Angel of Adventure
First Post
The Wilted Lands of Zacknef, Pt II - The Tower
Our story continues . . .
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“Zacknef, are you down there?” chirped a high voice. “Why did you lock us out of the tower?”
Mhoram looked down the expansive corridor and carefully eyed the stone-carved staircase that led upwards. Nothing immediately descended upon them, but he did not hesitate to summon a wall of pure Force and dimensionally lock the area around it.
Darsint walked back from the praying Saint Simon to join him. “They will not be held at bay for long. Once they see the damage we’ve done they will be all over us!”
Mhoram returned his gaze calmly. “Whether we are successful or not, we will know more about this land Ardick before we die. That, alone, is a reason to fight for both of us. Gherrick, get over here.”
Gherrick, deadly Initiate of the Bow, left Zacknef’s harem and headed out to meet them now that he’d finished scouring the dead Succubi. He felt very small; walking through the massive tunnels of Zacknef’s lower lair brought unforgiving thoughts of how large their adversary could be.
“Gherrick, we need to you cover Saint Simon at all times. He is possessed with hatred for our foes and he is unlikely to restrain himself if Zacknef is truly what we suspect. Keep your arrows pointed at any who would harm him.”
“Yes,” shot Darsint, “but keep those arrows away from me! We have seen amazing things from you and I don’t want to find out that it was all just luck. And you, out of all of us, have the worst luck today!”
“I am fine . . . now. I think H.A.L. cured me.”
“Hmmph. I find it hard to believe that a simple abjuration could rid you of an addiction that has plagued these people for centuries!” The image of their descent through the top of the tower flashed into Darsint’s mind. The top entrance consisted of a long drop through a garden of Hell’s Weed. It grew on vines that reached over 200 feet in height. They were being tended to by a young girl, floating half way up and idly trimming her plants.
Darsint’s gem, when pressed to his eye, revealed her to be six-armed and snake-tailed Demon known as a Marilith. Her immediate action was to set the garden ablaze by means of a magic rod on her belt. They had taken her down after some trouble and only Gherrick seemed affected by the fumes. He was, however, very deeply entranced with the feelings Hell’s Weed gave him.
Gherrick refused to move, fight, or do anything besides reach out for the burning plants around them. Darsint restrained him and H.A.L did indeed break the enchantment upon their archer and he returned to them, though a bit groggy.
“I’m OK,” answered Gherrick. “I am with you in this. Aegle and I will not let you down.”
“That is correct,” pronounced Aegle. “My light will guide us to victory, just as it guides our way through these dark tunnels.”
Footsteps arose behind them and they turned to see H.A.L. and Simon coming towards them. The Planetar had a look of serenity and joy on his face that sharply contrasted with the many scars stitched across his green, lanky body.
“My friends, thank you so much for coming with me in this,” spoke Saint Simon. “We have come to the final step in our mission here. My divinations have revealed to me that our enemy sits within the chamber that rests behind those golden doors that block our path.” His gaze went downwards and his expression changed to one of loving concern.
“If Zacknef is what we think he is, I must say that it is unlikely that we will all survive. This does not affect my desire to see Zacknef slain, but I will not speak for all of you. If you have the means and are so inclined, now is the time to leave; you will always have my respect for coming this far. For those of you who would stay and fight with me, I offer you this: you are more courageous and daring than any other mortals I have ever met! Our Lord has willed us to this point in time for a reason, and that reason is a final victory over the one who casts his misery across this land! With His help, I shall remove this final obstacle in our path and Zacknef will finally know the true strength of Good.”
“We are with you, Simon,” responded Darsint. “Let us attack with care, though, and do not take unnecessary risks with yourself. We will need your healing powers once the battle is done.”
“Our Lord will protect me, if it is His Will that I survive this,” Simon countered. A single holy word from his lips resulted in a flash of energy, emanating from the Angel, and they were all surrounded by a golden aura. “Let this protect you, as well. My prayer will only take a short while, but this should be enough for you to cast protections of your own. Now, ready yourselves!” He knelt before the golden door and began praying in a low, powerful voice.
The Travelers did so with rapid speed. Mhoram warded them all against fire; he and Darsint were completely immune to flame. H.A.L. empowered Darsint, Saint Simon, and himself with a valence that increased the flexibility of their arms to the point that they could extend them an extra five feet. He also energized his and Darsint’s swords with the power of pure sound, making them even more lethal. Mhoram and H.A.L. then cast a spell common to both to them and their exteriors became as hard as stone, though with no loss of movement.
