《A Forgotten Specter》


 Chapter 1 : Not so bad...Maybe?

    15:02, 03, Feb, 2017 - location unknown


    Pain. White hot searing pain, it''s the first thing I can remember of how I got here. Wherever here actually is. As a human being, I believe everyone has encountered some form of pain or suffering only the specifics of what causes the trauma changes.


    Life is hard so people either live with it or give up, and it only get''s harder the more one is confronted the darkness of the human Psyche.


    That''s why so many people try to find ways to escape the day to day with an understanding of always needing more, or trying to reduce that need with "getting away from it all".


    Everyone has things that make them happy or if you have a chemical imbalance, things become at least tolerable.


    Me, I''ve always been the kid with his nose in his book. Always dreaming of going on adventures or living vicariously through Movies, Anime, comics and books.


    Like the series about that One Ring, or making a discovery of an ancient artefact and fighting off the Dickheads of the world who would do terrible things with it, like Mr Ford in his whip-slinging days, or like the Hongkong action movie heroes helping the defenceless.


    As a kid it made me want to learn a few martial arts. I trained religiously in Kenpo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.


    So to further my dream, I joined the Canadian Armed Forces during university.Thinking it would help get closer to My fictional heroes, the military taught specialized versions of Muay Boran,and the various forms of Silat after seven gruelling years turns out, I was right that it gave Me thetools to train a strong mind and forge My body into what it is today. The only thing they don''t tell you is the extent of how absolutely horrible people can be to one another.


    I at least can say my time with Special Forces was a way to put some good in the world, I''m not sure what''s going to happen to me now that I''ve lost contact with my unit. But I''ve fought a lot of Shitbags, And I never thought I''d get the chance to experience a true adventure into the unknown, Thank Fuck for Training cause'' it seems I was so incredibly wrong.


    Somewhere under two Suns


    Sgt. Dorian Alphonse Delaney


    <hr>


    Chapter 1


    Not so bad...Maybe?


    Light beat down on my collapsed Black pile of a body, I was lying in a ring of grey soot and ash, a cloud of steam coming off of it in a steady plume. Cloaked in Black with my rucksack strapped to my back, as I began to regain consciousness, My whole body was straining and pulling in on itself taught like a tightly wound rubber band. The veins in my neck protruding and with a final flush of colour across my pale sweaty skin, I heard a bone jarring snap and saw a flash of bright light emanated from my body, the steam and the tension dissipates from my form. With a stretch as I get to my feet, I hear a few loud popping noises from my joints.


    It hurt. A lot. I cried out.


    "Aarrgg!"


    What the Hell was that! First I get tossed into the ocean by a freak weather system, lose my rifle, on the verge of death, I get swept by the current onto a small frozen island with a dull glow coming from a small cave. Only to pass out just as I enter the cave mouth. Fuck the Arctic Circle! Eh, I can''t wait to leav... EH? Where the hell am I? open sky and...!? I fall on my ass while my mouth stops moving.


    "...ttt, tt, ooo, Two Fucking suns!"


    I am fucked, who said a training exercise would end up with me on a planet in a galaxy far far away... ah? no one, abso-fucking-lutely no one! Where the Fuck am I? I have to be hallucinating, or been drugged right?


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.Ok. Just breathe, observe, think, plan. Follow training.


    I cross my legs and check the state of my body, it does feel weird, like it''s been supercharged with a couple of nitro boosters as if I''m being pumped full of energy with each breath, I''ve never felt so great in all my life. My senses are coming back to me but they feel too sensitive. The light and colours of things feel too bright, but it could just be that there''s two, damn it, two Suns in the sky!...ugh do not panic, yet, just breathe.


    My clothes feel cloying on my skin, I hear the running of a river and the wind rustling grass loud in my ears, the air smells too fresh. too clean, I can taste the moisture in the air sweet and refreshing.


    Just breathe.


    Fucking old ass Zodiac, I''d been requesting for a new boat. I hope the team''s ok, I''m pretty sure I''m the only one who''s tether broke when that wave hit.


    Stop.


    Worrying won''t help, as far as I can tell I''m all alone.


    Just Keep Breathing.


    I close my eyes and focus on the sound of my breaths, I need to calm my self. As I begin to regain control Five, Ten, Thirty minutes, pass by as I use a breathing control technique. With each breath I feel a surge of energy rise and fall circulating within my body until it finally calms, adjusts, and acclimates to my overly heightened senses, the noises fade into the background and my clothes begin to feel normal on my skin. The air still smells and tastes nice but I won''t complain.


