Disclaimer: I in no way own Harry Potter, although I wouldn't mind one bit if I did.
– Separator –
10: meeting Hope's friend
Standing near the second rune stone we try to figure out where the last rune stone is hidden. Alice suggests we try to find a way into the mausoleum that is blocked by rubble. Glancing at my map I realize there is 1 place in this mausoleum we haven't explored yet. Tracing the path from the rune stone to the last unexplored door I prepare to lead the others to what is marked as the "Farhaven Catacombs"
Turning around so we are facing north we walk forward until we reach the wall. Turning west we walk to the wall before turning south. We walk forward until we spot a staircase on our right. Turning toward it we enter the second staircase of the mausoleum.
Reaching the mausoleum wall after only a few steps we turn south. Following the stairs, we at last reach a wall and turn west. Quickly reaching another wall we turn north and see a door just ahead. All this time we have been fighting enemies that cross our path and after fighting 2 "Newborn Vampires" and 2 "Bats" Alice leveled up to 10. She places her attribute point into Dexterity, and uses her skill point to raise her "aimed shot" to rank 4. After she is finished in the level-up screen we walk to the door in front of us. Glancing at the door I realize this is the door to the "Peace room", but I also realize the map is having us turn west here. Walking forward to another wall we turn south and spot another door. Hurrying forward we enter the catacombs.
Remembering the Linarrio Mausoleum was the 1 blocked by rubble I trace a path from our current location to the door leading into the Linarrio Mausoleum on my map. Following the trace we walk west until we reach the wall. Turning south we walk a little farther until we reach another wall. Turning east we walk forward reaching a corner. Turning south we walk forward until we enter the "Navincius Family Crypt". Deciding to do a little more grave robbing we empty every coffin, chest, and reliquary we find. After looting every container in sight we exit the Navincius Family Crypt and continue to the wall. Turning east we can't see anything in front of us, so we start walking.
We hadn't gone far before the map indicated to turn south once again. We walk forward for a little while before the map shows we need to turn east once more. Again we couldn't see anything ahead of us, and so we just started walking. After a short while we spot the "Linarrio Family Crypt" on our right and so we turn toward it. Just like in the last family crypt, we loot every chest, coffin, and reliquary of their items before leaving the Linarrio Family Crypt and walking south to the wall. Turning west we walk forward until we reach another wall. Turning north we walk forward to the next wall. Turning east we spot a door ahead. The map says it is the entrance from the catacombs to the "Linarrio mausoleum" Hurrying horward we enter through the door.
After entering the linarrio mausoleum we can see a Burial Chamber straight ahead. I'm worried that is where we need to go for the third rune stone but there is no other way, and so we head forward.
I was right to be worried. The Burial Chamber is teaming with the undead, all blocking the way to the rune stone. The only way through is to fight. This is not going to be pleasant. I just hope this doesn't end in tears.
I was right. We had to fight our way through 2 "Newborn Vampires", 2 "Ghosts", a "Boneman Archer" and a "Boneman Warrior". At least Luna gained a level out of it. Luna placed her attribute point into Intelligence, bringing it up to 20. As for her skill point, she finally put a point into "Light of Purity". Raising it up to rank 2.
After clearing the enemies out we walked forward After looting all the corpses in the chamber. I check my map for any clue on where to find the rune stone. Finding a "Shrine of the Greater" which was in an area known as "Court of the Lesser" I traced a path from our current location to a square on the map and began leading the others there.
We head south out of the burial chamber and into the "Linarrio Mausoleum" properly. Turning east we walk a few steps before turning north. After walking for a short while we see the "Court of the Lesser" on our right. Turning east we enter the "Court of the Lesser". Walking to the wall we turn north once again. As we walk through the area we are attacked by a "Shuffling Boneman" and a "Bat". After the fight I leveled up to level 12, gaining myself a new skill. Looking at my attributes I realize I must have forgotten to distribute my points at level 11. Deciding to continue raising my spell damage I place my 2 attribute points into my "Will Power", bringing it up to 17. Seeing that I have 2 skill points to spend I finally purchase "Master focus", which will allow me to regenerate mana even while in combat. Happy with how my stats and skills are looking I close the screen and continue leading the other girls to the rune stone.
Following the map for a few more feet, we finally spot the "Shrine of the Greater" on our right. Hoping there aren't any surprises we turn east and head toward it. As we enter the shrine we are attacked by 2 "Shuffling Boneman", a "Tainted Raven", and a "Necromancer Acolyte". After defeating the enemies Alice reaches level 11. She places her attribute point into her Dexterity and uses her skill point to max out her "aimed shot" skill. Once that is finished we continue forward. As we reach the rune stone Luna once again uses her incantations to power it down.
