Descent Into Darkness

Mort Myre

There was a sizzling noise in the sky above the swamp, as The Shadow materialised into existence. Deinoscorpio appeared out of a burrow, and bowed.

"I went into overfeed the other day. So much death, so much destruction. But Drakan remains an enemy - you will assassinate him one day. Now, to finish off those villagers. Play the shanty, using these drums, and lure them into a trap"

The Shadow dematerialised away. The Deinoscorpio used its four giant claws to bang on the drums given to it. For a giant monster, it can do a great solo.

But nearby, a head rose out of the swamp. Theristika. It watched warily before sinking back to its underwater world.

Burgh de Rott

"Do you hear that?" Dirth said.

"It sounds like the shanty!" The Wanderer said in suspicion.

"Its not the shanty! Only we Meiyerditchians know the shanty! But its not Drakan, hes too scared of the swamp" Elle replied.

"Whys he scared of the swamp?" Tamron asked.

"I remember once eavesdropping on him. It was a Myreque mission. He spoke of the swamp in fear to his family and most trusted servants. He claimed he went there before in the Third Age. He and his weaker kind were attacked by clawed beasts and tentacled swamp monsters. Then, he saw the darkness of the sky. He looked straight into the eyes of a strange phenoma watching him. Drakan went partially insane. He said he could never forget the lifeless eyes of the strange shadow in the sky."

"What a story" Dirth said awestruck.

"Vampyres can't be scared of anything!" Edward said stubbornly.

"Or so it seems. There are... things out there that even a Vampyre would fear. Strange phenoma. Shadows in the sky." The Wanderer said, like in a trance.

"What of the drums?" Dirth asked.

"I will investigate, alone. If its a trap, at least I will be the one fallen for it. I can sense the drums calling for me."

"No you won't Wanderer. Me and Tamron are coming with you, no arguments!" Dirth snapped.

"I am?" Tamron shivered.

"Yeah we need muscles!"

"Eh whatever."

"Fine, but if you two die, not my fault." Wanderer wasn't very happy about this at all.

10 minutes later

Dirth, Tamron and the Wanderer went out through the gate. They stumbled into the alien swamps.

Not too long they found some drums.

"The mysterious player played here. No doubt about that."

"But where is the player?"

They turned round, to find a creature so familiar. The snapping beast. The second party. The Deinoscorpio.

"It was a trap all along. Played by an overgrown insect!" Tamron shouted angrily.

"I told you not to come. I knew who was playing the shanty - I only came out to monitor the creature. I told you before - it wants us for a reason. But it is now revealed Deinoscorpio is working for something more powerful, something beyond your dreams, something that could turn Drakan insane."

"Enough talk!" screeched the Deinoscorpio.

It picked them up with its three stingers. It stalked off carrying them.

"The shadow in the sky...." Dirth gasped.

The Shadow faced Dirth, grew a tentacle and slapped him.

"This is the era of a descent into darkness. I feel the power sieving into me. Soon, I will be the most powerful being on Gielinor."

Dirth and the Wanderer went staring right into the lifeless eyes of the Shadow. It was like they were being hypnotised. Tamron shut his eyes, and only hanging on with willpower.