Ch. 5
Army of Darkness
First light found the ranger rising early, a habit from days and nights spent in the wild. She raised her head from her bundle as Butter crawled out of the tent in search of an acceptable place to catch the morning sun. With a yawn she pushed herself up, stretching out before reaching for her clothes.
Minutes later she stepped from the tent, binding her leather circlet around her forehead to hold back her hair as she looked up. The tall figure of Kydar Raelesin stood by the fire, his fingers absentmindedly adjusting his gloves as he stared into the glowing embers. The ranger strode silently up to him and stood next to the scribe, staring down at the fire herself.
"Morning," he muttered.
"Morning," she replied, "Early riser?"
"More like a sleepless one," he chuckled, "Though I'm not sure if its excitement or trepidation that keeps me up."
"Mmm," she nodded, "This should be… interesting, to say the least."
"I don't understand it though…" he said, "How is it that out of all these soldiers… you and I are the only ones aware of the real danger here?"
"Kormir knows," Rakiv nodded, "But I think she believes she is doing what must be done."
"And you?" he asked.
"I'm a ranger," she said, "It's my job to see far and see clearly. I just happen to see clearer than most."
"I see…" he nodded thoughtfully.
"What about you?" she asked, "What do you really see in all of this? It seems a bit much for simple historical recording."
"Mmm, I suppose," he nodded with a small chuckle, "I see a chance… one I've been waiting for. I see the truth, to a long kept secret. And, as Kormir does, I see a danger… one that must be expunged."
Rakiv nodded slowly, before the elementalist glanced at her.
"But I think I see, as you do," he said, "The fact there is something very wrong here… something we haven't seen… something we've missed."
"Or have been blinded to," she added.
"Indeed," he nodded, turning his gaze back to the fire.
"Why do you watch me?" she asked suddenly, after a long pause.
The question was odd, and blurted out so it sounded stranger still. The ranger immediately felt awkward after she'd spoken the words, but the elementalist simply chuckled.
"Because you are almost impossible to read Ranger Maelstrom," he said, "Most others I can size up in an instant, tell you exactly what they're like, of what they are capable… and how best to break them. It comes with being a Mesmer, part intuition, part skill, part magic."
She looked up at him as he continued to gaze into the flames.
"But you… you can't seem to quite get," he said, "Which bothers me a little. At times you seem not to have a care in the world… at others I see the passion in your eyes. The only thing I do know is that there is something you want… and already I pity the fool who dares stand in your way."
For a moment neither said anything, and then Rakiv chuckled and shook her head.
"Wow," she said, "Not bad."
"You asked," he chuckled himself, "I used to be a psychic once."
"How'd that turn out for ya?" the ranger smiled.
"Eh, got tired of lying to people," he said.
"Gooood morning!" came a cheerful cry from behind them.
From one of the tents Alendra had emerged, fully armed and loins girded. Her golden tower shield shone from its polish and her spear gleamed as gleefully as her smile. Kydar sighed as Rakiv arched an eyebrow.
"Oh gods, she's a morning person," Kydar groaned.
"I just got one question for you guys!" she smiled brightly before pumping a fist in the air, "Are! You! Ready!?"
"Nooo.." came a groggy groan from behind her, as a half-awake Anicara stumbled out of the tent, "No I'm not."
"That's the spirit!" Alendra giggled, ignoring the water mage's actual answer and hugging her gleefully.
From somewhere on the hill a great horn sounded, signaling the beginning of the day. The camp came alive, Sunspears and soldiers bustling about as they strapped on armor and hefted weapons. Kormir mounted her crate stand, surveying the group through the early morning light. Rakiv advised her party to recheck its equipment as she headed for the stand. Upon reaching the stack of crates she looked up at the Spearmarshal, who stared down at her.
"You'd better know what you're doing," she said quietly to the woman.
"Pray to the gods that I do," Kormir responded.
Rakiv turned away, withholding a derisive snort as she retrieved her bow and quiver from beside her tent, strapping them on as Butter waddled up beside her. Finally Kormir placed two fingers to her lips and gave a sharp whistle, calling the chaos to order.
"These are my orders!" she shouted, "General Dunkoro, Commander Koss!"
"Ahai, Spearmarshal!" both men shouted.
"Divisions one and two are under your respective commands," she stated, "Take them to the southern entrance and work your way into the city from there. Be mindful of the dangers. According to ancient maps of this city, there is a grand plaza just before the inner city. Meet us there."
"Yes, Spearmarshal!" the responded, thumping their chests in salute.
"Castellan Soleer!" Kormir shouted.
"Ahai, Spearmarshal!" Alendra cried out.
"Your third division will take the north entrance with us," she called, "Ranger Maelstrom and her command will act as my escorts, making us the fourth division. All troops ready?"
"Yes, Spearmarshal!" the shout went up from the crowd.
"Move out!" she ordered.
"Good luck guys," she said, "I'll be up front. Keep an eye on the Spearmarshal for me."
"Just worry about yourself," Rakiv nodded, "Stay sharp, places like this usually have traps."
"Thanks Raki," she smiled as she waved and trotted off.
"Spearmarshal's Guard," Kydar said, "That'll look impressive on my resume."
"Let's go," Rakiv chuckled.
The troops formed up and marched out, Koss and Dunkoro leading two thirds of them to the south, while Alendra's shouts drew the third division north. Rakiv and the mages drew close to Kormir, who turned to them and gave a respectful nod, before a voice drew their attention.
"Spearmarshal Kormir," Melonni said, holding her scythe at attention and giving a salute, "I request permission to accompany your troops into the city."
"Are you certain?" Kormir said, "We walk a perilous road this day."
"I came to prevent evil ma'am," Melonni nodded, "I want to help you do exactly that."
"Then come with us," she nodded, "And may the gods watch over us all."
The party members each gave solemn nods as they followed the Spearmarshal out of the camp.
"Don't worry…" Rakiv muttered under her breath, un-slinging her bow, "They won't."
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Alendra's troops marched ahead of them, following the path forged by the diggers. Kormir, however, took a different route. The group headed further north, blazing through the underbrush before they came to a giant arch that would have once marked the northernmost road into the city. The party halted as Kormir gave a small sigh and they gather round to see what she had stopped for.
"Another of our workers… fallen," Kormir said sadly.
"Grenth's grasp…" Anicara exclaimed, "It's the Foreminer!"
"Oooh… maaan," Rakiv groaned as she knelt next to the body, "Not Tonabanza…"
"Poor guy…" Kydar said, looking down at him.
"… we haven't time to mourn him," Melonni spoke softly.
"I know… I know," Rakiv sighed, rising to her feet, "Kydar?"
The elementalist held out his hand over the body, silent for a long moment as Anicara and Rakiv looked on.
"Ashes to ashes," he murmured.
With a snap of his fingers a tongue of flame fell from his fingertips, striking the body and immediately enveloping it in fire.
"Dust to dust," he said, "Farewell Foreminer. May you find a less hazardous profession in the Mists."
All four women looked up and frowned at him. Kydar blinked and looked around.
"What?" he asked in confusion.
"When I die, you are sooo not giving my eulogy," Rakiv shook her head as she turned away.
"Whaaat?" Kydar protested as the females walked off.
"Why are we traveling this way?" Rakiv asked as the group followed the Spearmarshal.
