OoO(30)OoO
The Archeologist sat in his former quarters, holding a cold cloth to his head. Lyle sat across from him and watched him intently as they were served tea from one of the female apprentices. As the young girl left, the Archeologist looked up at Lyle, who stared right back at him. Niether of them spoke for a long time. Finally, after a long silence, the Archeologist spoke.
"Is there something I can help you with?" he asked in an acidic tone. Lyle glared at him.
"A fine way to speak to someone who just helped save your life." he said back in a deadly voice.
The Archeologist nearly flinched at the remark, but said nothing for a moment. "Fine, have it your way. What is it you wish to see me about?" he asked. Lyle smiled and picked up the small cup from the table. Taking a long drought from the vessel, he set it back down and spoke in a polite manner.
"I believe my sister, Theresa, came and talked to you about a dream she had." he said as he leaned forward, getting a better look at the wounds on the scientists head. From the looks of it, he took one strong blow to the forehead, leaving a large bruise, before going out cold.
"Yes, you are correct." he said remembering the visit he received only a few days before. "A very strange girl." he said, receiving an almost insulted look from the warrior. Raising his hands defensivly, he made his words more clear. "What I mean was that she has a very strange air about her. Look at the miracles she has performed so far. She survived an attack from one of the most viscious killers alive, even after they tore her eyes out. But still she grew, gaining the power of the seer, which has not been seen in over 500 years. And aside from her handicap, she still fights as good as any warrior in the guild." he said.
"But, the most amazing thing about her, is her demeanor. Even though she has been tortured, raped, left for dead, then left with nothing to live for...as soon as she finds you she seems completely comtent, non-caring if you will, with what has happened to her. I would have to say that girl is the strongest of us all." he finished his testimony and followed Lyle's example by draining the cup sitting next to him of its contents.
Lyle snorted. He knew the old man was right. His sister had forgotten about everything that had happened that night, forgot everything Twinblade and his camp had done to her, and even forgot about her fathers murder in front of her eyes. Meanwhile, he had always held a grudge against every bandit in Albion, feeling them responsible for his fathers, and what he thought was his families death. He felt like a little kid again compared to his sister. But, pushing the thoughts aside, he got back onto the subject.
"Now then, about what she said to you..." he said, but was cut off.
"Ah yes, Bargate Prison. She told me that you would be asking about that infernal place." said the man as he took a second cup from the tray of beverages. "I suppose you plan on breaking into that place?" he asked. Lyle nodded. "As I figured. You know who is the proprioter of that building right?" he asked. Lyle shook his head. The Archeologist sighed in sorrow. "Oh dear. You were planning on running head first into the place without even thinking, weren't you?" he asked.
Lyle shook his head before answering. "No actually. That is why I am here with you now. I have come to ask about this Bargate Prison. I need to know every crack, hole, and weakness in its walls." he said.
"Well, at least you used your head this time. But I'm afraid I don't know much about the place myself. I do however, know that there is an entrance that Jack may have forgotten about." he said. He suddenly felt his heart rate skyrocket as Lyle yelled at the top of his lungs.
"JACK!?" he shouted as he unconsciously jumped to his feet. "Jack of Blades is the owner of that prison?" he said roughly as he glared at the old man. The Archeologist was breathing heavily from the verbal bomb that just went off. "I SAID..."
"I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID! NOW SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN!" yelled the old man making Lyle flinch. The hero slumped down in his seat staring dumbfoundedly at the scientist. Nobody had yelled at him like that in a long time. Almost since Maze had torn him down for the murder of that bandit almost 4 years prior. Finally the Archeologist sat composed in his chair again. "You must cease from sudden outbursts around old men...especially ones that were nearly put to death." he said. Lyle mearly nodded dumbly. "As I was saying, the whole prison is pretty much guarded by an insane amount of guards. And I must say that Jack isn't likely to enlist the honest guards we all know stay in Bowerstone. More than likely they are a personal pick of his, murderers or the like. Chances are you will be killed on site."
"So what do I do about them?" Lyle asked.
"Well, there are only two ways into Bargate Prison. And one of them has never been attempted by man before." He said. This intrigued Lyle immensely. "Though it puzzles me as to why they have it, Jack has some sort of Hellgate in the prison. It's a gateway similar to a Cullis Gate that allows you to walk into the world of the dead. There were only three made in all of Albion." Said the man mystically.
