short test

"Ambition and Destiny, A Players tale."

*The Camp*


 "You ---- free --"

 "We ----- you"

 "--- --- Elyria's only ----"

 "The days of ----- and ------- have ended, embrace the ---- of ------"

 You awake, the voices still faint whispers in your ears, the words still unintelligible
save a few. The voices are many, but the urgency is clear in their tone. You reflect on
when these voices began calling to you, how insane it felt to be compelled by words that
you could barely decipher, words that first came to you so faintly that murmurs and
mutterings would have been a better description at the time of their arrival.

 Still lost in contemplation of your dreams you are snapped back to reality by an
exclamation outside your tent. "My Lord, we have found it!" A very excited scout proclaims
as he pokes his head inside your quarters. His smile reveals the joy he takes in being the
bearer of good news, as good news is so rare these days.
 "Excellent, Let us make haste." you say.

 Finally, another tomb has been discovered. Many lives and countless gold has been expended
in this search, a search for what, you don't know. You just know something inside has
compelled you to seek out a power that can finally restore order to the lands of Elyria. A
power unknown, unseen, and unheard of. A power that can undo the banishment of the mighty
kings. That can reverse the power vacuum that now exists between the thousands of Ladies
and Lords that have blindly grasped for authority since the leaders of each race had
vanished, bringing about chaos and anarchy to every land in the realm.

 You rise from your bed of straw. Would this tomb be worth the price? This is not the first
you have found, and it won't be your last. For every tomb that brought promise by
providing you with the essence of a powerful warrior of old to aid in your journey, there
have been hundreds that have disappointed.

 Your squire suits you up in your armor and you exit your tent. A cold wind bites hard as
you emerge upon the lands known as the Sandy Wastes, a deceptive desert known for it's
high temperatures, but the cold that encroaches this area as soon as the sun vanishes is
often forgotten. Traversing this land has not been easy, when the land itself was not
fighting you, rebellious bands of creatures had. The ground is still wet with the blood of
those who tried to stop you. The smell of their bodies being burnt to prevent them from
rising from the grave is inescapable. _Smells like victory_ You think to yourself, never
forgetting that there will need to be many more victories before your quest is done.

 You mount your steed and follow the eager scout. You can feel the tomb calling you, it's
inhabitants eager for release, even if is only a fraction, as the full power of these
creatures has been locked away by Queen Sharia so that she may terrorize Elyria freely.
Somehow parts of these beings have found a way to escape, but only bits and pieces.
Those found and acquired are only shadows of what they were in life, but their aid is
still vital. "Someday..." You think as you approach the tomb. "Someday, I will find a way
to truly release you from these prisons. I promise."

 Your troops had already began removing the stones sealing the tomb before you awoke. You
realize the messenger that notified you had the good sense to wait til you had finished
your slumber to tell you of the find. You briefly smile at the thought of his courtesy,
but that thought only lingers for a moment as the troops complete clearing the entrance.
Your mind quickly drifts off to speculations of what will be discovered.

 You dismount and step towards the tomb. A torch in one hand to fight back the utter
darkness that consumes the descending staircase just past the threshold. Your other hand
firmly gripped around the hilt of your weapon to fight back any other kind of "darkness"
that may greet you inside this insidious place.

*The Tomb*

 You take the first step warily, half expecting the stone to crumble beneath your feet, but
your worries are quieted as your foot finds itself met by undeniably solid ground. The
steps are carved awkwardly into the landscape. You find each step to be slightly too long
and too tall for your gait. Forcing you to take them with caution else you fear you will
meet your fate, not by some unspeakable horror, but by a mere misstep followed by a
humiliating tumble.

 The entrance, and what little light it provided, have long vanished behind you. The stairs
seem endless and your calve muscles feel as though the burning inside them will send your
entirety into flames that cannot be quenched. The pain, the darkness, and the isolation
during your journey might drive a person mad, but all thoughts of those things are quickly
erased when your feet find more floor where they expected nothingness and you stumble
forward. Your heart in your throat as you flail wildly, trying to maintain your balance.