The prayer continued, giving Mhoram enough time to ponder the many mistakes they’d made during their attack. If nothing else, he thought, we should have been hastier in making our way down here.
After descending through the burning garden up top, the Travelers opened the hatch in the floor and found themselves in a pitch black living quarters/laboratory that housed two casters of incredible arcane power. (Mhoram guessed them to be sorcerers based on their lack of spellbooks.) They moved quickly after overcoming their surprise, but not before one of the black robed figures nearly imprisoned Darsint miles beneath the earth. The other blew a hole in Mhoram’s leg, roughly double in size as a common coin. Saint Simon was there immediately to patch him up while Darsint, H.A.L., and Gherrick finished off their adversaries by means of several telling blows.
They picked through the lab, the fallen sorcerers, and the many chests in front of dozens of beds. The delay cost them dearly.
They walked into two traps, one on each level as the descended through the tower. The floor immediately beneath the lab consisted of a large, foul smelling nest filled with nearly 20 large bird-men, known as Vrocks. Four groups, five in each, danced in a deadly circle, seemingly in celebration of their arrival. The Travelers rushed the room just as four large blasts of energy lanced their bodies, and set four of the Vrocks ablaze. Gherrick and Aegle proved their worth by killing nearly two-thirds of them, while Saint Simon’s holy prayers obliterated the rest.
Again, they took time to search for clues. This time, the danger below would not wait for them.
Simon had just finished healing them and they were preparing themselves to open the next trapdoor. Suddenly, the door flew open and ten balls of green, crackling energy burst upon them, impacting H.A.L. and Gherrick in equal number. They were sent by more black-robed figures that lined the staircase beneath them. Mhoram annihilated them with deadly explosions of fire and a lightning bolt that arched its way through each of their foes. When the dust finally settled, H.A.L.’s mithrial plating was badly scorched and Gherrick chest was a gaping, bloody hole. Simon healed him with one quick prayer before Gherrick succumbed to the damage inflicted upon him.
Once thoroughly searched, the bodies were discarded and the Traveler made their way through the unholy chapel that housed these evil Warlocks. Fresh blood was smeared across a well-used alter, though no victim could be found. Saint Simon ordered them all to stop so he could consecrate the grounds. He would not listen to them when they begged for him to follow them downwards.
He returned to them shortly as they explored an empty parlor area, presumably the ground level of Zacknef’s tower. A few thin beams of light penetrated the room through cracks in a set of large double doors, making this the only inner level that wasn’t pitch black. The walls were lined with carvings of demonic creatures killing and torturing terrified villagers. One panel consisted of a large, winged demon, wreathed in fire. Its head pointed downward and its outstretched hands each held a head lined with Angelic features. The prominence of this panel suggested that they were looking at the lord of the tower.
Darsint warily opened the door while the others, save Saint Simon (who was tearing away at the carving of the winged fiend), searched for another exit from the parlor. Darsint returned as Mhoram found a final door hidden beneath a well-crafted rug. He reported that a large, moving black cloud was on the horizon. It appeared that Zacknef’s followers were returning. Mhoram used his magicks to lock the door and block it with a Force wall. The quickly hurried down the secret door and descended for a long, long time.
The underground level brought them to where they were now. The tunnel branched off in two directions. One led them to Zacknef’s harem. Four Succubi greeted them, one holding two new-born babies. Mhoram transformed himself into what he hoped looked like Zacknef and attempted to order the release of the prisoner. His disguise was apparently not good enough, and the Succubi attempted to charm them with their lovely demonic forms. They failed and all, save one that vanished, were quickly slain without harm to the babes.
Darsint, reasoning that she had escaped into the Ethereal Plane, quickly activated his enchanted breastplate armor and followed her. He caught sight of her as she ran past him and down the other branch of the corridor. He gave chase until he came up against a multi-dimensional barrier that forbade his further progress. Mhoram, once alerted to the problem, quickly used one of his most powerful incantations to disjoin its magic. A short walk brought them to the looming golden door at which Saint Simon now prayed.
Yes, we should have been quicker, concluded Mhoram, but I have a feeling that this fight will not last long. Let Zacknef’s followers come, for if we can defeat Zacknef, we can wipe them all out at the same time!
A flash of pure sunlight attracted his attention and he noticed that Simon was no longer kneeling. The doors in front of them miraculously melted away, revealing a sight that they all had hoped not to see.
**************************************************************
Thanks for reading! Any guesses as to the identity of Zacknef? How about Simon's prediction of likely slaughter. Will it come true and, if so, for whom?!?
