CHAPTER 4: Out the Dark and Into the Night
Any other time Arclight would have smiled at the sound of thunder. But compared to the storm of darkness he had just left, the sound just seemed small and insignificant. The halls of the Bastion of Thunder lay empty and deserted as though they were forgotten. In this place there seemed to be no life, only the sound of faint thunder.
For a moment Arclight had trouble speaking. Then clearing the bitterness from his throat he shouted out, "I know you're here old one." The words echoed throughout the empty halls. If anyone heard Arclight's call they did not respond to it. "I need your help, I can't let the Ring face this alone." Yet no reply graced Arclight's request. "If you won't help you could at least tell me who's killing my friends," Arclight snarled as he spoke that last word. His infamous temper started to break as he shouted out, "You could at least tell me why damn it! Why won't you help us!" His anger bleed to sadness as he asked quietly, "Why did you leave?" Arclight just leaned against the wall suddenly very tired. The medallion of Karana he always wore, swung back and forth against his armor like a reminder of something he had forgotten. Something he had lost.
Pushing himself off the wall Arclight walked back to the portal. He paused for a moment and with a clear voice spoke defiantly to the walls around him, "Well what ever your reasons are, I figured I owed ya a chance to explain." With a snort he continued, "Actually I owe ya a lot more then that, but its all I can afford at the moment, I've got friends who need my help."
"They are good friends Paladin of Karana, worth helping." A voice called out startling Arclight.
"Askr! Where is he? Where is the Rainkeeper?" asked Arclight.
"He asked me to come and answer what questions I could. His help is always there to the guardians of his storm. His door is always open," replied Askr. Arclight breathed a little easier as he calmed down.
"Is one of the other gods responsible for the mess out there? Are our spells failing because of them?" asked Arclight.
"Your spells are working fine Arclight. It is the spirits that you are trying to call back that have disappeared," answered Askr. "Someone has taken them. Someone who has remained shrouded from my sight. But is not one of the gods, of this I am certain. A mortal is doing this paladin."
"If its mortal then I can kill it. Can you tell me where he or she is?" Arclight asked.
"Their evil hovers like a storm over your keep," answered Askr. "You should return to the Ring."
"Damn," cursed Arclight. "Thank you for your assistance Askr and thank Karana as well." The knight turned to leave again but once more he paused before stepping into the portal. With a slight turn of his head he whispered, "Askr?"
"Yes?" Askr responded patiently.
"Tell the old man that Norrath is a dry place without his rain." Arclight said as he walked through the portal.
Askr smiled as he walked back down the empty halls. "Worry not knight. We are with you always."
Fortunately the portal from the portal from the Plane of Tranquility still functioned as Arclight entered the keep. Arclight looked at the blazing portals behind him and hoped they would function long enough for the Ring to get the job done.
"There you are Arclight I was worried," Uudy said as she grabbed his hand and started pulling him through the hallway. "Aenau needs to see you right away. What ever it is it is, it sounds important."
"Why didn't she just call me?" Arclight asked in confusion.
"I don't know, but you should go see her right now," replied Uudy. They both paused outside the door to Ckorik's study as they heard a lot of yelling coming from it.
"Good luck," whispered Uudy as she left.
Arclight opened the door and saw the remaining officers there. Maecbeth looked like he was going to have heart attack from all the shouting he was doing and the others didn't look so well either. They all stopped and looked at Arclight as he shut the door behind him.
"Where the hell have you been Arclight," Qasar asked.
"I had something I needed to take care of. What the hell is goi…" Arclight stopped as he saw blood on the floor. Lifting his gaze up to match Aenau's glare he asked, "Where is Ckorik?"
"While you were gone someone managed to sneak in here and beat Ckorik in a fight." Aenau explained coldly. "He's now laid out with the others. We found this here as well." Aenau placed a blood stained lance on the desk. It was the Lance of Thunder.
"My lance," Arclight whispered in understanding.
"That's why we need to know where you were Arc," explained Ilyeana as gently as she could.
"EVERYONE OUT NOW! I will speak with the paladin alone," ordered Aenau.
"Aen you can't belie-," Maecbeth tried to protest before the other officers pulled him through the hall door leaving the two alone. For a moment the two just glared at each other.
