Microsoft Zone Archive/Player Chronicles/The Battle of Burial Temple

Original Link (now dead) - http://zone.msn.com/asheronscall/ASHEburialtemple.asp

The Battle of Burial Temple

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by Dakross/Trask

Gilgalad paced the sandy terrain. His anger and frustration obvious in the white-knuckled grip on his staff. He and Mot Demonslayer had tracked down the evil skeleton lord to his lair, only to be greeted by a shimmering ward preventing their access. Through divination, they discovered that the ward drew its power from the person trying to pass through, thereby rendering it impervious to the more powerful and experienced a person. However, a relatively inexperienced person could gain access thru the ward. The problem was that they would then be undoubtedly destroyed by the skeleton lord or his horde of minions.

Gilgalad's conscience still nagged him over the decision he and Mot had made. The evil must be destroyed, no matter the cost. With that in mind, they put out a call to the younger clan members for assistance. Four eager, young warriors had answered the call: Shan the Chosen, Buzzardo, Trask, and Nikabrik. Gilgalad tried telling himself that with the protective magics he had woven upon them before they entered that they would be fine, but still doubts plagued him.

Suddenly his pacing was interrupted as ward glowed and Trask and Buzzardo exploded from it, both gravely injured. All thoughts and doubts flew from Gilgalad's mind as he immediately began reciting the incantation to heal the tremendous gash on Trask's chest and the severe burns on Buzzardo.

"What about the others?" Gilgalad demanded.

"Still inside, battling the evil Lord." Trask gasped.

"Armor us up again," Buzzardo pleaded. "We must go continue the battle!"

Though it pained him greatly to see the wounds the youngsters had taken, Gilgalad was impressed with their courage and determination. The doubt he had felt earlier melted away to a sense of pride. These were heroes, through and through. Quickly, he wove his protective magics on the two and they dove back into the portal, again taking the battle to the source of the evil.

The minutes slipped slowly by, and Gilgalad's frustration mounted again. "What is happening inside?" he wondered. Realizing the longer they were in there, the less likely they were to survive, he began preparations to summon help. Just then, the ward glowed and four ragged and wounded adventurers stepped out, cheering. Victory was theirs! "The evil is defeated?" Gilgalad questioned.

"No," replied Shan.

The blunt answer stunned Gilgalad and the others to silence. "Then why the celebrating?" he asked.

"The Skeleton Lord and his minions here are destroyed, but . . . " Shan paused as he held up a cursed key of black iron. "He was only a lackey. The source still exists."

"And so the quest continues." Gilgalad murmured quietly as the others began celebrating again.

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