This actually never happened and my guild is very fine. All characters are fictional and any connections to existing Mabians are purely coincidental. :3

DARN THAT NAO!

 

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IGN: Aokouu [Mari(Mabi)] Aokouu [Cain(DFO)]

ChiisaiRamen's Channel: Mabinogi Videos and more

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Soreun Tarlach/ch.4

Mabinogi Parody Party story event, farewell to Generation 1 

Some liberties are taken in the course of the writing, including ways of attacking and story interaction. Since this story is actually rather long... I have posted them in two parts.  Hopefully this is ok, and if you haven’t read the first part, please do so~ 

 

Arial – “The wind that blows unwary travelers off sheer cliffs and bridges.” This would be me, yes I am Arial, Mari Server, Guild Royalty.

Myabu – pronounced me-a-boo, but most pronounce it my-a-boo. Much to Myabu’s annoyance.

FOforever – usually called FO for short (pronounced Foe).

Devcat – A mysterious individual that Arial claims to see numerous times and seems to have GM type powers.

Part 2a: Running through Hell

 

            The sun was low and its receding heat was beating down on Bangor relentlessly.  Adventurers milled about.  A few were talking with Elen or Erdern, others were at the forges and anvils.  Near Barri dungeon’s entrance was a pair of warriors clad in paldron armor.  Arial jogged forward and waved.  “Foe, Mya, sorry to keep you two waiting.”  Mya grinned in her casual way, the sun’s light glinting off her helmet.  FO nodded a greeting and smiled politely, opening up a slot in their party listing. 

            After signing up Arial asked what all the commotion was about.  She had to take a moon gate to reach the town, and was still feeling a little woozy from the time & space travel.  FO was giving the assault briefing while they entered the mine to stand before the dungeon altar. 

            “We are here to save the Goddess.  Only three warriors will be able to go.” He said matter-of-factly.     “So why am I here again?” Arial puzzled as to what her role in this was going to be.  FO was like her, a smasher just like her but stronger.  Myabu was a whirling blade.  Both of them had gain vast leaps in experience and levels since they had last fought beside each other.  Arial had been busy around the town and studying at the magic school or reading books.  She felt rather unprepared. 

            Myabu patted her friend on the back and smiled, “You’re going to be the healer.  So take care of us.” FO had produced a sickly black looking pass and dropped it before the Goddess.  The world swirled away.  There was no more time to think. 

 

-*-

 

It was getting rather late. 

The twin moons were performing their eternal dance in the heavens.  Arial left the church with a sense of relief, having finally told the story to someone else.  Of course, Endelyon seemed troubled now.  I guess that’s how things go.  She allowed the evening breeze to wash over her.  The coolness of the evening was refreshing in comparison to the foreboding air found in dungeons. 

Speaking of dungeons I still need to my bow from Duncan.  Wiping away a frown she put on her best fake smile and tried to stay calm.  There he is.  What is he doing out of his house at this hour?  Arial watched as Duncan scanned his surroundings and then sat down, pulling out a shadowed object with great care.  Those are my hunter boots!  What is he, ew… he’s sniffing them?

Behind the town’s great tree, Arial lost her lunch. 

The sound alerted the town chief who immediately called out, ‘Who is there?’  Revealing herself from the shadow of the tree, Arial pointed angrily.  “What are you doing with my boots you pervert!?”  Duncan’s reflex was to hug the boots tighter to him.  Realizing who it was, he smiled, “They’re mine now.”  Stop rubbing your face on them sicko.  Determined to get back what is rightfully hers, Arial made an attempt to grab them.  For an old guy, Duncan is pretty quick when he wants to be.  Dodging quickly he ran into his house and tried to keep the furious adventurer from breaking in. 

“Duncan give me back my boots!” she screamed. 

‘Finder’s keepers!’ he replied back. 

“They’re… A gift from Nao.”

‘More reason to keep them.’ He sniffed the leather slowly.

With an animalistic roar, Arial charged up a bolt of lightening to blow the door in.  She crashed through smoldering wood and saw that the chief had retreated to the fireplace.  ‘If I can’t have it, no one can!’ The old man put the shoes near the flames. ‘Don’t think I won’t do it!’  Arial made a desperate lunge from the walkway.  She tackled Duncan to the ground only to be thrown off with amazing dexterity.  

“All that talk about how many years you got left in you, and you can still fight like this?”  She growled, picking herself up.  ‘You should watch your language when speaking to elders.’

The two fighters circled each other, arms out stretched.  The firelight played shadows across their faces.  “I just want my boots.”  Arial whispered - a last attempt at diplomacy.  “I’ll even buy them back, twice the price if I have to.”  Duncan was unfazed, he seemed rather serious.  ‘Your boots belong to me now young one.’  He made a smile that caused Arial to cringe.  ‘Of course you could always give me something else in return.’  That’s it, talks over. 

