AN-
Sorry for not updating earlier. Just had problems of my own.
As always, hope you enjoy (and also please review)!
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DISCLAIMER-
Diablo 2 and other related stuff don't belong to me; otherwise the necromancer would be able to control three golems at the same time!!!
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Dark Light
Chapter 4- New Allies (And New Enemies)
Astaroth wiped the sweat off his grimy face with a cloth from his pocket. The sun was very hot. His metal armor didn't help things very much either. By the time he reached town, he would probably have a dark tan on his face. The fire golem he had summoned was indifferent to the heat. Instead, it seemed to thrive on it. His skeletons were also none too weary being the undead creatures that they were. Once he got to town maybe he could ask Lysander, the deaf chemist, for a potion to keep his skin from being burned. At this rate, blisters would be growing everywhere on his body and he didn't relish that prospect.
Astaroth straightened his back and let some of the cold water from his goatskin bag fall on his hot face. Pushing his hair back, he surveyed the area around him as his minions stood behind him. There, up there, that building jutting out of the sand. That should be the Halls Of The Dead that Deckard Cain had spoken of. In there he had said, Astaroth would most likely find the magical Horadric Cube. The "Cube" had many magical properties. For one, it was virtually indestructible, not that many beings had tried to destroy it because of its transmuting power. This was its second property: the ability to transmute objects together. This process was a very strange if not usually rewarding one. Even the great mages of the Horadrim to whom the Cube was given by the Gods, could not figure out how it worked. They just knew that it allowed them to "mutate" objects placed inside it and produced a final single object. This was usually quite rewarding as strong weapons could be placed with magical items to form magical weapons. Another advantage of the Cube's transmuting power was that gems of the same type could be transmuted to form gems of a much higher degree of worth.
Ah, that kind of object would come in handy. But he reminded himself, it was not a sure process and the final product could be far from desirable. Anyhow, he would have to see this to believe it, but right now he had to first find the Horadric Cube. And then he would be one step closer to forming the Horadric Staff, having already found the shaft.
The Horadric Staff, as Cain had said, "would be essential in finding the tomb of Tal-Rasha, in whose body the demon Baal was imprisoned in." Without it, Astaroth would face difficulties and it would be impossible to find the correct tomb as there were seven tombs hidden somewhere out in the desert.
Astaroth shrugged off his backpack and checked its contents. It contained one large golden shield, three throwing knives, and axe and six vials of oil potion. He didn't want to carry all of that into a place where he would have to fight, most likely undead skeletons and ancient mummies. What else would he find in a place called the Halls Of The Dead? Grimacing at the thought of fighting undead creatures, he opened a portal and stepped through it.
The world seemed to disappear and then suddenly appeared as he stepped out into the town of Lut Gholein. As always, the desert town was bustling with activity. People haggled at markets and traders came and left with their wares. The only thing not moving was a large ship at the docks and a tall man who stared out into the open sea, obviously longing to set sail.
Pitying him, Astaroth held the bag tighter in his hand and stepped into the town. People once too busy, now stared at him in fear, anger and confusion. Unmindful of the looks he was receiving, he trudged on towards the market square where he would find Fara, the female paladin now turned blacksmith and also Deckard Cain, who would identify his belongings. Having sold off his stuff, he would return to the desert via the portal.
"Back so soon?" asked the tall, muscular Fara. The former paladin had bright red hair and wore men's clothing. She was currently bent over a suit of armor, banging away at it with her hammer.
"Yeah, I got some stuff for you," replied the necromancer, putting his heavy bag down.
Picking out various weapons, Fara paused, examining them. She turned back to her customer saying, "I'll buy the whole lot at 2700 gold pieces seeing that you already have your-" she gestured at the large axe in his hand, "magical axe. I don't know about the shield though. Maybe you should have it appraised."
"Alright." Astaroth went over to Deckard Cain who was sitting down in the shade of the low walls, trying to escape the scorching sun.
"Ah, my companion. Have you found the Horadric Cube yet?" he questioned Astaroth.
"No, but I'm pretty much sure I found the Halls Of The Dead. So just give me about an hour or so. Oh and what the heck is this?" he asked displaying the shield.
Examining the arcane marking and symbols etched into the shield's crusty exterior, Deckard Cain thoughtfully pondered. "This is quite a great find I must say. It appears to be a shield that gives the wielder more resistance from the elements. The shield itself is constructed out of some strange metal which is supposed to be, at least according to the symbols, nigh near invulnerable."
