Adrea & the Cursed Oktoberfest: Part 3: Amongst the Dead
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Adrea & the Cursed Oktoberfest: Part 3: Amongst the Dead
The hundreds of bodies which once crowded the catacombs’ entrance now lay thinned to a meager 10. The floating soul gem nearby couldn’t help but notice how ravenously the Puller feasted on the dead or dying revelers from the festival.
“What a shame” the Soul Gem thought as it flew over the bodies. Neither age nor beauty could spare someone from the Puller’s endless appetite. It flew close to the young woman who obviously expected to be laying somewhere else tonight.
She had been a late arrival compare to the rest of the bodies, and as far as the Soul Gem could tell, she wasn’t fully dead yet. But she needed urgent attention a Soul Gem could not provide.
Rather than focusing on what was lost, the gem floated closer to the girl’s staff. It’s otherworldly beauty suggested its’ origin was not from Tamriel. “Was this girl some kind of daedra worshipper?” The Soul Gem thought…
The Soul Gem examined the staff closer. It seemed to calling to the Soul Gem, begging it to come closer, and when it did, the Staff began viciously draining the power from the floating Gem. Fearing its’ own mortality, the Soul Gem tried to speed away from the floral staff…
The staff exploded into a bright pink fog which covered the room. The Soul Gem flew out of it as quickly as it could, not wanting to see what the staff further planned for it.
When the mist cleared, however….
Adrea: *Cough* *Cough*...Oh my G*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*...that smells…*Cough**Cough*...Horrible!...*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
Then Adrea looked down...
Adrea (frightened): WAH!
Surprised and afraid, Adrea scurried away from the pile of dead bodies.
Adrea: That’s...That’s the guy I accused of wanting to touch me...THESE ARE THE PARTY GUESTS!
Adrea: They’re...All dead...I was dead? Wait! Where is that hand monster? Where’s that masked guy? How did I get here?!
Soul Gem: I might be able to fill the gaps in your memory…
Adrea: AHH! Talking, Floating Soul Gem! Don’t take me!
Soul Gem: THAT’S MY LINE!. You were lying here dying with the other bodies when your vampire rose staff tried to eat my soul! It exploded and then you woke up...in a different outfit. Is that normal?
Adrea: There’s always more to that Rose than I think I know. Yeah, that’s pretty normal for me. But who are you? It’s pretty rare for a soul gem to have a personality…
Soul Gem: I don’t know! As far as I remember, I’ve always been a Soul Gem. I don’t think I’ve been here for too long…but I can’t remember how I got here.
Adrea: Do you know what’s going on with these bodies? There should be more of them...a lot more.
Soul Gem: I have no idea either, The Puller comes in, takes a few, and leaves. But I have no idea where it goes with them.
Adrea: The Puller?
Soul Gem: At least, that’s what I’m calling the huge gray creature with multiple arms that steals bodies.
Adrea: I almost got in a fight with that creature, before I was cheap shotted by some masked asshole. They seem to be working together… Do you call yourself something, Soul Gem?
Soul Gem: I’ve never needed too! Nobody around here talks to me.
Adrea: I’ll call you, Gem then. Gem, I’ve got to find this Puller and his caretaker and figure out where they’re taking the party guests. Can you help me out of here?
Gem: Sure thing, Magic Lady.
Gem: Ok, Magic Lady, I’ve been floating around this place for a while and there’s only one way in or out of here. I’m taking you to it now.
Adrea: But where are we now?
Gem: I think it’s a catacomb of some sort… There are lots of draugr around so be ready to defend yourself. If not, maybe I can try talking to them! They seem to ignore me, but maybe I can push the issue.
Gem: THIS is the exit. But I’ve only ever seen one guy use it. And he has a key for it. So it’s more than likely locked. ...Oh, thats a new body. Never seen that skeleton here before.
Adrea: But if it’s locked, then how am I going to use it to get out? I can’t explode locks...that’s yucky Alteration magic and I refuse to learn any of it.
Gem: Well, maybe there’s another key somewhere? I remember the wimpy guy muttering about a Deep Room somewhere around here.
Adrea: A Deep Room? You mean further into these catacombs? The same catacombs you said were teeming with Draugr? AND a Monster with more arms than a squid has tentacles?
Gem: The very same! If you want to get out, it’s the only way. Plus, maybe you’ll find out where the Puller is taking all the bodies!
Adrea: This Puller seems like Bad News. I’m really afraid I’m not going to like what I see when I find out what it’s been doing with the bodies. In my last encounter with it, it ate an acquaintance of mine and left the soul behind to watch.
Gem: Don’t worry, Magic Lady. You’ve got nothing to fear with me around! I’ve followed that beast all around these parts and he has yet to bother me. I’ll protect you.