Her foot struck out like a serpent, only to hit air. 

Duncan had moved deftly out of the way and came crashing forward with a fist.  She ducked only to find out it was a feint.  A second fist had got under her guard, striking her so hard it lifted the young warrior off her feet.  Her leather armor absorbed most of the blow, but she took a few steps back to lure him in.  Another powerful fist was coming, this time she moved in and got under the strike, a quick punch to his chest caused the chief to double back and cough hard.  Oh no, I don’t want to kill him.  “A-are you alright?”  She got a kick in the face as a reply.  Arial rolled backwards and hit the cabinet.  Something clicked and one of the doors opened slowly, numerous possessions from various towns members spilled out.  Amongst them was Arial’s robe. 

She threw it on quickly as Duncan yelled out in alarm.  Before she could grab her bow, someone had appeared at the door.  Covered in black plate armor, Trefor had arrived.  “Chief, I’ll save you!”  He had a crossbow aimed at what he must’ve figured was a burglar.  Arial acted quickly, pulling up a round shield amongst the clutter. 

Ting!

The bolt had rebounded off the shield’s metal center.  Duncan had dodged just in time for the bolt to strike harmlessly into the fireplace.  Yet he cried out.  Trefor, afraid he had done a fatal blow however, completely ignored the ‘intruder’ and ran down the stairs to Duncan’s side.  ‘What is it chief?  Did you get injured?’  Arial wailed in frustration, and ran out of the house in anger.  Her boots were rapidly turning into ash.

 

-*-

 

            “So that’s how it happened?” Myabu blew a low whistle and shook her head.  The trio had cleared the dungeon rather quickly, leaving the boss room unopened.  Arial had set up camp to make sure everyone was prepared for the trip ahead.  In the mean time they rested to gather their strength and swapped tales.  “I always knew there was something wrong about him.  Well it’s good to see that you got your robe back.”  Arial nodded.  “It took a while before we could see each other and talk, but Duncan eventually gave in.  He still has my bow though.” 

            Mya was putting up several potions to the firelight and then popping their lids open to smell the contents before separating different types into packs.  There were several dozen hp potion sets.  FO raised an eyebrow, “What exactly are you doing?”  Arial explained, “Oh well, Mya’s color blind.”

            FO was a little puzzled at this news, “Wait if she’s color blind, then how did she know you got your robe back?  Didn’t you have a replacement for some time?”  Myabu stopped inspecting a potion bottle and replied, “Well she originally had a tri-color robe that came from Nao.  Loved that thing dearly.  The replacement was one she got from a skeleton, was rather shabby but it kept the rain off.  Also, the Tri-color had three different shades, her replacement only had one.” 

            Still unconvinced FO pointed at the potion stacks.  “So you can’t tell which potion is which?”  Myabu nodded sadly, “It’s true.  Arial sometimes calls me potion drinker because of this fact.  They all look rather dark when not exposed to a lot of light and a long time ago I used to just drink various ones until I got the effect desired.  Got sick a lot.  It took a while, but I learned how to compare them by their taste and smell.”  FO scratched his red hair beneath the helm, “I was unaware that they had a specific taste… I just gulp it down.” Mya started to go off on her findings, “Oh yes they do.  HP tastes kind of coppery.  Stamina potions are sugary and Mana potions have something like a mint taste but it’s more like vapors instead of liquid.  Wound recovery potions are really bitter…”

            After the fire died out, the three gathered their things and stood before the boss door.  The red key seemed to shudder in anticipation.  “Let’s go.”

            The boss room was cleared quickly and efficiently.  The entire run reminded Arial of the Basic pass for this dungeon.  The major difference was that no treasure locked up in the room beyond.  Instead there was a massive gate covered in bronze and gold symbols.  FO stood before the lock and began to turn its key.  He asked if any of them had been beyond this gate before.  Arial nodded.

            “I have Foe.  I’ve talked to others about what is supposed to be beyond this gate to another world.  A lot of people call it Tir Na Nog or paradise.  I have a strange memory of being here before.”

            “What did you see?”

            “Hell.”

-*-

 

            It was a desolate place, colored brown like the dusty soil that seemed to cover everything.  There was no sound of bustling activity, people trading their wares or discussing their latest adventures.  Once a great tree stood before the town’s square, now only a leafless husk stared down at the three visitors.  Wooden boards were nailed over the windows and doors.  An uneasy feeling as if something was watching them from the abandoned homes lingered at the back of Arial’s mind.  Short and vivid memories ran past her mind.  This was a dead place. 

