From: xvevan@aol.com (XvEvan)
Date: 03 Sep 2000 20:53:36 EDT
Evan Rush Rynth’s daughter, Aurora Eve Rynth, had grown enough to travel with the Elfairy through the lands of Rhydin. The tiny girl possessed a power to match the half-breed making magic defense the trick to keep herself safe. Standing only a few feet tall most don’t see her until it is too late or Rora speaks out with a dash of anger for the lack of being noticed. Her dress matched Evan’s in style and color while holding the colours White
and Blue as pride. One feature that is eyed upon is her large knife slapping at her side and a pouch which might carry gold or items of use.
“Dad, where are we going today,” a soft voice emerged from the girl.
“Good question. Let’s stop over here a moment.” Evan’s finger lifted to point at a small clearing off of the road. “We can rest there then continue on. See if you can’t get us something to eat while I figure out a place to explore that might hold our interest.” A warm smile crossed his lips before heading over to the appointed ground. Sitting down Evan reached into his bag grabbing a map. “Oh Hun, make sure that you catch two if
they are small. I will cook and make the wine.” Rora chuckled and set off into the woods. “Now, where can we go?” he asked himself.
Unfolding the old map of Rhydin a piece of wrinkled white paper slid out from the last crease in the map. His hands lowered placing the two together on the fuzzy grass. The map was relativity old since not every location was marked as was on the new map that caught his eye in a store in the last town. Evan wanted a challenge and was bound to find one on the map. Somewhere, someone has at least forgotten a location that holds a mystery.
With a sigh upon finding nothing on the penciled map, Evans eye drifted back to the piece of paper. The writing was hard to read due to the rain that had fallen upon the ink. Also some of the letters where missing.
It read:
“ Anyone
We are in desperate times. Ev l has plagued my
home town. The monst r ke ps coming to take our
peopl . It kills to fed on our blood and comes in
the night or daytim . Everyone one hides but
non can hide forever. My death will be soon for
I am run ing out o food. Someone help us.
-Debra Loud”
This letter had been read time and time again by people whom found it. The water and dirt marks made this apparent that the event of the monster and killings occurred years before. Still this fascinated the half-fairy’s mind. Who, what, why, when, and how are the questions he needed to figure out to what might have went on.
Drifting back father into his mind the image of when he found the map came to play. Rora had just learned to grab ahold of objects out of drawers and other containers. Without knowing any better the small child rummaged head first into anything that opened. One day Evan and Rora went to visit a man of writing. While Evan and the man conversed Rora took the mans mail out of the letter box stuffing the notes, letters, and small seals within her
pockets. Neither of the two adults saw the act but upon changing Rora that eve he found the Authors mail. One of the letters took interest to Evan. It spoke of a monster that plagues a town none can find, hidden within Rhydin somewhere. Every item except for the letter was returned to the man.
A bloody scream flooded from the woods to the north of Evan. The sound did not alarm him, however, did place a smile on his face. The scream consisted of death, fear, and anger, that of a dying animal would make after being struck on a hunt. Rora found her victim. “I guess I better start getting ready to cook,” spoke Evan aloud to himself, “and where is those berries at?”
Taking a moment to scratch his head a mini-camp was set up with the help of magic. On the ground infront of him, five feet away, burned a camp fire with a pot in the center and two sticks held up by poles parallel with the moaning flames. “This will do ... “ again talking to himself. The berries held in his pack where taken out and placed into a bowl. Leftovers went back into the pack. Using a bone to crush the berries, a powder was added to
the white skinned fairy fruit turning the product into a type of mush. After enough crushing the mixture was placed into the pot and water added. A smell arose and soon the melting process started.
Rora came into view with a giggle. Behind her laid a dead hog. “Is this good enough?” she said grinning.
Before speaking Evan looked over the kill from where he sat studying the point of impact, weapon of choice, and amount of style put into the attack. Since the hog had a single blow down into its throat the kill was clean. “Damn right it is. Good catch!” responded Evan with a high amount of pride for his daughters hunt. “Bring the kill over here so I can finish slaving over the stove for you.” Both chuckled as Rora uplifted the animal with
mental thought guiding the flying pig towards Evan.