Lyle leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and stared at the old man. "So…where are these other Hellgates?" he asked.
"One was destroyed. It now lies in ruins in a secret cove at Headsmans Hill." He said. Realization hit Lyle as he remembered his battle with Thunder. They had both dropped down into a large rift in the rock where they battled until stumbling into a cave. He remembered the stones all around the rocky cave, but didn't remember them resembling anything. Of course, he wasn't paying attention at the time.
"And the other?" he asked curiously.
"Another was built in the location that Bargate now sits on. And the last…" he said before pausing for a moment. "is in the Lychfield Graveyard. It is said that the gate in the Graveyard malfunctioned and let out a swarm of undead creatures. Since then the Grave Keeper has sealed off the gate." he finished with a nod. "He didn't want anything to do with those creatures, so he just banished them to that courtyard. It would be a simple task to get him to open it again."
"So you are saying that the back way to the prison is through this Hellgate on out the other side?" he asked with a look of surprise. "How will I know where to look for the other side?" he asked.
The Archeologist sipped his tea again and nodded. "A good question indeed my boy. It is quite simple." He said raising his finger. "Believe it or not, I have been through this gate. And it is only a matter of following the path." He said.
Lyle's eyes widened. "What? You have been inside the Hellgate? Why?" he asked.
"I was in Bargate Prison for the longest time my boy. Why is it that you think Jack wants me back so badly? Because I am the only one to ever escape the place. If rumor had gotten out about my escape, then everyone would have been trying it. Jack wouldn't have that, so he sent his group after me. And if it wasn't for you heroes, I'm afraid he would have succeeded this time." He said.
"I see. So that's why you were in hiding." Said Lyle knowingly. The old man nodded and he continued. "Now, about this path…is it just a path on the ground?" he asked.
"No, the path is the ground. Hellgates are special gates, and don't directly link you to another gate by walking through it. But it does create a path to the next gate. And if a gate is destroyed, then the path to that gate is also destroyed." He said looking at the hero. He knew what the hero was about to ask next, so he stopped him before he spoke. "To answer your question, yes. If one of the gates is destroyed while you are inside it, then you will be condemned to live there for the rest of eternity. That is why it is such a big risk to take by going this way." He said.
"I see…" he said as he stood to his feet. The Archeologist looked up at the towering figure.
"Where are you going?" he asked confusedly.
"To get help." He said, then walked out the door.
OoOoO
Lyle sat in the guild thinking and running his plan through his head. He knew that this was the big one. This…if out of all the quests and missions he had done…would be the one of them all to get him killed. He sat pondering his fate when Van and William walked up and sat next to him with two trays of food.
"Hows it going Hero of Albion?" asked Van sarcastically, making Lyle aim a kick at him. Van moved his head and dodged the kick. "Touchy today aren't we? What's wrong with you?" he asked curiously.
Lyle sat for a moment longer in silence, then spoke. "This Bargate Prison…my mother is inside it and I have to save her. But, the only way to enter it could cost me my life." He said, not even looking up from the table.
Van took a small roll and dipped it in the stew on his tray when he stared at his friend. "What is so dangerous about it?" he asked, then took a bite from the roll.
"I'll be going through a Hellgate." He said simply. Suddenly, Van's eyes widened as the food got caught in his throat. He rapidly started pounding his chest, when William reacted by throwing a hard punch into his friends stomach. The food was launched from Van's mouth and tumbled across the ground. Lyle looked at his heaving friend surprisedly. "Are you alright!" he asked loudly.
Van caught his breath again and looked up at Lyle with his eyes wide. "You are going through the Hellgate!" he shouted.
"Yes, it's the only other way into the prison." Said Lyle calmly.
"Are you mad! That's practically suicide! Do you have any idea how many undead savages roam those roads!" he asked while yelling at the top of his lungs.
Lyle stood to his feet and glared at his friend. "Would you not do the same for your mother?" he asked coldly, making Van's anger shrink. "It's the only way I can save her. So I have to go." He said.
Van stood, as did William. "Then we are going with you! You can't go through there alone. You need help in that place Lyle, and you know you do." He said. But Lyle shook his head.
"Yes, I do need help. But I won't be asking you guys to come with me. There is only one other who can come with me." He said as he walked away from the table. Both Van and William looked at him with surprise.
