RuneScape Forum Archive | SotD2: The Cycle Breaks

Crystal Smee

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***

Katherine nodded wordlessly, smiling despite herself. What was funny, she wasn’t sure. Perhaps the notion that a door could kill her with a hidden trap still seemed absurd to her brain. She wasn’t sure why, not after seeing Phillip die, or the vines that snagged all of them but Zyran. At the same time, her unconscious recognized the possible danger and tensed every muscle in her body. She straightened her white tunic and trousers, now spattered with blood. It was mostly Exile’s blood, from the battle with the snakes. It had crusted and turned a shade darker, more brownish than red now.

In her mind she prepared a spell in case of a monster attack. There was no stopping the traps, it seemed. “Ready?” she asked Exile.

He nodded once, then kicked the door open. They stepped back involuntarily, out of reflex, but nothing happened. “Go fast,” Exile muttered. Knives appeared in each hand. Taking a deep breath, he swallowed the pain and darted ahead through the doorway. Katherine followed. Back to back, they spiraled around, but there was no danger. Katherine released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Suddenly, Exile burst out laughing at the picture the two of them must have been. Katherine joined him, but it was nervous laughter, something to fill the silence. When they were finished, they started walking again, down the long corridor.

Ahead, they heard voices. Exile stopped and rubbed the hilt of his daggers hungrily with his thumbs. Katherine stayed him with a hand on his arm. “Careful,” she murmured. “If it’s people, its probably other competitors. We don’t want a repeat of what happened with Zeldonfen.”

He nodded, but kept his grip on the knives as tight as ever. They trod down the corridor, reaching the corner. Just around it were the voices. Katherine peeked around first, Exile right behind her. Katherine let out a laugh of relief.

27-Jun-2011 20:10:50 - Last edited on 28-Jun-2011 01:00:57 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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“It’s Larvald and Glevea!” she exclaimed to him. By now the two figures down the hall had heard her voice and they looked up in surprise.

“Katherine?” Glevea cried incredulously. She darted forward in excitement. “Good Gods, I wasn’t sure if there were any other people left.” She then caught sight of Exile, bandaged and bloody. “What happened?”

“The first room had a bunch of snakes,* Exile grunted simply. Larvald, having caught up, grinned slightly.

“We faced some too. We’re lucky we escaped alive. Two dragons, too,” he added proudly.

Katherine’s eyes widened. “Wow,” was all she could say. The two quickly recounted the tales of their experience so far, Katherine detailing the fight with Zeldonfen, the fight between Zyran and Eta, and then Eta’s gruesome death. Larvald and Glevea reenacted their dragon battles and the fight with the snake as well. The four hunkered down in the middle of the hall and munched on their supplies of food, glad for a respite.

***

Lance was in a heap, sobbing, oblivious to anything but the bleeding, now-dead figure of Amy. It was impossible. How could so something so wonderful be gone so suddenly?

A sudden roar jerked him from his melancholy reverie. The demons. Right. He forced himself to get to his feet, however sluggishly. His left arm had numbed. With his right he stooped to pick up his sword and faced the demon. He couldn’t defeat it, somewhere in the back of his mind he knew that. Finally, his brain registered that information into a command, just as the beast reached out to swipe him back up.

He began running. He sprinted faster than he ever had before, his left arm flopping uselessly at his side. He sprinted toward the other door, straight across the room. The demon lumbered angrily behind him. It bellowed in rage as its prey escaped.

27-Jun-2011 20:11:37 - Last edited on 28-Jun-2011 01:01:27 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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

Lance did*’t bother to worry about traps as he kicked open the oaken door. All he cared about was escaping the mosnters. His mind couldn’t focus on more than one thing at a time. Fortunately, there was no trap, and he slammed the door shut. The demon slammed into it and threw itself against the door. It wouldn’t fit through the doorway, but all the same it began to forcefully reduce the door to splinters.

Just as a hole was rent and bits of wood exploded in every direction, Lance vanished around a corner. An arm poked through the hole and groped around for Lance, but by then the man was long gone.

Lance finally trudged to a stop. Chased by the demon’s enraged howling, he had been dashing along for what felt like forever. It must have been at least half an hour. The corridor showed no signs of ending. It simply twisted and turned randomly into darker and darker depths. The torches ahead seemed to have long since guttered out. Lance ventured further into near-complete blackness.

