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Quest Objectives

- Gather survivors

- Navigate your way through the Citadel

- Slay Colmar

***

Everything that came after was a blur to Grey Steel, his feet pounding across the surface of the stone, the candles that blew out as he flew past, and the cries of his companions as they called out to him from behind, all of it background noise to the beating of his own heart.

He could wait no more, his whole point of existence had been focused towards this point, focused towards facing Colmar, his anger like a burning spear that was carried forth by the breeze, and after all this time it seemed that fate had finally placed this monster right before him, along with the fate of Amaryllis.

He knew he should have felt fear or even a little trepidation at finally meeting the man that had doomed their village face to face, but that like all other things had become an afterthought to him, a blur of images with her face foremost in his mind as he passed through corridor after corridor, always moving north, his feet almost tripping on a stone, before he righted himself, and smashed headfirst into an ash spawn that had been bent over eating the flesh off a dead minotaur. It’s blood red jaws, half opened in surprise.

Reflexes honed to a fine edge, Grey barely even had to break his stride as he cleaved it’s skull apart, then raced past, the ground gradually rising up, and curving off to the right, making him wonder if he was nearing the end. The effort of running in armor with a greatsword strapped to his back, taking its own toll on Grey’s body, not to mention exacerbating his already throbbing wounds.

Still the thought of even slowing down for an instant, did not even occur to him. He needed to reach the temple, and he needed to do so now. The way the witch had spoken of it, made it seem like Colmar was about to begin some dark ritual that would forever harm the Honor Blades. And without the beacon of light, without the flame to signal its presence in the world, the Land of Dreams would fall into eternal darkness, a thought that had him sprinting even faster, until he could see light filtering out from a passageway ahead.

Sense prickling with dark premonition, he forced himself to slow down, when a doorway materialized ahead of him. The door itself, a handcrafted masterpiece that had been molded into the face of an aged minotaur with sapphire blue eyes, and a beard that hung low to the ground. Almost upon it, Grey felt the doorway speak to him, it’s wooden lips forming ancient words that were drilled into his mind, their meaning clear to him as water.

“I can sense your fire, child, but I cannot tell which way it burns. Tell me, why have you come before me?”

Caught in between shock and awe, Grey felt his breath catch in his throat as he tried to reply, “I seek to enter the Temple.”

Blue eyes brightening a little, the door stared at him for a moment, before it’s mouth curved into a smile. “It has been some time since anyone has sought entry from below. I am Ko’shon, and I shall allow you entry, if you but answer me this one question. Which path do you serve?”

(Click here to reply, “I serve the Light.”)

Spoiler: Spoiler

“I serve the Light.”

The voice rumbled back,“To serve the light is a heavy burden, one not easily shared, nor easily given. But then perhaps you will be the one to change it all. You may pass, servant of light.” (+ 50 Honor)

(Click here to reply, “I serve my own path.”)

Spoiler: Spoiler

“I serve my own path.”

The voice rumbled back, “To serve yourself means sacrificing all that is in your way, loneliness shall be your comfort, and death your release. You may pass, servant of shadow.” (You may choose to either gain 25 Honor or lose 25 Honor.)

(Click here to reply, “I serve nothing, but my own destiny.”)

Spoiler: Spoiler

“I serve nothing, but my own destiny.”

The voice rumbled back,“To serve the will of the gods is an even darker fate than most ever realise, but if this is the path you truly wish to follow. I will not stop you. You may pass, servant of fate.” (- 50 Honor.)

Split apart down the middle, the door cracked wide open, bathing Grey in a blinding white light, it’s warm embrace closing in all around him..

Barely able to see anything, he stepped inside cautiously, and felt the light immensely vanish away, and his sight return to him as he looked up into the grand halls of the Temple of Light.

Half dazed by its beauty, he stared up at the fluted white columns of marble that were shaped into dragon’s with their flames roaring up the sides, and wings spread outward as though to take flight. The mosaic that was painted on the dome above a wonder of light and magic that bubbled with sparks of energy that flowed along the seams of the Lightbearer to make him seem more alive. The armored warrior of light, depicted in all his glory, facing the shapeless hosts of darkness with nothing but his blade in hand which was wreathed in red hot flames. His flesh cloaked in a shimmering grey smoke that seemed to ooze from his body.

In many ways, the figure reminded Grey of his own father with that same ghostly smile that told Grey he was thinking about something hard.

Head turned as he took in the arched rooftop, he eventually had to force his gaze downward, and towards the round golden altar that sat elevated above the marble tiles. The shrine splattered in blood and humanoid remains that had been torn off the bodies of dead minotaurs that lay strewn at its feet. The group of prisoners that had been brought here, shackled, bound, and thrust off to the side, while Colmar stood there with his back turned towards the altar, holding a bloody sword in hand, staring up towards the ceiling. The warriors that guarded him, armored in silver plate like those of the Honor Blades, and standing to either side of the hall in silent ranks beside the stone statues of dragons and minotaurs.

Footsteps heavy as Grey crossed the marble floor towards him, Grey surprisingly felt no hate, nor anger towards this man. Looking at Colmar now, he seemed like a child lost in the wonder and beauty of this place. The horror Colmar had committed behind him, lost in the glory of this place as he stared upwards with an expression of wonder written upon his chiselled face.

