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https://i.warosu.org/data/tg/img/0290/92/1388074781084.jpg
New Quest Objective
- Soul Blade
***
Note to Readers: The last few weeks have been pretty busy, but I'm glad to be back writing again. For those interested in the App Version of Survive on Coroleya, it should become available near the end of September. It will be called 'Legends and Heroes' or 'Heroes of Coroleya'. However in this version, you will meet a character that completely changes the storyline, so that it's new for those who've already played it. I will try to post up further updates on my facebook.
As he trod the last few steps back towards the mine’s entrance, Grey felt himself being drawn back in time to the small village he had once called home. The homestead he had lived within, a small and simple place with little to no decorations besides the swords and shields that his father liked to have on display. The only source of warmth was usually by the fireplace, or in the kitchen where his mother Aydal, a tiny woman with light brown fur would often bake honey slats. Her clear blue eyes always alive and twinkling, as she snuck him food for his epic adventures in the village.
At night, she would often sit down by his bedside, and tell him stories of the heroic deeds of Ice Eyes, founder of the Honor Blades, the Legendary Grimbald who saved their lands from an underground dwarven invasion, the Goblin King Zharonar who united the goblin tribes of Caldasher, and conquered the southlands before being felled in battle by a Fae’lon Battlemage named Shyera the Blessed. She also spoke of the many plagues that were spread by the Vanclorens in the early years of their arrival, and the many wars that had been fought between the Dark Mages and Elves.
All of it fed Grey’s imagination of a world in which there was only good and bad. It was a sad realisation that this was not always true. His people desperate for help, had turned their backs against those that could have saved them, and destroyed his father, the only warrior to remain true to his word.
After that day outside of their home, Bright Steel became a broken lump of flesh, who sat forever slumped in his chair at the back corner of the room, deep in his own thoughts. The blood splattered armor of his order, stripped naked from his body, and discarded across the wooden floorboards like it was so much refuse. The greatsword that had been passed down from father to son, resting upon the chair’s arm, but completely ignored as he stared off into the empty space with sunken eyes that saw nothing.
Quiet with barely a noise to be heard in the home, Grey sat there on the rug with his mother watching the doorway, all of them half expecting something bad to happen. The rumble of thunder they heard from outside, followed by powerful gusts of wind that shook the rafters, his mother drawing him tighter to her, and pressing her hands to his cheeks to look down at him with a sad smile. The moist wetness around her eyes, making her look much older than she really was.
Howls erupted in the night, and the candles they had set up all around their home, began to flicker and die off, one by one. The cold, dark, enveloping them all, in an unnatural chill that had him shivering uncontrollably. The soft, blue dress his mother wore stained wet by tears that she tried to hold at bay as she rocked him from side to side. The single candle she held in her left hand, melting away slowly to leave them all in darkness.
Screams began echo through the village, and his father’s eyes shot towards the doorway, and for a split second, Grey thought he would charge outside, but instead he shook his head, picked up his greatsword, and moved to stand guard in front of them. His father’s large sturdy frame blocking out the doorway and the first creepings of light as the stars snuck their way out from behind the clouds. The open window of their home showing the White Star rising up to blaze with a pearlescent bright light that was darkened by shadows as thick grey clouds tried to block it out.
Howls grown louder still, Grey could hear his own heartbeat thump inside of his chest, and felt the blood freeze up in his veins, when with a sudden snap of the fingers, all was silent.
Body curled up in fear, he peered out from between his arms, and watched his father move towards the door, heard his mother urgently call out to him. Then in a loud blast of noise, he felt his whole world shake apart as the door was ripped off its hinges. The thunder of outside, transformed into a crescendo of noise that built up and was joined by a thousand howls. The shapeless beast that stood in the doorway of his home, stood there motionless for a second, before leaping atop his father and knocking the greatsword out of his hands. The fell creature, crashing with his father to the ground as they grappled and fought.
The terrified screams of his mother, turning to whimpers of fear as she grabbed hold of Grey in her arms, and carried him away. And in that brief flash of light that shone from the White Star, Grey saw Iron Skull, his teeth pulled back in a snarl with bloodied lips, and eyes alight with a savage hunger…
...Unsure, why he would he remember this now, he looked up and found himself completely alone at the bottom of a hilltop. The whole area dotted with wild purple flowers that blossomed in the morning sunlight, while sitting against a huge tree on the hill was a strange minotaur armored in silver plate with a white hood covering his horns.
