Daelen Morne

The frozen wastes of Skell were no lie or exaggeration. My companions and I had traveled twelve days by horse and have now been three days on foot. Why would I, a bard be in this miserable situation? Why do I accompany two warriors and a mage in these frozen lands shivering to my bones? It is simple. We are to deliver a sacred item to a temple called the Tomb of Molok. I feel the crystal orb bump on my thigh as I struggle to walk through knee-high snow. I adjust the small orb in my travel pack so I don't risk damaging it.

"A cave!"

One of the warriors ahead of us pointed with his bearded axe towards a dark dot in a sea of white.

"This is good. The snow is coming down harder and visibility is diminishing even with my spells.", the mage said.

Another hour and we waited at the cave mouth. The two warriors went deeper into the cave to ensure no predators had made the cave its home. Soon footsteps took my mind from memories of warmth and the warriors appeared and motioned the mage and I to follow them.

The cave didn't go very deep but it opened up enough to house us comfortably.

"We will make fire and dry up. We will share our names and purposes. The task at hand is close but the danger is becoming dire", the warrior said as he set his axe against the wall.

It was true we hadn't shared our names. We were told not to by the oracle who picked us for this mission. Soon we would share our names and more would become clear. I'm sure my companions were wondering why a bard was chosen to accompany them. I knew why I was chosen, but I wanted that to stay a secret as long as possible.

After we removed our armor and bear skins the mage was kind enough to cast concealment magics so we could strip and change in privacy. After we were dry and warm, cheese and bread were passed around. Then one of the warriors pulled a wineskin from his pack.

"Mead anyone?", he smiled already knowing the answer.

He took a drink and passed it to the mage. As she drank he began to speak.

"I am Lothgar Green from Nes. I am the second son to the king of Nes and slayer of the fire wyrm that plagued my lands. My axe is Giant forged and has runes of power etched into it. It is called Hodesplitter and I am glad to accompany you for this. This is why I was chosen."

Lothgar is a giant of a man. One could say he was a giant himself. He stands over two meters in height and is made of muscle thicker than stone. His long red hair was tied in a warrior's knot revealing the tattoos on his shoulders, neck, and face.

The mage stood wiping her mouth and passed the wineskin to the warrior across from her. She is slender with hair as white as snow and taller than most women. Her eyes are violet and her skin is tattooed in a style that is unfamiliar to me. The strange shapes and scripts were there to aid in her magic.

"I am Eris of the Low Leaf. I am half-elf and mortal. My father is the king of the forest kingdom Liëfen. I accompanied a group of heroes two hundred years passed to do this very task. This is my second trip to the Tomb of Molok. My staff has a magic stone called the "Celestials Tear" upon it which allows me access to the full spectrum of mana. I can use magics of all the elements and can use healing magics. This is why I was chosen."

As she sat the second warrior passed the wine skin to me and stood.

"I am Björn of the Iron Hills. I am no noble and don't know which land I was born in. I was sold by my parents to the gladiator pits of the west in Umbria. After one hundred battles I won my freedom and traveled the continent as a mercenary. I was the only survivor of a band of men that ended a mad sorcerer's reign in the Iron Hills. My great sword is forged by the dwarves of the Iron Hills and is called Unheilsbringer. This is why I was chosen."

Björn is shorter than Lothgar but wider and more muscular. Which is good since his sword is almost as tall as he is and probably weighs as much as he does. He has blonde hair but none on his head. His beard reached below his massive chest and his head was bald with runes tattooed into his scalp. These same tattoos seem to cover his whole body in an intricate pattern of shapes and geoglyphs.

"I suppose it is my turn", I say nervously. I took another few gulps of mead before passing it back to Lothgar.

"I am Daelen Morne.."

"DAELEN MORNE!!??", Lothgar yelled.

My companions all stood up and put as much distance between me and themselves as they could. I am guessing this is why the oracle commanded we didn't share our names.

"Yes, I am Daelen Morne. I am the son of Markus Morne and Illiana Orhen of Cambria. I am a Seventh Son of a Seventh Son who in turn is a Seventh Son. After the Sea People's War and their continent split I was exiled and have traveled as a bard and mercenary. You may know of some of my accomplishments. However, I was not chosen for my bravery or deeds. I was chosen because I am the only one on this side of the world who can permanently seal Molok away."

My companions seemed to relax as I spoke but none dared to get much closer. I smile as the humor of the sight doesn't escape me. Two giant men and an immortal half-elf all scared of me, a bard, of average height and appearance. Still, I better set their minds at ease. The rumors they have heard about me are no doubt endless and horrifying.

"I know what you may have heard but I assure you I cannot harm you just by being near you."