            “So much for paradise,” Myabu muttered as she shook off the otherworldly dizziness that came with time space travel.  The gate they all entered through acted much like the moon gates, but instead of activating by the time of day, it came alive when the Samhain holiday arrived.  “Isn’t this suppose to be where people don’t die, are always healed and fed and –” FO was cut off mid sentence by a tall man with sandy blonde hair.  He stood with the help of a cane and had a quizzical look on his face.  “If you were hoping that this is paradise,” he out stretched an arm to take in the town, “then you are sadly mistaken.  I am Dougal, the unfortunate loser to have survived and be left to watch over this town.  Who are you and where did you come from?” 

            FO walked up to talk with the supposedly last human here, discussing their purpose.  Arial was talking with Myabu about how similar things were here.  A parallel world gone wrong.  They walked up to where in their world, was a peaceful grave yard.  It wasn’t long before they quickly made their way back to the town square.  “Hey Foe, you’re right.  This is where the dead rise, as zombies.”  He looked horror struck.  Stammering he gripped his sword handle and looked at the hill beyond, “This place is cursed.  Up on the path is supposed to be a dungeon and there at that place is where the Goddess should be.  Let us hurry and be done with this.”  FO went to scout the path ahead; Myabu struck the old tree at the town square in hopes to gather berries; Arial stayed to talk with Dougal while purchasing a few supplies. 

            She didn’t chat for long. 

            Myabu and Arial both ran to the dungeon at a brisk pace to catch up with FO.  Arial seemed ill.  “What’s wrong?” Myabu asked while munching on a surprisingly large batch of berries she gathered.  “You mean other then the zombies, the smell of decay in the air and the feeling like something’s watching us from every shadow?  I talked to Dougal about various things and a few times his speech slipped up.  I don’t think he’s human.”  The two were silent as they made their way into Albey dungeon.  FO was standing there, beckoning them to hurry up.  Arial stared at the interior in awe.  Massive stone torches lit up the interior.  The walls were of raw rock and the path they were walking on seemed to go hover above an abyss.  There was simply nothing but darkness on either side of the path.  Arial chunked a rock down one and didn’t hear anything.  There was a feeling of wrongness at the altar.  All of Arial’s sense of experience seemed to falter.  Even Mya seemed a little more serious.  “Something wrong Arial?”  An armored hand tugged slightly at Arial’s sleeve.  She turned and tried not to panic.  Her hand reflexively moved to her heart.  “Normally, I feel reassured before I go into combat.  If I fall, Nao will be there.  But here it’s different.  I feel nothing.”  Muttering a prayer of protection, FO pulled out a pendant that he claimed the Goddess gave to him in his sleep.  It glowed with life as it was sacrificed. 

            The world vanished around them, stone and rock tearing apart as their presence in reality shifted to somewhere deep and foreboding.  Unlike other dungeons that felt cold, this one was hot and humid.  The air itself seemed to thrum like a heart beat.  The three looked at each other and struck their fists together.  For better or worse, it was time to run this dungeon.  Walking down the steps the three paused slightly.

            “Mya, there’s no Statue.”

            “I know come on.”

            “The Goddess really is in trouble.”

            This dungeon was unlike any other Arial had fought in before.  The difference between here and its parallel version [Alby] were so vast it was hard to see any similarities.  Instead of rough walls and ceilings or chandeliers, each room was lit by torches.  Each source of fiery light exposed massive ruins and symbols along the walls.  The floor was slightly slick from condensation, the sides were gutters filled with a mysterious fluid.  She didn’t want to confirm what it looked like.  This liquid flowed freely from a particular picture that seemed to break from the infinity knots yet completed their patterns at the same time.  The warrior thought long and hard as her eyes scanned the image.  A word slowly came to her, Glas Ghaibhleann.  After that she did her best not to stare at the walls. 

            How long they were in the dungeon, none of them could figure out.  Time seemed to pass differently here.  Myabu was certain it had been at least two days.  They had been lucky in that all the rooms they fought in so far, had relatively weak monsters.  Arial was convinced there was a pattern of some sort, “First few rooms were like Alby.  Then there were progressively more difficult monsters that you would find in places like Rabbie, Math and Ciar.  If it’s like this, then I wouldn’t be surprised to see armored opponents from Pass-type dungeons.”  It was a rather unhappy thought.  The deeper they ran in, the harder the monsters would become.  As if to prove that things would become more difficult as they progressed, boss type monsters began to appear at certain points.  The first was a trio of hell hounds.  Though easy to take out, none of them wanted to think about being knocked out in this place.  Dougal had mentioned that there was no revival here. 

Tarlach had mentioned something similar as well; only your friends can help you there. 

            One floor was cleared.  After this the group decided that there was no point in staying to fight.  If they could, they would try to escape orb rooms.  There was simply no time.  If the Goddess needed their aide, then being bogged down in desperate battles would simply be counter productive. 

