Quest 03: Let Sleeping Gods Lie
Chapter 3 - But We Can Fight
Jahaan stumbles upon a newly excavated chamber, one that a charismatic young stranger claims to be where Guthix resides under the earth. However, once this knowledge becomes commonplace, many different factions come to a head, either to protect the sleeping god, wake him, or destroy him...
In the first storage room, Thaerisk and Chaeldar stood ready, determination biting back any fears they had as to whom might be charging towards them. From the sounds echoing throughout the chamber, whomever was coming towards their wing was very big, and very slow. It sounded like they were using their immense strength to force their way through the rock. Perhaps they didn't have the intelligence to try any other way.
Stomp
Stomp
Stomp
Thaerisk and Chaeldar kept their guard up, waiting.
Before long, the wall broke down as a giant green-skinned beast broke through, shoulder first, the large animal horns on his sturdy helmet being some of the first things to enter the room. He wore a necklace of skulls, with more being attached to his belt, and any clothing he wore was crudely crafted from something dead. Standing at ten feet tall, this was General Graardor, leading a small group of goblin foot soldiers.
"Turn back now," Thaerisk ordered, his voice a blade. "You will go no further."
The ogre-like beast laughed. "Graardor turn back? Tiny human has tiny brain! Puny balance god stop wars returning. Bandos - almighty war god - desire battle, so Graardor create it. Graardor smash Guthix skull with mighty fists! Graardor be best general of almighty war god! Squishy human and others will not stop me! Attack!"
Despite being a druid, Thaerisk had been trained in magic from a very early age. Against the brute strength and lumbering combat coming from the goblins and even Graardor himself, magic was an incredibly effective strategy. Using the runes in his possession, he cast a fearsome earth-based spell that knocked the general back for six. Meanwhile, Chaeldar dealt with the goblin forces. Even though she was vastly outnumbered, Chaeldar's size meant that she could move very quickly, making her well-suited against a slow enemy, like goblins were. Her weapon of choice was a small spear.
Meanwhile, in another storage room, the sounds of a manic scuttering suggested that there were multiple enemies trying to break through, and the foul stench of the undead could be smelled.
Before long, Zemouregal forced his way into the chamber, with skeletons and zombies behind him, his mindless legion.
Jahaan spoke calmly, with a strange glint in his eyes. "Zemouregal. You're late. Graardor is already in the process of being slaughtered by the Guthixians. You'd be wise to turn tail before you follow him."
Zemouregal roared a laugh. "Hah! General Graardor… I wouldn't be surprised if the lumbering fool skewered himself on his own weapon. I would suggest you stand aside so I may get to Guthix sooner, but I think I'd prefer to destroy you and your weak companions first. A little payback for your intrusion in the Ritual."
With an evil smirk, Zemouregal raised his hand, causing his undead minions to charge forwards, and the battle commenced.
As he was slow and fragile, Cres himself was no fighter. Therefore, he used his creations to fight for him, replicas of the creatures Jahaan had encountered earlier. Summoning an entire troop of automatons, Cres readied himself for the impending battle.
When Commander Zilyana broke through and an entire troop of white knights and Saradominist warriors followed, he felt his chances of victory slip away quite fast. Nevertheless, he was prepared to fight to the end, for Guthix.
"Step aside, creatures," Zilyana ordered. The woman was an icyene, an ancient race of winged beings, and the leader of Saradomin's army. "The glory of Saradomin demands it!"
Creaking his limbs into an offensive posture, Cres stated, "Your god's 'glory' matters nothing here."
Eyes narrowing, Zilyana drew her thin sword and held it aloft. "So be it. For Saradomin!"
One should underestimate the Valluta due to her appearance at their peril. Her shell was near impenetrable, and she had a surprising amount of speed and agility for someone of her size and build. Fiara too, was a fiery opponent, her far-reaching legs and insect-like tail all coordinated into a perfect rhythm, a dance of melee prowess.
The ones to break through and into their storage room were an Armadylian troop, led by Kree'arra, a graceful avatar of Armadyl. Kree'arra was a majestic winged being, feathers of pearl and gold that shone like fine silk even in the low-light of the cavern. He was a powerful ranger, armed with a formidable crossbow. Just as well the two tallest fighters were the ones to battle the ones that could fly.
Kree'arra settled on the ground, his small band of warriors behind him. "You should not be here, creatures of Guthix," he warned, his tone soft and solemn. "It is not safe. Please, leave now."
"We cannot do that," Fiara replied, her voice measured. "Who are you? An aviansie of Armadyl, I gathered, but why are you defying your god's code of justice and peace in favour of your intrusion here today?"
Exhaling a heavy, weighted breath, Kree'arra responded, "Believe us, bloodshed should always be the last resort… but Guthix is preventing Armadyl's return. He… he has been missing for so long now. I find myself unable to recall his face to describe him."