Adrea: Thanks Gem, but I’m still not optimistic about that. You’re a magical stone, I’m a flesh and blood person. Much more to pull off me.
Gem: Here’s the Deep Room!...I think…
Adrea: Are you sure? This seems more like a booby-trapped worship room.
Gem: Of course I’m sure! The wimpy guy came here all the time. Also, as your protector, You should mind the traps. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt on my watch!
Adrea: Gem, there’s nothing here but rubble, candles, and lots of old carvings. Are you sure this is the Deep Room you read about?
Gem: Of course I’m sure! Why don’t you look in another corner?
Gem: Wait nevermind! Come over here, I think I found something. Looks like a book!
Adrea: Plenty of books around here, Gem…All of them are ruined.
Gem: But this one is Fancy! And it has a latch!
Adrea: Ok fine...I’ll read it…dated 3 months ago: “I’ve found it! It’s here! The legends are really real! When they say the Good King of Winterstone build his Castle on the site of his greatest victory, the stories were only half lying. This wasn’t the site of a great battle, this was where the King buried his foe Rahgot. He then sealed the tomb and locked it with a chalice of his own blood. The fool thought his own death would prevent Rahgot from ever being resurrected again. The ARROGANCE! Nothing can stop, my Lord Rahgot’s Ascension! I must explore this tomb further and learn the secrets Lord Rahgot whispered to me in the night”...signed…“E”.
Adrea stepped back from the book and looked at Gem.
Adrea: “E”? What kind of pretentious prick just signs his first initial?
Gem: Someone who didn’t want to be associated with the journal if it was ever found?
Adrea: That’s silly and makes too much sense to be right ? …Good Point. So Lord Rahgot’s Ascension? I’ve heard of warlocks resurrecting themselves before… I’ve even faced a resurrected one before. But, I wonder why this “E” wants to resurrect him? What’s in it for him?
Gem: I don’t know! But I think it’s safe to assume the Wimpy Guy I see around here sometimes and “E” are the same person. But what’s the Puller’s role in all this? This creates more questions than answers them. Maybe the Deep Room is Deeper Still?
Some Time Later
Gem:... So then I told her “if I had a mouth like yours, I’d keep it shut too!” Get it? Because she was a draugr and didn’t have any lips… I guess you just had to be there.
Adrea (whispering): Gem..Shhh!
Gem: Don’t Shhh me! That was funny!
Adrea (whispering): Gem, Look over there and shut up!
Gem: Oooh! A Draugr. Maybe he was there and knows the story. I’ll go ask him!
Adrea (whispering): No Gem. You might be able to pass by him unnoticed, but I’ve met enough of these boneheads to know they don’t let girls like me by without a fight. Only one thing to do…
Magic sprung to life in Adrea’s hands.
Gem: Magic Lady, I’m not sure that’s the Best idea!
Adrea: Of course it is! It’s how I deal with them all the time.
Adrea let her spell fly and snapped the spine of the draugr crumpling it to the ground.
Adrea: See? What did I tell you! No Sweat.
Adrea & Gem approached the downed draugr…
Gem: Wow! You’re good, Magic Lady! Are you sure you need a bodyguard?
The candles lit in the catacombs dimmed as a blue hue filled the room…
Adrea: Uh oh… what does…
Puller: GWWWWOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!
Gem: Run, Magic Lady! Puller doesn’t like it when you hurt his Draugr!
Adrea sprinted away from the Puller as it charged at her. She broke through a nearby door and down a hallway with the Puller hot on her heels.
Gem: Magic Lady! Do you trust me?
Adrea (panting): I don’t know...yes?!
Gem: Well, Trust me! And do what I say at this next corner.
Adrea rounded the corner and did as the Gem requested. The beast continued its’ charge around the corner only to find the lone floating Soul Gem. It roared and sprinted on down the corridor, hoping to catch it’s elusive, red-headed prey.
Adrea breathed a sigh of relief.
Adrea: I don’t know what you did but good thinking, Gem.
Gem: I turned you invisible! With all those arms in the way, I guessed the beast didn’t have any eyes, so it either had to locate based on sound or smell.
Adrea: And you guessed sound. What if it was smell?
Gem: Well, then it was nice knowing you, Magic Lady!
Adrea: Please don’t play with my life like that again.
Gem: But it worked out! And we’re deeper into the Catacombs than ever before. We’ve got to be closer to the Deep Room.
Adrea: Why’s this scroll floating? I better have a look…the writing, it’s ancient… it’s an alchemical recipe involving: Skeletons, rotting flesh, blood, and, I can’t make out the rest. But it’s called Sos Sosaal Nil. Blood Suffering Void? That’s not very pretty.
Gem: Magic Lady! Look here.
Gem: It’s a floating key! It’s either your way out or sentient like me! Hello Key! Do you have a name? Do you talk? Do you do anything other than Float? HELLO!