"Who is it? And why would they be better than us?" asked William.
Lyle stopped breifly. "Because, he is the only other one who has felt my loss." He said as he walked out the door.
OoOoO
The trees in the forest were all as dead looking as ever. But still they thrived. The warrior had no trouble with monsters for some odd reason as he walked through the trees to the lone building in the forest. He stopped and stared up at the statue that he had seen many times before from his previous visits. But this visit was different from the rest. He would not be staying long, he hoped. Walking past the large intimidating statue and into the large temple. Opening the doors, he saw the figure at the altar on their knees praying. Walking silently, Lyle stopped right next to them before going to his knees and assuming the praying position as well. It was a minute before either of them spoke.
"Despite your position, I doubt you are hear to pray." said the man sitting next to Lyle. Lyle smiled gently, letting him know he was right. "So, I was correct then. What do you want?" asked the man.
Lyle stayed in the prayer position, speaking softly. "I need help with a mission." he said.
The man sniggered slightly before composing himself. "This does not sound like the great Lyle the Saber I know." said the man. "Is the mission really that difficult that you would ask me for help?" he asked.
"You heard about why I came to the guild right?" asked Lyle with his eyes now open.
"Yes, your town was attacked by bandits and completely destroyed correct? Maze said you had no family left, so he brought you here."
Lyle nodded. "Thats right. Or...most of it anyway." he said, making the man look at him strangely. "When they said that my family was gone, that wasn't completely true, but by no fault of theirs. I found my sister in Twinblade's Camp, were she had ended up after the attack." he said, and the man nodded. "It turns out that my sister is a seer now. And she says that my mother is alive. Now we have figured out where she is, but the only path to her location could cost me my life. That is why I need help." he said solemnly. The man didn't speak for the longest time. Finally, he broke the silence.
"Why not take one of your friends from the guild?" asked the man.
"Because...you are the only one I know who has felt loss like I have in my life. That is the only thing that will get us through the path, is our will to drive on despite the sorrow we feel. I know you, and I know I can trust you in a time of need." said the warrior.
The man looked back at the altar in front of him, then bowed his head again. Saying his last words to his late sister, he stood up and waited for Lyle to do the same. Lyle followed his example and stood. For a moment they stared at each other before Lyle offered his hand to the man.
"I would be honored if you would come with me and help me free my mother." he said. Thunder smirked, then nodded and took the warriors hand. They shook for a moment, then let go.
"So, when do we leave?" asked the dark knight.
"As soon as your ready." said the warrior.
"What better time than now. She isn't getting any younger waiting for us." said Thunder.
Lyle smirked. "Couldn't have said it better myself." he said.
OoOoO
The pair had both gotten supplies for the trip before heading out the door. Lyle answered no questions as to where he was going. He mearly walked out of the guild with Thunder waiting outside for him. Van and Alex had followed them to the door when they both saw Thunder. Thunder looked at them before turning and following Lyle down the road, leaving both of the hero's stunned into silence.
OoOoO
They had travelled through Bowerstone and to the north of it, past Headsmans Hill all the way to the dark and hidden Lychfield Graveyard. The sky was dark, as it had been over the Grey Manor. Everything in sight that didn't have a lit torch nearby was covered in shadows and could barely be seen. Lyle walked up to the large gate and shook the bars before realizing they were locked. "Someone doesn't want us coming in." he said.
"Stand back." said the dark man who was barely visible himself in the darkness that covered the land. Raising a gleaming sword, he struck down and cleaved strait through the chain that held the gate together. It slid to the ground with a metallic slithering noise as the gate creeked slightly open from the blow. Lyle smirked at the gate.
"Why didn't I think of that?" he asked himself before pushing the giant metal frame open. Both of the warriors walked through the gate and into what seemed to be a small valley with a small shack at one end. Together they marched towards the small house. It wasn't long before they began to hear voices from inside. Lyle held his hand across Thunder's path, making the knight stop moving. The voices could be heard very clearly.
"So, you took that hero's fortune? Just like that?" asked one of the voices.
"It was simple! They put the money in with her body! And she wasn't no slack jaw wet behind the ears hero either. She came in second place in the Arena! Can you imagine how much money she had?" asked a very raspy voice from inside. Lyle stood in front of Thunder and held him by the shoulders, keeping him from smashing through the door like a bull.