    I open my eyes and light isn''t as bright but the colours of everything seem to be more robust and full of life.


    Looking around, I''m sitting on a large round stone platform in what seems to be an opened roofed stone Cathedral with some type of Cuneiform style engravings covering everything. It''s big, about 15 meters high and another 20 meters long, the Cuneiform carvings are in sprawling intricate patterns all throughout the stonework and up the columns of the wall that is still standing. There was some sort of matching column or archway to the back of where I''m standing but it is blackened and crumbled over like a sombre broken sand castle.


    Half of the Cathedral has collapsed, leaving the platform buttressed by a long L shape of the still standing wall. the broken portion is strewn about in an open field with what seems to be a stone path worked into the ground, it follows a winding river upstream. Looking out at the scenery, I''m in one end of a wide valley, Judging by the trees I can see in the distance, the valley is surrounded by forested mountains.


    My breath catches in my throat, Beautiful, breathtaking scenery, I pause and watch as puffy white clouds move across the sky, causing the twin suns to cascade twinkling light beams across the peaks covered in lush bright Jades and dark green emeralds of the mixed coniferous forest. As the light beams moved I saw a sight of such immensely indescribable beauty.


    The Ancient city of Petra wouldn''t even hold a candle to the Towering might of the Broken City in the mountain.


    Built on five levels into the Giant mountain, each level looked to be carved deeper into the mountain and separated by two hundred meter high walls with a crystal clear river crossing atop the walls like a flowing strip of light, the water feeding into the levels below Roman like aqueducts. Interspersed water falls reflect light, giving the entire city a clear almost magical luminosity, only to be contrasted by the parts of the Upper-level walls that are scarred and gouged out, the bare stone in places looks blackened and burned, water cascading haphazardly onto the intricately carved and damaged buildings below. Lush greenery seems to have swallowed the walls and buildings reclaiming the massive city as its own, causing the giant city to look as if it grew from the mountain itself. A thing of ancient beauty, a true testament to engineering to rival MT.Everest. At the very top of the City is a tall blackened spire cutting through the clouds as if it grew to form the peak of this City the size of a Mountain.


    I now know for a fact I''m not hallucinating or being drugged anymore. My mind could never imagine such a hauntingly beautiful place.


    I don''t know how I got here. But I do know I will try to enjoy myself and maybe find some happiness along the way.


    I look to the Broken City''s Spire and feel an instinctual pull, an unquenchable desire to explore, to understand and know. I need to go there and find out just what kind of place I''m in, and maybe how I got here.

 Chapter 2 : About Time, Eh?

    Gear Catalogue :


    Extra set of clothes socks,underwear,undershirt,overshirt,pants(6kg) Black Steel-toe all weather waterproof Combat boots(4kg), Parka with removable hood and arctic winter liner(4kg), Black Toque, Padded Tactical Assault gloves with removable liner(3.6kg),Black Tactical vest with ballistic plate inserts(8.6kg), Black Tactical belt with carrying pouch(2.4kg),Diving K-bar and sheath with Ferro rod(0.3kg),2 Karambit knives and sheaths(0.4kg), Multitool with case(.3kg), Canteen with nesting cup and adjustable carrying pouch(2.2kg:full) 30m 550 para cord strapped to the side(0.2kg), Collapsable grappling hook(0.6kg), 6 Heavy Duty metal carabiners(1.8kg),Tactical flashlight with web casing(0.2kg),Signal Flare (5) (1.8kg),small signaling mirror (0.1kg)10x 10 Tarp (0.2kg) 2 thick Wool blanket(3.6kg),-40c Bivy/Sleeping bag(2.1kg) Emergency mylar blanket(0.1), Steel Mess kit (0.5kg),(15) small resealable plastic bags,100cm Roll of black duct tape 1.8kg, Ring from Dad, Safety razor, 1000 waterproof matches in plastic bag,2 Karambit shoulder harness straps, knife sharpening kit 1.8 kg,Personal Survival kit 1kg waterproofed Tin casing,Medicinal kit 1.4kg waterproof hard case Brew kit 0.9kg small hard waterproof container food 8kg. in Waterproof compression sack


    <hr>


    I need a plan of action.


    According to my watch, it''s twelve thirty-two, February third...Dammit! Have I been unconscious or something for a day and a half? The Search and Rescue happened on the first. No wonder My stomach is growling at me, but it''s not as bad as it should be.


