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Darkness Below
Posted: 13 Apr 2005 01:20 PM |
Vines of ivy, thick as full grown pythons, scaled the stone columns and walls of the ancient ruins. Trees, which began as tiny weeds in the cracks of the concourse many years ago, were now towering above, with woven branches reaching towards the sky choking out what little light was left in the day. Though the shade was nice enough, the adventurers meticulously hacked their way through the underbrush carefully watching their steps as they tread upon the ruined and crumbled stones of Lynaeum.
Gnimini called out, “I think I see some stairs leading down! Let’s take a look in there for those minotaurs”
Jubei and Vic followed him without hesitation; a sparkle danced in their eyes for they hoped also to find magical treasures from ages ago. They lit some torches and descended into the darkness below.
The flickering light of the torches revealed many insects and roots from trees growing above. The group appeared to be in a series of halls. They turned a corner and saw several desecrated and broken sarcophaguses. Rats were scampering about on the tops of ancient sarcophagus fleeing from the light of the torches. Gnimini summoned a dire boar and cast a series of protective spells before taking the lead.
The group slowly and carefully walked the long, narrow halls of the catacombs, noting every turn and checking every square inch on the floor and walls for traps. It was a tedious effort, though they could not rush into a place as dangerous and old as this. After all, they had already encountered several traps and Gnimini’s summoned dire boar had stepped on one that sent acid spurting from the floor up through the air. As they turned another corner, they stopped dead in their tracks. They heard snorting and heavy trodden steps emanating from the darkness down the corridor. Then there was more… it sounded as if many were gathering. The group took up their bows and shot forth arrows down the hallway, acknowledging by the yelps that some had struck true. A thunderous stampede erupted down the hall towards them. The tested and skilled Dwarf, Jubei, drew his shield and battleaxe tight to his body as he stood his ground in front of Vic and Gnimini. In a flurry of swings the Dwarf lit into the minotaurs, his axe dismembered the arm of one and cut another’s leg off at the knee. He then kicked another directly into the two waiting daggers that Vic twisted as they entered the back of the Minotaur. The fight was over, but not without wounds. The three injured explorers drank from some curative potions and used aloe rags to wrap their cuts and bruises.
Again they followed Gnimini’s lead into a large well lit room. A man, clad in the deepest black, stepped from behind a gigantic torch base and directly into their path, startling the adventurers. The door they had just entered swung closed with a mighty force. The man only stared, his skin pale as snow and his dark eyes sunken in his head.
“Who dares enter my Brothers’ Tomb!?” he boomed, his powerful voice echoing off the stone walls. The adventures froze in thought then Vic declared, “We were sent by some officials in Buckshire to investigate the rumors of Minotaur activity in the ruins of Lynaeum. We actually stumbled in here by accident and were just leaving.”
“When or where you go will be left to my discretion fool!” the man clad in black blurted out. “I know what you are here for, you cannot trick me. You seek the riches of my brother’s tomb … you seek to loot these few remaining entact sarcophaguses.” The adventurers looked at each other, fear brimming from within them, their nerves were shot.
They pleaded to be released, but the man clad in black ordered silence.
His voice changed as if he was struck with an idea. “I have a use for you three… yes… you will do something for me if you want to see the light of day again,” He snarled.
“You will go into the caves of Undreath. There you will find a powerful stone. It is called a soul stone and I want it.” “The Atlan who inhabit the caves will prove tough adversaries, but I have seen your display here upon the Minotaurs. You will suffice.” “Go there and find the stone, bring it to me and ye shall be released from my bidding.” “Be warned, there are others who seek this stone. They must not be allowed to possess it, for I want it! …. I trust you will use whatever means necessary to make sure to secure it for yourselves.”
“Come forth Dwarf,” the man in black spoke as he motioned to Jubei. Jubie hesitated a moment and stepped forward towards the man in black. “Open your hand” he commanded. Jubei opened his hand and the man in black dropped what appeared to be a glimmering red teardrop shaped gem into the hand of Jubei. “Once you have found my stone, travel to the Desthades and call my name into this gem.”
The explorers, tattered and scared, looked at each other. “but what –is- your name, sir,” Gnimini called out.”
“Emissary of Undeath.” The man in black hissed.
With that the man disappeared and the room was left silent, save for the heartbeats of the discombobulated adventurers.
The three lost by the happenings of the told events looked on in disbelief …. Their very lives were at stake. They could not flee; they could not escape the Emissary of Undeath. They knew what must be done…they were going to get this stone or either die trying. They all three agreed death in the caves of Undreath seemed the lesser of the two evils rather than at the hand of the Emissary.
The three pulled themselves together and made the long journey back outside. They rejoiced when they smelled the clean air and saw the moonbeams cutting in through the trees and overgrown vines. Though the celebration was only temporary, for reality had set back in and they knew they had best get to the Four Winds Inn to rest up for their journey to Undreath.
The merry patrons at the Four Winds Inn were dancing and drinking, carrying on in their usual free spirited ways when the three travelers entered. They looked like hell.
They swore not to tell anyone of what had happened in the Catacombs, as the Emissary had instructed. They bid each other goodnight, only to make their way to their rented rooms with the pain of fear in their stomachs and terror in their minds. |
"PLEASE!!! Bury me with it!" |
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