Chereads / Demonbane / Chapter 2 - Chapter 1: Carnage

Chapter 2 - Chapter 1: Carnage

A hooded figure stalks the darkness, a dagger in hand. Atop the trees it leaps from branch to branch, hoping to find its target. Much like a hungry panther relentlessly searching for food. A few minutes of waiting and it finally has the target on its sights. Another hooded figure emerged from the pitch darkness beneath them.

It was carrying a lamp and a book in its other hand -- A damaged grimoire carved with golden symbols on its cover. Silently, the figure atop the trees followed the figure below, it seemed like it was in a hurry. A few minutes later, and they came into a clearing in the middle of the forest. Large stones were laid out into a circle and strange symbols were carved on the ground surrounded by torches. Beside the large rocks were 5 more hooded figures. One among them was wearing a red coat adorned with golden symbols on the sides. A higher ranking figure, perhaps. It was handed the book and immediately they all started to chant. To the inexperienced ear, this was incomprehensible. The hooded figure atop the trees however, chilled to the bone; knew that this was indeed a sign of trouble. "A Demonic Summoning".

The Stones began to glow with circular symbols. It was gradually reaching the ground to where the torches were. Creating another symbol in the middle that resembled a pentagram.

Before they could finish chanting, a projectile hit the red hooded figure straight in the face. A Curved knife that resembled a crescent moon pierced through one of the figure's eyes. After a few seconds, the hooded man drops to the ground. Dead.

The other hooded figures looked in shock as the limp body of their leader lay in front of them. They drew their weapons as fast they could without knowledge of their enemy's location. "Show yourself!" one of them shouted in a low, guttural voice. Whatever these acolytes are, they aren't certainly human.

The hooded figure atop the trees leapt to where the shouter was. Another dagger seemed to have appeared out of thin air on its hand. With a swift strike, the creature was beheaded. Leaping onto another acolyte, the hooded figure slices its throat. Three other acolytes charged forward blindly knowing their demise was all but inevitable

It was then the hooded figure pulled off its cloak and swiftly spun in its position throwing knives in all directions. Each knife hitting their mark. The three acolytes looked in surprise then dropped to the ground lifeless.

The assassin then retrieved the daggers and the cloak from their bodies and took the grimoire from the leader's hands. It was thick and had some weight to it with ripped and burned edges. The book seemed to have gone through hell, Literally. The hooded figure examined it closely, and with a woman's voice it said, "That's another ritual stopped."

She feels the cover with her hands and proceeds to scan the pages. "The guys back at the guild are not going to believe this". she said quietly. She reaches for an amulet hanging from her neck, dangling it over the book. It was then the piece of jewelry produced an eerie green glow and started to hum. "Yep. definitely real". She places the book in her satchel, retrieves her cloak, pulls out a scroll and unfurls it with one hand. She then recites an incantation. The text on the scroll glows blue and with a gust of wind she disappears like a wisp whilst blowing out all the nearby torches.

The hooded woman then teleports in front of a drawbridge of a large black castle atop a snowy plateau. "Who goes there?!" an armored guard calls out to her from the top of the wall. "It's me! I have the book you're looking for!" the woman calls out to him. She lifts the book with her left arm and presents it to the guard. "Is that what i think it is?" the guard said excitedly. "Prove it's real, use your amulet!". The hooded woman unties her amulet and places it near the book. It starts to glow and hum with magic. "Ha ha! Alright, lower the drawbridge!". The guard signals the man operating the lever with a wave of a hand. The drawbridge starts to descend slowly. And with a large 'Thud!' the steel gate was open. "Well what're you waiting for? Get in! Unless you want the roaming demons to come in too!" Another man shouts inside the walls, this time with a deep booming voice. The woman hurriedly gets in with the drawbridge already ascending and the steel gate almost closing. A large bearded, burley armored man at least 6 feet tall shows up with other men behind him and meets the hooded woman at the entrance. "Well, what have you got for me Jessie? This better not be another one of your screwups." the men behind him laugh as he says with a deep voice. "No time for your games Varg, I have it." The woman replies. Her expression unchanging. "Well then, let's see it. But first let's get inside the keep. The weather has been unkind these days." Varg looks at the dark clouds and replies with a hint of seriousness in his voice.

They come inside the Keep. A man behind the door hands Varg a lamp. Inside lies a large hall made of stone. In the middle is a long wooden table meant for feasts and other occasions. Though now dusty and it looks like it hasn't been used in many years. Varg sits down at the end still accompanied by his men. He signals Jessie to sit next to him. Snaps his fingers and men from the keep immediately light the candles nearby. This time the keep can be seen more clearly now.

Signs of weathering and aging can be seen on the walls along with burns and large claw marks that run through its trusses and foundations. The keep looks like it might fall apart at any given time. "Show it to me." Varg says calmly. Jessie then lifts up her hood, reaches into her satchel and places the book carefully on the table. "Remarkable." Varg lifts and carefully examines it. Moldings of faces in agony envelop the book's cover. In the middle is a circular golden symbol. The circle when examined closely is perfectly constructed with rows upon rows of unreadable text. Pages filled with indiscernible words and demonic symbols and illustrations that seemed to leap off the pages. All written in blood.