 Garbed holy men ambled the halls, some chanting others simply observing, they all walked upon laid stone and architecture they had admired for years and that had been set by their forefathers and their forefathers. It was a serene place, where many went to pray and some just to be alone with themselves and think. However, a pair making their way toward the crypt of the monastery had other business to attend to. Matters of utmost importance to the sanctity of the village and its clergymen. "Tis this way." A man wearing a top hat said, assuring a young lad who followed in his stead. Their rapid footsteps echo'd off the floor and down the hall as they descended a flight of stairs. It was beginning to get harder to see the farther they went, torchlight growing less ample and merely throwing flickering light to bate back the darkness. Appearing to know exactly where they were expected, the hatted figured slowed not a step as they plunged from darkness to light with each torch post. "Here." the man finally said after a time and they stopped before a great slab of stone. Runes dotted its cover and it seemed neigh unmovable until force was applied causing it to slid with a low rumble across the floor. Within a minute where it once stood now was a black void in its place. A shadow within a shadow, as if the source of darkness itself stared back at the two men before the hatted gentleman took the lead once more. Following obediently the young lad could hardly see his hand in front of his face for what seemed minutes. Step after step seemed to never end before he misjudged his landing and slipped, frantically catching himself. The sound of footsteps in front of him stopped and the figure of the hatted man seemed to turn to him, but he couldn't tell. "Be careful boy, a stumble here would be dreadful." Despite these words they continued on until it began to grow brighter. Much like before, they entered a fairly large room with stone slabs arching up to hold the colossal weight of the world above them from collapsing. In all directions were stone, and four paths of empty space lead to dead ends far off into the distance. Without taking a moment to consider their surroundings the hatted man began swiftly toward the northern hall. Passing by a few statues of angels and crosses he stopped before a metal bar door and produced a key. Locking it behind them they descended three flights of stairs and made a left before reaching their intended destination.  Tombs. About a dozen or so dotted the room. Ordered in groups of four to five they occupied each of its corners. In the middle a pocket of space was left, and on its floor a large circle with runes and chains of unknown letters written diagonally. With only a moment to inspect the place the hatted gentleman had quickly motioned the young lad to the middle where he now stood. "Come hither, it is here we shall commence our ceremony." Joining him the boy looked down at the runes while the gentleman pulled from his jacket a pouch and beaker of silver liquid. Undoing the knot on the pouch he began to poor a loose trail of powder along the edge of the circle. Following it up with a trail of the liquid, it seemed preparations were set. Tucking away the ingredients without explanation the gentleman brought out a dagger. Grabbing the boy's attention with this he took on a serious persona and focused his attention to meet the boy's eyes. "Now listen closely. I require blood for this ceremony and once it begins we cannot stop. You may see things that frighten you to your very core. Your blood may feel as if it is turning to ice, your bones to dust, and your eyes to water. But, you must promise me. Promise me! You shan't flee from this circle, do you hear? It is for your protection as much as mine and crucial to our mission tonight. Do you understand?" With a nod from the boy he seemed satisfied. "Good. Now this will hurt a bit." With a swift decisive cut, the gentleman sliced open the boy's hand. Paying his follower's yelp of pain and contorted face little mind the gentleman began his incantation "Thu biguol en uuodan, so he uuola conda..." The words began to spill from his mouth like a river, with little pause. Abiding the pain the boy looked on through clenched eyes before averting them. Around them, torches began to flicker madly. Throwing light all around in a flurry and whipping back and forth as if battered by a fierce storm they abruptly snuffed out. Darkness enveloped them as the chanting continued unabated. Fear gripping the poor lad, he swallowed hard as his heart raced in his throat, head throbbing along with the rapid pace. The floor began to emit a blue tinged glow and the room could barely be made out as it grew progressively brighter. With sight returned there was reason for calm, but then the whispering began. More a wail than a whisper, it was ominous and otherworldly. Seemingly coming from nowhere it continued to grow louder and louder as the gentleman's chanting droned on. Growing pale the boy looked around for its source to no avail. Then the wails turned to chanting as the room became a orchestra of voices that mimicked the gentleman's chorus. Where was it coming from!? Was all the boy could think before his question soon answered. The tombs, they began to rattle. The chanting was coming from within them! From the dead within! This continued as the chanting rose louder and louder still yet. The glow had become blinding and seemed to extend to within the tombs themselves. It was at the peak of the incantation that the tombs lids began to rattle. Their occupants fiercely beating upon them from inside, desiring to be let out. And let out they were as they slowly were pushed and fell off to the side with low rumbling thuds. Looking around at this frantically the boy could see figures sitting up from within the tombs. Who or whatever had been let out was watching them as the gentleman continued to chant like a madman. Was he going to get them killed!? What was he doing!? This was madness!? The boy thought, instinctively pulling away from the man's grip, but being held firmly in place. As he fought stronger to be released from the man's grip it tightened around his wrist even harder until abruptly he stopped and looked up at him. "Calm down. Stay calm my boy. You will only make it worse if you panic now. It is almost over. Just a bit longer. Endure, you can do it. You must." Whether it was his words or the fact the ordeal was almost over, the boy nodded fervently as the gentleman began his chant once more. The room was fully lit at this point, the boy could plainly see the eyeless skulls of the dead looking on at them from their stone beds. The unnerving scene was all the boy could bear he thought before the ground around them began to quake. Dust started to fall through the cracks in the stone ceiling above them and with it a blue mist billowed from the tombs. Creeping toward the circle, it formed hands that clawed forward at the stone floor. Only to stop short of the circle's perimeter. Gathering in clouds around them the vision of the skeletons soon vanish and they were encompassed by a wall of blue. It was here the gentleman's chanting finished. Looking up he smiled and took a streak of blood from the boys hand into his fingertips. Drawing some kind of markings on his forehead and forearms he anoints the boy and when finished directed him on the final instructions. "Thrust your arms outside the circle. Then we shall be rid of this nightmarish sight." he ordered. Unwilling, but left without much choice, the boy nervously inched his hands outside the circle. Sensing the developments from within the mist moved to accompany them and slowly collected around the boy's shaking arms. Crawling up his shoulders and to his head he closed his eyes as it enveloped his torso. Slowly but surely dissipating, it seemed to be absorbed into his body. When almost all of it had vanished the gentleman broke the circle with his foot and the power holding it collapsed. Thrust into pitch darkness once more, it was only momentary as the torches burst into flames, relight by some otherworldly design. The skeletons once watching them now rested inside their tombs, lids remaining cast to the side. Staring at his forearms and where the mist had been the boy was lost for words. Mind racing with questions, but overjoyed at the return to peace, it was the gentleman who spoke first. "Your body has been imbued with the spirits of the dead. They are a part of you as much as they were their own bodies at one time. They will need nourishment and cause a drain on your body, but do not fear it is not life threatening. You shall be tired come morrow, but in a week you won't notice them... ... ... Why I have done this? It is to insure our secrets are never revealed. You are to be my apprentice, there is much for you to learn but I cannot teach these secrets recklessly. Should you die those souls will devour your body for nourishment, leaving nothing of it behind. It is forbidden practice, but one we are forced to use. Fear not, I have no doubt you will live and it is reversible. For now let us rejoice in finishing this task and leave this ghastly place behind. There is a banquet awaiting. Come now." The Crypt: Makes your role hidden upon death. |
AstrosApr 15, 2017 1:39 AM
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