RuneScape Forum Archive | SotD2: The Cycle Breaks

Crystal Smee

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"Not here," he murmured. "When we're free of this place, I promise. Another time."

"There may not be another time," she replied, nuzzling his ear.

"Not here," he repeated. He shifted out from under her and got to his feet. She slumped to the floor with an ungraceful grunt. "If we want there to be another time, we need to keep moving." She muttered something under he breath and straightened beside him. He shouldered his pack with a sigh and began to walk forward again. He rounded the corner and saw a door ahead. Amy trotted ahead toward it and shoved it open.

No surprises inside, fortunately. It was long and narrow. They moved through it quickly and back into the dank corridor. Lance sighed. He was sick of walking.

"We're taking a real break in the next room, I don't care what you say," Amy announced. Lance chuckled, slipping one arm around her waist. His lips brushed her soft hair.

"I won't object," he murmured in her ear. The hall was short and they were soon faced with yet another door. Lance kicked it open. Something whizzed past his head almost instantly. He grabbed Amy and pulled her low to the ground, shielding her with his body. He glanced up, staring at four arrows pointed at his head. His eyes trailed along the arrows to the bows, then to the hands grasping the bows, and finally the owners of the bows. Four short gnomes, angrily glaring at Lance and Amy.

"Whoa, easy," he murmured to them, holding up a shaking hand.

"Die!" screeched a gnome. Lance watched in horror as the tiny fist released, and then suddenly it froze. They all froze. Lance stared. Amy touched his arm.

"How..." he gasped.

"I paralyzed them," she explained proudly. "I can freeze small things like that." Lance grinned. Now he surveyed the gnomes, having a chance to really look at them.

26-Jun-2011 21:08:56

Crystal Smee

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There were short; barely up to his waist. They had long pointed ears and slightly green-tinged skin. Their heads were bald and shiny with squat noses and beady black eyes. They wore tiny woven tunics with black boots. "Now we're even," she laughed. "I saved you and you saved me."

Lance wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. "That was brilliant. Thank you."

"I can't lose you," she murmured, kissing him soundly on the lips. "Ever."

***

Larvald grabbed Glevea's arm, dragging her out of the doorway against the wall. "Okay," he began. "What do we do?"

"Well, anything's weak spot is its heart, right?" she said slowly. "To kill it effectively, we've got to find a way to stab it. But the scales are tough...I have an idea."

"Mind telling me?" he asked breathlessly. She laughed softly and patted his arm.

"Patience, patience. I would have if you hadn't interrupted me." Larvald muttered something obscene about women under his breath and Glevea laughed again. "I can distract it, like the last time. Use that big hammer of yours to smash in the scales. Then I can stab it."

"You sure that'll work?" he asked dubiously.

Glevea rolled her eyes. "Not in the slightest bit. But if you can come up with a better idea, dear man, please do tell me." Larvald growled under his breath once more and peeked around the door.

"Fine," he growled gruffly, "Let's go." Then he slid his hammer out of his belt with his one hand and sprinted toward the dragon. As soon as it noticed him, it spewed a great blaze of fire toward him. He threw himself to the stones, rolling behind a pillar. He knew Glevea had followed as more fire whisked past. He dared to look out and saw her weaving around the dragon, stabbing here and there. The scales faced down and occasionally she was able to slice upward, ripping them from the beast's thick skin.

26-Jun-2011 21:09:18 - Last edited on 26-Jun-2011 21:21:20 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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

Each time she succeeded, it let out a deafening squeal of agony. Blood trickled down the scaly hide. It struck out with its talons, but Glevea was too quick. She danced around each stride and slashed again and again. Larvald took a deep breath and leapt out.

He sprinted toward the dragon. Every few strides he glanced at Glevea, praying she could still hold her own. He winced as she let out a cry. Sparing a glance as he jumped over an uneven section of floor, he saw the talon slice through her arm, leaving a long crimson ****. Now he had to succeed.

