CHAPTER 5: The Shadows Revealed
The moment Arclight entered the swamp he saw it was a mess. Normally a dark place to begin with it was pitch black. The light from the paladin's armor was the only thing that illuminated his way. The water bubbled and the trees shook as if the very swamp itself was reacting to the Night of Darkness. Fortunately the ogres and lizardmen seemed to have to many troubles of their own to be concerned with one knight sneaking through their swamp. Walking through an illusionary wall on the side of a hill Arclight entered the cave. Evil specters guarded the cave but Arclight slipped past them invisible to their eyes.
Finally he reached his destination, the portal to the Plane of Fear. Possibly the oldest constructed portal in Norrath it was large enough to let a giant through. The Night gives strength to the creatures of evil planes, he recalled the Erudite's telling him. This portal lead to a place that had been the death of more adventures then any other place he had ever seen. Some how it also seemed a lot larger and ominous when you were the only one entering it. Gathering his courage Arclight began to walk to the portal.
Arclight…its me Meiera. Arclight was startled and checked his armor where his badge usually hung. Meiera must be using some other magical device to communicate with him Arclight realized.
I don't know what you're about to do or why you won't let us help you. I do not ever want to believe we will be enemies. You are one of my best friends. But if it is fate that our paths have crossed for last time, I just wanted to wish you a good journey. May your road never be boring. Good bye my friend.
Arclight stood there and struggled with the overwhelming desire to wear his guild badge and contact Meiera. If he did though the Ring would know where he is. Arclight could not let that happen. Anger began to boil inside of him, anger at being in this position. Anger directed at Tyfier for causing this. The knight used his temper to hold his fear in check as he entered the portal. Upon entering the twisted and corrupt land of Fear, Arclight immediately sought out the throne of Cazic Thule, God of fear and lord of this plane.
Instead of Cazic Thule's throne, a strange altar stood in its place. At the top of the stairs to the altar was a large crystalline orb. Colors of all kinds spun inside the orb, swirling as if they were some sort of liquid splashing themselves against the crystal trying to escape. What drew Arclight's attention was the metal stand that held the crystal. Melted into its center was what appeared to be a blood stained badge. Upon which was written the words Ring of Destiny.
"Greetings Knight of Karana," a voice spoke as the invisibility faded to reveal Morganel Yaf.
"YOU!" Arclight shouted.
"Yes Arclight I'm the one responsible for your guilds death," admitted the enchanter.
"We weren't your enemies. What the hell was your problem with us?" demanded Arclight.
"One does what one must to win. You of all people should understand that." Morganel pointed out.
"Win against what?" exclaimed Arclight.
"Death itself," answered Morganel. "As hard as you fought to get here I suppose you've earned a few answers. Do you have any idea what an opportunity the Night of Darkness has offered me? Do you know the reward for the murders I have committed will be unlike anything ever dreamed possible?" The enchanter caressed the giant crystal next to her. "In here is the souls of all the dead members of the Ring of Destiny. The council of Heretics in Paineel was all to happy to supply me with what I needed for this endeavor. Using their knowledge I have enchanted this crystal to capture the Rings dead members using the same magic mentally connects all of your guild. Very soon I will use the power of the Night of Darkness to infuse their souls to my magic. Their strengths, their very essence will become my power. It will only take a few more souls and I will become a goddess."
"You used the magic of our guild badges to listen on all of our strategies didn't you?" Arclight asked as his temper boiled.
"I knew your every plan before your fellow guild members did," Morganel acknowledged. "The knowledge of portals held by the magician's guild in Erudin is extensive. It gave me access to all kinds of lands filled with creatures that would have destroyed the Ring for their own simple amusement. The only thing I didn't know was where your hidden guild castle was. So I enchanted the pendant I gave Meiera to hold Tyfier's soul till he could inform me of the keeps location. Once we knew where to find you, it was all to easy adjust your portals to more hostile areas."
