In all my 24 years fighting, I've never liked doing so in Persia.
The heat was the worst it had ever been, and I'd gotten slightly nauseous
due to the dryness of the air. Our last was the toughest battle we had
been faced with for a while, but it was mainly because of climate-the
barbarians had the same trouble we had. It was another glorious victory,
and it was usually nice to reap the benefits. But this time, there were no
benefits. The only point to our being here was to secure a vast, useless
stretch of desert in the name of the Empire.
While fighting had been one reason I had decided to come here instead of back in the north west, I had secretly had my heart set on another, more important thing. A miraculous legend, to be precise, which spoke of several odd landmarks that would take you somewhere that would grant you amazing power. Such rumors should usually be ignored, but higher authorities had acknowledged this, and it seemed a logical decision to try and take care of two matters in one trip. Secure land, banish a rumor.
At the rank of centurion, I was in command of an entire legion of soldiers-from 4 to 6 thousand, roughly. I had never lost a battle, and was very highly respected-one of the best centurions in the army, actually. I'd been modest as humanly possible about it all my life, and I had many a respectful officer who wouldn't have to work quite as hard.
"Rest the men," I said. "They will need their strength. Make sure they take enough water, and are in high spirits. Today's battle was but one of many if we are to complete our mission."
"At once, Centurion Augustus," said my officer in modesty. "I would like to compliment you once more on your battle tactics. Our enemies did not have a chance."
"Do you believe that it really exists, Centurion?" asked another.
"I do not doubt our emperor's beliefs, or his orders. But if we are to retrieve the artifact, we must be strong, and patient," I replied.
The two officers left to tend to the legion, and started off with them, but then I heard a voice. Not from the officers, but from the gentle sandstorm behind me. I looked back, and saw nothing. I turned around and headed into the swirling sand, and I saw a rock chasm ahead. I figured that it was just a slacking soldier playing a joke. I drew my gladius blade and prepared to discipline him. I walked through the chasm and saw no one. I second voice called. This time, it was female. And it was more clear.
"Come to us, Pious Augustus," it said, echoing a couple of times. This honestly scared me. Not only had we taken vows to enlist no female soldiers, but the voice sounded near, yet it echoed like it was yelled from miles off. I walked through a small canyon that widened into endless desert. I saw an odd rock formation up ahead. It looked like the one that had been described to me. This piqued my curiosity, and began to worry me very badly. But I could stand it no longer. I headed over to it, and I saw an odd insignia in the center. I stepped onto it to examine it further, but it meant nothing in my language. I felt like heading back to fetch a translator, but then I was shocked violently by something. I turned around, and I found that I was now in a completely different place.
I looked around to see an odd-looking dungeon with various hieroglyphs on the walls. They seemed similar to that on the circle I had been standing on, but now I was standing on a hard stone floor. I saw a hole in the floor, and decided that it was really the only conceivable way out of the dungeon. There was an old wooden ladder leading to the floor below. I stepped down, then found myself in a long, narrow corridor.
There were what looked like blackened, charred corpses scattered on the ground before me. I walked over to one to see that it still had rotting flesh on it. Then I heard a rustling noise. I looked down the hall, and saw a corpse at the far end that appeared to be twitching. I squinted in the dust, and it slowly rose to its feet.
I couldn't believe what I saw. Demons are what these were. Demons of a lost, unholy tomb that were awakened by my presence. I started to feel weak, but then I remembered that this was my duty as a legionnaire. I charged foreword and drew my gladius, preparing to slice it to pieces. I heard more scraping, and saw two more coming from behind on either side. I continued to run foreword until I was an arm's length away. It raised its withered arm and prepared to take a swing. I caught it in mid arc and chopped it off. The demon recoiled, but I wasted no time. I slashed its head off, then chopped at its body three more times until it stopped moving. I saw the other two coming, and decided to deliver a last, fineshing blow for good measure. I raised back my blade and sent it slashing down on its torso.