He finally reached the gigantic body. It reared up as he neared, still focused on Glevea, and blood spattered across the floor. Larvald dove out of the way. He had seen what it did to the body. The beast was balancing on three legs, using its tail and one foreleg to attack Larvald's companion. As with his first dragon, he sprung up and wrapped himself around the towering leg, then shimmied up it as quickly as he could. He was close to the chest now. Gripping his hammer tightly, he slammed it as hard as he could into the dragon's chest. Shattered scales showered to the floor like a cloud of dust. He slammed again, sending more scales to the ground. The dragon screamed and reared up on its two hind legs, tossing Larvald to the ground like a rag doll. He skidded across the stones, coughing up blood. He glanced up.

Glevea sprinted a ways away, then turned. She grasped one of her swords tightly, hefting it over her shoulder. Then she took two light leaps forward and tossed it like a spear. It spun in the air, shining as it was caught in the torchlight. A ray danced across Larvald's face, bathing him a diamond white light. Then with a sickening thunk it landed in the dented space created by Larvald's hammer, sinking straight into the dragon's flesh. Blood seeped from the wound.

26-Jun-2011 21:09:37

Crystal Smee

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The dragon screamed, a terrifying sound, rearing up once more. Then it collapsed, wings folding in upon itself and landing in a bloody heap upon the stones.

***

Krystal bolted back and forth down the corridor, as though something was after her. After a few furious strides, she would skid to a halt and turn the other way. Sometimes she ran on foot, sometimes on all fours. Her clothes were torn and ragged. Dull yellow eyes sat in sunken sockets. Her face was smudged with dirt. For now, she was more human-like. The changes came randomly.

Krystal was a werewolf, bitten painfully by another wolf after watching him eat her friend alive. The memories still haunted her after five years trapped in the dungeon, traversing it endlessly. In her head, a voice seemed the chatter on endlessly. This was the voice of her thoughts; thoughts that threatened to make her even more crazy, if possible. Suddenly, a scream rent the air, a scream of pain. The voice laughed as Krystal trudged to a stop and flopped down on the stones.

'More. They're back. More people. People! Humans! People!' The voice became excited here at the prospect of people. She longed to hear a voice once more. 'The necromancer - he brought more. Why? No matter - they must be warned.'

At this she scrambled to her feet and began to meander down the hallway. Her thoughts took their usual turn once more. 'Seth...Seth!' Images of the ogre, her knives whizzing through the air, slid unbidden into her mind. She stumbled and cried out. Tears would have fallen, but there were no tears left in her dry eyes. She longed for water, for food, for a voice...

26-Jun-2011 21:10:11 - Last edited on 26-Jun-2011 21:21:36 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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

The images continued to flash. Now the knife missed the ogre, sunk into the flesh of her loved one. He stumbled back, into the door, triggering that trap...Then him falling, falling onto the spikes. His blood, seeping down the cold metal. And his words...Begging forgiveness, though he had committed no sin. The pain consumed Krystal, clenched her heart until she thought it might squeeze the life out of her. How she had survived five years in this hell when he couldn't survive a few days, she didn't know. She didn't know what kept her alive. She hadn't eaten in two years. She figured she had just become a slave of the dungeon, of the necromancer, and he kept her alive so that she could help to kill off his next victims.

'Seth...SETH!' The images repeated, a movie forever playing in her head. She tried to scream his name, yet all that came out was a wordless howl.

***

Far off, Lance thought he heard a wolf scream. He shivered. That wasn't a call of a hungry beast. That was a call of agony, begging for help. It was a cry from the heart. That wasn't just an ordinary beast. His heart wrenched. Beside him, Amy quivered and buried her face into his shoulder.

End of Chapter

26-Jun-2011 21:10:25 - Last edited on 26-Jun-2011 21:21:56 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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

Chapter 6

Eta sprinted down the hallway. Zyran was slowly walking on, fingering his knives and laughing to himself. "Too easy..." he chuckled maliciously. Eta staggered to a halt, then began to stalk behind his prey. Suddenly, Zyran stopped, and a cruel smile twisted his lips.

"So, Eta, you escaped?" he drawled. "I'm not deaf, you know."

"Katherine was kind enough to let me down. Guess I wasn't supposed to die after all," he replied with a sneer.

"And you've come to kill me, yes?" Zyran rotated slowly to face his attacker.

"Yes," snarled Eta. "Of course." His twin blades hissed from their sheaths into his hands. Zyran raised his own palms, daggers appearing between his fingers. "Bring it on, ninja-boy," he snarled. Zyran crooked a finger and a knife went whizzing toward Eta.

