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Hazeel Rises

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I stared down the swiveling road and spotted the intricate bridge to the castle. It was heavily guarded by obedient-looking men in sheer white armor; The White Knights…I sighed once more, sleep beckoning. However, a shadow cast down on me startled me awake and I looked up to observe a frail-looking old man bearing a wide grin. But this old man was no hermit. Strapped over extravagant purple robes was the pristine white chainmail of the White Knights. I found it hard to believe, however, that this old geezer, twirling his long white beard listlessly, was a White Knight. Perhaps retired?
“Yes, sir?” I groaned, my lips chapped from the dry scorching sunlight.
“Sir Tiffy Cashien, my young friend. Welcome to Falador,” Tiffy laughed wheezily, forming a tighter grasp on the intricately-crafted staff I hadn’t noticed before.
“J-John. This is Stephen,” I murmured. Before I could add to my sentence, however, Tiffy grunted and hesitantly sat down on the bench beside Stephen. He eyed the weakened warrior.
“He doesn’t look well,” Tiffy noted. I sighed.
“That’s the issue. This man needs to see a doctor. He’s bearing some grievous wounds. But that-,” However, I was once more cut short as the old man examined Stephen’s bruises and stared up curiously.
*These look like an attack. Black Knights?” Tiffy inquired quietly.

“No, no. A spike trap,”
“However did that happen?” Tiffy inquisited, but I ignored the man’s rambles. Couldn’t he just listen? Or was he just a senile old man?
“That’s the problem! I-I need to speak to Sir Amik Varze. There’s something horrible going on in Rimmington,” I urged, standing bolt upright, realizing how much time we were wasting. Sir Tiffy stood up as well.
“No need for haste. Are you sure there’s trouble?” Tiffy asked. I groaned, slapping my forehead with impatience.
“Yes! I saw it! I’ve nearly been mauled by a dragon and-,” But Tiffy interrupted for a third time.

11-Feb-2011 03:09:09 - Last edited on 19-Feb-2011 01:14:48 by Hazeel Rises

Hazeel Rises

Posts: 4,066 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“Dragons? There aren’t dragons in Asgarnia!” he chuckled doubtfully.
“Well, there’s one you’re not familiar with!” I said with exasperation.
“Anyway, if there are any emergency situations, you can tell me!” Tiffy said loudly.
“No, I need to speak with the leader! Someone important! We need an invasion,” I groaned.
“Someone important? You know who you’re looking at? I was once the most powerful knight in Falador and I still have some skills. I am Amik’s closest friend, for that matter!” Tiffy explained. An idea suddenly presented itself.
“Then you could get me to Amik. I can tell you everything on the way there,” I murmured.
“Right you could,”

“You’ll be working in the kitchens today,” Alathazdrar rasped, clutching a nasty-looking whip in case the prisoners grew rowdy. Cameron and Mike nodded solemnly as they followed a group of slaves, one of them Irena, down a brief wooden hallway through a door into a room filled with overwhelming smell. The kitchens were packed to the brim with pots and cauldrons and boards filled with ingredients boiling or waiting for chopping. A large knife was laying by a larder.
Perhaps he could use it…Mike murmured in his mind as the line was budged into the grimy area. However, Alathazdrar swept the knife in his demonic claws as he walked by and locked the door with a click. Mike and Cameron stood standing in anxiety while the rest of the slaves gloomily set off to work, retrieving a broom from the larder and sweeping away crumbs or cooking up a luxurious meal for the evil Mac, all eyeing the locked door anxiously.

“Come on!” Irena urged as she grabbed a sponge and soaked it with water from the sink.
“What’re we supposed to do?” Cameron inquired with confusion.
“You’re on floor duty. Grab a sponge and clean!” Irena hissed, staring worriedly at the door. They were that frightened of Alathazdrar?

