Antoni spits at where the portal was. "I'll be waiting, whore of Hell."
So there you all are alone, surrounded by lucious vamp bodies in this crypt. Whatcha wanna do now?:)
The wolf bites the head of Lilith clean off of her lifeless body, a screeching bay and a raucous howl mixed in with the tearing if flesh and the rending of bones makes way for the body of Rattus sitting on the floor with the crown of Vespasian round his neck!
Well! We did it! Heh...
Rattus' squeaky voice fills the void as he rubs his head and adjusts the crown back on his head. He stands up and peeks around seemingly looking for the sword.
I am sorry friends but this is where we must part ways. If what the ghost in the bell tower said was true, and in my heart I know it is, then I must act now before more worlds are destroyed...I know you do not understand but if the prophecy I told over 1000 years ago was ignored. Well the results of that would have been more than cataclysmic to more worlds then we can even dream of! I must venture into the pit and find the truth. Maybe I can find a way to reverse this. Farewell compainions, friends, Brothers!
Grim turns to enter the underworld portal.
In the name of my Creator and myself, I will join you! Mayhaps I'll find my creator inside and shoot a cold bullet in his head!
Rattus follows in turn with Grim into the portal.
Antoni shrugs and follows. "Not like I had anything better to do."
As you are about to step through the portal you hear a sputtering cough behind you. Turning around you see Nadezdha, the raven haired not-so-beauty lying on the ground covered in bear-paw shaped wounds.
Are you all going down there? she says weakly. Then she pauses thoughtfully. She is dying. Do you think...(cough cough)...do you think my soul is down there? In the underworld? Where you are going?
I'm certain it is not...
Rattus squeaks without turning around.
Neither is mine... I'm learning to accept this now. I suggest you do the same!
Nadezdha: But if only there is a chance! Take me with you...I can help you! And perhapse I will find my soul redeem my life which has been corrupted by the Count and his foul minions. Please! Help Me!!!
As you all enter the portal, you notice that the bear does not follow; it stays in the harem.
As you cross into the underworld, you see the matter that constitutes the bear flicker for a fraction of a second, and then regain substance.
As the fire was consuming the northern quarters of Castle Heydrich, the bear moved about in desperation, trying to follow its instinct and escape the deadly heat and the suffocating darkness expelled by the fire tongues. It was cornered in a stony room that it would not burn, but it could sense the smoke coming in: the bear desperately tried to breathe through the small peeking hole on the wall, but it was too small, barely any fresh air came from it.
The animal heaved against the wall, and scratched the stones, uselessly, until the smoke was too poisonous for it; the bear went into a deep, silent slumber, and perished.
Whether the bear persisted as a phantom so as to destroy the minions of the count, or was condemned to roam the castle grounds as a tormented spirit, one of the very minions it died trying to decimate, it was not to be known.
The fact was: the bear remained in Castle Heydrich, whereas the others ventured into the underworld.
Rattus all deserve a chance at redemption. I must warn you all. There is no telling what may happen to us when we step through this portal. In the underworld you have no secrets. Your true self will be revealed. For some this will mean madness. Come if you are able Nadezdha but none of us will carry you across.
Antoni steps back and helps the vampiress to stand. "I know not what will happen, but I shall save my wrath for another day."
He supports Nadezdha as they cross into the portal.
All deserve redemption... However not all have something to redeem. She may go but she'll be disappointed.
You cross through portal into the underworld. You feel an electric tingle in your bodies and you are each bathed in a blue light.
When the sensation fades you find yourselves standing in the center of a stone-henge built on the sandy floor of a chasm. The stoney walls rise above your head perhaps 150 ft on three sides (the henge is built in a dead end in the chasm). Above you is a dark sky, but instead of the familiar stars and moons of Allansia there is a liquidy translucent mist the flows along. You fancy that you see shapes...are they ships?...beyond this mist, but you can't be sure. The path away from the henge runs about 100 yards then splits and there is an old wooden sign:
Beware, ahead lies the river Styx
As Grim steps through to the underworld he sees the spirit of the bear fade and he smiles to himself. You can be at peace now friend, the spirits asked too much of you.
Grim comes into the underworld greeted by an old friend. Ripper! It has been so long I feared I would never look upon your fierce form again! Grim is of course talking to the giant lizard that acts as his mount. He looks down to see flesh covering his arms again. A smile crosses his face for first time in much to long. Adjusting his plate armor and weapons he waits for his friends to cross over.
Some may be surprised to see this noble knight is an evil Hobgoblin?
|
The first thing Nadi sees in the underworld is the Hobgoblin mounted atop a mighty lizard. Taken aback, she hides herself behind one of the henge stones and peeks around, watching as the others come through the portal...magnificent she says to herself, marveling at the changes as each arrive. Are these my new traveling companions? She can hardly believe her luck...
