#kaldvic

Alright guys, as I begin to edit documents and so on, I am going to provide links via THIS blog post, my master post, to the edited versions. I will provide BOTH a tumblr link AND a blog link. I might create a new blog to post the fully edited and fluffed up journals, going to start all the way back in Verizon, or I may just edit them here... or both. Haven't decided. 

  As you will see, a new format is going to be taking place. I used to use days in order to showcase how much time has passed. However, some of my buddies were a a bit argumentative about just how much time has passed soooo I decided to delete the days and just let you all guess on how much time has elapsed from beginning to end. Enjoy.  

    Fiction: Pathfinder/Dungeon and Dragons

Written By: AFinalHope (Anne)

Rating: PG-13 to Mature

Disclaimer: I do not lay claim to any of the following work. While the writings themselves are my own, my character is created fully by myself, the other characters and story elements I do not own. I also do not own any of the Pathfinder/D&D elements that are in play. Full credit goes to where it is due. Thank you.

ACT ONE

Verizon

            Chapter One

The beginning of our journey – two sisters, Albany and Alyara, team up with a mountain man named Kaldvic after Albany saves him from a deadly goblin attack in the woods and Streloka, the (in)famous Dread Pirate. Together the four of them agree to aid the town of Verizon to vanquish the goblin threat in the area in return for a reward.

  A Reward Not so Easily Obtained

            Chapter Two

The party heads out to the outskirts of Verizon. It is there that an outpost rests, the very outpost manned by soldiers that will pay them for the removal of the goblins. However, things don’t go entirely according to plan. 

  The Beginning of it All

            Chapter Three

They need answers, more specifically: who was behind the attack on the outposts and why were vampires rising up in power? Albany worries that there is more here than what meets the eye. Just as they begin to get answers, a new face joins the fray. Is he friend… or foe?

  Friends in Low Places

            Chapter Four

Albany grows increasingly suspicious of their newest party member. What are his motives? Who is he? Her sister’s fawning over him does little to ease her concerns. Before they are able to give Harold’s important message to the King of Cumberbatch, they are thrown from the gates. Harold may have another solution… one that Albany is not too keen on.   

  Murder on the Dance Floor

            Chapter Five

With the masks in their possession, the party begins to prepare themselves for the masquerade that is to occur this evening. Alyara forces Albany into a gown and Streloka surprises the party with a complete change… of person. Kaldvic, not too pleased with his new look, manages to be the talk of the ballroom. However, it is Harold that shocks them all the most… with a secret so devastating it could tear the peace apart.

  Payback

            Chapter Six

While the party attempts to find new information out about the vampires behind the Masquerade Massacre, the complete odd jobs around town. Jealousy runs like a snake through the crowd, when Kaldvic begins to become close with the alchemist they aid. Pranks ensue in the evening, Albany’s attempt to lighten the mood… when the tables are turned though she is left less than pleased. 

  Long Live the Queen

            Chapter Seven

A speech draws the group’s attention during one morning as they are leaving the apothecary’s. They pale as they discover exactly who is behind the plot to overthrow Cumberbatch into chaos. Just as they begin to retrieve the answers they have been looking for, they are ambushed in the dead of night. 

  Rise to Power

            Chapter Eight

The chaos in Cumberbatch comes to a high as the group confronts the Queen. Will they get answers as to who is behind the attacks? Who is their leader? What do they want? Albany can’t shrug off the feeling that there is something larger going on, a bigger picture that they are only seeing a hint of. Alyara shares these concerns.

  ACT TWO

Alone

            Chapter Nine

Albany is left behind to finish up their work in Cumberbatch as the others journy south to Riversend. Believing their worries to be over for now, Streloka wanted to show the group the seaside harbor of Moffat with a few side trips along the way. Albany plans to join them later… though that time cannot come soon enough it seems as Cumberbatch sucks her into all the evils it has to offer.

  Gaston

            Chapter Ten

Finally, joining up with the others in Riversend, Albany is more than relieved. Sadly, those feelings change when her sister quickly returns to Cumberbatch in her stead to be with Harold, leaving Albany with Kaldvic while Streloka stays one more night in Riversend. Together the two travel with navigator Gaston, a bard. The journey is not so gentle.

  Unexpected Guests

            Chapter Eleven

Albany is awoken to the sounds of battle occuring on the upper decks. Rushing to gather her belongings she joins the fray. The enemies are stronger now, tougher than they ever have been before… will a bargain save them from the depths of the sea?

  Then There Were Aboleths

            Chapter Twelve

After stopping at a riverside port for supplies, the party rejoins together as Alyara and Streloka return. Alyara is more than pleased to share her time with Harold while Streloka revels in the fact that she is on a boat again. Trouble ensues as they near Moffat. Later, Kaldvic attempts to console Albany though the results were likely not what he expected.

  Mutiny for the Cow

            Chapter Thirteen

With the help of their newest party member, Streloka comes face to face with her oldest rival – Borris the Brown Cow. However, his crew seems to know something about the return of the aboleths. Seeing a familiar symbol, is it possible that Cumberbatch and Moffat are related somehow? By destroying one evil, had they created another?

  Unrest and Resolution

            Chapter Fourteen

A hiccup in the morning provides a diversion for the group as they try to discover information behind the Aboleths. Alyara has argued that fighting with knowledge may help since they are dealing with an enemy that is new. Ambaron, the city of the sun elves, may have the answers. Later, Alyara and Albany finally heal old wounds, their bond now closer than ever.

  Memories

            Chapter Fifteen

Over a month has passed since Moffat and Albany recollects on what has passed. The events of Ambaron leading to Moffat, the destruction that awaited them there, the battle they fought… and her new found powers.