11-Feb-2011 03:09:16 - Last edited on 19-Feb-2011 01:16:22 by Hazeel Rises

Hazeel Rises

Posts: 4,066 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

But the two withdrew a sponge from the rack without question and after wetting it from the pump, they bent down and reluctantly scrubbed the white tile dry. Soon, the scum and leftovers from a day of frenzied cooking disappeared. A rebellious stain took Mike much of the morning to swipe off, but he wasn’t focusing on cleaning as time whiled away. He leaned over to Cameron as the latter scrambled forward to scrub by the wooden shelves.
“Look at that shaft,” he murmured cautiously. There was a small grilled shaft high in the ceiling that allowed much smoke to billow out.
“What about it?” Cameron said irritably.
“It’s the perfect escape route!” Mike whispered eagerly. Cameron sighed.
“Mac isn’t that dumb. He must have thought of that,”
“He did. That’s why he’s stationed Alathazdrar. He’s watching us now and if we make a move, he’ll just use his demon powers and whatnot,” Mike nodded his head, glancing at the bars of the kitchen door, where he swore he could see a pair of demonic red eyes surveying the labor.
“So what’s your point?” Cameron grumbled, already moving onward.
“We dispose of Alathazdrar!” Mike cried quietly. Cameron sighed, turning back.
“And how do you propose we do that?” he said doubtfully.
“We cause a distraction,” Mike shrugged.
“And what would that be?”
“I…haven’t gotten to that part. I’m going to think,” Mike sighed and returned to this work. Irena crawled over, looking anxious.
“I heard what you said. You have to be crazy! We can*t escape Alathazdrar!” she urged. Mike rolled his eyes.
*I think we can. He has powers, yeah, but that doesn’t mean he’s indestructible. I’m just thinking of a plan,” Mike ensured.
“I just don’t want you to get yourself killed!” Irena groaned.
“I won’t,” Mike promised the princess and she nodded glumly. At last, there was a click in the lock and Alathazdrar swept through the kitchen, ushering the poor slaves to stand up.

11-Feb-2011 03:09:23 - Last edited on 19-Feb-2011 01:18:25 by Hazeel Rises

Hazeel Rises

Posts: 4,066 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Mike stared intensely at the butler and all the surroundings all the way down the hall back to the gruesome quarters, where another uncomfortable night awaited. But as Mike laid sprawled back on his straw bed, focusing on the light streaming through the bars, the thought suddenly occurred to him, although it wasn’t pretty. Someone would have to stay behind.

“There’s a rich man in Rimmington named Mac and he has one of the greatest houses in the world. It’s filled with intricate ancient furniture and amazing accomplishments and is kept in pristine order. It’s a labyrinth of glory, or at least at first glance. He has this powerful demon butler named Alathazdrar too,” The words bubbled out of my mouth like lava erupting from a volcano.
I knew it was all urgent. Stephen still did*’t look well, limping along with us. Sir Tiffy, however, paced himself, twirling his finger through his beard as we strode hurriedly down the white stone path, the massive famed castle, with its turrets and towers, casting shadows down on us. I grew increasingly annoyed with the calm old man. Couldn’t he see this was a problem?
“Go on,” urged Tiffy.
“Well, the entire tour was a trap. He sent Stephen and me into the dungeon, where we nearly got killed before escaping. He then sent my friends, Mike and Cameron, away for slavery. Mac never achieved anything. He never explored or mastered in fishing or mining. He just kidnapped good people to fake it. They’ve been slaves for years and we have to save him. But Stephen was injured, so now we need to fix him up,” I continued. Tiffy nodded.
“Well, the infirmary can work wonders,* the knight murmured as we approached the long white stone bridge that led into the magnificent castle. Two men packed to the brim in heavy white armor, carrying halberds, their faces concealed with full helmets.

11-Feb-2011 03:09:30 - Last edited on 19-Feb-2011 01:21:38 by Hazeel Rises

Hazeel Rises

Posts: 4,066 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

I couldn’t imagine how it would feel to stand guard in the heavy sweltering armor all day, but at least they weren’t garbed heavily in black.
“Hello, Sir Tiffy,” one said in a low voice.

“Hello, Sir Finistere. These two are from Rimmington. It seems Mac has been up to his tricks. We must speak with Sir Amik,” Tiffy cried. The knights nodded and stepped aside. We followed Tiffy across the bridge, watching the water float monotonously past in the moat, before becoming enclosed on all sides by towering white walls and pillars that held up the glorious castle around them. We entered the massive courtyard, layered mainly in dirt, with a flag on a mound in the center, bearing the Falador coat-of-arms. Young squires in shabby uniform parried and fought, training to become members of the legion. Elder knights strode gallantly past, enjoying the fresh air.
“Squire!” Tiffy called, beckoning a young mousy-haired squire out of his training.
“Take this man to the infirmary. He’s been injured. Tell the nurse to do whatever she can. And make sure he’s treated well,” Sir Tiffy ordered. The squire nodded and supported the miserable Stephen as they walked away down a side-hallway. I felt glad that at last the senile knight was taking charge.
“Follow me,” Tiffy murmured and he led me towards massive wooden double doors that swung open impressively at a simple knock of Tiffy’s wrinkly knuckles. We strode into a large circular room with halls branching off at all sides. Portraits of the city, as well as past kings, circled the wall. I tiptoed over to a painting to examine a frail man with a puffy white beard and sorrowful small eyes.
“King Vallance,” I read out loud.

“Isn’t he still alive?” I asked Tiffy curiously. The man nodded slowly.
“Indeed. But he is very sick. Family losses have grieved him further. We are not sure when he shall die,” Tiffy murmured before beckoning up a spiral staircase.

