Den of Evil

The night was cold and dark as the moon hid itself from behind the clouds. A stark chill ran down Tyrions spine as he walked into the town he heard the rumors about. The people here were in fear of a problem in a nearby cave. Tyrion couldn't sit by while these people feared for their lives so he quickly traveled here to try and alleviate the problem. as he walked toward the nearby tavern for directions toward the cave he heard of and hopefully a few more details he looks around and saw people peeking out through their windows in fear.

He entered the inn and took a deep breath, someone was cooking something absolutely divine in here. He took a good look around and saw the patrons all staring at him strangely, he shrugged it off. After all if a tall man in big shiny armor with a sword as tall as he is walked in, wouldn't you stare? He took in the small details of the place, the fire going in the corner and the game of dice the men were playing for fun. A bartender was cleaning a mug behind a corner and Tyrion decided to start with him.

He walked up to the man and took a deep breath "An order of whatever smells so good my friend, and please, some details about this cave I've been hearing about as well." Tyrion said as the man simply sighed and nodded as he went back to the kitchen. He came out a minute later with a steaming bowl of stew and set it in front of him. "The cave is about a mile north of town, there are terrible sounds coming from it and most travelers end up dead if they go out at night. A few of our towns man went to try and solve the problem but only one made it back. He was covered is horrendous wounds, some of them looking like they were bitten in. He told of undead creatures stalking the caves and a mad cackling toward the back of the cave. Someone is in their and everyone thinks they'll soon attack the town if they're not stopped soon." He said Tyrion ate his stew.

Tyrion nodded his head at the information and knew he should end this problem tonight. -I should quell this problem tonight so that these people can breathe easier. I hope I'm enough for it though.- He thought a he finished the stew and stood. "I'll go there tonight, I'll hopefully be back by morning, if I'm not you people may want to pack up and leave before tomorrow night." He said as he laid his money on the counter and walked out to the small square in the tiny town. He began a few basic stretches to make sure he was ready for the fight ahead. He wouldn't do to die to carelessness.

The ashen barrens were a place of grim reminder of an ancient and terrible war...for the small towns that surrounded Valmar.... they were a nightmarish source of folktales and horror stories... nothing tends to be as disheartening as when those tales meant to frighten children ..are true.

Villages have enforced curfews on their residents and only travelers were permitted passage during the night hours. Increased Draxian patrols offered little protection against the vile scourge.  These types of monster infestations seldom stopped the horrendous dealings of The Galvesar family.. Zeriach had sent his youngest Son Joshua...on a bit of a "collection" errand... he had body guards of course...it was simply....a friendly visit. Owed money was something Zeriach did not take kindly to.... The job was basic.. meet the client...and if they didnt pay up..... make em...or end the business relationship if necessary. Thankfully for the young noble it never went that far. They were on route in a carriage The hours growing late...  The pale noble was had a entourage of three armed soldiers and a driver... he was merely the message bearer... He hated this responsibility ...but Zeriach wouldnt hear of it.... So despite his protest he was travelling to threaten some poor unfortunates out of their money

The young Galvesar was
Staring out into the black ashen fields with a look of extreme displeasure his head bobbing in boredom...slowly slipping in and out of consciousness. He had his chin loosely balanced on the palm of his hand...  his own weight becoming taxing to his fatigue..  finally he fell asleep.. in his slumber he had a terrible dream...visions of screaming members of his family..and warp images of people he hated from the draxian high courts... When he awoke...his head throbbed..and to his dismay..the carriage was turned over.. the scent of smoke filled his lungs. coughing uncontrollably Joshua crawled to safety out onto the dirt road.... His convoy...was dead.... their belongings scattered among the ground.

"dear.. ROR~! ....what has happened here?..... "
 His emerald snake like eyes examined the flaming wreckage of his carriage and the bloody stains on the ground.... the bodies ripped with claw marks...  he struggled to breathe for a moment wrestling to control his instincts...all of which wanted him to run..... He started to check his surroundings body pumping full of adrenaline and fear....  numerous tracks sauntered off the main road into the ashen battlefield..and the darkness.  The young Galvesar was small of frame... pale.

He would need a weapon.....
picking up one of the dead guards  long swords...he examined the blade....old....cracked..and worn.....it would have to do....it was all he had. ... the road was empty..and the night seem to shroud around him.... far off into the distance.. he could hear loud cackles of inhuman rage...  he needed to make it to safety....a town.....or village....civilization of any kind.... His back was illuminated in the flames of his carriage..Joshua's long silver hair blew in the gentle night breeze as he scanned the path desperately looking for a sign of where to go.... 

Not only did he lose his transportation....but his bearings as well.....he was lost.