This is merely a placeholder. I plan on going back and spreading this journal into two or three different journals to fully cover everything. As is it is lacking a lot of information.

  ACT THREE

Unwelcome Home

            Chapter Sixteen

Kaldvic grows increasingly angry with his ring, wanting to rid himself of his hunger. Albany and Alyara are able to stop him for now but they both worry what will happen if he doesn’t get it off soon. As they near their home of Ninovan, wanting to tell their family all that has happened over the past six months, the two sisters couldn’t be happier. Just as always, things never go as planned.

  A Sister’s Confession

            Between Chapters Fluff

Captured by their parents and loved ones, the group falls into silence. Alyara finally tells Albany why she wanted to leave with her in the first place, what she had been running from. She also confesses to her feelings for Harold though explains how her duty to her people may throttle any chance she has of being with him.

  The Realm of the Spirits

            Chapter Seventeen

A mysterious duo wakes the party up in the early morning hours, freeing them fromt heir cells and providing an illusion while they are gone. The vampires are here as well, and they need to learn who is pulling the strings once and for all. In order to do so, a trip to the Unseen Realm is going to be needed… apparently the answers can only be found there. But will the party survive?

  A Reviving

            Chapter Eighteen

The answers are finally out in the open, the ringleader to the vampire’s name is known as is his story. Pavati, a nymph provides them with a gift as well, wanting to see the Realm of the Living at peace. As they begin to leave, Albany can’t help but worry. Who is the blonde haired woman? What does she know? What does Rahovar want with Ninovan? How does this all play together? Though some answers were given, it seems they only created more questions.

  Betrayel is Bittersweet

            Chapter Nineteen

Something happened to Kaldvic while in the Unseen Realm but before the group can question it further, they are interrupted by none other than Kalin, the man who had led them through the tunnels underneath Ambaron to Ninovan. A once supposed friend and ally was now turning against them, forcing them to act. His words near the end, however, sent nothing but a chill racing down the backs of the party members. They were going to war…

  Moment of Peace

            Chapter Twenty

They had to tell Ninovan what was happening, that a band of vampires more powerful than ever seen before was heading their way. But with Argou under the control of a powerful spell, and with the Hunt on the search for them… their options were limited. The party splits, leaving Albany behind to tend to Kaldvic’s wounds. 

  The Battle Begins

            Chapter Twenty-One

Alyara is gone, missing… and no one can find her. Broken away from her momentary peace, Albany is on the brink of panic as she remembers a time when she wasn’t there when her sister needed her. What if this occurance ends like the last one had? Or worse?

  Vineridge

            Chapter Twenty-Two

As Ninoan prepares for the coming battle, Streloka and Albany head out to meet with King Harold. He promises them aid from Cumberbatch, attempting form an alliance with the catfolk against Rahovar and his vampire army. They are to meet in Vineridge… but as the trio comes together, they realize that they have other problems to face before returning. 

  Captured

            Chapter Twenty-Three

Vineridge had not ended as planned. Now captured and tortured for information by servants of Rahovar, the trio remain in a fortress hidden away iin the Tiraten Wood. They are not alone, five young children also rest in cells nearby. As the days pass by, Albany grows fearful that they will have nothing to return to, that Rahovar will march upon Ninovan while they are gone… Granted, will they ever be able to return at all?

  Alyara Gone

            Chapter Twenty-Four

Battle is thrust down upon Ninovan in the dead of night. Awoken from her sleep, Albany discovers that Alyara was taken and brought to the old ruins located in the middle of the wood. Furthermore… she learns that Ninovan has been betrayed, there is a traitor in their ranks… and that traitor has her sister. As chaos falls upon the village, she races to find her companions and together they head off into the Woods.

  Gate to Hell

            Chapter Twenty-Five

The party finally comes face to face with the leader of the vampires, the God of Tears Rahovar. They learn of his plot to become a full-fledged God, to rule over the world and do as he bids. With the use of the Feyradain, an ancient elven artifact, he plans to obtain the last item he needs to reach Godhood, a talisman that will unlock the Sphere of Annihilation. Just as he jumps through the portal, Albany follows after, watching as the gate to her friends closes behind her.

  Ninovan Restoration

            Chapter Twenty-Six

Ninovan is in ruin after the attack of the vampires. As wood elves wake from their trance-like state, the catfolk are wary to allow them to form an alliance. The weeks pass as repairs begin and all falls into a realm of calm. Albany comes face to face with her mother after a century and Kaldvic reveals secrets she isn’t sure she is ready to hear. Alyara still struggles with her decision between doing what isi right for her people, and what is right for her heart.

  ACT FOUR

Cure a Curse

            Chapter Twenty-Seven

Tensions between Kaldvic and Albany only strengthen as time goes on, espeically with the return of Erica who continues to fawn over the mountain man with lust. Now that Ninovan was underway with repairs, the group turns their attention to the ring on Kaldvic’s finger, the onen that curses him with a hunger for human flesh. Erica and Sylara have an idea, a way for them to remove it. They just need some ingrediants first. Later Albany tries to control her magic, only for it to snap out of control once more.

  A Witch and Her Plan

            Chapter Twenty-Eight

Now that Harold and Alyara are back together, it was time for the group to venture out and have a day for themselves – a day away from the sound of hammers and swords in Ninovan, a day where no one had to speak of Rahovar. While neither of those things happened, trouble still managed to find them, this time in the form of a witch looking for a wizard.

