Gerion's+Gate

=Gerion's Gate=

(In First Person)
It came so suddenly. I had been sitting in the hovel I was living in for the past several months since my encounter with the light mage's shades. You would think that I could do something to stop them, considering that I can manipulate shadows, but these shades were the creation of light magic, and thus incontrollable. Either way no matter were I ran they always seemed to find me. In the base of Mt. Essia, in an abandoned seaside cottage on Teranon, and many more hideaways. The last place I ran to was a deep dark cave on the Silver Isle.

I've been told many things about this labyrinth, but there are few that are true, and less that can be proven. They say it is where The Shadow, created his own magic. A man whom I find I am compared to often. Not for solely my powers, but for my personality, for my actions, and for my constant temper. It has also been told to me, that I was born in the very room where he found his power, but I was told this by liars, thieves and murderers. Am I no better though, for that is all I do; lie, steal, and kill. Is it any better that I do it in an attempt to ease the troubles of those who lay dying in the streets? I have been told many more things about this cave though.

An ancient tale, thousands of years old tells of a gate, and it's immortal guardian, The Tridian Centaur. A beast with large white holed wings. Its torso was that of a monstrous bat. It's hindquarters appeared to be that of a mare, with such a dark shade that it seemed to tear at your soul, clinging it to the void. The most terrifying thing about the Tridian Centaur was that it's head was that of a human's, but it's face morphed endlessly showing those who have passed from the world of the living. They say the gate is made of shadows. It was created by The Shadow himself. It is whispered that he used such powerful magic that the darkness itself condensed into a solid form. He then reached into the bowels of the Earth and called upon the damned to lift a gem of Smoky Quarts so large that no mortal man could lift it. He then sat at the stone for seven days whispering to it, feeding it with the magic of shadow. As he did this the gem slowly moved and formed into a whole new shape. With so much magic imbued in it, only a true master of Shadow could lift it. The Shadow picked it up, and when he did this, his own power was doubled and tripled and sent back and forth through him until he was a diety in a man's husk. He slowly walked to the gate holding his breath. He stood in the center of the shady stones and placed the smoky quartz in the position of the keystone. As he did this the gate started to crack and shatter. Being terrified that his creation would be destroyed he did two things. He called upon a protector of the damned, known as the Tridian Centaur, and bound it to the gate. Then assuring the gate's safety he expelled all of his life energy into the gate and his soul entered into it. Though his act of sacrifice worked in saving the gate, it didn't end his life. Once his soul entered into the gate, he soothed it with a soft song, that few people today still know. The stones then calmed and expelled him back into his body. When he looked at the gate he realized the song would be its key. When he walked out the Tridian Centaur shrieked an ill cry. "You will die beyond the gate." Thus is the tale of the Shadowy gate.

Then the letter appeared. It felt heavy in my pocket. One second it wasn't there, and then it was. It was from The Fox. Who else? The man had made an impression by saving me several months ago, and he said to repay my debt I would have to report to him. I nodded and wiated for his orders, and questions. This letter though was a first.

It ran: My friends,

I hope this missive finds you all as well as maybe expected. I know that many of your regions are suffering right now, with plagues and illnesses, famines and disease. This has not gone unnoticed, nor is it confined to only your region. You are not alone.

The time has come for us to meet again, friends. You may not be surprised to know that I have been making contacts in all the regions of Pyrosium for some time now. In fact, my family has been doing this for generation upon generation, back to the beginning of our world.

But now, the time of the Great Prophecy is upon us. It is imperative that we meet together to discuss this and that we set aside regional differences and animosity in order to confront the evil which besets Pyrosium.

You must now find the Lost Gates in your land. Look for them in hidden places or in plain sight. There may be legends of these Gates or rumors of them. They may appear broken and disused or new and clean. They may be guarded by the stuff of nightmares. They may appear to be unguarded. Regardless, you must find them and then find the way to enter them. This you must puzzle out for yourselves, but come soon. We have little time to waste.

I await you at the Forum.