"This...is my luck"

Tyrion was practicing a few moves with Hyperion to make sure he was ready to move quickly if need be. A light breeze blew through the town and Tyrion inhaled deep in the wind. For some reason for a land with such a terrible history the air smelled somewhat sweet. "An illusion for this living in the nightmare I suppose." He mused aloud as he hefted his sword one last time before putting it back onto his back. He began to move north through the night, taking note of strange looking trees and such on the way in case he became lost. He continued northward for about five minutes when suddenly a shift in the wind caused the scent of smoke and fire to fill his nostrils. He turned quickly town what seemed like a small light in the distance. He suddenly began to run toward the scene, moving rather slow in his armor and with Hyperion on his back.

Soon he came to a rather grisly scene, four dead bodies lying everywhere. Three seemed to be armed guards and the fourth a driver for a now turned over burning carriage. Large claw marks seemed to cover their bodies, they all looked to have died slowly by bleeding out. He felt sorry for them and was about to begin burying them when suddenly he heard something. He looked up from the corpses to see a frail, pale, nobleman pick up a rather worn long sword and looking around with a crazy look in his emerald eyes. Tyrion decided he needed his help so he held his hands up to prove himself as no threat and called out "Hello there, I am Tyrion, I was journeying north to a cave where the monsters that did this reside to clear them out when I saw your...situation, do you need any assistance?" He asked as he stood perfectly still.

He wish he could have said more about himself in this situation to further proof that he meant no harm but sadly due to his lack of memory he had no clue what to say. It's at times like these he hated having amnesia. He hoped this man ended up as an ally, he didn't want to have to harm him if he decided to attack. "If you want you can stay with me, you don't look very combat ready, so I could protect you. However you would have to follow me into the cave to clear this mess up permanently." He reasoned, this way he could keep the young nobleman safe and complete his mission, and maybe get a little help and learn more about the man in the process. He noticed the night was getting later, he'd have to resolve this soon and get to the cave if he were to finish this fast enough.

"Hello there, I am Tyrion, I was journeying north to a cave where the monsters that did this reside to clear them out when I saw your...situation, do you need any assistance?

 Galvesar turned abruptly His ghostly green eyes wide when he heard a mans voice with the alarm of a wild animal....he was still shaky...and lucky to have awakened. and not be a crispy addition to the fuming wreckage behind him. It took him a few seconds of reminding himself that the wounds on his fathers body guards..were not human.  The man before him was an ally. Strange in appearance... tall somewhat dashing and in glowing armor...he looked like a hero who had stepped out of a myth arriving in a story when things were the most dire. In comparison.. The pale noble was shadow of a man.. paper like white skin...sickly looking demeanor....and serious. piercing reptilian esq eyes.  

The man who had identified himself as Tyrion had both hands up as a show of respect....to ease his alarm Joshua took a few deep breaths to relax his blood flow...and lowered his sword to the ground. The sharp cackle of the flame snapped behind him as the man carried on explaining his presence.

"If you want you can stay with me, you don't look very combat ready, so I could protect you. However you would have to follow me into the cave to clear this mess up permanently."


Galvesar was looking at the slain face of the driver of the carriage as he spoke..his facial expression frozen in a grotesque mask of agony at the moment of his untimely demise. As Joshua gazed down upon the deceased mans look of pain.....He thought about his situation. Tyrion was right... Joshua had no training of battle...he could barely handle a blade properly let alone kill with it.
Any sword fighting skill he had at all..was either taught to him by Zeriach..or Maylia..... what would his brother say if he could see him now ... The pale noble did not want to think another moment about  "that man" .  He looked back up at the heroic figure with a rather stern look of determination himself.


"Soooooo " His voice was soft...but had a hint of hatred behind it ...hatred for the humiliation he had endured..also fear...for his own life" You know where the beasts that did this can be found.....I don't know if i can be of assistance " He stepped towards the knight almost to reaffirm his dedication to the cause"...but i would like to help you Tyrion.... if we don't stop this now....how many more will suffer.........." He paused for a moment....his face blank..before he jolted in response...remembering he hadn't even introduced himself yet " 


"My name....is Galvesar..... Joshua Galvesar "


 The pale noble smiled with a strange grin. The Galvesar's were known nobles in Draxia...feared for their power and cruelty... enslaving and trading elves for profit.  He bowed in respect.. placing one hand on his chest.  


"Please... lead on.....if justice is to be done....let be by our hands...tonight before any more precious life is lost"


The young noble pointed the worn blade in his hand at the tracks in the dirt with a grim marking.  His black and silver wool cashmere robes giving him the appearance of some specter in the blackness of the night. 