Head lifted upward at the sound of him, the warrior glanced down at Grey, his face shadowed by the hood, then spoke in a clear voice that seemed to hang in the air. “The path of light can take many roads, Grey. One is dark. Another is narrow. And the last is full of death. All three paths lead to a short and brutal end, and yet there is power in choice. My name is Galfain, and you have been summoned here to the valley of your ancestors to complete the final rites of our people."
Stunned into silence, Grey gaped at the warrior, trying to understand how he had gotten here, let alone if this was real, when the warrior named Galfain continued, “Right now, you stand upon the precipice of great change Grey, one in which your friends fates are tied into your own. Turn back now and you will save yourself much heartache and pain. Continue forward, and your suffering will never end.”
Mind flooded with images of streets drenched red in blood, Grey saw Amaryllis within the walls of a great temple, guarded by Honor Blades in gleaming silver plate who fought to hold back the shaking front doors from external forces that threatened to smash their way inside. He then saw his companions Sky, Lorel, Glydel, and Calain being led deeper into the citadel by Falkneer, and a handful of warriors in ancient bronze armor.
Heart racing at the thought they were in danger, Grey’s eyes shot up. “Send me back!”
The warrior smiled at that and stood up, pulling back the white hood from his head to reveal golden tipped horns, deep sea blue eyes, and a scruffy black beard that ran from one ear to the next. “That is not so simple, Grey. The test for you is not yet over. The dragon Wazirakron was a part of it, but there is more to it than that. You must be bonded to a Soul Blade in order to become like one of us. However, I see from the sword on your back, that you already carry the soul of another. This makes things more difficult. The greatsword you wield right now, is ancient and powerful, and will not bend easily to your will. Even now, it denies you the power you need to free yourself from this plain of existence. This final test is meant to bond the two of you as one.”
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“How do I do that?” he asked.
Head tilted to the side, the warrior leaned down, and plucked up a purple wildflower, and began shedding each of its petals. “You must become like this flower, Grey, shedding your old life away, and be reborn again.”
“And if I cannot.”
“Then you will be stuck here forever like me, till another comes to take your place. And oddly strange cycle is it not?”he smiled.
However Grey was in no mood for light hearted musings, not while the lives of his friends were in danger.
Patience all but lost, he demanded, “Tell me, what I must do!”
Galfain grinned at him curiously, before pointing behind him to the tree and said, “Speak with the tree. She will tell you, what you need to do?”
Eyebrows lifted upwards in shocked surprise, Grey thought the warrior was mocking him again, but one look from the warrior was enough for Grey to see that the warrior truly meant what he said. His blue eyes which had at first appeared to be filled with serenity, seemed to hold a tinge of regret as Galfain gazed upon the tree behind him.
No time to doubt his words, he started up the hill, his mind set on aiding his friends, when out of the ground erupted vines that tried to wrap their way around his feet, and slow him down. The thorns that shot out, scraping his flesh as he grunted in pain, and pressed on ahead. The motionless warrior, watching him all the while with a vacant expression that seemed to become more distant as though Grey were losing ground. (- 50 Health Points.)
Gasping for air, Grey began to realise the space between him and tree had somehow become longer, and that despite all of his efforts to reach her, he was no closer to it, than he was before. (- 60 Health Points.)
Greatsword heavy upon his back, he tried to find the will to push on, but as soon as he tried once more, the ground beneath him, became like sludge that sucked away at his feet, draining him of strength. Each arduous step, torturous, and full of noxious fumes that made his head feel light, but none of that would stop him. In his mind’s eye, he pictured the faces of his friends, calling out to him, pleading to him to hurry. (- 70 Health Points.)
And as tears slipped down his cheeks at the pain and anguish upon their faces, Grey released a howl of rage, and threw himself forward, ignoring everything. The spikes he stepped upon, the roots that stabbed at him, the insects that climbed up to bite into his flesh. None of it mattered. All that was in his mind, was his need to reach the tree, and it was that thought that kept him going, despite his whole body crying out to him to stop. Kept him moving, despite the knowledge he had gained no ground. Kept him focused, despite the turmoil that whirled inside of him. Till all he could see was the tree burning brightly with a halo of light, and all around it became like shadow and darkness. (- 100 Health Points.)
It was also then that he realised that the greatsword was no longer on his back, but ahead of him, implanted in the ground before the tree. The weapon, wreathed in burning hot flames that licked the air, and blackened the soil, destroying a patch of wildflowers. And as he finally neared it, a being made of pure light, walked out to greet him. The light formed to reflect his own visage, and haggerard expression as he stood there before it, panting for breath.
“Tamrel?” he asked.
The figure nodded his head, then changed to something else, it’s body growing scales, and torso and limbs enlarged as it transformed into a dragon that curled up around the tree. It’s great form blocking out all sight of the greatsword.
