RuneScape Forum Archive | SotD1: Trap of the Necromancer

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Chapter 7

Together, Raylin and Katelynn made their slow way down the corridor. A wall came into view ahead, and Katelynn cursed softly.

"Dead end," she sighed, twisting in Raylin's grip to go back. He placed an arm around her waist, halting her.

"Wait. Dungeons...they have secret doors sometimes," he protested, winking. Stepping forward, he felt the stones, tapping. Finally, a wide grin parted his lips.

"See?" he said, knocking on the stones. A hollow sound echoed around them. Katelynn smiled.

"Clever," she admitted. "But how do we get it open?"

Raylin pushed hard where he had heard the noise. A loud, booming sound grated on their ears as the hidden door swung inwards, revealing a large, bare room. Seeing nothing of interest, Katelynn brushed by Raylin and headed straight for the door ahead. There were two across from their entrance, both wooden. Katelynn randomly chose, jiggling the handle.

"Locked," she announced, slipping the picklock from her pouch.

"We could take the other one..." Raylin suggested.

"Doesn't feel right," Katelynn replied, frowning. She suppressed a shiver. "Something tells me we just shouldn't go that way." Raylin sighed.

The door swung open, revealing another corridor. Raylin jumped back as a large, hairy spider scuttled across his booted heel.

The two progressed down the lonely corridor in silence, the darkness and cool chill of the dungeon depriving them of the will to speak.

The corridor was long and winding. Finally, after what seemed like endless turns and twists, a door appeared. Katelynn rushed eagerly toward it, but Raylin darted forward and placed a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back.

"Careful!" he hissed. "What if there is another trap?"

Katelynn blushed in embarrassment at her recklessness. "Your sword," she replied simply with a gesture. Raylin nodded, his sword hissing from the sheath and into his hand. The golden blade soaked up the glimmering torchlight, brightening the corridor.

18-Dec-2010 15:58:31

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Paling, Raylin prodded the door with the blade, pushing it open. Nothing happened, and Katelynn released a breath she hadn't known she had been holding.

Raylin hobbled first through the doorway, into a desolate room. It had no furnishings whatsoever. Katelynn followed, instantly making for the next door. Raylin jumped ahead, nudging the door. It didn't budge.

"Maybe it's locked," Katelynn suggested, wobbling forward. Her legs were tired and weak, and her body screamed for rest.

"Fine. Open it," Raylin replied reluctantly. She placed a hand on the handle and twisted it. It felt greasy, she noted, but shrugged the thought from her mind.

***

Krystal stood unsteadily, wobbling on her feet. Seth clutched her shoulder to catch her. A rough splint had been fastened around her leg with strips of cloth. Pain shot through her leg, but she gritted her teeth and forced it to the back of her mind.

She moved straight for the door with Seth steadying her, and they stepped out into the corridor. One turn led to a dead end, and they continued on.

A door appeared ahead of them, thick and iron-cast. Seth shoved it open. Instantly, a low growl resounded in his ears. "Orc!" Seth cried, recognizing the sound. He shoved Krystal against the wall of the dungeon with one hand, then darted inside as he unlashed his spear. Shaggy red gold hair tumbled into his eyes, blotting out his sight.

The foul creature stood in tattered rags and rusty armor, a jagged blade raised. It led out a jumbled battle cry, more like a yelp, and flung itself at the intruder. Seth parried and dove, rolling under the blade as the orc stabbed again.

He was instantly back on his feet, black trident flashing in his attempts to battle off the orc. It was a good fighter, though, and Seth could not penetrate its defenses. Krystal peeked inside and let out a strangled cry as she saw Seth being beaten back.

18-Dec-2010 15:59:22

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Her hands flashed to her belt, unsheathing her poisoned knives. With a flick of her wrist, two blades whizzed through the air toward the orc.

They were aimed straight for the orc. The orc, completely oblivious to the knives, spun away from Seth as he parried a thrust. Seth moved forward to jab again and both daggers landed in his chest. Blood began to seep out of the wounds, where the daggers had sunk into his flesh up to the hilt. He let out a cry of agony and looked toward Krystal.