The noble warrior took a second to brief the young noble of House Galvesar again of the dangers that lie ahead

 
 "Remember, you have to wait for their attack. They are weak and stupid, they will attack quickly. I will handle everything from the front. You handle anything that gets past my strikes and anything else that is trying to attack you that I can't get."
 
Had he led soldiers before?… Galvesar wondered….he didn’t doubt in his tactics…not one inch…this kind of confidence was reassuring.  Tyrion smiled at Joshua with the sincerity of a true friend…projecting confidence…and attempting to lighten the severity of the grim work ahead.
"In the end however, know that it is my duty to defend, in that case should I believe I will fall, I will ask for my blade back. You will then run toward the exit, mark a trail as we travel through the cave if you wish, and I will make sure none live to follow you."


This man in shining armor before him had taken the role of Atlas bearing the world and its problems on his shoulders….could he simply allow the whole dangers of the beyond to be his worry alone…if The young noble could…he would prove himself…if not to Tyrion….then to himself…..or his wretched old man.


“We will not fall…” Joshua spoke to reaffirm his courage  quietly to himself holding his two long swords in an outward arc as the heroic knight casted a orb of lighting and cast the object skywards above his head. Like a guide from the heavens it lit there path as they ventured into the stale depths of the cave.  Joshua followed the large stoic knight…his snake like eyes wide with anticipation..the foul beasts that lay within ..a part of him wanted very much to hear their crying shrieks of defeat. The progression into the cave was a slow one their senses alive with adrenaline listening for any sign of approaching danger. Apart from the cold droplets of moisture colliding with the ground from stalactites in slow separated patterns. It seemed almost deathly quiet.  However the more Joshua concentrated the more he could hear the scampering of what sounded like tiny feet…echoing amongst the vast darkness. For his own benefit.   In case he did have to flee The pale noble casted his own weaker lighting spell…one that he was truly thankful that Maylia had taught him. It felt in a way it was her watching over him…he would need that strength.  
 
This cavalcade of sounds and irregular breathing seemed to get louder and more constant…and while the danger once seemed worlds away…it was now before them. Out of the abysm infront of the heroic knight the first of many creatures dived forth snarling no doubt aiming to bit or claw at his throat.  With a mighty two handed swing Tyrion fell the beast severing it in twine in a bloody mess.  This was the start of the havoc unleashing.  For a few moments… the situation was tense as they pressed onwards Joshua had to remind himself to steady both blades in his hand. To be prepared to strike. Zeriach had scarely taken him hunting…but their was a sick curiousity Joshua had…to know what it was like..to end the life of a creature…seeing it struggle and fall lifeless before him..part of him …wanted to taste this feeling….to revel in it… he wondered…would today grant him that morbid desire?
 
Four more creatures rushed the large knight attempting to overwhelm Tyrion …but he did not falter…without much thought…almost as if in a dance of blades each sweeping motion of his body held purpose..function. Galvesars hands were tight on the grips of his weapon..his breath tense. He backed away slightly from Tyrion giving him some space to fight. His eyes were focused with unflinching. Not sure if his moment of action would come. It looked as though he was not really needed…but Joshua could not rely on such a circumstance.   He watched with awe as Tyrion cut down the last of the 4 fiends that attacked him. It was an impressive feat to handle so many..with no sign of fatigue.


"As I said, they aren't very powerful, I honestly don't think I need to be as careful as I am. I don't think they can break my armor."
Joshua’s snake like eyes scanned the darkness ahead of them… he was curious..as to just how deep this cave was….he did not imagine it would go on as far as they ventured.  The path opened up to a large dome like area….and the cackles of the evil …it was hard to determine their location in the giant area..and even both the lighting orbs they had offered just enough light to fight effectively around them. Tyrion seemed alert….his everythought pushing for commands to give… to help give control to their situation….order afterall was protection. The sense of security and the feeling of power over this dangerous encounter.


"We need to fight back to back now, or they'll surround us and kill us. Put your back to mine and move as I move, you should be able to feel my back at all times, you cover our backs while I push through." 


The logic was sound…. Galvesar did not hesistate to let him know of his approval.


“Alright…were gonna break through here….time to show these little bastards who they are dealing with….”


He lined up behind the heroic knight…blades held up…shaky…but with resolve… He was frantic…eyeing the darkness..waiting for the terrifying visages to emerge in berserk assaults.  It was as Tyrion said…rushing in large groups to over power us..was gonna be their tactic..without a doubt. Unless other fowl creatures were allied with these little grunts…a very possible outcome.  Joshua couldn’t worry about any of that though… His ghostly silver hair illuminated in the orbs of light above…they were center stage…on display for the blood thirsty creatures that surrounded them. Tyrion was still for a moment stopping his advance…he was obviously troubled by something……was his nerve cracking ? hopefully not…not here……the next words the knight spoke were a terrible omen.
"Something is controlling them..." Tyrion was  correcting his battle stance…..he could tell he was alarmed.
“By Ucelle…..what possible fiend could manipulate these devils?...” Joshua did not expect his pointless question to be answered….. His heroic ally glanced in his direction speaking firmly.
 "I may need that sword back sooner than expected, I may need all of the power at my disposal to handle these things after all."