Upon receiving the meal Evan skinned the hog with quickness and skill while Rora joined him at the fire peeking into the pot of boiling fairy wine or white wine(the stuff is not clear but white). Picking up the two sticks from the fire, oversized slabs of meat where speared and the wood replaced over the fire. “Rora, do you remember the mail you stole that one day at the writers house?” She shook her head no. “Well, what you found was
interesting. It was a plea for help from years back. During the time the help was needed, a monster was attacking the town even in the daylight without mercy. The note says that people hid until they died from lack of food or water. Somehow the town vanished and no one has seen it. What do you make of this?”
“Sounds like an adventure to me. This is a mystery we have been looking for. You know what the books said. I need a deed of kindness, love, and heroism to complete the “White” for my colours. The first two came from places I never would have thought but my heroism act should come soon, no? People may still need our help there. Why not go?”
Evan frowned with a sharp pain in his chest aching him. “Not everyone likes to accept help because they think everything can be done by themselves. Those few can’t see the fact that sometimes people need help. In the case of this town though I am expecting not to find anyone. We should be going to find a lost, abandoned town not a crowded busy town. Heck, look hard enough at the paper and you will see that this tree had to grow in the desert.
We have that much.”
After a moments pause, Rora lowered her brows. “Mmm ... ... ... mm ....... oh! You can look at the map and see how many deserts there are and the location. If the tree is as you say it is, born in the desert and cut down for paper, then the desert must have some type of vegetation. If the climate is too dry nothing will grow right?”
“Correct.” Evan looked at the map.
“Things sink in the desert right? Or burn easy?”
“Yes, they do both burn easy and sink in the desert. And the old man said the town was no small town. It held at least 5000 in the city limits. There was not many houses out of the town limits because people vanished without a trace. But what are you getting at?”
“I am saying that the map shows where the town is. No one just noticed it before. Look around in the desert area’s for somewhere that the outline of a town might show an existence in the past. The makers of these maps where dead on in construction of the maps having a bird’s eye view of all of the lands. Without the letter we have the change of the town might have gone unnoticed with ease.”
“Hmm, let me see then ... “ Evan’s eyes gazed over the map locating all the dry area’s Rhydin had to offer. Passing over them one by one his hopes began to fail finding nothing out of the ordinary. Ready to give up looking for the moment he spoke out, “So far noth .... wait!” pointing to a town on the map. “There is a city, the city limits, and then something else that looks like an outline you where talking about. Seems like water
had once filled where the city was. That could just have been a past lake. Do you want to check it out?” Rora nodded with a grin. “We will head out of here after we eat then. We still have three fourth’s of the days light ahead of us so I am not worried about time.” Pointing to his bag. “The cup is in my pack and the meat is about ready. Come on, let’s dig in.”
-----------------
1 of 3
Army of the Dead: Episode One
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From: xvevan@aol.com (XvEvan)
Date: 03 Sep 2000 20:56:57 EDT
The road taken was exhausting and long. The daylight sun had taken its toll draining supplies by the hour. Rora was not used to the heat spawned by the burning gas ball for she had never entered a desert before nor did she like the climate once the small party of Rora and Evan arrived. The rolling sand dunes meshed together at the
horizon by a blue sky was a form of eye candy but the heat was hell. As night took to the sky showing the moons of Rhydin over the desert, which was a lovely sight in its self, so did the cold. Rora, tired from walking was carried by Evan as he had done so many times before and held close to keep her warm.
Aside the coldness of the night, infront of the moons laid the city which the two quested for, Quno’ton. On the map the city was nothing more than a dot inclosed by an odd set of dirt rings. Up close Quno’ton was enormous spanning ten stories high and two miles in diameter. The night time sky allowed little detail against the walls but a single towering gate made its self obvious at first glance. Windows replaced the city walls around the top
of the gate and the rest of the upper floors but the lower levels of Quno’ton lacked windows of any kind. Closer inspection suggested there was no source of running or standing water, plants whistled back and forth in the gentle night breeze covering the top of the city as if they grew upon the roof, and oddly enough the trail he was walking is paved wider than any road seen in his experiences. This was no city but a large building called a city.
After a few more hours of walking Evan approached the gate which towered over the Elfairy’s head. Four feet of stone laid infront and behind the massive iron bars. The walls were too thick to place a door judging by the size of the gap left by the gate so ‘this must be the only way in’ he thought. Following the thick chains used to lift the gate with his eyes a noise was heard from above. A guard was watching them from above standing on a
window interlaced with iron restraints acting as the floor. All the windows appeared bared no matter the direction.
