" Dan asked aloud. " Sally now tried to do onto Dan what Nellie tried to do to the knight, but it was only by running into a nearby house that Dan found another narrow escape...or so he thought. An elderly lady, one Agatha Mad by name, was swinging around a frying pan, singing a nonsensical song.

Dan tried to sneak back out, but Agatha saw the intruder and chased him with a speed unnatural for a woman of her age. "Oh no, not again!" He ran round the house as Agatha swung her pan She cackled much like a witch as she lashed out with her pan, Dan was now getting scared.

Dan dodged a good swing that smashed a nearby nightstand."Is there anyone who doesn't want to kill me in this-... what the?" Dan saw something in the fireplace only for a second, considering the mad woman chasing him. He grabbed the object, not caring what it was at the instant and ran outside, to a mob of deranged little girls with implements of destruction. Dan ran back to the church looking particualry white.. "Phew... what a mad little town. Now what is this..." Dan took out the blue object he found in the Mad's house and grinned. It was a blue moon rune. "I really don't like doing this.." Dan cringed as he headed out again, this time though, Nellie and her mob was nowhere to be seen. "What a relief.." Dan looked around and saw a familiar sight. A larger building with a horsehoe sign hanging off the rafters. "This must be the blacksmith's shop." Dan wandered inside. The place was abaondoned, only a few barrels, an anvil and chest were inside. Dan found a silver shield in the chest and saw a diary next to the forge. Dan needed something to relax, so he took the book into his boney fingers and started to read..

Blacksmith's Monthly

Old man Willy Green of Gallows Town was awarded Smithy of the Season by our readers. His outstanding casts have produced many intricate and hard wearing iron goods and sculptures. Willy only uses the finest of metals in his work, and is particularly noted for his magnificent Busts!

Old man Willy was quoted as saying, "Aye when I get pumpin' on me bellows theres no stopping me, it's all in the rhythm, up n' down, up n' down! I've always been inspired by the stories of Stanyer Iron Hewer: the greatest Smithy that there ever was!'

Dan thought back to ol' Stanyer. He was as mighty with his warhammer as he was when it came to working the forge. It was easy to imagine that such a hard worker could be so fierce when the time for battle came. Even more impressive was his hearty attitude, he wasn't snobby like that half-dressed fop, Woden. "Wow.. oh wait a minute, busts? Crucifixes? Something fishy's going on around here." Dan frowned as he went outside again. Dan wandered and ran around the streets looking for any place where he could use the blue moon rune. All he found before being spotted by Nellie and her band was the town grocery. Insde here, Dan found the gate he was looking for, but the old woman who ran this shop, Miss Hacksly, was inside, chopping her latest shipment of meat. But before opening the door to the ktichen, Dan saw a step, slightly raised from the rest. He pushed down on it and saw something raise open through the fence. Some kind of passageway to the basement. As soon as Dan stepped of the swtitch, the door closed . "Hm... Needs some weight.." IT was here that the cadaver saw a few barrels nearby, he quickly pushed one on top of the switch and sure enough, it stayed open. "Oh no..." Dan groaned as he produced the moon rune. The minute he'd open up the door, meant Miss Hacksly would hunt her down. Which presented a grusome image when added with the blood-stained butcher's apron she wore over her dress. But it was too late to change his mind; Dan inserted the moon rune into the the waiting hand.

"Thank you for shopping with us! We hope to sever you again!" The runehand said cheerfully. This got Hacksly's attention. As her entraced eyes gazed at Sir Fortesque, she saw an idea in her heads, bones for the stray dogs, and she chased after the armored knight with a butcher's knive.