Excited by this, Astaroth closely examined the shield himself. It was golden in color and is enough to cover his forearm twice over. At the same time, it was quite light and did not hinder his movements. Deciding to keep it, he thanked the old mage and walked back to Fara.
"Well?"
"I'm keeping the shield. You can have the rest."
"Pleasure doing business with you," joked Fara.
Smiling a little, Astaroth pocketed the gold coins and left towards the direction of the portal, his minions closely following him, though unfazed by the public's obvious reaction. The only person who was friendly was Atma, the woman who ran the Desert Bar.
"How are you doing, my dear friend?"
"I am fine Atma, I hope you are doing well too."
"Would you like to step in for a drink? The sun is hot and you should rest a little."
"Thanks but no thanks Atma, 'sides I think it wouldn't be too good for your business if I came in," Astaroth said gesturing with his chin to the angry faces at the bar's windows. "Anyhow, I must be going now. Thank you."
"Please come in whenever you wish," Atma said to his retreating figure.
Only a day after he had settled in, Astaroth was contacted by Atma. Having killed Andariel, he was quite a celebrity. Amidst tears, she managed to ask for his help in defeating a monster called Radament who lived under the town's sewers. Unable to ignore a helpless woman, Astaroth complied and now Radament The Fallen now truly lay fallen, having been laid to rest by the necromancer and his minions, rotting away in the dark and dank labyrinth that served as the sewers. It wasn't much of a battle though. All the Radament could do was raise its minions or heal existing ones. While his fire golems and revived creatures fought against their counterparts, Astaroth simply revived the fallen monsters, turning Radament's creatures against himself. After that, the battle was one-sided. Wave of skeletons swung their rusty swords and axes while mages cast spells on Radament. Astaroth waited until he was finished and then searched the dimly lit area for gold and other loot. The only worthwhile object was a spell book. It contained several spells. However, it was only about necromancy and thus was not so enlightening. Nevertheless, he did learn the Bone Shield spell. The spell allowed him to control any bones he found and arrange them in such a manner that they swirled around his abdomen forming a crude "shield". Well, something was better than nothing.
Lost in his thoughts he didn't notice the paladin standing in his way. He only knew of his presence when he bumped into him. Obviously jealous of the necromancer's progress, Lucan stood facing him, a sneer on his face.
"So now you can't even see where you walking, eh?" came the mocking question.
"Ah, my friend, my sight is so poor nowadays you know. And when being faced with the utter magnificence of such idiots like you, it fails me entirely-"
"Raghh!" Lucan shouted enraged and swung his sword at his foe.
*Clang*
Astaroth blocked with his own axe and brought a fist to Lucan's face, busting his nose and causing a rivulet of red blood to trickle down his ruined face.
"Why you-" Lucan spluttered.
"That will be enough for now young man," the old and enigmatic wizard Drognan proclaimed, getting out of the shadows where he had been presently standing in.
Turning to the necromancer, Lucan gave a last warning glare and then huffed his way back into the crowd nursing his injured nose.
"Yes Drognan?"
"It is about this prophecy of a great solar eclipse. I don't have much information about it now. But when you come back, I think I will have enough things to tell you. That is all. Goodbye and good luck."
"Thanks," replied Astaroth to the wizened mage and started walking towards his open portal.
"Hey! Slayer!" came the excited shout from behind.
Astaroth waited for Ragnar to join him.
"Well what is it?"
"Can I accompany you right now?"
"Are you sure?" asked Astaroth searching the slightly younger barbarian's face for any trace of doubt. People who were not sure of themselves got killed and usually with their companions.
"Yes," Ragnar replied firmly.
Ragnar would be a useful ally. He was quite strong, stronger than Astaroth himself and looked quite skilled with the two large axes clenched in his large fists. But what he made up in brute strength, he lacked in magic. Sure he could frighten monsters away but that was quite useless and even Astaroth could do that with his Terror spell. Nevertheless, an ally would be useful when fighting and/or in town.
Smiling, Astaroth gave his hand to Ragnar and the two shook their hands.
"Then let us go," the necromancer said to his new friend pointing to the portal.
"Yes, let's," grinned Ragnar and the duo walked forward.