Galvesar smirked back at his comrade.  But could hardly share a laugh as two creatures leapt at him from out of light circle they had created…it was their vision…but also their shield…without it all was lost.. Joshua’s snake like eyes narrowed  the two uneven blades in his hand were eager…perhaps to ambitious. With a motion which showed no resistance or fear he plunged the shard of Hyperion and the rusted blade each with a forward thrust.  


The crystalline blade pierced the eye of one creature coming out the back of its skull… while the worn sword impaled the others chest ….The creature still swiped at Joshua  slashing his cheek…. The pale noble beared his fangs at the feeling of his own blood seeping down his cheek. He forced the sword further pushing the beast to the ground and snarling back at him.  He stabbed it repeatedly…even after it stopped moving

Shouting at the darkness around him
… his eyes were now alive with excitement…the blood lust awakening within him.
“If you fools think i will just fall here….” Joshua stood up slowly…and smiled with sadistic excitement….”   I will awaken you to a new reality…..”
Galvesar’s voice had far more power behind it……confidence regardless of the dangers that may lie ahead.
“ Lets finish this….” Joshua  handed Tyrion the other piece of Hyperion setting it firmly in his hand as the creatures began to close in.


Joshua placed both his hands firmly around the old worn wraps of the worn long sword.  The feeling ..was power over life and death in his hands.
“Whatever lies ahead……were going to make them suffer for all the pain they caused…they will know my wrath”
The pale noble spoke with a confidence far beyond his abilities…..but his hatred was in the driver’s seat now… 

“Whatever lies ahead……were going to make them suffer for all the pain they caused…they will know my wrath”
 
Tyrion grinned as he watched Joshua take down two of the creatures and pass over Hyperion. He connected them together again with an audible click and Hyperion seemed to glow with an unearthly light. He hefted his greatsword in his hands and grinned once more as he knew they would make it through this. He saw more creatures charge through the cave at them and he brought Hyperion behind him. He then swung with all of his might and the sword cleaved through all four of the enemies in one mighty blow. The look of shock on the creatures now dead faces caused him to laugh a little as he moved to slay more of the undead monsters.

Being a holy knight Tyrion gained a great amount of satisfaction in slaying these creatures. After all they were the desecrated bodies of the dead. They deserved their rest. And he would happily deliver it to them. He swung Hyperion to the side again and slew a few more of their numbers, he then used the momentum and changed Hyperions trajectory up to cleave through another undead minion on the down swing. He then, nearly instantly, separated Hyperion again and blocked an attack that was heading for Joshua's side. He then diverted the arm and decapitated the minion it was attacked to in one twist of his wrist.

All the while he heard the same fowl cackling through the room. He knew their enemy was in this room, he just didn't know where. It was then that he caught the casting of a fireball from the center of the room. He slew the minions before him, spun around quickly and pushed Joshua out of the way. He did so right of the fire ball hit him in the left shoulder. His shoulder armor was shattered off as he knelt down from the pain. He then looked up with determination and stood. He turned toward the man that he could now see due to him casting his own light and noted his confident grin. His eyes widened as the man fired another fireball, this one catching Tyrion in the leg. He now leaned on his sword to keep him up and he looked back defiantly at the man.

"Joshua, step away from me."

He said simply as he stood up to his full height. He hefted Hyperion in the air and stared the cocky man down as he simply said a single word. "Shatter..." Hyperion immediately burst into fifteen smaller shards, the lights of their spells illuminating them to make them see like stars scattering. Fully controlled by Tyrion he sent the shards toward the man and watched impassively as he stared in awe and fear. The shards surrounded him in a whirlwind as they sliced into him countless times. He finally made the shards impale him from all directions, each one shooting through the other side of him.

Tyrion watched a grim face as Hyperion reformed itself in his hand before the man even hit the floor. He looked around and watched as the undead monster that witnessed the fight fell over dead, their master now destroyed. He walked over to the mages corpse and looked at his pain stricken face. It was over, the village was safe and he was only sporting minor injuries from the assault thanks to his armor. He looked over to Joshua and nodded at him "It's over, your men are avenged and the town is safe." He said as he knelt down next the corpse and closed his eyes. "Take what you want from the body, I've no need of it." He muttered as he stood and went to wait by the cavern door for him.