The Fox

I immediately knew where the gate was. For I had been scouring the caves in my boredom of training, which was my only other activity. The legend was true though. I had come across a massive cave the size of a large amphitheater. It was separated into two sides by a large chasm. The side I had come in was riddled with boulders of all sizes, colors, and types. On the other side I sensed through the darkness a flat surface of smooth light stone with a platform raised on the far wall. A set of three to five stairs carved of marble, and against the wall sat a dark gate, carved of shadow and smoky quartz. The most daunting thing though was that The Tridan Centaur was real. It stood a haunting silhouette in the shadows. It sensed me, in the same way I sensed it, and we came to an understanding. It would not attack me, if I did not cross the chasm. Though now, I had to for it has been ordered by a man who saved my life. Though I may resent him for it I must repay my debts.

I decided to stock up on provisions, and encamp on the near side of the chasm, for a while. I had no idea whether or not it was day, for time didn't really hold much significance underground. So saying I would spend the night encamped didn't really mean anything. Either way, I brought with me my weapons, which entailed two dueling swords, master crafted by a one-eyed blacksmith. They were both roughly about five and a half feet long and were designed to be used with two hands, but I had imbued them with a few simple charms; so that the balance of the blades and their weights shifted, thus I could wield them two at a time. I also brought seven knives which I concealed on my body, they were each about 6 inches long and the blades were razor sharp. On my back I had a bastard sword, about a four and a half feet long, carved out of the strongest steel in Pretium. On the pommel there was a Smoky Quartz wolf head, it had been my fathers, Wolfe. I wore loose clothes, but they weren't baggy. I had a hooded cloak on that did well to cover my face, a tunic and robe made of rough spun wool and pants made of black wool. My boots though were made of cowhide, masterfully taken in one strip and wrapped around a strong sole, forming beautiful boots, that had worn to my foot. They felt as if they were a part of me. My most precious weapon though was strapped to my right thigh, a foot long dagger with a gold laced handle with a Comedy mask on the left and a Tragedy mask on the right. It had been Randin's. I had taken it from the vault on the day I destroyed the smiling knives. It seemed to symbolize the strife inside of me the pull of evil, and the idea of happiness.

When I reached the cavern I let shadow magic ooze out of me and return. I didn't need light in the cave, but it took a little bit of constant magic to view through the utter black. I felt the Tridian Centaur in flight on the opposite side of the chasm, just waiting as it had done for centuries upon centuries. It was tasting the air and sensing the life in me just daring me and pleading me to cross, so that it would have my permission for it to attack. It landed heavily on the marble dais and looked out into the darkness. It was blind, which actually gave it an advantage in this hell. It didn't rely on it's eyes. Where I did. I slept lightly, after thoroughly examining the cavern for what seemed hours. When I woke I was in a bog. It was a swampy marsh and it was teeming with beasts of all kind, and in the distance there was a man, well actually the silhouette of a man. I knew who it was but I didn't know how. It was The Shadow.

"Hello Gerion, it is nice to meet you finally." he whispered. "H-hello." I stammered. "Are you wondering why I am here? Well to answer your unasked question, I am here to help you. You need to get to the gate correct?" I nodded but just barely. "It is simple enough, the beast was brought by my calling and can be made submissive through my words." "Why are you here?" I implored. "Please Gerion don't be rude, you shouldn't talk to your elders that way, especially your dead ones. However you need to know a few things to get past the beast, that is why I am here." He kept going, "You see the Tridian Centaur will only let you past it, if you give it a reason. You only need give a reason once and it will let you past forever, but the reason must be damned good. So, why do you need to get to the gate?" "Um well I-" "Oh, I already know, you must connect with The Fox, and the other heroes." He said conceitedly. "Other heroes?" I didn't understand. Clearly. "Never mind right now. Here is what you must say to the beast, 'I died beyond the gate. I have returned and need access.' The rest you will have to figure out on your own. At least now the monster won't try to pick your bones clean." His shade was dissipating. "But I umm I don't-" "Oh but you do, you are ready." He said as he faded to nothingness. "Goodbye." I said inquisitively.

When I awoke for real I was in the cavern and the centaur was looming over me. I was on the other side of the chasm. It was looking at me, boring into my soul. It's scent was that of decay and death. It had mottled flesh and an ever-changing face. I looked into it and felt my stomach come up. I managed to keep my insides down. What came up instead was this, "I died beyond the gate. I have returned, and need access." The eyes that never changed looked at me, the nostrils sniffed, and then moved on, deeming my words worth my life. I picked up my items, wondering how I had crossed the chasm, deducing it to some kind of magic along the lines of shadow travel. I walked up five smooth steps and looked at the gate.