I ran at the one on the right, and cut into its stomach, running it through completely. It swung its arm and caught me off guard, hitting me on the left arm. Thought I felt little through the armor, I recoiled at the surprisingly strong impact. I slashed it twice more, then kicked it over. The second one lunged at me. I stuck my blade into its torso and threw it on top of the other. As they struggled to get up, I hacked down into their backs several times until they were once again part of the gloomy scenery. I noticed a small block under it. I kicked the corpse aside, then picked it up, happy that it seemed relatively untouched. It had a strange, familiar red symbol on the top.
I left the hall to a small area with a pedestal in the center, with a green stone block on it, and two more demons flanking it. I ran at one and knocked it down, then stomped its body and severed both arms. I severed the arms of the other one as well, and then I took off the head. I died instantly. That particular pattern seemed to work rather nicely. I stabbed the other one in the torso to stop its unpleasant writhing. My blade was slick with an unpleasant, slimy red blood that seemed darker than normal, almost black. I picked up the second stone block, sure that it would come in handy sooner or later.
A door to my right lead me into a similar, wider hallway that was swarming with demons. I fearlessly hacked and slashed until the two nearest were dead. The other three were closing in, and one reached out to punch me. I blocked, but instead, he hit the demon in front of him, knocking it over. I stabbed out twice, then took its head off with a clean slice. The last one grabbed me from the side, and slowly pulled its rotting head and sharp teeth toward me. I pulled away, then I put all my weight into a shove that sent it sprawling next to the other downed one.
The two of them got back up, when the headless demon swung a blind punch and knocked one of them down again. It was a blessing to be cursed with such clumsy foes. I sliced them both to pieces, then stomped the body of the other to a pulp with my heavy iron boots. I picked up a third block in the floor, this time blue. I figured that these might lead to, or even be, the treasure. I noticed that the only way out was, again, a ladder to the right.
As I stumbled down in my cumbersome armor, I came to a t-shaped corridor. A single demon lay in wait. I took care of him quickly and saw that the left door was barred off. Instinctively, I went right.
I entered a large, circular room with a pedestal in the center. A pedestal that was surrounded by a small moat of lava, and five demons that were quickly alerted to my presence. I ran into the room, set down my blocks and prepared to fight. Two were already on me. I pushed past them and crossed the bridge over the lava to the pedestal. This time, it would be a downhill battle. The demons turned and stumbled over the bridge. One of them overshot and stumbled over the side, dipping and scalding a leg in lava. I waited for two to come across, before pushing and kicking one in. The entire body fell, making little splash, then sizzled and popped until it was indeed charred black. I prepared to punish the second similarly, when the remaining two came from behind. One hit me in the back. The other bit down hard onto my shoulder plate, breaking its teeth. I swerved around the pedestal, then charged back, knocking another one headfirst into the lava. I slashed the other one with almost mocking fury, then ran it through cleanly and let it fall to the ground. I noticed that a fourth, purple cube was on the pedestal. I grabbed it and took off. I saw the one- legged demon writhing and squirming, on fire. I stabbed it for good measure and walked across the small bridge again.
I then noticed that on the walls to the sides of the door leading out, there were four massive symbols chalked on the walls. Each one had a cube- shaped hole below it. Four cube-shaped holes, four stone cubes. It was too simple. I gathered up all 4 cubes, then pushed them into the opening of their respective color and symbol. Once all were in, I'd expected for something important to happen. But nothing did, although I'd sworn I heard sliding stone somewhere.
I went back to try and cut open the bars to the left side door, when I noticed that the bars were gone. I went on to find a small round room with a peculiar statue, but the part that really disturbed me was that it seemed to be modeled after me. I walked towards it, and looked around to see a closed door. I stood in front of it. Something told me to do something, but I was not quite sure what. I slashed at it, taking off its arm. As the arm clattered to the floor, I noticed that the door behind it slid gently open about a quarter way. It was very odd. I slashed off the other arm, then the head, and it opened almost fully. I finished off the torso with a downward chop, and the door opened the rest of the way. I walked through, and found myself in a dusty, cold clearing.