The silence was deafening. The only sound was the click, click of his booted heels on the stones and the occasional scuttling of a spider. The pain in his arm had returned and felt a hundred times stronger. Lance moved in a half-stupor. He was asleep on his feet, automatically putting one foot in front of the other. Sleep felt like the only respite he would have from his pain; both emotional and physical. However, neither would allow him to go to sleep. His mind kept flitting back to the image of Amy impaled on a spike, the cool metal protruding from her stomach and her terrified scream. His arm pulsed continuously. Lance had left a trail of blood behind him. He knew he should bind the wound, but he did*’t know how with one hand. So he just dripped along as he went, sometimes tripping into a wall and leaving a smear of blood behind on the stones.

A sudden foul odor alerted him, along with a scritch-scratch that was louder than that of a spider.

27-Jun-2011 20:11:57 - Last edited on 28-Jun-2011 01:02:02 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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

He clenched his sword tighter and pressed himself against the wall.

Suddenly, two gleaming yellow eyes appeared in the darkness. Lance was transfixed by them. They darted frantically around. The clicking was accompanied by a low muttering that seemed oddly human.

Lance held his breath and timed his attack. He had no idea what this creature was, but he had no doubts it would try to kill him. Everything in this dungeon tried to kill him. Finally, he jumped out in front of it with a yell and brandished his sword wildly. The thing jumped back with a shriek. It sounded like a female voice…but those eyes…

“Whoa!” cried the beast. It reared up, then tripped onto its back, and rolled back to crouch on all fours.

Lance stayed where he was, breathing heavily. “What the ----?” he blurted, despite himself.

“L-light a torch,” the beast stammered. Lance was compelled to oblige. He tentatively lay his sword down, judging that perhaps this beast wasn’t out to get him since it seemed as surprised as he. He then found a torch in a wall bracket.

“D***,” Lance cursed. He couldn’t light it one handed. Finally, he threw the torch on the ground and managed to strike the tinderbox, finally lighting it. Then he tossed the tinderbox down and picked up the torch. It cast a dancing glow over the scene. Lance staggered back into the wall at what he saw.

Before him sat a bedraggled girl, with odd patches of fur all over her body, tangled, matted hair, and long claws protruding from her fingers. The girl looked up. Her yellow eyes were haunted. Lance couldn’t miss the pain that emanated from them.

“I’m guessing you’ve never seen a werewolf before?” the girl asked wryly. Her voice was hoarse and scratchy, like it hadn’t been used in a long time.

“W-werewolf?” Lance gasped. “Don’t—don’t’ hurt me, please!” He stumbled back, unable to grab his sword with the torch clenched in his only working hand.

27-Jun-2011 20:12:40 - Last edited on 28-Jun-2011 01:02:22 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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

The girl simply laughed and leaned back on the floor. “I don’t want to hurt anyone, believe me. I’ve already hurt too many people.” Suddenly, the laughter subsided, replaced with wracking sobs. “Oh, Seth, what have I done? Seth, forgive me!” She clawed frantically at the air, rolling to her feet and staggering away. “No! Seth, I’m sorry! Don’t! I did*’t mean – it was supposed to hit the ogre! Seth, don’t! I’m not angry…” she collapsed on the floor and wept uncontrollably.

Lance ventured forward and squatted before her. She was mad. “I—I’m Lance,” he murmured. She looked up at him, yellow eyes glittering beneath tangles of hair.

“I…I think my name is Krystal. I’m not really sure any more,” she replied sadly.

***

Alyson had finally decided Matthew was well enough to move. The two exited the room and stepped into the corridor. The hall ahead was long and winding. Matthew moved as quickly as possible with his wounds. Which each step his chest heaved and the wound send new tendrils of fire clenching every muscle in his body. He tried to shake the odd feeling that his skin was writhing. It prickled and itched constantly, and when he glanced down he have expected to see it moving.

He would have linked the feeling to the gas but for Alyson wriggling too as though she felt the same. He was sure the gas had done nothing to her. It must just be nerves in the dungeon. He would have given anything to see sunlight. He was sick of the dark, dinginess of this hole. His nose had become so accustomed to the stench of mildew and rotting that he did*’t even smell it any more.