            The second boss was rather familiar.  It was a Lycanthrope.  “So we meet again human!”  Mya and Arial didn’t want to think that it was the same creature they had killed in their Rabbie run.  It seemed faster and stronger then before, but the two warriors knew how the monster fought.  FO held the monster still, using his shield to keep the creature’s blows from tearing him apart.  Arial slid behind the two and did a spinning slash, tearing apart its lower legs and sending it flying.  Myabu prevented the beast from landing by performing a whirl wind attack, the Lycan was toss aside and FO dealt a devastating spin cut.  All three impaled the creature in the chest as it hit the ground.  The light of life faded from its eyes even while its mouth cracked into a grin.  The next floor would have been uneventful if it were not for its boss.

 “Don’t be deceived, it may look dumb or slow but that thing can swing fast.”  FO was pacing the beast slowly.  Arial had no clue what to do.  It was the first time she saw something like it.  Though it wasn’t as large as a golem, the heavy gargoyle was big enough; taking nearly a fourth of the fighting room.  Its massive green hide was covered in boils and scales.  Two bat-like wings sprouted mal-proportionally from its back.  She didn’t figure it could fly.  It was armed with a massive sword, the height and width of a full grown man.  The creature’s eyes were droopy, as if it were sleepy.  Myabu jumped forward and connected with the creature, attempting to smash it. 

Ting!

“Not good.”

Its large leathery tail swung out and launched Mya into a wall.  Arial got the monster’s attention by smashing as well.  It stumbled back a little bit as if surprised.  A dull fire burned in its watery eyes.  If it wasn’t for FO suddenly tackling her, she would’ve been sliced in half by the creature’s blade.  They split apart, rolling to avoid its return swipe.  Stone chips scattered like shrapnel from the blade’s impact.  FO had somehow got onto the creature’s back and was trying to force his blade into the monster’s neck.  Air picked up as the gargoyle flapped hard and jumped, throwing the fighter off its back.  He would’ve been crushed against the ceiling otherwise.  Its hide is too thick, its swings too fast.  Need to take it out, but with what?  Arial’s hand felt something in one of her pouches.  She grinned as a thought came up.  Sheathing her sword and holding up her shield, she ran forward directly at the heavy gargoyle.  It turned ponderously and flicked its wrist.  Silver metal flashed over Arial’s head, she had ducked just in time.  The monster opened its mouth as if to roar.  Now!  Small and roughly spherical in shaped, a bomb was thrown right into the creature’s mouth. 

It hiccuped in surprise as the item suddenly fell into its gullet.  A look of confusion was the last thing he expressed before the explosion tore apart its insides.  Its body crashed into the ground, shaking the entire room.  Black smoke billowed from its now charred mouth.  Shockingly enough, most of the explosion was kept inside the creature’s body.  Its’ hide was that strong. 

 

[It was so long that the post would've lost all its formatting.  So I'm unfortunately going to have to break Part II into two parts lol; ]

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JoaT = Jack of all Trades
Over-kill is not a part of the vocabulary, it's the rule of thumb. The doctrine itself.

Part IIb – Deep in this.  

 

-*-

 

From a hidden location, the Dark Lord was preparing himself for the up coming battle.  Three brave souls have broken the seal between worlds and were now making their way to their doom.  He would make sure of it.  Looking once more at his obsidian sword, the human-turned formor left his quarters and made his way to the altars.  A special pass was handed to him by an assistant.  He asked how the warriors were progressing.  The Argus blinked several of its eyes and reported, “The human invaders have reached the last floor.  They are weary, but are strong.  I am sorry to report that the ghost armors and the wizard were unable to stall them for long,” he paused shortly then added, “There seems to be a strange light of experience amongst them.  Though their current levels of power are rather low, their ability to work together and fight is high.  It is quite possible that they will make sort work of you my lord.”  The Argus was knocked into a stone wall and left unconscious.  Black fire consumed the formor pass sacrificed and the Dark Lord left to perform his duty. 

 

-*-

 

“Guys?  Guys this isn’t funny.” 

Arial’s voice echoed down the twisting halls.  She felt heavily disoriented.  In a mad rush to get out of an orb room, the group had gotten separated.  The things that chased them made Arial cringe.  “Where are you?”  Another dead end.  Her eyes caught the grinning face of Glas Ghaibhleann looked down at her.  What was that sound? 

“Myabu..?”

Something moved just out of sight.  The eerie glow from the walls seemed to be consumed by whatever was standing there. 

Not Mya. 

            It was tall even while slouching, at least six foot.  Draconic wings were folded behind its back and its face was stuck in a permanent sneer.  Rows of teeth seemed to jut out like tusks.  Everything about it was foul.  From the shadowy skin to its heavy breath and ugly yellow eyes.  Talons gripped a gargoyle sword and the ironically named ‘light’ gargoyle roared as it charged forward.

            “Human!?  How dare you pollute our land with your filth!”