"Hold on a second..." said the warrior. And they both stopped moving again.
"And guess what else?" said the raspy voice again. "She wasn't a bad lookin' girl either. So, I put her to use before I had her buried. I tell ya, sometimes this job is well worth it." he finished. That must have been the last straw, because Thunder let out a loud roar before reaching for his sword handle. Lyle grabbed the knights hand and held it in place, not letting him draw the sword.
"Wait until the right time!" he said in a loud whisper. Thunder, completely enraged, kept his iron grip on the handle, but didn't draw the blade.
"D-Did you hear something?" said the voice from inside.
"You better go. Here, leave from the back." said the raspy voice. It took a minute but he finally came to the door. Opening it, he looked out and noticed two strange new people standing just outside his door. "I-Is there something I can help you with?" asked the old man.
The description best fitting the man was disgusting. He wore dirty stained clothes and raggedy shoes. His face was horrifying to say the least. It looked similar to a skeleton with barely any skin wrapped tightly over the bone, eyes sunken in and wide open from the lack of daylight to the location. Lyle however did not remark on his looks. "Yes, we need someone to take us to the courtyard." he said.
The old man came out of the door and cackled evilly. "You don't want to be going there boy. Its full of the living dead. You'd be torn to pieces as soon as you got in the door." he said.
"I don't think you heard me. If you take us to the doorway, we will reward you greatly." said the warrior, catching the gravekeepers interest.
"Really? How greatly?" he asked curiously, not noticing the serene look on Thunder's face. He hadn't recognized the tall hero as Whispers brother.
"Enough to put get you out of here and into Bowerstone North." said Lyle with a smirk.
The gravekeeper said nothing for a while, then said, "Alright. Its a deal. But I ain't goin' through the door. You two are on your own after that." he said finally. Lyle nodded. "Very well. Let my get my keys." said the old man as he went back into the house.
Lyle turned to Thunder. "I'll let you be the one to give him his reward." he said. And Thunder smiled, then nodded. Soon after, the old man came out of the house carrying a large ring of keys. He led them through the cemetary to the far side where there stood a large wooden door. Both Lyle and Thunder had to cover their noses from the smell eminating from the door. The gravekeeper laughed slightly. "You get used to it after a while." he said. "Now,when I open the door you two are gonna go in and I'll close it behind you. But first, where is the reward you spoke of?" he asked looking back and forth at the two.
Lyle took the keys, surprising the old man. "Which key is it?" he asked. The old man pointed to one skull shaped key.
"B-But...you said I would get..." he mumbled, but was cut off when Thunder grabbed him from the throat.
"Oh, you will get your reward old man." he said with a wicked smile. Lyle unlocked the door and it opened, letting them see the half animated corpses walking around the altar in the middle of the courtyard. The old man struggled to get free, but it was useless as the dark knight lifted him off the ground and carried him in after them. The corpses immediately reacted to the new visitors and made strait for them. Thunder smiled and held the old mans head right next to his mouth. "This is for what you did to my sister you disgusting old wretch." said Thunder, who then hurled the old man into the corpses, knocking them over. The gravekeeper screamed and tried to rise, but the animated bodies immediately grabbed him and dragged him onto the ground to feast upon his flesh.
Thunder watched in satisfaction, while Lyle looked over at the fire pouring from what looked like a cullis gateway. "That is what we came for." said Lyle and started walking towards it. Thunder annihilated the loose corpses around the courtyard after their feast, making sure none escaped from the courtyard to cause trouble elsewhere. Afterwards, he walked over towards Lyle and stared at the gateway.
"This is the entrance you were speaking of?" asked the knight. Lyle nodded.
"Before we go in, I want you to do something for me." he said. Thunder looked at him. "If something happens to me, you leave and tell the others. Alright? There is no sense in us both getting dragged down. So for the sake of us all, leave me and go tell the others." he said.
Thunder stared at him for a moment, before nodding. "If you get taken then I will go report it to the guild. If you get killed however, I will take your body back and have it buried next to Whisper's in the guild." he said. Lyle smiled. "Yes, I'm moving her body. She deserves better then this place. As do you farmboy." he said.
"Thanks. Now then, lets get this over with." he said. Thunder nodded, then they both walked through the gateway and into the depths of hell...