"There is another entrance, this way," Kormir said, "We cannot afford to let anything in here get past us… we must be as thorough as we can."
The party pressed forward, making their way through the dense jungle as they approached the massive walls that once protected the First City. Finally they broke clear of the vegetation, finding themselves standing on stone pavement in a small plaza that spread out before a massive gate. Beyond the gate a heavy thundering noise rolled to their ears, as the party approached the gate. Anicara gasped and the others turned to look at her.
"There's something… here!" she exclaimed.
"What?" Rakiv blinked.
"… there!" Anicara pointed.
A rush of wind whipped around them, the breeze raising goose bumps on their skin as an ethereal greenish figure coalesced before them. He bore a shield and spear, and wore armor similar to that of the Sunspear's. Raising his head he looked at them, his eyes shining with otherworldly light.
"Who goes there…" he demanded, his voice reverberating around them.
"I am Kormir, Grand Spearmarshal of the Order of the Sunspears!" Kormir announced, "We seek entry into the First City!"
"None pass here…" he said, "Turn back Kormir… you will find only death in this city."
"We will not turn back!" Kormir called over the wind, "Evil sleeps in the heart of our land. We will purge it from our shores! We are the defenders of Elona, and we march forward to victory by the light of the Golden Sun!"
The spirit said nothing, as though contemplating her words.
"Very well Sunspear," he acquiesced, "But tread carefully, for the dead walk these halls. My brethren within may aid you… but not all possess the clarity we did in life. Proceed to the inner hall of the city. There you will find the evil you seek."
The winds dispersed, and as suddenly as he had come, the spirit was gone. With heavy and loud creaking the gates slowly opened, the hinges pouring rust before with a mighty clang the doors stood opened.
"How nice of him," Rakiv commented.
"Come," Kormir urged, "We must hurry!"
The group started forward, before a tingling sense of danger pricked the back of Rakiv's neck. The floor before them was strange, dirt and crushed stone where the pavement suddenly ended just beyond the gates. With sudden alarm she stopped their march, pressing a hand to the Spearmarshal's chest to hold her back.
"Hold!" she commanded.
All stopped, looking curiously at the ranger. Butter too hissed and backed away as the group looked around, curious as to the source of Rakiv's alarm.
"What are we waiting for?" Anicara queried.
"Wait for it…" Rakiv said, eyes narrowing.
Suddenly, with a scream of chain and a whoosh of wind, a great stone circle fell from the ceiling above. With a terrific crash it impacted with the floor, throwing up dust and further compounding the dirt beneath it. There it rested, until with a creak of metal links it was wound back up once more.
"Go!" Rakiv shouted, bursting forward and dashing beneath the stone.
Surprised the others followed, running as fast as they could to clear the obstacle. Safely on the other side they paused to catch their breath as Rakiv's sharp eyes examined the area around her. This place felt wrong… and there was a strange stench in the air. Wrinkling her nose the ranger pulled up her mask, before turning back to the group.
"There will be more traps," she advised, "We should be careful."
"Indeed," Kormir said, "Everyone be on your guard."
The group formed up, Rakiv and Melonni taking point as the casters and Spearmarshal followed. Their steps were careful, treading lightly across the stone as they descended into the dark depths of the First City. Kydar lifted a hand, summoning forth an orb of flame to float above them and light their path into the gloom. The intrepid delvers could not help but marvel as they strode further in, staring up at massive statues, ancient carvings and the high vaulted ceilings of the halls. Fahranur was enormous, a tribute to the grandeur of the Primeval Kings who oversaw its construction. Among the statues were great carvings that depicted the first of the Sunspear Guard, ancient protectors of Istan and the royal house.
"Lyssa's grace…" Kydar exclaimed, "It's a veritable trove! Look at the intricacy of these carvings? And the craftsman ship… so elegant for primeval tools," the elementalist was already busy sketching.
"Well at least he's excited," Anicara giggled.
Rakiv grumbled something unintelligible under her breath, though the noise drew Kormir's attention.
"Is something wrong Ranger?" she asked.
Rakiv did not answer, though Butter suddenly gave a loud, defensive hiss. The ranger looked down at her pet, then up at the dark hall before them.
"We're not alone," she stated, holding up a fist to call their march to a halt.
The party gave pause at her command, as another cold wind whistled through the ruins. Hysterical laughter followed, drawing closer with alarming speed as a smoky green form appeared before them. It was a soldier, green and ghostly as he dashed past them and skid to a stop.
"So, the bold, brave and valiant Sunspear Guard returns to Fahranur?" the ghost laughed, "And with a Spearmarshal to boot! Oooh this is rich!" he cackled.
"Let us pass soldier," Kormir commanded, "We come to purify this land, and remove evil from this city!"
The ghost lost it, cracking up as he laughed madly and uncontrollably. The party regarded him curiously, before he finally managed to speak once more.
"Evil!? Hah!" he laughed, "Six hundred years later, and you want to get rid of 'evil'!? Didn't seem to care about it when you left us to it!"
"I am Kormir," she said, "I know not what was done to you but I swear…"
"How about this, Spearmarshal," he spat the title with disdain, "How about you get out of my city? Take your stupid spears and go back the way you came!"
"We will not be turned away!" Kormir retorted, "You will stand aside and let us pass!"
"Oh sure, I'll just stand aside," he grinned, "But you'll go no further here Sunspear. Cause I've got what you need!"
The ghost lifted a hand, producing a broad, thick slab of stone inscribed on either side with ancient script. He waved it tauntingly and giggled madly as he hopped from one foot to the other.
"You'll never get beyond the inner gate without this!" he laughed.
"Surrender the keystone apparition!" Kormir demanded.
"Come and get it, Spearmarshal!" he snapped.
With a gleeful squeal the insane spirit dashed away, peeling down the hall with inhuman speed.
"He's getting away!" Anicara cried.
"I've got him," Rakiv said, bending down and taking a runner's stance.
"Rakiv, chase him back in this direction," Kydar suggested, "Anicara, when they get close, hit him with a freeze."
"Got it," both girls responded.
The ranger pushed off and bolted forward, speeding down the hall and following the echoes of mad laughter. The rest did their best not to fall too far behind, as the fleeing pair soon vanished from sight. The gloom of the ruins made it difficult to see where she was going, but the laughter guided her as she zipped down the hallways.
"Turn back Sunspear!" the ghost called back, "Only the dead await you here!"
Rakiv skid to a stop as she broke into a broad chamber, just in time to catch sight of the ghost's green glowing form leap down a set of stairs. The ranger started forward, and quickly rolled aside as a sword point burst from the earth before her. Butter hissed in warning, and the ranger rolled again as another sword, and then another sprouted out of the ground. The blades were followed by hands, skeletal digits grasping the hilts of their rusted blades. With great rumbling and groaning, skeleton warriors pulled themselves from the earth, still clad in the battle armor in which they had been slain.
"Oh my! It seems the dead are restless!" the ghost called back from the bottom of the stairs, "But never fear, you'll join us soon!" he screeched in laughter.
The archer scrambled backwards as one undead soldier brought his sword down at her, and another raised its sword point to stab. A brilliant comet of light soared overhead, striking the soldier and exploding violently, showering Rakiv with broken bits of bone and dust. The archer managed to get to her feet, just as another pair of soldiers bore down upon her. She blocked with her bow, kicking one away, before taking a hard kick to her stomach from the other. The ranger stumbled back, recovering quickly and raising her bow to fire.