  Complications

            Chapter Twenty-Nine

Ambaron greeted them warmly with food and rooms fit for nobles. The guild of EverBrave was given free reign of the training courts and knowledge, Harold and his companions able to train as they saw fit while Albany and the scholars delved into tomes, searching for more information on the Sphere. Bardon, a ward of Lannorus, joins the party, much to Kaldvic’s chagrin. Barodn agrees to help Albany learn magic, to control it. Kaldvic warns her against such an action, arguing that they know next to nothing about the man. Later, EverBrave attempts to speak to the Council, to appeal for aid.

  Answers and Questions

            Chapter Thirty

Harold, Kaldvic, and Streloka continue training the new recruits for EverBrave, Alyara aids in creating new alliances, and Albany returns to her search for information. Magic training consumes her morning, books in the afternoon, training recruits at night… there is barely any time to sleep. Sadly, her dreams have been less than favorable lately and take a turn for the worst, leaving her with a haunting message, a warning, a reminder that they were still at war with Rahovar.

  To Speak the Truth

            Chapter Thirty-One

Anxiety, stress, lack of sleep, and failure to findn any new leads brings Albany to a breaking point. Even knowing that the group will move north to the mountains in hopes of locating the ancient sylph library for more information doesn’t calm her nerves. Are they fighting a losing battle? Kaldvic follows her to magic training one day, a day without Bardon at her side. He believes that now is time to finally speak the truth, to tell her what he thinks…

  Journey to Castle Cantor

            Chapter Thirty-Two

The nightmares told them where to go, where the next set of clues would rest… but fear keeps Albany on edge. Kaldvic is the only one who can soothe it, make her forget how terrified she is for even just the briefest of moments. But just as he is helping her forget, Harold helps her remember. The party sets forth for Castle Cantor, Bardon as their guide. But there are storms brewing on the horizon.

  Mionette’s Maze

            Chapter Thirty-Three

With the help of Gonqui, the party heads deeper into the castle, chasing after the key that they need to keep Rahovar locked away. It’s a race, as Paprika and her minions begin to search for the same item, the group attempts to use a secret maze to beat them to it. Will they survive the trails and live another day? Or will they fall privy to the maze and it’s riddles, never to return?

  Unsuspecting Traitor

            Chapter Thirty-Four

As the room cascaded into darkness, the group flounders at a resolve. They are outnumbered, outmatched, and clearly have no way of winning. With the phylactery of Rahovar clutched to her side, Albany turns to combat, hoping to fight their way out. Streloka’s guns blaze with smoke, Alyara clings to her magic even if as it weakens within her, Kaldvic’s blades hiss through the air… but not everyone will come out alive. Someone is going to get hurt. Someone is going to die.

  ACT FIVE

River’s End

            Chapter Thirty-Five

The party returns to the small riverside port for supplies on their way to the mountains, hoping to find someone who can read the infernal langauge of Rahovar’s journal. An uneasy quiet rests over the sisters, neither speaking of the events that had occurred within the college. Bardon has parted from them, heading back to Ambaron to tell the Council of what has occurred leaving the sisters for a time. An evening at the tavern leads to more trouble as Albany teams up with a dwarf to stop a gang from overrunning the village.

Not yet written

  Trust

            Chapter Thirty-Six

Though the dwarf was able to leaad them to someone who could read the inferal inscribed in Rahovar’s journal as well as to Evan Carraway whom Gonqui had mentioned, Albany and Alyara are slow to trust. Knowing that their cause is a questionable one as their goals turn from doing what is right to seeking nothing but revenge, the two are weary of telling their new traveling companions much of anything. Thei distrust grows even further as a new realization dawns on them and they begin to question just who is on their side… and who should cease to exist at all.

“At the heart of our college there is a series of booby trapped staircases, ladders, and doors that all lead to different areas of the castle,” Gonqui told the party as we made our way down the hallways of Castle Cantor. The portraits were now replaced with student work – sculptures of vases and tea cups, paintings of flowers and fruit, a woven tapestry or carpet. Music staff paper was present as well, the ink on the pages faded but still showing the tune well enough where it could be played if one knew how.

Alyara supported the headmaster as best as she could though Streloka stepped in to provide some aid. Bardon was oooh-ing and aaah-ing at every piece of artwork we passed, his fingers gingerly grazing across the pottery and parchment. Kaldvic wore a bitter expression near the back of the group, his fingers still clutched like a vice around the hilt of his now useless blade. I understood his frustration – without a weapon he felt powerless, unable to defend the group as he should… and that made him feel like a failure, reminding him of what he must have felt back when he lived with his tribe in the mountains.

I reached back and tentatively took his free hand, smiling up at him with a brightness I hopes would erase some of that needless guilt. “I’m sure we can find you a new sword.”

He offered a lop-sided grin back but it didn’t meet his scarlet rimmed eyes.

I stood on my tiptoes, pressing a warm kiss to his cheek before releasing him and jogging to meet up with Gonqui and the others.

“-known as Mionetti’s Maze,” the woman continued. I must have missed the beginning. “It belongs to the famous illusionist Davren Mionetti, a crazed man obsessed with riddles and puzzles. Some of the staff disagreed with his methods, many of which were deadly or would put a student’s life at serious risk upon failure.”

“But how does this help us get to where we need to go without Paprika and her group not noticing?” Streloka mused, grunting slightly as we took an unexpected turn and she was forced to bare more of Gonqui’s weight.

“If we are able to pass through the riddles and tests, we will have access to a rather elaborate teleportation system. We could travel o any floor, any room.”

“Uh, and what happens if we fail?” I interjected, not liking the sound of ‘deadly’ and ‘life at serious risk’.

Gonqui sighed, her facial expression looking determined, set, as if she was preparing herself for something. “Those who fail find terrible consequences. Guillotine blades, spiked pits, a room pumped with suffocating fumes, placed into a dimension filled with deadly beasts, or complete desertion in the dark.”