    Something is happening to my body, I''m not sure what, I have so many questions. What was that light? Why didn''t I die of hypothermia? I mean I can''t "flame on" or anything, but I feel super warm inside, kind of like I''ve downed cinnamon whiskey and a couple Jalapenos, I wonder what my core temp is right now....


    Ok, ok, ok, forget the pointless questions without any answers we''ll get there eventually.


    Right, I need to gather all the information I can. Make a plan.


    The altimeter in my watch says I''m still pretty high up even in this valley, a hundred meters above sea level if it''s accurate. Luckily at the moment, I have quite a bit of gear, or I should if everything is in one piece. I need to take stock of what I have and figure out my options.


    I begin by taking off my Tac vest, cold weather parka, Assault gloves and toque. It''s far too warm to wear the cold weather gear. It feels and looks like a temperate climate zone if the plants work the same.


    I take the notepad and pencil out of my jacket pocket I use for taking field notes in so I can take stock of what items I have and write out the immediate needs and figure out what to do. I place the winter gear over top My Pack and clear an area on the platform from ash and dirt. I proceed to open up my black tac vest and go through the pockets attached to the front and sides. It''s a black vest with dark mesh webbing covering the whole thing for easy customization, and internal pockets for the ballistic plates in the front and back for protection.


    I pull out a small dull white coloured tin with black duct tape sealing the opening, my emergency survival kit is still sealed and has no external damage, After checking the contents I put it back in my tac vest''s small left side pocket just above the hip and tight to the body.


    I check the three knives sheathed on the vest. My K-Bar knife is sheathed in the upper left chest area, and My two special Issue Karambits sheathed on the either side of the lower back.


    Unfortunately, I lost my spare rifle cartridge and radio from my front velcro pockets in the accident, not that it''d be useful here.


    I''ll miss Elvira, best rifle I''ve ever had, used her for my long-distance record, she must have been tossed in the accident.


    Ugh, I''d feel a whole lot better if I had my rifle with me, but at least I still have my Blades.


    I remove the two front velcro pockets that are empty and place them to the side. I then proceed to open my adjacent side pouch that holds my water canteen.


    I''m so happy it''s intact, I open it up and take a swig.


    "Blah tastes stale and full of chemicals."


    While scraping my tongue on teeth, I remove the canteen pouch and strap it to the outside of my right thigh to free up some movement.


    in order to sate my hunger and get rid of the taste in my mouth, I undo my tac belt and rummage in the zippered pouch in the centre. Inside is a small plastic bag with some Moose jerky, a blister pack with water sterilization tablets, a wrapped length of paracord and a signalling mirror.


    OhhGod, I didn''t know moose jerky could taste so, "Mmmmhh Gooood."


    I blushed as I let out a shameful moan...


    Thank god no one heard that...


    After I devoured the whole small bag and I felt Satisfied. I''ve never tasted food so vivid in its entirety. I had eaten some of the jerkies before I got tossed overboard, and it wasn''t anything like this.


    I guess something odd must have happened to me during the process of getting to this Cathedral.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    I put the vest back on and adjust it to fit snugly as I no longer have the parka on,


    just my black long-sleeved uniform and my t-shirt underneath.


    I roll my sleeves up past my elbows to cool off a bit. I notice one of my tattoos on my right forearm, It''s a large anchor with a depiction of My favourite underwater sleeping eldritch nightmare watching the right and a crested Corinthian helmet watching the left with a frayed rope tracing a serpentine shape behind it.


    I remember I got it after completing my first mission as a combat diver to be a reminder, never be afraid of the unknown, I really just might need to start believing in Gods otherwise I''ll never figure out how I got here.


    I check the quick access to my knives and confirm my ease of movement.


    The karambits have wicked looking double-edged claw-like blade with curved handles and a large ring at the base to hook a finger it helps keep them in my hands during use. They are my edged weapon of choice, and one of the main weapons I''ve trained to use since I was Younger. I had these two commissioned by the base Quarter Master when I got my last promotion, they''ve never let me down since.


    As for the K-bar it''s my survival, utility knife, it''s got a straight heavy black blade good for chopping and stabbing, it''s black rubber grip means I can really swing it around without worrying it''ll slip out of my hand if it''s wet and has a small compartment with a Ferro rod inside.


    Knowing I still have some offensive weapons and getting out of my heavy gear has made me much more relaxed.


    I toss the two extra pockets on top of my winter gear and open my pack.


    Inside should be everything I need to survive at least somewhat comfortably considering my personal gear and the Medical kit for the search and rescue mission.


