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Head bowed down in thought, you slowly travel north, listening to the rustle of leaves, smelling the sweet richness of fertile soil, and catching glimmers of the stars above flitting about the sky above as though they had lives of their own. The pearly white lights drifting across the sky to mingle with other stars, before breaking apart to dash away in opposing directions.
Daedalus sensing your uneasiness, broke through tense silence. "You do know that the stars are actually alive?"
Distractedly you reply back, "What?"
"I said the stars are alive, master."
Brows furrowed in consternation, you gaze up into the darkness, seeing the thousands of pinpricks of light, drifting in swirling motions that remind you of the sea. The tiny lights gathering together like swarms of insects, while above them all hung the Silver Star, the brightest and largest of all the stars. The only star known to stay in the same exact position it had been in for thousands of years.
As a child, your father had once told you that the Silver Star was the pure essence of the Lightbearer, who after seeing the creatures that haunted the night had given up a piece of himself to give light to the darkness, but even then as a child you had been skeptical over the existence of gods such as he.
It seemed inconceivable that the Lightbearer would give away a piece of himself to protect those who traveled through the night. In a world obscured by black and grey, there was little to to no light left in this world. The heroes of the past such as Ice Eyes were long since dead and the Honor Blades, the most righteous of all warriors that journeyed throughout the lands rooting out darkness had become shells of their former glory. War, corruption and power were the true gods of this world and yet as you look up at the Silver star, there was something awe inspiring about the way it glowed with that brilliant white light, casting all other stars into shadow.
"What are they?"you ask.
"As to that, I don't really know master. I've spoke with dozens of scholars, storytellers, bards and historians in regards to that very question, and for the most part all their answers vary from form to another, yet all agree that nothing can move like that without having a mind of its own. And to a certain degree, I agree with that conclusion, however I do not believe it to be gods, spirits or any other fanciful stories, but the realms of demons."
Head crooking sideways at the odd notion, you reply back, "Wait, I thought all demons lived within the heart of Coroleya in a plane that allows them to mingle with this world?"
"In a way that is partly true, master, but it is not the whole truth. It is difficult to explain to one that has not studied at the Black tower like I have, but not all the demons of this world are the same, they have their own hierarchy and their own system of governance that allows for both chaos and order to live side by side. But in order to achieve this equilibrium, the Lesser demons have been forced to live upon the surface of Coroleya, the Higher Demons have their realms amongst the stars, and the rest make their home within the core of this world, providing the magical energy we see all around us. All three serve different purposes, yet their goals all remain the same, they hunger for our souls, not only because of the nourishment it provides, but because of the power it offers to those who sup upon it."
You shake your head, and rub a hand across your eyes, your head throbbing abominably as you try to decipher Daedalus' words. Your thoughts inevitably returning to the Blood Storm, Sarsonel, Tazrael, Bone eye and Dywin. The five inexplicably linked together somehow to create a puzzle with dozens of pieces missing. Or was it more like chess? With both sides sending out their pawns to battle each other and die, while the real game continued on behind a veil of silence.
You'd hoped to learn more from Lorna while aboard the ship, but by the time you'd thought to ask her what she knew of Sarsonel, it had already been too late. Although in all fairness, you did not think would have asked her anyway. The truth was you preferred to keep your life simple, clouding your thoughts with all these questions would have only served to distract you, and in battle that cost you your life, a lesson you'd learnt well.
No, you had not wanted to learn more, but now wonder if forging on alone was wise. Without Gorrack and Lorna to aid you in battle, you would be ill prepared to face a demon, not to mention the lengthy journey it would take to reach the war torn lands of Orkeyluim, where battles still raged between the Orcs and Ogrekans. Still, what other choice did you have but to continue this suicidal quest?
"That does not have to be so,"said Daedulus, "There is a way for to survive, but you will need to trust me and travel to the Island of BloodTides."
You roll your eyes in annoyance at Daedalus's intrusion forgetting again how easily the cloak could read your thoughts. "What's on the Island of BloodTides?"
You feel a tingle of excitement run through the cloak. "Why the rest of me of course, well not all the me, but nearly all. With them in your possession, you would be able to summon armies of Lesser Demons to serve at your will! Fly through the skies like a dragon raining down death and destruction! Or even wield divine weapons meant for the gods! The choices are endless!"
Half grinning like a goblin that had gotten it's hands on fresh meat, you cannot help but picture yourself gliding through the skies, the winds gently buffeting you from side to side upon leathery wings that touched the clouds, the land below hidden behind a thick fog that seemed almost blinding. But that feeling soon vanishes to be replaced with cold suspicion. "And what exactly would this cost me?"
Daedalus hesitated for the briefest of seconds, before replying back, "You are my master, all I but wish to do is serve and keep you safe."