Then with as much sarcasm as he could muster Arclight said, "So how do Dark elves interrogate prisoners Aen? Am I going to have to go through the thumb screws or the branding irons? What's it going to be? Ya got a spare torture rack lying around-"
Aenau slammed the lance down on the desk with loud crack, "Don't tempt me knight, I'd probably find the distraction most enjoyable. I'll spell it out for you incase you need a little clarity into the situation. We have a traitor among us. Half of our officers and comrades lying dead on the table in the great hall waiting for us to find a way to restore them. On top of it all we're facing the darkest of evil nights imaginable. So I'm going to ask you this once and I don't want any jokes damn it. I want a straight answer, where…were…you."
"I was at Torden, the Bastion of Thunder," said Arclight sincerely.
Confused Aenau asked, "What were you doing there?"
"Getting a few answers I needed," explained Arclight. "I had questions, personal ones that couldn't wait for the dawn."
Aenau thought it over in her mind before she walked around the desk and pointed the lance at his chest. "I'll take your word for now. Its rare for any of my kind to give any kind of trust like that. Such acts are supposed to be for the foolish and the dead. The people in the Ring are starting to convince me that trust has some value. Don't prove me wrong paladin."
Arclight's glare softened and he bowed his head. "I'll try not to disappoint Aen." Looking back up at her he quoted evenly, "Every knight falls, it's the just ones that rise again."
Aenau nodded and waited a moment before continuing, "Did you learn anything at Torden?"
"Ya who ever we are up against, it isn't a deity. Its someone flesh and blood like you and me. If we can find em, we can kill em. We just need…to unmask them. That's the problem." Arclight began pacing back and forth trying to think it out. "Did they take Aerich's journal when they were in the store room?"
"No," replied Aenau surprised. "It wasn't there, Wickedbrat put it in the Vault for safe keeping. Do you think they may go after it?"
"Its just a guess but its possible," replied Arclight as he paced back and forth. "Where's Meiera? I'm gonna go talk to her and see if we can hammer out an idea of who's behind this."
"She's up on the North Tower with Schadoe, Seek, and Uudy" answered Aenau.
"Good maybe between the five of us we can figure something out." Arclight went to open the door, but as he turned the doorknob all the officers fell through the door. It was obvious they had been listening in.
"Oh honestly!" said Aenau with a mischievous grin. "I was only going to torture him a little." Arclight quickly made a hasty retreat while the officers sighed.
Aenau and the other officers held a private meeting to discuss the dire situation the Ring was up against, while Arc and a few others did the same in the north tower. Down below all of this the gates in the Hall of Portals continued to get worse as the night progressed. One of portals flared and sparked as it widened to let something larger then normal in. Something huge, and it was not alone.
The officers had just about finished their meeting when Victorine burst into the room. Bleeding and wounded it was obvious she ran into something liked the taste of druids.
"By Tunare! Vic what happened to you!" exclaimed Ilyeana as she began casting healing spells on her wounded comrade.
"We are under attack," Victorine gasped out. "A bunch of creatures came out of the Hall of Portals. One of the portals must have been damaged enough to let those things in!"
"You know which portal it was?" Arnwolf asked quickly.
"I'm afraid not. I've never seen creatures like that before!" Victorine replied shaking.
Everyone we are under attack! Fall back to the main hall and regroup there! Aenau telepathically ordered.
Shadoa and Kayote were in the food storage room grabbing a quick snack when the doors burst open. Some sort of ethereal serpent creature with many tentacles whipping around its body stood in the door way. The tentacles shot out towards the two knocking over tables and chairs in the process. Shadoa was able to duck past the ones aimed at him and Kayote simply hacked off the spectral appendages. Running toward the creature to finish it off, Kayote found himself entrapped by more ghostly tentacles that sprang from the creature. The creature lifted the ranger off the ground and began to choke him. Shadoa's blades blurred past Kayote slicing him free.
The angry serpent tried to send more tentacles after him but Shadoa grabbed Kayote's arm and dragged him through the door on the other side of the room. Rushing down the hall the two came face to face with what could only be described as two six foot skinless cats. The bloody creatures stalked toward the hissing and rearing back to pounce. A fireball flew past Kayote and Shadoa striking the cats and stopping them. Both Ring members turned and saw Yaman summoning an elemental made of solid ice. Letting the elemental continue the fight, the three fled down the halls.
There making their way to the ground floors of the keep reported Voltamor.
We can't let them get to the Great Hall. Regroup fast folks. ordered Arnwolf.
Not from the north tower Uudy, Seek, Schadoe, Meiera, and Arclight were slowly fighting there way through what seemed to be an endless army of phantoms. Warriors and soldiers of battles long since fought poured from the very walls of the castle. For every inch the members of the Ring gained one more ghosts attacked them.
