Something Lurks In The Shadows

[Mirtok 2853]

 

*The Sariants are all hard at work moving about the many halls of Castle Bealcrest when a heavy knock at the front gates echoes off the walls. One of the men ceases his task at hand and moves to the gate, taking note of who wishes to be let in and quickly after raises the gates. The guest is lead through the grand Hall of Heroes, ending their short trip at the foot of the Hochmeister's huge stone throne. Silent nods are exchanged between Hochmeister and Sariant as it is understood this person has come as an initiate, hoping to join the ranks of the Teutonic Order.

 

*The initiate introduces himself, and the Hochmeister Mirtok does the same in return. The normal procedure of interviewing the applicant takes place, ending with the final decision of the Hochmeister. . .

 

"You must first prove to me that you have what it takes to become a member of the Teutonic Order. Much will be asked of you and it will be your willingness and ability to remain ever dedicated to the cause that will pull you through it all. I have a special mission for you to demonstrate this to me, a quest of recovery. A brother of the Order has gone missing while performing his duties as a Sariant. With him was a priest of the Light, a dedicant to the Angel Celestia. He was carrying a very special weapon- a relic of the first years of the Teutonic Order- on his person, a dagger bearing the sigil of the Order. I want you to retrieve this relic and discover the fate of our Brother and the priest that was with him."

 

*The initiate nods at this request and verbally accepts the mission from the Hochmeister. He is taken to a small room where he is set to prepare for his journey in search of this relic. The last known whereabouts of the lost brother are found in a filed away report and given to the initiate. With the word that he is ready to move out, he is lead to the back gates of Hanseti leading into the thick, dense forest that lays beyond the towering cliff walls. The air is cold and the snow is thick as the Hochmeister exchanges his last few words with the aspiring Sariant . . .

 

"Be wary of what is around you, son. There are dark things that lurk in these forests, you'd be well to on your guard. May the light guide you to your objective."

 

*He acknowledges the Hochmeister's words . . .

 

"Good luck, don't die."

 

[Mirtok 2853]

*After getting off to a shaky start, going the wrong direction and all, Darius Bartham seemed to find himself back on track with the quest he had been given. His search for this old Teutonic relic would have never come to its conclusion if it were not for the . . . whispers from the trees . . .

 

“Yessss . . . Yesss . . . That’sssss the way . . . The path . . . The pathhhhhh . . .”

 

*Whispers usher from the forest, seducing Darius. He draws his blade as a sign of resistance to the now much louder whispers, a voice that seems to be speaking directly into his ear. Chattering erupts from the black forest all around him, almost like a sharp cackle caught in the wind. Darius looks around cautiously, searching for the source of these strange sounds. He spots the mangled body of what would have been a priest of Celestia. The rotted smell permeates his nostrils as he draws nearer to inspect the corpse- limp and cut with excess gore in two . . .

 

“Holy ****, Creator be with this soul.”

 

*Darius darts from his kneeling stance and turns away from the body as a gluttonous howl faintly rides the winds causing the leaves around him to flutter . . .

 

“What the nether was that?”

 

*Sickly laughter fills his senses from all directions, whispering his name over and over . . .

 

“Darius . . . Darius . . . Darius!”

 

“What do you want!? Show yourself!”

 

*Something swiftly moves through the foliage of the trees, seeming to blend in well with the darkness and visual obstructions . . .

 

“Stop these mind games and show yourself!”

 

*At his utterance all the sounds that were bombarding his ears stop abruptly. Chattering is heard from above his head, predatorial and carnivorous, as drool drips upon his helm . . .

[Mirtok 2853]

*Darius takes a deep breath as he closes his eyes and shivers in fright, slowly lowering his blade. The creature hovering over him lets out a blood curdling screach. Still with his eyes bolted shut, Darius barely chokes out a futile question . . .

 

“What  . . . do you want from me?”

 

*He slowly opens his eyes, now hugging tightly to the trunk of a very broad tree he had been backing up towards since the sounds started. Sounds of horrible chattering continue above him, causing the tension to thicken to unbearable conditions. The limbs of the trees flail in the darkness. Without so much as a thought, Darius once again raises his blade and charges forward . . .

 

“I am not frightened, reveal yourself!”

 

*Darius scans the treeline around him, looking for any signs of the creature that was tormenting him. His gaze stops dead at the sight of leathery brown flesh. He scans up slightly, a mutilated creature of unknown origins stands silhouetted on a hill, its jaw torn open and wrenched to one side of its twisted face; One of its arms extended unnaturally to form what can only be described as giant sickle, while the other limb ends in razor sharp claws like that of a hawk. The horror flicks its head upwards to the night sky and releases a howl that snaps at the air like a bull whip, all the while clambering down the hill towards Darius . . .

 

 

“By the Light! Help! Help me!”