I looked up and saw a small portal of blue sky. I then looked around to see a large circle in the floor, a glowing button on the wall and 3 more demons. I decided not to bother. I went over to explore the button. I put both arms on it and pressed it in. I turned around to see 3 tall, thin pillars surround the circle in the middle of the floor. Energy pulsed through it. I briskly walked past the shuffling demons and touched the light. Nervous, I picked up a stone and threw it in. The stone became briefly illuminated and disappeared. Was this a trap or a way out? I pushed my Gladius in, then pulled it out all the way. I decided it was safe enough, so I walked in, and a blinding light sent me elsewhere.
I awoke in what seemed like a final, dead-end chamber with 3 pedestals surrounding an all-too common circle in the floor. I looked back to see a solid wall. No door, no light, nothing. I headed foreword, and was surprised to see 3 glowing artifacts on the pedestals. One was red, and it resembled a worm-like creature with two large claws. Another was blue, and it looked like a delicate, pretty blue shell. The last was a dark green angel. They all looked beautiful to me, and I knew, somehow, that they were what I was seeking. I reached out and touched the red one. It gently burned my hand. I recoiled, then touched the other two. They did the same. I began to feel tired and irritable. My face grew heavy with touching them. I then noticed that there was no purple artifact, like there was stone block. My skin began to burn. I reached out to touch the red one again. I suddenly felt the urge to bring it closer. I pulled it off the pedestal, then brought it to my face. My body felt like it was on fire. I let go, and a red light blinded my eyes. My skin seemed like it was hardening and becoming brittle and dry. I tried to touch myself, but my fingers were withered and bony. I fell to the floor. Sparks danced between my eyes as I lay there, suffering, wondering what horrible spell I had been bewitched with.
After a short while, I began to realize what had happened and why. It all suddenly came to me, what my destiny was, whom I was to serve, and what I would be doing for millennia to come. I felt a new rush of power flow through me as I slowly climbed to my feet.
To think that once I could not see beyond the veil of our reality, to see those who dwell behind. My life now has purpose, for I have learned the frailty of flesh and bone. I was once a fool.
Aeons have passed since then, and I have learned much. Chattur'gha'spower filled me, invigorating my dead body. With a touch, I could level buildings, rend the ground asunder, and channel power such as mortal men could only dream. I looked up at the ceiling of the tomb, preparing to shatter a good, neat hole in the top. I shouted one last phrase into the darkness.
"Face me and you shall surely perish!"
While fighting had been one reason I had decided to come here instead of back in the north west, I had secretly had my heart set on another, more important thing. A miraculous legend, to be precise, which spoke of several odd landmarks that would take you somewhere that would grant you amazing power. Such rumors should usually be ignored, but higher authorities had acknowledged this, and it seemed a logical decision to try and take care of two matters in one trip. Secure land, banish a rumor.
At the rank of centurion, I was in command of an entire legion of soldiers-from 4 to 6 thousand, roughly. I had never lost a battle, and was very highly respected-one of the best centurions in the army, actually. I'd been modest as humanly possible about it all my life, and I had many a respectful officer who wouldn't have to work quite as hard.
"Rest the men," I said. "They will need their strength. Make sure they take enough water, and are in high spirits. Today's battle was but one of many if we are to complete our mission."
"At once, Centurion Augustus," said my officer in modesty. "I would like to compliment you once more on your battle tactics. Our enemies did not have a chance."
"Do you believe that it really exists, Centurion?" asked another.
"I do not doubt our emperor's beliefs, or his orders. But if we are to retrieve the artifact, we must be strong, and patient," I replied.
The two officers left to tend to the legion, and started off with them, but then I heard a voice. Not from the officers, but from the gentle sandstorm behind me. I looked back, and saw nothing. I turned around and headed into the swirling sand, and I saw a rock chasm ahead. I figured that it was just a slacking soldier playing a joke. I drew my gladius blade and prepared to discipline him. I walked through the chasm and saw no one. I second voice called. This time, it was female. And it was more clear.
