Chapter 14 - Saga 3, Anything’s Fate
Journey Into Deverenia
*
The valiant group visited the little inn on the outskirts of Anything, each with his own thoughts on leaving the place they so often called home.
They slept and awoke, eating one last paltry meal before setting out on a hopeless journey across the unimaginable expanse of Lore.
Their destination was the land of Deverenia, as DarkKnightZach led the way. The march was quiet, unsettling. Many from the group had long forgotten what Lore was like outside of Anything. They traveled through roads both wide and narrow, paths lost to the ages and routes brand new. Already they felt as though they’d traveled farther than was necessary on their previous journeys. They half expected Haplo’s castle to appear in the distance, dark and looming, but familiar, a sickening comfort in a foreign land.
Conversation was forced, provisions picked at lightly, moods unsure, as then Advocate received some reconnaissance information from a scout penguin. The lycanthrope advocate announced the findings to the rest of the crew, a thorough report on structures, population, points of interest. The information was a godsend, as the land already felt less mysterious
They continued with renewed vigor, sure of their goal, confident in the eventual outcome.
And soon, it appeared; the gates to the Deverenian Empire in Lore.
All took a deep breath, exchanging anxious glances, then entered.
*
DarkKnightZach smiled at the sight of the blackiron abounding in his view, cathedral spires piercing the sky and murmurs of the Storm all around. He silently led the others through the city, navigating the back alleys with ease, soon finding a fine inn.; They entered the tavern and discussed further plans, those being that Archer and Zach would visit LordAmon and see if they could persuade the Devs to uphold their cause for any potential upcoming war. The DarKnight assured the Trog that Deverenia would rise to the aid of Anything in its darkest hour.
The others bought sufficient lodging for the night, anticipating their return.
*
CardinalofPain glared at the brutish one. “Pleasureth to see you Zach, but whoeth is thiseth…?”
“Oh, don’t worry, he’s cool.” The knight lent a big grin, Archer rolling his eyes.
“Hm. Good enough, I supposeth. Thou may accompany him toeth LordAmon’s throne roometh.”
The two nodded, Zach offering a small bow of respect, Archer following suit. They walked down the ornate sunlit hall, admiring the exquisite Deverenian craftsmanship splayed over every square inch of their surroundings. Fine wood, finer steel, and finest jewels adorned the walls and furniture, covered and traced with expensive silk of different hues.
Amon actually met them before they entered him throne room, eagerly dashing down the hall, laughing. “Ah, DarkKnightZach, so good to see you- who’s this?” He frowned, as Archer began to explain, with Zach lending confirmation.
Soon the discussion turned heated as they adjourned to a private bargaining room, each sitting at a decorative table. What followed was a thorough discussion of Anything, and why the Deverenians should care, much less why they should rise to arms if everything panned out. Archer wove a keen tale of darkness and corruption, Zach admiring the way he kept Amon enraptured for the while. The Deverenian Mod had few questions, and responded to many statements with a serious nod. After the talk, he rose, extending his hand.
“You can be assured that you have allies here, if it is indeed true that Anything is being driven into oblivion and that dark action shall take many victims with it. I won’t stand for such deeds in Lore. Besides, it’s not like we’re busy doing much else! Perhaps we’d even welcome such a challenge. Anything I can do to help, fellow Mod.”
Archer shook his hand in vehement agreement, overjoyed, trying not to show it. Zach chuckled, a proud moment.
It had begun.
*
The victorious two got back to the tavern, as the other members of the New Fellowship clamored to know of their success, cheering when told of the new alliance. Somehow amidst the happy laughter and general merrymaking, Archer managed to grumble, asking of the cost of the rooms they’d be using for the night.
“Ah, but that’s the brilliant thing, it’s all for free! Bread and ale, too!” CardinalFang grinned, as Drexlin wondered if he should be offended at the very subtle slight against his own ale. DarkGuardian finished Fang’s ego trip, “See Arch, we forget, Fang’s a Cardinal, too. Now, had he still been the festering object of utter repugnancy he once was, we’d probably be in steep dept, but as it stands, he turns out to be quite a suave negotiator now.” Fang offers a grin to match, leaning against the wall and letting his sharp suit show in the torchlight.
Another triumph, it seems. ShadowStar thought it was good to end the day on such a good note.