    I don''t think they''ll find me if they send out another team for me... Ehhh, whatever it''s not going to matter, but I''ll leave a message behind about where I''m going just in case.


    I need to make a list of what I have readily available.


    After cataloguing all my items in my field journal and putting most of it back in my pack along with most of my cold weather gear. I put on my gloves after taking the winter liners out and putting them in my pack. I move my Multi-tool pouch along with the small flashlight to my left hip on my Tac belt, I refill the central pouch with more moose jerky, the length of paracord, and the previous blister pack of water sterilizing tablets. I leave some space for the signalling mirror I have in my hand and stuff a signal flare in between the webbing on the outside of my pack.


    I check my face for any bruising, after all, I''m pretty sure I fell face first when I passed out on the way here. I don''t see any injuries on the exposed lightly-coloured skin around the upper part of my face, I part my thick beard and moustache looking for cuts or abrasions, thankfully seeing none. I''ve been told I have a nice squarish, unassuming face. I''m not sure if that''s actually a compliment, but my mum always tells me she loves my bright hazel-green eyes...My brows pinch together as I think of the last time we talked. She was trying to get me to meet with a daughter of her friend. Sighing, I push my dark chestnut brown hair back out of my face, it''s in that undercut style that''s gotten popular a while back, the one that''s shaved all around the sides except for the top part which is longer and lays back and to the left on me. My mother was the one who suggested the look. I think she''s impatiently waiting for me to give her a grandchild, but I''ve never had the greatest luck in that department. I''m pretty sure I pull off the whole lumbersexual look quite well if I''m being honest, plus maintenance is easy, at least everyone who sees me will know right away I''m Canadian. Whatever I need to stop complaining.


    I have to prioritize here, I put the mirror in the pouch on my lower back and sit against my pack. I should write a set of immediate goals. I have sufficient food to last at least 6 days worth of meals admittedly it''s mostly moose jerky but with my newfound sense of taste it''s like eating a juicy prime cut, so no complaints there.


    So first, I need to find out if the water in the river is safe to drink, given how clear it looks and the lush green vegetation, it''s probably a safe bet but I don''t want to catch any otherworldly parasites, the ones on earth are bad enough, Holy shit! Does this mean I''m an alien? I''m totally an alien right now! This is so cool! Ahem..cough, cough. I''ll refill my canteen and use a few sterilization tablets for now. I''ll be following the river upstream to the City in the mountain.


    Second, I need to make my way to the city and find shelter for the night, there''s most likely a night, given the movement of the Shadows it''ll probably be somewhat similar to earth. So I have a few hours before the sunsets, dual suns set? Until the two suns go down. I have no clue what the name of two suns setting is, the point is I can see a Moon in the sky and it''s not so cloudy, so it shouldn''t be too dark but I shouldn''t be out in the open in case there are predators around here that get active at night.


    Third, I should look for some tinder and fire making materials while looking at the plants to see if there is any similarity to the ones back on earth. I should be able to make it to the First wall of the City within a few hours, it only looks to be a couple kilometres away. Hopefully, the path leads to a gate.


    I layout my initials and an arrow with some of the rubble pointing towards the city near the circular platform I woke up on.


    I''ll eat, drink some water, and write a few thoughts. I set an alarm on my watch, I move out in thirty minutes.

 Chapter 3 : Eh? You Sirius right now?

    Copy of the repeating cuneiform markings found on Cathedral Platform.


    <hr>


    The water is so clear I can see the shine from the river stones. I refilled my canteen and dropped two sterilization tablets inside. I''ve yet to see any animal tracks on the river embankment, but I did find some kind of dead dry grass underneath the newer green growth. After macerating it a bit, it should take a spark nicely.


    The Stone laid path followed the river closely, I can see the river comes straight from within the Broken City and as the Two get closer to the city I can make out where they diverge.


    The water seems to be coming out from underneath the outer most wall to continue flowing the direction I just came from, which according to the compass on my watch after testing it, is north. I''m able to see what looks like a massive Gate or at least something like that with two squat stone buildings off to either side the opening.


    I get closer I see that both of the roofs have collapsed inwards like some big impact hit the top of the buildings. The buildings look to be a rest position for the guards of the gate to control the flow of traffic in and out of the gates. The door ways are covered in pieces of rubble, it would take far too long to try to investigate the interior, so with that avenue closed I walk closer to the gate.