            Arial dodged the blow and got behind the monster.  “Sorry but it’s a reflexive action.”  Without looking back she ran as fast as she could, trying to navigate her way back to the others.  Sounds of metal scraping on flesh chilled her, but she knew that must be where they are.  Turning around she fired a lightening bolt in hopes it would stun the gargoyle giving chase. 

“Magic!?  Mere human magic is nothing!”

Its’ voice was like hearing blood being ground up with stone.  Horrible.  She smelled its breath coming up from behind and knew it was about to strike.  Dodging desperately around a corner she stumbled into a nightmare.  FO and Myabu were alive, and so were half a dozen light gargoyles they were fighting.  One was flying in the air, hurling insults that hurt the ears.

“Oh God!”

“Your God is not here!”

That remark saved her life.  She rolled out of the way just in time, the gargoyle missing by a hair’s breadth.  Her sword flicked up in reply, leaving a jagged cut along its throat.  It stumbled stupidly, holding a hand to its throat in shock.  Black ichor oozed between its fingers.  It fell back with a thud and then vanished in a cloud of black smoke. 

“When will it be my turn?” shouted a gargoyle as it lurked around FO who was dueling one of its brothers.  Arial had no time to celebrate.   It was this gargoyle that had spotted her.  I won’t be able to dodge it!  She didn’t know what to do.  Time seemed to slow.  One giant sword was coming down to split her in half.  No amount of phoenix feathers would save her from that. 

If I can’t dodge it…

Shaking hands gripped her shield.

Then I can at least…

The mantra for healing magic rapidly spilled from her mind.

Cushion the blow!

Five spheres of non-elemental energy came into existence.  Metal cleaved through the air and struck the magic barrier.  All five healing orbs expended their energy, ruining the strike.  By the force of the attack, Arial’s body was launched away from the bewildered gargoyle.  Rolling to her feet she prepared for its oncoming charge but it never came.  Myabu and FO stood over a cloud of rapidly vanishing smoke.

“Where you been?  We were starting to get worried but couldn’t look for you, got trapped in here.”

            “Well Mya, let’s just say… I was out on a walk.”

 

            Campfire warmth pushed away the uncomfortable air of the dungeon.  According to Myabu’s estimations they had been in there for more then a week.  Food supplies were running low.  Dry crusts of bread from Arial, aged cheese from FO, and dried berries from Mya were split evenly between the three.  “What a terrible way to diet.” Grumbled Mya.  Arial dug around in her pouch and pulled out a wrapped package.  “I got some meat if you want to try and eat it.”  FO snickered and Mya turned green.  “No way man, that thing has to be spoiled by now.”  Arial shrugged and tossed it into the fire.  The smell of cooking beef made them all rather hungry. 

            Over the past hour the three had been bandaging and stitching each other’s injuries and trying to get as much sleep as possible before opening the boss room door.  None of them got much sleep however; their dreams were disturbed with dark thoughts.  All the evil of this place waited just beyond that door.  The dungeon run had depleted various supplies, and they pooled together what they had left.  FO pulled out a small note and started to write things they needed in there. 

            “Is that a healer house note?” Arial asked.

            “That’s right.  We need more potions right?” FO looked at Myabu who nodded.

Arial scratched her head. “How is the owl going to find us out here?”

“That’s a good question Arial, thankfully I’m not an owl.” FO placed the appropriate amount of gold on top of the bank note.  A half an hour later a small owl flapped its wings heavily, carrying an over filled cloth bulging with items.  That had to have been one epic journey.

Myabu glanced at her two-hander and frowned.  “Too bad we can’t get our gear fixed before we go in.” FO nodded in agreement, Arial shook her head.  “Do you really want Fergus to repair your equipment and then try to mail it to you?”  The two suddenly stiffened up at the idea.  I guess not. 

As ready as they would ever be, FO opened up a crumbling treasure chest that stood solitarily before the boss room door.  Inside the rotted box was a single pass.  Arial read the script and translated, “With this, we could immediately come here again in case we failed.”  FO seemed grim, “We won’t fail.”

He pulled out the boss room key from his pack and threw it into the air.  The blood red key hovered slightly before inserting itself into the lock.  It turned with the sound of metal scraping on metal.  Hidden mechanisms lifted the door slowly.  Arial could’ve sworn she heard the tinkling of a bell.

 

Stepping forward, the Dark Lord pointed a gauntleted hand at the three warriors.  “You heroes come at a good time.  I will sacrifice your souls and revive Glas Ghaibhleann!  Cherish this moment to realize that you have brought the end upon your world!”  Two ghost armors flanked their master and unsheathed their weapons.  “Seize them!” 