“Peachy,” I muttered. “Mionetti sounds like a super duper swell guy.” My sister gave me a pointed look that screamed ‘Don’t be rude and lose our guide’. I stuck my tongue out at her.

“Why did you agree to keep such a thing around if it was so dangerous?” Alyara asked once she was finished with scolding me. To her the idea was likely disgusting. The mere thought of placing students in such predicaments was unheard of as far as Ninovan culture was concerned. Yes, you learned from mistakes but not by near death experiences.

“Many professors believed it to be a powerful teaching tool. It taught students humility, mortality, and the importance of confidence and self-doubt. The founders were quite barbaric as far as standards go today but at the time this type of practice was acceptable. 

Gonqui pauses then, turning back to eye Bardon and Kaldvic. “The maze entrance should be up ahead, flanked by golden chalices with colored flames erupting from their centers. Leave me with the men, you three go on ahead, you’ve held me up long enough. Keep out of site of the adamantine knights, that woman must have caste a vile spell on them to make them go against their oaths.”

Kaldvic and Bardon took Streloka’s and Alyara’s places at Gonqui’s side. The three of us moved ahead as instructed, poking our heads down hallways and corridors. Several rooms lined the halls, each holding desks and chairs, musical instruments that have long been rusted over and covered in dust, parchment that was crumbling at the edges, and caved in walls. The storm still raged outside though we barely noticed it aside from the mere visual. Whatever dampening spell was present in the foyer covered the entire castle from the weather elements.

“Are we sure we want to do this maze?” Streloka questioned, jogging to our sides after having checked an off passage.

“We don’t really have a choice,” Alyara replied, shrugging a shoulder.

“We don’t have the time to be picky,” I added, running a hand through my still damp hair, pushing the hood down so I could see better. “If Paprika and her merry band of misfits find that key first, Rahovar will be lose once more. I’m not really a fan of letting that happen.”

The three of us took another right down the hall. “That must be it,” my sister pointed forward. Ahead of us rested an ornate archway, bordered by cups that were fit for giants, ever changing flames emitting from them. They changed colors as we approached. The rainbow hues vanished and in their place stood stagnant gray ones. “What you suppose that means?” Alyara leaned forward, eyeing the flames. No heat came from them, no warmth whatsoever.

“It means the maze will allow you to enter,” Gonqui responded, leaning heavily on Bardon whose pinched expression proved that he wasn’t quite able to hold her. My eyes flicked to Kaldvic, curious as to why he wasn’t helping him… only to see his sheer look of exhaustion.

“You alright?” I went to touch him but his smile made me pause

“I raged during that last fight, I think it’s finally hitting me. Well, that and how much damage I took. I’m okay, Albi. Promise.” I eyed him one last time, looking over the length of him for any signs of severe damage that would prove he was lying but found none. He was weak, nothing more.

“Well, if you’re certain…”

“I am.” His fingers laced with mine, giving me a reassuring squeeze.

When Gonqui stepped away from Bardon and towards the archway, the stone wall behind it began to swirl and sway. I instantly thought back to the mirror in the elven ruins, the Feyradain. The very portal Rahovar had used to obtain the talisman that now hung on a cord around my neck. That was how this all started, the horror and terror, the rise to Godhood he so craved. My instincts told me to flee from it… but no. If we wanted to stop Paprika, we had to do this.

The stones took on a sickly purple color, a triangle door knob forming in the lower center of the newly created door. Upon it’s opening the sound of clockwork, ticking and persistent squeals like and out of tune violin, greeted us… along with four very white, very boring walls.

Once we all stepped inside, Gonqui let the door shut… and it disappeared from view altogether. “Guess that means no going back the way we came,” I whispered, feeling more trapped than ever.

A booming, thunderous voice echoed off the walls, “Welcome back Maestra Gonqui, Contralto of the True Song! It has been… quite a very long time since your last visit. The years have been incredibly generous to you!” We could not discern where the voice came from, just that it was present, much like the ticking of the clock and the endless twinge of the violin strings. Much less like the door.

Gonqui replied calmly, as if she had done this many times before, “Not generous enough.” She attempted to stand upright though with must strain on her part. “My companions and I seek safe passage to the higher levels.”

“You understand the terms of the Maze?”

“I do, very well. My friends have been informed of the terms as well. They are willing.”

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but I didn’t necessarily say I was willing to partake in this death stunt. I said it was our only option, sure, but I made no such statement. I had a sinking feeling that informing the voice this would only end in my quick and utter doom.

“Excellent!” Though there was no figure to possess the voice, it sounded thrilled all the same.

Then the room darkened, the floor nearly disappearing until it felt like we were merely floating. Had I not felt the floor beneath my booted feet, I fear I would have panicked right then and there.

Letters formed before Gonqui’s face, illuminated white by an invisible light I couldn’t find, floating mid-air as the voice returned, reading the letters aloud for us. “He who makes this, has no need for it. He who buys this, has no use for it. He who uses this can neither see nor feel it. What is it?”

Gonqui turned to us, speaking quietly, “This question is mine, and mine alone. You four will need to answer the ones that follow. Understood?” We all returned muted nods, the same look of slight horror flickering across our faces. The Maestra returned her attention to the words at hand, musing over the riddle. Her lips parted a few times, an answer on her tongue, but she closes them and changes her mind. Eventually a smile formed on her face.

“A coffin.” Confidence rings in her voice when she speaks.

The letters flashed brilliant green before the bard and then evaporated into the air as if they never belonged to begin with. A light shined down upon her, shimmering particles lazily drifted down. “Well done, Maestra Gonqui, you are free to pass. Your friends, as you know, must perform the first tests before being accepted as easily as you.” The light began to grow in strength, lighting up the tiny room we were in.