Finally, Matthew spied a door. He trotted ahead with excitement. “Careful,” Alyson warned as he grabbed the handle. Together they darted inside and gazed fretfully around. Most of the room was shrouded in shadows. It was long, with a table off to the right of Alyson. Seeing no thread, she led the way in further.

27-Jun-2011 20:13:11 - Last edited on 28-Jun-2011 01:02:49 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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

A sudden howl brought her to a halt. It was mournful and melancholy. It seemed to touch something deep inside Alyson. Whatever was making that terrible sound, she wanted to help it. It sounded desperate, as though it felt no hope, nothing. Matthew drew his sword and reexamined the room. It was then that he saw two skeletons sprawled on the floor. The bones had teeth marks in them as though they had been gnawed. Not a bit of flesh clung to the white surfaces now. Alyson followed his terrified gaze and let out a shriek of surprise.

“Those skeletons are from five years ago,” drawled a rasping, complacent voice. Two yellow eyes appeared in a dark corner, unblinking as they stared at the adventurers.

“The necromancer smiles upon us today, Elger,” a second voice added excitedly. A second pair of eyes appeared to accompany the voice.

“Oh, I doubt it, Laric. He just started another competition,” laughed Elger.

“Who are you?” demanded Alyson. Her voice was a high-pitched scream, tinged with fear.

“I think the question is not *who’,” observed Elger thoughtfully, “but ‘what.’” Two wolves padded out of the darkness. They were thin with malnutrition; every rib was visible beneath scattered patches of matted gray fur and blotchy pale skin. Their yellow eyes gleamed from sunken sockets. As the first wolf spoke, the second pulled back its lips and opened its mouth wide, as though yawning. It revealed long curved canine teeth, glittering with saliva.

“To be gracious and answer you, we’re werewolves. Although I think by now that’s somewhat obvious,” added the first wolf, which appeared to be Elger.

The second, Laric then, closed his mouth and snorted loudly. “And I’m sure you can see that we are very, very hungry,” he cackled greedily. The noise was like nails on a chalkboard, scratchy and off-key. Alyson backed up into Matthew.

27-Jun-2011 20:13:33 - Last edited on 28-Jun-2011 01:03:18 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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“Help,” she moaned. They all knew just what kind of food the wolves were looking for.

“I’m afraid it will be a short-lived feast, Laric,” Elger grunted. He circled around the two competitors and sniffed disdainfully. “The man, he’s no good. Contaminated.”

Matthew blinked. The gas, maybe? He had no time to consider as Elger spoke again, this time to him. “Look, laddie, you’re bad meat. So run along now, unless you want to see us take care of your little lassie.*

*You’ll never take her!” Matthew bellowed angrily.

The wolves were unperturbed. “Really?” Laric leapt forward with a snarl. His claws caught Alyson’s shoulders. She screamed as she toppled backward with the wolf pinning her to the ground. At the same time, Elger knocked Matthew over, teeth bared menacingly. His paw neatly swatted the sword from Matthew’s hands.

“Go,” he hissed in Matthew’s face. Spittle flew from the snapping fangs. Matthew groaned and tried to shove the wolf off him. He did*’t have the strength, and collapsed weakly. Elger noted this and laughed softly, then released him and bounded over to Alyson. She screeched as his claws rent her flesh. He howled, then sunk his teeth into her shoulder. There was a terrible ripping noise, and then Elger straightened. A chunk of bloody skin and muscle dangled from his open maw. He closed his mouth and gulped the whole thing down, spat out a tattered shred of clothing, and gave what sounded to Matthew like a belch. Laric looked up from where he was burying his snout in the mangled remains of Alyson’s gut.

Blood dripped from his muzzle as he grumbled, “Manners, Elger?”

Elger snorted. “You’re one to talk, Laric.” Then he froze. His tawny eyes widened. “Oh…no*.*

*What now?* Laric glanced up annoyedly. Then he felt it too as his stomach lurched and his skin tingled. “How?” he gasped. “You said –“

27-Jun-2011 20:14:07 - Last edited on 28-Jun-2011 01:03:51 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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

“I know what I said, damnit! I was wrong! All it takes is a little. It must have not been enough to smell,” Elger snapped. He wriggled convulsively. “This is the end then, Laric.”

