ToL » The Chronicles of Anything » Chapter 27 - Saga 4, Conundrum

Chapter 27 - Saga 4, Conundrum

Complications in the Caves

*

YOYOY could hear them laughing. Here he plodded, in the back, as they passed the guards. DarkGuardian didn’t just provide clearance for the group, he even prompted them to bow at his presence. However, he was nothing but humble about it, introducing them to his friends and former Fellowship mates. Eyes widened at the mentioning of the heroes of Anything, saviors of a realm, more flowery speech, something about an honor to have you here…

The scribe had chills. Not just running up and down his spine, but throughout his entire self, throughout the physical, mental, emotional aspects of his identity, all currently in a state of shuddering. He drew his hood and tightened his cloak, balling up fabric in his fists as if a child hiding under a blanket.

An intense feeling of melancholy overcame him, a depression setting into his very soul. Thus his final aspect, spiritual, was affected. He sighed, in the back, unheard of, unnoticed. Ahead they continued laughing, pats on the back, old stories recounted, YOYOY, the Chronicler! reduced to a burden upon them, a mere piece of baggage they had to carry around.

He kept checking himself, sure he was still quite self-aware. This only disturbed him more, as he realized that these feelings of despondency were not derived of his demonic resident. No, these feelings were sincere, and true.

The writer blinked out the first of a series of cold tears, the sensation lost amidst his feelings of already being cold, wet, dirty, much less alone, unwanted, heavy. He coughed, wiping his nose which he now realized was running. Apparently he was crying in full earnest effort now. Silently sobbing, he continued following the others.

Then, they truly entered the Caves.

The entrance passageway does no justice to the majesty, the glory of the Dwarven Caves. The entire metropolis, long ago having to originally been carved from the very rock of mountain and middle earth as a start. All joking, nostalgia, story-telling and well-wishing ceased as the adventurer party stepped into the initial coliseum.

To call it a ‘coliseum’ is so awkward, so disgraceful, so shameful. If you can imagine being within the interior of a room so large that the very exterior of a mountain serves as its boundary, you only have a crude understanding. You can crane your neck and squint your eyes and never perceive the top of the room. Yet by dwarven ingenuity, the entire room (to call it a room, how utterly ignorant!) is well lit. Within, if you’re not accustomed to the sight, one is easily overwhelmed by the feeling of being cast to the very bottom of the universe, left to observe the twinkling points of flaming starlight in the light years away.

YOYOY had been here before, many times, but each time could not help but take a few minutes of vast, sincere appreciation. Within his castle walls he held writings of this race’s extraordinary industriousness, accounts of feats he doubted many knew or appreciated.

For instance, the cave forests. Minutes of exploring their realm will find many wooden articles about their abodes, businesses, tools and items. You may even catch a glimpse of a vast cart trawling wood behind it, tree trunks ready to be processed and used in manufacturing elsewhere. What you may not realize is that the dwarves do not harvest these growths from the mountain trees or surrounding woods, nay, they have their very own forest. Deep within the cave networks, where so few humans have been, there are entire self-supporting ecosystems that provide the hardy beings of resources at ready supply. The inconceivable architectural design and implementation involved in creating and maintaining these sub-surface biomes is just that: Incomprehensible.

Their creatures. We all know the stories of basilysks, bears, giant spiders and especially gargoyles, but unless you’ve lived directly in their society for a fair length of time, you cannot possible appreciate how completely integrated the existences of dwarf and ‘beast’ are within their culture. To begin describing the subtle factors involved in their inter-species relationships and what makes their system wonderful would require a literary work the likes of which would bore the average professor.

Even NirvanaTool was silenced at the spectacle, and would remain so for their entire stay. At least, compared to his usual discourse.

The chronicler’s weeping ended, attacked relentlessly by the promise of a world as safe and protected from the outer enemies as could be. He dared not smile yet, but he felt at home, comfortable here. The white of his knuckles left as they let go their cling to a false security. He drew back his hood, closing his eyes and drawing a deep breath through his nose. He actually managed to smile, at the thought of the phenomenon that entails how we get used to the scent of our home, yet can enjoy the smell of wherever we’re visiting. The promise of a renewed experience contained therein.