 Despite your desperate efforts, you fail, and you fall. You imagine yourself falling down
these damned ill spaced steps for eternity. Slowly transforming from something undeniably
human to something that more resembled meat and bones sent through a grinder. Your fears
are snuffed as quickly as they were lit when your body hits the floor, which despite your
imagination, was not a never ending set of stairs, but instead the landing of them, where
you now find yourself sprawled. If not for the condition of the tomb you might have taken
time to kiss the ground before you brought yourself back to your feet.

 Had you been embarrassed by your fall, or had you been tired, sore, or breathless from your
descent, you couldn't recall once you feel the presence of something powerful, ancient,
and very close. A feeling that you have experienced only a few times before. _Could this
be... Could it finally be the end?_

 Your senses seem to know where to go. You head in a direction without thought, sure that
what you seek lies that way. Slowly, a figure emerges in the shadows. Barely perceptible
at first, but with each step more torch light finds it's way to the object. You continue
to walk, the entirety of the world now a distant memory, all that exists in this moment is
the prize in front of you.

 It towers above you, standing the height of two men, and easily the same two men abreast.
Carved elaborately with armor that adorns spikes, appearing to have menacing intents of
seeking flesh to rend. The massive arms are held out in front of the statue with both
hands clutching the handle of a great sword as big as yourself, the tip of which
disappears into the ground. A helmet covers the face, with slits for dark hollow eyes that
seem to defy all light, and is topped with yet more spikes that seem to have a will of
their own and a desire to taste blood. There is no doubt now, you have found King Bael.

 The last king will be at your service, or at least, a shadow of his true self will be.
_Please, please be enough_ you think before you begin the incantation. "Nunquam iens ut
tradat, Numquam dimittere te, Nunquam iens ut tornare et deserent" The statue emanates a
soft glow, while luminous, at the same time dark, almost as if the shadows themselves were
pouring from it. "The uniter seeks your power. Allow me to command you for the greater good
of the realm, heed my call, join me, and together we shall find you liberation!"

 "FOOLISH CHILD!" booms from the statue and blood red flames burst to life deep behind the
eye slits of Bael's helmet. After such stark silence the response takes you back. "You are
indeed the uniter, but your quest is far from over. Even the four kings reunited under
your banner will never be enough to reclaim this realm from she who imprisoned us. You are
a fool to believe otherwise."

 "But...," you manage to utter in disbelief "but you are the kings, the lore.... it all says
that you 4 are the key, that once reunited a way will open, hope will be restored, balance
will be brought back to the world! I have journeyed for years uncounted, this moment, this
is supposed to be the end, it's..... it's supposed to be over!"

 "Quit sniveling whelp, your journey has just begun. It is true that the 4 kings are a key,
But we are not the end of your quest. I am immortal, but still only a king. If you wish to
stop Sharia only the power of true gods are capable of that." bellows Bael.

 "True gods? If the true gods are not guiding me then how have I accomplished all that I have

already?" you ask, feeling as though nothing you have known until today was true.

 "Who says they haven't been child? I know of your dreams mortal, have you not wondered
whose voices are calling you?"Bael questioned.

 "I did not... the dreams... I thought they were all the others, Everyone that had been
trapped by Sharia, all those desperate souls calling for me to complete this task. If not,
then what guided me to this place? Why did I feel compelled to come here?!?" you replied, in
a voice that gave away your despair.

 "No, ignorant one. No common creature on this plane could muster that much power, even I,
King of the undead, could not beckon you in a such a way. What you seek is more ancient than
I, more powerful than all 4 kings combined, gods. Beings of immeasurable power fated to the
same imprisonment me and my brethren have endured. These gods, who are ancient even to an
ageless wretch like me, they have the power to banish Sharia and in doing so breaking her
spell that binds us all. Can you not see? The Gods led you here."

 Your mind was reeling at the thought of beings greater than Bael, could such a thing be
true? It had to be, Bael had no reason to lie about such matters, and the prideful king
would never concede that his powers were eclipsed by another's unless it was undeniable.
"Will you not join me then?" you asked after considering things for a moment. "You spoke
of a key, and a further journey? Will you deny that I am destined to fulfill this task?"
you quickly followed.

 "I will, ignorant one, for I have no other choice if I desire my true powers returned,"
hissed Bael. "There will have to be a sacrifice at the Royal Vale if you are to succeed.
Only then can your quest continue. Despite your ignorance, I cannot deny, you are
the one that must complete this pursuit." his contempt with you barely concealed in his
voice.