"Yikes!" was all Dan could scream as she dodged and ran, he crashed into the kitchen and dove into the basement , regretting it as his head hit the stone floor. "Ow..." After shaking the pain from his skull, Dan took stock of the area. There were a great number of barrels all over, and the rats were helping themselves to pickled pig's feet and fish. "Eww.." Dan groaned as he walked towards a chest tucked away behind a few barrels of tripe. He found a new club inside and took it for whatever could be up ahead in the next room. On the other side of it was a fenced-off area, sealed with a green rune hand. Standing guard was Miss' hacksly's husband, Oaften, he saw the knight and snarled, swinging his ax widly. Dan dodged the crazed man and ran up the stairs. IN this room, two old crones were singing their weird songs, but didn't noticed Dan. He silently crept up the stairsand jumped over the counter in front of him. On the walls, he saw a poster advertiseing a disgusting looking head with "TROLL'S HEAD" written in bold letters. Nauseated at the thought, Dan turned his attention to a book nearby and darted his eyes at the text quikly in case the old crones noticed him.

Bust of Mr. Shanks, Landlord of the Troll's Head. To clean the statue, lower pedestal.

"With what?" Dan asked himself silently. He jumped up on the counter and looked around, in the coner was a small den with the green earth rune, but there was a crazed old man guarding it. "I'm gonna hate myself for this.." Dan noted mentally as he ran into the den, grabbed the earth rune and ran down stairs, only suffering two whacks to the skull via the crones' frying pans. Upon entering the basement again, Dan dove to the green hand and placed the earth rune inside. He found an energy vial, several barrels and a lever inside. Oaften saw Daniel back inside so he was eager to kill the already dead knight. But Dan made use of the barrels, he blockaded the doorway, keeping the crazed villager out while Dan helped himself the vial lying on the ground. He pushed the lever and heard something grate on the floor above.

"Sorry about this, stranger." Dan said as he smashed the barrels and tackled Oaften before heading up the stairs again. This time around, Dan saw a pillar that was near reaching distance. On top of it was the golden bust of Mr. Shanks. It was a simple task for Dan to jump on the counter, then to the pillar before he acquired the statue. "Got it! No need to stay in this mad house anymore!"

As Dan returned outside, he could hear strange noise in the distance. Outside of the church a strangegroup of soldeirs marched into Gallows Town, their armor was made from Stoves, complementing their tall, smoke-stack hats, which puffed out while smoke every few seconds. These creatures looked like warped skeletons, but were human in nature, from the way they moved to the strange weapons they held.. Sticks that had metal barrels an their ends.

The first one, presumably, the captain turned to address the ones behind him. "Hurry, comrades, tear this place appart!."

"If we don't find the Shadow Artifact," A second soldier added. "Lord Zarok will have us mucking out the demons for the next millennium!"

These soldiers were another of Zarok's creations with magic. He dubbed them the "Boiler Guards" and sent them out hoping to find what the Mayor had hidden. The soldiers began to fan out in the town square when Daniel encountered one a group of them near the town fountain. "Herr Fortesque! By Zarok's order, you are to be executed at once!"

"Huh.. what, me?"

"All men, ready your guns!" The captian shouted, the soldiers pointed their weapons right at Dan. "FIRE!!"

Dan ran as tiny explosions spouted from the soldier s guns. Drawing the broadsword, he darted around hacking their metal shells until they fell, one after another. "Now for the others.." Dan ran around the village, striking down more boiler guards in his wake. Some of them ordered the knight to stop, but idle threats were useless. In a few moments, Dan had cleaned them out of the vicinity. "Well, that was good exercise.." Dan sat himself down at the fountain, thankful for a breather. "So.. I have this bust. But there's too many things missing.." As Dan thougth about it, he looked at himself in the pool's reflection, he didn't look that bad for a skeleton. "Huh?" Something caught his attention. A pale red shape. Looking up Dan saw a red chaos rune floating in the waters coming out of the staute's mouth, a fish-like monster. It held the rune aloft, just out of his reach. "Can' t reach it." Dan thougth at once. He looked around the town again. Dan found another book outside the Troll's Head.

The rune key is held aloft by the flow of the water from the fountain- you may have to wait for the next drought.