Gonqui gave us an apologetic grin. “Please be careful. I understand that time is of the essence but do not be rash and do not use force. The maze is kinder forever more to those who passed the first test logically.” The particles swirled faster, the light grew bright. “I hope to see you all on the other side!” Suddenly the light crashed through the center, the particles expanded nearly blinding us. When we opened our eyes, Gonqui and the light were gone.

“Untested!” boomed the voice, drawing our focus forward. “Let your wits guide you! Here is a simple one!”

A spotlight opened in the center of the room, a large square chest with all flat sides dropped down with a hollow thud. On the floor in front of it read the following, ‘What can you put in a wooden box to make it lighter?’

We turned towards each other, eyebrows knitting together in thought. “You can’t put anything into it, clearly that would make it heavier,” Bardon whispered.

“Are we timed?” Streloka shouted. “Not my answer, just wanting to know. Kay thanks!”

“No.” The voice thundered back. The Dread pirate gave an enthusiastic thumbs up in reply.

“What if…” Streloka mused.

Kaldvic was pacing around the box, sure there was a loophole to the question.

“Holes…” Streloka breathed to herself mostly.

“What?” I asked, my sister gave me a doubtful look. Streloka wasn’t known for her intelligence but... it seemed that she was onto something.

“The answer. Its holes. The answer is holes!” Streloka turned quickly towards the boxes and cried, “Holes!” She pulled out of her gun and in one quick motion put a hole in the box, causing Kaldvic to jump back in surprise before sending an accusatory glare at the pirate.

“Correct!” the voice replied. Alyara’s jaw dropped in surprise. Huh, maybe the pirate knew something after all. It was a pleasant surprise.

Light flooded the room, holes in the walls appeared much like the one that now existed in the trunk. The chest rose up towards the ceiling, bursting with light that spread across the walls as they dissipate. Our party now stood on a solitary platform, floating amid a dizzyingly huge space of grinding clockwork, staircases, ladders, and random assortments of platforms and machinery. Streloka and Bardon looked equal parts amused and awed.

One of the platforms raised to meet us, allowing us to see what stood on it though it still floated several feet above us. Suddenly a ladder dropped from above, connecting the two platforms indicating that we needed to climb… however…

“The bottom five rungs are missing,” Alyara grumbled. Certainly this couldn’t be our test…

Above us, 7 runs now stood in place, notched perfectly into their places. The following letters marked each step going down towards us: O-T-T-F-F-S-S. Suddenly a black cylinder containers landed at our feet, the width long enough to match that of the runs by much longer.

Kaldvic reached down to retrieve the container, opening it. Inside rested five more rungs. He fanned them out on our platform, turning them so we could see their letters: T-T-E-E-N.

“So we have to put the rungs on the ladder? That can’t be too hard,” Bardon snorted, rolling his eyes.

“I’m assuming it’s going to be a little harder than that,” I retorted. “There seems to be a pattern… but...”

“We can’t rearrange the ones up top, can we?” Alyara glanced to the ones that seemed just out of reach.

Kaldvic, being the tallest in the group, reached up, his fingers just being able to curl around the lowest step. He gave it a hefty tug, but the piece refused to budge from its position. “I’m guessing those are stuck, yeah.”

So we couldn’t make out a word. Or phrase. The others quickly went to work trying to figure out the code, the riddle that would be used to unlock it. Streloka was singing sea chanties, hoping one of them would work here somehow. Kaldvic kept moving the five pieces we did have around, snapping his attention up at the seven that were already in place.

I sighed, counting the rungs. One, two, three… okay so seven… “Wait…”

Aly stood up next to me. “What?”

“Watch.” I raised my hand, pointing first at the top rung and then counting downwards. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven… The letters-“

“Match the number they represent!” She reached down, collecting the rungs and held them out in front of us. “So that would mean,” she handed me one of the rungs that had the letter E on it. “Eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.” With each one she gave me, I shoved it into place.

The ladder glowed for a brief moment, a soft clicking sound heard as machinery reached out to solidify the rungs we added.

“Can we climb it now?”

Without hesitation I grasped hold of the rungs, holstered myself up, and made my way up the ladder. “Seems safe enough to me,” I shouted once I hefted my body onto the next platform. Once the other four joined me, walls slammed around us, closing us in. Dozens upon dozens of candles lit, giving us the ability to see once more. We were in a drinking hall, similar to the ones back in Cumberbatch. A long table adorned with food, wooden cups, wine, ale, ornate silverware, and so on sat before us, many people seated in chairs and enjoying the feast. They were oblivious to our presence. 

A stone lion statue rested at the end of the hall, its jaws held wide open as if waiting for a gift. Fine emeralds glowed in the candle light for eyes, beckoning us to venture closer.

As we approached, the letters flashed brightly, the floating letters from earlier appeared over the stone face of the beast. The same voice questions us, “Do nothing but feed me and I may live forever, yet give me a drink and I will die.” The mouth widens, indicating that we needed to place our answer into its muzzle.

“It’s not food or drink…” Bardon declared. “Because neither of those would solve the riddle.”

“Could it be a cup or plate?” Streloka continued. But she shook her head, answering her own question.

Steak, potatoes, beer of all kinds, cups, plates, vegetables, grapes and bananas, some sticky looking gooey stuff I didn’t have a name for, feathers and pins, hair, clothing… none of it made any sense. What could we put in the lion’s mouth? My sister kept picking up random items, even the coat off of a gentleman’s back who paid her no attention. But each item she set back down.