*
Stormcrow was the first one up the next morning. Actually, he never fell asleep. When Advocate_of_Lycanthrope tried to inquire why, the keen elf enigmatically replied “Don’t you know? I’m a lizard now! Hahaha!” AOL slowly backed away from the creature, only to bump into Ter-Soth, who’d also apparently been awake the whole night. As if reading Advocate’s mind, the being of light uttered “Yes, I’ve been pacing hereabout for the whole night. My mind is consumed with thought, I am unable to attain slumber. However, I do not require it, as I am now a being of reason.” The penguin tried to stammer a reply, utterly failing, completely lost in the deep gaze of Ter-Soth’s bright, blank eyes.
Soon the others were up and about, which AOL now sorely appreciated. “Good morning all!” he beamed cheerily. DarkGuardian, seasoned dwarven adventurer, sufficed to just look at him funny.
YOYOY was content to wait until the last possible minute to go down for breakfast, as he seemed busy with his writing, furiously scribing, quill dancing among parchment as if powered by the fullness of the dawn.
General_Lund slept like the dead. Heh.
Archer managed to round everyone up for their meal and soon, they were on their way.
*
“Dwarven Caves next, right Arch?” The Trog turned to Throg. “Yes, to the Dwarven Caves.” Acid_Flux nodded, seeming uneasy as the group marched along toward the outskirts of the Empire. “I don’t suppose we expect to encounter much opposition, huh?” The sharp-shooting space marine nervously tapped his holstered weapons, trigger fingers itching, gleaming new metallic weaponry crying out to be unleashed. “No, I don’t think…”
The gate was in view. Above it on either side were guard nests atop the boundary walls. An archer was ready in one, the other empty for now. A mighty knight rode on horseback nearby, a wizard exiting out a nearby sorcerer’s spire. In the distance was a rumble, but none of these concerned our valiant party as they suddenly stopped in their tracks.
Something had exploded into existence directly in front of them, closest to Archer, Acid, and Zach who were front and point. It was a being, dark, ominous, demonic in appearance. It grinned as the smoke that was sheathing it previously now began to dissipate.
It then grinned, nastily, as it began to speak. “Ah, you must be the ones. The courageous heroes, out to save Anything! So noble of you.” Behind him was a malevolent cackle as the archer dropped from his nest, sharp-eyed members of our group noticing a strange jagged projectile stuck in his neck. Oh, and his back, and his side…
The wizard was also soon similarly disabled, sickening sounds of ripped flesh marking his fall to the ground before he could try a spell. The knight quickly drew a massive sword, rearing his steed, only to be decapitated in a thoroughly talented manner by a whirling maelstrom of a swordsman, the killing stroke delivered in midair while the assailant was upside-down.
Upon landing he slowly strode over beside and behind the demon, looking to the world like a deadly samurai, only seeming more sinister, more vicious. This warrior drew a second sword, growling, clearly engaged in battle fury. A third, the one responsible for the wizard and archer, soon joined them, a tall, dark being robed in black, cape tracing his steps.
Archer stood firm, choking down a nervous gasp, knuckles whitening of their own accord. The others in the group froze, startled, not making the first move, no, not yet, wondering. Acid glared, BadAcid overtaking him.
It was Zach who dared break the tension, “Who are you?” He spat the words out like bitter venom of disgust. The lead demon laughed. “Glad you asked. I am nightcrawler. My comrades are BATMAN and Manji.” At each name, a motion to his sides.
Archer had several additional pertinent questions in mind, choosing to begin with “What’re you doing here?”
The threesome laughed, Nightcrawler mockingly bowing to Batman who now responded, “Isn’t it obvious? We’re here to… stop you.” Manji laughed, a horrible, dark, frightening laugh that seemed to erupt from the bowels of Hades and emerge from his callous lips like crimson death.
DarkGuardian spoke up, figuring he had nothing to lose, “Why?”
The swordsman responded this time. “We were… appointed, to stop you from going further. You cannot stop the fall of Anything.”
YOYOY chuckled, all eyes turning to him. “If we can’t stop it, then why are you needed? If nothing can be done about it, then why not let us go on our merry way, if our effort is so futile?”
The tension tangibly heightened as all attention turned back to Manji. “Well, we can’t have rabble-rousers in Lore, can we? All you Anythingers and other pathetic minions were supposed to die with your beloved realm. Survivors, troublemakers, are unacceptable.”
Stormcrow’s hands were shaky. He was trying to coolly calculate, figure out how fast he could draw his bow, ready an arrow, and fire. He decided against rash action, electing rash words instead. “You seem to forget who you’re dealing with. You’re looking at the Fellowship, the band that repelled Archer’s Army and assaulted Haplo’s keep. You’re looking at the legendary adventurers of old. And we’ve brought some friends. What makes you think you can-”
A foot exploded in front of the elf’s face and promptly kicked it harshly, the elven archer knocked flat on his back, the evil threesome laughing. “We know fully well of whom we’re dealing with, brash elf.”
