https://www.deviantart.com/mariana-vieira/art/Minotaur-Mariana-Vieira-722-333010953

Quest Objectives

- Gather survivors

- Navigate your way through the Citadel

- Slay Colmar

***

Note to Readers: Great news people! The App Version of Survive on Coroleya is finally up (called Legends & Heroes), and is now available to be downloaded. Please show your support and download a copy, test it out, and hopefully leave some feedback. Best of luck and may the suns shine down upon you! https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.delightgames.legends

Passing through candle lit corridors, Falkneer unhooked a lantern from the wall, his huge shadow thrust against the granite stone, and turned back to look at them with a grim smile. “You missed a helluva lot, boy, but perhaps that was for the best,” he said as he gestured for them to stay close to him. The burly grey furred warrior, lumbering down one of the many tunnels that split off from the main chamber with his greatsword strapped to his back, nodding his head to those who passed him by in the hallway. The rooms Grey saw to either side of him, filled to the brim with shattered families that had been through hell and back, their clothing torn and shredded to pieces as they clutched each other, and stared up at the ceiling. The distant sounds of battle they heard above ground, causing more than a few of them to begin crying as they pulled each other closer. Most of the males, he noticed were gone, and all that were left were the little ones, and females huddled together.

When Falkneer started to speak again, his voice was broken, and raw, as though each word were too painful to speak. “I know there is much that you wish to learn, lad, but it’s better if we do not speak of it now. Too many lives have been lost, and we must use this time to remember them.”

Feet faltering a little, the old stern warrior who had always seemed so intimidating, slowed down, and turned to look at the rooms full of wounded warriors, his somber eyes glistening wetly with unshed tears. The moment of joy, Grey had felt only moments ago, erased by the dozens if not hundreds of bodies that lay moaning on the bloodsoaked sheets, while novices in bloodstained robes tended to their injuries. The corpses of those that no longer moved, wrapped up in white blankets, and taken into the chamber ahead of them.

Head bowed low at the cost of serving the light, Grey wished again that he had been there with them. Not because he thought he would have made a difference, but so their memories could be properly honored, and he could bear witness to their sacrifice.

Nearing the end of the corridor, Falkneer opened up the door for them, and nodded his head for the pair of them to go inside.

Stepping inside the huge circular chamber, Grey found himself surrounded by a room covered in bodies. All of them neatly sorted into rows and columns around a single stone statue in the middle chamber, that knelt down to pray for them. The colossal warrior, almost touching the ceiling, and wearing a simple tunic, while holding a greatsword cradled in his palms like an offering to those that lay before him.

Not really sure what to say or do, he wove his way in between the rows of bodies, and saw that the sheets had pulled back to show the many faces of the fallen, Grey forcing himself to look at each one of them, before stopping in front of the stone statute and kneeling down. His head lifted upward to meet the somber eyes of the stone warrior that looked down at him with a sort of gentle sorrow.

Falkneer’s voice coming to him as the distant roar of the ocean. “The Lightbearer calls upon all those who serve the light, to devote their entire being to the light. By coming here, and completing the Test of Rebirth, you have proven yourself worthy of joining our number. But now, you must speak the words, Grey, and be witnessed by the dead who shall be your guardians for all eternity. And forever be your brother and sister in arms. Do you still desire to be an Honor Blade?”

Heart thudding loudly in his chest, Grey mutely nodded his head, and felt a wave of energy sweep over him, flowing through his veins, connecting him to the very fabric of the world, making him truly aware that he was not alone. The spirits of those that had resided in to the Hall of Heroes, floated up from their fleshy husks and surrounded him. Their eyes watching, and waiting for him.

“Repeat these words. Swear by the Light to always serve with courage.”

I swear by the Light to always serve with courage.

“Swear to seek justice for those that cannot find it.”

I swear to seek justice for those that cannot find it.

“Swear to show mercy, even against your foulest enemies.”

I swear to show mercy, even against my foulest enemies.

“Swear to be generous of heart and soul.”

I swear to be generous of heart and soul.

“Swear to hold faith no matter the cost in blood.”

I swear to hold faith no matter the cost in blood.

“Swear to act with Honor, forever and always.”

I swear to act with Honor, forever and always.

“And swear to forever be a beacon of hope.”

I swear to forever be a beacon of hope.

“Swear this, and rise my boy, as an Honor Blade, and a warrior of light.”

Breathing catching in his throat as he neared the end, he turned back to look over his shoulder, and saw Falkneer standing there with a beaming smile. Lorna with tears of joy in her eyes being comforted by an equally distraught Glydel who held each other. Calain’s pale complexion alight with a touch of admiration and respect, and Sky, Sky as ever grinning at him with that same easygoing smile of his.

Alight with the flame that burned inside of him, he finished with a smile of his own, “I swear this by the Light.”

Warmed by the fire, he tried to stand up, when he saw the faces of his parents, watching him with pride in their eyes. His father, tall, strong, and proud, the way he had used to be, while his mother gazed at him with such adoration in her eyes that it caused him to ache at the memory of her death.