"Down!" a voice called from directly behind her.
Instinctively the archeress ducked, as a broad scythe blade whistled over her head. The weapon burned with white flame, which consumed the skeleton soldier as Melonni struck with her holy infused weapon. A swift spin of the scythe over her head brought it down into the next soldier, cleaving it in two.
"Go!" Kydar called out, his hands burning as he prepared another spell, "We'll cover you!"
The ranger nodded, refocusing before breaking into a run once more. Sinkholes formed around her, the earth groaning as it gave up its long buried dead, the restless soldiers rising to slay the intruders. Immediately Melonni was among them, uttering a swift prayer to Dwanya to give her speed as she spun and whirled through the undead army.
"Ye raging vortex of ice and snow," Anicara's magic infused voice filled the room as the brilliance from her cast illuminated the hall, "Ravage my enemies with thy frozen wrath!"
The room's temperature dropped dramatically, a thin layer of frost creeping rapidly over the ground. As the soldier's dived into the fray around Melonni, heavy gusts blew in from all sides of the room, twisting and churning around each other. Precipitation crystallized, raising sheets of ice from all surfaces and drawing them into the rapidly growing storm.
"Maelstrom!" she cried, a burst of crystal blue light emanating from her body.
With a thunderous roar of angry winds, the storm struck with a vengeance. Heavy hail pelted the skeletons, smashing through their brittle bones as the maelstrom plucked them from the ground, spinning them and dashing them into the walls and ground. Sheets of snow crushed the undead soldiers as the storm cleared the room. Anicara panted lightly, summoning an ice spear to her grasp as yet more of the undead pulled themselves from the ground.
"We cannot stand here!" Kormir shouted above the din, "Quickly! We will hold the inner gate until Rakiv retrieves the keystone!"
Following her orders the party battled its way through the plaza, smashing through the enraged skeletons as they went. Rakiv and Butter remained hot on the ghost's heels, watching as he leapt another flight of stairs. As they came to the stairs Butter jumped up on the broad stone rail that boarded the steps and Rakiv took a running jump onto his back. The partners pushed forward, sailing down the frozen rail as Butter tobogganed after the fleeing enemy. The ghost cackled, though the noise bore a hint of nervousness as he sprinted across the next plaza and jumped the next flight of stairs.
Rakiv bent her knees as she and Butter shot up the ramped end of the rail and sailed through the air. Beneath them undead corpses rose and shook their swords angrily at the living airborne pair. They tipped forward, Butter opening his jaws wide as they began to fall and Rakiv pushed off of her companion's back, flipping once gracefully in the air, before plummeting towards the fleeing ghost. She dove head first, arms forward and fingers spread as she descended rapidly, tackling the surprisingly solid spirit into the ground. The pair rolled, and Rakiv ended up on top. The ghost drew his sword and raised his arm, which Rakiv caught before thrusting an arrow into his chest.
"Gaha! Aaahgh!" the spirit choked, "But… but I am a spirit… how..?"
"You'd be surprised at what I can kill," Rakiv responded coldly, plucking the stone tablet from his grasp.
"Hah… ha-ha, you are fast… to catch Derehk the Quick," he complimented, his grin broadening as hollow laughter drifted into the distance, "I thank you Slayer… now I may finally pass… to the Mists…"
So saying the green form slowly dissolved into an ectoplasmic puddle that began to evaporate around her. The laughter faded further before it finally died into silence. Rakiv rose, slipping the arrow back into her quiver as Butter waddled up, dropping a splintered skeleton arm at her feet. She smiled down at her pet, before the sounds of battle reached her ears.
"Let's go boy," she whistled, as she turned and loped back towards the gate.
The four at the gate stood hard pressed by the legion of skeletons. Kydar's hands smoldered as he thrust them skywards again and again, calling down flame upon the creatures and burning their brittle bones to dust.
"By endless agonies, I damn you to eternal Suffering…" Anicara spoke, her fingertips drawing a green diagram in the air before she pressed her palm into its center.
The soldiers closest to them quailed, their bones trembling and shaking as they attempted to press on through the spell that sapped their un-life. Some of the skeletons were quickly overcome, falling to their knees and shattering under the force of her curse. Melonni seized the opportunity, springing forward and spinning her scythe over her head.
"By Melandru's will…" she prayed, before slamming the end of her scythe into the earth before her.
The strike immediately kicked up a burst of sand, which blew outwards, slamming into the skeletons and grinding their bones to dust. From the darkness they could hear yet more dead rising as Rakiv approached holding the tablet.
"What do we do with it?" she asked a little breathlessly.
"Place it here!" Kydar instructed, "Inscribed side down."
"You seem to know a lot about these things," Anicara commented, looking up at her fellow elementalist.
"College of Historical Records," Kydar chuckled.
Rakiv turned to the pedestal and planted the tablet into it. With a great shuddering groan the gates behind them began to creak open. Butter wasted no time and wormed his way through the widening crack as the others headed for the opening.
"Quickly!" Kormir cried as they retreated.
Kydar pushed the women through, before dashing back to the pedestal. The groan of ancient bones grew closer as the skeleton's charged. The elementalist grabbed the tablet and snatched it from the pedestal. With loud creaking the doors began to close, much faster than they had opened.
"Kydar!" Rakiv shouted, pausing in the hall.
"Go!" he cried as he sprinted towards them.
"He's not going to make it…" Melonni breathed in horror.
"Ye frozen lances of purest crystal," Anicara called, chanting as fast as she could, "Rise and impale those before me! Ice Spikes!"
Frost sped across the ground towards the gate doors, large spikes of ice immediately sprouting between the closing slabs of stone and bracing them open. The intrepid recorder took a flying leap over the jagged spikes, turning on his shoulder as he hit the ground. With a grunt he skid along the frost trail as he threw one hand back, firing a flare into the ice spikes. As the fireball hit the ice shattered and melted, and the doors snapped shut in the faces of the army of darkness.
Kydar lay back, panting for breath as the party finally relaxed. The scribe chuckled and laughed, adrenaline still pumping through his veins as he held up the tablet victoriously.
"Why did you go back for that!?" Anicara demanded unhappily.
"They would have kept chasing us if he hadn't," Rakiv responded, sitting down with a grunt.
"Actually…" Kydar chuckled, "I just couldn't leave a priceless artifact like this behind."
"You know, for having a fancy education," Melonni chuckled, "You're not that bright."
"Nothing ventured…" Kydar grinned and panted, "Nothing gained."
"C'mon guys," Rakiv chuckled, "We'd better get moving."
"Yes," Kormir agreed, "We cannot afford to tarry here."
With heavy groans all around the party got to its feet and began to move once more. As they proceeded through the empty ancient halls the gloom began to lift and visibility slowly improved. Finally they rounded a corner to find themselves standing in a great open hall, its roof held up by pillars and its outer wall collapsed, giving the party a spectacular view of the sea. A collective gasp came from the group as they rushed to the edge, breathing in the fresh air and reveling in the sunlight.
"Dwanya be praised," Melonni whispered.
"Amen sister," Kydar chuckled.