    It''s a large metal portcullis in front of a metal door intricately engraved with more of the Cuneiform, or at least what''s left of it is intricately engraved as the entire left side of the 30 odd-meter doorway has been melted into a thin hardened puddle of slag lying across the stone pathway. Whatever caused this damage must have been huge. I haven''t seen artillery blasts cause this much damage, at least it seems old as there is lichen growing over some of the burn marks in the stone, plus I''m sure whatever could cause this type of damage would be pretty obvious in appearance or at least wouldn''t need to be camouflaged in this environment.


    I''m just happy I have my way in, I''ll need to keep my guard up and try to find some high ground to see if I can spot any places of importance or anything that sticks out in the cityscape.


    As I enter the gate I can see that it has a large antechamber section with a platform built into the wall on the right side and another partially destroyed gate this time as if it was knocked over with some great weight. as the moorings in the wall have snapped and gone with the door and is laying on the ground. The platform leads into an alcove in the wall, I can see molten lumps of metal scattered on the ground along with scattered burnt patches of ground. There isn''t any smell of carbonization, whatever caused the patches must have been the same thing that destroyed the gate long ago.


    I decided to go through the alcove on the platform in hopes of getting to the top of the wall or finding a window to look out on to the inner part of the city. I take one of my karambits in hand as a precaution as I don''t know what could be inside the walls.


    As I approach the alcove I focus my intent on my ears and grab my flashlight and step into the stone corridor. Inside is a narrow T-section hallway, it goes forward and splits off to the left and right leading to archways. The air tastes stale as if there hasn''t been any movement or proper airflow through the chambers.


    I start off by heading down the left hallway as it''s closest to the inner part of the wall. Following the small hallway, it leads to a sitting area with a long bench style table covered in a thick coat of dust and cobwebs, it''s littered with various plates and cutlery, a few strewn bits of what looks to be metal body armour in collapsed piles with dust covering the inside as well.


    I can see at the other end of the room is another doorway with stairs that curve off upwards and to the right. I make my way there trying not to disturb the items I see, as it feels eerie, it looks like the place hasn''t been touched in hundreds of years.


    I climb the stairway, it does go upwards in a spiral fashion, it has unlit sconces in the walls and a thick layer of dust coats the floor and walls as well. The craftsman ship on the wall is amazing as well it all looks as if it''s been made out of a single piece of stone. I can''t see any seams or gaps in the stonework at all.


    I continue to climb yet to see any windows or arrow slits, every couple of meters I come to see sets of body armour strew in haphazard ways but no mounting system in the walls. I stop and investigate a set of armour, Mainly just some sediment and dust....Son-uva'' hoser, I knew it. It''s decomposed bone, I can''t tell how old, but given how stale the air is inside of this place it must older than I''m willing to admit.


    I probably won''t be finding any natives in the city then. I''m not sure if that''s a comforting thought. Yeesh, I''ll be in a real city of the dead, would this classify as a necropolis? Fuckin'' right eh! It''s a true blue ancient city of the dead! Call me Indie bitch!


    Ok, just chill out for a minute. There could still be animals and maybe even traps in this Necro-Mountain and I walked in here. I need to keep my head on a swivel and be prepared for anything.


    "Hooo, sorry there for disturbing yah Sir Jack, I''ll put your bones back."


    I don''t really have a thing for Gods or Saints, but I hope whatever happened to these soldiers, it wasn''t painful. I pour a little water on the helmet and polish it in silence for a moment. Before leaving I decide to say a little prayer as I''m sure the people of their time had some form of last rights. "Glory to those who''ve Fallen, in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti."Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Walking away from the body, I really hope if any pathogens from the corpses were around they have died off and dispersed by now. I can''t imagine what could have happened to suddenly kill the guards where they stood, there were too many for it to be a coincidence. I take my scarf out of my bag and tie it around my neck and pull it over my mouth and nose. Something is better than nothing.


    I continue my ascent upwards at a faster pace for another ten or so minutes until I reached a door. I placed my ear on the door to listen for any sounds coming from the other side. I wait a full minute and try pushing the door open. It creaks loudly and I can see light coming from around a corner further into the corridor that ends ahead of me. I approach the light and see a terrace facing out towards the city.


    The city vista sprawled out before me, I see many expansive one storey buildings with courtyards with rows of targets and what can only be classified as ranges for projectiles and a single pristine three storey Tower standing proudly near where the left side of the city begins to bend around the curvature of the second protective wall.