She screamed, seeing the pain in his eyes. He thought she had wanted to kill him! "Seth!" she screamed. Heedless of her broken leg, she stumbled blindly across the room toward him. He fell backwards, slamming into the door beside him.

A grinding noise suddenly jerked Krystal's head up, and she furiously blinked away her tears.

"No!" she yelled, diving toward him. Yet the ground split apart, and Seth tumbled into the glistening pit of spikes. The ground shook, sending Krystal painfully to her knees. The orc tripped and soared downward to be spitted on another spike. Krystal crawled to the edge of the gorge, looking down upon the man she loved.

"Seth!" she moaned. Her tears cascaded down her cheeks and dripped one by one into the chasm, landing on Seth's bloodstained chest.

"Krystal..." he mumbled, his voice a mere croak. She could see the other end of the spike protruding through his ribs. "I don't know what I did...but may Saradomin forgive the sin that made you have to...may Saradomin protect you," he rasped, eyes clouding over.

"Seth! No! I didn't want to!" Krystal sobbed, but by then it was too late for him to hear her.

***

Ellya, sickened by the sight of Arvenous impaled upon the bloodstained pikes, turned away. She staggered to a corner of the corridor where it twisted, retching as she collapsed on her knees. Neo strode over to her, wrapping his arms around her.

18-Dec-2010 16:00:14

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

"Is it? We're all going to die, Neo! We may be the only ones left!" she choked. With a sudden burst of energy she was on her feet, shoving him aside. "I'm going back to the angels. Maybe they'll come again. And if they do, I will find out what is really going on. Why are we here, Neo? Why does this necromancer want us dead? We won't survive long enough to find the others and get out, Neo. We're alone, now. And we're going to die."

Neo was taken aback by her cynical words. Momentarily stunned, he worked his mouth silently as he searched for words. "Ellya--I--" he croaked, though it was a futile attempt. He knew she was right. She watched him for a moment, her once-benign eyes flashing with anger. Not anger at him, but anger at herself. Anger at herself for falling into this foolish competition.

Mouth quivering, she spun on her heel and swept off down the hall. Neo trotted after her, boot heels pounding a frantic rhythm in time with his heart as he struggled to catch up.

Ellya and Neo were once more in the room where they had seen the angels. Ellya stood, spinning in a circle and staring angrily at the ceiling.

"Come back!" she screamed, all of her frustration vented into those two words. "Come back! I want answers, and you'll give them!"

Neo leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. The running had opened the wounds he had previously earned from the trapped door, and blood trickled in a gentle stream down his chest. He forced the pain from his mind, instead watching Ellya with a calm, steely gaze.

Seeing her toppling toward the brink of madness, he murmured a quick prayer to Armadyl, begging him to send word. But there was none.

***

High above in the Heavens, four gods stood circling a round structure. It appeared to be a gargantuan cauldron, filled with a steaming, bubbling green liquid. The mists swirled above it, forming the shapes of two humans. One leaned against a wall, while the other shook her fist to the skies.

18-Dec-2010 16:00:46

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

"Zaros mustn’t get the staff," said Armadyl thoughtfully. A tremor tweaked his voice, though, betraying his dark and fearful thoughts.

"Let me kill them!" hissed Zamorak. "Only if they are dead can we win, and Zaros lose!"

"No! There will be no needless killing, Zamorak," droned Saradomin. The end of his flowing white beard was tucked neatly into his golden belt, which held closed his spotless, gleaming white robes.

Zamorak spun to away from the cauldron to face Saradomin. The cloudy fog that served as the ground swirled upwards as his swishing robes disturbed them. A shock of red-black hair hung down to his shoulders, bunched up in the back because of the hood on his robes. His hair looked greasy, oily, the way it shined in the eerie green light that was emitted from the cauldron. His robes were much the same color as his hair; so dark crimson that they appeared black. His face was clean-shaven, and his scarlet eyes bore a malicious glint.

"It is the only way, Saradomin. Unless you wish Zaros' return?" he snarled.