Before anymore could be discussed, the flames erupted from the statue's eyes, and waned as
they approached you. Bael had enough words and was ready for actions, or at least, that is
what you told yourself as his essence entered you. His power was now at your command, if
you summoned him, he would obey. From this day til his power no longer existed or he was
sent away.

All that had been revealed in this dark tomb had left you weary, but with Bael's essence
now in your possession you felt rejuvenated, and made your way back to the exit with haste
and a renewed purpose. The journey did not end today, but you still maintain hope that the
end is near.


*The Beginning*

 A sweaty mass of troops great you with anticipation as you emerge. Their eyes tell you
they are desperate for information in a way no words could have. "My people...." you
start. "Today is both a glorious day, and a day of new understanding. Inside this tomb we
have discovered Bael, but ...." you are cut off before you can finish by cheers from the
throng. You calmly wait for them to settle down as beads of sweat start forming on your brow.

Finally the crowd seems to understand that you have more to say. "BUT..." you continue "In
doing so I have learned that this is not the end for us, but the beginning of yet another
chapter." You can physically feel the crowd's dismay grow at those words.

 "I do not know how much longer we must endure this trial my friends, but I have learned
that the kings were not the end we thought they were. Tomorrow we ride for the Royal Vale
were we will seek out the meaning of what Bael told me." You pause to gauge the crowds
reaction. They are silent for an abnormally long time. Each considering the circumstances,
each weighing how they feel about this new development.

 "To the Royal Vale!" a voice shouts from the crowd.

 "Yeah, to the Royal Vale we go!" shouts another.

 "We'll follow you to the ends if it restores our lands" yet another wails.

 Soon all the negativity drained from the throng and was replaced with a new hope as shouts
of "To the Royal Vale!" continued to be chanted in joyous chorus.

 Your squire arrives with your steed and a flask of water. You consume the water as if you
had the thirst of a thousand men, emptying the skin before you had even made it to your
steed. "You look like you need some much deserved rest." says the squire. You nod and the
horse starts to trot you back to your quarters at your command. So many questions race
through your mind. What gods are trying to reach out to me? What sacrifice must be made? What
is the world going to be like after all of this?

 It is not even close to nightfall, but this day has drained your energy completely. You
are not ready for sleep, but you aren't much use for anything else right now either,
except contemplation. You go to lay down but are stopped by a nagging suspicion you are
forgetting something. You bolt up and find your squire in his quarters next to yours. "I
can't recall squire, did we send those undead companions to the Green Mirror Lake like I
had requested?" you ask.

 "Oh yes, definitely, my lord. I know our need for silver is dire. I would rather die a
thousand deaths than forget about that, my lord." he replies.

 "Good, good... I will be retiring to my quarters. Tell everyone to be ready by dawn." and
with that you return to your bed of straw.

 As you lay there, your thoughts race as your body heals. You stare into space, wondering
what kind of powers still lay unknown before you when you hear a symphony of voices in
your head respond to your question. "Aegis." they say. It echoes in your head endlessly
yet it provides no more answers than you had before. Just a name. "Aegis," you whisper to
yourself "Aegis." You repeat this word again and again until you slip off into a deep
sleep.

*The Sacrifice*

 "You must free --"

 "We ----- you"

 "You --- Elyria's only --pe"

 "The days of kings and --ge--- have ended, embrace the rise of ------"

 The voices again. The words are so close to having meaning, perhaps a sign you are getting
closer to the end. You rise early, best to leave this desert before the sun gains too
much ground. And so begins the march towards the Royal Vale, located in the south. You
escape the Sandy Wastes before the sun becomes punishing, and are greeted with rolling
hills of green at first. There is little resistance to your march this day, it would seem
fortune had smiled upon you.

 As you descend into the plains the lands became hostile, scorched, and barren. The
atmosphere smells of sulfur. You arrive to the area known as the Royal Vale at last, and
all you find is a poor woman wearing rags. While she didn't seem out of place in this
wasteland, she was not what you expected to find here. Being a person with compassion you
approach the poor huddled mass to offer food or water. As you approach, the smell of sulfur
seems to grow stronger with each step.

