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It was around middle of the next day when you first glimpsed the islands rising up to the west, the four suns resting high above the isle to bath the rich green lands in a golden glow, the sparkling warm blue water surrounded sandy shores rippling back and forth as flocks of mellow-hearts flew through the sky, their colorful wings and overripe bellies dipping beneath shapeless white clouds. It's beauty only broken by a single dark tower that straddled the water, it's huge walls made of a deep grey granite that reflected no sunlight as though seething with dark energy, it's banners flying the bloody sigil of the dreaded Shadow Fang, a black flag with a crimson fang.
Heartless bastards for the most part, you'd done your best avoid them when you could, although there were occasions when you'd found yourself committing questionable actions in order to survive and avoid their wrath. But to find them all the way out here...it seemed far too much of a coincidence, either they were searching for you or they were here for another reason which seemed unlikely considering your run of bad luck."
"We are perhaps very fortunate to have come across them all the way out here, master,"said Daedalus.
You quirk your left eyebrow up. "How so?"
"Surely you know about The Owezf Baddo?"
Owezf Baddo? Were you supposed to recognise that name?
Daedalus gave an inward sigh. "I suppose it was too much to hope for that the people would remember the Divinity Wars that lasted for hundreds of years. It was a little before my time, but my father would often tell me stories of those wars. Much of the world as you know it, didn't exist back then, minotaurs, vampires and redlings, gnomes and other races that originated from other worlds had not arrived yet.
"You should probably take a seat, master, this tales going to be a long one, and I do so like the sound of my own voice."
You let out a heavy sigh of resignation and move to perch yourself upon a large stone formation, giving you a wonderful view of the islands, and thinking this was probably for the best. You had pushed yourself pretty hard these past few days and now was a good a time as any to get some much needed rest. Besides the islands looked to be several miles away and so far you hadn't seen a single riverboat in sight, which meant you would need to swim across. Something you wouldn't mind avoid doing for as long as possible.
"...Long, long ago, before there was Light or Darkness, there were demons, creatures birthed from magic and gifted with incredible power. They ruled the entirety of Coroleya, each with his/her dominion, and for a time there was peace and tranquility within the world. It was said that during this period of Order, the demons had reached a point where they had no need of anything, that is until they discovered Earth, Stargon and Lyter. Their primal hunger somehow awakened by the presence of souls on these worlds, the demons sent forth their legions to begin harvesting these worlds thus igniting the first war between demons, each of them vying to infuse themselves with greater power and taste the sweet nectar of life.
The smartest of the demons found a way to bring back these races to Coroleya, allowing them to flourish, then fed slowly upon them overtime, whilst others battled for the souls of the world. By the end of the war only three factions remained The Hallow, who wished Coroleya to become the way it was before, The Reapers, who desired to conquer each world, and The Void-Bound, who wished to become gods.
However in their haste to feast upon souls untainted by darkness they brought the Fae'lon, Minotaurs, and Werewolves, and unwittingly brought the Lightbearer as well. In his fury at the shackles that bound all the creatures souls to the demons, the Lightbearer waged a bloody war to free all the races of Coroleya.
For hundreds of years the differing factions fought each other, and the Lightbearer. The Fae'lon using the magics bestowed upon them by the Lightbearer assembled grand armies to fight for their cause, but as the battles raged on the Armies of Light became increasingly desperate and were forced to ally themselves with The Hallowed in an effort to survive. Together they drove The Reapers beneath surface of Coroleya, and destroyed the Void-Bound.
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The war over, The Hallowed made a pact with Lightbearer that they would not feast upon the souls of those who did not offer it to them, and in exchange they would be allowed to freely roam wherever they chose.
The reason I tell you this story is because it is linked to The Owezf Baddo also known as The Towers of Abaddon. Created by ancient primordial magic, The Towers of Abaddon are capable of transporting entire armies anywhere upon the field of battle. This was how the demons were able to bring the races they harvested for souls to Coroleya, which in turn was granted to the Dark Mages as part of a new pact with the Demonic Realm.