11-Feb-2011 03:09:37 - Last edited on 19-Feb-2011 01:22:59 by Hazeel Rises

Hazeel Rises

Posts: 4,066 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

We hurried up flights of steps, occasionally greeting a startled knight, each time gaining more magnificent view out of the tiny stone windows, before we at last reached the top floor. The room was long and currently vacant, filled with more portraits and aged cracked suits of armor. Ten intricately-designed white thrones circled a black table. It appeared to be a conference room.
“I shall call Amik and the other High Knights. Wait here and take a seat,” Tiffy urged before striding out of the door. I sat uncomfortably down in a throne, the cold stone sending chills up my spine, mixed with the feelings of dread. Would Mac be defeated? Would Sir Amik help them? Would Mike and Cameron and Clare survive? And what of Stephen?
I watched the sky through the windows for much time until at last the doors swung open with a creak and the chamber suddenly became crowded as nine knights, including Sir Tiffy, garbed in imperial armor, strode inside, chatting wildly as they sat down. I then noticed Sir Tiffy was walking alongside Stephen! Although he still appeared weak, Stephen looked much healthier. What could the infirmary have done in such brief time? Tiffy and Stephen sat by me, the latter grinning.
“That potion worked wonders. I feel much stronger,” he whispered as more knights sat down until at last one man clapped for attention and silence thundered over them like an eerie wave. The man who’d clapped appeared to be Sir Amik, who wore a small golden crown on top of his wavy black hair. He had a short prickly beard, along with a shrewd demeanor.
“Sir Tiffy has called this debate, my fellow knights, over information that these two men have. Any comment?” Amik cried in a booming voice. One man raised his hands. He had long spiky blonde hair, squinty eyes, and the expression of one completely full of himself.
“Yes, Sir Vyvin?”

11-Feb-2011 03:09:44 - Last edited on 19-Feb-2011 01:27:38 by Hazeel Rises

Hazeel Rises

Posts: 4,066 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“This is ridiculous, to listen to meager peasants over unimportant matters. These people aren’t even of Falador,” Vyvin muttered arrogantly. Amik nodded.
“Vyvin may make a good point. You two, please state your names and business,” he ordered. I shuffled in my feet awkwardly and nervously.
“I am John ‘Pball’ Horacio, a middle-class adventurer born in…Port Sarim. This is my friend, Stephen Gostavo, the powerful Varrock entrepreneur, who lost much in the market crash last year. We have some important information regarding a tycoon in Rimmington,” I began, attempting to sound as formal as possible. The knights muttered under their breath, so we could hear nothing. Stephen remained silent, pondering something. Sir Tiffy finally spoke.
“Tell the knights your story,”
“All right. Well, as you all know of the overpopulation in the Rimmington districts, the town’s powerful mage opened a new dimension for people to reside in glamorous houses. Both Stephen and I currently live there. We were going to a party there. Attending was the two of us, my brother Mike, his friend, Cameron, and Stephen’s sister, Clare. However, we soon found invitations to a certain Mac’s house. As you probably know, Mac is a popular business tycoon, who apparently struck rich on gold in the Seers’ Village. He lives in one of the most glorious mansions in Rimmington, constructed supposedly by himself. He has a suspicious strange demon butler by the name of Alathazdrar. Anyway, the entire crowd gathered at Mac’s house within his dimension and he decided to give a tour via groups. Stephen, Mike, Cameron, Clare, and I were the first group, unfortunately. Mac was quite prickly about the manor as we explored it and there were many impressive feats that we were confused about,” I began hastily.
“Yeah. We wondered where he received artifacts like Morytanian paintings or prize fish or his stock load of ore,” Stephen put in.

11-Feb-2011 03:09:51 - Last edited on 19-Feb-2011 02:01:52 by Hazeel Rises

Hazeel Rises

Posts: 4,066 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“We considered the butler, but it appeared to be a too large job. Seeing we were the most dangerous, Mac drugged Stephen and I before arriving at his trophy room. He then pretty much attempted to kill us, dropping us into his horrible dungeon. Then Alathazdrar imprisoned the rest and sent them to mine. Cameron had unraveled the mystery. Mac never achieved all the riches, glory, and feats.
"Using his butler and his house of tricks, he lured people to their doom, where they were kidnapped and enslaved, forced to do Mac’s dirty hidden work. I think Mac planned to love Clare, a notion that she did*’t answer to. In the dungeon, we were attacked by all sorts of perils and Stephen got injured. We fought a dragon and managed to find the portal out. We were saved. But we knew we had to save Cameron, Mike, Clare, and the rest of the slaves. So we took a long journey here, where Tiffy brought us here. This guy, Mac, is capturing and enslaving Southern Asgarnia. His demon Alathazdrar has powers none know of! He is terrorizing your kingdom and we need your help,” I explained at last, staring anxiously at the unfathomable faces surveying him. Stephen nodded to validate the story.