I sat there for hours puzzling and then I remembered that there was a key to this door with no lock. I had learned the song when I was little. So little in fact I have no recollection of ever learning it. I began to hum a low resonate note, and to my alarm the Tridian Centaur mimicked me. It didn't encroach, but it sang along. I hummed the tune, slowly remembering all of the words.

//Hello, how are you?// //Do I talk to you?// //Can I?// //Should I say hi?//

//My lurking friend lies in wait,// //People embody him to be hate.// //His eyes are dark and despondent,// //And no question shall be responded.//

//He welcomes me to the dark and dead,// //With a simple message sent to my head.// //My shadow is dead, and a lie in his mouth,// //For no evil precedes a shadow, but doubt.//

//I open up to it, and consume it// //He baffles me back from him,// //And I respect it.//

//A Shadow in the dark,// //Can bring light,// //With the right spark.//

With that the gate began to hum the notes with me, and it came to life. Where a rock wall was there was now a pure, endless darkness. Not being afraid of the void I stepped in, but I would never be prepared for the peril on the other side of the gate. Nor would I know till later that the song wasn't my only key through the gate, but the Smoky Quartz wolf as well.

After the dark of the caves and the gate, the light on the other side dazzled me. A fleeting moment of panic possessed me. Could the light mages be laying in wait for me? But then I realized that the light was golden, not the bright searing white of the light mages. And then I heard a delighted laugh, and a voice that I remembered and was by no means pleased to hear. "Ah, my young Shadow! Welcome! I should have expected that you would be one of the first to find your way here." My eyes slowly adjusted to the light and I looked around. The Fox stood in front of me, laughing slightly. Now I got a better look at the man. The Fox was clothed in dark brown, with a green cloak falling from his shoulders. He had piercing amber eyes and spiky close cropped auburn hair. He had an air of power and authority and, despite the resentment that I felt, I also felt that this man could be trusted...at least, as much as I trusted anyone.

The room was large and circular with a dozen or more alcoves dotting the walls. My keen eyes spotted gemstones embedded in each archway and words written above the doors. Though they were written in a language that I did not know, the shape of the letters looked strangely familiar. I assumed they were more gates like the one that I had come through. In the middle of the room was a grand table, also round, piled high with books, maps and papers. My sharp gaze also saw that a young woman with damp ebony hair sat in a comfortable chair by a smaller table which was spread with food and drink. The warm light came from lamps dotted around the room, with a brighter golden glow coming from a huge faceted topaz the size of my head that was set in a holder like a globe. Automatically, I tried to calculate the price and quickly stopped. It was astronomical. The soaring ceiling of The Forum was lost in the darkness above. I hesitated.

"Come, my young friend, surely you do not resent me so much that you will refuse my hospitality? I assure you, I may deserve resentment, but not for saving your life. There are many other, better things that you could blame me for." The Fox chuckled again, and gestured toward the table. "Come, let me present you to Halyn Coalscale of Saqui Salvi." The Fox swept his hand through the air and I felt a rush of Shadow magic tinged with something that I could not name sweep past me as another chair materialized by the table. "Halyn, The Shadow, among other names."

I nodded and approached the table, eying the dripping girl and wondering what I had gotten into. The room appeared to be perfectly circular, as well as the table. So I chose to sit across from the girl, and The Fox, as far as possible. I was not prepared to become friends with these people despite their apparent high status. I picked up an apple and took a bite out of the succulent green fruit. It tasted sour and sweet at the same time. Delicious. I tossed the apple into the air and grabbed it with a tendril of shadow magic, tossing it about. I soon released it and flung it at the wall as hard as I could. The Fox began to say, "I would prefer it if you didn't splatter fruit on-" just as the fruit passed through a shadow and dropped from the ceiling into my hand yet again. I gave him a dark smile and chuckled. I was in for an adventure with these people, but the other gates told me I wasn't the last to show up.

"Show off," The Fox observed wryly, as he threw his head back and laughed heartily. "I can see that time spent with you will not be boring. What fun we will have!"