For anyone who hasn't played Medievil Resurrection, you should know that the character Death was created especially for that game. He wasn't in either of the two originals; just the PSP version. The only character even similar was The Boatman, who, in exchange for seven lost souls, ferried you from Pools of the Ancient Dead to The Lake.

Disclaimer still applies.

Chapter 2: Ruins of a Kingdom

"The master has gone to visit what was once the neighboring kingdom of Ethrealmere. He hopes to find and ancient relic of great power. This mysterious artifact is known simply as the Angel's Hymn and is supposedly guarded by the last remaining descendent of the royal bloodline." The light in the gargoyle's eyes faded and it fell silent.

Great, just great. Now Zarok was terrorizing other kingdoms as well. Daniel sighed. Oh well, what's one more kingdom to save? He headed off for the ruins of Castle Peregrine. Surely the king would know of this Ethrealmere place. The one-eyed knight scratched his skull. He had never even heard of it. He shrugged. Guess he'd find out once he got there.

Sir Daniel was having a hell of a time just trying to get to the king's throne room. Shadow demons and undead soldiers blocked his path. He had to literally hack and slash his way through the hordes, so that when he finally reached his destination, he was thoroughly exhausted. He walked into the throne room. Death and King Peregrine were talking, so Daniel sat down near them to wait; and to rest.

"You have to understand, your majesty, that I cannot just simply point at Zarok so that he'll die. Someone with that kind of necromantic power can't be destroyed so easily. He must be vanquished by someone else."

The king's ghost was livid. "Sounds to me like you're just trying to get out of doing your job."

"I BEG your pardon? Are you accusing me of slacking off? I'll have you know that I've been completely swamped ever since that crazy court magician of yours went even further off the deep end!"

Dan had had enough of listening to their argument. He cleared his throat to get the attentions of the two. Death turned around to face the noise while King Peregrine craned his neck to see around him.

"Oh! Hello, Fortesque. Been awhile since you last came. What can we do for you?" the kindly ruler questioned.

"Do either of you know a kingdom called Ethrealmere?" Dan asked, standing up.

Both the king and Death nodded. It was Death, however, who spoke first. "Yes, I've been there before. The inhabitants had very strong magical powers. Witches or something of the sort, though not the kind you're used to. You've only met the old ugly variety of witch. In all actuality, the people of Ethrealmere were an entirely different breed of magic-users."

It was King Peregrine's turn to speak. "Ethrealmere was our closest neighbor. It's nothing but ruins now, the whole kingdom was destroyed."

A slight wave of panic spread through Sir Dan's skeletal body. "When? How?"

Death ran a bony finger along the blade of his scythe. " It was decimated over a hundred years ago by Zarok and his army. He attacked Ethrealmere only a few years before the Battle of Gallowmere."

Dan cocked an eye socket at King Peregrine. "Why didn't we send in reinforcements to help them?"

The king gave a half-hearted shrug. "We weren't enemies, but we weren't exactly allies either."

Dan was curious. "Why not?"

"Oh, I don't know," the king said thoughtfully, scratching his chin. "I suppose that there was just never any contact between us."

Death looked over at the skeletal knight. "Why suddenly so interested in other lands?"

"I was told by a gargoyle that Zarok was headed to Ethrealmere to find something called The Hymn…"

"The Angel's Hymn!" Death finished for him in a horrified tone. "Oh my dear lord! You have to stop him, Daniel. If Zarok gets hold of that book, Gallowmere and all of the surrounding kingdoms will be doomed beyond salvation."

Sir Fortesque draped his sword over his armored shoulder. "Right then, how do you propose I get there?"

"I'll take you the ruins of Castle Exodis. That is most likely where the book has been hidden." Death motioned out the window with his scythe. "Meet me out by my boat." He vanished in a black cloud of dust.

"Good luck, Fortesque." King Peregrine nodded at his soldier. "Don't get yourself killed…erm well, again."

Sir Daniel gave a sheepish chuckle before heading out to where Death was waiting.