The scribe turned his head to glance at the ranger, who simply stared mutely out to sea. Her pretty features scrunched, almost glaring at the blue horizon and golden sun. With a blink she turned to look at him, and he returned the gaze with a curious raise of his eyebrows. The archer scowled, and quickly turned away, tightening her grip on her bow as she strode down the open hall.
"Let's go," she called back, not bothering to turn around.
The party turned to follow the huntress as she and her pet led the way. Anicara reached out and grabbed Kydar's arm, causing the scribe to look down at the younger caster.
"So what does it say?" she asked.
"What does what say?" the scribe blinked, and then brightened, "Oh! The tablet! It'll take a bit to translate, it's in Ancient Elonian. But I did notice that it appears to be some sort of journal entry, written by a Sunspear Guard Captain."
"Wow… I wonder what he wrote," she nodded.
"Well when I get a chance to translate it," he chuckled, "You'll be the first to know."
"Well thank.." Anicara began, and then froze, "Oh no…"
"What is it?" Melonni asked, turning as the group stopped.
"More of them…" Anicara whispered, "They're coming!"
No sooner than she'd spoken the words a rush of wind blasted through the hall, as unnatural and cold as the previous gusts. Across the hall sickly green figures began to emerge, bearing shields and spears, and the insignia of the sun emblazoned on their armors.
"You tread upon our graves Sunspears," one ghost howled, "Only the dead may tarry here!"
"As we have told your brothers," Kormir shouted, "We have come to vanquish this evil!"
"We need to find a tablet…" Kydar mumbled lowly to Melonni and Anicara.
"Why?" the water mage asked.
"There's another pair of doors up ahead," he said, "Closed. When the ancients made keystones like these, no two were alike. We'll need a new tablet to open that door."
"Two," Rakiv corrected, sidling up to the main group as she drew an arrow from her quiver, "There's two pedestals. We need two new tablets."
"Turn baaaaack!" the soldier's ghost wailed.
"We will not turn back!" Kormir challenged.
"Then you will die!!!" the ghost shrieked.
The dead man began banging his spear upon his shield, shouting a battle cry at the top of his voice. The earth began to grumble, shaking and groaning as sinkholes opened up all across the hall.
"Scatter!" Kormir ordered, "Find those keystones!"
"I'll bet one of these guys knows," Rakiv snarled, drawing her bowstring back and taking aim.
"No!" Kormir warned, "Do not harm the ghosts!"
"Spearmarshal, they are trying to kill us!" Melonni protested.
"They are merely lost souls," Kormir said, "Confused and in pain. They are our forebears and we shall honor them! Find the keystones, and do not harm the ghosts!"
The team broke up, Rakiv and Kydar diving to the left as the ghosts threw their spears. Melonni and Anicara broke right as the group divided to find the tablets. Dead soldiers rose, their bones rattling as they mutely answered the ghostly summons. The stones echoed with their footsteps as they charged, raising their swords and staves high as they ran. Kormir held her own, striking, smacking, defending and swinging her way through the undead horde. The Spearmarshal had not achieved her rank for nothing, and her fury in battle was terrible indeed. The skeletal army fell before her spear as she shouted to her troops to rally.
"Quickly!" she shouted, "Quickly!"
At the foot of a flight of ruined steps, Anicara and Melonni found the first tablet, and immediately made a break for the doors. Kydar and Rakiv found theirs guarded by a pair of ghosts, who raised their spears high.
"I got the ghosts," Rakiv said, "You get the tablet."
"But Kormir said…!" Kydar began.
"I know what she said!" Rakiv snapped, "Now go!"
The elementalist sprinted forward as Rakiv dashed past him and leaped up, performing a rapid split kick that knocked both guards aside. Butter jumped upon one ghost, jaws snapping onto the soldier's spear arm and holding it safely out of the way as he kept the man down with his weight alone. Rakiv pounced on the other guard, straddling his chest and proceeding to pummel him with gloved fists. Kydar skid as he knelt to retrieve the tablet from beneath the base of a large carved lion statue. As he picked it up and admired it, a small glimmer caught his attention. It came from the eyes of the lion, which had suddenly begun to glow red. A rush of heat came from its open mouth, and it was only then that the elementalist noticed the stone fangs were charred black.
"Uh oh…" he blinked and threw himself backwards to lie flat against the ground, "Get down!"
Rakiv looked up, just in time to feel hot wind against her face and see a lion statue's mouth light up, before she threw herself down and covered her head with both hands. From the statues' mouths spouts of flame burst forth, blasting the stone wall behind them with a continuous stream of fire. Finally it died away, as the glow faded from the lions' eyes.
"Let's go!" Kydar shouted, clutching the tablet as he ran.
Rakiv gave the ghost one more punch for good measure, before taking off after him, Butter hot on her heels. Yelps and surprised cries went up from the party as they dodged flame spouts, the lion statues throughout the room pouring forth blazing heat. Finally they reached the doors, as the undead army closed in.
"At the same time!" Kydar instructed Anicara as they rushed to the pedestals, "One… two… three!"
The elementalists pushed down the keystones, resulting in a pop and then a click. With great groans the doors before them began to open, sliding against the stone floor as they separated from a centuries long embrace. The rest of the party ran forward, as Kydar and Anicara held the tablets onto the pedestals. Rakiv turned and began to open fire, covering them as Kormir and Melonni wiggled through the gap. With a terrible screech the doors stopped, only party way open… and then began to close again.
"The doors!" Anicara cried.
The trio turned and their eyes widened, as the doors began to shut once more. Kydar pressed down harder on his tablet, to no avail.
"Oh dear…" he gulped.
"Oh hell no…" Rakiv snarled as she slung her bow across her back and sprinted forward.
The ranger pounded pavement racing to catch the enormous stone doors as they swung closed. The gap was barely person sized as she reached it and slammed both palms into either door. She grunted as she pushed, her feet sliding against the pavement before her heels hit an upturned block of stone. Her elbows bent as the mighty stone doors continued to slide, though their progress slowed. The ranger panted and grunted, beads of sweat rolling down her brow. Corded muscle rippled along her arm as she pushed back, fingers curling as she held the doors at bay.
Her eyes opened, no longer their normal violet and now yellow as her pupils turned to slits. Opening her mouth she let out a gasp that was more like a bark, her teeth changing to fangs as she roared and pushed harder. The doors progress ground to a halt… and then reversed. All eyes watched in amazement at the feat as the ranger pushed the doors back open, holding them just wide enough for them to slip through.
"Anytime… you're… ready!" she snarled, her voice guttural and inhuman.
Kydar immediately snatched up his tablet, grabbing Anicara's hand and sprinting forward. The elementalist girl gave a yelp as she plucked her tablet up too and was dragged along as Kydar bolted for the doors. Butter wiggled through between his mistress' legs. Kydar reached the door and pushed Anicara through beneath Rakiv's arms, before turning to face the undead horde that bore down on them.
"Get it wider!" he demanded.
"What!?" she snapped, "Does… rrrgh! Does this look easy to you!?"
"Get it wider or we'll never get both of us through!" he responded, glyphs whirling about him as he began to cast.
"Nrrrgh! Just… go!" she panted.
"Push those doors!!" he shouted back.