Restless the guard took a long look at Evan examining the Half-Elf’s features and appearance. Finishing the examination, Rora was next in line to be stared at in a thoughtful manner. Being approved the guard flipped a switch starting the machine which raised the gates into the structure. In a uplifting voice the guard yelled out, “Hurry up and come on in! Head to the Inn and stay there for the night. What are you two thinking traveling at
night?!? Hurry along!” The guard pointed to the gate which cracked enough for the two to enter. Once on the other side the monstrous gate without care dropped behind them shaking the ground as if an earthquake had hit. Doing as he was told Evan could only mumble out, “Geez“.
Candle lights guided his way into the main greeting hall. The room had the size to hold a small army and the floor laid covered in dust and gravel. Paintings and woven cloths decorated the walls in-between the candles that were held in place by holders attached to the walls and in glass containers that acted as chandeliers from the ceiling.
In the corner sat a figure dressed in a set of sheets making it impossible to gather any details about the creature. Quietly watching Evan a hand raised pointing towards a old wooden door, one of many. Taking the path as a hint the two carried on to the door disturbing the silence with the grinding of Earth across stone under his boots. The eerie mood was enough to send shivers down the half-fairy’s back and the icy touch of the door handle gave
no relief for comfort in the strange environment.
Swinging the door open and stepping through, he found himself in a small room with a bed made of dull cloths in one corner. The rest of the room was blank and bare except for a single candle that burned giving off the only light. Jumping in alarm at the sounding of the door shutting, Evan gathered himself settling down to the ready made bed. With Rora still sleeping, though he did not know how with all the noise made, his body came to lay abreast
of the tiny girl for her warmth. After time to think and bring the new facts about Quno’ton into play his eye lids fell seducing him to sleep.
-------------
2 of 3
Date: 03 Sep 2000 20:56:57 EDT
The road taken was exhausting and long. The daylight sun had taken its toll draining supplies by the hour. Rora was not used to the heat spawned by the burning gas ball for she had never entered a desert before nor did she like the climate once the small party of Rora and Evan arrived. The rolling sand dunes meshed together at the
horizon by a blue sky was a form of eye candy but the heat was hell. As night took to the sky showing the moons of Rhydin over the desert, which was a lovely sight in its self, so did the cold. Rora, tired from walking was carried by Evan as he had done so many times before and held close to keep her warm.
Aside the coldness of the night, infront of the moons laid the city which the two quested for, Quno’ton. On the map the city was nothing more than a dot inclosed by an odd set of dirt rings. Up close Quno’ton was enormous spanning ten stories high and two miles in diameter. The night time sky allowed little detail against the walls but a single towering gate made its self obvious at first glance. Windows replaced the city walls around the top
of the gate and the rest of the upper floors but the lower levels of Quno’ton lacked windows of any kind. Closer inspection suggested there was no source of running or standing water, plants whistled back and forth in the gentle night breeze covering the top of the city as if they grew upon the roof, and oddly enough the trail he was walking is paved wider than any road seen in his experiences. This was no city but a large building called a city.
After a few more hours of walking Evan approached the gate which towered over the Elfairy’s head. Four feet of stone laid infront and behind the massive iron bars. The walls were too thick to place a door judging by the size of the gap left by the gate so ‘this must be the only way in’ he thought. Following the thick chains used to lift the gate with his eyes a noise was heard from above. A guard was watching them from above standing on a
window interlaced with iron restraints acting as the floor. All the windows appeared bared no matter the direction.
Restless the guard took a long look at Evan examining the Half-Elf’s features and appearance. Finishing the examination, Rora was next in line to be stared at in a thoughtful manner. Being approved the guard flipped a switch starting the machine which raised the gates into the structure. In a uplifting voice the guard yelled out, “Hurry up and come on in! Head to the Inn and stay there for the night. What are you two thinking traveling at
night?!? Hurry along!” The guard pointed to the gate which cracked enough for the two to enter. Once on the other side the monstrous gate without care dropped behind them shaking the ground as if an earthquake had hit. Doing as he was told Evan could only mumble out, “Geez“.