"At this rate we'll never make it to the hall! There's too many of them," snarled Arclight in frustration as his holy weapon cleansed and banished another phantom.
Uudy looked out the window and smiled. One by one Seek Meiera and Schadoe began to float in the air as she cast her spells. "Jump out the window, we'll use the courtyard to get to the lower floors." Uudy began the spell that would summon a giant wind elemental to protect them. The moment the elemental appeared, Arclight picked up Uudy and jumped through the window. "ARC WAIT! I HAVEN'T CAST YOUR LEVITATION SPELL YET!" Uudy's eyes went wide as the ground rushed up to meet her. Suddenly a gold aura surrounded them and absorbed the impact from hitting the ground. Uudy looked up at the glowing paladin to see that mischievous grin on his face again.
"Levitating was all well and good but I land better then I fly." Arclight chuckled.
Uudy just bonked the paladin on the head. "Crazy knight," she said giving him a quick hug.
As they reentered the castle through the courtyard Arclight suddenly raced down one of the descending stairways. "I got hunch I need to check, the rest of ya should go help Aenau."
"Lets let Arc play out his hunch, we need to hurry and get to the other Ring members," said Seek.
The monsters slowly continued to creep through the castle. Driven by an eternal and damning thirst for blood, they would not stop ever living soul in the castle had been drained of their last drop. Several of the ghostly creatures paused as they could feel warmth of the living hiding behind large aspen doors. Ravenous beyond reason they struck the doors shattering the expensive aspen, and charged into the room.
The surviving Ring of Destiny members stood before them, blocking the path to the corpses of their dead comrades. Aenau stepped forward to face the beasts threatening them. The divine power she channeled built and flared around her in almost blinding mystic energy.
"GET OUT OF MY HOME!" Aenau shouted. The blazing red magic around her flowed into a giant force bolt that blasted one of the monsters and sent him flying back through the shattered doors.
"I'm guessing Aenau doesn't entertain house guests often," joked Yaman.
"Focus a bit Yaman," Vixenne replied as she threw one of her blades into a disease covered lizard creature. The thing howled as enchanted knives, arrows, and shuriken tore into it. An icicle spear slammed into its head nailing it to the wall and finally killing it. Arnwolf and Dayzd sunk their blades into a giant phantasm. The ghastly creature shrieked as the magic weapons shredded it. A grotesque looking vampire grabbed Quorthon's arms pinning them. She was just about to sink her fangs into his throat when a bolt of magic struck her mind stunning her.
"Forget it lady. I'm the only one that's allowed to bite that dark elf," Wickedbrat shouted angrily. A bunch of arrows filled the vampire's back which let Quorthon get his hands free. Stepping back the shadow knight cut loose with a massive two handed slash that decapitated the creature turning it to dust.
As the Ring slowly pushed the creatures back, a single figure crept into their vault beneath the keep. It had taken him a great deal of time to slip past the many safe guards and traps the Ring had left for him. But the guild was severely occupied at the moment so the thief had all the time he needed. Walking past all the treasures and artifacts the Ring had acquired over the years he continued to search for one single object. The sound of magic being invoked interrupted his search but he was to late to block the force bolt that stunned him. Arclight stepped out of the shadows facing the intruder.
"I had a feeling you'd be down here to get Aerich's journal," said Arclight. "I was half tempted to bring Voltamor with me. I know he's dying to finish you off. But after that stunt you pulled with my lance, I figure I got first crack at ya."
Recovering from Arclight's spell the black knight snarled, "You and the Ring are starting to become a nuisance. You struggle like a stuck pig trying to escape the fire pit. Why don't you just lay down and die, you have no idea what your up against."
Arclight assumed a fighting stance as he raised his weapon. "What's your name 'boy'. I want to know what I should carve on your tombstone."
"My name is Tyfier you pathetic paladin. I hope your on good terms your god Arclight. The next time you'll see him will be in hell," laughed the evil knight as he drew his own blade.
"Well Tyfier, here's a little greetings from the Ring of Destiny." Arclight swung his massive hammer, not at his enemy but at a giant shelf near him. There was a great crack and the shelf began to fall. Tyfier only narrowly escaped being crushed beneath its massive frame. Off balance the black knight barely got his sword raised in time to block Arclight's next strike. Holding on to his blade with one hand Tyfier decked Arclight hard in the face. His weapon still locked against Tyfier's blade, Arclight kicked the dark knight right in his armored neck knocking him away. Both knights recovered and glared at each other ready to do what ever they had to in order to win.