Kaldvic’s lips were tight together, eyes focused in thought. “What about fire?” he turned to us. “You feed it more kindling, leaves, wood… and it keeps going. But if you douse it with water, it goes out.” He reached over and snatched a candle off of one of the sconces, pressing it into the lion’s mouth.

The mouth snapped shut, emerald eyes blasted red. “Did we get it wrong?” I slid in front of Aly, a protective arm out just in case. I could take more brute force than she could.

The stone wall burst in on itself, a thick cloud of smoke and dust and cinders masked where the wall once stood. We were all thrown into fits of coughing, inhaling the smoke and gagging on it. I doubled over, straining to find air, my sister on her hands and knees. Streloka was fanning at the air but her eyes were watering, Bardon had his arm in front of his mouth and nose. Kaldvic looked winded, worse for wear than he did earlier, the smoke worsening his fatigue.

Just as I think I can’t withstand the lack of oxygen any longer… the smoke cleared. A purple door rested before us, a triangle handle nestled in the lower center.

Kaldvic hesitantly eased the door open, taking the leader position just in case we were about to get ambushed.

Instead of being greeted with hordes of hell bent goblins, ghouls, or red caps, we were instead welcomed to a trophy room. “We’re still in the maze,” Kaldvic whispered, barely audible. We hadn’t gotten the question wrong.

The vault was filled with treasures of every variety. Sculptures, jewelry, weapons, armor etched with diamonds, stacks of coins made from every metal from every nation, a large vase, a ticking clock, shields, and carefully woven garments fit for royalty. The vase in the center was the largest piece, standing easily about four feet tall, the center wide and gaping. The lid of the vase floated upwards. Streloka jogged forward, standing on tip toes to peer inside. “It’s just… nothingness. There’s nothing there at all. Just black emptiness.” She shook her head, confused. “I don’t get how this is a puzzle. It’s just an empty vase!”

With a shriek of surprise she jumped back. Each of us began to reach for weapons… only to lower our hands when white letters slid out from inside the vase. ‘What is greater than the Gods, more evil than Devils, the poor have it, the rich need it, and if you eat it, you die?’ Another riddle, another puzzle we had to solve.

“It must be like the lion, we have to put something in it,” Bardon called out from his position somewhere off behind me.

“Much of this seems like it belongs to the rich… not something a poor man would have,” Alyara replied, tossing another gem encrusted amulet to the side, watching as it slid down a pile of golden coins that glittered in the candlelight from the chandeliers.

We searched for the better part of an hour.

“This is so pointless!” Streloka groaned, taking a seat on one of the sofas, the cushions plumping out to support her. “We are wasting time! Rahovar could be back for all we know, Gonqui is probably dead, and Paprika is still singing like a dying goat. I say we break our way out!” She stood then, eyes frantically looking for a door. Growing impatient I watched as she equipped her pistol, taking aim at the vase.

“NO!” I shouted but was too late as the bullet exploded the vase, shattered it. With it the room began to shake, dropping us to our knees. The chandeliers shudder, the crystals clinking together in a frightening way. I could envision them cascading down upon, skewering us in half with their needle tipped edges. It sounded as if stone was being ripped apart, like metal being grated across brick, everything splintering and falling apart. The coins and gems began to shift, they shimmer gone now. The grandfather clocked tumbled to its side, the case it rested in bursting open and spewing its contents onto the marble floor.

The floor gave way, and we all plummeted into darkness.

I screamed, hands shoved out in front of me, wanting to protect myself somehow for an impact I couldn’t’ see coming. I found my sister’s hand, clutching onto it tightly as if doing so would save her, save me.

There was no way I could see it coming, no way I could prevent it seeing as we were plummeted down a pitch black hole, the wind whipping past our ears and ripping our breath from our lungs. Nothing could have warned me, nothing could have prevented it. I cried out as we crashed against floor once more, heard my sister whimper as if something was broken. Streloka was streaming out a line of curse words I didn’t recognize, Bardon yelped on impact, groaning now.

I couldn’t open my eyes, fear told me not to. Every inch of my body ached. Streloka’s voice filtered in through my ears, “They just dropped us. From Gods’ know where… That is NOT okay!”

I could feel gentle hands flutter over me, searching for injuries. “Albi,” Kaldvic’s voice was like honey in my ears. “Get up, you have to get up. The adamantine knights are coming.” I could hear their steps, solid and sure on the granite. 

I pried my eyes open, watching as the world spun around me as Kaldvic lifted me into a standing position. When I saw Aly crumbled on the floor, a moment of clarity washed over me. “Aly!” I shouted, running haphazardly towards her, like a drunkard in a tavern, my footing was unsure. I fell to my hands and knees next to her, turning her over onto her back so I could see her. Her eyes were blinking, trying to focus. “Are you okay? Is anything broken?”

“My ankle…” she barely made out. “It hurts… but not… not broken.” She clung to my arms as I eased her upwards just as the sound of polearms being drawn from their sheaths could be heard.

We were surrounded.

“Prepare yourselves!” Kaldvic called out. I turned to him, prepared to help him attack due to the loss of his sword but… There it was, his blood crystal katana resting in his gloved hand as if it had never been broken to begin with.

“What…” I began but the screech of the adamantine soldier launching his attack at me caught my attention.

