by Wolfe Locke
The radiant voice, then? What is it? These three tell me that was Aeon, and they dare to call Aeon mad?
John felt furious. He got up off the ground and grabbed a hold of the iron knocker and tried to pull the door open, but it wouldn’t budge. The knocker itself was hot to the touch, as if a great fire had burned inside.
He doubled and tripled his efforts without exerting himself. Then and only then did John realize he no longer felt the lingering pain of his injuries from his time within the dungeon. A drop hit the ground and John saw it hit the stone and splatter in a dark black circle. It happened twice more. That’s me. He raised a hand and found only a thin crust of drying blood under his nose.
John remembered the actual form of the monsters that had made up the pantheon. Did they drop me off here? Or did Mieruel move me? Mieruel… the name lodged free of another memory. Lumiere
Lachesis – It was Nemesis who saved you from what was coming. Though that foul monster had his own reasons for doing so.
Nemesis – Survival is as good a reason as any other. There will always be another time to feed so long as I can live.
Seonna – They are all gone, aren’t they? Mieruel must be pleased he can return to his master.
So what now? John asked as he leaned against the door and looked out on the city of Macabre.
Nemesis – You have the blessings of three gods, and my No Men will no longer attack you.
It seemed strange; he had barely seen any of it on his frantic run to the church, but now at least the No Men weren’t attacking him. John had time to look at the dark city.
The city itself was a ruin of black and grey stone buildings. Every single one was at least partially collapsed in on themselves. Green and dark slime pooled in stagnant waters that ran on the shattered walkways that doubled as roads. Above head, stalactites dripped water.
John saw the No Men had retreated into their corners and darkened alleyways to watch and wait for the next person. The next exhausted and injured adventurer. Briefly, he felt a moment of tension until one of the No Man caught him looking and gave him a wide, broken, and rotted smile and nodded his head before turning back to his post. Well. at least they aren’t attacking me anymore.
He flexed, fleeing the new strength that moved through his body, tempering his muscles. He wasn’t sure just how much stronger he had become, but he felt at least 2 to 3 times stronger than he had before. He felt powerful. Though how much more power he truly had was unknown, all that he knew was that a compulsion seemed to drive him downward in a way that the voices had before.
Nemesis – You are called, just as we are called. The only way out is through the true master of this dungeon.
Seonna – Your body has been healed by my essence and further strengthened by the essence of Nemesis within you.
Lachesis – My power was exhausted. I had nothing further I could give you.
“Why me?” John asked, seeking answers. “Why is any of this happening? Why was I taken here?”
Nemesis – *Cruel Laughter* Ah. They haven’t told you yet. I did not chose you, though I would have chosen anymore. You’re dead John.
Seonna – It’s more complicated than that.
Nemesis – No, John. It’s not. These two were on the brink of death, and death for immortals does not come quickly or easily. They sent out pleas to their followers for sacrifices, for warriors and adventurers to brave the dungeon. And here you are.
John didn’t want to ask anymore more questions, and the voices offered no more answers. I’ll need to find out more myself.. He walked away, and as he did, the No Men nodded at him as he walked by, treating him as if he was one of them.
A brief howl of terror went out, louder than any John had heard before, followed by screaming as if somebody was in danger. I need to help them. John started running and realized the yelling was coming from the stairway that led from the floor above. With the changes in his body, he could effortlessly sprint the total distance without even getting winded.
At the bottom of the stairs, he saw a battle mage, the sigil of his class emblazoned upon his grey armor, attended by a damaged healer whose robes were marked with blood and an elven rogue with an arm dangling uselessly at his side while he held a sword in the other. A No Man lay dead at their feet, and a group of No Men had circled around them, getting ready to attack.
John did what he could. “Help’s coming! I’m with the Guild. John Younger. I’m here on the Regent’s quest.” He yelled as he battered through the No Men, hoping none of them turned hostile as he barreled through them.
The trio seemed relieved that John had identified himself and was coming to their aid. “Oh, thank gods it’s you, John. It’s been one hellish challenge after another.” The battle mage aimed his spells at the No Men, allowing John to get through. The relief quickly turned to horror as John’s body began to change as soon as he got closer. Changing against his will.
His mouth elongated into a hideous maw that salivated and impulsively tried to bite out at the trio. His arms grew long, talon like daggers extending out of his hands. John struggled to move his hands, but it was useless. As if in defiance of him, his arm split open down the middle, revealing a set of teeth sharper then razors, teeth that were meant to bite, sever, and kill.
His eyes grew white and milky as his vision shifted to see the humans differently. Run. he tried to mumble, but all that came out were growls.