The Valluta declared, "I know of your kind, friend. You do not have to continue here today. Leave, and uphold your god's principles. It is what he would want."
There was a long, drawn-out pause, and even the avanasie warriors behind him actually believed Kree'arra was considering it. Alas, instead he withdrew his crossbow and steadied his gaze. "I'm sorry, but this is the way it has to be… for Armadyl…"
It didn't take long before Jahaan could coax Zemouregal to fight on his level; knowing he was at a slight disadvantage battling magic with a couple of swords, he goaded the Mahjarrat into duelling with him on his level.
"You think that your blue toothpicks stand a chance against me?" Zemagoural had challenged, summoning a black and steel two-handed blade into his palms.
Granted, Zemouregal was a skilled swordsman with great prowess, but he was a better mage. Now, Jahaan had a fighting chance.
While Death focused on the undead army, Jahaan did his best to keep Zemouregal at bay. Much to his relief and, frankly, surprise, he was succeeding.
The two of them leapt forward, their swords connecting with a fearsome clash. Zemouregal managed to have the strength advantage against Jahaan, pushing him backwards and gaining the upper hand almost instantly. Jahaan rolled out of the way as the black sword struck down into the space he'd occupied almost a millisecond ago. Each strike of sword on sword roared with a pugnacious applause.
The two clashed for ages, Zemouregal growing increasingly furious at his inability to land a killing blow on Jahaan. Unfortunately for him, this led to reckless attacks, misplaced swings and lunges that were far from the mark.
Zemouregal swiped for Jahaan's neck, but the young man caught it with his two smaller blades and twisted the sword from Zemouregal's grip. Using the momentary shock to his advantage, Jahaan sliced a deep cut into Zemouregal's thigh, causing the Mahjarrat to crumble to the ground. Before he knew what was happening, Jahaan had one sword trained at his throat and the other raised directly above his chest.
"Wait!" Zemouregal cried out as Jahaan went to drive the blade into his heart. Fighting for composure, Zemouregal took several deep breaths. "Fine. You win. Your precious God of Balance can live another day."
Jahaan smiled, smugly. "Nice seeing you again, Zemouregal. Let's do this again sometime."
"You can count on it, mortal."
Death escorted him to the next chamber, where he could teleport away without the magic restrictions surrounding the current wing. As soon as he was comfortable at seeing him retreat - feeling the pride that comes with small victories - that happiness was cut in half with the sound of a crash and then a great many footsteps clattering into the main chamber. Quickly, Death and Jahaan hurried in to see Commander Zilyana and her Saradominist forces engaging the druids, Chaeldar and Thaerisk in combat.
"The Bandosians were a piece of monkfish!" Chaeldar declared, nimbly weaving her way between a Saradominist's attacks. They came a little too close for comfort; she resorted to blocking with her blade, but physical strength was not on her side. "These critters, not so much."
Juna added, "Thank goodness you made when you did."
Charging forward to lock swords with one of the Saradominist soldiers, Jahaan remembered that Cres was defending the wing that had been breached, and imagining the worst, worriedly inquired, "What of Cres and his creations?"
Kaqemeex was tending to a wounded druid when he replied, "My druids are tending to him, but being made of stone and bark instead of flesh and blood, there is little we can do to help him…"
"And the Void Knights?"
"Still fighting the aviansie," Juna informed.
Jahaan ordered, "Death, go assist the Valluta and the Void Knights with the aviansie. If they break through as well, our chances are practically nothing."
With a nod of his faceless hood, Death charged into the chamber, scythe at the ready.
The battle raged on for who knows how long. Jahaan got lost in the combat, fighting anyone in white armour with a star on their chest. Before long, Death and the Void Knights returned to the chamber, having driven the aviansie into retreating. The playing field was becoming much more level at this point.
Jahaan took a stab at Commander Zilyana, but before their clash could begin, a small explosion rocked the room, emitting from the direction of the western wing.
Into the chamber emerged only three figures, but they were among the most fearsome the Guardians had encountered as of yet. The first, Nex, a name derived from the Infernal word for 'murder'. She was one of Zaros' most powerful weapons of war, and one of the most featured creatures in all of Gielinor. Skin red like lava, she was covered in jagged horns and spikes across her chest and back, sharp enough to skewer anyone that came close enough to her. Atop her scaly head were five long horns, curling behind her like waves of hair. Her wings were a gradient of crimson and ashen black, tattered and torn at the edges, yet with bones in them strong enough to snap a mortal in two. The second, Char, a fire enchantress in the service of Zaros. While she was humanoid in figure, her wild hair defied gravity, shaped in curves and spikes, and her eyes glowed fire. Her palms were still glowing from the remnants of a fire-spell she must have recently cast.