"That's the last of them. The magical barriers should be down."
I smile at Luna in pride. "Thank you for your help. We couldn't have done this without you."
Luna smiles back at me. "Nor I without you. I simply hope we are prepared for what lies ahead."
I frown at Luna's words. "'What lies ahead'? What do you mean?"
Luna also frowns. "To be honest, I'm not sure. Have you heard of Alastaire Ulcano?"
I shake my head. "I haven't heard of him."
Luna looks concerned. "Ulcano dedicated his life to the study of the dark arts. Two centuries ago, he nearly overthrew Farhaven."
Alice joins us in frowning. "We guardians of the Deepwood have not forgotten. His evil spread to the forest, as well. I have heard the tales of the ones who fell trying to stop him."
I blink in confusion. "Sounds like an unpleasant fellow."
Luna gives me a look. "He was much more than that. Ulcano was a necromancer. His greatest power was in bringing the dead to life, and binding them to his will."
I blink this time in alarm. "And you think he's involved in what's going on here?"
Luna shutters. "I can not ignore the circumstances. Walking dead roam the graveyard, and now we find ourselves drawn to the final resting place of Alastaire Ulcano. It makes me uneasy."
I place a hand on Luna's shoulder. "Whatever is going on, we'll overcome it - together."
Luna perks up. "Of course. Whatever befalls, the Divine will go with us."
Realizing we will need to exit the mausoleum the same way we came in I decide we can take the time to look for Hope's "friend". So I begin leading the others back toward the catacombs.
We begin by heading west to exit the shrine. We enter the mausoleum and walk to the wall before turning south. After walking for a bit we reach a wall and turn west. After walking a few feet we spot the burial chamber on our right. Turning north we head through the burial chamber and turning west enter the door to the catacombs.
Not knowing where to look for Hope's friend we start exploring the catacombs by heading forward until we reach a wall. Turning south we walk to the wall then turn east. Entering the "Linarrio Family Crypt" we once again loot everything we can find, before heading to the wall. Once there we turn south and walk toward the wall. Reaching the wall we turn west and continue to walk forward. Reaching a wall we once again turn north and walk through the crypt. Reaching the catacombs wall we turn east and head forward. Spotting the "Valenport Family Crypt" on our right we turn south and enter the crypt.
After looting everything in the family crypt we exit back to the catacombs and turn east. Reaching the wall we turn south. Reaching the next wall we turn west. Reaching a new wall we turn back north. Reaching the next wall we turn west.
As we walk we come across a man standing in the passage. "I don't know who you are, but you really shouldn't be down here."
I blink. This couldn't be him, could it? "Are you Hope's friend? She wanted me to make sure you were alright."
The man blinks in surprise. "Did she? That's sweet of her." The man shrugs to himself. "Well, as long as you're here, maybe you could help me out. There's an amulet locked away in this graveyard - I need to find it."
I give the man a look. "What's so important about this amulet?"
The man leans forward. "This thing is ancient - we're talking dark magic, really nasty stuff. If it falls into the wrong hands, it's bad news for Farhaven. Strike that - it's bad news for everybody."
I shutter at the man's voice. "Then we must find it at once. Lead on!"
The man straightens up. "According to this old journal I found, it's locked up in Ulcano Mausoleum."
I sigh to myself. "Ulcano Mausoleum; why am I not surprised?"
The man prepares to leave. "There's a shrine to the family patriarch, Adranar Ulcano. Meet me there, and we'll finish this."
As the man leaves Luna looks after him. "I'm not sure what it was, but something felt off about that man. He's been touched by darkness...I can feel it."
I shrug. "A friend is a friend, and we can't afford to turn away an ally."
– Separator –
An: and that's where we'll be leaving it this time. All 3 rune stones are depowered, and the group can now enter the mausoleum it was guarding.
In the next chapter, the group will be finishing the Nightshade hunting quest, and then heading to the source of the attacks from the graveyard.
However that chapter will be delayed in coming. For next week we will start October, and that means it's time to return to "What's magic Scooby Doo". We'll be coming back to this in November if you want to wait for it. Other wize I will see you next week.
As always if you have a comment or questions you can leave me a review, or send me a PM. I hope you are enjoying this story, and I will see you all next time.