"But that's too long!" Dan proetested. If more of those guards came back, there would be trouble. Dan circled the town, hoping to find an answer when his search brought him to the river. He walked down a flight of stairs and found his answer. A metal pipe in the waters and a swtich nearby. "If this river is supplying water to the fountain.. what if I?" Dan pulled the swtich and ran back to the fountain. His guess was accurate: without the water supply cut off, the chaos rune fell to the cobblestone streets. Dan picked it up and walked over the library. "That didn't take long." He inserted the chaos rune and entered. Dan marveled at the great number of books inside. A good number of them were open on podiums. Dan thought it would be a shame to not read them all."

To Dan's surprsie, the first book was on the History of Gallowmere. Vol 1, to be exact-

During the dark time that was Gallowmere's not too distant past, it was King Peregrin who thwarted Zarok the Necromancer and his plan to enslave the land.

Zarok, once the King's mage had fallen out of favor with the Ruler for conducting outlandish experiments on the bodies of the dead. It was said that deep within Peregrin castle the dead were restless.

'The dead are to be honored; not kept as the playthings of alchemists!' declared King Peregring as he banished Zarok from the Castle. All of Zarok's living dead were routed out and desroyed. Zarok, being an unforgiving soul went into hiding and vowed to wreak his revenge on the King.

"Interesting." Dan mused as he moved on to the next volume.

Rumors of ill doing and dark deeds abounded through the lands of Gallowmere. It was whispered that Zarok had employed the aid of Shadowy Demons to help rebuild a vast castle.

Under the cover of night, Zarok's dark army spilled forth from their corrupt haven. The army marched south across the Silver Mountains and through the Silver Woods, which is now regarded as the Dark Forest not too long ago. Soon afterwards, even the pumpkin lands belonged to Zarok. The folk of Gallows Town cried out for help, "Save us good King Peregrin!'.

Retaliation was swift and violent. King Peregrin's forces led by the brave Sir Fortesque drove Zarok's army back from Gallows Town. There was much rejoicing, but the war was not yet over.

Dan beganto feel anxious.. now he was worried aobut would come next. He himself knew, but he had to find out from an unbiased source to be sure, and he read into volume 3:

News that Zarok's army had now taken the flood lands caused much concern. From this vantage point, Zarok could march west to take the Dark Forest. This sacred place would prove a bitter defeat if it fell into the hands of the evil sorcerer.

It was once again Sir Daniel Fortesque who once again led the King's Militia to rid the demon host from the land. Yet the evil wizard was cunning and had prepared an ambush. A titanic battle ensued of which history has never since seen the like.

It is said that the day would have gone to Zarok bur for the skill and valour of one man: Fortesque led the charge deep into the massed ranks of the undead, felling Zarok's bodyguard, the fearful Lord Khardok, and, before finally succumbing ot his own mortal wounds, slew the traitorous sorcerer with a mighty sweep of his sword.

Dan couldn't believe it, he knew that he died during that fateful ambush, "but why..?" he asked as he hesitantly headed towards volume 4.

The forces of evil were destroyed but at a terrible price: none but a handful of the King's Militia returned from that field. Gallowmere lost a whole generation of young men that day, including Canny Tim, the legendary crossbowman and Fortesque's second in command, who fell not long after sustaining injures from the first volley of arrows.

Zarok's body was never found, though it it lies unmourned in an unmarked grave then no on in Gallowmere would shed a tear.

The Shadow Demons that had fallen under Zarok's banner were unnatural creaturs that did not belong in the world of mortal men. The King decided that they be banished, entombed under the pure earth of the Enchanted Earth.

Imprisioned within n impregnable box of the King's design, the Witche's Coven of the Cemetary Hill buried the Demons deep underground. Their tomb was sealed with a magical device that has since came to be known as the Shadow Artifact.