Eta tossed himself on the stones, but another knife spiraled to block his safe haven, and he struggled awkwardly to one side. There he hopped back to his feet and charged toward Zyran. Zyran continued to launch knives with amazing speed. Eta almost looked as though he was dancing. Eventually, he reached the dark-haired boy, his black clothes blending him into the dark corridor. He swatted clumsily with his sword and swiped nothing but air. A line of fine along his arm caused him to whirl, stabbing with his other scimitar.

"Stop hiding and fight me like a man!" he shouted roughly. He heard a low chuckle to his left and slashed viciously, but found nothing. Cursing, he sheathed one sword and sprinted ahead a bit, grabbing a torch from the bracket and returning. Zyran flipped two more knives at him, which he dodged with ease. He clutched the torch in one sweaty palm and held out his sword in the other. Once more, he lunged for the young man, this time able to see him. As Zyran moved to evade him, he moved with him, and sliced him crosswise across the chest. Zyran let out a cry and staggered to his knees.

26-Jun-2011 21:12:22 - Last edited on 26-Jun-2011 21:22:10 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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

From his prone position, Zyran now drew his swords, rarely used. He slashed across Eta's booted feet until the man was forced to leap out of the way. Zyran struggled upward and slashed Eta across the arm. Eta stumbled, cursing loudly. The wavering torch caused the shadows to shift and swirl. Eta glanced at the torch and grinned wickedly.

"Time to end this," he snickered. Then he thrust the blazing torch toward Zyran, straight into his chest. The wooden stakes pierced through his torso. Blood seeped from the wound, only to meet the crackling fire and evaporate with a hiss. Some spattered to the ground toward Eta, who stood back and cackled. Zyran let out a piercing yell as the fire spread across his body, charring his flesh and sending it drifting to the ground in a shower of ash. Soon Zyran was nothing but a fiery skeleton, and he collapsed to the ground to move no more. Eta wrinkled his nose at the acrid odor of burning flesh and hair.

"Oh my god...." From up the corridor, Katherine sagged against the wall, witness to the scene all too late.

***

Dramen Naar sat at his desk, chewing on a quill, when an icy chill swept over the room. A cold, deep voice drawled, "You let the angels get to them."

Dramen's spine stiffened and his face tensed. He leaned back in his chair, took a deep breath, and replied, "Yes, my Lord. I apologize. I didn't realize they were coming and could not add a trap quickly enough to incapacitate Matthew and Alyson."

"Then you should have killed them," snapped Zaros. "You're supposed to be bright."

"I am planning their death, my Lord," Dramen replied. "They will not live to tell the others." He could almost feel Zaros' pale lips twist in a triumphant smile.

"Good, good. Show me." Dramen shifted his chair to the side, making room for Zaros to step near to the desk. Then he grabbed a rolled up scroll and unfurled it to reveal a detailed blueprint of the dungeon. He pointed with one long, slender finger to a room.

26-Jun-2011 21:13:01 - Last edited on 26-Jun-2011 21:22:49 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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

"Here is where they are." He slid his finger down to another room. "I was thinking of adding one of those..." He had scribbled out his plans onto the parchment. "See, that would injure her, Matthew is already injured, and then I was going to use this..."

Beside him, Zaros grinned again beneath the hood of his dark crimson robes. "Ah, Theonalios loved that one. He had a good head for making things painful, that was for sure...But he was too dense for my purposes. You know what you are doing and also why, Dramen. I will make you one of my top men once I have the staff. Very well. Work quickly, they are on the move." A mottled hand flourished his cloak, and he vanished with the softest 'pop.'

***

Matthew sagged against the wall. Alyson, though weak, had heard everything as well. "What does this mean?" she asked weakly. "If we find the staff, we're supposed to ignore it. If we don't find it, we'll die anyway. It's a death sentence." Tears began to carve a path through the dirt on her cheeks as despair settled over her like a constricting blanket.

Matthew cradled her in his arms. "We'll do the best we can," he sighed. "I don't know what else to say. I mean...once Zaros got the staff, he'd probably kill us anyway. But if we find the others, strength in numbers, you know?" Alyson sighed and snuggled deeper into his embrace, relishing the warmth.