Laric howled loudly. Matthew watched in horror as, starting at Laric’s snout, the skin began to writhe. It inched backward away from his nose, lifting itself up and cutting back, then falling to the ground like an orange peel to join the growing heap.

Blood flowed freely to the stones, mingling with Alyson’s. Laric quivered uncontrollably and finally crumpled limply to the scarlet-stained stones when all of his skin had gone. He now lay on a bed of skin and blood, the wolf himself a heap of gleaming bones and shivering muscles. Then he lay still.

Moments later, the same happened to Elger. Matthew crawled to the corner and threw up violently for a long time. When he stomach stopped heaving, he dragged himself over to Alyson. One look told him there was no saving her now. Laric had eaten her torso clear through to her spine. He touched her neck to check for a pulse; nothing. She was dead. He stared at the dead wolves, transfixed. Would that happen to him? It must have been the gas.

Terror raced through his body. But what could he do now? He hoisted himself to his feet and trudged onward, holding back his tears. If only he could find the others before it was too late.

***

A few hours passed as the four adventurers talked. Glevea finally straightened from leaning against Larvald’s shoulder and stretched. “Maybe we should get moving,” she suggested. “Do you want to travel with us? I think we’ve got a better chance of surviving if the four of us go together.”

Katherine exchanged a glance with Exile, then nodded. “Sure. That would be great,” she agreed. She helped Exile to his feet and checked his bandages quickly. With the poison gone almost immediately, the wounds had stopped bleeding and crusted over.

27-Jun-2011 20:14:32 - Last edited on 28-Jun-2011 01:04:27 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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

Glevea and Larvald picked up their packs, and the four were ready to move. The hall was long and winding. They could only travel as fast as the slowest person, and Exile began to feel guilty that he was slowing them down. But there was nothing he could do, he doubted that Katherine would let them leave him behind.

So they continued to walk for another hour, finally seeing a door ahead. Katherine trotted up to it and nudged it gently. Then she drew back, motioning the others into silence.

“There’s someone behind it,” she whispered as they came close. She pushed it open a little more to see a tall, slender man with fiery red hair pacing mindlessly and muttering to himself.

“Who’s that? He wasn’t here at the start of the contest,” mused Larvald. He peered eagerly over Katherine’s shoulder and frowned in deep thought.

“Oh, Gods…” Glevea rasped. She stumbled back against the wall and threw up on the floor. When Larvald saw the cause of her repulsion, he desperately wanted to do the same. Slumped on the floor, leaning against the wall in one corner, was…he did*’t know how to describe it. He might have called it a human, for it had that shape of anatomy, but bore no other resemblance. It more like a simple skeleton, with misshapen organs tucked in and about the assorted bones that dangled dangerous by thin sinews of muscle. The heart, lodged behind the ribcage, was barely pulsing. There were no eyes in the sockets, and only half a brain behind the oddly put-together pieces of skull.

Finally the pacing figure threw himself into the stuffed armchair. Out of all the rooms Katherine had seen so far in this dungeon, this looked the most like a real room. A few armchairs were scattered around a large hearth, in which a fire blazed. Katherine felt a sudden chill and longed to sit near the warm flames.

27-Jun-2011 20:15:32 - Last edited on 28-Jun-2011 01:04:48 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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Exile glanced at the rest of them, then shoved the door open and stepped inside. The man jumped from the chair and whirled, but soon masked his surprise with a cold demeanor. “Well, well, looks as though our friend started another ‘competition.’”

Exile was startled by his words, but refused to take the bait and satisfy the man. “Who are you?” he demanded coldly. Glevea joined Katherine and Larvald as they huddled in the doorway, waiting anxiously for the man’s answer.

“Well,” he drawled. “To be polite, first allow me to introduce my companion. This is Ellya." He gestured briefly to the disgusting body. "Most people call me Zamorak.”

End of Chapter

27-Jun-2011 20:16:24 - Last edited on 28-Jun-2011 01:05:09 by Crystal Smee

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SotD2: The Cycle Breaks