 "Pardon me, ma'am, do you need any help" you ask with kindness.

 "Oh yes deary. I do... I do need help." she cackles. You extend your hand with an apple as
an offering to this huddled mass. She reaches out and clasps you with hands as hot as fire
and digs into your skin with nails as sharp as talons. "No good deed goes unpunished." she whispers.

 "The Devil!" you exclaim as you wrench you arm free from her grasp, your flesh still
smoldering from her touch.

 You try to summon Chieftain Lionroar, but find that his essence is no longer contained
within you. "What evil is this? What have you done Devil!?!" you cry out, still in
disbelief.

 "Oh, my lovely. You have no idea the extent of pain I have caused you already." She says
as she emerges from her disguise. Curled horns surface from the rags. Followed by leathery,
veiny wings that remind you of a bat's. Finally the ruse falls away completely to reveal a
shapely woman clad in leather with red trim that seems to emit a glow that rivals the fires
of hell itself.

 You continue to try to summon your troops. First Augustus, but to no avail. Then
Vel'Assar, and finally Bael, but these too fail. _How much did her touch steal from me?
Does this pain never stop?_ you begin to wonder hopelessly. _Guess we have to do this the
hard way._ you resolve to yourself.

 "Yumi, hold the line, avoid her touch! We cannot bear another assault from her, no matter
how trivial it may seem. Velyn, rally your pikemen, the rebels. This devil's touch is
magic. You are our only hopes if we are to be victorious." you command.

 Velyn leaps into action with his rebels in tow. Yumi follows close behind with her bow
drawn, ready to send an arrow into anything that may appear. She proves her readiness as
Jaraax joins the fray, but as fast as he materializes he is slain by the ever vigilant
Yumi. "Not on my watch demon!" she smirks.

 Velyn and his pikemen are quickly closing in on the Devil, her own attacks reflecting back
onto herself. You feel victory is close at hand, but that feeling drains from you body as
the Devil is joined by Garghael and the World. _Tarots... creatures that escaped being
entombed by Sharia! Their powers are insurmountable under the right command! Baals...
ancient demons that only reveal themselves to true conquerors._ You think to yourself. How
can it be the Devil wields so much power but is so foolish as to face Velyn and his
pikemen with only magic? You cannot answer that, but you are thankful, for after her
surprise attack you need to capitalize on every mistake she makes the best you can.

 Garghael moves forward and tears into your very being. You double over in pain, but do not
take your eyes away from the field. A pikeman shrugs off the rest of Garghael's attack. The
World raises her arms and brings them down. A crash of lightning engulfs every one of your
allies and does not spare you the same treatment. You take some damage, both nothing
compared to what Garghael did to you. Velyn and his pikemen are unfazed, but Yumi has been
wounded. You worry for her safety, but now it's time for your allies to show what they are
made of.

 Velyn overtakes the Devil first, thrusting his spear deep into her exposed flesh. She has
been weakened but Velyn alone will not be enough to end this. A pikeman takes up Velyn's
rear and his spear also finds some meat to call home. The devil is staggering, looking as
though a slight breeze may be enough to send her over the edge. Luckily Yumi is still
capable of pulling her bow string, despite her wound. She lets loose an arrow that sails
across the field, it finds it's mark and the Devil lets out one last scream.

 A scream that leaves only echoes across the plains as the Devil disintegrates into a pile
of ash, cutting her cries short. With her defeat Garghael and the World both vanish. The
day has been won, but at what cost? Will this victory be worth the souls you have lost?

 Just then you catch a glint of light amid the ashes the Devil had left behind. You kick
the pile and your foot meets something solid. You find a shield with tassels of gold, and
an image of a being you are not familiar with emblazoned upon it.

 "Aegis?" You wonder. The shield seems to glint at the mention of the name. The excitement
wells up inside you. _Could it be this is not some misfortune, but instead exactly what was
destined to happen?_ The thought brings relief to your troubled mind.

 "Make camp for the night." You command to your troops and they happily comply. As soon as
your tent has been erected you make for your bed of straw, Aegis never out of your grasp.
You lay down for the evening and it's only then you realized you have been clutching the
shield so tightly that your knuckles are white, as if your muscles were so tense that they
did not even allow blood to flow past your wrists.