"I guess," she mumbled. Matthew released her.

"We need to get moving," he announced reluctantly. Alyson scrambled to her feet and scrubbed at her eyes to wipe the tears away.

"Let's go," she replied as she hefted her pack to her shoulder. They set out through the door at the other end of the room. The corridor was short and narrow and it was only a few minutes before they reached a thick, iron-cast door. Matthew shoved it open. His trained ears caught a faint, familiar twang. He reacted quickly, grabbing Alyson and diving to the ground on top of her. She let out a squeal.

26-Jun-2011 21:13:21 - Last edited on 26-Jun-2011 21:23:04 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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"What the --?" she shrieked from beneath him. Matthew glanced up, seeing hole the arrow had sliced through the door and his breath caught. He rolled quickly off Alyson and lay panting on the floor beside her.

"Arrow," he gasped. She let out a soft cry.

"Oh -- thank you." She was panting heavily too. Matthew didn't have the strength to get up right then. He needed rest.

"Can't -- go on...not now..." he croaked. Alyson patted his cheek gently.

"We'll rest," she agreed. Then they both drifted off into the world of slumber and solace.

***

Larvald's leaned heavily on a pillar, panting. Glevea sat on the ground beside him, binding her arm. Larvald would have helped, but he couldn't do it one-armed and it was easier for Glevea to do it herself. Finally, she rose. "I'm ready to move on," she told him. He nodded, slurped another mouthful from his canteen of water and finished his chunk of cheese, then led the way out of the room. As they walked, they passed a half-rotten body. Some bones showed, but it was mostly still flesh. Remnants of blond hair were scattered over a young face. Larvald could see where his leg was shattered in places that the flesh had been eaten away. It smelled acridly of burnt flesh and was blackened from being charred. Larvald assumed the boy had been taken unawares by the dragon.

As he opened the next door, he understood why. There was a deafening grinding noise. Surprised, he glanced at the ceiling, expecting to see it collapsing like it had on Phillip. However, the stone ceiling so far above remained in tact. Glevea grabbed him and jerked him backward away from the door, just about throwing his body skidding across the stones. Larvald's head smacked the floor and he let out a groan of pain. Glevea rushed to his side, hoisting him into her lap.

"Oh, shoot, Larvald, I'm sorry," she gasped. "I was just -- the wall -- it was moving and you didn't see -- I had to move you quickly." Larvald chuckled weakly and sat up.

26-Jun-2011 21:13:46 - Last edited on 26-Jun-2011 21:23:56 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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

"Whew. Don't worry, thank you." He looked over and saw that half of the wall perpendicular to the door, from the corner, had shifted out and slammed into the opposite wall next to the door. It would have crushed him to bits. Now he understood the boy's smashed leg. He must have been caught by this trap. "Thank you," he repeated it, truly meaning it this time now that he saw the extent of what she had done.

"Anytime," she replied sweetly. Impulsively, she kissed his cheek. Then she scrambled to her feet and offered a hand. He grabbed it and hauled himself up, shaking his head to clear the dizziness. Then he led the way into the next room.

He skidded to a halt, pushing Glevea back. "Snakes," he growled roughly. "Three giant ones." She stood on tiptoe and peeked over his shoulder with a small cry.

"Oh my...Larvald -- I'm -- I'm really scared of snakes," she admitted meekly. Larvald resisted a groan.

"We have to fight them. There's nowhere else to go."

"I can't -- Oh, fine, all right," she agreed feebly. The hissing of the three basilisks grated on her ears as she edged forward, blades outstretched. One saw her and darted forward. The snakes were a shining black with the occasional red scale. Its thick body wriggled gracefully across the stones toward her. She let out a shriek, but retained control of herself, stabbing with perfect timing and precision at its eyes with both swords. It uttered an angry hiss as blood spattered out onto the floor and across her clothing.

Larvald didn't have time to watch, however, as the other two noted his presence. One circled around him so that they were coming at him from both sides. Almost too late, he sprung upward into the air over them. The two snakes collided, but their quick reflexes kicked in and one jerked away.

26-Jun-2011 21:14:15

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SotD2: The Cycle Breaks