Those figures Jahaan had only heard about from legends told to him. The third, however, Jahaan knew personally, as did Commander Zilyana, who disengaged from her fight to approach the three Zarosians. "Azzanadra," she looked down her nose at the Mahjarrat. "I should have expected you Zarosians to lurk in the shadows, afraid to face those stronger than you."
Nex hissed, "You watch your tongue, Zilyana, or I will rip it from your mouth."
"You presume to speak to me, Nex?" Zilyana challenged. "You, who has been locked in your icy prison for thousands of years. Do you feel ready for a real battle again?"
"It seems you are outnumbered, Zilyana. It would be wise to back down," Azzanadra advised, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "After all, had you not been so desperate to reach Guthix, I'm sure you would have noticed us shadowing your steps. Perhaps you would have thought twice before destroying half the defence, kindly clearing our path."
"You dare-!"
Igniting her palms again, Char growled, "Oh, we are wasting time, Azzanadra. Let us just kill her and be done with it!"
"Calm, Char," Azzanadra eased. "It is all in hand. It is no use fighting anymore, Zilyana. It appears we have a friend planted closer to Guthix than any of us could ever be. Jahaan, would you be so kind as to lead us to Guthix?"
Upon seeing Commander Zilyana square up to Azzanadra and the other Zarosians, Jahaan had picked his battles closer to the confrontation, interested as to how the two volatile parties would react. When his name was mentioned, he kicked the Saradominist soldier to the side, badly slicing the man's arm as he did. "I didn't think I'd see you again so soon, Azzanada."
Juna shot Jahaan a surprised, troubling look. "You're acquainted with a Mahjarrat? After all they did to your people?"
"It was a long time ago," Jahaan explained. "I'd been enlisted to find a treasure inside one of the Kharidian pyramids. Finding Azzanadra was an… unexpected by-product. He told me his side of the story; I decided not to hold an aged grudge. Why should I?"
Disappointment evident in her tone, Juna shook her head and replied, "I did not see you as one to betray your principals so easily, human."
At this, Jahaan swung around. "Hey, I've been risking my life to defend Guthix with you. The God Wars are long since over, and I'd be a stubborn idiot to hold onto the supposed 'rage of my people'."
"Thank you, Jahaan," Azzanadra smiled in appreciation. "Now, while I would like to continue discussing our ideologies and histories at length, I'm afraid there are more pressing matters at hand. Guthix must first be awoken."
"Ah, now THAT I can't let you do."
Azzanadra crinkled his brow. "We do not wish to kill him, Jahaan. We Zarosians believe that Guthix can be reasoned with, allowing the edicts to fall long enough for our master's return. Besides, think of all we could learn from such a being!"
Commander Zilyana snorted in disgust. "Ignorant fool. You really think Guthix will be reasoned with? No, we must kill him - only then can the TRUE lord, Saradomin, return to Gielinor."
"No, Guthix must NOT be disturbed," Juna maintained, fiercely. She turned to Jahaan. "What say you, human? Please do not tell me you will side with the Mahjarrat once more."
Pointedly ignoring the undertone in the snake's hiss, Jahaan firmly replied, "Guthix must not be awoken, and definitely not killed. That's where I stand."
Azzanadra's shoulders sagged. "Jahaan, surely not…"
"I'm afraid so. It's the only way."
"This saddens me greatly. I considered you a friend, Jahaan. However, Guthix must be awoken, for Zaros. As much as it pains me, if this means challenging you then… that must be the case."
"Azzanadra, you sentimental fool," Char spat. "If the human stands against Zaros, then he stands against us. Any obstacle must be destroyed in flame and fire."
Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently, ripping everyone from conversation and combat.
"What's going on?" Kaqemeex tried his best to steady his stance, but ended up falling on his back. A Saradominist soldier tried to take advantage and strike him down, but ended up stumbling forwards and toppling to the ground instead.
Chaeldar cried, "The wall! Look!"
While everyone else was distracted, the door on the tableau wall had lit up before breaking open. However, no-one seemed to be close to it.
"That's the pathway to Guthix," Juna hissed, quietly, so only Jahaan could hear. "Go! Defend Guthix! We will keep these forces occupied."
As soon as she finished talking, Juna lunged at Nex, but the demon was too quick and slashed her ferocious claws deep into Juna's body, blood pouring from the wound instantly. The druids and the rest of the Guardians fought harder than ever before, Chaeldar challenging Char herself, knowing they were the last line of defence now.
Quickly, Jahaan raced through the hole in the door, sprinting through the chambers as fast as he could. He tightly clutched onto both of his swords, blood dripping from the edges as he ran, creating a crimson trail.
DISCLAIMER:
As Of Gods and Men is a reimagining, retelling and reworking of the Sixth Age, a LOT of dialogue/characters/plotlines/etc. are pulled right from the game itself, and this belongs to Jagex.