Advocate couldn’t stand it, shaky, sweating, expecting his death any second, the moment being too big, too significant. Why hadn’t the battle yet begun? Any second now, a bomb primed to blow big. He then frowned. “Hey, ugly, how’d you know we were here-”
A batarang blew towards his face. However, it stopped in midair, Advocate summoning his telekinesis, frenzied mind only awaiting the chance to rip the adversaries into a few thousand pieces. AOL grinned in triumph, only for nightcrawler to bamf a punch in the gut, following a half-second later with a wicked cross that sent him sprawling, batarang dropping to the ground.
Weapons were drawn and the battle began, as Deverenian authorities were slowly roused, yet unable to jump in, seeking only to keep civilians back as they watched in quiet fear.
*
DG swung his massive hammer at the mutant and actually connected, knocking the teleporter into the sky, only to watch as he exploded in midair, appearing behind the dwarf and kicking him to the ground, evilly chuckling as he prepared to dig a heel into DarkGuardian’s temple.
However, the dwarf was fortunate, as he was saved by Drexlin, awkwardly swinging an empty mug at nightcrawler, which actually caused him to teleport away, dodging the threat to his repulsive skull.
DKZ drew a dagger and stepped up to Batman, taking a lethal swing, the fellow dark knight obliging to dodge the blade and counter with a savage jab, Zach blocking it and countering it with a forward kick, Batman blocking it and countering with a kick of his own, Zach catching it and twisting, Batman turning with the twist and swinging his other foot toward Zach’s head, Zach ducking and forced to release his grip, Batman pivoting and trying another kick, Zach blocking and taking a stab with the dagger, Batman amazingly swiveling out of the way and catching Zach’s wrist and twisting it, Zach turning into Batman and shoving an elbow towards the masked marauder, this time connecting with his chest and forcing him back off his wrist, however, Batman able to swing an arm out and land a lucky cut on Zach’s brow with a bat-styled blade.
The two were then apart again, fighting stances at ready, Zach quickly wiping his brow before the blood hit his eye, Batman taking a breath to recover what air was knocked out of him. Eight seconds and the two had already fought in a spectacular fashion that rivaled any previous hand-to-hand skirmish in Lore.
And they were only getting started.
Acid_Flux drew his new pistols and began spitting plasma rounds at Manji as he ran toward him. Miraculously, Manji was deflecting each and every shot with deft swordplay too quick for even Acid’s eyes to fully realize, the blade warrior waiting for Acid to close the distance, shooting the NoThRoG a look that dared him to come closer, come to my katanas and feel pain, for your blood is thick and they are thirsty…
Nightcrawler began rapidly teleporting, landing solid blows on YOYOY, Advocate, CardinalFang, Shadowstar, and General_Lund. Each Fellowship member hit the ground before any was aware what hit him. Nightcrawler took a second to cruelly laugh, giving each temporarily-defeated hero time to draw their weapons. Advocate managed to find a pair of Maulers and began blasting at the demon, only to see his efforts waft harmlessly through puffs of smoke.
YOYOY swung his club, nightcrawler teleported, Lund swung his sword, nightcrawler teleported, CardinalFang swung, nightcrawler teleported, Shadowstar tried to land a hit, nightcrawler teleported. Each was already becoming frustrated with Nightcrawler’s display of dodging ability. While nightcrawler effortlessly continued tearing in and out of existence, the crew was quickly becoming fatigued.
Stormcrow stepped up beside DakKnightZach. Each looked to the other, and exchanged a nod that communicated an entire conversation, its full, deep meaning never to be fully appreciated across the span of Lore as the elf drew a bone dagger, each then stepping forward to challenge Batman.
The caped crusader grinned as he popped something on his belt. Soon the air was hazy as dark vapors completely enshrouded the vision of any nearby. Zach swung his weapon forward blindly, furiously slicing the air in a desperate dance before a heel connected with his ribs, a burning sensation unfolding as he barely managed to stay on his feet, using that luck to offer a rapid counter, his own heel spinning out to greet Batman, who couldn’t have had time to move from his position.
However, Batman had rolled away, and Zach had just nailed Stormcrow in the face, now apparent in the clearing of the vapor. The elf clenched his teeth and cursed, the Deverenian trying to apologize, but in the heat of the moment the elf had already sprung to his feet and swiped for Zach’s jugular as the fearsome DarkKnight blocked the strike with his own blade, now gritting his own teeth as well. Aggression unfurled in their souls, as memories of past quarreling began to stir.