Antonia looks at her hands, her fingers slim, yet calloused. For a moment, everything seems clear. The past lives, the constant struggle in a war that spanned time and space, even this unusual form. She doesn't seem depressed by the loss of the old life.
She reaches around her neck and pulls off the locket that held the picture of a family that was no longer hers. She sets it on the ground gently and covers it with some dirt. Though that life was over, she would keep the name. It was still a strong name.
A wooden peg, staked to the ground, speaks, with a booming voice.
I am the herald of souls,
I shall be your guide,
for is there fire without coals,
or is there a sea without tide?
None whom is made of flesh and bone,
freely in the Netherworld may wander:
these lands are for the dead, and the dead alone;
unheralded, ye may not go yonder.
For which soul, now or yore,
does or did not have in Hades a guide?
The poet Virgil: at Dante's fore,
this humble pole: at your beside.
Mayhap think ye I am but a peg
I am hard, and trifle -- I cannot bend!
I have no arm, or head, or leg,
but as ye see, I can stand!
Hélas!, to stand is all I can do!
Yet, to you of much aid I can be,
if ye find a viper, or two,
none more!, for naught do I with three!
The girl is awed by the stave yet too bewildered to move. She stands alone in the stone-henge. Just her and a shadow. No rats to be seen.
(Snakes... Where may we find snakes?! More importantly... Where is this? It surely looks familiar but I can't place it. I don't like it here. UGH! I can't think straight here... )
There may be snakes in the river, over there!
The girl points down at the Styx; a soft guitar ballad plays quietly in her head.
Confused she points left, looks to the right and looks back to the left making sure she's decided on the direction.
Down there maybe!? I know not why but that direction makes more sense with me. Don't follow it if you don't trust me, that's only fair!
Choose the right,
the Styx we will cross without fight.
You are heroes living,
and shall make to-coast without alms-giving.
He who is dead, pays the toll to Charon,
if a sterling from the living he brings;
he goes on the same one boat, peasant or baron,
here there is no richness, or such things.
One coin! No more!
But with none, a hundred years ashore!
That is what is often said,
but who minds? These are matters of the dead.
Well, now I'm inclined to think that as well! I will heed it and take it down to the ferryman and ask for travel across and there we may find snakes. I will call on my rat to hunt them down for us, I hold him at my beck and call!
Jehane walks around the stick, as if to avoid it a little.
I will not carry it though. I feel it has wisdom and strength but it seems too divine to hold.
The peg unstakes itself from the ground as if pulled by an invisible hand, hops twice following Jehane, and stops, standing perfectly balanced, as if held by a stretched string from above.
To move forward I can hop,
and often climb, to reach the top.
I am not so special as to be divine,
but for a pole, I am quite fine!
As everyone stands wondering at the rhyming wooden peg you hear a terrible racket coming from the passage up ahead that leads to the ferry. It sounds like thudding and hissing.
What a wonderful sight! This is going to be a great adventure indeed!
Hearing his comment about 'a great adventure indeed' viper (A) turns and sees Grim.
Help me, Mortal! This nasssty viper, Bithia, is trying sssssteal my Egg!
As Viper (A) is pleading with Grim Viper (B), whom you take to be 'Bithia', snaps at the back of her head.
Bithia: Thatsssss a lie, Elsssa! YOU are the thief! You sssstole it from my nest last night! Give my babiessss back to me!
And the fighting continues even more vigorously than before.
Grim will dismount and walk then run towards the fighting snakes. He will draw his bastard sword with a flash of movement and raise it high above his head as if to chop the egg in half.
Enough of this! Cease your fighting or I shall destroy the egg this instant
The vipers thrash and separate, sputtering at eachother. Then, Bithia slithers around, encircling toward Grim's right. And Elsa slithers circling toward his left. Their long forked tongues dart out, smelling the Hobgoblin, trying to gauge whether he would truly do such a thing...
Eaaasssssy now, sooths Bithia.
Yesss, come, gentle Ssssir, says Elsa, look ussss in the eye. Let's talk about thisssss...
Although they appear to be teaming up, Grim is pretty sure he notices the two eyeing each other warily.
Yea I don't think I will be looking anyone in the eye now. A little help here former compatriots?
Grim whistles for Ripper to come to him.
Grim then mutters but still says out loud.
Damn where is Rattus right about now I sure would like to see his furry butt run over and snatch this egg...
Jehane moves cautiously grabbing the caduceus unknowingly and moving towards Grim and the vipers. She's cautious enough to keep her distance. In a troubled tone he says,
How do you know of my rat? I'm the only one I know that may call him out! He was a gift from my father! Did you know him?! Hum... Perhaps there will be a better time to discuss these things!