Saradomin recoiled at the accusation. "That was unnecessary, Zamorak," drawled Guthix, beside the God of Order. His robes were gray, and a small beard consumed his chin. His gray eyes flashed at Zamorak. "Our brother speaks true. Zaros' lackey has trapped them in quite a dungeon. Perhaps we should let it run its course? Half of them have already died."

"It might be too late before they die," objected Armadyl reluctantly. "What if they find the staff before they die? They are the closest out of any, after all. Neo and Ellya are the only ones who can get the Staff." The man's green-tinged blond hair appeared even greener in the aura of light. He wore no robes, instead a rich green tunic with dark blue pants.

Zamorak let out a raucous, victorious laugh. "You see? And it is his opinion that matters, after all!"

Guthix shook his head firmly. "No, Zamorak."

18-Dec-2010 16:01:15

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Zamorak hissed in frustration, then turned on his heel and swept from the chamber. Armadyl sighed, peering intently at the figures above the cauldron.

"I wish I could answer her pleas..." he sighed. "But Zamorak is right. They need to die."

***

Ellya finally gave up. There was no point; there would be no reply. "Come on," she snarled at Neo. "Let's get going. They set north, right?"

She headed straight for the north door without waiting for a reply. Neo straightened and followed. Just before the door he wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips gently to her hair.

"It'll be okay, Ellya. We'll find a way," he murmured. She shoved him back, brushing at his chest.

"Neo, you're bleeding! Your wounds opened up again! Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded, piercing blue eyes staring into his mind.

"You were...ah...losing it," he chuckled. "Don't worry, it's not bad." He stepped around her and tugged the door open.

Suddenly, there was a whoosh of air, and an acrid, fetid stench swarmed Neo's nostrils. It infiltrated into his very being, causing him to retch. And then he was blinded, stumbling back, unable to see through the green haze.

"Ellya!" he gagged, staggering forward in an attempt to find her. His arms waved blindly in the fog. That was what it was, a rancid-smelling fog.

Neo stumbled straight into the heart of the fog. And then he could see nothing. Pain, agony beyond agony, consumed him. He screamed, the yell of man in torture.

Ellya couldn't see. Her eyes stung, and everything had turned green. Squeezing her eyes shut, she fumbled to find Neo.

"Neo?" she called. She heard him calling for her. And then she heard a yell, a yell of pure agony. She stumbled toward the voice, feeling a body. It was sticky and wet. Blood soaked her hands as she lifted Neo's limp form and staggered towards what she thought was the doorway.

18-Dec-2010 16:01:43

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Tentatively she opened her eyes, and saw she was outside the fog. She set Neo down, finally looking at him. And she screamed in terror.

His skin was writhing, twisting. It was alive. It rippled, then shivered. Then, starting at his hairline, it began to peel away. Like a wave, where his hair ended, the skin lifted itself up. It shriveled and dropped away onto the flagstones. Blood poured away from the uncovered body, the empty eye sockets. She could see muscles quivering in his face, a vein twitching. As his chest began to vanish, she could see his heart, furiously pumping.

Unable to watch, she turned away, bile flooding her mouth.

"Uhnhn..." Neo mumbled. His body convulsed on the ground, and then lay still. Ellya turned back to face him, and tears welled in her eyes. All that remained of the man she loved was a small, bloodstained pile of bones and muscle. There was nothing left of him. And the heart, the little glob of muscle, was motionless.

***

Just as Katelynn opened the next door, she let out a shriek of agony. Pain lanced through her, starting at her fingertips. Raylin let out a cry and darted to her side, arm going around her waist as she stumbled.

"Ow!" she grunted, sagging in his arms. Raylin forced the pulsing of his leg to the back of his mind.

"What's wrong?" he asked. But she didn't have time to answer, as a deafening roar resounded in his ears. It echoed in his mind as well as the dank walls of the dungeon. For a moment after, he could hear nothing but a pulsing ringing. Still supporting Katelynn, he turned slowly. He almost wished he hadn't, for the sight that met his eyes was not pleasant.

One towering demon stood in the center of the room. It was deep crimson, the color of blood. It stood upon two legs, it's waist at the height of a man. Long talons extended from its bony hands and feet. Saliva yo-yoed from its bared fangs, protruding from the stubby snout.

