Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Eight: the king
Although only a few hours had passed since their arrival at Lotani, as some stood and waited - it seemed like much longer.
"Where is that pest?" Toy maker asked lowly.
"I hope you weren't referring to me." Lord Arachnid pointed out as peeked out from around the corner. Toy maker threw him a nasty look and shook his head.
"Huh. I was almost able to forget all about you." He replied lowly.
"I presume you are referring to our good friend the Enchanter?" Arachnid asked as he sat down on a sealed barrel. He looked over and saw how the hawk was perched on the artificer's shoulder.
"Who else?" Tuly replied indignantly.
"He's probably 'charming' that slut." Markys added. They all looked over and saw the youthful looking sorceress sitting beside the barrel Arachnid was sitting on.
"If he is becoming expendable - we can leave without him. I doubt that any here would object too hard." Toy Maker suggested. Markys was going to reply when Enchanter appeared from a fine mist.
"Leaving without me? That would be too rude - even for you." Enchanter stated coolly. Toy maker slowly got up and glared at the smug looking wizard.
"This isn't a game we are playing here. So don't waste our time." he warned. Enchanter looked over at the hawk and then looked over at the artificer.
"We all came here for different reasons. I do not know your agenda here - nor his. Ask me if I care? I don't. That is your business and has nothing to do with me - as such applies to both of you - the same applies - for me. So back off toy man." Enchanter retorted coldly.
"Fight - fight!" Arachnid goaded with an evil smile. Both looked over at Arachnid.
"I know that both of you picked up supplies to aid you in your quests. Don't think that I haven't done the same. I have been playing this game - for a whole lot longer than either of you - put together. So play with your newly acquired scrolls and gemstones - because when our paths cross - and I can tell that both of you are eager - to make that happen - I will be more than ready - and I will be waiting." Enchanter warned.
"I can believe that you have been around for a while. But you believe you will never fall - that is your greatest weakness. And that will be your downfall. Markys - where are we going from here?" Toy maker replied and asked.
"The mountains. The path we must follow goes through the mountains." She replied timidly.
"You aren't telling us the whole story girl. What awaits us there?" arachnid asked.
"The Temple of Chaos. The realm of the Mountain King. The lair of the Orcish Demon Lord. A few other scary things as well. Want to hear more?" she replied seriously. Arachnid turned away and looked to the mountains.
"Chaos had a temple?" Toy Maker asked.
"It was erected shortly after he fell. It really is quite a sight. The dwarves really out did themselves." Tuly answered as she ruffled her feathers.
"Screw the temple - what's up with this Mountain King and Orcish Demon Lord?" Arachnid interrupted.
"The Mountain King is a powerful demon that rules the mountains. Rumor has it that he enslaved the Volcanic Firebird of the Forbidden Peak - and the Orcish Demon Lord. Both the Volcanic Firebird and Orcish Demon Lord are very powerful - but the Mountain King - is much stronger." Markys answered.
"That - is less than encouraging I'm sure. So which will we most likely encounter first?" Toy maker asked curiously. Markys shrugged her shoulders.
"Lithian - was a powerful creature. Lithian was also a plainswalker that was bound to these lands. Is this what we can expect with this Mountain King?" Arachnid asked seriously as he hopped from the barrel.
"Mountain King - he is a powerful red magic user." Markys answered as she floated up to her feet.
"I thought as much." Arachnid muttered.
"Is there anything else that we should know about this Mountain King before we waltz into the heart of his domain?" Toy Maker asked curiously - almost hoping to hear nothing more.
"Just that he has people everywhere. All of the powerful plainswalkers in these parts do." Tuly replied.
"Is there any link between Chaos and the Mountain King?"  Enchanter asked.
"Just a very potent feud. Their war nearly leveled the mountains. No one knows why they stopped fighting - but if they hadn't - these lands would be in flaming ruins. After the war - they minded their own affairs and waited for the other to make a mistake. Chaos went first." Tuly replied.
"Hopefully this Mountain King will be a little more reasonable than that Lithian beast." Enchanter commented. Tuly laughed at the statement.
"The Mountain King makes Lithian look like a guppy. Still want to go?" she replied.
"The path to what all of you seek is through the mountains. Stay or go - the choice is yours." Markys replied as she looked at the distant mountains.