With no other choice and no time to argue, the ranger growled as she began to push, gloves grinding against the stone as she forced the doors to open further. She could hear the clang of swords and shields just behind her, and the roar of flame as the elementalist battled back the horde on his own. With a roar she pushed for all she was worth, and with a grudging scrape of stone the doors slid yet further apart. The ranger's eyes went wide, pupils quivering as she shouted with effort, holding the doors as wide as she could. Suddenly a strong arm slid around her waist, and with a push Kydar tackled her through. The doors immediately slid shut behind them, and Kydar twisted in the air to land on his back as the gate shut with a heavy boom behind them. The elementalist lay back, the embers on his gloves slowly dying away as Rakiv lay on top of him.
Control. She needed control. Her insides felt as though they were on fire, and her fingers curled as though trying to tear through her gloves. The beast within gnawed and chomped at the bit, demanding to be freed fully and completely. But the ranger would not yield, shutting her eyes against the red that crept across her vision. Her mind, her heart, her body… a monster she would not become. Finally, with a gasp she felt her muscles relax and the tension recede as the feral pulse of adrenaline and power slowly faded away. With a grunt she rolled off of him, arms weak and trembling as she lay on the cold stone floor, panting and gasping for air.
"What in Grenth's name…?" Melonni began
Rakiv did not answer, simply pushing herself up to sit and moving to remove her gloves. It was then that she noticed blood on her arm, and blinked in confusion before looking over to the elementalist… and her eyes widened in horror.
"Oh gods…" Anicara gasped, "Kydar!"
The scribe gave a choking grunt, his lips stained red with blood. His jacket had been torn through, leaving many hideous gashes into his flesh. His tunic beneath was a mangled mess of bloody cloth which did little to hide the rent flesh beneath.
"Brave my friend," Kormir said softly, kneeling down, "Very brave."
"Kydar…?" the ranger asked, eyes for the first time betraying a hint of fear.
"Move!" Melonni demanded, pushing the others aside as she knelt next to him.
She produced a small knife from her belt and busily set to cutting away the ruined clothing, stripping his shirt and releasing a sudden spurt of blood from wounds that had been clinging to the fabric. Kydar choked with pain, eyelids fluttering before he shut them tight. Melonni placed two fingers to his chest, lifting the other hand before her face as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Winged goddess of blessed light," Melonni prayed, "Bestow thy servant with thine healing grace…"
From the dervish's fingertips a blue light spread across his form, and his body jerked, going rigid as the energy dove into him. Blood poured off of him as his flesh began to re-knit itself, wounds healing and expelling ruined liquids as they reformed. A rush of wind ruffled over him, as the prayer completed and Melonni withdrew her fingers.
"May Dwanya's touch make you whole again," she said, tracing a symbol in the air before expelling her breath, "Ama ehn."
The elementalist grunted as he pushed himself up, running a gloved hand over his chest and then groaning as he sat up. He examined himself for a moment and then smiled at the dervish.
"Thanks," he said with a chuckle, "That really hurt."
"Oh my gods… are you okay?" Anicara asked with concern.
"I'm alright," he grunted, getting to his feet, "More importantly, the tablet's just fine!"
A collective groan went up from the group as Melonni collected her scythe and got to her feet. Anicara gave his arm a light smack as she handed him the other tablet.
"Thank you," he smiled.
"You're crazy," she shook her head.
"We should move on," Kormir said, "Our forces should be arriving at the plaza soon."
The women all turned to follow the Spearmarshal, though Rakiv lingered a moment longer. Kydar bent down, grunting as he tossed aside his ruined tunic and examined the remains of his jacket. Tearing the sleeves off he decided it would make a fine vest, which ultimately was better than nothing. Sliding it on he adjusted it over his bare chest and gave a shrug, before looking up to find the ranger still looking at him. He arched a brow curiously in return.
"… thank you," she said finally.
"Oh don't…" he began.
Before he could finish she had turned away, striding quickly after the group. The scribe's brow wrinkled and he straightened his vest.
"Don't mention it…" he finished to the thin air in front of him, before trotting to catch up with the girls.
The group exited the hall to find themselves standing on a balcony that over looked several flights of stairs, leading down to the central plaza.
"In ancient times…" Kydar began.
"In ancient times," Kormir interrupted, "This plaza was the square in which the people would gather to hear the words of the king. The doors would open and slaves would bear a great dais through, from which the monarch would speak to the people. None, save those of the royal guard and highest court could enter through those gates, the inner sanctum… the heart of Fahranur."
Kormir nodded sagely, staring down at the empty and dusty square, quite unaware of the unhappy glare Kydar had given her. Anicara giggled lightly and patted the scribe's shoulder comfortingly. Melonni stared at the doors, tilting her head curiously.
"If no one but those from the highest court were allowed in," Melonni said, "Would that not make it the perfect place to perform such dark rituals?"
"It was, and it is," Kormir agreed, "The evil we seek lies bound within, though it will not remain so for long."
"Looks like we're going to need a brand new tablet to get in though," Anicara said.
"You must not enter the inner sanctum," a voice echoed around them.
Cold wind rushed past them and all present whirled to face the source, brandishing weapons against the ghostly green form that rose before them.
"Stay your blades Sunspears," the phantom spoke, raising its hands, "My mind is yet my own, and I shall not harm those who have carried on in my stead."
"If you know of the evil within," Kormir said, "Then you know that it must be destroyed."
"I do," the ghost said, "But that is a malice that has lain sleeping for six hundred years, growing strong as it steeped in the deep darkness of this cursed city. It will destroy you… as it did us."
"I am Kormir," the woman responded, "Grand Spearmarshal of the Order of the Sunspears! I come bearing the light of Dwanya and of the Golden Sun. I give you my solemn oath that we shall not fail here."
"If you command it Spearmarshal," the ghost said, thumping a fist to his chest in salute, "I shall aid you in opening the door. But I beseech you, do not enter that room."
"Spearmarshal… may I?" Kydar raised his hand.
"You may," Kormir nodded.
"Sunspear," Kydar turned to the ghost, "Can… can you tell us what happened here?"
"The years have been so long that it is a tale I can now scarcely recall," the spirit admitted, "I remember the blood… and the screaming… and the ominous crunch of bone as the dead walked our halls. I cannot recall what brought them… or even my own death. I do remember our captain… who made the keystones. Upon them he inscribed our story, that those who followed might remember our deeds."
"Can you tell us what happened to your brothers?" Kydar questioned.
"Since that day, the day our city was abandoned and sealed," he said, "Darkness has ever seeped out of the heart of this City. By its power the dead continued to roam… and our souls were trapped within these walls. As the years passed the madness grew deeper… darker, and my brothers soon no longer knew who they were. Yet their souls were strong, fed by the anger and hate for those who left us to our fate… and so they came to command the armies of undead who sleep beneath this soil. In their anguish they turned over their minds and souls to the darkness… and with each offering the evil grew stronger. I have remained here for centuries, hiding from my brothers and the armies they command, guarding the keystone that opens the way to the inner sanctum."
"If we destroy it," Kydar asked, "Destroy the thing in there… will you be free?"
"The seal on the city will be gone," the Sunspear nodded, "And I will be free to make my way to the crypts of my forebears… to seek my rest in the Mists."
"What is your name soldier?" Kormir requested.