"That is yet to be known Daelen but, the rumors of your eye color and demeanor are certainly not true.", Lothgar said.

"Aye. Your height and skin tone are not as the rumors say either.", Björn said.

"Well, for my part please excuse my rudeness however, I saw the aftermath of your time in the Von Empire. Quite devastating.", Eris said as she sat down again.

"Yes, my time in Von was tumultuous from the start. I entered the Empire as part of a troupe. Sadly, I was the only one who made it out of there. I haven't been back since."

With this, my companions sat back down and each took large gulps of mead.

"Look, my reputation aside I am here to help. As a Seven I can do what no other mage or mana manipulator has been able to do since Molok was sealed away." I pulled the small crystal orb from my travel pack. "It's been eight hundred years since brave men and women have had to risk their lives to recharge the seal but, with this, we can end Molok's evil forever. I have made this trip before with your Eris's grandfather. The seal has been getting weaker but, we can end it here and now."

"So it is true that you are immortal?", Eris asked.

"Yes. Sevens are immortal. We can die like anyone else but we do not age or become frail after we reach our physical primes. Our infinite access to mana and celestial power keeps us perpetually young and powerful."

"So why carry a mace?", Lothgar asked.

"It was a gift from my master in the martial arts.", I said.

Björn grunted in approval and took a big gulp of mead before passing the wineskin back to me.

All this talking had made me thirsty and I could feel the questions bubbling in my companion's thoughts. So I decided to guide the conversation to stay on the task given to us by the oracle.

"We are not far from the temple. I noticed the runes and on your weapons have been glowing which means we are close to unnatural forces. The seal has been weakening more and more which means the number of undead is going to be great."

At this Björn and Lothgar met eyes. They were both considered the greatest warriors of this age but neither had faced the undead. Eris seemed stoic but she was nervous. She was no stranger to this task but the trip two hundred years ago was terrible. Many were lost and Skell was being overrun by the remnants of Molok's necromancy. If Molok were to be released from his tomb it would be a plague the world may not survive.

"We will get you there Daelen. No matter the cost.", Björn said.

"Yes. Nothing will stop us from completing this task.", Lothgar said.

"Let's finish that mead and get some sleep but first Daelen you will tell me about the kind of man my grandfather was. I never got to meet him.", Eris said with a soft smile as she sipped some mead.

I smiled and we talked a few hours until the mead was gone.

The next morning we had to use spells to clear the snow away from the cave mouth. Thankfully the blizzard seemed to have passed and the sun was out. Now that I didn't have to hide who I was I used magic to clear our path to the Tomb of Molok. Without having to struggle through knee-high snow we made good time. We weren't far from the tomb when the undead began their onslaught.

The tomb was off in the distance when the frozen re-animated corpse of a giant rose from the snow. Eris had erected a barrier and as soon as she was done the undead giant's mighty axe had come down. The steel must have been ancient because it cracked from the strength of Eris' barrier. Not long after Lothgar and Björn were attacking the legs of the undead giant. Their mighty weapons hueing away chunks of bone and rotten armor. As the giant fell Lothgar and Björn granted the mercy of ending its curse as an undead in service to Molok.

After this first attack, more and more undead soldiers from eras passed rose from the snow. Some were men and others were giants and even a dragon rose from the snow. This would have been difficult if I had not manipulated the gravity around it and pinned it down, giving Lothgar and Björn the chance to release the poor creature.

When we finally reached the tomb we were all tired and hungry.

"We must...rest...even if...for a short...while...," Lothgar said in between breaths.

Björn and Eris were looking drained too. I put my hands together and twisted my fingers together to channel the proper mana and I began to chant a healing spell. A few seconds later a warm light enveloped us as I continued my restoration spell. After a few moments, the light faded and my companions' eyes were wide.

"I'm no longer tired and even my wounds are gone.", Björn said. "Thank you Daelen."

"I feel I could wrestle a giant!", Eris said.

"I could probably beat my wife in an argument the way I feel.", Lothgar said in between hearty chuckles.

"Good, I'm glad everyone is feeling better. From here on out only Eris and I will continue into the tomb. The undead will try to enter the tomb and stop us and will try to overwhelm you with numbers but I will leave you some help."

I put my hands on the stone and the ground began to crack and rumble. Slowly the stone began to rise and form into five golems three meters high. As soon as they finished forming hundreds of undead rose from the snow.

"Go and finish this Daelen," Lothgar said. "I do not plan to die in this godless place."

Björn said nothing and simply rested his great sword upon his meaty shoulder ready to face the hordes.

Eris and I didn't wait and entered the tomb to end Molok's influence upon the world.

