Everyone gazed about the room as the humming comes to an abrupt stop. The air grows cold and the hushed sounds of soft footfalls creeping eerily in the distance. The softness slowly erodes to cumbersome as the beast nears. A knightmare enters the room. A knightmare is a darkness rider. A darkness rider is an evil entity that harnesses the powers of the underworld. A weaver of death and despair, the cruel fiend ominously approaches. Steeped in shadow, its clothing was bathed in pure darkness. It leans toward them and reveals the macabre that it embodies. Part humanistic male and part hideous beast. Adorned in mystic coal armor, the creature whinnies with six legs. The others brace for impact as it stands on its rear legs and disappears in a cloud of dusty coal fragments. It reappears for a moment and fades once more.
"Everyone! If you can…RUNNNNN-"
His words are cut short as he is laid low. Folded over from one hellish slash that forces his torso to tumble forward. His defenses were useless against this beast.
"Snorttt!" The beast spewed as the others prepared themselves for battle. The hellish creature rears its head ever so slowly and speaks…
with gargled madness and agonizing screams, it speaks…
"Youuuu thereeeeeeee…"the creature points towards one of those in the small crowd. "What's your businesss hereeeeeee?" The words leisurely strains and grasps at its vocal cords. It's as if it's speaking through rushing water.
The others, terrified, back away as Kerelia bravely steps forward to face it.
"We've no business but our own! Be gone, beast!"
Her eyes reflect a bit of reddish glowing light as she looks it in its eyes. The others go to grab her as the beast disappears and re-emerges before them.
Like a shadow cast at high noon, the beast swells with vicious, dark energy. The Grin-Ghu. A dark energy attack that decelerates metabolism. Making it easier for the beast to stalk its prey.
"Freckshi…demoliiii", it utters as the energy is shot from its torso.
"You cannot win, beast! I will trounce you where you stand!" Kerelia doubles down and engages her crest.
"Mind transit!"
Kerelia shifts energy encompassing her body. Doing so opens various "portals" in her "skin".
Her crest glows as it ingests the energy being displaced. For a moment, the crest grows dark as Kerelia falls to the floor.
"Kerelia?!" The others cry out.
Her body lies cold on the ground as the beast consumes her.
"Fooooolish movvvvve…"
The beast gloats as it regains it's dark scythe.
"Againnnnn…your BUSINESS here?!"
The others watch the beast as it approaches.
"Keep your eyes open!!"
Tredot warns.
"We have to find its weakness!"
The two back into a corner. Each facing left and right.
Again, the beast approaches. This time above them.
"Oerpedus("Oerpedus"it echoes)…domini!"
The beast head grows and unhinges like that of a snake and bears down on its prey.
"Shieldsssssss!"
The two brace as their armor increases.
CruMchh!! The sound echoes as the beast makes contact with their energy shields.
It slides its head down against the shield and repeats the command.
"Oerpedus…DOMINI!!!"
Its head grows larger as those hideous legs cling onto the ceiling.
Large shark-like teeth grow to fit around the domes. It hopes to crush both prey and bubbles in one bite.
It holds the scythe in its left mangled hand. A source of its power, perhaps?
Deigus notices how it grows dim with each advance.
"Tredot! It's hand! The scythe!"
"Say no more."
The imposing, muscular build of the Knightmare is that of a behemoth. The sheer force of its weight would crush the average being…but these were no average beings.
For amongst this beast were two of the toughest warriors in the galaxy.
"Ok! Let it lower itself. Then, when the scythe is in range, cut its hand off!"
"You think it'll work?"
"No clue but nothing to lose but our lives at this point."
"Wait, what?! It's "hand"off?! I can barely see the darned thing!"
The two start to kneel down to the sheer force of this massive beast. It moves it head about as it presses down unto the shields.
"Cmon hold!"
"Umm, maybe a NEW strategy here! It's not working!"
The shield's magic is breaking.
"Hold!"
The shield becomes unstable…
"Hollldd!"
"To what?! This thing's massive! Somebody lead us into prayer! Ohhhhhh, holy oneeeee. I pray to youuuuu…"
The magic starts to fade as they are nearly exposed.
They both kneel as the creature presses on.
The shield gradually cracks and dissolves.
The beast adjusts its next attack and lunges toward them…
But just as all hope seemed lost, a warm glow emerges from the darkness…a subtle flickering glow…emerges.
"This…is my domain. Come all who wishes to perish before me. Be he man or beast. I careth not. He shall be laid low. Just as the tides of Nodor and swept away as so."
It's voice boomed about the room. Echoing in this hallowed place, the sounds reverberating around them.
The Knightmare seizes its assault as all three are entranced by this dismal warning.
"Shoowwww (showww) thine self!" The Knightmare whispers. Slowly straightening its stance before the warriors. Tredot and Deigus raise their weapons and prefer for an attack.
"Quickly! While it's distracted!"
The two run towards the tunnel that lies before them.
"Wait! Where did this come from??"
"No matter! Just run!"