"My name…?" he asked, his eyes lowering as he searched his memory, "Once… once I was known as Kahdash…"
"And so you shall always be known," Kormir said, "To your honor, and that of your brothers, we shall erect a monument in memory of your sacrifice and continuing to perform far above and beyond the call of duty."
"A call which usually ends when you're dead," Kydar muttered to Rakiv, who merely elbowed him lightly in the ribs.
"Ah, ah!" the elementalist whimpered, "Still sore."
"Sorry…" she whispered, blushing a little with embarrassment.
"But now," Kormir continued, "I fear that as Spearmarshal, I must make one final request of you."
"A Sunspear I remain," Kahdash said, "And I am yours to command Spearmarshal."
"Help us to open the path inwards, that we might vanquish the darkness and set free your souls," Kormir requested.
The ghost held forth his hands, a stone tablet materializing above his palms. The keystone floated down into his grasp and he held it forth and strode towards the stairs.
"The armies of the mad king await us," Kahdash said, "Please… defend me, and I shall carry the keystone for you."
"Form up!" Kormir barked, "Melonni take point, mages to either side. Ranger Maelstrom, keep an eye to our rear. Let not these undead stay us from our task!"
The group moved to do as she commanded, Melonni uttering a swift prayer to Melandru under her breath as she gripped her scythe tightly. Rakiv struck an arrow across the back of her glove, kindling it as she set it to her bow.
"Forward… March!" the Spearmarshal ordered.
The party moved forward, keeping the Sunspear ghost between them as they descended the stairs. As Melonni set foot on the pavement below, the earth began to rumble as the stone cracked and sinkholes began to form.
"Here they come," the dervish grumbled.
"Prepare yourself!" Kormir shouted, brandishing her spear, "For Elona!"
Kydar's fists burned as Anicara spun her staff over one shoulder, summoning a spear of ice to her free hand. The first soldiers charged, jaws wide in a silent war cry as their feet crunched against the pavement. Melonni went to work, spinning into the oncoming enemies as Kydar and Anicara launched their spells. From the rear Rakiv and Kormir rained down arrows and spears as the party pressed forward. The dead army shambled forwards still, their numbers endless and their soldiers heedless of the destruction the Sunspears poured out upon them. With a heave Anicara loosed her spear, shattering an oncoming soldier as she raised her fingers to draw a green diagram in the air.
"May your strength be stolen by Enfeebling Blood…" she uttered the curse.
As she spoke the flesh across her hand split, blood welling forth from her palm. With a swing of her arm she flung her hand outwards, releasing a crimson shower into the oncoming soldiers. Those who it touched immediately found their weapons too heavy for their limbs, some losing their arms as the weight snapped their bones. Melonni was upon them in an instant, smashing her way through the weakened undead as their procession moved to the final staircase. The elementalist grimaced at the pain of the sacrificial curse, but said nothing as she blew across her hand, a thin strip of ice halting the blood flow and numbing the pain.
"Forward Sunspears!" Kormir cried, "Forward!"
As they descended into the plaza the earth gave great groaning and snapping sounds, as hordes of skeleton soldiers burst forth. Their shields rattled and their swords raised as they formed their battle lines. Both sides came to a halt, the party staring down hundreds of restless undead.
"There are too many…" Melonni panted, "They are endless!"
"If we go down," Rakiv snarled, raising her bow, "It's not without a fight."
"No! We cannot be beaten here!" Kormir shouted.
"I don't think we have a choice," Kydar muttered.
"Shhh…" Anicara urged, "Do… do you hear that?"
From somewhere amongst the halls there was a strange rumbling sound, accompanied by the cry of a voice that sung in a high, piercing note.
"The Anthem of Flame?" Kormir blinked, and then her eyes widened, "Everyone down!"
The party ducked as the dark hall suddenly lit up. From the opposite side of the plaza, dozens of flames rose up, arching high towards the ceiling, before falling down around them. Burning javelins rained from the sky, smashing into the undead soldiers and spreading fire among their brittle bones. The thump of many footsteps came to their ears as the Sunspear guard burst forth from the southern hallway, roaring with battle cries as they charged into the undead flank.
"Chaaaaaarge!!" Alendra's voice soared melodically above the din as the third division crashed into the enemy forces.
The undead army turned to deal with the new threat, raising their swords against the oncoming spears. The room erupted into chaos as war broke out, the Sunspears crushing the skeleton soldiers as Alendra loped up to the party.
"Hi guys!" she smiled breathlessly, but cheerfully, "Looks like we're just in time."
"Thank Dwanya," Kormir breathed.
"Eh hehe…" Alendra chuckled nervously, "Don't breathe easy just yet. Our forces have taken heavy losses. Koss and Dunkoro are facing a full route against these numbers. They held the line in the southern halls while we went in to find you."
"Then we'd better kill this thing quick," Rakiv said, "Kahdash! Get that door open!"
"As you command…" the ghost replied tiredly as he strode forward.
The party battled amongst the chaos, defending the ghost all the way to the pedestal where he placed the tablet onto the grooves. With a slide of stone the gates unlocked and slowly began to grind open. With a heavy crunch they stopped, and by some other force were shut once more. Kahdash lifted the tablet and tried again, with no results the second time.
"What happened!?" Anicara exclaimed.
"I… I don't know…" the spirit admitted, "It must be shut from the other side…"
A heavy boom sounded against the gates, the rock shuddering as dust fell from the arches. The fighting came to a halt, both undead and Sunspear forces looking up at the stone doors. Another heavy crunch came from the other side, this time sending cracks through the massive doors. A strange hissing noise went up from the previously silent undead horde, a hissing that turned into a single word.
"Apooocryphaaaaa…" the cry echoed through the room.
With absolutely no warning the army retreated, many shambling away hurriedly as others simply crumbled back into the sinkholes from whence they came.
"Oh geeze, that's heartening," Kydar snorted.
"Hush!" Rakiv snapped, "And focus! Forget about the stupid tablet!"
"I can't let this get destroyed!" the elementalist hissed back, quickly swiping the keystone from its pedestal.
"Steel yourselves men!!" Kormir shouted over the noise of another heavy blow, "No matter what comes through that gate, we will stand! We will vanquish this evil! For We! Are! Sunspears!!"
The soldiers raised their spears and gave an answering roar, a cheer that was suddenly and completely drowned out when a final blow shattered the ancient gates. The Sunspears scrambled as boulders and sharp shrapnel flew through the air, wounding the unluckier members of Kormir's army. Through the debris a shape appeared, a great rectangular object that appeared to be levitating high off the ground. Noiselessly the enormous stone tablet moved forward, hovering over the broken gates and into the center of the room.
The Sunspear forces gave the object a wide berth, aiming their spears upwards hesitantly but maintaining their battle lines. The object came to a halt, hovering in the silence of the room. A glyph flashed upon its face, a symbol inscribed in deep purple. Immediately a hideous, ear-rending screech filled the hall, as purple beams of malicious energy gathered to the stone tablet's face. As the soldiers reeled the tablet shattered, breaking into hundreds of pieces that flew outwards… and then flew back inwards, reforming into quite a different shape.
Before them now stood a huge stone reptile, standing on its tail of shattered rocks, while other shards floated to form its mighty arms and torso. A thick slab formed its skull, and purple glyphs inscribed themselves on either side of its head, the symbols flashing as it glared down at the Sunspear division.