Archer had been watching and had his giant Bow of Flaming at ready, now firing at Batman, a lit bolt erupting against his back as he lurched forward, fire blazing forth as he tumbled across the rough ground of the Deverenian Empire outskirts.
The enemy lightly giggled maliciously, rising to his feet. “You forget, Emperor, that you are powerless outside Anything.” Batman then leapt forward at Archer, as the two began a brutal fistfight, Batman’s sheer cunning and dexterity against Archer’s brute force and merciless rage.
Soon the former ruler of Anything was driven to his knees, as he curled up and bravely took the blows. Batman ruthlessly beat him, pounding all over his prone frame, bashing him in at every vulnerable spot he could find. This continued until Batman was tired, withdrawing to take a few breaths.
At this, Archer rose to his feet, standing straight as to make Batman aware of his immense size as he grinned. “You forget, rook, that I’ve been around a lot longer than you have. Even if I’m not a Mod here, I can still take your puny pokes all day without a scratch. I’m tough like that.”
Batman’s eyes widened in abject horror as the troglodyte then grasped him firmly in his right hand, which he noticed was slick. “You got him, slick?” His right hand then laughed, an uproarious sound made further humorous by its high pitch, shrill and grating. “You got it, boss!” Sounded like a chipmunk or something.
Archer then clenched his enormous left fist and pulled it back, still grinning toothily as slick rose into the air, Batman now helplessly hanging high in the air. The batman began muttering something, probably objections, but it was too late. The Mod of Anything drove his arm forward and drilled Batman, the utterly powerful impact causing nearby windows to shatter as the resulting boom echoed throughout the Deverenian Empire. Batman’s body shot off like a rocket with a cartoonish scream of pain, landing somewhere too far to see.
Acid_Flux stopped firing at the blade master, muttering a curse and holstering his plasma pistols in stark disbelief. He began to retreat, only to find Manji advancing, threatening to lunge at any moment.
That moment did not come, for DarkKnightZach had entered the fray and swung a sheer steel dagger towards Manji, who blocked it nonchalantly, slowly, dramatically turning his head to the Deverenian Knight who dared challenge him. He then blocked another blade from Stormcrow, his icy skeletal weapon clashing against katana. Manji then performed a neat pirouette, spinning on a heel and bringing both blades to the previous position of the other. The elf and Dev barely caught the strokes, a little off guard.
YOYOY jogged up and swung his club, Manji blocking it with his foot (yes, you had to see it, jaw-dropping stuff) and somehow throwing another kick in a jump that also thrust his swords out again, the three Fellowship members straining to counter his blinding agility.
A deadly dance began, as YOYOY, Stormcrow, and DarkKnightZach all unceasingly tried to take the fearsome foe down, swinging and lunging and countering and parrying and fighting as they had never fought before. Yet, somehow, through forces surely beyond this world, Manji was blocking each attempt and making a serious effort of his own to take out all three. He did this flawlessly, smoothly, each step landing as surely as though it’d been choreographed.
This continued for a while as all bystanders watched in awe, except the other Fellowship members who were busy trying to kill nightcrawler.
Then General Lund plodded over to the brawl. “I’ll handle this one, guys.” He drew his sword again as the threesome all-too-gladly withdrew from the skirmish. He calmly walked over to Manji. The swordsman allowed him to get close, then began rotating his swords rapidly in the air in an impressive fashion before cramming both blades into Lund’s chest, the blades protruding from his back.
Lund winced, Manji drawing more blades, not yet satisfied. Soon Lund was practically a pincushion, a dozen blades piercing his every vital spot, a dagger through his temple, shivs through his knees, a sai bleeding his gut.
The mercenary general chuckled, bringing his own sword down upon Manji, taking him completely by surprise. The mighty stroke cleaved him in two, the fleshy tearing causing a horrible noise and an even worse mess.
The general then dropped to the ground, by all means dead, but seconds later got up and brushed himself off, wounds gone without a trace, body anew.
Meanwhile, nightcrawler was growing frustrated, finding this Fellowship to be made of sterner stuff than he had assumed. ShadowStar actually managed a blow upon him, driving him against the wall of a nearby building. The thirteen surrounded him, each sense’s on edge, ready for any sudden moves.
The beast breathed heavily, chest heaving. He then cried out, screaming in a morbid manner, before ripping apart, his limbs now exploding in separation from his body.