 You relax your grip and soon after your whole body follows suit. It is there you fall
asleep, both arms wrapped around Aegis while it rests atop your chest.

*The Revelation*

 "You must free us"

 "We trust you"

 "You are Elyria's only hope"

 "The days of Kings and Legends have ended, embrace the Rise of Mythos"

 "I am trying..." you respond as you slowly become aware of yourself. Standing on a
translucent plane drifting amidst the stars and planets. "what is this place? Who are you?"
you beg.

 "This place is the void. At present this is the only realm we can reach you through, and
only because you possess Aegis are we now able to finally speak to one another as we are,"
answers one thunderous voice as you begin to realize that ghostly faces surround you in
every direction "ss for who we are, collectively we are the Mythos, individually... well,
that is a long story. For now all you need know is I am Zeus, King of the gods."

 "Why do you trust me? How can I free you?"

 "You possess a noble heart, a heart that cannot be tainted by evil. Many ages we have
waited for such a person to exist. To have laid this task to any other would have been to
risk losing our one chance at victory to corruption at the hands of Sharia. If Aegis had
ever been in her possession, all hope would be truly lost."

 "Aegis." You repeat.

 "Yes, it only presented itself to you because of the kings that were sacrificed in battle.
Knowing that only one with a soul strong enough to resist Sharia's bidding would obtain
all 4 kings under their service. we hid our salvation in a minion of Sharia's, further
insuring it's discovery would be at the hands of good and not evil."

 "It's purpose," you ask "it... will free you, how?"

 "Sharia was only capable of trapping the Mythos by way of trickery. She had conscripted a
jealous Mythos known as Loki to separate me from the Aegis, which weakened me just enough
to be defenseless when she attacked. Knowing my defeat was imminent, I used what powers
remained in me to hide the shield from her. Once reunited with the Aegis, I will be freed,
and at my full power I will be able to break the curse she has spread. You must make haste
to the Mountain of Divinity, Aegis will secure you safe passage once you arrive. Do not
delay, do not allow word of your discovery to reach Sharia's ears."

 Your eyes spring open, your arms still tightly wrapped around Aegis. Day has not broke
yet, but you know Zeus is right, you must move before Sharia discovers you. Surely, word
of the Devil's demise will find her quickly, and then, Aegis aside, her attention will be
directed your way.

 "Sound the trumpets, we complete our journey this day." you declare with determination.


*The Mountain*

 Each step towards the Mountain of Divinity is full of dread. Might an ambush lay around the
next bend, or behind those rocks ahead, or maybe trailing you, waiting for your pace to
slow just enough to overtake you? You Move quickly, eager to be free of such worries, to
fulfill whatever destiny awaits.

 The mountain eclipses the horizon. You have made it without incident, but can't shake
the feeling that evil will find you before the day is over.

 You had heard stories of this place before, grand tales of a magical mountain that none can
approach, but you had never laid eyes on it until today. The stories, though amazing in their
own right, did not do the reality of this place justice. You are filled with awe just
gazing upon it. It's peaks climbing past the clouds, beauty indescribable, and power
undeniable.

 Arriving at the base of the mountain you spot a trail that vanishes into a tomb on the cliff
sides. Your army makes for the path. You are almost upon the trails entrance when the sky
rips opens with a flash, and your companions are nearly struck down by a lightning bolt so
fierce you expect it to rip through the earth itself.

 They were spared only because you were in the lead, and the bolt was seeking the one who
had stepped foot past, what you imagine, must be boundary of some sort. The earth around
you is scorched black, but the ground directly under you is untouched.

 "Aegis," you find yourself saying yet again "Must be shielding me from the lightning so
that it may be returned to it's rightful owner." The shield again glistens in response to your
musing. You travel without fear up the path, but awe, awe has not left you. Every inch of this
mountain rings with energy, every step is met with thunderous crashes as the lightning that
guards this mountain seems to have no concern what shield you carry, it only wishes to destroy
anything that might trespass.