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
You let out a dry chuckle, instinctively knowing the cloak was up to something, but what other choice did you have? It's not like you could come up with a better plan, and this did sound very promising. With an army of demons at your command you could march straight up Tazrael and strike at the heart of his host.
Lengthening your stride, you begin passing boulders and rocks, half buried in the sand with a cliff rising up in the distance. It's sharp edges, towering high up over you, blocking off all access to the north.
Rubbing the back of your neck, you press forward, clambering over rocks, hoping there was a way past the cliff and grunt in annoyance at the sheer rock face cutting it's way through the ocean, stretching for many miles out into the sea. Swimming around it would take hours as would trying to climb it. You could try going back towards the forest and risk searching for an inland route that would take you around the cliff, but that would mean risking crossing into another giant's territory.
Cursing and kicking the sand, you search for another way forward, when you spot a crevice hidden in the rock face, cutting a thin gap into the stone wall. Taking a few steps towards it, you peer into the gloomy darkness and see a tunnel carved into the stone lit up by the same colorful mushrooms you'd seen in the forest.
Your curiosity peaked, you take a step into the tunnel and slowly begin edging forward along the wall, your feet scraping lightly against the stone and hear the pitter patter of water dripping off somewhere beyond you.
In the dim light cast against the walls by the mushrooms, you see the path widen and split apart into three passages, each of them identical to each other. However you got the feeling that one of them would lead you out of here, after all, what other purpose would a tunnel here serve, but to bypass obstacles such as this. But which one do you take?
1. Do you take the tunnel to the left?
With no hints or clues to help you decide which tunnel to take, you head straight for the one on the left and instantly wish you'd thought to bring along a weapon instead of having to rely solely upon the cloak's magic for protection.
Feet crunching mushrooms and stone beneath your feet, you enter the narrow tunnel and stride forward using the light of the mushrooms to guide your way through the tight passage.
After travelling beneath the surface for several miles you come across an open spaced chamber cut deep into the stone, the area formed in a wide circle with patterns carved into the rock at the center which appears to be formed in a ring with the tunnel continuing on behind it.
(Click here if you wish to walk through the ring to the other side?)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Your inquisitive nature getting the better of you, you step into the circle and feel a wave of heat surge through your body, healing your wounds and filling you with energy which slowly fades away.(+30 Health points, +10 Mana.)
Breath coming out fast at the strange experience, you exit the ring, and wonder if it will work again, but unfortunately nothing happens when you get back in.
Sighing regretfully, you continue on through to the next passageway.
(Click here if you wish to avoid the ring and go around?)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Preferring to take no risks, you carefully edge your way around the circular chamber and continue on through to the next passageway.
The tunnel here while wide at the beginning, quickly becomes much narrow, forcing you to squeeze your way through, scraping your chest, legs and shoulders as you try to slip through the tight gap.(-10 Health points.)
Eventually it broadens out into another chamber chiseled in the shape of a square block with a pedestal standing at the center, and a small wooden chest resting upon it.
(Click here if you wish to open the chest?)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Licking your lips nervously, you walk over to the chest and with bated breath throw it open with one swift motion.
Too fast to dodge, knives shoot out from the walls to strike you in the arm and chest. (-30 Health Points.)
Groaning, you quickly bandage up your wounds and take a look inside the chest and let out a dry chuckle. Resting at the bottom of the chest are several vials. (You've acquired, Shield of the Ancestor's Potion: Reducing the amount of damage you receive by half. You've acquired, Tear's of the gods Potion: Allowing you to deflect all damage, and you've acquired, a Mana Potion: Add 15 Mana.)
Wounds stinging,you walk around the pedestal and move to investigate the other side of the room, where you see words engraved into the stone.
(Click here if you do not wish to open the chest?)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Wary of danger, you walk around the pedestal and move to investigate the other side of the room, where you see words engraved into the stone.
Tearing out a glowing green mushroom from the ground, you bring the light up closer and read:
Stronger than steel,
And older than time;
They stand at both the beginning and the end
Their roots buried deep within the land
Where the sands and frost can never hope to reach.
(Click here if think the answer 'Trees'?)
Spoiler: Spoiler
"Trees." As soon as you speak the words, you feel your skin crawl as though it were alive, tiny insect digging into your flesh, that cause your arms flail about as you try to be rid of them. (-20 Health points, Try Again.)
(Click here if you think the answer is 'Demons'.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
"Demons." As soon as you speak the words, you feel your skin crawl as though it were alive, tiny insect digging into your flesh,that cause your arms flail about as you try to be rid of them. (-20 Health points, Try Again.)
(Click here if you think the answer is 'Mountains'.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
"Mountains." As soon as you speak the words, the stones grumble and move, the wall in front of you cracking open to reveal another passage that leads back out onto the beach.
Battlefield Results
(Depends upon choices made.)
Loot
(Depends upon choices made.)