Adventures in Zephlanore

In the Deep, In the Dark

Levi could smell the rotten innards that the steamed out their mouth. "William! There is too many." He cried as the weight of another corpse climbed onto his back. Agmar was nowhere to be seen and he was losing sight of William to the shadows. The large chamber under the temple echoed with the shuffling of feet and the periodic grunt of William and Levi. A low rumble filled the room, it was the kind of rumble that you could feel in your stomach. The ruin that was drawn on the center of the floor began to emit a faint green glow and hate began to fill the room. The atmosphere felt heavy as if you were held under water. Levi's eyes burned and all he could think of was how unfair it was for his father to leave him in a hell hole like this. He felt his body fatiguing as the undead seemed revived in strength, they pulled Levi to the ground. 

William could feel the spiritual pressure in his soul as another zombie hand gripped him, drawing him into the shadows. Breathing became a chore and his arms grew heavy. He could feel the cold prune like fingers of dead against his face as his mind slipped into a sea of emotional turmoil. He was just a kid, he should be with his family working the fields and threshing grain like Crow and his family. But William was here in the darkness under the temple fighting for his life. 

"Don't give in!" A voice croaked from the shadows. "It's an old ruin spell meant to petrify the living." Agmar shouted clutching his wine gourd to his chess, protecting it with all his might. The legs and limbs of the undead  knocked him to the ground trampling Agmar under foot.

"The temple has resisted us for far too long." The Necromancer hissed from the shadows. "None shall stand the coming storm, we will rise as kings and you will be the first to fall." His voice was cold and lifeless but it stirred something in William.

"Over my dead body!" William cried out. Agmar and Levi chuckled to themselves. 

"I see what you did there." Levi said.

Unable to swing his sword William wrestled his arms free and clenched the head of a zombie between his palms. William threw two of his foes to the ground. The dread spell fell from him like a heavy cloak as he brought down his sword on the head of another zombie. 

Levi pushed himself off the ground and shattered the skeletal remains of a dry corpse. "Dead or alive you're coming with me!" He shouted as he smirked to William. William shoot his head with disappointment.

"Oh! I got one." Agmar shouted. "You don't have the guts to beat me cause, I... umm.. Damn. I lost it." Just then Agmar lost grip of his gourd as it was kicked across the floor. Agmar glared at the undead surrounding him. While muttering to himself his necklace rattled and hummed with a blue glow. The smell of winter fresh pines filled the air as a great wind howled through the corridor blast the undead into the walls of the great chamber.

The fight was no longer a fight, it was a massacre. Corpse dropped left and right while heads and broken bones rolled on the floor. The Necromancers grit their teeth as they began to conjure their strength once more. "Orcus, god of death grant me the power of your scepter once more." The  bones began to resemble once again. William, Levi and Agmar realized the never ending battle before them. Just then two arrow shot the the corpses heads. 

"You broke into my home, you killed my brothers, and now you threaten my friends. Your a dead man." Josiah stepped out of the shadows and into the lantern light. The Necromancers lunged at Josiah. Josiah released an arrow in the Necromancer's leg. The other ceased his advancement and backed into the shadows. A corpse tackled Josiah from behind as the injured Necromancer disappear in the hall of shadows. 

Levi heard the hum and ring of the singing bowl and looked up to see the faint golden glow of two eyes peering from the shadows. A gentle breeze traveled across the room as all the corpses dropped to the ground lifeless once again. Another breeze followed lighting all the lamps and standing at the last lamp was Master Aaron. The shadows retreated reveling a lone standing Necromancer. The Necromancer began to chant frantically as the enchanting circle began to glow once more. Levi, William, Agmar, and Josiah began to feel the weight of despair filter into the room again. Master Aaron slid his foot across the floor taking his stance, at the same time his foot broke the blood rite on the ground. In a gentle gesture too fast for any to see but Levi, Aaron stuck the Necromancer shattering his stone mask. His body tumbled across the room like a lifeless doll tossed by its head.