Candle lights guided his way into the main greeting hall. The room had the size to hold a small army and the floor laid covered in dust and gravel. Paintings and woven cloths decorated the walls in-between the candles that were held in place by holders attached to the walls and in glass containers that acted as chandeliers from the ceiling.
In the corner sat a figure dressed in a set of sheets making it impossible to gather any details about the creature. Quietly watching Evan a hand raised pointing towards a old wooden door, one of many. Taking the path as a hint the two carried on to the door disturbing the silence with the grinding of Earth across stone under his boots. The eerie mood was enough to send shivers down the half-fairy’s back and the icy touch of the door handle gave
no relief for comfort in the strange environment.
Swinging the door open and stepping through, he found himself in a small room with a bed made of dull cloths in one corner. The rest of the room was blank and bare except for a single candle that burned giving off the only light. Jumping in alarm at the sounding of the door shutting, Evan gathered himself settling down to the ready made bed. With Rora still sleeping, though he did not know how with all the noise made, his body came to lay abreast
of the tiny girl for her warmth. After time to think and bring the new facts about Quno’ton into play his eye lids fell seducing him to sleep.
-------------
2 of 3
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From: xvevan@aol.com (XvEvan)
Date: 03 Sep 2000 20:57:39 EDT
Rora woke to a dark empty room with a body laying aside hers. Knuckling the sleep from her eyes tiredly, she sat up carefully making sure not to wake Evan. An array of light broke the darkness produced by the outline of the door allowing vision against the blackness. Using the given light the small girl made her way to the door gripping the
handle. Twisting the knob the door clicked pushing outward with the force of her hand pressing forth.
The main hall was brightly lit flashing the ground colors of the room. Guards, citizens, and a few travelers filled seats that faced in one direction. Gazing onward reviled a speaking stand resting ontop of a stage. Chairs with what appeared to be important men lined the back of the stage in a semi-circle. Across the top of the stage hung a banner reading “All Adventures Welcome”. Thinking of an idea, Rora giggled running back into the room to
wake Evan.
In a kneel she shook Evan whispering to him, “Hey Dad, wake up.” Getting no response she shook harder. “Wake up!” raising her voice to a normal tone.
Stirring Evan mumbled, “I’m up.” Again he was shook by Rora. “Alright, I am getting up. Give me a second ... “ He sat up rubbing the drowsiness off his face. “What is it?”
“They are having some type of meeting outside. There is a lot of people in the next room with a stage. Also there is a banner on the stage that says we are welcome.” Rora pounced with excitement. “Come on, let’s go see what is going on!”
“They are doing what? A meeting? Hmm, sounds interesting. Well, lets go.”
Standing to his feet Evan traveled with Rora into the meeting hall. As they entered one man finished a speech while another took his place to persuade the war like crowd. At first glance the meeting was no concern to his interest however words were said that perked pointed ears. “ ... a murderer on the loose. This person has not been identified and has well hidden any tracks which might point to clues. Two days ago a team of repair men were sent
to work on a busted water pipe located in the basement. After hours of waiting the team never resurfaced. Soon afterwards a group of guards were sent in to find the missing crew. They too were not seen again. The men who man the door to the basement in return are reporting that strange noises are coming from the basement and that the candles are going out on full sticks. Boiling down to business we need to flood the basement and find this murderer.
Take his head and bring it back for a bounty of two-hundred thousand gold. The price is nothing compared to those people’s lives.”
Ending the speech the man stepped down taking his prior seat. Another gentleman stood approaching the stand. “Supplies will be given to each whom enters on their way. If you will please, follow the guards over here ...,” the guards waved towards the audience opening a pair of double doors. “ ... and descend the steps. Each will have a map so fear not in being lost. Good luck.”
The last of the meeting creased while the flocking of men and women began towards the appointed door. Species of all types, weapons and armour from around the lands, and the given supplies crammed in-between the doors and down the steps in a panic to kill the murderer. The scene in itself was enough place a fit of laughter in Evan. The course of action taking by these men was flawed from the start and he knew it. How were they going to find this
person when everyone is running lose down there mixing up who is who? This thought puzzled Evan urging a second thought if he should head down. The air down in the basement had to be filled with nonsense and a needless danger to his life. The wise move is to stay where he is and Evan did.