Nemesis – Just give in John. These humans are prey. Not one of them is god blessed.
Seonna – Fight the instinct, John. You are better than this.
Lachesis –If you do this you cannot come back from it John. Fight.
I can't. It's too much. The battle mage attacked first. With a yell of "Monster," he attacked John with a swing of his enchanted sword. The battle mage died first, and John did what he could to make the part of him that was still human small enough to not have to watch as his body rampaged against his will.
Sometime later, John came back to his senses. His body having returned to a more human form. He felt sick and ashamed, but more than that he felt… satisfied, and that further fueled his shame. I killed them, didn't I?
He walked, and eventually he came across an open door to a building well-lit with Eldritch torches.
"You're one of us now, boy." Shouted a voice from behind the counter. "You may as well come in and trade, get warmed up, and drink something to get rid of the taste in your mouth.”
John stepped inside, and saw it appeared to be a tavern of sorts, very similar to that of the Bloodied Hog. "What is this place? I'm trying to find a way further down, but I seem to have lost my way.”
The figure behind the counter came into the light, revealing itself as a rotted corpse in the shredded uniform of a soldier from some ancient kingdom. The monster laughed. "You lost your way? Ha. We all lost our way. All the roads lead to hell of some sort or another. There's no up or down here. There's only sideways. They call me Grimes. I belong to my lady of death, and this establishment belongs to me. Now tell me, how badly do you want to go down? And are you sure you really want to?”
Chapter 25: The Heart
* * *
Nemesis - Yes, John. How far are you willing to go? Do you know even know what you’ll find below?
Did you even hear them screaming?
Don’t you want to escape this place?
Lachesis – Careful. He’s a Grave Titan. He does not yet know his goddess has met a cruel fate.
Seonna – He’s called Grimes now? He was a Knight when he first drank at my fountains.
I’ve my limits. I won’t willing be a monster. I will be rid of you. John vowed. I learned my lesson with the No Man when I entered Macabre.
“Aye. I know that look. You’ve g
ot the dazed expression of somebody whose god is communicating with them right now.” Grimes said with a chuckle. “So, I’ll repeat myself, how badly do you really want to go below?
The question lingered in the air between them. I don’t have a choice. I need to keep going, it’s my only way out of here. I need answers, and I need my freedom.
“It’s not an actual choice, is it Grimes? Keep going or stay here as a monster. Nemesis has me. I can’t ever go home like this,” John responded as the undead man leaned over the counter, a hideous grin spreading across its face.
“Aye. I understand. Been there myself. I thought you might say something like that.” Grimes responded. “And you have something that I want. Essences.”
The essence of the Gluttonous King? Or the minotaurs? Something told John to hang on to the former.
“Monster essences. Any that you have. All of what you have. You’re desperate to go below. I’ll help you, but it’ll cost you everything.” Grimes responded.
John hoped one of the three would offer him some advice, but nothing followed. I don’t have a lot of choice though, do I? “I accept your terms. You can have all my minotaur essences.” Technically, the Gluttonous King was something else altogether.
In response, the three minotaur essences appeared in the palm of John’s hand and flew immediately towards the undead shopkeeper and were absorbed. The effect was immediate. Muscles surged beneath the skin as it grew in size, stature and apparent power. Most notably were the black horns that erupted from the center of Grimes’ head, much like the minotaurs. “Ah, much better.” Grimes said. “I’ll be able to hunt the No Men now and get stronger.”
Did I make a mistake? John asked himself as he looked at the powered-up monster. The deaths of the adventuring party flashed in his mind. Who else have I doomed? He’s a monster few could handle.
“I need to find a way to the next floor.” John responded, suddenly feeling wary as the Grave Titan seemed to have taken on a more predatory posture. I’m not safe here anymore.
Nemesis - *Mocking Laughter* You were never safe here. The other pawns run amok, but in Grimes you’ve found a pawn who dreams of being king. Use the essence of the Gluttonous King. Become stronger than he is, seize his power for your own.
Lachesis – He is powerful. But the man he was had honor. I believe he has honor still. He will not attack you immediately.
“Ah, this power is delightful. But yes, I see that concern on your face. It’s so easy to read. When we part ways here, it will be as enemies if we should meet again, but for now. I respect the terms of our deal." The powerful undead held out his hand. A key appeared within it. Grimes slides the key across the counter towards John. "I'm going to go prepare for my hunt. Make sure you’re gone when I come back. You'll find the gate, back inside the Church of the Twelve."
Yeah, wasn’t planning on staying around. John thought as his hands gripped the key and he left the building, heading straight towards the church. Each of the No Men he passed on the street nodded at him as he passed, and more than once, John thought he recognized more familiar faces from his time adventuring. How many have fallen in the floors above and how many have fallen in the floors below?