"That answers that. We all knew that this wasn't going to be safe when we started this." Toy maker commented.
"Who said anything about turning around or staying? If what I seek is through the mountains - so be it - and if I find any cowardly orc - they will pray that their dark gods claim them before I do." Arachnid added seriously as black mana swirled around him.
"I agree. so what are we waiting for? The secrets of this place to jump out and present themselves to us? Let's move." Enchanter stated as they began to walk away from the town.
"So - you still mad at me?" Enchanter asked. Markys looked over at him and looked down at the ground.
"Maybe - I don't know. are you going to leave me like that again?" she replied.
"I don't like to make promises that I can't keep..." he began. Tuly, Arachnid and Toy Maker began to clear their throats - clearly not believing the story he was trying to sell.
"Anyway!" Enchanter interrupted back. They all silenced themselves and kept alert to anything that might be intent on doing them harm.
"How about this - for every time I do something to make to sad or angry - I have to do something to make you smile?" he offered with a wink.
"Anything - I want?" she asked curiously.
"Anything I can do." He replied.
"It's a deal!" she replied happily as she gave him a hug.
"Easy stomach." Arachnid muttered in disgust. The small band of travelers made their way up the mountain path to continue their perilous journey.
Much later - the sun began to set on the jagged mountains. The band of travelers found themselves before an archway that was decorated with runes. All of them could feel that there was magic within the arch - but none knew the nature of it.
"Interesting toy. What is it?" Arachnid asked.
"I've never seen one before. I'm not sure." Toy Maker stated as he lightly traced his fingers over the engraved runes.
"The writing is in dwarf dialect." Toy Maker continued.
"Interesting - at the risk of repeating myself - what is it?" Arachnid repeated.
"If I had to hazard a guess - I would say it was a portal of some kind - for getting troops from one point to another undetected, but without the proper scrolls and spells - it is all hypothesis and nothing more." Toy maker replied.
"What does it say?" Enchanter asked.
"Beware thee who tress pass on this - the holiest of ground of our master - Chaos. Let those who ignore this warning face his eternal wrath." Tuly and Toy maker read together. Toy Maker looked over at the hawk.
"What? I lived in these mountains for five years. I've learned a few things since then." She justified.
"I thought that Chaos was dead." Enchanter stated.
"He is - I'm almost positive he did." Tuly replied. Markys slowly looked up and glared at her.
"Did you actually see him die?" Toy Maker asked seriously.
"Uhm, I - I don't know. it was a really chaotic fight." She muttered timidly. Toy Maker casually looked over and saw Markys innocently looking at the back of her hand - making sure her nails looked alright. When she realized that he was watching she smiled and waved.
"So - this warning - it could be valid. Toy - you say that you had it out with him before. What can we expect if he shows up?" Arachnid asked. Toy maker looked away from Markys and sighed.
"He came at me with everything he had at once - armies - weapons - direct attacks. Everything I threw at him he destroyed - every creature that tried to subdue him was disemboweled. We fought for almost two solid years - neither of us gaining any ground. We threw everything we had at each other - and we were both standing. We both agreed - to walk away. if we hadn't - we would have still been fighting." Toy Maker replied as he walked though the archway.
"But we don't have to worry about that. if he was still alive - he would be here now. If this is a portal - which I believe it is - it would have an alarm within it that would have told its master that I crossed over the line. Yet - nothing." He replied.
"That's a big gamble." Markys commented. Toy Maker looked at her and smirked.
"Not really. I knew the man. he isn't the type to hide and wait. If he believed that there was someone who might be a challenge to him. he would appear - and try to take that person down. Hiding behind veiled threats and signs - that would turn his stomach." Toy maker justified.
"Then who left the warning?" Arachnid asked as he walked through the arch.
"The language is dwarven runes. When he set up roots in these mountains - he was probably worshiped like a god by the local dwarves. He had a natural knack for inspiring followers like that." he answered.
"Really? Come here for a moment - I think you might find this interesting." Arachnid suggested. They all walked over and saw what he was referring to. On the ground before the spider wizard was the charred remains of a human skeleton with twenty broken arrows littering the broken rib cage and the remains of an axe that had spit the skull in two.
"Talk about over kill." Enchanter commented.
"Depends on who he was." Toy Maker replied.
"There aren't many others around him. He must have been special." Arachnid commented.