Then in an instant, as it was so many times before, it was all taken away from him, the ceiling crashing down upon them in a thunderous wave of noise, throwing Grey through the air to crack his skull against the wall. Warriors armored in black steel plate, dropping through a gaping hole in the ceiling above him. Their armor clad feet thudding into the ground as they drew their midnight greatswords, and let loose a barrage of black flames that scorched the air, forcing Grey to throw himself aside. His head still ringing from the concussive blast, and blood streaming down his cheeks. (- 50 Health Points. Magical Damage.)

Mind awhirl storm of pain, he saw the Honor Blades charge into the room, their gleaming silver plate clashing with the black armored figures, whose numbers had grown considerably in size. Their bodies surrounded by strange dark auras that oozed like smoke from their armor as their midnight black blades came alive with jet flames. The air crackling with magical energy as Honor Blades threw up shields to protect themselves from the blasts of fire, before retaliating with fireballs that exploded in waves of sound. The deadly exchange of magic, barely drowning out the screams and shouts of agony as minotaurs were burnt alive, and left smoking upon the ground.

Groping the wall to get back up to his feet, Grey stumbled his way through the bodies and rocks strewn across the surface. The air thick with dust and smoke that got into his mouth, causing him to cough as he tried to reach Lorel and Glydel, the young girl splayed out on the floor with a wicked head wound that had blood pouring from the side of her forehead.

Heart leaping into his throat at the thought she was dead, Grey raced towards her, checking her pulse, before turning to glare angrily at the sight of Glydel huddled up into a ball.

Grabbing him roughly by the shoulders, Grey shouted, “Enough of that! You need to help her! And get her out of here!”

Red eyes stained wet with tears, Glydel stared up at him, his body shaking uncontrollably, before he was able to regain control of himself, and shake himself out of his stupor. The albino minotaur, gently scooping up Lorel in his arms, who let out a groan at his touch, and hurried away. When Calain’s voice called out to him from behind, “I could use your help, Grey!” The vampiric prince, pinned down by three dark armor clad warriors that used both flame and steel to drive the slim vampire back.

x 1

Legs spinning, Grey was up in and instant and barrelling forward to knock the nearest warrior clean off its feet, the pair of them bouncing across rubble strewn chamber, before Grey hammered his huge fist repeatedly into the helmeted warrior’s skull, knocking him senseless.

Rearing up, he then stomped down hard to finish the warrior off, then turned back as fire burned through his veins to see Falkneer, Sky, and Calain, along with a handful of Honor Blades, fighting back to back against dozens of the enemy that continued to jump down and join the fight.

With no time to lose, Grey charged in once again, attracting the attention of five of the black armoured devils, who quickly swung around, and sent jets of black fire to batter him backwards. Grey able to deflect most of the flames with Tamrel who absorbed much of the heat. The greatsword’s inner light glowing even hotter as he clobbered aside one of them, and began his counter assault. (Roll 8 dice once to see how much fire damage was received.)

x 5

Graceful as a he dancer, he moved through each of the form as though he were walking on water, and hacked them apart, one by one, the damned fools too blinded by their own rage to see they were no match for him.

x 2

Heart pounding loudly in his chest, he kept advancing forward, taking them down from behind, while fresh reinforcements poured in from in front to help bolster the Honor Blades. The swing of battle, swirling, and gradually turning in their favor, when again the ground shook, and another hole was blasted in the nearby wall, taking with it several Honor Blades, who had moments to scream out their lungs, before their bodies shredded apart. Streams of dark armoured quickly pouring through the hole.

Dazed by the blast, and unable to hear a thing, Grey tried to make his way towards the new breach, when rough fingers pulled him backwards, Grey turning with a snarl to see Falkneer coated in a thick layer of dust. “Come one, lad! It’s time to fall back!”

Head shaking from side to side, he tried to pull away from the minotaur’s grasp, but Falkneer simply tightened his grip, and hauled him back as though he were a mere child in his grasp. Grey who was far too weak and dazed, could barely put up much of a fight as he was bodily dragged away back into the passage, while Honor Blades covered their retreat. The blasts of magic that brought the chamber and tunnel down behind them, blocking the path forward for the enemy.

Safe for the moment, Grey fumbled his way free of Falkneer’s grasp, and with a nod of his head, he followed the group of silver armored warriors back through the corridor, hearing the thunder of more explosions. The Honor Blades in the tunnels, quickly evacuating everyone from the rooms, and sending them on ahead of them, while Grey slowed down with Falkneer to take up watch on their rear. The echoes and screams of battle, growing louder, and louder, when all of a sudden it all went quiet again.

Eyebrow lifted up in confusion, Grey began to wonder what had happened, when the candles on the walls began to flicker and go out, followed by a chill breeze that came from nowhere.

Heart clenched tight inside of his chest, he again remembered the attack on his home, remembered the overwhelming silence, remembered the flames that died away. The cold that had spread through his bones, and as he felt the chill sweep through the air. Grey knew what was coming.

Darkness and death.

To be Continued...