Chapter 1 viewtopic.php?f=38&t=32588
Chapter 2 viewtopic.php?f=38&t=32638
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Chapter 4 viewtopic.php?f=38&t=33123
Chapter3
Where all dark secrets are want to rest
Jupiter passed through the gate swirling before him. As his spirit and body regained cohesion he glanced up to see an empty hollow face gazing at him. The massive skull was smooth as if polished by exposure to the foul air that seemed to be perpetually present anywhere near the undead. The lack of skin prevented any form of human expression, but Jupiter understood well that his advantage of surprise was fading quickly from the menacing face every second he spent mentally narrating the facial features of his impending doom.
The gnarled staff connected with the lower square line of the skeleton’s jaw sending the bones flying apart. Jupiter flew into action clapping his hands and slamming his staff down. A white light burst out of the staff. He spun around the staff, his attention trailing and surmising the inhabitants of the room as fast as he could. ‘Essence-binding’ - his favorite spell to cast in order to remove himself from unwanted encounters with the undead - lasted a little more than three seconds to the mortal eye. Coupled with his ability to expand his personal existence in time would give him just enough time to identify his primary target before the ghoulish guards recaptured their senses. He noticed a lone guard with keys near the harvesting grounds, a specter roaming the far corner, a squadron of bone knights on a security circuit. He was looking for a building, anything with a semi-functional door, not necessarily requiring walls or a roof. The undead were slaves to their own warped adaptation of bureaucracy and the architect of this cell would be enclosed within any kind of a functional office. It had to be near the epicenter of the nearest gathering of undead, as the architect was generally the conduit that gave vigor the surrounding corpses.
The light began to gather again into his staff. He had only a few fleeting moments left to prepare for a pivotal battle that would determine his future connection with land of the living. This was not the first time he found himself unfavorably out-numbered, but it was the first time he had ever considered releasing his most tightly guarded secret. Yes, Jupiter, the oft touted champion of good, had dark secrets befitting his current dwelling. That small vile that had haunted him for so long could now finally be buried in the black where it belonged. As he opened the vile, the swirling black contents raced out forming silhouettes of wizards who had long since been erased from the land of the living.
Who were these age old essences? Jupiter could not recollect fully himself. These faces were all remnants of time which he had spent the better part of the second age trying to remove from his memory. To his astonishment, as the silhouettes continued to emerge, Jupiter’s cloak seemed to change just a few shades lighter. The contents of this vile that he avoided for so long was the very reason he had not seen a change since the beginning of this age. Many wizards that he thought had once disappeared now surrounded him as the air gathered in mists around their feet. A huge gust surged past his face and all the wizards seemed to inhale and in unison turned to look at Jupiter. “Are we truly free brother? Is this the battle we’ve been waiting for?” If not now, then Jupiter could not think of any better time. He nodded and motioned them to attack the amassing legions of undead. As the last effects of the essence binding spell wore off, he clutched his staff and the world spun back into motion. Jupiter’s staff spun in his hand connecting with sheer force each time he closed his grasp around it. As he let go it returned to spinning to create a barrier between him and the slashing attacks of the ravenous undead.
With the odds now slightly more in his favor Jupiter smashed his way through the enemy ranks heading directly towards the architect. As he reached the stone walls, the door swung open. Emerging from the dark room was a lich of great reckoning. Jupiter could tell by the color of the thin patches of long hair this ancient lich held information he needed. Leaping over the ghoul that was bounding towards him, Jupiter shouted out his incantations and a bolt of energy flew towards the great lich.
The darkness settled around the dirt and tiles. The lich lay dead, clutching a book inscribed with runic stones. This was what Jupiter came for; this would lead him through the catacombs and back again. A hand came to rest on his shoulder and for a short instant Jupiter thought he was finished. He turned to see an old Wizard with surprisingly kind eyes.
“Brother, your time is short,” the wizard spoke clearly. “We are all glad to see some brightness returning to your robe, but your time here will be short - shorter still than your last venture, if you do not wish to repeat the events that led to our captivity that has just now ended.” Jupiter started to speak then stopped; he was sure he had suppressed the memories of old for a reason and didn’t want to bring them forth now. As his new friend had stated, his time here must be abrupt.
“Go, now!” the wizard commanded as he dissipated. “Obtain what you seek and return to the living and perhaps we too may leave this dreadful place and never return!”