    To the right side, many buildings look to be in disarray and destroyed by large claw marks and animal-like footprints, only if there were some Gojira sized anima...I''ll think on that later...no way, right?Ahem, It looks like this first area behind the wall is a martial training area where they trained soldiers and housed them like on military bases. I take my point of reference that''s the tower I should be able to see it from the streets once I enter the city gate. I''ll head there as it''s a big land mark, if it''s in this area it''s probably important as it''s the only building with very different architecture.


    Ahem, It looks like this first area behind the wall is a martial training area where they trained soldiers and housed them like on military bases. I take my point of reference that''s the tower I should be able to see it from the streets once I enter the city gate. I''ll head there as it''s a big land mark, if it''s in this area it''s probably important as it''s the only building with very different architecture.


    It looks like this first area behind the wall is a martial training area where they trained soldiers and housed them like on military bases. I take my point of reference that''s the tower I should be able to see it from the streets once I enter the city gate. I''ll head there as it''s a big land mark, if it''s in this area it''s probably important as it''s the only building with very different architecture.


    I retrace my steps through the guard wall and back into the antechamber. I walk through the large door that was knocked from its moorings and travel into the city.


    After a quiet Walk through the cobbled stone streets, I see grass growing through carpeting the walkways. It feels like I''m in a Richard Matheson story, as long as no vampires come out I''ll be fine. he hehe.


    "Hyaaaaaa, hya, hya, hya,aah aah ahh aaoooooo!"


    Fuck.


    Fuck me and my stupid brain.


    I hear the call behind me, I move to place my back against a wall in between two buildings down a small alley-way and peer out.


    Damn it! What the hell is this? Breathe, Focus or you''ll get yourself killed.


    Looking out, I see rounding a corner with its nose in the air a large humanoid type creature. It''s clothed in leather scraps, It''s body covered in coarse brown fur with black spots. In its furry clawed hand is what looks like a human femur with dark brown stains on the opposing end. I see sharp yellow teeth dripping with viscous saliva as it licks it''s black furred snout and makes a guttural coughing sound only to be followed by yips of sinister sounding laughter.


    Are you serious right now? A fucking Gnoll? If it''s anything like fantasy has taught me it won''t be alone. I hear what seems to be Two other yipping laughing replies coming from further in the distance behind the two-legged beast.


    It looks like it has picked up my scent, I''ll have to finish it now before it can group with the others.


    It pads slowly closing in on the alley.


    I need a plan, Fuck I look around and see a drain spout and some old decrepit barrels closer to the opening of the alleyway. I see a small spot with a ledge that I can climb on top of the wall.


    I take my scarf and rub my sweaty face and pits into it then tie it on to the drain pipe close to the barrels.


    I can hear the heavy sniffing loud in my ears.


    Fuck this will be close I haul ass up the ledge, grab my other Karambit, crouch just out of sight.


    It''s closer now, I smell the rotting Carrion stench emanating off of it in a thick wave, like the hyena bitch it came from.


    Breathe, Focus, Isolate the movements


    I can do this,...


    I hope this works.


    The Smell of rotting flesh is so potent I can taste it now, forcing down the wretch in my stomach I peek out of my hiding spot. It''s back to me it''s grabbing at the scarf.


    I move.


    Jumping down from the roof top I use the momentum and my body weight to plunge the blades into the back of the monster''s neck, letting the monster break my fall. I tear the razor sharp titanium edges along the sides of the neck slicing the muscles and part of the oesophagus. Thick arterial blood spurts out and covers my hands, I drive the beast further into the ground before it can grab any purchase with my knees and force the curved bloody knife into its beady eye socket and destroy the brain.


    Jumping away from the body of the Gnoll, I stare at it and watch for any movement.


    I Confirmed the kill.


    I breathe a heavy sigh, the first thing I see in a new world and it''s a bloodthirsty monster.


    Not that I can say I''m any different.


    I know there are others so I quickly grab my scarf and rinse my blades and hands of the blood over the slowly cooling corpse of my enemy. I hear the yipping stilloff in the distance.


    I run as fast as I can.


    I need to gain an advantage over my pursuers, If I can get to the tower I can set up another ambush and try to understand just what in the H. E. Double hockey sticks is going on.

 Chapter 4 : Ambushed And Beaten

    If I''ve learned anything in my time with the military it''s that surprise and a good use of tactics will win every time. That''s what I need right now. As I race through the empty streets of the necropolis. I hear yipping sounds from the two Gnolls following my trail. They sound angry, they must have found the body or they could be hungry. How am I supposed to know what goes through a monster''s head?