"By the Five…" someone swore.
The monolith reared back, releasing a terrible screech, before brandishing its enormous stone tail.
"Get down!" Rakiv screamed as she threw herself to the ground.
Those who did not obey immediately suffered the creature's wrath. With a broad sweep the demon swung its tail, catching men and flinging them across the hall to impact into walls and floors with unfortunate crunches. The monster roared again, as it charged into the Sunspear lines.
"Attaaaack!" Kormir shouted.
Immediately dozens of javelins launched, most glancing off of the creature's stony hide, but others managing to stick in its body.
"How on earth do we destroy that?" Melonni gasped.
"We hit it," Rakiv replied, "Hard."
"With what!?" Alendra exclaimed.
"You'll see," she said, "But first we need it weakened. Anicara, what have you got?"
"I can… Look out!" she squealed, diving down once more to avoid a vicious swing.
"We don't got a lot of time folks!" Kydar broke in, "People are dying here!"
"I'll need time to cast," Anicara called above the noise, "But I can crack it!"
"Good! Melonni it's tearing us apart!" Rakiv called, "Weaken it!"
"I've got it," the dervish nodded.
"Kydar we need it down on our level," Rakiv ordered, "As soon as Anicara cracks it, hit it with a Meteor."
"In here!?" the elementalist called, "If I call down a meteor it'll bring down the roof!"
"I know!" she called, "Kormir, call a full retreat!"
"But we must stand against it!" the Spearmarshal protested.
"Kormir!" Rakiv snarled, "We'll spill no more blood for this city! Order a retreat!"
Kormir's gaze hardened, the authority and power of the Sunspear Order burning in her eyes. Rakiv returned the stare calmly, a single, pointed accusation reflected in her own. The Spearmarshal tightened her jaw, and finally nodded.
"Fall Back!" she cried, her voice rising above the noise of battle, "Faaaall Baaaack!"
"Everyone ready?" Rakiv asked, receiving a round of nods in answer, "Let's kill us a demon!"
The ranger focused, there were a number of preparations she needed herself if this plan was going to work. Taking a deep breath she began her concentration as she felt the magic of the others well up around her.
"May the grasp of darkness embrace thee," Anicara chanted, her fingertips drawing an ornate diagram in the air before her, moving quickly to complete the cast.
Melonni charged forward as the Sunspear's fell back, brandishing her scythe as she muttered a prayer under her breath.
"Goddess of living earth," she murmured, dropping her scythe point and allowing it to drag behind her, the blade sparking as she ran, "Grant me thy Staggering Force."
The Apocrypha swung at the dervish, who spun low, avoiding the heavy blow as the monster's fist crashed into the pavement behind her. As she turned she lifted her scythe blade from the ground, spires of earth and stone following her weapon. With a final pirouette she swung the scythe hard, striking the scythe into the creature's arm, a jagged spike of rock following through to slam into the demon's arm with a punishing blow. The demon reeled back, its arm useless as it swung clumsily with its good one, attempting to crush the dervish. The punch landed just short of the woman, but the sheer force was more than enough to knock her off her feet. The Apocrypha raised its arm to strike again, just as Anicara completed her cast.
"To sunder defenses… and Weaken Armor!" she finished, thrusting her hand forward.
The diagram flared, releasing a green flash against the demon. With a thunderous crack, green fissures broke through the creature's stone body, the sheer force of her curse cracking its armor.
"Kydar!" the female elementalist called.
The scribe had already begun, chanting quickly as the demon recovered from the attack. It turned its sights on the elementalists and gave a shriek as it raised its tail to swing. Kydar completed his cast, moments before Alendra tackled him to the ground, the tail swing narrowly missing the pair.
"Get back!" Kydar warned, rolling to his feet, "Get back!!"
All heeded his warning, save for Rakiv who remained kneeling. The rumble in the skies far above could be heard as the ranger opened her eyes, and murmured softly under her breath.
"Spirits of the wild, grant me Favorable Winds," she requested.
Behind her a phantom figure arose, its form barely perceptible as it seemed to shimmer in and out of existence. A heavy gale picked up in the hall, blowing hard from the ranger's back as she raised her head to examine the path before her, violet eyes roving back and forth as she read the winds. Finally she drew a single arrow from her quiver, its keen point gleaming in the fire light as the demon managed to recover and started towards her.
"3… 2… 1," the ranger counted down.
The demon stopped, suddenly sensing the danger and looked up. The roof exploded, raining down heavy slabs of carved stone as fire and brimstone poured through. The falling meteor struck the Apocrypha full force, crushing its back half as it impacted into the ground. The demon shrieked as it fell forwards, holding itself up on its arms as the roof fell down around it. Plummeting slabs dealt it heavy blows, but the creature obstinately held itself upright, attempting to crawl forward towards the ranger.
"Go For The Eyes!" Kormir shouted from behind her.
A smirk crossed Rakiv's face and she nodded, focusing on the abomination's head. She exhaled, flexed once… and sprinted forward. Carved rocks fell around her, thundering into the floor and narrowly missing the ranger as she allowed her reflexes to run their course and keep her out of harm's way. A jagged slab tumbled from above, slamming into the floor at an angle and impeding the Apocrypha's progress. The ranger however, seized the opportunity as she dashed up its length, pushed off of the edge and sailed into the air. For a moment time seemed to slow as she hung aloft, notching the gleaming arrow to her bow as she drew the string. The Apocrypha's head snapped open, revealing rows of the jagged stone shards it meant to use as teeth. At the last possible moment the ranger let fly.
The sing of string and shaft were audible even above the din, and the arrow flashed as it shot into the glyph that marked the creature's head. The demon howled, throwing its head back as it released an agonized shriek and thrashed violently. Rakiv landed on its head, yelping as she clung to its face for dear life as it convulsed and trembled. The glyphs began to glow brighter, beams of purple spreading from its symbols and the woman's eyes widened. Quickly bracing her feet against the stone, the ranger pushed off, performing a graceful back flip that carried her high and away from the dying demon. With a final defiant roar of anguish and rage, the Apocrypha detonated. An explosion of malignant violet energy tore it apart, flinging its sharpened shards outwards with terrific force. Rakiv watched with a mix of fear and exhilaration as one such slab narrowly missed her, flying just beneath her as she fell back towards the floor.
The ranger landed on one knee as the violence of the demon's end abated, leaving only a smoking crater where it had once stood. The final wafts of evil energy floated upwards… and for a moment took form. Six eyes of deepest violet glared at them, with a horrifying hatred that nearly forced them to their knees. A moment later the eyes evaporated, wafting out with the smoke through the ruined roof of the grand plaza. Rakiv rose to her feet, slinging her bow across her back as she tensed her jaw for a moment and then relaxed.
"We… we did it?" Alendra breathed, lowering her shield.
"Yes," Kormir sighed with relief as she rose to her feet, "This evil, this… Apocrypha… has been vanquished."
"Whoo hoo!" Kydar cheered, throwing both fists into the air, "Great headshot Rakiv!" he called across the hall.
The ranger allowed herself to chuckle a little breathlessly as she turned back to face the others. Kydar applauded enthusiastically as Alendra and Anicara hugged and bounced with excitement. Kormir smiled with a bit of satisfaction and Melonni rested on her scythe, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Alright, I say we get outta here and call it a day," Kydar chuckled.