18-Dec-2010 16:02:29

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Two misshapen wings fluttered on its back, apparently no good for flying.

Raylin instantly unsheathed his golden blade. It slid free of its clasps with a low hiss, matching that of the bloodthirsty monster. Katelynn fumbled for her bow, but she was weakening rapidly from the poison. That was all it could have been.

Suddenly, the demon lunged forward. Raylin dove to the side, dragging Katelynn with him. The beast's claws caught her shirt, ripping her free of his grasp.

Katelynn let out a piercing scream as the claws bit into her flesh. Blood streamed down her skin.

"Katelynn!!" Raylin bellowed. Disregarding his own safety, he dove toward the demon with a roar of rage. The massive hands tossed Katelynn roughly aside and the creature turned to face its antagonist.

That's all Raylin seemed to be, piercing his skin lightly with the blade. Pain pulsed in his leg, but nothing mattered except saving Katelynn. And he realized that was all he could do. There was no way to kill this beast. He had never learned how to defeat a demon.

He gathered his strength as he continued to parry the demon. Each cling of claw on steel shuddered up through his arm, and his shoulder was numb. Suddenly, as he fought off another slash, he flung himself beneath the beast's arm to Katelynn's side. She was limp, like a doll, in his arms. He heaved her to his shoulder, the agony of his wounds lost now in the rush of adrenaline that accompanied battle.

Wielding his sword with the other hand, he weakly dodged the continuous attacks. A line of fire raced down his arm as one strike hit home. He lugged Katelynn to the nearest door and into the corridor. Gently leaving her on the ground, he turned back to the door. The demon could not fit through the low doorway, but it angrily lashed out with its arms. It bellowed its rage at being outsmarted.

18-Dec-2010 16:02:59

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Raylin swiped at the arm, and it withdrew. He slammed the door shut.

Heart pounding a breathless rhythm in his head, he spun to face Katelynn. She lay crumpled in a heap upon the cold stones.

A sob clogging his throat, he let out a wordless cry and cradled her head in his lap. Her silky blond hair was matted and sticky with her blood. Gashes raked her body, the blood nearly pouring from them.

"Katelynn," he wept. For a moment, her eyes fluttered open.

"Raylin..." she mumbled. "I'll--see you--in Heaven. Guthix--bless you..."

He bent his head to hers, capturing her last, shuddering breath upon his lips. Then she lay still in his arms, forever.

18-Dec-2010 16:03:10

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Chapter 8

Theonalios sat in front of the glowing orb, watching each of the remaining adventurers in turn.

"And then there were three..." he hissed softly, eyes gleaming.

***

Zamorak paced back and forth in the depths of Hell. He had to do something. Zaros could not get the staff; that would ruin everything. He thought back to what the others had said. Like he cared what they thought. He barked a short laugh.

This would be too easy. He muttered something indistinguishable, and a small golden orb appeared in his hand. Inside of it, it showed sun-haired girl, on her knees and sobbing. Beside her was a small mound of flesh.

"Zaros is quite creative," he chuckled. That was quite a trap, more than worthy of the twisted mind of his fellow deity. Then he closed his fist, and the orb vanished. Snapping his fingers, he was suddenly in the dungeon beside the girl.

***

Ellya was on her knees. Tears flowed down her cheeks in a continuous stream, dropping onto the heap that had once been the man she loved.

A voice behind her brought a wordless cry of surprise to escape her lips and she swiveled, barely choking down a second cry.

A towering man stood before her. He seemed built out of the fires of darkness, shadowy and flaming at the same time. It was as though he wasn't there, just a shadow, and the image of him flickered like a flame.

"I am Zamorak," it sneered malevolently. "I have come for you, Ellya." She wriggled free of his grasp and cowered back, pressing herself against the wall in fear. Somehow, she knew he did*’t plan on rescuing her.

***

Raylin rose. There was no saving Katelynn now. He wept softly; his body convulsed as he was wracked with sobs. He lay her gently down on the ground, her matted hair swirling about her benign features.

18-Dec-2010 16:06:06

Forums

SotD1: Trap of the Necromancer