“Ah, there’s the man of the hour, hiding in the back!”

It was Yewbow, a goofy grin alighting his face as he pointed to YOYOY, showing the others.

“Get over here, it’s your turn to tell a tale of old times!”

“Yeah, we need a real storyteller to show us how it’s done!”

More laughter, the chills bleeding away in favor of something warm as the troubled one managed a smile, timidly walking over. Even Stormcrow, stern and serious master Stormcrow, managed a chuckle at the grand occasion. Yet another reunion, even more incomplete than usual, but cause for merriment all the same. Drexlin’s eyes widened.

“I almost forgot!”

Cheers erupted as he brought out the drinks, fine lagers and wines, liquids of unknown origin and flavor for the true adventurer. Drex had a little-known reputation of silencing any being that entered his bar boasting of his ability to hold drink of one sort or another. The halfing could whip you up something in mere minutes that’d have you vomiting, crying, or in uncontrollable spasms if he wished. All three if he was especially bothered by your arrogance. There used to be rumors, later realized to be completely baseless, that he had a side business of creating highly-effective toxins for would-be assassins.

YOYOY was soon laughing, getting his own pats on the back now. The camaraderie now made him feel foolish for considering the loneliness and sorrow of scant moments ago. Perhaps it was the demon, after all. A fleeting thought occurred to him, that perhaps he should be concerned that it was becoming extremely difficult to tell, as if the line were blurring. He shoved this out of his mind and focused on the pleasure of the company at hand.

“Welcome back to the caves, my fellow being. As always, make yourself at home.”

DarkGuardian, dwarven hero himself, extended his hand for YOYOY’s own. The scribe reached in favor, and grasped with no hesitation.

What happened next would be an event permanently branded into the memories of every person unfortunate enough to witness. The happening would haunt their souls for life ever after, and would be held in dark regard in the logs and historical articles of dwarven society for as long as it existed within hallowed halls and whispered voices.

As YOYOY shook hands with DarkGuardian, his other hand reached towards DG’s waist. It was a quick, subtle movement, nobody bothering to even think of noticing or realizing what was potentially going on. Within the space of a few seconds, the club-wielder had managed to take the dwarf’s hammer.

The next seconds were spent getting a keen grip on the instrument of destruction and bringing it down with full force upon the skull of DarkGuardian.

Time now was a lost essence, as it seemed to freeze still yet make haste with a marked relation to anxiety, for everyone within YOYOY’s proximity now scattered back, reeling from the dread sound of impact. Then time continued moving forward as the figures around him didn’t, weapons drawn, breath halted.

DarkGuardian groaned heavily, wincing with exceptional indication of pain, but rising nonetheless. Gasps were heard, all seeming to stop in what was formerly a center of bustling activity. The dwarf spoke.

“Do not worry. He cannot wield it.”

YOYOY was hunched over, wheeling around, eyeing whomever he could, snarling and growling as if now more beast than man. Even when standing in place, he bobbed, body seemingly not content with stillness, with a very drive of its own, something primal, something black. He met eyes with DarkGuardian, his visual orbs rapidly becoming bloodshot, threatening to soon be nothing but crimson all over.

”Cannot wield it? You simp and dullard of a stunted race!”

YOYOY, or whatever had taken over his frame, now clacked the end of the sledge handle upon the cave ground. At this, the ground began to visibly liquefy in a most peculiar fashion. Screams were heard, guards began scrambling to form a plan of attack. Or was it now defense?

Rock began to crack, boil, and melt, as the demon became surrounded by a dirty form of quicksand. He was able to stand on it fine, but the others could not, as DarkKnightZach discovered, almost falling in. A foot of his plunged deeply, the other he had to fall back on in order to roll away to safety. Nobody dared moved closer, only to further distance.

The voice returned, a sound emanating as if from the bowl of Hades. The dwarves did not yet realize the harsh reality of the idea.

”I can command the very soul of your precious bedtime storyteller, foresee the pathetic fate of every rodent of Lore, and take lead of the workings of my personal Hell, yet you accuse me of incompetence considering this wretched thing borne of fleshwalkers like you? You are neither Dark nor Guardian, but may yet come to know the one who is. Don’t test my wrath, oh hero, or I shall taste your soul before the falling of the sun!”