“Are you surprised?”
Surprise, was only one of the emotions he felt, although it was more accurate to say he was confused.
“Your a dragon then?”
Settled down to cradle the tree, the majestic beast, lifted up it’s snout and flourished it’s great wings, before resting comfortably upon the ground. “No, I am more than that. I was created by the bringer of light to serve as a weapon against the darkness of the world. I was once wielded in the ancient battles of old to rid the world of demons, and yet as your wise master, once spoke, there cannot be light without darkness. It is a lesson, I fear Ice Eyes did not quite understand.”
“Ice Eyes?”
“Yes, he too, once wielded me, but his goal was far different than those of your ancestors. He wished to rid the world of all darkness, but in so doing he simply pushed it beneath the surface of the world to work it’s evils in secret. Still, I myself, have often wondered if Ice Eyes had lived longer, would he truly have succeeded. His life was a short one, and yet in that time, he had done the unimaginable, perhaps if he had attacked the very heart of evil, he could have succeeded and rebuilt the world. I suppose, we shall never know, but for now, that is not why you are here. You wish for me to become one with you. So I shall ask you why? Why should I join forces with one such as yourself? There are far more capable warriors out there, and all of them pure of heart. Why you?”
Taken aback a little at the realisation, he had no answer, Grey simply shook his head, and replied, “I don’t know why. I just know that this path is the right one to follow. I came here wanting vengeance for my family, but now that I see the darkness in the world. I cannot turn my back upon it.”
Tamrel studied him for a moment, then smiled, though to call it a smile would be an overstatement as the dragon flashed it’s teeth at him. Rising up on it’s hauncges, it once again flexed it’s wings outwards to block out the sunlight, and in it’s shade, Grey heard a voice inside of his mind. “Very well, I accept you, Grey. Serve the light well, and I will aid you in battle.”
Air crackling with raw energy, the image of dragon faded away, and the flames that had once burned so brightly around the greatsword glowed with raw heat as he stepped forward, knelt down on the ground before it ,and took the weapon in his arms. The power he felt inside of it, thrummed through him, reigniting the flame in his belly, and as he stood back up he saw that the tree had opened up to create a passage inside of it.
Instinctively knowing where he must go, he walked up tree, felt the caress of her branches, and with one final breath, he stepped into the opening she had provided for him. His battle had begun, and only time would tell if he would succeed.
To be Continued…
You've Unlocked Will of the Lightbearer
By bonding with a Soul Blade, you’ve gained the Will of the Lightbearer, a unique form of magic that allows you to bend the light to your every whim. As always though, there are limitations to this type of magic.
Using the power of the Lightbearer, drains a substantial amount of energy, which in turn affects your fatigue, and Health. This is in part due to your lack of training before becoming an Honor Blade.
You've also gained access to Higher Level Spells:
Light Magic
Mastery of the light focuses on the magic of illusion.
Banishment
Destroys the minds of enemies. Useful for wiping out multiple foes simultaneously. Cannot be used against boss level creatures. Cost: - 50 Health Points.
Blinding Dawn
Create a brilliant burst of sunlight that blinds enemies permanently, making them that much easier to slay. Enemies forced to use a single attack dice. Cannot be used against boss level creatures. Cost: - 50 Health Points.
Army of Light
Call up the heroes of old to aid you in battle. + 50 Attack Dice. Cost: - 100 Health Points.
Battle Magic
Draw in the raw energy of Light.
Light Skin
Increase your speed and battle reflexes. + 10 Attack Dice. Cost: - 35 Health Points.
Bound by Fire
Temporarily double the amount of Health Points you have, and doubles Magical Resistance as well. Cost: Health Points are Permanently dropped by half after each use.
Life Essence
Select a single opponent, and drain them of all life, magical resistance, and attack dice, which is then permanently added to your own stats. Can only be used once, and cannot be used against boss level creatures. Cost: - 100 Health Points.
Shield Magic
Call upon the Lightbearer for protection.
Light Armor
Summon a shield of pure light to drink in all magical attacks. Take no harm from any magical attacks. Cost: - 50 Health Points.
Inferno Shield
Surround yourself in a wall of fire that burns your enemies as it fans outward. Useful for wiping out multiple foes simultaneously. Cannot be used against boss level creatures. Cost: - 50 Health Points.
Hammer of Light
For a short period of time you can summon the armor and mace of the Lightbearer making you invulnerable to most damage. + 50 Attack Dice + 100 Resilience. + 100 Magical Resistance. Cost: Permanent loss of - 50 Health Points and - 50 Resilience.