"We're under attack!" Tuly exclaimed. The group turned and saw a fireball arching towards them. Without giving it a second though - Enchanter emitted a blue blast of elemental power at the approaching ball of flames. Upon contact - the fireball fizzled out.
"Was that it?" he asked seriously. Just then - the night sky was lit up by hundreds of flaming arrows. All of the wizards managed to protect themselves from the harmful rain of arrows.
"No - I think the fireball was just to get our attention." Arachnid replied.
"In the name of Chaos - attack!" a voice shouted. The wizards regrouped and watched as hundreds of dwarves filtered out from the shadows and charged towards them.
"Everyone in this place believes in the safety in numbers proverb. How annoying." Arachnid commented. With a wave of his hand a wall of wood grew up and stopped the attackers from getting them on that side.
"From what I've seen from the locals - it would be a wise recourse." Enchanter added blue mana swirled around him as a wall of ice suddenly appeared. Several dwarves were trapped inside - the rest were stopped by the wall. But he knew that it was only a temporary measure.
"They seem pretty determined to get to us. any ideas?" Tuly asked as more dwarven warriors headed straight for them.
"I have an idea. I found this item in the old world. I believe it should adequately get their attention." Toy Maker stated. Red and blue mana spiraled around him. Tuly watched as more mana swirled around the wizard. Toy Maker raised his hands and then slammed both into the ground. Nothing happened.
"That was it?" Enchanter asked in disbelief.
"Wait for it." Toy Maker replied seriously. The dwarven warriors were only a few meters away. Just then the ground before the wizard began to shake. Everyone watched as a monolithic hand began to push upward from the mountain. Enchanter and Arachnid watched as the monstrous artifact creature continued to rise and rise until it stood towering over the wizard that had summoned it.
"What is that thing?" Arachnid asked.
"He - actually reconstructed - a Colossus of Sardia." He answered. the wizards looked over and saw the dwarven warriors looking up at the giant monster.
"He succeeded in getting their attention." Arachnid pointed out.
"I am Toy Maker - ally of Chaos! My business is with him - not his followers! Delay me at your peril." Toy Maker called out. The leader of the dwarven army slowly made his way forward - not taking his eyes of the colossus.
"Ally you say?" he asked.
"Is that so hard to believe?" Toy maker asked harshly.
"No - I suppose not. But if your business is with master Chaos - you have traveled far for nothing. Master Chaos has fallen during an epic battle far south of here." The dwarf replied solemnly.
"Fallen? Must have been an epic fight. Who was there when he fell? Were there any witnesses?" he asked.
"All perished to mysterious causes. The record of the battle is within his temple." Re replied.
"His temple - what a coincidence - I was just going to ask you about that." Toy maker commented.
"Would your large friend be traveling with you?" the dwarf asked.
"Depends - will we be expecting any static from any of your friends?" he answered.
"If you are allies of Chaos - you have nothing to fear from us. we protect his lands from looters, orcs and goblins. They infest these hills like vermin. If you seek his temple - follow the gates. They will lead you towards the territory that was taken by the Mountain King. The temple - is on the other side." The dwarf stated seriously.
"How will we know when we have reached the Mountain King's territory?" Enchanter asked.
"I can see that your aura has been touched by demons. Of all people present - you will know." a dwarf commented. Enchanter was going to comment - but the insight left him speechless. He turned away from the others and looked off into the distance.
"Looks like you touched a nerve - good to know." Arachnid commented.
"I will send word to the armies at the temple to expect you. If you are truly allies of the great and might Chaos - they will let you in. if you are not - they will kill you. And if you believe that because you are able to cast spells that you will be able to bully them - think again. Fifty wizards have tried to take the temple from us - all perished." The dwarf stated as he signaled for his troops to fall back.
"How did you know the walking mountain thing would get their attention?" Enchanter asked.
"They're dwarves. I figured anything huge would get the job done. Come on - I have a feeling that we still have a long way to go before we get what we are looking for." Toy Maker suggested as they continued on their way.
At that moment - within a dark cavern lit with crimson flames - a large muscular demon was watching the wizard's progress within his scrying flame.
"Hmm. How precious. It looks as though we will be having company for dinner." The large demon commented with an evil grin.
"But who would be so foolish as to tread into my domain so openly?" he asked as the flames rippled to zoom in on the three adult mages faces.