But as I've learned from previous masters who held me, the Dark Mages it seems have lost much of the knowledge needed to work these towers, although they still retain a few who can use them to a fair extent. They're really quite remarkable tools with capabilities even I do not fully comprehend. Well, that is the end of my tale."(+10 Health points +5 Mana.)
Thoughtfully you stare off in distance, half picturing the tower filled to the brim with warriors and mages, and can't help but feel a slight chill run along your spine. Few stories ever held any real truth, but the way Daedalus had spoken of the towers did suggest he was being honest with you. If so, and Towers of Abaddon truly had the ability to transport the Mages anywhere they wished then you had to find a way to inside. Travelling in the Tower would shorten your journey immeasurably and get you that much closer to your goal.
2. Do you burn a few trees to get their attention? (Mana cost 4)
Leaping off the stone, you stand by the water gazing out to sea, the small waves crashing against the rocks. A part of you still hoping a fishing boat would come round the bend, allowing you to conserve your energy for what might be a battle ahead.
However as time flies by and with no boats in sight, you let out a heavy sigh and go in search of wood to pile up a few feet back from the shoreline before pressing your fingers into the wood and releasing a firebolt. The flames quickly engulfing the driftwood causing it to crackle and burn, filling the air with thick black smoke that should be easy enough to see.
Warmed by the fire, you wait by the shoreline when a heavy feeling of dread settles in the pit of your stomach and look up to see three figures emerge from within the tower wearing robes of deepest midnight, their feet somehow finding perchance on the liquid surface.
Not sure why, you spin around to run towards cover when invisible strings hook into your arms and legs, lifting you up into the air, floating you towards them. Blood spilling from cuts where the strings have dug into your flesh.
You try to speak, but one of the mages waves his arm up and suddenly you feel like you're suffocating with unseen arms wrapping themselves tightly around your throat, squeezing hard.
You gasp for air, clawing at your lips and cheeks in an effort to open your mouth but despair soon wells up inside of you, black spots appearing within your line of vision.
"Stop! Our mistress has been expecting this one."
As suddenly as it began the grip around your throat disappears and you suck in gulps of air. Eyes blurry with tears, you glance upward to see a forth mage striding into their midst, his face and skin clearly hinting at his elven heritage. He gives you a cold crooked smile. "Welcome champion, we wondered how long it would take for you to get here."
Mind half blacking out from an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion, you drift in an out of consciousness and feel yourself floating through the air into the arms of a huge burly Ogrekan who waits for you beside the tower. The powerful Ogrekan sweeping you up onto his wide shoulder before hauling you away through the gaping jaws of the tower, the darkness somehow congealing around you, making it difficult to breathe.
Quivering uncontrollably at the feeling of being swallowed whole into the belly of the beast, it's stomach acids washing over you like wet slime. You try to memorise the path the Ogrekan takes through the darkened hallways, the walls slick with blood and paintings of differing races in agonizing pain, orcs with their innards pulled out, goblins with no heads, and elves with no eyes. The artworks glistening with life and wafting the familiar stench of death.
Whispers crawl into your mind telling you to devour all and the sweet smell of desiccation floods your nostrils, lighting an unnatural hunger inside of you. The hallways becoming more convoluted, and dark, with patches of red wetness that almost appear like veins protruding out from the walls.
Head shaking from side to side, you watch as the Ogrekan takes you into a large room made of black stone, where he strips you naked except for the cloak which he tries to remove before thrusting you into the center of the room. The black stone shifting beneath your feet to form a seat, forcing you to sit, the stone blocks locking in around your wrists and legs to pin you down with very little room to move.
His job done the Ogrekan moves to position himself at back of the room, his large brown eyes gazing off into the distance. For hours you wait silently together until a small diminutive mage materializes in the doorway.
She glides into the room, her eyes glowing like red hot coils that seem to shimmer as she moves, her grey lips shaping into patterns that make you feel dizzy, her voice caressing your ears. "You're going to tell me everything you know."
Battlefield Results
-20 Health points
Companion Reputation, (Daedalus cusses profusely.)
Loot
None