Year of the Ram – Fifth Entry
My lord spoke to me of the discord that Ghast's
revelation brought to his companions. He spoke of Animal's pain over
Wraith's secrets, of Kate's anger towards her sense of hopelessness,
and of Wraith's own determination to undo the wrongs he had
unintentionally committed. The human, who Kate referred to as “Blue,”
had begun to stall the approaching tide of the undead that Ghast had
unleashed upon my lord and his allies. After for what seemed like
hours, Animal returned from a private discussion with Blue and seemed
to possess a revitalized spirit and a stalwart resolve. Animal
hesitantly admitted that he feared Ghast, but was willing to
challenge him, even alone if he had too. Silence washed over the
household as all who were present knew of the fate that awaited
Animal should he face Ghast alone, but it was Wraith who was the
first sever the silence.
Wraith belittled Animal for his selfish declaration,
stating that he would throw his life away for nothing, that Ghast was
not Animal's responsibility, and that it was he who should atone for
his past mistakes by facing Ghast. Animal and Wraith argued over the
issue for several moments when Kate interfered. She claimed that both
of them were at fault by pointing out their selfishness and misguided
attempts to attain a sense of righteousness. She berated them both
for not considering that all of them, including herself, want to
destroy Ghast for the pain he has caused. Fear, weakness, doubt, and
guilt plagued them all, and it was no one's place to take on all of
the responsibility, that if they should fight, it should be together.
I have gotten to know Kate well, but this moment in my lord's tale
only serves to heighten my respect and admiration for her wisdom and
sincerity.
Kate's words even reached my lord's soul, and he too
agreed. Casting aside his own fears and pride, he made a pact with
Animal and Wraith. They would challenge Ghast together, and carry
with them the will and fighting spirit of those that could not make
the journey. They agreed, and after a tearful parting between Animal
and Kate, the latter of whom made Animal vow to return, the three set
off for Ghast's tower that loomed over them all, as if to dare them
to challenge their fates. My lord tells me that very few words were
shared between Animal, Wraith, and himself. It was not until the trio
reached the base of the tower that Wraith decided to propose a
challenge to the others as to whom would destroy Ghast first. An idea
that each of them knew was foolish, but they agreed all the same
grasping for whatever strength they could to hold a tighter grip on
their seemingly insurmountable task.
The tower's base offered no point of entry, and the
warriors looked perplexed as to how one might gain access. Then, as
if sensing their desire, the crystalline walls parted and presented
the party with a path leading into darkness. Inside, they notice that
the tower was quite hollow, devoid of interior structures aside from
a number of platforms protruding from the walls of the construct that
spiraled upwards towards an unforeseeable destination. My lord,
continuing to add fire to the facade of a competition, claimed that
he held the advantage with this first challenge. Sprouting his
crimson wings, he soared upwards towards the top of the emerald
spire. Animal pursued, leaping from platform to platform, with Wraith
close behind.
Though confidence began to brim in each of them, it was
all too soon that Ghast decided to “entertain” his guests.
Embedded in the walls of the tower were the skeletal remains of
various creatures unearthed during the spire's construction. They
rattled in their crystalline tombs and erupted from walls, many of
them shambled and amassed themselves into hideous mosaics of decayed
remains. The shambling creatures attacked from all sides with lashing
talons, bones, and teeth. The warriors fought back and shattered the
creatures one after another. But for every one that was destroyed,
two would appear in its place. Animal continued to make his ascent,
clawing and pummeling his way from one platform to the next. My lord
used his wings to advance far above his opponents and incinerate the
horrors from a distance. But the creatures began to adjust to his
tactics and sprouted leathery wings, took to the sky, and pursued him
into close combat.
Wraith, unfortunately, had been left behind as the
others chose to race on wards with overwhelming force. Upon noticing
that Wraith was not with them, Animal pleaded to my lord to turn back
and retrieve him. My lord declared that Wraith was well aware of the
challenge and that the two of them should continue on to face Ghast
as soon as possible. Animal refused to go on without him, but before
my lord could make his point clear again, fragments of bone and
debris sailed past them both erupting from below. Momentarily, Wraith
appeared from the darkness now with two shadowy arms ending in
massive clawed hands. The arms originated from within the key hole
from the large lock attached to his back. The arms were black as
night and reflected no light. They tore into the sides of the tower
and dragged Wraith upwards at an alarming speed. The clawed hands
were massive, large enough to grasp a human as it were a toy in the
hands of a child. The creatures that approached Wraith were smashed
and or crushed in an instance if they dared to approach him.
With knowledge that Wraith was holding his own, the
others gained a renewed sense of confidence at the sight of such an
incredible power they had never witnessed before. The trio continued
their journey towards the tower's final destination, each one
fighting for something to live for. Wraith, to atone for his betrayal
of his friends' trust, Monster, for his sense of duty to liberate
his father's name and his clan from Ghast's tainted history, and
Animal, who only thought of the family that he was willing die for.
Each one of them, so driven to pay for the things they cherished with
their own lives, could never imagine the sacrifice they would have to
make and what evil they would unleash in order to see their hopes
realized.
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