"They - they probably ones me army met earlier." A hoarse voice commented. The demon looked over at the shadows behind him to see the outline of a hideously deformed demonic orc.
"You never told me that you encountered wizards. How was it that they survived? Land walkers are almost impossible to notice and are even harder to stop." The demon asked lowly.
"They run into something. No see - like wall. Me would have told earlier - but me forgot." The voice continued as the Orcish Demon Lord slinked out from the shadows and limped towards his master - the Mountain King.
"Sound like a force field spell. That's pretty hard to come by. This crew must be special." The demon commented as he focused on the three faces.
"You no mad? You no punish?" the orc asked.
"Hmm? No - not this time." he replied.
"You want I should attack them again?" he asked with a snort and a grunt.
"No my stupid grotesque slave -  if they slaughtered your armies once - they would do so again and again. Let us just sit back and wait. They are coming straight to me anyway. Why waste my precious time and resources pursuing them?" he replied seriously. He looked over and saw the depths of confusion in his slave's eyes. He shook his head and returned his attention to his approaching guests.
Meanwhile - back where the travelers were. The landscape around them had gradually shifted from normal mountains and vegetation to a charred wasteland. The charred ground was littered with bones that were picked clean. The trees looked as though they had been twisted by some dark power and turned to stone. All of them had little doubt in their minds that they were now within the Mountain King's territory.
"So - Enchanter - the dwarf said that you would know - we there yet?" Arachnid asked tauntingly. Enchanter looked over his shoulder and glared at the spider wizard.
"You know the answer to that as well as I." He retorted curtly.
"I don't like this place." Markys commented.
"You ain't alone." Toy Maker added. They all stopped as they saw two petrified statues of human guards. Just by the stench of the statues - it was clear that they belonged to the Mountain King.
"We must be getting close to the Mountain King's lair. I can smell his stink from here." Toy Maker commented as he shook his head.
"Actually - we are. I'm surprised that we haven't run across any goblins, orcs or lesser demons. Usually this area is crawling with them." Tuly replied.
"Don't be too surprised. The old demon knows we are coming." Arachnid pointed out.
"What makes you say that?" Enchanter asked.
"Simple. Markys stated that this King controls the Orcish Demon Lord - and it stands to reason that he controls the orcs. Do you need more clarification - or can you piece the rest together by yourself?" Arachnid sarcastically asked.
"Hmm. I'm beginning to respect that icky spider wizard more and more." Tuly commented.
"I agree." Toy maker commented.
"Agree with her all you want. She damaged goods as far as I'm concerned." Enchanter retorted. Tuly screeched and tried to fly at Enchanter - Toy Maker held her back from the smug looking mage.
"He isn't worth it." Toy Maker stated. She still resisted and tried to get at her enemy. The artificer whispered something to the angry screeching hawk. Within seconds - she calmed down and regained her composure.
"If he makes another such comment - we shall see how charming he can be without his face or - other parts." Tuly stated indignantly as she ruffled her feathers.
"Ouch - can't you just feel the love in the air Nibbles? I think you can."  Arachnid said to his pet as he walked by the tense wizards.
"Don't let him get to you Tuly. His kind usually gets what they deserve - one way or another." Toy Maker commented as they followed after Arachnid. Enchanter glared at the two wizards that were causing his anger to slowly rise.
"Needs be damned - I am tempted to deal with both of those arrogant fools now." Enchanter cursed as blue mana began to spiral around him. Markys tugged on his sleeve. He looked down and saw her smiling at him with glowing white eyes.
"No. You don't want to kill them now. They still have much use to us. let them serve us to the fullest of their potential before we exact our revenge." She whispered hypnotically. Enchanter began to feel the anger drain from him.
"You have a point there." He admitted. The mana returned to where he called it from.
"I usually do." She replied as her eyes returned to normal.
"We make quite a team." He stated.
"I'm glad you finally noticed." She replied with a giggle.
"You two staying behind or what?" Arachnid asked from a distance.
"We're coming - don't rush us." Enchanter retorted with a smirk. He was going to say something when storm clouds filled the night sky. They all looked up and watched as a large demonic form began to appear over the clouds.
"That must be..." Enchanter began.
"The Mountain King." Markys concluded as she pointed to the sinister looking form that was towering over them all.
To be continued...
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