Soon the door to the Church loomed in front of him, the great sealed doors that had shut him out before. He didn't even need to put the key into the door, all he had to do was pull it out, and the key disappeared in a flash, forcing the door open.
The entire place was not how he had last seen it. The church's interior was full of ash and had been heavily burned. Where the monsters masquerading as gods had been before was instead a great scar in the ground, as if a massive hand had reached out from the underworld and took them away. A heavy aura of sorrow had descended on the place. An aura of regret.
"I see you who have chosen poorly have returned. Was it not enough for you to break the seal of the twelve? Was it not enough that you upset the balance I have worked so hard to maintain?" Mieruel said, each world heavy with accusation.
"I need to keep going, Mieruel. Where are the stairs? I need to go down. It's the only way to leave this place." John responded, hoping the ragged man would listen to him.
"There is nothing for you to find down there. Nor can one such as you leave. Not when you've succumbed to the dark. Even now I can sense the corruption in you." Mieruel commented as he stood up and turned to look straight at John. "Fear not. Your time ends."
John watched as Mieruel reached and grabbed at his leg and pulled. A long silver blade emerged, gleaming with a sheen of blue and red enchantments. Power radiated off of the man like John had never felt before. He's stronger than I am.
He's going to attack me. He's confident too. John felt a moment of unease as the door of the church closed behind him and Mieruel tensed up like he was going to attack.
Seonna – Mieruel is an entity beyond you. Beneath those rags is not a man, but a vessel. He forfeit his humanity to the one below.
Lachesis – Aeon is his master. You cannot win this on our borrowed power alone. You will die here otherwise.
Nemesis – Use what you have. The Gluttonous Essence contains a seed of the god who created him.
That powerful? Even with the power I gained from Nemesis. It's still not enough?.
"Gluttonous Essence," John called out and a black sphere appeared in his hand, and John immediately absorbed it. A terrible hunger grew within him, but so did the size of his body, and his strength.
Mieruel moved forward, the blade in the man's hand shone with killing intent and John knew the man meant to end him. So be it. John pulled out his thrice blessed axes and met the man halfway with a cry of rage of his own. I tried. I'll embrace the monster and be done with it.
***************************
The stench of blood was all around John. His blood. It dripped in a pool that spread out from the empty rags at his feet. They were right. Mieruel wasn't a man at all. It's not like I had much choice. Pus dripped from John's wounds where Mieruel's blade had cut into him. As for Mieruel himself, nothing remained of the man for him to see. Only the empty rags the man had worn. When John's thrice blessed axes had struck him, the man simply disappeared into a heap. If he'd ever really been there at all. It was like he was a golem or a ghost.
The statues seemed to strain and moved. Time to leave this place behind. Maybe I should just stop, turn around, and refuse to go further down.
You cannot. The choices you have made taint your hands, and taint those around you. You have chosen the side of the condemned and attacked my servant who pledged himself to me below. I had high hopes for you John Younger in the Crusade to come.
I guess it can't be helped then. The radiant presence had been a constant source of calm for him. And now I've lost it. With nothing further to do, John approached the door in the hallway and opened it, revealing an alter and stairway leading down. And so I go once more into the breech.
You're better off. Trust me on that. Even a monster like me can recognize that. With mine and Seonna's power, we have restored much of your body. Within you a seed of my power lives, as does a portion of the God of the Craven, Percival, the one you knew as the Gluttonous King. You did well to kill him.
STR = 9 - > 15
WIT = 3 > 6
END = 11 >19
AGI = 7 > 10
Abilities
*Smite - Upon killing an unclean one, the spirit of what is sacred will be stored within your body. Use this power to amplify the holy effect of any attack you should unleash on the unclean.
Ailments
*Bloodied & Bruised
Passives
*
Body of the Depths
Uncanny Valley Transformation
Spark of the Everburning
Bonded – Lachesis
Bonded – Seonna
&nbs
p; Partial Bond – Nemesis
Absorbed Power – God of the Hearth
Equipment
*Thrice Blessed Axes, Sovereign Medallion *
Items
Book: The Book of Keys
Torn Page
Chapter 26: The Prisoner
* * *
With Macabre behind him, John once again descended further into the depths of the dungeon. The hope that he would ever see the open sky again had dwindled down to the faintest ember burning inside of him. A true god has abandoned me.
All that he had been through up until this point had left John jaded about his chances of surviving to see the outside of this nightmarish place. With the power he had bonded to himself, John's wounds had mostly healed. But at what cost? Lachesis, Seonna, Nemesis. They all are using me.