The battle of Hard Rock

[Fudge 9]

(Summary of the battle which took place last night under the hard rock)

[A guard is seen running towards the great gates of Al'khazar. In his hands he grasps a leather tome with metal clasps. He stops in the center of the city and a small group gathers round. On the front of the book the words "Diary of James Bridge" can be seen. He opens the book and reads aloud.]

Day 1. Nayleigh and I have discovered a small area close to Al'khazar. It appears to be the ruins of an old shop. With a few tweeks here and there we may be able to turn it into a prosperous establishment. Half of the building is built into the mountain and so we have decided to name it the hard rock.

Day 3. I came across some bandits today somewhere along the kings road. They stole 2000 minas from me. Thats almost all of the money we made in a week! I fear if something like this happens again we will need to relocate to somewhere safer. This is not good. Not good at all.

Day 6. We made a huge sale today! 500 arrows for 3500 minas! This is amazing! we might be able to start living the high life soon. I can see it now. Elven beauties in my bed. Orc man servants tending to my every needs. A huge mansion in the city. But for now it is just a dream. But... maybe one day.

Day 8. Nayleigh told me to follow him today. I wasn't sure why but i soon found out. He had been exploring a small cave system he found when we first arrived and stumbled onto something quite concerning. It appeared to be a natural cavern but i soon came to doubt that as there appeared to be man made objects there. I found a lever and pulled it sharply. To my amazement, lava began to pour down from the ceiling. It filled what appeared to be grooves specifically made for the lava to run through. This place gave me a bad feeling. But it was more then that. It was a sensation in the back of my mind. I could feel someones presence there but i did not know who.

Day 12. Nayleigh has become obsessed with the mines. He has....changed. He no longer comes out for food. When he does emerge from the depths he acts differently. Snapping at me when i try to talk to him. He isolates him self in his room and no longer helps in the shop.

Day 15. It happened again. Bandits. They took everything. I don't think we can go on like this. I will think about it over the night and come up with an ultimatum in the morning. I haven't seen Nayleigh since last night. I think he's back in the mines, i will look later.

Day 16. Thats it. I have decided. If we can't get a new source of money by next week i'm shutting up shop and going back to my old home.

Day 16.5. Nayleigh appeared out of nowhere. He was clutching a purse filled to the brim with minas! I was in shock. He told me he had taken it from a rich traveler. Interesting, perhaps this could be a new way for us to make money?

Day 17. Haha! This is brilliant! We made so much money! More then we would make in a month! Maybe my dream will come to fruition after all!

Day 19. Iv'e been going back into the caves with Nayleigh. I have seen what he is doing down there. Corpses line the walls. Many have chunks missing from them. Teeth marks in the flesh. What has my friend become?

Day 25. The corruption... it... it feels so good. I think i have figured out who's presence i have been sensing. Iblees. We have turned the cave into a shrine. I no longer go to the surface much these days. Other then to get more flesh to feast on that is.

Day 26. Nayleigh and i met a man today. His face looked different. It appeared to have been rotting... We showed him the shrine, he was impressed. He then quickly left. I don't know where.

Day 27. We got a guard today. The fool. The king has no idea there is a shrine to his greatest enemy so close to his home.

Day 30. We met some friends today two men, they claimed to be followers of the great one as well. We showed them the shrine. They were instantly engulfed in its power.

Day 31. We messed up! A guard we tried to kidnap escaped! This isn't good! Not good at all! I fear the guards will return in force. I must discuss with my allies what our next move is.

Day 31.5 They are upstairs. A lord, one i knew as Eze' leads them. He is a "Friend" of sorts. Well, thats what i want him to think.

They found the damn shrine! Nayleigh and I face unbeatable numbers. At least 15 men stand against just the four of us! This fight is hopeless. All i can do is hope that we can defend for long enough for allies to arrive.

The man! The man with the rotting face arrived! He summoned a horde of monsters on the guards! He got at least 3 before he was forced to retreat. If the guards are too much even for an undead. What hope do me and my allies have.

Nayleigh got one with an arrow through the eye! Fantastic! We have tunnels all around these rooms. I am going to use them to sneak round their lines and see if i can take a couple out.

I got one before i was wounded by a blade to the arm. This does not look good for us at all.

Eze' led a charge across the pathway. We knocked a few into the lava with our hidden traps but still they come. I fear this is the end.

Nayleigh was knocked into the lava. I am alone now. In one of the tunnels. I hear them searching for me. They are coming.

I got one but there is another coming. Its time for me to go down with a BANG!

[There is a splatter of blood on the page.]

Aftermath - I went through the ruins of the shrine. It has been destroyed. I found my diary under some rubble. We are taking refuge with a friend to the south in the city of.....

Someone is here. A guard! This book will do nothing but weigh me down so i must leave it. If anyone finds this. Take note.

If four followers of Iblees could cause so much trouble, so close to the heart of Oren and remain unnoticed. What can the undead do? The thought pleases me. For soon. We will find all of Aegis in ruin.

[the passage ends here]

((Hope you liked it! I tried to show the corruption James faced throughout his time in the Hard Rock and the effects this had on his mind.))

((anyway, going to golf. Happy hunting!))

Ollie.

[Garn 14]

Nice story. I am sad you were discovered so quickly seeing when you captured me you left a witness to my disappearance. i was hoping to rp an investigation. Good job on whatever guard escaped that maze I killed 3 of them and just got lost in there.

[steelersfan1221 300]

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