The foulness began to laugh, a maniacal thing of hellish proportion, grating upon the spirit of all who heard. The arcane waters continued to spread, as if in a thirst of itself, only satisfied to consume the entirety of the Caves.

Stormcrow could be seen with arrow shaft and carving knife, gritting his teeth in frustration. His experience with runes was of highest regard, yet he couldn’t see an apparent solution to the grave situation at hand. CardinalFang’s eyes were terribly wide with fear, as he frantically searched for a place to hide.

Yewbow had a bolt trained on YOYOY, chest heaving with anxious breath as he debated whether to fire. Dwarves on upper tiers were taking a similar stance, guard captains solemnly sizing up the dilemma. Drexlin held the last of a drink in one hand, letting the liquid swirl in the mug, as his other desperately clutched the artifact.

Zach cursed himself, re-sheathing his daggers in uselessness and running over to DG to check the dwarf’s condition. He then froze, ears burning at the sound of some kind of horn. Then a loud, low voice sounded from the captains. A command to fire.

Dozens of crossbow bolts ripped through the air, followed by many more, most of them finding their mark. Sickening thuds echoed from YOYOY’s body as it was systematically torn to shreds.

”Hahahaha… Todd… damn… you… Oh, trust me, he’s taken care of that! … Dark, Guar… p, please… forgive me… Close your mouth, wretched whelp of a whore! You stall no longer!”

Jaws dropped, hearts skipped a beat as they witnessed an already fragile body viciously take discussion with itself, even as it crumpled to the ground, bleeding, dying. A few more tears were shed as witness to a soul torn apart, a tragedy in the Caves. The rock was solidifying, no pool of death any longer. DarkGuardian spat out a bit of blood, raising his fist as he kneeled, trying to rise back to his feet.

“Clerics assemble! By Kor, I demand you heal him!!”

Drexlin was first on the scene, rushing boldly to YOYOY’s side, even as he lay in a pool of his own blood. He tilted his limp head upwards, parting his lips and pouring a medicinal concoction onto his mouth, hoping it’d only do some good. He came close to weeping, as he surveyed the damage. Several shafts stuck out of his clothing in awkward positions, almost comical in a sickening way.

YOYOY’s eyes had gone from bloodshot to glazed over, as the clerics carried him off to his own healing quarters.

*

In a meeting room off down a secluded hall of the Caves, YOYOY’s companions sat around a table facing DarkGuardian at the head. They’d just finished telling the tale of how and why they came to be here in the first place.

They’d explained to DG YOYOY’s initial appearance back in Lore after his death, his story of striking a deal with the graveghoul to return to the surface world to deliver a message, his vision of a war and reasoning that it would either be caused or prevented by the Message, then the discovery of an Artifact that he innately knew had something to do with both the Message and the War. They also added in bits about his previous attacks of possession, a temporary disappearance, the nature of his health and precarious soulful balance, and his increasing clarity pertaining to the whole ordeal as resulting from more experiences.

Finally, they explained their idea that DG was the being to see about the Artifact, and help with its identity, use, any information he could provide. While a Mod might prove more useful in such things, this incarnation of the Fellowship unanimously agreed that it would be unwise to show the Artifact to a Mod while they were still unclear as to what it was.

DarkGuardian leaned forward on the table, hands folded. He took in a deep breath, taking time to absorb the flood of information he was being given. After careful consideration, he nodded.

“I can only think that this is a grave situation at the very least. At most, it is a threat to Lore more dire than we’ve ever faced. I don’t believe we know enough about graveghoul’s power to take this matter lightly. My only comfort is that YOYOY claims that a critical part of the deal he struck was that GraveGhoul needed a being of flesh. This tells me that, while he’s obviously capable of partial possession at least, he still has a tough time walking our surface.”

Another deliberate nod, accompanying a dramatic pause.

“I’ll do what I can to help. Show me the Artifact.”