“This is ridiculous,” Vyvin snickered, tipping his chair nearly over and sneering. I frowned at the man.
“I mean, these two peasants arrive to claim that a respectable noble is kidnapping citizens to perform his own feats with the help of a demon butler! You can’t believe a word, Amik! Just because senile Tiffy does!” Vyvin drawled. A few knights nodded their head with agreement. What? This couldn’t happen! It was definitely not the welcome I’d expected.
“We’re not lying! It’s true! The infirmary can tell you Stephen’s wounds were spikes,” I urged.
“And that could’ve been any spike, not the ones of this so-called Mac,” Vyvin spat.
“Don’t you think I know about my own wounds?” Stephen hissed, losing his politeness.

11-Feb-2011 03:09:57 - Last edited on 19-Feb-2011 02:46:50 by Hazeel Rises

Hazeel Rises

Posts: 4,066 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Amik sighed, slamming his fist on the table to attract attention.
“Men, men. The story seems rather unlikely. If there were any missing people, then the government of Rimmington and Port Sarim would’ve reported or taken it into their own hands. Thank you for the notion, men, but there’s hardly anything we should do,” Amik murmured dismissingly.
“What?” I howled and a knight gasped.
“Don’t-talk-to-him-like-that,” Tiffy warned in an undertone, but I ignored him. People were dying!
“My friends are gone! Don’t tell me I’m faking!” I yowled. Stephen leapt to his feet to defend me when Vyvin spat a rude retort.
“Lives are at stake!” Stephen groaned. And with that, argument erupted around the table as knights stood and shook fists, babbling wildly. Tiffy sighed with exasperation at the anarchic cacophony. And then, a crackling voice boomed across the room.
“STOP!” a man cried and every knight twisted around to see an aged man hobbled into the room, the door swung open behind him. He had a long puffy white beard and appeared frail, but the spark of a man who had regained hope remained in his light blue eyes.
“Who’re you?” I breathed in awe as the man thumped over.
“I am King Vallance, rightful leader of Falador, and I have stepped back to rule my kingdom after years of illness,” Vallance said valiantly in-between raspy coughs. I suddenly remembered the stories of the great king of Falador, who fell to sudden illness and was never seen again. And now he appears, healthier? Sir Amik shuffled in his seat squeamishly before at last approaching his leader.
“Vallance! This is marvelous! The last I saw you, you were ill in bed, dying, and now you’re standing and all! You must have noticed the city in pristine order!” Amik said shakily. Vallance, however, did not seem amused, a hardy frown spreading across his wrinkled face.

11-Feb-2011 03:10:04 - Last edited on 19-Feb-2011 02:49:31 by Hazeel Rises

Hazeel Rises

Posts: 4,066 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“The last time you saw me, Amik, you were laughing like the arrogant tyrant you are now. You’ve ruled long enough. I am back. I believe this belongs to me,” Vallance spat and swept Amik’s crown off his head in a swift movement before placing it on his own wispy white hair. There was slight muttering with surprise at the king’s return. What did Vallance mean by the last time they’d met? Although Amik appeared arrogant, he never struck me a tyrant. Vallance then faced the knights.
“Vyvin, carry out the order that all knights gather with the cavalry. We storm Mac’s estate tonight, to retrieve the one I hold dear. My daughter, Irena,” he ordered. Vyvin halted, prepared to argue, but thought better of it and sprinted from the room.
“You two are the young men who have met Mac, am I correct?” Vallance inquired as he strode over to us. I stared at Stephen, at a loss for words. Finally, my friend spoke up.
“Yes, sir. We were invited to his party and then he sent us to the dungeon and captured our friends. He’s evil,” Stephen murmured quietly.
“Oh, I know. I know more then any man in this city,” Vallance sighed with a wheeze. Although confidence emanated, the man still seemed sick.
“If you don’t mind me asking, sir, what happened? You’ve been gone for so long,” I whispered after summoning the right words. Vallance grinned feebly.
“There’ll be a time to speak of that. But not now. Are your wounds healed?” he asked. We nodded slowly.
“Good. Then let us ride out to battle,”
“I have a plan,” Mike murmured as the slaves grudgingly watered the plants in the main garden. At first, it had seemed so beautiful, the begonias and tulips shining under the sun. But now the ten or so slaves who were assigned farming duty, sweat gathering on their forehead, hated every bit of it. Irena shuffled her feet to get closer to Mike. Cameron leaned over from the bushes he was tending to listen.
“What?” he muttered.

11-Feb-2011 03:10:11 - Last edited on 19-Feb-2011 02:50:53 by Hazeel Rises

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