Tyfier appeared next to her with a large sheathed blade in his hand. "Unfortunately my mistress was proved correct that you would not be as easy to kill as expected, even with most of your leaders gone."
Arclight climbed the stairs to the altar till he stood only a few steps in front of the shadow knight. Drawing his war hammer he settled to his fighting stance. "Lets end this dark knight."
Morganel waved her hand and a chair appeared for her to sit on. "Finish him quickly Tyfier, We almost ready to proceed."
Before Tyfier could even draw his sword Arclight swung his holy war hammer. Not at the shadow knight but at the giant crystal orb. Purple magic energy shot forth from the crystal seizing the hammer and forcing it away.
"Obviously your power isn't enough to break my mistresses enchantments," commented Tyfier with a mocking laugh. Drawing his weapon from it sheath he revealed an evil looking two handed sword with a bladed edge on one side and saw teeth on the other. "This is one of her finest creations. This blade was originally forged by the dark elves. Tempered by hate's fire and quenched in the blood innocents, this blade hungers for life…your life. My lady's magic has made even more ravenous, even more evil."
"Let me tell you something 'boy'. All the evil swords in all of Norrath wouldn't be able to stop me from doing what I'm about to do to you," Arclight promised as he swung his holy weapon again this time at Tyfier's head.
Tyfier brought his sword up to parry the over head swing. As the weapons locked in Tyfier's parry, Arclight grabbed the dark knight's weapon holding it there as he spun around and rammed the head of his weapon into Tyfier's gut. Using the leverage his hammer had just given him Arclight tossed Tyfier over his head and down the stairs of the altar. Jumping down the stairs Arclight attempted to end the fight by crushing Tyfier's skull with his war hammer. The shadow knight rolled away and scored a perfect counter strike across Arclight's breast plate. Fortunately for Arclight his armor protected him and once again the two knights circled each other. Arclight began to feel hot and sweat inside his armor and he knew then that Tyfier had cursed him.
Attacking quickly so Arclight would not have time to cure the terrible fever that burned within him, Tyfier began to use the range of his longer weapon to his advantage. Arclight responded by using his holy weapon like a shield to deflect his opponents attacks. A force bolt knocked Tyfier away from him, but when Arclight moved in to attack his vision suddenly went dark.
"This time I'm ready for that trick," Arclight shouted as he cast his own spell. Multiple flashes of light burst forth blinding the shadow knight as well. Dispelling the curses on him, Arclight knocked Tyfier's weapon from his hands. Seizing the paladin's arm Tyfier blasted Arclight with dark magic causing him to stumble back and drop his weapon as well. Tyfier grabbed Arclight by the throat and began to strangle him. Recovering quick Arclight backhanded Tyfier with one hand and punched him with the other breaking the dark knight's grip. Tyfier reached down to snatch up Arclight's hammer but the shadow knight cried in agony at the weapon's touch.
"That is a holy weapon blessed by Karana himself. Evil can not bear its touch," explained Arclight with vindictive grin.
Snarling Tyfier kicked the weapon away and tackled the paladin knocking him over. The medallion of Karana Arclight wore went flying and rolled into the grass. The paladin rammed his armored knee into Tyfier's side knocking him away. As Arclight moved to continue his attack roots sprung from the ground entrapping him.
"You've played with him long enough Tyfier now finish the knight off," ordered Morganel.
"Yes mistress," replied the battered shadow knight. Walking over to his evil blade he picked it up. Arclight was trapped there was nothing he could do and no way he could stop them now.
Tyfier smiled at the look of despair on the face of Arclight. If he had been carefully listening as he drew back his blade to finish the paladin off he might have heard a soft whisper of "Vae Victus." A gold aura blocked Tyfier's attack but it dropped as quickly as it came. Arclight seized Tyfier's wrist and disarmed him knocking his blade to the ground. Ramming his helmetless forehead into Tyfier's spiked mask may have been a painful tactic but it was an effective one as Tyfier stumbled away.