Our story continues . . .
*******************************************
“Zacknef, are you down there?” chirped a high voice. “Why did you lock us out of the tower?”
Mhoram looked down the expansive corridor and carefully eyed the stone-carved staircase that led upwards. Nothing immediately descended upon them, but he did not hesitate to summon a wall of pure Force and dimensionally lock the area around it.
Darsint walked back from the praying Saint Simon to join him. “They will not be held at bay for long. Once they see the damage we’ve done they will be all over us!”
Mhoram returned his gaze calmly. “Whether we are successful or not, we will know more about this land Ardick before we die. That, alone, is a reason to fight for both of us. Gherrick, get over here.”
Gherrick, deadly Initiate of the Bow, left Zacknef’s harem and headed out to meet them now that he’d finished scouring the dead Succubi. He felt very small; walking through the massive tunnels of Zacknef’s lower lair brought unforgiving thoughts of how large their adversary could be.
“Gherrick, we need to you cover Saint Simon at all times. He is possessed with hatred for our foes and he is unlikely to restrain himself if Zacknef is truly what we suspect. Keep your arrows pointed at any who would harm him.”
“Yes,” shot Darsint, “but keep those arrows away from me! We have seen amazing things from you and I don’t want to find out that it was all just luck. And you, out of all of us, have the worst luck today!”
“I am fine . . . now. I think H.A.L. cured me.”
“Hmmph. I find it hard to believe that a simple abjuration could rid you of an addiction that has plagued these people for centuries!” The image of their descent through the top of the tower flashed into Darsint’s mind. The top entrance consisted of a long drop through a garden of Hell’s Weed. It grew on vines that reached over 200 feet in height. They were being tended to by a young girl, floating half way up and idly trimming her plants.
Darsint’s gem, when pressed to his eye, revealed her to be six-armed and snake-tailed Demon known as a Marilith. Her immediate action was to set the garden ablaze by means of a magic rod on her belt. They had taken her down after some trouble and only Gherrick seemed affected by the fumes. He was, however, very deeply entranced with the feelings Hell’s Weed gave him.
Gherrick refused to move, fight, or do anything besides reach out for the burning plants around them. Darsint restrained him and H.A.L did indeed break the enchantment upon their archer and he returned to them, though a bit groggy.
“I’m OK,” answered Gherrick. “I am with you in this. Aegle and I will not let you down.”
“That is correct,” pronounced Aegle. “My light will guide us to victory, just as it guides our way through these dark tunnels.”
Footsteps arose behind them and they turned to see H.A.L. and Simon coming towards them. The Planetar had a look of serenity and joy on his face that sharply contrasted with the many scars stitched across his green, lanky body.
“My friends, thank you so much for coming with me in this,” spoke Saint Simon. “We have come to the final step in our mission here. My divinations have revealed to me that our enemy sits within the chamber that rests behind those golden doors that block our path.” His gaze went downwards and his expression changed to one of loving concern.
“If Zacknef is what we think he is, I must say that it is unlikely that we will all survive. This does not affect my desire to see Zacknef slain, but I will not speak for all of you. If you have the means and are so inclined, now is the time to leave; you will always have my respect for coming this far. For those of you who would stay and fight with me, I offer you this: you are more courageous and daring than any other mortals I have ever met! Our Lord has willed us to this point in time for a reason, and that reason is a final victory over the one who casts his misery across this land! With His help, I shall remove this final obstacle in our path and Zacknef will finally know the true strength of Good.”
“We are with you, Simon,” responded Darsint. “Let us attack with care, though, and do not take unnecessary risks with yourself. We will need your healing powers once the battle is done.”
“Our Lord will protect me, if it is His Will that I survive this,” Simon countered. A single holy word from his lips resulted in a flash of energy, emanating from the Angel, and they were all surrounded by a golden aura. “Let this protect you, as well. My prayer will only take a short while, but this should be enough for you to cast protections of your own. Now, ready yourselves!” He knelt before the golden door and began praying in a low, powerful voice.
The Travelers did so with rapid speed. Mhoram warded them all against fire; he and Darsint were completely immune to flame. H.A.L. empowered Darsint, Saint Simon, and himself with a valence that increased the flexibility of their arms to the point that they could extend them an extra five feet. He also energized his and Darsint’s swords with the power of pure sound, making them even more lethal. Mhoram and H.A.L. then cast a spell common to both to them and their exteriors became as hard as stone, though with no loss of movement.