Then all at once, he was looking down at Grey, his golden armor, stained wet with dried blood, and eyes full of unshed tears. “You must be a remarkable warrior to have made it this far, but it is too late for you, Honor Blade, a little more blood is all that I need, and this place will sink into the same darkness I have felt for age.”

Footsteps grown heavier still, Grey continued forward without pausing.

Colmar whose head almost swaying from side to side, let out a dry laugh at Grey’s continued approach, “You must know this could mean the end for you, but then you Honor Blades never did have much sense.

“It’s funny now, but I too almost swore myself to the service of the Lightbearer. I was to take the place of the Second Blade of Light, and guard these realms from the monsters that threatened our land. It was meant to be an honorary title, nothing more, and yet when I was younger, that was all I craved. A chance to prove my worth to the people. To lead them against the blasted trolls who would forever vex our borders, and put an end to the Ash Lands that have all but ruined our people,” he continued with a smile, his gaze drifting off into the distance as though catching hold of a memory.

“In many ways you remind me of me, young and naive about everything in the world. For my own part, it was too late for me to realise that the Honor Blades feared my ambitions. That the Council of Blades, feared me for my hunger to change the world, and decided to seek my demise at the hands of my own worst enemy,” he said with a snarl, his teeth gritted in anger at the memory, “Salwin, the pig headed fool would have destroyed our wealth, and buried it underground, tunnelling for treasures that would tear apart the land. The blind fool could not see the riches and wealth that could be made through its people. All he ever saw was the easy gold that could pour through his crooked fingers!”

Bloody blade lifted upwards, Colmar stared down at his sword. “They say that I turned from the light in vengeance, and perhaps that is true. But I warned the Honor Blades about Salwin and his tricks. Warned them that it was lies! But still they feared me more! Refused to answer my calls for Aid! They who were meant to defend the realm against darkness! Failed me! Failed my people! Failed in their duty to their precious light! They stood back while my villages were put to the sword! Did nothing when the trolls poured across my lands! Did nothing when my people cried out for mercy!” he growled, “All they did was wait and watch as my people suffered, bled, and died, taking all traces of light from those they promised to protect!” Shoulders sagging as he shouted out the last words, Colmar looked up at Grey.

“Looking at you, I see you understand the same burning rage that I too once felt. Nothing else, could drive such a man to come here alone, but perhaps fate has brought you for another reason, other than my death.”

Head crooked to the side, Colmar gestured at the prisoners that lined walls, staring at Grey with hope in their eyes, and huddled amongst them was Amaryllis. Her clothing ragged, torn, and dirty, but appearing as beautiful as the day he had first met. The young priestess, almost smiling at him sadly as unwilling tears spilled down her cheeks, while a bruised, battered Honor Blade sat beside her, one that Grey recognised.

Unwilling to think on what had happened to bring them here of all places, Grey simply continued forward, his eyes shifting back to Colmar, Tamrel sweeping off his back and roaring to life, when the aged minotaur lord, smiled. “You’ve seen the darkness in this world. Seen the damage they have caused. We can end this here now! Join me! And let us rebuild this world!”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Doors shaking from behind, Grey heard the fighting outside, before the temple’s heavy wooden doors cracked apart, and warriors armoured in silver plate spilled in through the shattered doorway, letting out a roar of exultation as they rushed forward to join battle with Colmar’s bodyguards. The force that had breached the Temple’s doorway, led by Falkneer, and a slim minotaur in flowing white robes that danced through his enemies, wielding two long curved swords, each of his movements elegant and fast.

Chest constricted at the sight of the old man, Grey noticed for the first time that Colmar had yet to move or defend himself, despite the knowledge the lordling was all alone now with only Grey to stop him from continuing his slaughter of innocent lives.

(Click here if decide to join with Lord Colmar. Required Dishonor 200.)

Spoiler: Spoiler

But for the first time, Grey hesitated, and couldn't help but wonder at the truth of Colmar’s words. The world had indeed fallen into shadow, but that had begun long ago before Grey and Colmar’s time, and it seemed that even after all the battles that had been fought here, the darkness continued to reign supreme.

The Honor Blades for all their might, squabbled like children too interested in their own feuds to see the destruction left behind in their wake. Cursed to always bring calamity and death upon their own people.

His own father and mother had died protecting a village and a code that would never allow him to leave nor bend.

Perhaps it was time for something to change.

Eyes hardened into cold burning lumps of coal, he shoved his emotions down, and brought his greatsword down to bear upon those chained to the walls. His blade easily cleaving through muscle and bone, their wails and screams for mercy falling upon death ears as he tore through them like a rabid wolf. Amaryllis staring up at him in shock with tears in her eyes as the last thing she saw was Grey drenched in blood, the Honor Blade throwing himself forward, trying to protect her.

When it was all done, Grey felt a great burden lift up from his shoulders and as he dragged their lifeless bodies towards the altar, and couldn’t help but smile wolfishly as he was reborn again. Through blood and fire, he was Grey Steel no more! ( - 500 Honor.)

(You’ve gained the title of Dark Steel.)

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Quest Complete

(Click here to slay Lord Colmar.)

Spoiler: Spoiler

Footsteps unfaltered, Grey did not hesitate for even a second, and swept forward in a blistering charge to drive his steel blade through Colmar’s chest, and puncture his golden armor. The Lord of Summer, half smiling as he fell into Grey’s arms, and whispered, “Thank you, for doing what I could not.” (+ 500 Honor.)

(You’ve gained the title of Light Steel.)

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Quest Complete