His pole arm came down with a heavy swing. I held my greatsword out in front of me like a shield, the pole landing in the middle of the blade, grating heavily as he were forced into a battle of strength. Blood oozed from my fingertips where I gripped the fine edge. If I lost, the tip of his spear would spike me through my head… and he was clearly winning. With a grunt, I quickly bowed back, breaking contact and dropping my sword to my side, leaning just enough out of the way to watch as the spear slammed down in the spot I had just stood at. I smiled in victory…

A little too quickly. His shield bashed outwards, making contact with my torso, whooshing the air from me as I launched backwards. I landed hard on my back, legs and arms sprawled at my sides. I didn’t have time to recover as the soldier charged me, raiding his polearm to shank me through the gut…

When Kaldvic’s blood crystal blade swooped in to block the attack. I rolled to the side, crouching briefly before jumping back into an offensive position. Kaldvic’s wide eyes, the way he moved so quickly… he was in a rage, ready for anything. When the pole came down again, he easily deflected it with a flick of his wrist. But then, I heard it again, The sound of the crystal breaking, of it falling apart. Before my eyes I watched as Kaldvic’s sword repaired itself mid swing as he moved to cleave the knight along his arm. “How is that possible…?” I whispered.

Before I could get my answer I heard a cry from across the field.

Alyara was flying her magic about the room, the air shook and vibrated with the force of it. It crackled and hissed, bended to her will. As she shot a blast forward of pinprick needles, she shouted, pushing as much solid energy as she could behind the spell. The needles rained down upon the adamantine suite of armor, causing it to real backwards… Where Streloka was waiting to pepper it with her burrowing bullets.

Displeased with the pirate, the knight snatched the gun from Streloka’s hands, and crushed it.

Streloka’s mouth popped open… then her face began to redden with anger. She equipped her hammer, her fingers gripping the shaft tightly, a determined look on her face. “You, bastard, broke my gun!”

I heard the clatter of metal as Kaldvic dispatched of the suit he had been working on, its pole arm dropped and shield forgotten. Between the four of us, Bardon cowered in the corner of the room, we finished off the final knight.

By the time we were finished we were panting hard, our bodies finally fully realizing the effects of the fall. Most of us held our sides or arms, cradled bruised limbs and hands.

“Where do we-“ Streloka began, hammer held over her shoulder.

“There you are!” Gonqui’s voice echoed through the hall, greeting us. “I went to where the maze should have dropped you off at after doing my own exploring but didn’t find you. I feared the worst.”

“If you call falling through a trap door downwards about fifty feet not ‘the worst’, okay,” I muttered in reply, still rubbing the back of my head. To be fair, we could have been dropped into a spike trip, left in an airless room, poisoned to death, or introduced to a new manner of beast rather than the knights. But instead we had been kindly dropped right at the entrance to the Maze, back to where we started.

I hadn’t been paying full attention to what the woman was saying, catching only the end of it. “-in the library. Whatever they were searching for must have been there.”

We followed her through winding hallways, through stone archways, up long lengths of stairs, and past several dorm rooms until we finally reached our destination. The doors were violently broken into, books were scattered every which way as if Paprika and her group had been maddeningly looking for something. Most of the shelves were bare, their contents spilled over the floor, resting on chairs. Some were flipped open though I assumed it was more or less because they landed that way.

Bardon quickly busied himself, head deep into a book as he made himself a seat. Streloka looked bored, books didn’t interest her. Alyara was adding some to her pack, ones I was certain she planned on looking into later.

I ran my fingers along the dusty wooden tables, staring at the unlit candles. What had they been searching for? In front of me rested four books, stacked neatly together. Khopesh Technique, Smoke and Mirrors, Conjuring Light and Darkness, and Reaching Across the Planes were the titles. I arched a brow. These had nothing in common with each other.

“What do you have there?” Kaldvic poked his head over my shoulder, hands gently placed on my sides so he could see what I was looking at. I slid my thumb over the pages of each book, trying to find something in the margins, something that stuck out.

On the final book, Kaldvic reached around me, opening it to the front page where names were written of those who had checked the book out from the library. “Each of these, the last person to have the book last,” Kaldvic began, reaching for the next book and doing the same thing, “Was someone named Samuel Stillwater. Does that mean anything to us?” I shook my head, biting at my bottom lip. “Didn’t think so.” To Gonqui he asked, “Does that name ring a bell to you? Samuel Stillwater?”

Gonqui thought for a moment then sighed. “That was so long ago… perhaps… perhaps the ceiling can tell us.” She grabbed one of the books and made her way out of the library. “I’m sure you saw the ceiling create stories for you in the foyer. It shows you what is to come or what has already happened. I’m hoping that it will show me what this boy looks like. Maybe if I have a face, I will recognize him.” Opening the book to the front cover, she raised the book towards the ceiling while saying, “Samuel Stillwater!”

The images contorted and changed until a young boy stood in front of us, painted in ink.

The spitting image of a young Rahovar.

Our party quickly fell quiet.

“I know this boy,” Gonqui mused, eyes clouding over as she revisits memories she thought were forgotten. “Samuel was a very bright boy, very gifted. He took to channeling energy at the age of six. Castle Cantor took him in as soon as we heard about him, and it’s a good thing we did. The boy was an aasimar, of all things.” Aasimars were akin to angels, beings who had forgotten their true selves and fell to the worlds as half-beings. They were wondrous creatures… or in this case, evil ones. “But… Well, he went missing when he turned eleven. He was away from school on a holiday trip and his village was raided. We assumed he had died.”

I suddenly remembered the Pool of Restoration, the images Pavati had showed us. “He didn’t die,” I whispered. “The bandits took him, abused him… tortured him… They were vampires and eventually he became one too.”

My sister continued, “The came to call him Rahovar, the God of Tears, as he rose in rank, slaughtering anyone that stepped in his path.”

“Sam? My Sam did… what?” Gonqui paled, her hands trembling at her sides, eyes wide.

“He did a lot more than that… He’s the reason we are here.” Kaldvic rubbed the back of his head, turning his attention to Gonqui. “Rahovar has become a God… or he tried to, he nearly made the wood elf race extinct in the process, overturning their whole civilization, crushed their connection to the catfolk… He nearly became King to Cumberbatch, destroyed and obliterated the harbor of Moffat… And now he has a few new puppets.”