Frustrated that this stupid paladin just simply wouldn't die, Tyfier got back up to finish Arclight off. His rage turned to shock as Arclight reached down and picked his cursed evil blade. The black aura that wove around the cursed weapon traveled up the arm that held it and wove deep into Arclight's heart poisoning it. His enchanted armor that once glowed with holy light became stained and black as if burnt. The knight's blond hair turned a cold iron gray but most disturbing of all, the medallion of Karana that lay in the grass suddenly cracked and shattered.
Back at the Ring of Destiny's castle in the great hall the remaining Ring of Destiny members gathered to discuss their next move. Arclight's Lance of Thunder was lying on the table by the corpses of the dead. It shook suddenly getting the attention of everyone then it stopped as it's silver blade grew black and its gold handle grew tarnished and rusted.
"What the hell does that mean?" asked Arnwolf.
"What we've known all along," replied Aenau. "The knight has become one of the fallen." Aenau cursed her own naivete. Knight's were fools who were unable to cling to their own ridiculous beliefs. Like the dark elves they were simply good when it suits them. It was a mere show for the gullible. She was foolish thinking other wise she told herself.
Arclight stared at the blade he now held. The blade fed his wrath like a burning fire. It was making him stronger and stronger. With one swing he cut the roots holding his feet.
Snarling at Tyfier he said, "I've fought monsters all my life, but if I have to be come one to kill you then SO BE IT!" Arclight buried the black blade into Tyfier's chest impaling him. Using his new found strength he lifted the pierced knight over his head and held him there. "VAE VICTUS" Arclight roared as swung the blade tossing the corpse off of it and sending it rolling in the grass. Bloodstained and still pissed off Arclight approached the altar.
"Impressive Arclight. I underestimated how far you'd go to win," commented Morganel as she stood up from her chair.
"Your next lady. You can join your companion in what ever hell the gods send you to," swore Arclight.
"You don't how wrong you are," laughed Morganel as she began to cast a spell. "You have sealed your fate fallen knight. I enchanted that blade to feed my orb's power on the odd chance some of the Ring would interfere. As that blade is connected to my prison so are you. When you choose to wield that dark blade you lost more then your soul, you lost this fight as well!"
Arclight felt his spirit being torn from his body. A dark force from the sword seized his spirit trying to drag it to the waiting crystal prison. But Arclight raged against the pull. The spell managed to drag his spirit into the sword but it could not pull him out into the crystal. The contest between Arclight's will and spell power was to much for the blade to contain. The sword shattered in an eruption of dark magic. When the sword's dark power faded the only things left were Arclight's corpse and pieces of a broken black blade, both lie smoking and still.
The enchantress walked over to them and reached down making sure the fallen paladin was dead. Satisfied that he was she turned and saw that the pieces of the black blade was devoid of magic as well. The knight's soul ripped itself apart trying to resist my spell, the enchantress thought to herself. Perhaps he preferred the kinder fate of oblivion rather then share his companion's doom. The enchantress smiled to herself as she saw the orb glowing with the power of its captives. Power that made her a goddess! Power that made her so much more then any of the fools trapped within it. Or the fools that had tried to stop her as she looked down on Arclight's corpse and gave it a sadistic kick. Something rolled out of the knight's blood stained corpse near her feet.
"Ah, thank you Arclight" the enchantress said as she reached down and picked it up. "I do so love the beauty of my work, its nice to have it returned to me." It was the onyx crescent moon pendant. Holding it up to the torch light she turned it over in her hand to admire her craft.
It was then she realized her mistake. Arclight's spirit was unable to return to its broken body and having no where else to go had entered the pendant. The same spirit now rushed forth out of the pendant and tried to possess her body and seize control of her mind. Struggling for control Morganel stammered out a hastily constructed spell that tore Arclight's spirit from her body. Forced onto the material plane Arclight was now a ghostly phantasm. Recovering first Arclight swung his fists into the enchanter's head but they passed through with no effect.