In the upper levels the Ring continued to force their way to the portal room. Speedi rushed through the halls making sure they were clear. Throwing open the doors to stairway he saw they were coated in webs.
"Damn it this is the last thing we-," Speedi began to say before a giant undead spider dropped right in front of him. The creature was covered with multiple bleeding sores and hissed at the druid for disturbing its web. Speedi gave a yelp as he jumped back and threw a ball of fire at the thing. The webs caught on fire and the burnt spider grew very angry as it chased Speedi down the halls leaving a trail of pus and venom behind it. Seeing Speedi's plight as he ran towards them, Lyn called on the spirits of frost to aid her. A cold freezing breeze blew through the hall and weaved around the shaman until it shot forth in an icy wave. The spider didn't even have time to scream as it was completely frozen. Zoroo ran over to the thing and shattered it just be sure.
"Ok folks we're almost to the portal room. Shadoa see if you can get a peek inside while we move everyone up there," instructed Arnwolf. The Ring ascended the stair case, carefully stepping over the burning web pieces. As they gathered outside the door to the Hall of Portals, Shadoa appeared before them.
"Guys…there is a huge Spectral Dragon guarding the Hall of Portals. It looks like one mean bastard," reported Shadoa.
"Oh that's just great. Dragons are only one of the most ancient and powerful creatures in Norrath and we got a dead one blocking our path," Voltamor said frustrated.
"We can beat him," Aenau said simply.
"You sound pretty sure of that Aen," observed Nusbak.
"Sure I am. We beat him because we don't have a choice," replied Aenau.
"We need to win here. We can not retreat and fight another day. This one has to be a victory," stated Arnwolf.
"So lets get ready and get to it," said Qasar as he began to cast a spell that would protect the other guild members. The other casters joined him weaving arcane runes and protection spells on their fellow adventurers. Dragons were creatures of great magic. The Ring would need as much protection from that as they could get.
When they were finished Arnwolf said, "Dayzd, Madhacks, and I get the first shot. Get ready to run in there and help us." The warriors leaned up against the doors as Arnwolf silently turned the door knob. Quietly holding up his fingers he gave a silent count off. 3…2…1…GO. The three warriors rushed into the door and everyone winced at the ear splitting roar the dragon let out. The enchanted weapons they carried bit into the ethereal skin of the Spectral Dragon, but its claws and teeth tore into their armor as well. As soon as the beasts attention was diverted, the rest of the Ring rushed in to assist their companions.
"INCOMMING!" shouted Siznitch. Lightning ripped from his hands striking the dragon along with as many other spells and weapons as the Ring could bring against the dragon. The dragon responded by breathing some sort of phantasmal flame. The ghostly fire didn't physically burn those it touched but still caused the unspeakable agony. Arnwolf and Dayzd did their best to ignore the pain and continue to slash tiny cuts into the creatures spectral chest, while Madhacks whittled away at its legs.
"Sic em boys," Kenlain commanded as he and Lyn summoned a pack of wolf spirits which bit and clawed at the dragon.
Maecbeth's blade emitted a holy light as he called out, "Return to your eternal sleep and the night that spawned you!" The dragon let out a roar of pain as Maecbeth's holy blade pierced it. The dragon's tail swung like a baseball bat and knocked Maecbeth into Dayzd.
Seek and Schadoe ran into the room attacking the Dragon with their blades as well. Uudy and Meiera stood near the door preparing their spells.
Divine magic is an incredibly painfully magic to use against undead creatures and Meiera was throwing as much of it as she could against the Spectral Dragon. Uudy fire spells weren't doing wonders for the creature's temper either. Tasheaba barely had time to get a rune shield around Uudy before the dragon breathed again. Unfortunately Meiera had no protection from the blast as the ethereal flames washed over her and Uudy.
"MEIERA!" Schadoe shouted out in a panic.
"She's just unconscious she'll be alright," Victorine called back as she checked on the fallen cleric.
"Come on guys FINISH THIS THING" Arnwolf shouted.
Siznitch and Iniaman looked at each other and gave a quick nod. Then suddenly multicolored mana began to seep from them and cascade angrily all around them. Building like a storm magic burst forth in its purest raw form. The Spectral Dragon shrieked as the mana warped and clashed with its own magical body. The energy continued to devour and dissipate the dragon until there was nothing left. The Spectral Dragon turned transparent and faded from sight.