Rora on the other hand tugged at Evan’s pants trying to argue the point of the gold and adventure. “Come on, let’s go! 200,000 gold pieces is a lot! And and and it will be fun and we can most likely find the person first and we can help and ... “
“That is enough Rora. Everyone down there will soon go crazy trying to cut off anothers head for the money. We don’t need to risk out lives for something that is not worth it.” Evan sighed kneeling down to hug Rora. “Don’t worry, we will find something to get into. And if the past repeats itself, something will find me. Hopefully it is good though.” He gave a grin to his Daughter for hope.
“Now, I am going back to bed. You can explore this place but not the basement. And I will know if you even try to go down those stairs. You have coins for yourself so don’t be afraid to use them. I think this is going to be our final stop on this trip so make the most of what this place has to offer.” Evan returned to an upright position and veered for the door disappearing afterwards.
--------------
Rora found herself in a situation staring blindly at the many doors leading to different floors within the complex. Rooms filled with adventure noneless. But where was she to start? The shopping district or maybe getting to know some people would fancy her taste. Evan said the basement was off limits due to danger and she would respect his wishes for he must have said what he did due to a good cause. Shopping it was.
Traveling to the main hall doors, Rora approached a double wide door worn by constant use. The years of abuse and misuse sounded out as she pushed her way into the next room. Lit by candles, stairs elevated up in a spiral towards the sky traveling onwards until almost kissing the roof. Each floor had a separate entrance and exit made for a busy city.
Shaking her small head in confusion as to where to go, Rora decided that it was better she wait for Evan to awake than lose herself in the maze of rooms and corridors. Spinning about in place her heart froze as did her stance. Out of the corner of her eye shun an object mussing under the stairs within the darkness. The light did not offer a chance to identify the creature therefor altering the strategy for dealing with the problem at hand came to
mind.
Streaming her hands through the air, the dust of the Fairy’s fell towards the ground offering a source of light needed to see into the darkness under the stairs. Flecks of Blue and White glittered removing the cover of night off of the creature. What was uncovered gave a frightening chill to her spine. A human looking creature chewing on a limp from a dead dog under the monster filled her skin to a pale complexion. The sick noise of raw flesh
ripping gave her another reason to look ill.
“Unnnnnnnnnnnnnn”, the creature became aware of Rora’s presence by the smell of fresh blood. Rocking back from forth from where the creature laid ontop of the dog, the appearance of the thing caught Rora’s eye once more. Skin hanging from a body of decaying organs and yellow stained bones crawled in unison as the creature motioned it was stuck under the stairs for the time being.
Taking a deep breath Rora stopped casting her spell looking to the stairs wondering exactly what this object was. Since it was stuck, she had something to play with that Evan could not get mad about. Grinning with excitement and fear, her dagger was unsheathed. The small girl closed in and poked the living corpse with the tip of the blade. A chilled feeling slid down her spine. Backing herself to the door the monster freed itself rolling along with
the Dog from under the stairs leaving a trail of blood across the floor. Groaning, it rose to its feet slowly with a hint of a struggle to stand.
Blinking in horror, Rora pushed herself against the wooden door not believing the creature which now plagues her presence. A small fist tightened around the blade as the creature began a forward accent towards the girl. Slow but surely, one foot at a time, the zombie pressed ever closer to Rora until the mouth of the creature was producing a smothering aroma. Wrinkled hands reached for her body as the door opened from behind. Two hands grabbed two
different shoulders but only one jerked her though the door.
“Rora, are you alright?” Evan looked down at her in concern with a hand pressed against the door keeping the creature from entrance into the Main Hall. He continued, “And just what where you thinking? You know I was watching ye. Ugh, nevermind. It is time to go. This place has become dangerous.” Taking her small hand Evan and Rora made way for the gate carefully watching the doors for any sign of unwelcome entry.
Arriving at the massive gate, Evan looked up to see the Guard sitting on the floor window above him. “Hey, can you let us out?!?!”
“No. Outside is dangerous now and something is happening in the ... “ The man gasped when he felt crooked teeth sink into his shoulder removing a large section of skin. Shocked and in terror he fumbled for his sword but was too late when another bite paralyzed his lower body. Blood spilled from the wounds pudding on the thick glass. One creature laid helplessly while another fed.