As Morganel shook her had to clear it she laughed at the specter before her. "You can not harm me dead knight." Arclight tried to pick up a chair to hit her with but his hand passed through it as well. "You can't harm me," Morganel repeated. "But I can harm you!" The enchanter began to cast a spell and Arclight was knocked down the stairs as a bolt of magic pierced him. Backing up the fallen knight let out a howl of agony as another shot sliced into him dropping him to the ground. "Run away little ghost there is nothing you can do to harm the living," Morganel called out as she fired another bolt. This one knocked Arclight onto his back and rolling on grass he couldn't feel or touch.
Struggling to get back to his feet he saw to his amazement his hand was resting on the blessed war hammer. A holy light began to pour from weapon. The light offered him penance, it offered him a chance be released.
"If I have to die it should be as I tried to live. As I believed," spoke Arclight. Reaching down he picked up the glowing weapon. The holy cleansed and purified the darkness, the taint that had poisoned him. It restored Arclight and more. Arclight's body faded away into nothing. As Arclight looked down at the hands that gripped his weapon he saw they were flesh and blood again. Thanking the gods he looked once again at the crystal that held his friends.
Arclight spoke one last prayer as he summoned all his strength. "I'd like to ask ya for one more favor. I know I've used up more favors then any man ever should have. I know you don't like people taking your favors for granted either. But I could use you help one last time. I truly believe they deserve a better destiny then that and I think they have the strength to find it. Help me free them." Arclight flung his war hammer with all his strength at the crystal. He never saw it cause his eyes were locked on the crystal orb, but at that moment his shattered medallion of Karana reformed whole and undamaged.
The war hammer struck orb and was carried away in an explosion of freed souls that formed a tornado of power in their efforts to get free. As the grass and dirt around him got torn up by the tornado's power, Arclight tried to steady himself with one hand as he grabbed his guild badge with the other.
Aenau like everyone else was staring in puzzlement over the sudden flare of holy light that surrounded the Lance of Thunder. Suddenly in her mind she could hear Arclight shouting Aen cast the spell to bring them back NOW .
Not understanding and trying to restrain the hope in her heart, she ran as fast as she could to Ckorik's body. Casting her spell she found herself having trouble breathing as she waited any sign of success. Ckorik showed no response at all. Bashing her hand on the table she couldn't help but curse fate (and a few other things too). A clawed hand slipped into hers startling Aenau.
"You should never be that sad my lady," Ckorik whispered painfully. Aenau seized the iksar in a fierce hug as the other clerics began casting spells for the other dead.
Arclight tried to shield his eyes the wind the spirit storm was giving off. A bolt of magic struck him without warning. Trying to recover from it Arclight found himself paralyzed by magic unable to move.
"You son of a bitch," Morganel whispered into his ear. "You've ruined everything. I'VE LOST EVERYTHING" Arclight was about tell her how happy that made him when she hit him with another spell. Grabbing the knight by the hair and yanking his head back she whispered to him. "Enjoy your victory paladin of Karana it will be your last." Placing her hands on the on both sides of Arclight's head she began to cast more magic.
One of the most deadly spells enchanters could work were ones that affected the minds of other. Morganel cast a spell that stabbed into Arclight's mind like a hot knife. Neurons flared and sizzled as Morganel magically lashed out again and again at Arclight's mind. The only thing holding the knight up was Morganel's spell as Arclight had long since lost consciousness from the torture.
Now what happened next is the subject of much debate. Most of the simple folk will tell ya it was chance, nothing more nothing less. Some that are more spiritual will say the gods had taken an active hand once again. But if you ask any of the members of the Ring of Destiny, they'll tell you that evil bitch enchanter had pissed them off for the last time. That it was the spirits of the fallen guild members that struck her down.
Whatever you believe the cause, Arclight's war hammer that had been carried away by the tornado was suddenly tossed out of it. For what ever reason it flew off like a shot right towards the enchanter. Striking Morganel right in the head, the enchanter was dead before she even knew she was hit. Both her and Arclight dropped to the ground and lie unmoving.