Eric Elmoor and The Gauntlet of Godric

Chapter One: MAYHEM IN GONDLAIR

CHAPTER ONE

"MAYHEM IN GONDLAIR"

Derex thought it was all too easy.

Up until now he and his brethren were keeping to the outer townships for their 'deeds.' There was little resistance from the wardens and local militias which guarded the townships. The militias were made up of peasants and were ill-equipped to deal with Derex and his companions. The power which they had been taught by the warlocks were indispensable and ushered forth a most glorious amount of violence as town after town burned in the fires of the black arts.

He didn't think of himself as a murderer. A murderer kills without purpose. He had purpose and that was to extinguish the Novogard Assembly from the world before it marched forth into lands which didn't belong to it. The attacks were meant to send a message, but it was not being heard.

Today would be different. Today he and his cohorts would send a message loud and clear to the leaders of the Assembly. Derex would take Gondlair, Belial would take Egremont, and Faramor would unleash her particular brand of fury on Thornburg. The three major cities of the Assembly hit all at once on the same day by three warlock elves who decided to make a stand for the freedom of Novogard and, to an extent, the world of Abeodor. The tyranny would not spread anymore. Derex would make sure of that.

His infiltration into Gondlair had worked perfectly. Approaching the gate, Derex was stopped by two armed United Novogard Initiative troops - pathetic mercenaries meant to protect the three crown jewels of the Assembly. This was not unexpected.

"State your name and purpose of visit, elf," one trooper loathed.

Derex decided to let the scorn in the troopers voice go unheeded. There was little point in getting into a petty quarrel at this stage. Although he did find it odd that a kingdom which prides itself on equality breeds such detestable ilk. "I wish to see the Citadel. I live far away and have always desired to set my eyes upon it."

"Well, it is quite a sight. I will give you that," the other stated.

But Derex wasn't finished and quickly added, "And I want to burn it to the ground."

The troops froze in place, not sure if they heard what they thought they heard. As they reached for their weapons, Derex released a massive stream of red arcane energy which bore holes in each of their torsos and immediately sent them passing on to the afterlife.

"And you people call yourselves 'advanced,'" Derex added with a snarl before finding the guards passageway through the enormous wall which surrounded the city.

He took a moment to gaze upon the wall. It was so high that only a few of the buildings within stood taller, its width stretched for miles in either direction.

A massive feat, no doubt.

"Your walls will do you no good," Derex whispered as he entered through the passage.

Inside, he was surprised at how sparsely the guards patrolled the outer defenses. He employed stealth to make his way through the wall, but when needed he took care of Initiative guards as silently as possible and hid the bodies.

Finally managing to get through the wall, he found himself inside the gigantic city. His eyes darted back and forth, taking in the enormity of what he was seeing. He was not in awe of the sight, but disgusted. This was an abomination to the world of Abeodor and the natural way of things. Buildings made of white stone climbed to the sky with an abundance of tram tracks weaving to and fro around and within them. Walkways graced the higher level, making it clear that the richest in the city were of the highest regard. Further down, other walkways stretched between the structures, marking where the serfs of the Assembly lived. Finally, on the ground level, there were those that the city seemed to neglect as mere fodder. Where dishonor foments.