"No! STOP! There's…there's something there…I sense it. It's energy signature is so strong my crest glows. Only beings capable of such power are spoken of as fairytales. Surely, I…this cannot be…"
Tredot gazes into the darkness that fills the tunnel.
"Yes, and that's no tunnel I've ever known."
The two turn back and see the Knightmare moving towards them.
"Perhaps, it's time, old friend? A final offensive lies before us. Are you ready?" Deigus asks.
Tredot rises from his crouched position and nods reluctantly.
"Yes. Perhaps."
The area fills with a putrid stench that causes them to hallucinate.
"I smell golden tandries. Ohhhhh, freshly baked! As if I'm home! Oh what a wonder it is!"
Deigus stands as the misty stench surrounds him.
In the mist, Deigus' crest glows brilliantly. A hue so ominous, it casts a silhouette as he looks up into the sky.
"Oh holiest of beings, be this not my sanctuary? If so, let me die untethered and unwanting of this world. Let me feel the death you proclaim…"
The crest fills and rages. A shimmering blue and orange flame swirls inside and around Deigus' body.
"Oh…graceful. Be it so…as you see fit…"
Deigus closes his eyes and is one with the flames.
"Deigus!!!! No!!!!"
Deigus is no more.
The earth is marred with a dark burnt ash pile as Tredot looks on in horror.
Consumed with grief, Tredot attempts to face its fate.
"Cmon, then! Cmon!" It whispers in fear and anticipation.
"If I'm to go, let's not haggle it…"
The floor lights and cracks as the ashes grow cold and blow away.
Close by are sweltering springs of energy and magma. The ground collaborates with the rhythmic earthquakes and opens fissures. Filled with magma, Tredot gathers itself for the inevitable.
"I'm ready…"
The ground opens up and eventually drops Tredot below.
As it hits the ground, the "floor" closes above. The heat is no more as the area is cooled by wisps wings from Gynnal. A plain from which winged beings are born. The floor glows and fades with each echo. As if in an old cave, Tredot can hear sounds reverberating in the distance.
Murmuring of several entities can be heard in the background as Tredot makes its way about the cavernous surroundings.
And in that distance is the sound of a busy port.
"Hey! Arti! Can you pass me that dengyt? It's the one with the keyhole and slipnot."
"Sure thing, Cavlin!"
Arti glides over to the tool kits and mulls about.
"Hmmm, the one you want is shattered to bits! Ya gonna hafta get another! Can make you one but gonna take a few!"
"Sounds good. I'll just handle these until then."
Cavlin grabs parts for what looks like a craft of some sort.
A large beam of light flashes and both are gone.
"What the ?!" Tredot wonders as it approaches the dimly lit entrance. The pathway leads to dimly lit areas and fields of beings working on various projects.
It has the feel of a bazaar but no currency is being used. Just bartering positions and social statuses.
Tredot is intrigued by the large looming structures. Each has its own unique architecture. Some are large arcs with massive columns with doors made of alabaster and graphite. Greenish hues and ceramic tiling mingle with extraordinary beauty. The colors seem to deviate from monochrome to the spiral galaxies compositions. The air is clear and the sounds are like a composite of pure excitement. Warlocks and merchants from everywhere are busy making and mixing spells and weapons. Tredot steps toward the structure known as "Parthira". It's a common swapping store that allows customers to inspect and trade their finest works.
"Ahhhhh, my friend. My friend. Welcome. Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! You are our grand prize winner if you can name three popular merchants in this region!" The host exclaims.
"Three popular merchants? But, I just got h-"
"Here…yes here is where you'll find your answers. Are you ready for the game, weary traveler?"
"Game? I was hoping to find two others. Perhaps you've seen them?"
"The game, dear friend? Are you willing to play?"
The host interrupts.
Reluctantly, Tredot agrees.
"Splendid! Perhaps a drink before we begin?"
"No. No thanks."
"Food, a fine meal, perhaps?"
"No. Not able to consume organic matter."
"Energy consumption? Interesting. A source of energy, perhaps? A light bulb-"
"The GAME…"
Tredot interjects.
"Right. Well, let's begin. Your mission is based on several games. Guess this correctly and you'll gain one clue to continue your quest. Guess wrong and you'll be maimed."
The graceful speaker disappears and re-emerges as a dark specter known as Dhaghastians (Dye-aha-gas-shuns). These dark spirits are known for their intelligence and dark games. They are small creatures (about 14 cranks high). Oh, a crank is a unit of measurement. Lemme see, so about two feet tall. A little under a meter. Where was I? Oh yes, the being has the ability to make "fissures" in the skies as a means to travel great distances. Teleportation. This energy is believed to be derived from their alien ancestors, the Paljimah. Paljimah have the ability to shapeshift energy and life forms at will. Though they were once a good race of beings, ego turned them into dark souls.
Now, this Dhaghastian was known as…
Unjelis. The torn. She had been lonely since being afflicted with the dark curse. This curse prevents her kin to be near her. This is due to the energy fields the curse creates around its host. It literally shocks them to death. She cannot control the energy being dispersed so she has cast herself away from others.