The three warriors backed up from the boss room and lured the ghost armors in.  Myabu countered a rushing armor and yelled to Arial, “Catch!”  The opponent went flying into the air towards her.  Having done this maneuver numerous times Arial gathered her strength and smashed her sword into the target.  She yelled, “Pass!” and launched it back as if they were playing catch.  Mya became a whirl of blades, the armor was no more.  Fun was over.  FO had taken care of his armor first only to trade blows with the Dark Lord.  He swung his own two-hander fast, but there was nothing there except for black smoke. 

Behind!? 

FO was thrown down to the ground.  The Dark Lord had somehow teleported behind him.  Mya acted quickly, striking his sword against the fallen human.  Its obsidian blade came up fast to parry.  Flashes of black steel crisscrossed between the two fighters.  Arial charged up a healing spell and tried to reach FO.  Before she could reach him a sudden cloud of black smoke enveloped her. 

The next thing she knew she was on the floor, tasting copper blood in her mouth.  Her face was wet with something sticky and for some reason her right eye wouldn’t open.  She felt dizzy.  From blood loss?  Someone was calling her name.  Metal clashed on metal.  We’re fighting… against the dark lord.  Her arms were shaking, she looked at her hands.  The sword she had been using was broken into numerous shards.  That’s right I blocked his attack, the healing magic protected me again just barely.  Why won’t my eye open?  Now on her knees she dropped the useless weapon and patted her face.  Blood continued to flow from somewhere.  She felt an empty depression in her face that shouldn’t have been there.  Her hand pulled away covered in gore.  Pain started to fill her head.  Pain and anger.  Just beyond her reddening vision she saw a small white orb.  She screamed out loud after realizing what it was.

Myabu and FO had been keeping their own against the Dark Lord, but were loosing ground.  The smell of ionized air followed by wild flashes of mana converted lightening.  In her frustration Arial was hurling bolt after bolt of white hot lightening, the magic created searing rents in the black armor.  She hefted a hatchet normally used to gather wood and threw it.  The axe struck the dark lord square in the chest.  Black smoke, he vanished and the axe fell to the ground.  Arial made an incoherent scream and slammed her shield into the Dark Lord who was behind her.  It sounded like a cracked bell was rung.  She didn’t stop crashing the shield into the armored formor.  Meaty sounds were interrupted by the groan of bending metal and squishing of something softer caving in.  The other two pulled Arial away from the prone and unmoving body of the Dark Lord.  Arial said only one thing, “An eye for an eye Dark Lord….” 

The heroes were quiet and bandaged themselves in silence.  Arial now had bandage wrappings covering her eye.  She made a dry joke about getting Caitlin to make her an eye patch.  Myabu wasn’t certain, but she could’ve sworn seeing something glow beneath the bandages.  She didn’t want to check the fallen lord’s body to confirm her suspicions. 

“Arial you going to be alright?” She asked solemnly.  Her friend scratched at the bandages before answering.  “So this is what it’s like to be color blind.  Hmm?  Yeah Myabu.  I’ll be alright.  Surprised we haven’t lost arms and such before.”

 

            Rusty girders covered the ceiling. Meat hooks hung from them.  Rats scurried away from their path.  Within the boss room was nothing.  Arial couldn’t help, but feel that something was hiding amongst the shadows up there.  Myabu scanned the area ahead and FO seemed perplexed.  “Where’s the Goddess?”  He voiced out loud.  “Forget that Foe, what’s that smell?”  It was like sulfur and it made Arial’s stomach churn.  She took another look up and froze.  Amongst the girders and hooks was a massive body larger then three men standing end to end.  Its face was covered in what seemed to be a massive bandana.  Fangs the size of swords dripped toxic fluid from its opened mouth.  Huge stitch marks covered its body and in its hands were meat cleavers that looked as tall as a house. One word kept going through Arial’s mind causing a lot of pain.

                        GlasGhaibhleannGlasGhaibhleannGlasGhaibhleann.

           Arial stumbled backwards.  FO looked up and saw the monster as well.  Myabu was running back with all due haste, grabbing the two warriors and dragging them back into the dungeon halls.  Metal shrieked, girders fell and Glas Ghaibhleann was starting to move.  It tore apart the metal cage around it.  Ground shook as it landed.  Its awakening cry deafened the party who huddled at the boss room entrance.  Arial tried to not blow chunks.  Swallowing hard she pointed at the monster, “If we’re going to save the Goddess, it looks like we’ll have to kill that.”  She shook her head, “Anyone got info on this thing?  I’ve only heard about it.”  Myabu pulled out a leather worn book and tossed it to her partner.  “In there is its history, but nothing on defeating it.  Glas’s bones are supposed to be made of magic resistant armor so spells won’t work.  During the wars between humans and formor the thing was reported to have phenomenal healing speed.  If we’re going to kill it, it’ll have to be through wounds.  Anyone got a bow?”  Arial and FO both shook their heads.  “Duncan still has mine and FO doesn’t use bows.”  Myabu’s face grew dark, “Then someone’s going to have to go toe to toe against this thing.”  FO stood up like the holy knight we all knew him to be.