    I figure I can lay a trap or barricade the entrance if I can get inside the tower. While on my way towards the tower. I see more collapsed suits of armour and dead giant spider like things or what''s left of the exoskeletons. I can tell the people who lived here had an intense battle with the large arachnids. There are signs of gashes in the armours, next to holes and burn marks on the carapace of the ghastly corpses. I don''t see any conventional weaponry laying around the bodies. I mull over what they might have fought with.


    The yipping laughter continues to close in, I''m within sprinting distance of the Tower''s wall now. I don''t see a door way facing me I''ll have to circle around. The tower style is the old German half timbered architecture. It looks like a large mansion built onto a high twenty by twenty meters stone foundation. I move around to the left side of the tower, looking for the main way inside. Once I get within three meters of the wall I get an uneasy feeling while looking at the tower. It could be the stress, but it feels as if the tower doesn''t want people to go near it.


    I see the entrance leading into the tower. I brush aside my frivolous thoughts and approach the doorway. I place my back against the wall to the right of the entrance, knives at the ready, I peer around the corner. I see a well-crafted spartanly decorated foyer leading into the building. It''s lit on the interior by fluorescent azure stones along the walls closer to the ceiling than the floor. I step inside and walk along the entryway looking at the strikingly clean area. It should be covered in dust but I don''t see a speck of it. The uneasy feeling also went away once I stepped inside.


    There is a spiralling stairway leading up to a different floor. I take my scarf and wipe more of my sweat on it. I wipe the scarf along the right wall leading to a small door. I listen to the door for any sounds for a couple of seconds. Hearing nothing I pull open the door only to see a closet of some sort, empty except for a few shelves and a straw broom. I remove my pack and set it inside the closet, tie my scarf around the broom and leave it little ways outside the door. I step into the closet and closed the door most of the way leaving enough room for me to see into the hallway.


    I wait in absolute silence. Controlling my breathing, enduring a surge of strange energy with every controlled breath. I can hear deep snarling growls coming from outside the entrance of the tower. Sounds like they don''t want to enter inside. I guess it does have something to do with the tower. The Snarling has turned into a higher pitched yipping now. They''ve entered now and I have my first glimpse of the beasts. Dressed in similar leathers, my goodness is that a face? I manage to keep my lunch down, but for the love of Gygax, I''ll kill these things if it''s the last thing I do.


    The Gnolls continue along the wall towards where I''ve left my smelly scarf. I can see one is carrying a crude handmade stone axe and the other a bone tipped spear. Focus, Breathe, I have the advantage and explosive violence of action. The larger axe-wielding gnoll steps ahead. Circling the broom and crouches over the scarf. The skinny spear user is still a couple ofpaces behind.


    Time to go.


    I kick the ground hard. Leaping on the back of the crouched beast, dragging a blade across the oesophagus and carotids. Thick arterial blood spurts out of its neck as I jam my other karambit fiercely into the base of the skull. Controlling the body, I remove my blades and Push it into the surprised gnolls spear, stopping its movement momentarily. But a moment is all I need. I drive my body forward blades stretched out in front of me. I carved out part of the right shoulder and plunged the remaining knife in its left eye socket all the way past the base of my thumb. I hear the horrible gurgling sounds of the first Gnoll breathing its last breaths. I know better than to get close to a dying animal.


    I watch and wait for it to finally stop struggling before I gather my things and search the two bodies. I clean my scarf and my blades with a bit of water and dry the knives on the side of my pants. I resheath and pocket the scarf for the time being. I genuinely hate the smell of these things. I hope there is a large fire place or something to get rid of the bodies. I''ll need to wash my gloves and this shirt at some point otherwise it''s going to smell for a while.


    I take the spear to use as a ranged weapon, as a bonus I can use it as a walking stick or use it to push things from a distance. I found nothing of note on the corpses. Though I did confirm that the leather the two are wearing is indeed made out of some human-like skin. I''m not sure if that''s comforting or not. At least I know true humanoids exist or did.


    I need to search this place for information. I can feel the adrenaline leaving me. I pile the bodies in a corner of the broom closet to get them out of the way. I head up the staircase. I see a landing with a wooden door while the stairway continues upwards. I decide to go level by level, to prevent any more unwanted surprises, I place my ear to the door. hearing nothing I open and step inside the room. It looks to be some kind of living quarters I see a bed, small stone bookshelf, a desk and a chair. The desk has a few writing instruments on top of it and some kind of carved Cuneiform circle in the centre. I head to the bookshelf and look at the books trying to see if I can understand the languages or the writing.