The tomb was cold and smelled of rot. If it wasn't for Eris and I's barriers the malevolent spirits saturating the tomb would have attacked our bodies and minds. Our goal was the Altar of Molok. We had to place the orb given to me by the oracle upon it and fill it with mana. However, with my power, I will be able to seal Molok away forever instead of making another group of heroes come back two hundred years from now.

We had just dispatched a lich when we first became aware that something was wrong within the tomb. The miasma was too thick for it to just be a spirit. Something physical was in the tomb and that should not be. Eris and I sped up our efforts to reach the altar.

It didn't take long before we came into the chamber that housed the altar. It seemed empty but Eris and I both felt the danger and abomination of something that should not be there. I used mana to light the torches in the chamber but something was fighting my connection to mana. Eris seemed to have trouble touching magic as well.

I stepped closer to the altar when a skeletal being in black robes appeared over the altar. It seemed to be phasing between spiritual and physical existence. Its shape seemed unstable as well.

"It's Molok", I said.

Eris had never seen Molok. I had. Eight hundred years ago when he fought his last desperate battle I accompanied my father to seal him. I was young then. I hadn't even seen seventeen winters yet.

"Are you sure?", Eris asked.

"Even without skin, I know without a doubt it is him."

The creature laughed then. Though his laugh was not from vocal cords and could not be heard with ears. Molok had already infiltrated our minds.

"It has been a long time since I have seen anything living with my eyes.", Molok said. "Pity I am the last thing your eyes will ever see."

Eris tried to summon "Holy Light" but Molok simply snapped his skeletal fingers and her spell died in her mind before she could finish her words.

"He canceled my spell!", Eris gasped.

"Your power is useless here little half-elf. You will not be able to stop me now.", Molok said.

I knew what I had to do but I also had to charge the orb the oracle gave me. Molok was preparing to launch a counterspell at Eris and I had no time to think. With a thought a mana circle appeared below Molok's form and a light barrier surrounded him as screamed in pain.

"Charge the orb with as much mana as you can. I have an idea."

I handed the orb to Eris and she began to pour her mana into the orb. Molok was already tearing through my spell and I had to act quickly. I drew mana into myself and weaved my fingers together. As a Seven I could perform spells through psychic will alone. I could chant but Molok's spell-cancelling ability was too great a threat. Doing the spell this way would take a little longer but I'm gambling my binding spell was going to give me the time I needed.

My spell was focused on the altar and after a few seconds, the altar's large granite top cracked and broke into hundreds of pieces. With the top gone, it revealed the mummified remains of Molok inside the altar. The altar was not just an altar it was a coffin. My hunch was right and I knew what I had to do.

At this, Molok saw what was in the altar and ferociously ripped at my Light Barrier. Most of Molok's power came from his anchor to the physical plane and allowed him as a pseudo-spirit to use the same amount of mana as a physical being. After my research, I found that one could destroy a necromancer that had transitioned from their physical being by destroying their physical anchors.

"IGNIS!", I shouted.

A large ball of flame formed around my hand and launched onto Molok's mummy. As his physical form burned Molok's spiritual form screamed and seemed to flicker in and out of reality. I ran to Eris who beginning to look sick as she poured her mana into the crystal orb. It glowed like a tiny sun with all the mana she had poured into it.

"That's enough Eris! Give me the orb!"

Eris released her connection to magic and handed the orb to me. Molok was already free from my barrier but the destruction of his physical body left his form weak and melting from our reality. This, however, didn't stop him from accumulating a large amount of mana to him. He was preparing a huge spell of dark magic.

"Eris surround yourself in holy magic!"

A magical circle appeared under Eris as she chanted a spell to protect herself from Molok's assault. I stood in front of her and braced myself for Molok's attack.

Molok laughed maniacally as he screamed "SOUL STEALER!"

A huge red skull formed in front of Molok and launched itself at Eris and me. I wasn't worried about Eris but I didn't have the chance to cast a holy magic barrier around myself. I put up a mana field and hoped it was thick enough to block Molok's spell.

The skull bit down on my barrier and the strain was immediate. It wasn't going to hold but Molok's form was weakening and the mana was almost gone. Still, the spell persisted and seemed to grow stronger. My barrier cracked and the strain on my mind and mana connection increased. The skull's teeth sunk a little deeper into my barrier. It was going to break. Once the spell broke through and hit me, it would rip my soul from my body and add my soul's strength to the caster of the spell.

The teeth sunk deeper and deeper and my barrier cracked more and more. I...can't...hold...it.