            “I’ll do it.”

            With new found courage the three heroes charged forward into the dungeon.  Glas opened its foul mouth, but did not roar.  Light started to gather as his normally green breath slowed. 

            Pew pew pew!

            What? 

            Glas just shot energy.  Fire erupted underneath their feet.  Arial and Myabu were thrown back, but FO was pushed forward.  Charging towards the monster he struck with all his might, knocking the beast back on its haunches.  Though it looked great, neither side had done much damage to the other. 

            “Hah, he doesn’t hit har-ghk”

            FO’s body flew past the others.  A red smear could clearly be seen on the towering beast’s machetes. 

            “It must still be weak since it’s only recently been revived.  Maybe we got a chance!”

            “Hate to break it to you Arial, but look what’s spawning underneath its feet.”

            Light Gargoyles.  

            The creatures gave a unified battle cry and charged forward.  Usually they held some sort of code and only fought one on one.  This time however all restraint seemed gone.  Bolts of ice and lightening rained down on the two, who tried to desperately back up.  Magic blasts ricocheted off of girders, shields and armor.  These attacks weren’t so bad, but they were slowing the retreat.  Flying on leathery wings were the first gargoyles to reach striking distance.  Cleavers crashed into the warriors as they desperately countered and spun to push the charge back.  FO had gotten up and threw a bolt of fire, causing one of the monsters to crash into its brethren. 

            “That was a close call.  The gargoyles must be some kind of defense trigger.  We could really use a bow right now.”  Muttered Mya, as she drunk half a dozen potions in one gulp.  “Well we don’t have a bow.  FO, you up to punch that guy again,” He nodded wearily, determination in his eyes, “Alright.  Look around there has to be someth-…  Those demons were carrying firewood and…  What’s this?”  Mya snatched it up and turned it around in her metal clad hands.  She pushed up the face mask for her guardian helm.  “Looks like a mimic scroll.”  She passed it off to FO who seemed to recognize it immediately.  “This is a blessed scroll from the Goddess herself!”

            Myabu put two and two together, “Alright we’ll gather firewood and passes then distribute them later.  How hard can you guys hit?”  Arial figured she could critically wound a skeleton, FO could take out a bear in one shot, Mya wasn’t much of a smasher but hit hard.  “Let’s say, about three each alright?”  They knocked fists and ran back in.

            FO distracted Glas and struck him again, demonic gargoyles spawned faithfully each time and the other two would pull them off of him.  The process seemed to go on for hours, older injuries started to tear and potions were being gobbled at an unhealthy rate.  Myabu and FO both threw up.  Potion sickness.  In the end, Glas was still healthy and firing off its laser, and the party had gathered enough supplies from the gargoyles.

           

“Alright ladies and gents, it’s time we sealed this monster to his grave.”  The trio circled the monster, setting up camp fires.  Once ready, each hero pulled out a goddess seal scroll and held it reverently over the fires. 

            “Go!”

            Three scrolls were burned.

            Three points of brilliant light filled the dungeon room. 

            Arial felt a rush of power and protection.  The Goddess, the Goddess was with her again!  All three ran forward and attacked the still weak GlasGhaibhleann.  Blows that would’ve killed them instantly slid off harmlessly.  Their attacks caused massive rents in the monster’s body and that of the minions it spawned.  When one felt the blessing of the goddess fading, they moved to a nearby camp fire and burned another.  There was no food like it, no drink like it, no rush like it… 

            It wasn’t long before the finishing blows were to be delivered.  Arial felt the rush starting to fade and made a run towards a campfire.  Glas noticed the movement some how, his massive cleaver swung out at inhuman speeds.  Arial saw it and didn’t bother to dodge it; she road the attack to get closer to the fire.  Reaching into her pouch he produced a goddess scroll and that’s when the world suddenly slowed.

            Something’s wrong.

            Powerful light struck down causing searing pain all across her body.  The effects of the blessing were fading fast. 

            She stretched out her hand to drop the scroll.  A fury paw suddenly gripped her wrist.  Arial followed the paw to its owner.  No, oh no… Not now.  There he was, Devcat.  His feline face smiled beneath that wide-brim feathered hat. 

            “LoL Arial, I don’t think so.”

            A sudden shadow fell over her.  She turned and saw a gargoyle filled with rage, flying towards her, its’ sword in mid swing.

            Arial dropped the scroll.  It missed.

            The attack was critical.  Arial found herself looking at the ceiling and what hooks remained.  Something just came into her vision.  It was Devcat standing over her.  She couldn’t hear anything other then her heart slowly beating, but she could read his lips well enough.  Those furry, mischievous lips and their long whiskers.