"Come to us, Pious Augustus," it said, echoing a couple of times. This honestly scared me. Not only had we taken vows to enlist no female soldiers, but the voice sounded near, yet it echoed like it was yelled from miles off. I walked through a small canyon that widened into endless desert. I saw an odd rock formation up ahead. It looked like the one that had been described to me. This piqued my curiosity, and began to worry me very badly. But I could stand it no longer. I headed over to it, and I saw an odd insignia in the center. I stepped onto it to examine it further, but it meant nothing in my language. I felt like heading back to fetch a translator, but then I was shocked violently by something. I turned around, and I found that I was now in a completely different place.
I looked around to see an odd-looking dungeon with various hieroglyphs on the walls. They seemed similar to that on the circle I had been standing on, but now I was standing on a hard stone floor. I saw a hole in the floor, and decided that it was really the only conceivable way out of the dungeon. There was an old wooden ladder leading to the floor below. I stepped down, then found myself in a long, narrow corridor.
There were what looked like blackened, charred corpses scattered on the ground before me. I walked over to one to see that it still had rotting flesh on it. Then I heard a rustling noise. I looked down the hall, and saw a corpse at the far end that appeared to be twitching. I squinted in the dust, and it slowly rose to its feet.
I couldn't believe what I saw. Demons are what these were. Demons of a lost, unholy tomb that were awakened by my presence. I started to feel weak, but then I remembered that this was my duty as a legionnaire. I charged foreword and drew my gladius, preparing to slice it to pieces. I heard more scraping, and saw two more coming from behind on either side. I continued to run foreword until I was an arm's length away. It raised its withered arm and prepared to take a swing. I caught it in mid arc and chopped it off. The demon recoiled, but I wasted no time. I slashed its head off, then chopped at its body three more times until it stopped moving. I saw the other two coming, and decided to deliver a last, fineshing blow for good measure. I raised back my blade and sent it slashing down on its torso.
I ran at the one on the right, and cut into its stomach, running it through completely. It swung its arm and caught me off guard, hitting me on the left arm. Thought I felt little through the armor, I recoiled at the surprisingly strong impact. I slashed it twice more, then kicked it over. The second one lunged at me. I stuck my blade into its torso and threw it on top of the other. As they struggled to get up, I hacked down into their backs several times until they were once again part of the gloomy scenery. I noticed a small block under it. I kicked the corpse aside, then picked it up, happy that it seemed relatively untouched. It had a strange, familiar red symbol on the top.
I left the hall to a small area with a pedestal in the center, with a green stone block on it, and two more demons flanking it. I ran at one and knocked it down, then stomped its body and severed both arms. I severed the arms of the other one as well, and then I took off the head. I died instantly. That particular pattern seemed to work rather nicely. I stabbed the other one in the torso to stop its unpleasant writhing. My blade was slick with an unpleasant, slimy red blood that seemed darker than normal, almost black. I picked up the second stone block, sure that it would come in handy sooner or later.
A door to my right lead me into a similar, wider hallway that was swarming with demons. I fearlessly hacked and slashed until the two nearest were dead. The other three were closing in, and one reached out to punch me. I blocked, but instead, he hit the demon in front of him, knocking it over. I stabbed out twice, then took its head off with a clean slice. The last one grabbed me from the side, and slowly pulled its rotting head and sharp teeth toward me. I pulled away, then I put all my weight into a shove that sent it sprawling next to the other downed one.
The two of them got back up, when the headless demon swung a blind punch and knocked one of them down again. It was a blessing to be cursed with such clumsy foes. I sliced them both to pieces, then stomped the body of the other to a pulp with my heavy iron boots. I picked up a third block in the floor, this time blue. I figured that these might lead to, or even be, the treasure. I noticed that the only way out was, again, a ladder to the right.
As I stumbled down in my cumbersome armor, I came to a t-shaped corridor. A single demon lay in wait. I took care of him quickly and saw that the left door was barred off. Instinctively, I went right.