Exhausted Aenau slumped against the wall and looked towards the two spell casters, "Nice shooting guys."
Qasar shut down the magic sustaining the portals and they all flickered and closed. "We won't be getting any other uninvited guests now."
"I don't care if it's Veeshan herself, no one beats us on our own turf," said Dayzd proudly.
Down in the vault the two knights still fought each other. Each were taking an occasional wound from the other but they continued relentlessly without care. Magic began to gather around Tyfier's hands in what Arclight recognized as a shadow knight's spell. Arclight's vision suddenly went dark as he was blinded. Even though blind he was able to sense Tyfier reach out with one of his hands. Magic struck Arclight throwing him against the wall and causing him to writhe in blind agony. Arclight didn't need his eyes to tell him that Tyfier was lunging at him. Swinging his holy war hammer before him, Arclight felt it strike Tyfier and knock the dark knight away. Getting up and hiding behind a shelf, Arclight cast a healing spell and waited for his vision to return.
"You nearly had me Arclight. But it seems you just couldn't finish the job. If you want to end this bring the book to the Plane of Fear. Come alone if you want the answers to the mystery that's killing your friends. Find me and we will let fate decide who is the strongest." Tyfier called from out of the darkness.
"I'LL BE THERE!" Arclight shouted as his vision returned. "Just make sure you bring a coffin dark knight, cause your gonna need it!"
Schadoe and Seek were carrying an unconscious Meiera to her room to rest when Arclight emerged from the stairway that lead to the vault. Arclight immediately rushed over to check on Meiera.
"Its ok Arc she's just knocked out. She'll be fine after some rest." Seek assured him.
"Thank goodness," Arclight said breathing a little easier. The he noticed the onyx necklace the enchanter had given Meiera. Carefully as not to wake Meiera he removed the necklace. "I'll want to contact Erudin to check on something with them."
"Did your hunch work?" asked Schadoe.
"We'll know in an hour or so," replied Arclight as he walked away.
Seek, where did Arclight wander off to? Aenau's voice sounded in Seek's mind.
We just ran into him. He was in the vault playing out a hunch he said Seek responded.
In the vault? I see…thank you Seek. Aenau replied and was gone.
Arclight pulled metal clasp that held his guild badge to his armor. The enchanted badges not only allowed telepathic communication between its members. They also allowed other guild members to find if they were ever in trouble. Arclight couldn't afford to have the Ring coming with him for this duel, it could be a trap and that he was not willing to risk. He may not get a chance to beat the information out of that miserable shadow knight if others came with him. Stuffing the onyx pendant in his belt pouch, Arclight hoped he'd be able to use it to contact Erudin if something went wrong. Arclight dare not use the portals after the disaster that had just happened. He was almost to the front gate when he saw that someone was waiting for him.
"Hello paladin," Aenau said as she stood in front of the gate to the castle.
"Hello Aen," replied Arclight. "I need to leave."
"I can't let you I'm afraid," spoke Aenau quietly. "I can't take that chance. I know you have Aerich's journal on you. For all I know the attack on the keep was orchestrated to get that journal. I let you pass once in good faith, something I would do for almost no one else. I dare not risk everyone by doing it again. The only good thing out of this is that one way or other, we'll know where your loyalties stand after this. Go back to your room knight, don't prove me wrong."
Arclight stared at her trying to figure out what to do, trying to see some flicker of emotion her cold eyes. Finally he just shook his head and replied softly, "If its any consolation Aen, I'd do the same thing." Arclight turned and began to walk back into the keep. Aenau noticed the magic flaring up around him to late as he spun around and fired a force bolt. The bolt knocked Aenau to the ground stunning her for a moment. Recovering quickly Aenau got to her feet and began casting a far more lethal force bolt of her own.
"That was stupid Arc," Aenau pointed out as her own magic swirled around her. "You had to know that little force bolt wouldn't be enough to stop me."
"I know Aen," replied Arclight as magic gathered around him as well. "I just figured between the time it takes to cast both spells, this would take affect." Arclight held up the empty vial of a gate potion Schadoe had given him.
"NO!" shouted Aenau as she unleashed her magic. But the force bolt passed through the knight as he disappeared.
The potion dropped Arclight off at the Plane of Knowledge. Closing his eyes he quietly whispered, "I'm sorry Aen. I truly am." Opening his eyes he quoted, "But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep." Immediately the knight set out for the portal to the swamp of Feerrott.