It was at this point that Daniel Fortseque began to feel something that he had felt only once. He felt remorse, not just for the lie, but what it represented to the whole of Gallowmere. Whoever wanted Daniel to be written as a hero must have feared that the truth would have worried the people. But Daniel could hear many voices in his skull, veberating things he did not want to hear:

Disgrace... coward... fool... wimp of a soldier... you were never meant to be a warrior... you were more of a laughing stock than when you were alive! ... Zarok will kill you...

"... ugh... no, I must be dreaming." Dan grumbled as he turned towards the fifth open book.

Tourist Guide to Gallowmere's

part 1.

The land of Gallowmere is a wondrous land of breathtaking sights and adventure.


If it's beauty you're looking ofr, be sure to check out the sights of the Enchanted Forest.

Scale the heights and see the nests of gaint Dragon Birds. Seek out weird and wonderful plant life. Go 'ooh' and 'aah' at the sight of baby Dragon Toads splashing about in the crystal clear ponds.

Why not take a walke through the Pumpkin Valley! Pumpkin is Gallowmere's favorite dish, and about now the valley is just bulging under the weight of young podlings awaitng harvest.

Dan can only picture what all that meant for him already. Several brushes with near unnatural death, emenies by the hordes and having to face horrors no mortal man should have ever dealt with.. "Ugh, this guy must have it out for me: I NEVER want to remember all that again!" Eager for a respite he turned to the last open book which, to the knight's dismay, the second part of the guide he just read:

If it's mystery you're looking for, then the seasoned adventurer should travel to the ruins of King Peregrin's Castle. Yes, this is the fortress from which the fabled King Peregrin once hailed! It is said that the King's Crown was lost in the dungeons below the Castle and that the ghost of the regent himself now haunts those cold stone passageways. Spooky!

Dan stopped after the paragragh... "My king...? you too?" his thoughts turned to how miserable the poor monarch was faring at the moment. More than anyone else who lived in the castle, King Peregrin was as dear friend and mentor to him. It was to think what had happened that fateful day.. The knight tried to stop his trip down memory land by reading the rest of the guide..

Why not take to the swamps and seek out the mythic town of Mellomede! This place was once said to be a place of fantastical arcane alchemy, but an age has passed since it was consumed by the murky swamps. Perhaps great treasure awaits any adventurer that can locate its watery resting place?

Now Dan found himself at a loss, all the informato inwas hard to digest, so he rested against the bookshelf in front of him to ponder his next move. It was here that a rat had somehow climbed into Dan's armor. "Huh?!" the knight felt the critter scurrying about his bones. The poor fellow couldn't help but laugh since he was ticklish. Dan was a laughing fool as he jumped around, rolled over the floor, anything that could scare the rat out of his armor. "Sto.. ha ha ha, get outta.. ha ha! There!!" the rat popped out from brestplate and scampered under the middle shelf. Dan was now angry. "I'll teach you not tickle me like that.." He drew out the hammer, his teeth curled up in a fiendish grin. Yelling like a madman, Dan smashed the shelf and proceeded to hammer the floor however he could. The little felon was quick to scurry away. "... Bugger." Dan was about to leave when he looked around in where he was in: a secret compartment. He found a small diary on the floor and picked it up. Judging from the frienzied scrawls, the writer was in a hurry.

To whom it may concern,

I must make haste for Zarok and his men will be here within the hour. I have taken the cricifix from the church- it is the key to a key. I used the cross to make the attached cast, then I had it destroyed. It is my hope that this cast falls into the hands of a just and good hero.

Signed, the Town Mayor.

"...Now it makes sense." Dan concluded. Going from what the Pumpkin Witch and the gargoyle said, Zarok was looking for something and he wanted it bad.. "Could it be that the Mayor has the Shadow Artifact?! ... I can't stay here I gotta-"

Dan's train of thought was cut short as a large, deranged man snarled nearby. Having heard the tickling and the smashing. This possessed ruffian had the skeletal knight in his entranced eyes.

Dan saw that when he saw the man in question heading his way with a large ax to grind, literaly. He was trapped!!!

Part 2 coming soon.