I entered a large, circular room with a pedestal in the center. A pedestal that was surrounded by a small moat of lava, and five demons that were quickly alerted to my presence. I ran into the room, set down my blocks and prepared to fight. Two were already on me. I pushed past them and crossed the bridge over the lava to the pedestal. This time, it would be a downhill battle. The demons turned and stumbled over the bridge. One of them overshot and stumbled over the side, dipping and scalding a leg in lava. I waited for two to come across, before pushing and kicking one in. The entire body fell, making little splash, then sizzled and popped until it was indeed charred black. I prepared to punish the second similarly, when the remaining two came from behind. One hit me in the back. The other bit down hard onto my shoulder plate, breaking its teeth. I swerved around the pedestal, then charged back, knocking another one headfirst into the lava. I slashed the other one with almost mocking fury, then ran it through cleanly and let it fall to the ground. I noticed that a fourth, purple cube was on the pedestal. I grabbed it and took off. I saw the one- legged demon writhing and squirming, on fire. I stabbed it for good measure and walked across the small bridge again.
I then noticed that on the walls to the sides of the door leading out, there were four massive symbols chalked on the walls. Each one had a cube- shaped hole below it. Four cube-shaped holes, four stone cubes. It was too simple. I gathered up all 4 cubes, then pushed them into the opening of their respective color and symbol. Once all were in, I'd expected for something important to happen. But nothing did, although I'd sworn I heard sliding stone somewhere.
I went back to try and cut open the bars to the left side door, when I noticed that the bars were gone. I went on to find a small round room with a peculiar statue, but the part that really disturbed me was that it seemed to be modeled after me. I walked towards it, and looked around to see a closed door. I stood in front of it. Something told me to do something, but I was not quite sure what. I slashed at it, taking off its arm. As the arm clattered to the floor, I noticed that the door behind it slid gently open about a quarter way. It was very odd. I slashed off the other arm, then the head, and it opened almost fully. I finished off the torso with a downward chop, and the door opened the rest of the way. I walked through, and found myself in a dusty, cold clearing.
I looked up and saw a small portal of blue sky. I then looked around to see a large circle in the floor, a glowing button on the wall and 3 more demons. I decided not to bother. I went over to explore the button. I put both arms on it and pressed it in. I turned around to see 3 tall, thin pillars surround the circle in the middle of the floor. Energy pulsed through it. I briskly walked past the shuffling demons and touched the light. Nervous, I picked up a stone and threw it in. The stone became briefly illuminated and disappeared. Was this a trap or a way out? I pushed my Gladius in, then pulled it out all the way. I decided it was safe enough, so I walked in, and a blinding light sent me elsewhere.
I awoke in what seemed like a final, dead-end chamber with 3 pedestals surrounding an all-too common circle in the floor. I looked back to see a solid wall. No door, no light, nothing. I headed foreword, and was surprised to see 3 glowing artifacts on the pedestals. One was red, and it resembled a worm-like creature with two large claws. Another was blue, and it looked like a delicate, pretty blue shell. The last was a dark green angel. They all looked beautiful to me, and I knew, somehow, that they were what I was seeking. I reached out and touched the red one. It gently burned my hand. I recoiled, then touched the other two. They did the same. I began to feel tired and irritable. My face grew heavy with touching them. I then noticed that there was no purple artifact, like there was stone block. My skin began to burn. I reached out to touch the red one again. I suddenly felt the urge to bring it closer. I pulled it off the pedestal, then brought it to my face. My body felt like it was on fire. I let go, and a red light blinded my eyes. My skin seemed like it was hardening and becoming brittle and dry. I tried to touch myself, but my fingers were withered and bony. I fell to the floor. Sparks danced between my eyes as I lay there, suffering, wondering what horrible spell I had been bewitched with.
After a short while, I began to realize what had happened and why. It all suddenly came to me, what my destiny was, whom I was to serve, and what I would be doing for millennia to come. I felt a new rush of power flow through me as I slowly climbed to my feet.
To think that once I could not see beyond the veil of our reality, to see those who dwell behind. My life now has purpose, for I have learned the frailty of flesh and bone. I was once a fool.
Aeons have passed since then, and I have learned much. Chattur'gha'spower filled me, invigorating my dead body. With a touch, I could level buildings, rend the ground asunder, and channel power such as mortal men could only dream. I looked up at the ceiling of the tomb, preparing to shatter a good, neat hole in the top. I shouted one last phrase into the darkness.
"Face me and you shall surely perish!"