 

*The initiate takes a moment to pull himself together, the creature still getting closer by the moment. He grips his blade tight . . .

 

“How? Tell me!”

 

*The monster continues unphased by his inquiry, drawing nearer dragging its massive weaponized limb behind it, shrieking in agony as it twists it around and swings it sluggishly towards where Darius stood horrified but defiant. He raises his own blade to deflect the attack, mustering all his strength to stop the heavy swing . . .

 

“Stop Demon!”

 

*The blades- of steel and flesh- lock in mid air as the creatures attack is halted by Darius’ sword. The Demon’s sickle arm slides down his blade edge, implanting itself harshly into the ground, blood drips from the several wounds created by the mid air contact of steel. It reaches with its other leathery brown limb in an attempt to pry the man’s weapon arm from his body but misses the attack as Darius leaps backwards, pulling his blade back at the same time. The monster clumsily stumbles as its momentum carries it forward a bit, its unhinged jaw clamps back and forth uselessly as it goes to charge Darius again. It lets out another horrid shriek and lunges forward, mouth gaping wide in preparation to bite. Darius kneels forward and thrusts his blade towards the monsters stomach, impaling it straight through. The creature slides slowly down the length of the blade, edging closer and closer, its jaw still reaching to bite. The blade tears through more flesh, causing dark red blood to spurt out in thick streams but the Demon still tries to finish off its prey. It manages to sink one hard bite into the side of Darius’ face, tearing away flesh and muscle right down to the man's skull. It rips the mashed flesh from Darius’ head, the skin around the wound sizzles and pops as contact is severed between him and the monster. . .

[Mirtok 2853]

*Darius Bartham yells in pain, his screams echoing through the forest for no one to hear. The Demon lays slain at his feet, blood- both his and the monsters- drips from its gnarly teeth. Darius takes a moment to look over his fallen nightmare. A small handle protrudes from the creatures neck, the unmistakable sigil of a Black Cross on the hilt. He extracts the dagger from the monsters neck, it slides out with ease, the blade itself very sharp. Darius stumbles backwards, taking rest upon a steep trunk behind him, letting his blade fall to the ground- stained dark red- next to him. He raises his hand to his cheek and is met with only pain, he can hear the wound still sizzling slightly . . .

 

*A faint whisper speaks directly into his ear . . .

 

“Run to your Hochmeister . . .  filth. Run before I devour your insides.”

 

*Without hesitation, Darius quickly rises and moves at a quickened pace back to the safety of the Teutonic Castle . . .

[Mirtok 2853]

*The Castle of the Teutonic Order rests peacefully in the night, only a few stir as they perform their nightly duties. The Hochmeister pours over reports and excerpts of doctrine from atop his throne, the light of the fire giving his eyes aid in his work. Mirtok hears men talking from outside of the hall, he then sees a hooded man being escorted by a fellow Sariant. Mirtok motions for everyone to clear the room save for the hooded man, knowing exactly who was before him . . .

 

“I take it you retrieved the relic? What can you tell me about Brother Jason’s status?”

 

*Darius Barthman remains silent for a moment before speaking . . .

 

“Yea, I found what you wanted . . .

 

*He move suspiciously in front of the Hochmeister, a Sariant passing by stops and puts his hand on the hilt of his blade, ready for anything. Darius conceals the dagger slightly with his cloak, still masking his face from everyone in the room. Unphased, Mirtok speaks . . .

 

“Place it on the ground.”

 

*Darius does as he is told, slowly putting the relic on the floor a few paces in front of him. He rises slowly. Mirtok decends his throne and goes to inspect the weapon, picking it up and confirming the sigil on its hilt . . .

 

“You have done well, but what of Jason and the Priest?”

 

“I found only a Priests corpse, and a Demon.”

 

“A Demon? You encountered a Demon?”

 

“I killed a Demon and retrieved that dagger from its neck, after it . . . after it did this.”

 

*He pulls away the hood from over his head, revealing the product of his struggle with the Demon. The Sariant in the room contorts his face in mild disgust at the wretched wound. Mirtok stares at him for a brief moment before calling for a Sariant Medic. Darius is quickly moved to a small room and looked at by the Order’s Medics. The Hochmeister noticing his wounds appear to be resisting the treatment has him moved to the lowest and farthest room in the Castle for quarantine. After finishing the debriefing, Mirtok locks the doors to Darius’ room behind him and exchanges a few words with the Sariant Medic. . .

 

“If the Light does not cleanse him of this plight, we will have to amplify our measures at removing this corruption.”

 

*The Sariant Medic nods emotionless at the Hochmeisters words, knowing all too well what it takes to wage war with the forces of Darkness and Demons . . .

[Coaster 2086]

()nice QUINTUPLE post SPAMMER__) 

[Birdwhisperer 1174]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.