“Zombies. Here?” Turning a disgusted look to the floor. “Come on, we can’t stay much longer.” Rora nodded sticking close to his leg.
The gate was a problem now. With the guard dead how was he to uplift the gate. The piece was huge and the operating chains are several feet thick. “I would hate to put a hole in this gate but they leave me no choice.” Pressing his foot down and the other against the gate’s frame Evan chanted focusing on his foot. Soon his booted foot started to glow creating a thick covering of blue acid. Touching the boot down to the gate the bars winced and
dodged the acid melting enough space for an escape route. Ceasing the spell Evan and Rora ran outside and onward ...
Date: 03 Sep 2000 20:57:39 EDT
Rora woke to a dark empty room with a body laying aside hers. Knuckling the sleep from her eyes tiredly, she sat up carefully making sure not to wake Evan. An array of light broke the darkness produced by the outline of the door allowing vision against the blackness. Using the given light the small girl made her way to the door gripping the
handle. Twisting the knob the door clicked pushing outward with the force of her hand pressing forth.
The main hall was brightly lit flashing the ground colors of the room. Guards, citizens, and a few travelers filled seats that faced in one direction. Gazing onward reviled a speaking stand resting ontop of a stage. Chairs with what appeared to be important men lined the back of the stage in a semi-circle. Across the top of the stage hung a banner reading “All Adventures Welcome”. Thinking of an idea, Rora giggled running back into the room to
wake Evan.
In a kneel she shook Evan whispering to him, “Hey Dad, wake up.” Getting no response she shook harder. “Wake up!” raising her voice to a normal tone.
Stirring Evan mumbled, “I’m up.” Again he was shook by Rora. “Alright, I am getting up. Give me a second ... “ He sat up rubbing the drowsiness off his face. “What is it?”
“They are having some type of meeting outside. There is a lot of people in the next room with a stage. Also there is a banner on the stage that says we are welcome.” Rora pounced with excitement. “Come on, let’s go see what is going on!”
“They are doing what? A meeting? Hmm, sounds interesting. Well, lets go.”
Standing to his feet Evan traveled with Rora into the meeting hall. As they entered one man finished a speech while another took his place to persuade the war like crowd. At first glance the meeting was no concern to his interest however words were said that perked pointed ears. “ ... a murderer on the loose. This person has not been identified and has well hidden any tracks which might point to clues. Two days ago a team of repair men were sent
to work on a busted water pipe located in the basement. After hours of waiting the team never resurfaced. Soon afterwards a group of guards were sent in to find the missing crew. They too were not seen again. The men who man the door to the basement in return are reporting that strange noises are coming from the basement and that the candles are going out on full sticks. Boiling down to business we need to flood the basement and find this murderer.
Take his head and bring it back for a bounty of two-hundred thousand gold. The price is nothing compared to those people’s lives.”
Ending the speech the man stepped down taking his prior seat. Another gentleman stood approaching the stand. “Supplies will be given to each whom enters on their way. If you will please, follow the guards over here ...,” the guards waved towards the audience opening a pair of double doors. “ ... and descend the steps. Each will have a map so fear not in being lost. Good luck.”
The last of the meeting creased while the flocking of men and women began towards the appointed door. Species of all types, weapons and armour from around the lands, and the given supplies crammed in-between the doors and down the steps in a panic to kill the murderer. The scene in itself was enough place a fit of laughter in Evan. The course of action taking by these men was flawed from the start and he knew it. How were they going to find this
person when everyone is running lose down there mixing up who is who? This thought puzzled Evan urging a second thought if he should head down. The air down in the basement had to be filled with nonsense and a needless danger to his life. The wise move is to stay where he is and Evan did.
Rora on the other hand tugged at Evan’s pants trying to argue the point of the gold and adventure. “Come on, let’s go! 200,000 gold pieces is a lot! And and and it will be fun and we can most likely find the person first and we can help and ... “
“That is enough Rora. Everyone down there will soon go crazy trying to cut off anothers head for the money. We don’t need to risk out lives for something that is not worth it.” Evan sighed kneeling down to hug Rora. “Don’t worry, we will find something to get into. And if the past repeats itself, something will find me. Hopefully it is good though.” He gave a grin to his Daughter for hope.
