The Legend of the Grim Dawn

Act 1- The Aetherial Threat

Chapter 4 Part 1- One's Journey to Cross a Simple Bridge

Wightmire (Burrwitch Road)

9-15-14

It had been four days since Link, the son of renowned Aristocrats Cody and Heather Forester, set out from Devil's Crossing towards the Burrwitch Estates, far to the North. In that time, he had explored much of the area around him up to now. He had found scraps of paper written by other people, some were before the Grim Dawn, some chronicled the last moments of the people that wrote them. He had also found a note on Milton Hart after he had warily returned to the cabin following the gunshot.

Of course, his time spent with Milton was when he was Taken, so he didn't remember too much. Then, as he was resting beneath an oak tree with his Brairthorn keeping watch, Link's mind shifted through the dim memories of that time period and one memory became crystal clear.

The thing was speaking to him again. He had tried so hard to fight it, but it was in vain. The thing knew it was close to completely taking control of him… But he could do one last thing as a human before that happened.

He had heard a gun go off in the direction of the Hart's cabin, and he wanted to make sure Milton had aimed right-he might have still been alive.

He approached the house from the east. There were noises, so he took out a shattered knife and gripped the handle. It didn't take long for something to come out-it was Milton. Or...had been.

What really got to him was that something was still there. The thing didn't attack him , but merely staggered towards him, reached inside the torn shirt, and brought out a heart shaped necklace. 'Milton' then held out the necklace towards him, his still human eyes pleading. He couldn't say no.

"...Take….to….Sybil….sister…..tell her….how I feel….Lincoln….please….release me….from…" The reanimated corpse tugged at his shirt and the thing inside him rebelled.

He fought the thing for a bit longer, took the necklace from the outstretched hand, put it around his own neck, silently drew the knife, and swung.

Milton had stopped the blade. The corpse shook his head, blood flying in all directions. "No….too small….use this…." The corpse handed him a loaded pistol.

Green eyes locked cerulean. He could see the uncertainty and the toll the thing was taking on him in Milton's eyes. He raised the pistol to eye level, and looked at it with wariness.

"Hurry….I might….hurt you…."

Realizing that Milton was also fighting the beast inside him, he slowly brought the gun up to the man's forehead, clicked the hammer back, and fired.

A loud snarl of anger brought him back. Bramble rushed past him as he leapt to his feet and drew Bloodletter, then the two set off to deal with the mobs of Slith that had congregated around the area.

Several hours later

Link and Bramble emerged from a forest in the Foggy Banks, only to see that the way was blocked by an overturned cart. Two rotting horse corpses were lying beside it, still hitched to the rotting wood.

Bramble rushed up to the cart and began sniffing it. "Did you find anything?"

The Brairthorn rumbled in answer and ran back to Link.

"Slith did this? Think the owner of this cart is still alive?"

Bramble nodded in answer.

"Don't really know why you're so certain of it, but alright."

The teen noted Slith tracks that lead off to the right, towards the river. They might be this way….

He began walking towards the river, occasionally tripping over the hidden boulders and tree roots in his haste to find the person.

A few hours of searching later

Bramble suddenly veered up a hill and began attacking mobs of Slith. Link was weary already but hefted his sword and and began slashing as the beasts reached him.

After a few minutes, the beasts lay dead. Across the hill were three wooden cages. Two were empty, but the other one…..

His fatigue forgotten, Link rushed over and tore the wooden door away from the cage. "Are you alright?"

The man simply looked at him, then he slowly nodded. "...Yes….those...things ambushed me on the road, killed my horses, ruined my supplies and brought me here. No doubt they were planning to eat me or something of that manner...where did you come from?"

"Devil's Crossing. To the south."

"The old prison?"

"Yessir."

The older man nodded and stepped from his confinement. "How will I get there?"

"By Riftgate."

"A Riftgate? Well, I really have nothing else….by the way, I happen to have a few wares left...when you get back, come and see me. I think I can get you something."

As Link called up a Personal Rift, Bramble was running around and trying to find other things to get rid off.

"Strange beast you have there."

"Yes. Mr. Bourbon said that Brairthorns are impossible to tame."

The gate had enclosed the man and Link only heard him say only one thing before he was gone. "Guess you're the exception then."

Several hours later

Near Burrwitch Outskirts

Link was to learn many things while traveling, but one incident stuck with him for a long time. He had somehow run out of food, and eventually had to hunt down a Savager, which was a huge rodent that was white and ran around nearly upright.

A few hours later, he learnt the hard way why there wasn't any of the meat at Devil's Crossing. At the moment, Bramble was taking shelter near a thicket.

"Go away. I don't need your sympathy."

The beast rumbled in response.

"No."

When can we leave?

"Bramble-just….stop asking me questions. We'll leave when I feel better. Not before."

You're taking this quite well. Have you been sick like this before?

The voice turned guarded. "Yes. But you don't need to know when or why."

You sound better.

"Well I don't feel better."

Bramble got up and pushed his way through the thicket. The beast quickly ran back out a few moments later, followed by a thrown rock.

"Out!"

Sometime later

I still have not forgiven you for throwing that rock at me.

"Be quiet."

I take it that you are well?

"...Bramble…."

Yeeessss?

Completely fed up with the Briarthorn now, Link stopped suddenly and quickly turned around.

"Why in the name of Hylia are you so persistent?!"

Bramble rolled his eyes and shoved past his companion, heading for the distant structure in the distance.

Do not ask me, meanwhile, look where our bickering has lead us.

The beast continued to make his way towards the ruined bridge when he noticed Link wasn't with him.

Why are you just standing there?

"...Is...is that a bridge?"

Yes. but it is destroyed….mind you, we could repair it….do you have enough Scrap and Rupees?

"...Do I have….let me check that…."

The teen reached into his satchel and dug around, then pulled out a small pile of gems and a few pieces of metal and wire. "Would this do?"

….Hmmmm…..No….I am afraid not. But-do not lose hope-there is another way.

"What is that?"

Bramble ambled down a dirt path to the side of the road, and came to a stop before a cave entrance.

Link walked down the path, then over to the darkness and looked inside.

This leads to the Flooded Passage.

"Is it safe to go in?"

No, But we have no other option…

The boy drew his head back out and gestured for the beast to go in front of him.

"You first. Besides, it's beginning to rain."

Then we should make haste. Come.

Bramble padded inside the cave and Link had no choice to follow.

As he passed the threshold, he glanced one more time up at the full moon, then took a deep breath and plunged into the cave.

Flooded Passage is next...I might cheat and have the two find the Sunken Reliquary here instead of in Act 2...Also, I appear to have gotten lots of things wrong...oh well. Locations can be changed, right?