She keeps a weary sidelong glance at both heads making sure to not let them out of her periphery.
(This had best be a dream!!)
Ah I see. Your rat huh? Well I did warn them strange things may happen to them. Grim mumbles.
Your rat was once my brother in arms. But that was long ago or perhaps it has not yet happened? Grim laughs quite literally in the face of danger. HaHa! If we manage to survive this I will explain further. So if you would pick up this egg so we way speak to these lovely mothers here
Should we pick it up!?! Whose is it? This is all a little absurd!
Jehane moves towards the egg, waving the caduceus in an attempt to roll the egg into a more neutral space.
Now i'm sorry to do that, perhaps we can solve this without one of you ripping out my throat? Please explain why you are fighting.
Just to guage how im doing. and that would be badly...hey talking stick need some 19 cha action over here lol
Young lady you can not expect me to believe this is the first time you have talked down two fighting, talking, giant snakes in the underworld. Kids today... Grim gives you a wink and a smile.
Bithia: Have a heart, Mortal...do what you will with ussss, only don't harm the egg!
Elsa: Bithia, perhaps this Mortal can arbitrate ussss? What do you say? Let them decide whose egg this issss?
Bithia: snaps at Elsa, flashing a cobra hood. No! Who knows what this Mortal will do! I will not let him give YOU my baby!!
Elsa: Yours? It's mine I tell you!!!
Both snakes begin coiling up their bodies, ready to strike...
Bithia and Elsa face off, Mexican standoff. It seems to be an impass. Finally Bithia speaks, not taking her eyes off Elsa: What qualifies you Mortal, to decide?? Are you a fair persssson? You see a tear begin to roll down Bithia's eye. This is truly an emotional experience for her...But perhapse teh baby is Elsa's and her natural response is simply anger and protectiveness...
By my honor as a knight of the Rose, if I do not negotate a peaceful end to this I will forfeit my life.
Grim sheaths his sword.
Bithia turns her head ever so slightly, setting Grim in her periphrial better. There hasn't been a Knight of the Rose seen at the banks of the Styx in 1000 years.
Elsa: Indeed. I doubt anyone outside the 7th circle where they are imprisoned could recite their Oath now...How about you, Hobgoblin...do you know the Oath??
|
|
Pardon me, great and strong warrio says Nadi as Grim's Lizard gives her an unwelcome slurp with a forked tounge. Hm.. she grunts, Friendly lizard isn't he? But Pardon me, sir, suppose you listen to both their cases, consider the evidence and determine who is the mother...What is to stop these two ladies from just tearing eachother apart over this egg once we leave?? You know how strong a mother's instinct is!
She has a point! Don't discount her! Perhaps we may work out something! Obviously one egg was stolen. I don't know this place well enough to go looking for your other egg, but I assume you've already done this... How about you both care for this egg and then raise what hatches equally! The two of you would stand to raise much better offspring combining your heads than dividing!!
Jehane stands up a little more straight.
Ive raised animals of all kinds and when parents of offspring are hurt and can't care for thir children surrogate parents always come out if the woodwork to take on that role. Perhaps you bith can be that for this egg and what comes of it later. I'm sorry if this is jumbled I'm still ... Coming over the shock of this place!! This is all a little surreal!
She covers her head with her hands, shaking her head a little before sighing and looking to Grim and Nadi for a little help.
Bithia shoots a terrible glare at Elsa. No! she hisses, She will EAT my babiesssss!!
Elsa only hisses in return.
Bithia: But says Bithia, turning back to Grim, If he knows the Oath, perhaps then he is who he says he isss?
Elsa: Perhapsss.
And both look at Grim, awaiting his reply...
All have had their chance to speak
and pleaded for that which they seek.
I shall settle this matter, the mom will agree:
the hatchlings, I say, should come with me!
The hungry one will be unhappy, of course,
but of her we can rid, by wit or force,
that is, if she refuses what she can gain from us:
oh yes, the meat of fallen beasts -- my promise!
As a Knight of the Rose I pledge.
To serve my liege lord in valor and faith.
To protect the weak and defenseless.
To give succor to widows and orphans.
To refrain from the wanton giving of offence.
To live by honor and for glory.
To despise pecuniary reward.
To fight for the welfare of all.
To obey those placed in rightful authority.
To guard the honor of fellow knights.
To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit.
To keep faith.
To at all times to speak the truth.
To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun.
To respect the honor of women.
To Never to refuse a challenge from an equal.
To Never to my back upon a foe.
If I should fail then damned be my soul!
Elsa: Acksss, it is true! A knight of the rose is seen in our land! Let me go firssst, knight! I will tell you what happended! How this beasssst, Bithia, has taken...
Bithia: No! NO! You must not entertain Elsa's liesssss...I shall explain what happened!