The sun was bright in the sky and the bells above the chapel hall rang with excitement. Happiness settled back into the town of Fellfalls, but this day was not like any other. Today the great chapel hall was filled with students, masters, and all the town, including Lord Matthew ii. William, Levi and Josiah were standing before the people of Fellfalls. The Gnosis ceremony was under way, they were no longer student of the temple, they had reached the age of knowing. It was time for them to leave the temple and prove themselves in the world. Levi was given new monk robes that showed he was a man now, the weight of his choices were his alone to bare. Likewise Josiah was granted the bow and cloak of the temple with arrows that were meant to help more than hurt. William was given a brandish sword to be wielded in the defense of others and the up holding of his vow.

Lord Mathew ii stood before the town and spoke of their deeds and all they had given, he even honored the life of Aden. He decreed that each of these young men light a torch that would always remain on the walls of the town, there would always be a light left for them in their home.

"William it is time to take your vow." Lord Matthews nodded.

William knelt before Lord Matthews and spoke. "To be the champion of the right and the defender of the needy. To be unencumbered by fear and always choose the right. To always honor God and the King and to always live peaceably with all men whenever possible. This is my vow."

"Now rise, Sir William." Lord Matthews ii placed into Williams hand the badge of his knighthood, a symbol of the temple of Adonji.

When William rose the town cheered, when Levi stood the crowd roared. As the crowed died down and people were dismissed, Lord Matthews and Master Aaron addressed Sir William. "There is one more gift for you Sir William." Lord Matthews said. 

"It is not an easy one to give, nor is there much to say of this." Master Aaron added. He nodded to Master Kelvin. Turning around William saw the most beautiful breast plate. It shone like silver and draped from the shoulders was a crimson cape, inlaid on the chess is the golden image of a tree.

"I don't understand." William said, looking to Master Aaron.

"When you were just a infant, you were left at the doors of the Temple. You were found wrapped in this cape and cradled in the breastplate. We do not know where you come from or who your parents were but doubtless, this belongs to you."

After fitting his armor on and Levi dressing in his new robes they were met by Crow. "The gods bless you two. I know it isn't much but we made some care packages for you. Well, mostly it was the wife." Crow waved to his wife and kids. "She baked those honey biscuits Levi loved so much. There's water skins and some milk too. We can't thank you enough. We know this temple is your home but we want you to know our home is always open to you."

"Well don't go all soft on them Crow." A voice said from behind. Climbing the stairs to the chapel doors was Smithie. He wasn't wearing his apron and looked as though he had a nice trim. Clinched in his hand was a rolled piece of fabric. "You ain't the only one that gots some thanks to give." He fumbled a bit with the rolled fabric as if trying to find the right words. "Well damnit, I ain't good at this stuff. So Levi here ya go." He place the roll in Levi's hand.

Levi unrolled the cloth reveling a leather strap with a series of small knifes. There was also a large knife with a small strap. "I know it ain't much for all ya went through for us but I thought ya could use a set. The knife you can hide in a boot or something and the others. Well they call them Kunai, they meant to go on the hips for a quick draw. Just remember where ya got them from, and anytime your in town ill give em a new edge for you. So, good luck." Smithie gave them each a good pat on the back and ruffled Williams hair before giving them a goodbye nod.

After a few more thanks and goodbyes William and Levi found Agmar drowning his sorrows at the end of a barrel. 

"What's up with you frog?" Levi asked.

"Oh I hate goodbyes. It seems like we just met a few encounters ago." Agmar sobbed unable to make eye contact. 

"Where not saying goodbye, we are hitting the road." William stated. Agmar looked confused. "With you, ya drunk! Now lets go, we got a caravan to catch." William continued looking at a herd of people still filing out of the chapel and to a line of wagons. They picked up Agmar and his shepherd crook.

"Where we going?" Agmar asked watching the ground pass below into blurry.

"There's a town a few days journey from here, a wealthy one at that. It seems our old friend Sakeno had shipments headed there and I mean to have a word with him. They call the town Zibeion."