Adrea: Quiet Gem...You’ll let the Puller know we’re here.
Adrea examined the key, it looked like it fit into the locked cage she saw on her way into the deep catacombs. She bound the key to a summoning spell and put it in her magic box for mundane objects.
Adrea: Let’s go back to the cage, Gem. I have a good feeling about this key.
Adrea: Gem, why did we take the long way to get back here? I didn’t think we walked for this long.
Gem: I was avoiding all the known draugr spots. After our last encounter, I think it would be best if we avoided…..them.
Adrea: These draugr are new. They weren’t here when we first walked through.
Gem: I’m sorry, Magic Lady. Maybe I can go talk to them or lure them out of the way for us?
Adrea thought for a moment…
Adrea: You know what, Gem? I’m tired of being in this catacomb. I’m tired of dodging draugr. And I’m tired of this stupid Puller.
Water magic sprang to life in Adrea’s hands once again.
Gem: Uh, Magic Lady. Bad idea! There’s a pattern here. Let me break it down for you: You shoot spell, You kill draugr, Puller chases and eats you.
Adrea: Don’t worry Gem. I want it to come here. Besides you’ll protect me.
Gem: I wouldn’t test it twice if I were…
Adrea cut off the stone’s protests by releasing another wave of water. A self satisfied smirk came to Adrea’s face as she watched the 2 draugr get pulled away with her tide.
Just then the lights dimmed in the hall and a familiar blue hue filled the room.
Gem: Magic Lady, what are you going to do now?
Adrea: We’re going to run, Gem.
Two spells crackled in Adrea’s hand.
Adrea: If It catches you, I’m leaving you behind!
Adrea sprinted down the hallway as the Puller roared behind her, it’s grotesque arms flailing. Gem led the way towards the gate and cut the turn sharply.
Gem: Magic Lady! This way!
Adrea surged ahead towards the gate and threw her magic box spell at the lock. As she planned, the gate opened. Adrea & Gem passed through the gate as Adrea’s magic slammed the gate shut on the monstrosity face.
Roaring in anger the beast slammed the gate multiple times before roaring and giving up the fight. Steel Gates were one thing, but Carved Nordic Gates were quite another. The beast charged off in another direction deeper with in the Catacombs.
Adrea made an obscene gesture.
Adrea: YEAH! You Better Run, You Ugly Son of a Bitch! You’re not pulling me into your mouth, You Ugly Fucker! Get the Fuck Out of here!
Gem: Magic Lady! Where did you learn to speak like that!? I never knew you had it in you.
Adrea: I apologize, but some things just tick me off. And I don’t usually get this angry. It must just be tonight. I’m sorry.
Gem: Don’t be! It was badass the way you took out those draugr than ran from that big scary Puller. Then at the last minute slamming the door in it’s stupid face. If I weren’t a stone, I’d kiss you!
Adrea: And if you were human, I’d probably let you. But Gem, now that we’re safe, we need to have a talk.
A calm green spell sprang to life in Adrea’s hand.
Adrea: I’ve been thinking a lot about you as we wandered these catacombs. About who you are, what you’ve been through and I can’t imagine how lonely it must have been. You don’t have to be a soul gem if you don’t want too. I can let you out.
Gem: But what about you? I want to help you get out of here. Maybe the only reason I’m sentient is to help you get out of here alive?
Adrea: You’ve already done that by guiding me through the catacombs and getting me away from that horrible Puller beast.
Gem: But I’m afraid, Magic Lady…what if I’m a spriggan or a dog or dead? I don’t think I’m ready to be dead yet.
Adrea: I know it’s scary to think about, but what if your body is alive somewhere else and waiting for you to come back? You wouldn’t want to waste another second inside that rock if that was the case. Plus, most iterations of the afterlife say good things are in store for beings who perform heroic deeds like you did.
Gem: I don’t know what’s going to happen, but if you think that’s what’s best for me, then I’ll go along with it.
Adrea: I’ll start releasing you now. I owe you my life, Gem. So, promise me something. When you come back to life, promise me you’ll find me again.
Gem: I promise...it’s going to be hard wandering around asking for a Red-Headed Magic Lady.
Adrea: Then ask for “Adrea”. That should narrow us down a bit.
Gem: Goodbye, Adrea.
With that, Adrea finished her spell and the soul gem dropped lifelessly into the pool of water beneath her.
Adrea unsummoned her clothes and stepped down into the pool of still water below her. This night had been a grating experience for her. Surrounded by death, poison, and sorrow, Adrea wondered if she could carry all this emotional weight with her. She pushed off into the water, and found she floated rather easily within it. If the world was pushing her down, at least water was keeping her a float.
“And that’s what being a water mage is all about” Adrea thought “Keeping your head above water when everything is trying to push you under... ”
Continued in Part 4
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