    No luck. I check all the books on the small shelf, the writing looks like Cyrillic text and Cuneiform symbols. Safe to say I have no clue what it means. After placing the books back on the shelf, I head to the next door along the stairs. I once again place my ear to the door. Hearing nothing I enter. It''s a long kitchen filled with cookery and a long stone table in the centre. It has a large fire pit with a roasting spit in one section of the room but looks unused. This is good news I''ll be able to have a place to prep my own food and cook properly. Looking around I''m surprised by what looks almost like a modern sink. It has a faucet over a stone basin and a single lever for a tap handle. I reach over and try to turn it on. nothing happens at first, then it begins to sputter and make a small rattling noise. Finally, water comes pouring into the basin in a clear steady stream. This is a huge score, I''ll definitely be able to use this place as a secure base while I check the rest of the city. I shut the water faucet off and head up the central spiralling staircase. Upon reaching the large set of doors, I listen to the door, hearing nothing once again. A large room greets me with a set of leather sofas facing each other with an ebony table between them.


    Upon reaching the large set of doors, I listen to the door, hearing nothing once again. A large room greets me with a set of leather sofas facing each other with an ebony table between them.


    A wide oaken desk with a dark leather chair is placed behind them further into the room with two smallcream coloured wooden chairs in front of it. Along the stretch of the walls is floor to ceiling stone bookshelves filled with a myriad of books in various sizes, shapes, and colours ranging from the darkest inky void to the down-right luminescent.


    However, the most striking thing is the carved relief situated in a central alcove in the semi-circular stairway on the far wall. The statue is of a beautiful bare-chested humanoid woman with the lower half of a lioness. The small alcove shimmers with a white light coming off of the alcove walls. The crystal structure is warping the light and glowing with all the colours of the rainbow. Her hands grasp a shining sword, the tip pointing towards the top of the alcove. The statue''s light is self-contained, bouncing within the space of the alcove. It''s beyond a doubt one of the most astonishingly beautiful things I''ve ever seen. It ranks right after the sight of the city I''m in. I leave the books alone this time and head towards the staircase that houses the alcove.


    As I''m about to step on the stairs I see a shimmer in the air just above the first step. It looks almost like the heat mirages you see on the road during summer. I lean a little closer after focusing on the stair. I immediately feel a tug in the back of my eyes and a rush of the weird energy I''ve been feeling since I''ve first gotten here. I see a misty purple haze form on top of the stairway like a wall of fog.


    I rub at my eyes trying to clear them. It doesn''t go away.


    My eyes have begun to feel like they are buzzing and vibrating in my skull. I close my eyes and start a breathing exercise, regaining control. I focus on the muscles around my eyes. The buzzing begins to fade only to be replaced by what feels like a huge jolt of static shock throughout my body. Ugh, that was intense. I can feel my whole body tingling and a spike in the energy inside of myself. Looking at the stairs again, the mist has disappeared. With a clear head, I focus on the spot by the steps again to try to replicate what just happened. After five minutes of staring and having the buzzing feeling come and go only to be followed by a jolt.


    I touched the mist with the spear first. No reaction. psyching myself up, I touched the mist it with my hand, after a long tense couple of seconds nothing happened. I continue to step through feeling the stair on the other side. An eerie sensation passes over me once my head goes through the mist. It feels like the mist is probing me, ready to strike if it finds something. I''m sure whatever just happened could have been very dangerous. After clearing my throat and taking a nervous drink of water, I continue up the steps and onto the landing where a door is located. I press my ear against it listening once again. This time I hear a slight rattle and jangling noise. I feel a semblance to the energy from the purple mist coming from the other side. Whatever it isit doesn''t feel hostile.


    I open the door to an ascending stairway. As I walk forward the presence begins to feel more visceral. I crest the top of the stairs and enter into a large living area. I see a few medium sized bookshelves next to a long worktable, a large bed in one corner. On the table, I see a few instruments and a small metal box with a latch covered in odd engravings sitting inside of a brass circle. The presence is coming from inside the box. Watching, waiting.


    I don''t know why but I can tell it wants me to pop the latch. I don''t have a choice, I can feel a tug inside my mind, I have to help whatever is in there. I can only imagine how long it''s been trapped there. I take out a bit of the moose jerky in case it''s hungry.


    I reach out for the box, fingers on the pin holding the latch in place.


    "OK, here we go."