Adventures in Zephlanore

The Commission

I do not know my great grandfather's name which leaves me to suppose my great grandchildren might not know mine, but what still proceeds after names are forgotten is the legends they created, and this here just might be one.

Fellfalls not too long ago was no more than a settlement placed perfectly between the Fellfalls woods and the Bulwalg lake. The town has seen its fair share of trouble and struggles over the years but due to the Matthias family it has steadily seen it through. Fellfalls is marked as a small wooden fort painted in a canvas of golden field with a carpeted crystal blue lake and a distant foggy tower on the lake's edge. All has been well in the humble town, yet of late there seems to be a gloom that looms over the people as Lord Matthias has taken ill. Just outside the town is the only functional stone structure for miles; the Temple of Adonijah. The small temple consists of a tiny bell tower above the temple chapel and a courtyard overlooking the golden fields to the west where William, an orphan boy of sixteen, sits meditating with his friend Levi.

A young man named Aden rushes out into the courtyard. "William, Levi! Master Aaron wants to see you."

Levi lays back with a sigh of relief. "Thank God, I was falling asleep!" He throws his feet into the air, lunging his body off the ground and landing on his toes without making a noise. William looks at him through one eye, suspecting a series of shenanigans from Levi. "What?" Levi asked. "Let's go, I forgot something in my room."

The doors of the humble little chapel opened wide, the room was full of old pews. William and Levi progress down the center aisle. At the end of the aisle sits an old bald monk with a long beard. His green eyes slowly open and glint with gold as he feels the presence of his students. William is dressed in a tethered collared linen shirt, a plain old brown vest, and fitted trousers with a faded sash around his waist; the common garments of young swordsman from the temple of Adonijah. Levi wears the monk robes; a loose fitting pair of trousers drawn tight at the waist and calves with a short sleeved robe drawn firm around the torso. A long stained bed sheet was tied around his neck and waved in the air. He enjoyed how regal it made him feel as he walked by, regardless of how ridiculous it made him look.

"Children," Aaron said softly, looking at each of them, "Lord Matthias has passed and his son is now Lord Matthias ii." They each knelt on one knee and said a quick prayer, as is their custom, to the passing of life among respected Adonijah temple members. "As the families grieve they sent their servants to the family crypt to be cleaned and prepared but they have not returned. A message was sent from one of servants that made it to the wooden palisade. It read, 'the crypt has turned ill.' Lord Matthias ii has commissioned our temple to investigate the matter. You, my children, have neared the end of your training here and are soon to be let out into the world. Take this commission and aid our Lord in laying his father to rest."

They replied in unison, "For the honor of our God and King we will do this."

Monk Aaron looked to Levi. "Levi, leave the bed sheet and give it a good wash."

"Yes Dadd... Father Monk," Levi replied, bowing again and again. William at last wrapped his arm around Levi's head and dragged him out of the temple.

As Levi and William approach the wooden palisade walls of the town, the guards in the small wooden towers on either side of the gate were the only people they could see. The town had a grim feeling about it as everyone mourned the death of the lord. A few figures were in the market place purchasing produce from a wagoneer that had come to town at a bad time. The hooded figure of a man in his thirties watched them pass by as they moved through the market.

"That guy seems like bad news, Levi," William said, giving the man a second glance.

"Really?" Levi said. "I think he looks kinda cool, we should make friends." Before Levi could walk away William grabbed him by the collar.

"Don't. We have a job to do." William held onto Levi till they reach the wooden longhouse at the center of town. The longhouse was known as the Matthews estate. It was a humble place for a lord but still stood two stories tall. Standing at the door was a young man about the same age as William and Levi.

"My apologies gentlemen, Lord Matthias is not taking visitors," the young man said as they stood at the entrance of the Matthews Estate.

"Lord Matthias ii has asked us to investigate the family crypt. We thought it best to present ourselves to our new lord before we carry on," William explained as he bowed to his peer.

"Oh." The young man was surprised and stepped closer to them. "Well it would be best to speak to him after you have some good news to present. Seeing as my lord has been grieving the loss of his father there is little help I can offer," the young man stated as he began to loosen his belt. "You may use my blade. It will help in your task." The young man finished removing his belt and seated sword and handed it to William. William was taken aback by this gesture and bowed gratefully to the servant.

"I will indeed, thank you. But umm... where is the family crypt?" William asked, a little embarrassed at not knowing his town better.

"Why it's in the graveyard, on the north side of town."

"Oh right! The graveyard."

"I must warn you though, we sent servants to prepare the crypt but they have yet to return. There has also been rumors of shadows moving in the graveyard at night. Whatever has happened is not good. Take care."

"I bet I can climb in the window," Levi said, staring at the window on the second floor.

Dusk had settled on the town of Fellfalls as a fog began to roll out of the woods and among the crooked tombstones of the graveyard. The cemetery lay on the upward slope of the hills of the forest. Highest on the hillside was the small stone structure of granite and marble which was overgrown with weeds and brush. The graves seem to bulge from the ground as if their captives desired to escape. As they approached the crypt, William and Levi unwittingly passed the flattened grass that seemed to have been trampled. The crumbling sandstone that blocked the entry to the tombs appeared to have been moved. As they reached the entrance on the family crypt they could smell the faint scent of death in the air.

"How do we get in?" Levi asked.

William noticed the faint sound of scratching. "Shush up for a moment!" Listening quietly, they heard it again.

"It's nothing Billy, it's just the wind blowing and the grass rubbing on the stone."

"Shut up! There is no wind right now."

The scratching noise persists until William called out. "Is there anyone in there?"

Behind the slightly ajar slab that barred their entrance to the tomb they heard the moan and whimper of a female that sounded in distress.

"It might be one of the servants!" William said. "Stand back, I'm coming in."

William pushed and pushed against the slab till at last it gave way, swinging wide open. There on the ground of the crypt laid the life starved corpse of a female, her skin blotched with purple and black, her eyes open, her jaw hanging agape. The room reeked of death as Levi dropped down to examine the dead woman. He watched as her eyes, half sunken and yellowing, began to roll back and look at him Levi looked up at William as William looked forward.

"Oh Sh...!"

A mass of corpses came tumbling out of the tomb, tackling the two young orphans to the ground.