2
Arrogance
Voices linger here. I heard them as soon as I entered this cursed place. But they were cowards, I told myself, or ill-prepared. I would conquer this place! It would be my gloryl! I would leave this place having discovered it's secrets and it treasures for myself!
My pawn would only hold me back, the fool. He advised caution, not to go charging in with high expectations. But what did he know? Their kind are hollow, empty. They parrot the same stupid phrases and do the same nonsensical things. After a while, I came to ignore him. He was useful for carrying things only and got in my way when it came to fighting.
"There is no shame in fleeing..." He would say, or words to that effect. No shame? NO SHAME?! Fleeing is an admission of failure! And I did not fail!
A poor farmer's boy, no one believed I could slay the dragon the tore my heart from my breast! But I showed them! I grew! It was I who made the roads safe and cleared them of monsters! And my reward? Disbelief and scorn!
I welcomed the challenge of this island. For no-one...NO ONE would question my abilities when I returned victorious. My pawn...well what can I say? He advised caution!
And it began well. Our boat moored at the small jetty. The pawn, Orla I think her name was pleaded for my help in ridding this island of it's many monsters, of course I accepted. In the first hallway I was attacked by oversized diseased dogs. My pawn named them as wargs. They were fast and strong, stronger than I expected. Still I managed to kill them. Then came Goblins. These too were much bigger and so much stronger. I was overwhelmed. And my pawn...my pawn managed to drag me away. We had some respite in the Duskmoon tower and there we came across another Arisen. His appearance startled me, as did his attitude. His was happy here. He was a dabbler in potions. It was clear to me he had been here for some time, and knew the place well, so I eagerly invited him to join me. Ours would be the glory when we conquered this place! He looked at me as though I was nothing more than the dirt on his shoe. Fame and glory? He didn't want either. He wanted to study this place. Fine then! I would conquer this place on my own!
Oh say fool! Say arrogant fool! As green as fields near my village was I, and yet still greener! Now the darkness creeps towards me, the voices of the dead seem closer...
Through the next set of doors was nothing but death. Skeletons attacked, wave upon wave of those foul beings. They were restless. They just kept attacking! Their empty eyes glaring at me with murderous glee.
And my pawn! My poor pawn! So loyal to the last! A loyalty I didn't deserve and never earned! At the last he threw himself in the path of the last of attackers. It was enough. I slew the thing with a vehement glee! But my pawn didn't make it. He slumped to the ground. I ran to him, and placed his head on my lap.
"Master..." He said to me smiling as the life left his eyes. There were piles of bones around me, they stretched into the distance as far as the eye could see. I sat with my back against the wall. My loyal, dead pawn in my arms. How many others would die? How many had died? What was the point?!
I can bare to see no more death. Call me craven if you will, I'll go no further. I grow so very tired.