Drexlin very hesitantly placed the Artifact on the table’s surface directly in front of DG. Again, it at first appeared as a simple metal cube, but its corners then proceeded to melt away and its very structure smoothly changed into a sphere. But it did not roll, remaining perfectly in place. Then its sheer surface began to change color, darkening, then lightening, allowing multiple colors before settling on a particular theme. Next a round jewel appeared, encrusted, with tiny writing around it in a language DarkGuardian thought he recognized yet did not comprehend. It then shifted back into the plain cube and began repeating the process.

”Wait, what was that rune? I may know that language. Turn it this way, let me see it again.”

Drex rotated it appropriately. All sight locked onto the Artifact as it repeated its process. However, before it could return to the wording, two dwarves burst into the room. The one appearing to be of a slightly higher status was the one to speak.

“YOYOY has been successfully revived and treated, you’re all free to visit.”

Everyone at the table promptly stood. With their attention away from the Artifact, Drexlin snatched it back up. DarkKnightZach cleared his throat, NirvanaTool mocking him.

“Lead us.”

The head messenger bowed slightly, the other leading them out of the room.

“DarkGuardian, a word?”

DG stayed behind, slightly raising an eyebrow.

“Yes? What is it?”

“It’s about YOYOY… obviously, he’s been possessed. This much was clear at the incident earlier. However, in all my years of dealing with demonic possession, I’ve never seen anything like this.”

DarkGuardian merely nodded in polite agreement, realizing his fellow dwarf didn’t know, or yet know, the complexity of the situation.

“He’s completely healed! Spontaneous exorcism! He’s perfectly aware of his surroundings, showing all signs of great physical health, no indication of spiritual upheaval, etc., what can I say, but that I’ve seen a miracle take place, by Kor!”

DarkGuardian, even at mention of his deity, could only frown.

“Are you absolutely sure?”

“Well, honestly, no. But as I said, I’ve never seen anything like that. If he’s not healed, then surely we are dealing with a very minor possession, because I’ve never seen a demon so thoroughly leave the body and personality like that, so easily, so instant and obviously related to the trauma of the incident. Arrows worked where, dare I say, faith did not.”

Without another word, DG briskly walked past the message carrier, to seek where YOYOY lay.

*

“Don’t. Don’t touch me.”

DarkGuardian froze, his hand stuck in midair over the ill scribe. He slowly withdrew it, struggling for words.

“Are you alright?”

“No, absolutely not. I told the clerics I was, though. Figured some paranoia is still a good thing.”

“If you’re worried about people finding out about your possession, I think you’ve blown that cover well off.”

“But at least they think I’m healed now. Either way, it doesn’t matter, let’s not discuss such things. In fact, we probably shouldn’t be talking at all.”

The honorable dwarf noticed YOYOY’s face beginning to tighten, in a manner as if to let him watch the lightheartedness fade away. This concerned him greatly, seeing him up close like this.

“YOYOY… what do you mean?”

The chronicler hissed a breath through his teeth, an unsettling action. The others were in the room as well, and were beginning to shift uncomfortably in their seats. By now, it was obvious that any time YOYOY was displaying any behavior that seemed even only a little odd, it was cause for much concern. He was not himself.

“I see things, I have visions. When I’m near things, when I touch any items, I gain knowledge and dream dreams. I view all through the eyes of the undead wanderer, the master of all uncreation and death, the lord of chaos and future doom. Especially when something relates to the War to come, I am hit, I am assaulted, rather, with these signs.”

The lighthearted one suddenly began coughing, violently hacking and wheezing for a moment. None dared go to his assistance. He then continued.

“DarkGuardian, when you touched me, I saw the War. When the master of Hades overtook me, I could only see you in violence and in rage, at the edge of a pool of blood I was mired in. That would be enough concern, if it were not for the fact that this is not the first time I’ve seen you directly in correlation with the War to come. My friend, I believe you’ll be a big player in this coming War. In fact, I don’t believe this War could start without you, if you understand my meaning.”

He then cackled, a few of the witnesses fingering their weaponry in response.

“So, DG, you’ll then understand if I’m a bit hesitant to seek your help any further. I shall find a Mod instead. Do not follow me. I wish not to be leading death and ruin. Fellowship, let us leave this place of blackened prophecy and false gods.”

YOYOY then rapidly got out of the bed and exited the room, his companions having little choice but to follow, and DarkGuardian having little choice but to stay behind.

*

© Eric Bailey

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