This was new, something they hadn’t yet seen, couldn’t prepare for. For each of his limbs now kept bursting in and out of the air, throwing phantom kicks and punches at a rate now quadrupled, several dozen blows landed in the first couple seconds. Advocate_of_Lycanthrope was then singled out, as the four extremities beat him to a pulp in a single moment, penguin boy crumbling to the ground in agony.
The nightcrawler then appeared at a safe distance from the group, laughing maniacally with power. He went into a boxing stance, then began throwing punches. Each time he thrust an arm forward, his hand would vanish, only to instantaneously nail a Fellowship member in the face. In this way, the Fellowship was helpless to advance, taking the beating, cowering back, the stars floating amongst their craniums distracting them from reasonable thought.
That is, except Ter-Soth, who until now had done absolutely nothing to contribute to the melee. He had remained standing completely still throughout the entire affair, basking in his own invulnerability, perhaps waiting until he was surely needed. Apparently, the moment had now come, his patience growing thin perhaps.
Because when nightcrawler’s fist next went for Ter-Soth, the glowing one caught it in a flash of light, then pulling on it, and resultantly tugging the transporter through, his body emptying in front of our former boy scout through the gap in space. Ter-Soth kept a firm grim on nightcrawler’s hand, staring down at the pitiful demon below him, who was now whimpering pathetically as Ter-Soth grew brighter, his eyes ablaze, countenance unaffected as he spoke.
“Leave.”
He then shoved the monstrosity back, nightcrawler disappearing as soon as possible. This time, he did not reappear in the immediate vicinity.
The party breathed a sigh of relief, Drexlin emphatically declaring a drink break, nearby Deverenian spectators now deciding to offer cheering and applause.
*
“I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit.”
Archer stared into space, his line of sight piercing the corner tavern table at which he was sitting, considering the recent battle. DarkGuardian sat nearby, moving a little closer now to engage in a private talk. “What’s on your mind?” Archer grumbled. “They knew exactly what we were doing, and where we were. They’d been chosen to stop us. By who?” DG sighed. “Probably the same person who instigated the fall of Anything. A fair assumption.”
Archer shook his head. “But how did they know where to find us? Aren’t we the only ones who know of our quest? Except…” Archer turned still. “Kelanor.”
“You really think it’s Kel?” Archer shrugged. “We can’t assume anything, but I did talk of our plans to him before we left. If he is, indeed, the one who initiated the corrosion of Anything, surely he’d try to stop us from there. Somehow recruiting those three would seem to fit.”
DG nodded. “But you don’t really think it’s him, do you?” Archer remained silent in his thoughts, the dwarf continuing in a lower tone. “If it’s not him, perhaps the culprit, the very one we’re after, is among our ranks.” Archer slowly looked up, inconspicuously studying the other members of the Fellowship crew. “JWalker. Think he’d know? Certainly he has the means of tracking us, perhaps hearing every word we’ve spoken, even. This orb…”
Archer drew the sphere from a pocket, holding it carefully before the dwarf. “I’m not so sure about it.” DarkGuardian nodded, understanding, his gaze unable to pierce the intricate clouding of the orb’s interior. He suddenly felt cold, afraid. “I have a very bad feeling about this. I don’t think those three will be the only surprise in store.”
Slick was silently taking note of every word said.
Archer grinned, trying not to despair. “Yeah.” He looked from the orb to the rest of the Fellowship. “JWalker withstanding, do any of them have the means to communicate our intentions outside the group?” DG followed, turning to the crew.
Stormcrow sat at the next table over, hunched over an arrow, studying it intently. He then drew a fine blade, its edge glinting in the dim light as he carved some added lettering into its shaft.
YOYOY sat next to him, scribing something on a scroll, occasionally pausing to consider his next words, his quill operating on precision.
Across from them sat Advocate, postmaster general of Anything, calibrating a steely device he held in his hands now, a small remote with a thin antenna. He tucked it away in his pack, along with his other equipment for postal work and penguin commanding. A Mauler poked out, AOL frowning at it.
Next to him sat Acid_Flux, grinning as he discovered a comlink in his wrist, seeming to only now find it for the first time, trying it out, as if somewhere, someone would happen to be listening.
Nearby, ShadowStar stood against the wall, as if he wanted to be alone. He drew one of his Mod blades, admiring its craftsmanship, wondering how it’d do in this foreign land, and how much more powerfully it’d strike in the Free Kingdoms.
Archer and DarkGuardian looked back to each other. “Keep our eyes open?” Archer nodded grimly. “Yeah. Something’s definitely wrong here.”
And before they knew it, preparations were being made to visit the Dwarven Caves.
*
© Eric Bailey