“But… I…” Gonqui shook her head in disbelief.

Everything made sense. Of course, of course Rahovar would need to come back here. There must be something he needs, something he can use to escape. And perhaps there could be information for us on how to find it… or weaken him. “Can you show us to where his room was?”

Gonqui nodded curtly before leading us quickly towards the end of the hall way, to the left, and further. She came to a room, the door already busted through much like everything else that was left in the wake of the party of four. The room was torn apart, the bed amiss, belongings broken and taking up much of the floor. Aside from that, it looked like every other dorm room we had passed.

Except the ceiling was painted black.

“Impossible!” breathed Gonqui. “No paint can cover the artwork the castle creates…”

“Clearly someone didn’t want his secrets out in the open,” Streloka retorted, skimming over Rahovar’s previous belongings.

It was uncomfortable, being in the room of the man that destroyed my childhood. It almost felt as if I was in a dream, sleep walking as my eyes lazily took in my surroundings. Everything looked so… normal… if you ignored the black covering above our heads. How could someone so evil have started out as someone so good? What made Rahovar, Samuel Stillwater, turn from a devoted healer into a madman bent on becoming a God?

“Paprika and her gang aren’t very bright. They leave a mess but the important stuff is always out in the open, neatly placed.” Kaldvic was waving two more books back in forth. “One is in infernal, it looks like a diary of sorts.” We would have to find someone to translate it for us, there had to be information inside we could use, something to benefit us. A weakness anything. “The other… it’s basically everything there is to know about Gods… how they come into being. Their grand or terrible deeds, ridding themselves of all earthly tether, and where they can resi-“

“Wait, wait,” Alyara cut in. “Rid themselves of their early tether?”

“Right,” Kaldvic skimmed through the page. “As in, they cannot be bound to this world by any means. Any spells cast on them must be broken, any item of their used to track need to be destroyed, and so on.”

Gonqui’s quiet voice silenced us, “You said you were here looking for a key? Perhaps it isn’t a key… If what you said about Sam is true, if he truly is this Rahovar, striving to achieve Godhood… Then one thing that would be stopping him is his phylactery. We take a sample of blood from every student, in case they go missing, and store it in a chamber. We never get rid of them so even students who have passed or left our halls, we still have their phylacteries.”

Alyara’s voice sounded like death, fear laced its way in. “That means… That means that Paprika is looking for that phylactery, wanting to break it… so Rahovar can finally be free.”

“Can you take us to the chamber they are held in?” Bardon requested.

Gonqui fled from the room. Whatever weakness she had before now was either gone or being blatantly ignored. “Quickly, this way!”

----

“It’s just through that door up ahead,” she instructed, her breath coming in ragged puffs as she doubled over, hands on her knees for support. “Go on, I’ll… I’ll try to undo whatever mad spell that vile woman cast on the guards, perhaps they can come to our aid.”

We quickly shared a glance, each face looking paler than the one before it.

As we neared the door, the sound of glass breaking and gruff noises could be heard, as if a there was a heated discussion going on. When we opened the door, we saw Paprika in the corner, eyeing herself in one of the reflections of the little vials I assumed held the phylacteries while three men with glass mugs sat around a board on a table, shouting at each other.

“Will you three please hurry, we don’t have much time. Rahovar requires that we finish our job here so we can ascend with him,” Paprika cooed, fanning herself.

Streloka’s eyes were scanning the shelves. “There,” she whispered, pointing towards one of the back shelves opposite to where Paprika stood. “That’s where the S’s start. His should be over there. Albany, we’ll cause a distraction you race ahead and grab it, okay?” I gave an uneasy bob of my head in understanding. Right, we could do this, just had to grab it, keep it, and don’t let it break. We could do that, right? Right. Sure we could.

Oh jeez, I felt like I was going to vomit.

The five of us launched into the room, weapons quickly being drawn. I couldn’t see what the others were doing, I zeroed in on the vials. Without hesitation I began searching, plucking glass bobbles from the shelves and tossing them to the ground, in a mad dash to find the one I needed.

“What are you doing?!” shrieked Paprika and within seconds I felt her fingers on my back, trying to pry me away from the wall. I could hear the sound of a fight beyond, the other four of my party locked into battle with the three thugs that sat at the table. Paprika would be my concern. I retched my elbow backwards her, leveling her right below the ribs. I heard a satisfying whoosh of air slam out of her lungs. I snapped my fist around as I turned, smacking her square between the eyes. She stumbled backwards, trying to recover, as I went back to my task at hand.

Fingers curled around the back of my head, and slammed me forward, bashing my skull against the shelves. I saw stars swim in my vision. Once… Twice… Three times… Each time more glass bit into my skin, my vision clouded further, and my head throbbed louder. When she reeled back, ready for her fourth face plant, I snatched a vial and dug it behind me, letting the glass act as a weapon as it chewed up her hands.

“You little BITCH! You will not thwart me from my duties!” she screamed, blood leaking from her nose and wrist. “Rahovar must be reborn! You will NOT WIN!”

When I looked back to the shelf, I gasped in surprise. There it was! I grabbed Rahovar’s phylactery, tying it to my belt, I settled a glare with Paprika, readying my bow…

“NOOO!” Alyara’s scream blasted through the room. I turned just in time to watch a svirnifblim man thew a crystal into the room, in the center of the phylactery vault. Glass started to shatter around us, the wind picked up as it careened madly off of the walls.

“Run!” Kaldvic shouted. The five of us turned, beginning our dash for the doors…