Drip drip drip...
I open my eyes only to find there is nothing to see, there is only darkness and the stench of decay invades my nose most unforgivingly.
Drip drip drip.
Time passes as I stare into the dark and breath in the effluvia of death. Only after what I can rightfully assume is an eternity do I discover that I do not know whom I am.. this is truly worrisome.
Drip drip drip...
The damnable noise of fluid trickling onto stone has been grating against my ears for ages, if only I could move to find the source and plug the leak.. alas I cannot move.
Drip drip drip.
The sound has induced a thirst upon me that makes me feel as though my throat is set aflame and my lips have turned to dust. yet I still cannot move I merely lie motionless in this cold dark place with walls pressed tight against me.
Drip drip drip...
Just one drop if only one drop would land upon my parched lips...
Drip drip drip.
Time immeasurable has passed I still do not know mine name, nor do I know how I have survived without sustenance for so long.
Drip drip dri.. Creeaaak!
A new sound? has something or someone finally found the mercy in their soul to stop that incessant dribbling?
"look et all dem unopened coffins! tolja der was an easy killin to be made out ere"
"I dunno Merl.. s'gotta be a reason why ain't no one picked dis place clean yet.. da air feels wrong."
"Ahh, yer jus chicken! ain't none been out ere cause of how hard it is just ta get ere, how many kobolds ya done seen swarmin dat damned swamp? ain't no one goin' thru dem buggers for a coupla stiffs leftovers.."
I miss the drips.. trying to understand these fools is even more grating than the endless trickle of misery.
Crack! Crssshh Thump!
The sound of something rather heavy and well settled being toppled over rebounds throughout the darkness.
"Look at the jewels on this bloke! he musta been some kinda royalty er sumthin!"
The first voice, Merl I believe.. seems quite excited about this jewelry??. I wonder if it tastes good, oh I am so terribly famished.
Crssshh Thump!
"Wooohooohooo! We hit the jackpot John! dese dead bastards gottsa be sum kinda forgotten nobles after we take a few a the smaller things we'll report dis place to the constable and then we can leave ol' Downshire for good!"
Apparently, I'm surrounded by dead people.. truly disturbing times, can one not listen to the ever maddening sound of water splatting on stone for all of eternity in peace??
"Eh? this one must be the family head see all the chains wrapped around it?"
Merl's voice echoed right next to me.. I'm a family head? but I'm fairly certain that I am more than just a head?
Clang! Clang! clang!
"Huff huff.. help me out here John, why are ye just lookin at me do all the hard work?" Merl complained.
"You don't think it's a lil strange that they wrapped up a coffin wit a bunch of chains? I don't think we should.." join started before
Crick!
I can feel my body now? hmm, I better raise up and thank them for getting me out.. now to just lift this lid. Btoom!
....
oops, in my excitement I may have used too much strength the lid flew through the air and crashed to the stone floor in a deafening cacophony of noise.
"By the gods!!! what was that?" Merl the bringer of my freedom cried out in a panic.
"Thank you for getting me out of that box my good men allow me to express my deepest gratitu..." ""Demon!!"" my liberators scream a strange word before poor John pissed himself and Merl passed out hitting his head on the side of my prison on the way down..
"Is he going to be ok? I ask John while turning my head to inspect Merl.
silence.. so blissful..
Drip drip drip...
"Where is that damned leak!?!" I shout before jumping up and out of the "coffin" completely to find the source of my most hated foe.
"By the gods!.. what are you?" John asked as the stench of his piss-stained pants suffused with the other foul odors inside of the dimly lit crypt making the air all the more putrid and sickening.
His question caught me by surprise. "I don't know? what are you?" I replied to his query with one of my own.
"I am but a lowly Breton serf oh great one, we would not have trespassed upon your land if not forced by Baron George". John replied while staring at his feet.
"This place is mine? hmmm.. I forgive you for trespassing but more importantly help me find this horrid leak it has troubled my rest for too long." I replied as I begin to inspect my surroundings.
It's a rather dimly lit stone building the walls seem to curve and twist in strange ways, the ceiling hangs high above my head it is strangely adorned with large chains that have rusted hooks attached to the ends.
The floor appears to be made of stone as well, at least the places that aren't completely covered in moss and mold.
There are several boxes also made of stone set in rows they look somewhat similar to the one I just escaped but mine seems to have had extra details added to it, random strange scrawlings that almost seem as if they are moving have been carved into the sides.
upon further inspection, I noticed seven large wooden doors barred shut with large rough-hewn pillars of wood and one large metal gate that is barely open.
Drip drip drip.
"... do you hear that?" I ask John he must be quite cold seeing as he can't stop shaking, stand though I feel perfectly fine?
"yes, sire I think it's coming from over there?" John points shakily towards the ceiling just above one of the wooden doors.
In great haste to end the 'annoyance', I rush to the spot John pointed towards and..
Drip. Hiss!
"Agh! that burns!" I recoil from the pain and touch the center of my scalp where the droplet caused an intense burning sensation.
John jumped in fright before finally remembering his unconscious friend.
"Merl! Merl! wake up!" John began to shake the poor sod violently in a desperate attempt to rouse him awake.
"Ugh.. wut happened?" Merl replies while rubbing the side of his head that struck my prison.
"You fainted after helping me get out of that insufferable box, thank you by the way," I said while making my way back to the kind 'Serfs'? that freed me.
"Oh.. wait wut! please spare me I have a wife and child at feed!" Merl began wailing while cowering and shaking in place..
"Fine?.. you're spared, as I was saying thank you for getting me out I feel like an eternity has passed since I first woke up in there." I tried reassuring the dirty crying man-baby.
Both John and Merl look at each other before looking at me looking at them.
"Pardon my asking but who are you?" Merl asked after several minutes of mutual staring in silence.
"Would you believe me if I told you I don't know?"