"I must agree Scribe Raelesin," Kormir said, "I shall instruct Dunkoro to have his men gather our honored dead and prepare…"
She was cut off by a low and terrible groan that echoed throughout the ruin. The sound was underscored by a deep rumbling that continued on even after the groan had stopped. The floor began to tremble as tiny bits of rock and dust fell from the ceiling.
"Oh look, the roof is coming down," Kydar commented casually, "Knew that Meteor was a bad idea."
"Oh, and the giant rock tablet exploding had nothing to do with it?" Rakiv arched an eyebrow.
"Hey, you're the one that shot it in the eye," Kydar pointed at her.
"Guys, we gotta go!" Alendra looked around as dust and sand poured down around them.
"Where? The way we came is shut!" Melonni exclaimed.
"The other hallway," Kormir instructed, "Quickly!"
The party broke into a run, dashing across the ruined plaza and up the stairway from which Alendra's forces had come. The inner halls of the First City were nearly a labyrinth, full of stairways and passages which often led to dead ends.
"This way!" Kydar shouted as they came to a crossway.
"Why?" Anicara blinked.
"Because that's the way the bugs are going," Rakiv responded, "Good eye."
"Not an Assistant Professorial Scribe for nothin' you know," he smirked at her.
"Just go!" she groaned.
The skittering insects before them led the way, the creatures seeking safety from the crumbling halls. With a terrible crack a pillar finally buckled and snapped under its load, splintering terrifically as the section it once held came crashing down, sealing a hall to their left. The group pressed on as the ruins fell apart, more thundering reaching their ears from the long empty halls of Fahranur. Turning a corner they found themselves at the end of a long hall, the end of which shone with the light of day. The ceiling of the hall buckled and splintered, releasing a hail of pebbles, but the structure managed to hold.
"Godspeed my friends!" Kormir cried.
The party ran, sprinting down the hall hard and fast. Stones fell about them, larger sections of the ceiling beginning to fall as they raced for the exit. Rakiv reached the end first and skidded to a stop. The group stood on a broad balcony, sheltered by huge arches that held the roof up over the outlook. Below a waterfall plunged into the crystal depths of the Anur River.
"Oh gods no…" Melonni breathed as they reached the edge.
"We have to go back!" Alendra shouted.
No sooner than she had the roof of the hall cracked and released a torrent of broken stone into the passageway.
"Not an option," Kydar responded, turning to Rakiv and blinking at the ranger.
The woman stood at the very edge of the precipice, peering down past the shrubs that grew on the cliff face into the waters below.
"You're not thinking what I think you're thinking… are you?" he balked.
His question was answered as Butter waddled to the edge and looked down. With an ungainly flop the crocodile launched itself from the cliff side, angling its nose downward as it dove into the water far below.
"Can you swim?" Rakiv asked quickly.
"Not well!" Kydar exclaimed.
Above them a pillar splintered, its fluted cap sliding though managing to cling to the stone shaft. Rakiv grabbed his arm and yanked him to the edge.
"Look for the crocodile," she commanded.
Kydar made to protest, and pulled to get free of her grasp. The ranger let him go, the force of his pull making him stumble forwards, his arms flailing as he attempted to hold his balance at the cliff edge. With a grunt Rakiv dealt him a hard kick to the posterior, punting him off and away from the cliff wall. The elementalist tumbled downward, furiously cursing her name as he vanished into the mist below.
"Next!" she turned on the rest of the group.
Melonni sighed, dropping her heavy belt pack and clutching tightly to her scythe. Calmly she strode to the edge, took a deep breath and dove off.
"Quickly, quickly ladies!" Rakiv urged, as another crack splintered the roof above them.
Alendra move swiftly, unsnapping her armor and dropping it to the floor. With a grunt she threw her spear, watching it sail into the woods on the opposite riverbank before sending her shield after it. With a silly giggle the paragon ran to the edge, jumping from the cliff side and diving head first towards the river.
"Anicara!" Rakiv shouted, waving her forward.
The elementalist girl swallowed hard, grinding her teeth for a moment before steeling herself to the task at hand. Shedding her shoes, she strode to the edge, clamped two fingers over her nose and closed her eyes. She took several deep breaths before finally giving a small, terrified squeal as she jumped off the balcony.
Kormir and Rakiv stepped up to the cliffs edge, as yet more rubble crashed behind them. The roof above groaned as cracks ate at its pillar bases, weakening it as it slowly tipped forward.
"This… almost reminds me of diving for pearls," Kormir commented, "Off the fortress wall."
"Yeah," Rakiv chuckled lightly, "Kinda."
Both women took a deep breath and with the practiced grace of experienced divers, leapt from the ledge and dove straight down. The ruin collapsed behind them, an explosion of dust, sand and rubble destroying the pillars and bringing the roof crashing down. Stone slabs tumbled down the cliff face, bouncing off the rock wall as they splashed into the river below. With a wash of foam Kormir and Rakiv struck the water, the dive carrying them deep beneath the surface as rock slabs fell around them. For a moment Rakiv feared they would be crushed, and then powerful undertow took hold of her legs. The ranger was dragged with the water flow, tumbling through the river and keeping her eyes shut as a world of blue wheeled about her.
Suddenly she struck gravel, river pebbles pelting her as the current rolled her onto the sand. The next moment she surfaced, rising and gasping for air through a curtain of crimson hair as she clawed at the sandy river bank. Pulling herself ashore the ranger pulled back her hair, spitting water and panting for breath. Further up the beach Kydar sat barefoot and shirtless, his vest washed away by the river as he dumped water and rocks out of his boots. Next to her Anicara coughed and sputtered, Alendra patting the girl's back as she helped her to her feet. Butter lay on a log, watching the scene with what appeared to be amusement as Kormir dragged herself from the river.
"You!" Kydar snarled, catching sight of the ranger.
"Oh boy…" she sighed as she pushed herself to her feet.
The elementalist stormed up to her, wet braids swinging furiously as he came to a stop before her. A red glyph glowed lightly on his chest as the water rose from him in visible wafts of steam.
"If you ever do that again," he growled, "Your hair won't be the only flame colored part of your body! Got it!?"
"I got it, I got it," she laughed lightly, raising her hands in surrender.
"Good," he said with a grumble as he turned away, "And thanks. I owe you one."
"Actually I think that makes us even," she smirked.
The elementalist turned, arching an eyebrow at her and then slowly nodded in response. Melonni groaned as she pushed herself to her feet with the end of her scythe and gazed up at the cliff face.
"It's a shame about the ruins," she sighed, "They must have held so much knowledge."
"It is better this way," Kormir said, "The evil within has been destroyed. No longer will the city haunt our island."
"Still though…" Kydar sighed in agreement with Melonni.
The group was silent for a moment, contemplating the City's loss and their narrow brush with death. Suddenly Kydar brightened and rummaged in his belt pouch.
"Oh! But I've got good news!" he exclaimed.
The women turned to face the scribe, staring at him curiously.
"I saved all the tablets!" he proclaimed gleefully, holding up all four keystones.
Seconds later the elementalist vanished with a splash and laughter rang out across the bank, as a hard kick from Rakiv sent the scribe tumbling back into the river.