Just as my barrier broke another appeared and I turned to see Eris standing pushing herself to the limits to expand the holy magic barrier to cover both of us. I didn't hesitate and poured mana into Eris to strengthen her and replenish her mana to keep up the barrier. Soon the skull began to melt before the holy magic of Eris' spell. Then the spell broke and the skull faded from existence.

Molok's semi-corporeal form lay on the floor as smoke rose from the altar and his physical remains were turned to ash. I walked to Molok with the orb in my hand pouring more mana into it. The ancient artifact was beginning to hum with power and shake in my palm as it neared overloading. Molok's skeletal face and looked up at me trying to say something that sounded like a curse.

I put the orb to Molok's face and simply said "Expurgo". A white flame engulfed Molok's form. It seemed that he was screaming but nothing was coming out of his form. Just a dry scraping sound of bone grinding on stone. The orb's radiant glow was darkening as if ink were taking the place of the radiant light that was in it before. As the orb darkened Molok's form became more and more unstable and was coming apart like paper burning in fire.

Finally, Molok's form vanished and the orb was completely black. I set it down inside the altar with Molok's ashes. As I laid it in the ashes it cracked and black blood oozed from the cracks. I put my hands together and with my psychic might created a giant magic circle that covered the whole chamber. As I cleansed the chamber a beam of light shot from the center of the circle and destroyed the roof of the temple. As the beam went into the sky the beam got wider and wider and the temple structure was becoming unstable and falling apart. I grabbed Eris and ran outside where we found Lothgar and Björn sitting and tending to their wounds.

"RUN!", I shouted.

The only remaining golem scooped up Björn who couldn't run. Eris, Lothgar, and I ran as hard as we could but we were knocked over as the force of my cleansing spell passed us. As we got up the temple was crashing into a large chasm that formed as the temple crumbled.

"It's done.", Eris said.

"Good.", Björn said through gritted teeth as the golem set him on the ground.

"It was a glorious battle was it not Björn? I have never seen a swordsman of your equal. Your technique and skill are only matched by your savagery and love of battle.", Lothgar said smiling and slapping his large hand on Björn's meaty shoulder.

"I was only able to do what I did because you had cut down so many. Never have I seen so many enemies fall with one swing of an axe. Your skill is a testament to your people's martial skills. Your father and kingdom must be proud to have such a son." Björn said smiling. He placed a mighty hand on Lothgar's wrist in appreciation.

"We owe you as well Daelen. If it was not for those giant stone golems you summoned Björn and I would have surely fallen and our songs would have ended here." Lothgar said.

"Think nothing of it. We all did our part and best of all we are alive. Now come Björn. Let me look at that leg. It looks like it hurts."

After I healed Björn's leg we began the long journey home. Finally, almost a month after we accepted the quest from the oracle we were back in the kingdom of Ilya where we were gathered for this task. After we met with the oracle and were rewarded by the king we gathered at an inn.

"So, what are you doing after this Lothgar?", Eris asked.

"I am returning home to tell my father of my journey and see my wife. She is with a child and hopefully, the babe hasn't come just yet. It is our first child.", Lothgar said with pride. "How about you Eris? What is next for you?"

"I'm traveling back to Liëfen and report to my father. He has grown long in years and seeks to step down from his role as monarch. I am in line for the throne but I must be in our borders to take part in the election." Eris said all this with what seemed to be regret.

"You don't want to go?", Björn asked.

"Not really. I love my people and my father and my home but I have no desire to be a monarch.", Eris said with a weak smile.

"Then it is you who deserves it most.", Björn said softly. "It is said, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown", but it is so much better for the people you rule when the head wearing the crown knows all the responsibility it comes with. Too many want the power that comes with the crown that they forget the people it is supposed to protect."

"Well said Björn. What of you? Back to the Iron Hills?", I asked.

"Yes, my sword needs repair and then after that, I go to seek a treasure that was rumored to be lost in the north. An expedition leaves on the new moon. What of you Daelen? Will you continue to pose as a bard traveling the world singing songs of heroes and deeds?"

"I don't know. Maybe. For sure I'm going to Cambria because I received this."

I pulled a letter with the Morne family crest on it.

"I have been called home. After fifty years of exile, I'm finally being allowed back into my father's house. It feels good to think of seeing my childhood home."

"Are you going to cross the sea?", Bjorn asked.

"Yes. Have you ever seen the sea Björn?"

"No, but I would like to."

"Then come with me Björn. Cambria is a land where even one such as I could use a friend who can swing a sword. I know you seek treasure but going to Cambria may be just as rewarding."

Björn smiled and nodded his head. "I will go with you Daelen. My sword is yours."

"Good but first let's drink some mead."

My companions smiled and we ate, laughed, and drank late into the night with the snowfields of Skell a long memory away.