 Upon arrival to the tomb, you take one final look back. A storm approaches on the horizon,
it does not concern you as you breech the threshold and seek out Zeus. It doesn't take
long, there are no endless stairs here, only a shallow etching in the face of the
mountain, with one massive statue crowding it. You gaze at what you presume must be Zeus,
a massive being with rippling muscles and eyes that, even while in stone, crackle with
energy. One hand is raised above his head, giving the impression that he might have been
throwing a spear. The other hand, lowered in front of him, seemingly wrapped around a non
existent handle.

 Aegis glows brightly and seems to shiver. You return it to Zeus' hand. It fits perfectly,
but nothing happens. A minute passes, though it feels like each second is an eternity. Every
heartbeat echoes in your ears and shakes your body. Boom... boom... boom... boom... and suddenly
you realize... it is not your heart shaking you, and it is not your heart causing that noise,
no, it is the mountain. It is lurching back and forth, up and down, and outside, boulders are
shaking free from their nests, plummeting to the ground below.

 The statue too is shaking, pieces flake off, like crust from bread that is too dry. Each
fragment that falls away reveals flesh hidden inside. As the rock crumbles away, Zeus is
chiseled in it's place. The quivering mountain has knocked you off your feet, but the
spectacle distracts you from even noticing.

 Zeus emerges from the prison completely, with wild eyes and a look of horror on his face, he
lunges at you and wraps his around around you tightly, sending you back out onto the trail,
as the area you once stood fills with debris.

*The End*

 "Can't be losing you just yet," he says as he lifts himself off of you "There is still need
of a hero this day." You find your feet and notice Zeus' gaze is fixed on the base of the
mountain. "Come, let us finish this together." He says, as you realize what he means.

 That storm... it is upon the camp, and hidden in it's darkness was Sharia and her army.
One moment you are being swooped up by Zeus, the next you find yourself amidst the battle that
has unfolded.

 "Buy me time hero, and Sharia will no longer roam this realm freely. Vex her enough to become
furious, doing so will provide the distraction I need to contain her." Zeus commands.

 "Stand your ground men! Sharia has always ruled by intimidation, relying on most men to lose
heart and surrender before the battle has even begun! Take the battle to her swiftly, and I
swear to you, we shall win the day!" You cry to rally you troops.

 The battle is fierce, each side vying for supremacy. You penetrate her defenses and your troops
pour out upon her. A new found hatred fills her eyes and you know it must be directed at you.

 "I cannot be defeated, you are but an ant and I am a god" she says bitterly.

 "No Sharia, I am a god," says Zeus from behind her "And now, you have a debt to pay."

 You can she the fear in Sharia's eyes as she realizes that Zeus is free, and you notice, not
just Zeus has shaken Sharia's shackles, but a whole army of faces you only remember from your
dream in the Royal Vale. Seems Zeus must have been releasing them while you engaged Sharia.

 Zeus' armies and yours both clash against her brutally. Sharia cries in pain and shock and

desperation, but it is too late for her. Zeus raises his hand above his head in the same way
he had it when you found him entombed. A bolt of lighting the likes of which you had never seen

forms in his hand and he hurls it at the weakened Sharia.

 It strikes her with a blinding flash, and when the light subsides she is nowhere to be found.

*The Unknown*

 "Is... is it over?" You ask Zeus. "Mostly." he says.

 "MOSTLY," you blurt out "MOSTLY?"

 "She can no longer freely roam the earth, but she is not gone forever. Her powers are
diminished, but that does not mean she poses no more threat. She will find new ways to
terrorize the land," He says "The universe demands balance and evil, though some may not wish
to accept it, is part of that balance. She will suffer the same plight the Mythos and the kings
had faced."

 "that means," you start.

 "Yes, that means that bits and pieces of her may escape just as they had done with the kings,
or that she may still reach men with evil intents the way we reached you."

 "The kings, and the countless others?" you ask.

 "They have all awakened from their prisons. Free and no longer a shell of their true potential."

 "Awakened huh? Then I..."

 "Yes hero, you kept your promise," He answers to your question before you can finish "With the
Mythos freed and the kings awakened, we are prepared for any new or ancient evils that may
resurface."

 You can handle the fact that she may resurface on occasion, knowing that in a diminished state
she can easily be routed, but thinking about the possibility of someone becoming her dark
champion in a vain search for power makes you shudder. You pray such evil never manifests,
and with that prayer you realize, your journey will never truly be over.