            “It’s time to go.”

 

-*-

 

            Arial woke up in a familiar setting.  Piaras’s inn.  Sitting next to the bed dozing off was Endelyon, the priestess.  She woke up as soon as Arial tried to get out of the bed.  It was no use.  Woo dizzy. 

            ‘Arial!  Oh thank Lymiark that you’re awake!’

            She blurted out various forms of praise, relief and happiness, hugging Arial until she remembered that the adventurer was still rather wounded. 

            “Endelyon…”

            She pulled back and looked quizzically at Arial.  What is she looking at… my priest medallion?

            “Nothing… It must be the Goddess’s blessing.”

There was a lot to catch up to do.  Apparently she had been unconscious for nearly a week.  Piles of messages and notes from friends had to be read.  Talk about another generation and its great warriors were shared over a light supper, which Arial ate under her own strength despite Endelyon’s protests.  A second generation?

“Where is Dilys?  I believe I have her to thank for keeping me alive this long… you and Nora too.”  She could hear Nora down stairs, apparently deep into a discussion with a young adventurer.  ‘There’s no such thing as giant spiders right?’  Oh… if only you knew Nora, if only you knew....  Endelyon mentioned something about how Dilys was acting strange while taking care of Arial, especially when they were changing her.  That kind of love is difficult I guess.  “What about my friends Myabu and FO?  They were there with me when I…” 

‘Oh?  It wasn’t them who brought you here though.  Piaras said it was a short man in a shirt and vest set, a large hat with a feather hid his face.’ 

Arial didn’t comment.

‘Let’s see…  Both were said to have saved the Goddess, there are others mentioning that too.’

“Wait, if the Goddess is saved, then why did we have to go and do it again?  Were others simply not convinced?”

‘Who knows Arial, maybe the Goddess just has a lot of trouble.  You know I always need help around the church and all.  Maybe it’s something like that.  Ah there’s something else…  Here it is.’

She handed Arial her guild badge.  It had several messages recorded in there.  She skimmed through them.  Myabu is missing, FO is busy at the school, people are wondering where I am, new members are here others need help…

‘Hey Arial, did you save the goddess too?’

“No Endelyon…  I was just there to help that’s all.  I was the healer.  Hey Endelyon,” she gripped the priestess’s hand firmly.  Tears started to form in her eyes.  The pain was just too much.  Her eye throbbed no, not my eye.  She felt her throat constrict and again could only hear her heart beating.

“I’m sorry.”  I want to be stronger.

Arial’s body vanished, leaving behind blood stained bandages. 

 

-*-

 

Hoot…Hoot…

So I’ve returned to this place.

An endless knot beneath my feet. 

A stair case from nothing behind me.

Owls. 

Hoot…Hoot…

Oh... Hello again, Nao.

 

“Hello Arial, do you know about Rebirth?”

 

- End of Part II -

 

Writer’s Notes:

Haha well here it is, hope you’ve enjoyed the ride.  After realizing that the web forum posts would accept pre-done formats from word such as indents and bolds, etc I got a little excited and tried to make it look spiffy lol; 

 

Unfortunately I can’t draw this out at all…  I’m a slow drawer, so I stick to my text forge~. 

 

Hmm… some random things to point out:

Yes me and my friends name any form of shooting in mabi [magical or otherwise] as ‘pew pew pew’.  It’s the only sound I can imagine when Glas fires his laser beam. 

 

If we have future fiction posting contests, I’d like to continue the story [of course] and I’ve already planned Arial’s storyline a bit.  Can you guess what she’s going to be in a few generations? 

 

For those of you who take time to talk to npcs [with that vast list of keywords] and read the material, you’d be surprised at times with what npcs share or say about other npc’s in the area.  Each npc is well built in character, having likes/dislikes and their histories and the stories of the game itself can be found within those chats.  When the lag is too much or when I’m curious I go up to npc’s and ask around.  Haha…  Some of the things they say could be made into interesting comic strips. 

 

In the G1 run against Glas, none of us had a bow.  Well I had a cross bow, in the bank…  And a crossbow was rather too short in range.  FO did in fact charge forward and smacked Glas to spawn the monstahs.  That guy is brave >_>;  If I had to fight Glas in r/l or something I dunno…  I think I’d pollute the land with my filth.

 

Well anyways, I’ll leave the rest of the references and character relations for you to find or speculate if you wish.  I’m going to go ahead and take a break already o. o;;;

 

I know there’s some ice cream over here somewhere…

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JoaT = Jack of all Trades
Over-kill is not a part of the vocabulary, it's the rule of thumb. The doctrine itself.

 

 This is me and my twin. We're inseperable.

 

Look at our duet on youtube!
 

 

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**Edited by Tibaroo** Please use a more appropriate signature.