“Now, I am going back to bed. You can explore this place but not the basement. And I will know if you even try to go down those stairs. You have coins for yourself so don’t be afraid to use them. I think this is going to be our final stop on this trip so make the most of what this place has to offer.” Evan returned to an upright position and veered for the door disappearing afterwards.
--------------
Rora found herself in a situation staring blindly at the many doors leading to different floors within the complex. Rooms filled with adventure noneless. But where was she to start? The shopping district or maybe getting to know some people would fancy her taste. Evan said the basement was off limits due to danger and she would respect his wishes for he must have said what he did due to a good cause. Shopping it was.
Traveling to the main hall doors, Rora approached a double wide door worn by constant use. The years of abuse and misuse sounded out as she pushed her way into the next room. Lit by candles, stairs elevated up in a spiral towards the sky traveling onwards until almost kissing the roof. Each floor had a separate entrance and exit made for a busy city.
Shaking her small head in confusion as to where to go, Rora decided that it was better she wait for Evan to awake than lose herself in the maze of rooms and corridors. Spinning about in place her heart froze as did her stance. Out of the corner of her eye shun an object mussing under the stairs within the darkness. The light did not offer a chance to identify the creature therefor altering the strategy for dealing with the problem at hand came to
mind.
Streaming her hands through the air, the dust of the Fairy’s fell towards the ground offering a source of light needed to see into the darkness under the stairs. Flecks of Blue and White glittered removing the cover of night off of the creature. What was uncovered gave a frightening chill to her spine. A human looking creature chewing on a limp from a dead dog under the monster filled her skin to a pale complexion. The sick noise of raw flesh
ripping gave her another reason to look ill.
“Unnnnnnnnnnnnnn”, the creature became aware of Rora’s presence by the smell of fresh blood. Rocking back from forth from where the creature laid ontop of the dog, the appearance of the thing caught Rora’s eye once more. Skin hanging from a body of decaying organs and yellow stained bones crawled in unison as the creature motioned it was stuck under the stairs for the time being.
Taking a deep breath Rora stopped casting her spell looking to the stairs wondering exactly what this object was. Since it was stuck, she had something to play with that Evan could not get mad about. Grinning with excitement and fear, her dagger was unsheathed. The small girl closed in and poked the living corpse with the tip of the blade. A chilled feeling slid down her spine. Backing herself to the door the monster freed itself rolling along with
the Dog from under the stairs leaving a trail of blood across the floor. Groaning, it rose to its feet slowly with a hint of a struggle to stand.
Blinking in horror, Rora pushed herself against the wooden door not believing the creature which now plagues her presence. A small fist tightened around the blade as the creature began a forward accent towards the girl. Slow but surely, one foot at a time, the zombie pressed ever closer to Rora until the mouth of the creature was producing a smothering aroma. Wrinkled hands reached for her body as the door opened from behind. Two hands grabbed two
different shoulders but only one jerked her though the door.
“Rora, are you alright?” Evan looked down at her in concern with a hand pressed against the door keeping the creature from entrance into the Main Hall. He continued, “And just what where you thinking? You know I was watching ye. Ugh, nevermind. It is time to go. This place has become dangerous.” Taking her small hand Evan and Rora made way for the gate carefully watching the doors for any sign of unwelcome entry.
Arriving at the massive gate, Evan looked up to see the Guard sitting on the floor window above him. “Hey, can you let us out?!?!”
“No. Outside is dangerous now and something is happening in the ... “ The man gasped when he felt crooked teeth sink into his shoulder removing a large section of skin. Shocked and in terror he fumbled for his sword but was too late when another bite paralyzed his lower body. Blood spilled from the wounds pudding on the thick glass. One creature laid helplessly while another fed.
“Zombies. Here?” Turning a disgusted look to the floor. “Come on, we can’t stay much longer.” Rora nodded sticking close to his leg.
The gate was a problem now. With the guard dead how was he to uplift the gate. The piece was huge and the operating chains are several feet thick. “I would hate to put a hole in this gate but they leave me no choice.” Pressing his foot down and the other against the gate’s frame Evan chanted focusing on his foot. Soon his booted foot started to glow creating a thick covering of blue acid. Touching the boot down to the gate the bars winced and
dodged the acid melting enough space for an escape route. Ceasing the spell Evan and Rora ran outside and onward ...