The prayer continued, giving Mhoram enough time to ponder the many mistakes they’d made during their attack. If nothing else, he thought, we should have been hastier in making our way down here.
After descending through the burning garden up top, the Travelers opened the hatch in the floor and found themselves in a pitch black living quarters/laboratory that housed two casters of incredible arcane power. (Mhoram guessed them to be sorcerers based on their lack of spellbooks.) They moved quickly after overcoming their surprise, but not before one of the black robed figures nearly imprisoned Darsint miles beneath the earth. The other blew a hole in Mhoram’s leg, roughly double in size as a common coin. Saint Simon was there immediately to patch him up while Darsint, H.A.L., and Gherrick finished off their adversaries by means of several telling blows.
They picked through the lab, the fallen sorcerers, and the many chests in front of dozens of beds. The delay cost them dearly.
They walked into two traps, one on each level as the descended through the tower. The floor immediately beneath the lab consisted of a large, foul smelling nest filled with nearly 20 large bird-men, known as Vrocks. Four groups, five in each, danced in a deadly circle, seemingly in celebration of their arrival. The Travelers rushed the room just as four large blasts of energy lanced their bodies, and set four of the Vrocks ablaze. Gherrick and Aegle proved their worth by killing nearly two-thirds of them, while Saint Simon’s holy prayers obliterated the rest.
Again, they took time to search for clues. This time, the danger below would not wait for them.
Simon had just finished healing them and they were preparing themselves to open the next trapdoor. Suddenly, the door flew open and ten balls of green, crackling energy burst upon them, impacting H.A.L. and Gherrick in equal number. They were sent by more black-robed figures that lined the staircase beneath them. Mhoram annihilated them with deadly explosions of fire and a lightning bolt that arched its way through each of their foes. When the dust finally settled, H.A.L.’s mithrial plating was badly scorched and Gherrick chest was a gaping, bloody hole. Simon healed him with one quick prayer before Gherrick succumbed to the damage inflicted upon him.
Once thoroughly searched, the bodies were discarded and the Traveler made their way through the unholy chapel that housed these evil Warlocks. Fresh blood was smeared across a well-used alter, though no victim could be found. Saint Simon ordered them all to stop so he could consecrate the grounds. He would not listen to them when they begged for him to follow them downwards.
He returned to them shortly as they explored an empty parlor area, presumably the ground level of Zacknef’s tower. A few thin beams of light penetrated the room through cracks in a set of large double doors, making this the only inner level that wasn’t pitch black. The walls were lined with carvings of demonic creatures killing and torturing terrified villagers. One panel consisted of a large, winged demon, wreathed in fire. Its head pointed downward and its outstretched hands each held a head lined with Angelic features. The prominence of this panel suggested that they were looking at the lord of the tower.
Darsint warily opened the door while the others, save Saint Simon (who was tearing away at the carving of the winged fiend), searched for another exit from the parlor. Darsint returned as Mhoram found a final door hidden beneath a well-crafted rug. He reported that a large, moving black cloud was on the horizon. It appeared that Zacknef’s followers were returning. Mhoram used his magicks to lock the door and block it with a Force wall. The quickly hurried down the secret door and descended for a long, long time.
The underground level brought them to where they were now. The tunnel branched off in two directions. One led them to Zacknef’s harem. Four Succubi greeted them, one holding two new-born babies. Mhoram transformed himself into what he hoped looked like Zacknef and attempted to order the release of the prisoner. His disguise was apparently not good enough, and the Succubi attempted to charm them with their lovely demonic forms. They failed and all, save one that vanished, were quickly slain without harm to the babes.
Darsint, reasoning that she had escaped into the Ethereal Plane, quickly activated his enchanted breastplate armor and followed her. He caught sight of her as she ran past him and down the other branch of the corridor. He gave chase until he came up against a multi-dimensional barrier that forbade his further progress. Mhoram, once alerted to the problem, quickly used one of his most powerful incantations to disjoin its magic. A short walk brought them to the looming golden door at which Saint Simon now prayed.
Yes, we should have been quicker, concluded Mhoram, but I have a feeling that this fight will not last long. Let Zacknef’s followers come, for if we can defeat Zacknef, we can wipe them all out at the same time!
A flash of pure sunlight attracted his attention and he noticed that Simon was no longer kneeling. The doors in front of them miraculously melted away, revealing a sight that they all had hoped not to see.
**************************************************************
Thanks for reading! Any guesses as to the identity of Zacknef? How about Simon's prediction of likely slaughter. Will it come true and, if so, for whom?!?
