Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29:A Blast from the Past

Maximillian and 14 others finally reached the Alpedelle Mountains. Maximillian was deep in thought, sitting upon a platform perched on a mountain. Sarah noticed Maximillian's quietness, and proceeded to sit next to him.

"So, do you have any ideas on what to do next?" asked Sarah. "After all, you really can't expect to live here, can you?"

"Well, it doesn't seem I can do anything. I wonder, who is the new emperor and how did he manage to clear up all the rumors flying around?"

Nicolai walked over. "Sir, it's Onslow. He's the new emperor."

Maximillian went quiet again.

This bothered both Nicolai and Sarah, who exchanged glances before Sarah said,"Excuse me, sir is there something wrong?"

"Not really, it's just that Onslow, well, he was a former member of the Sivrat guild of mercenaries."

"Former? Your highness, what happened to him? He's not the type of person to quit things." continued Sarah as Nicolai left to talk with Charion and his brothers.

"Well, he was kicked out, but that was just the official report. I think I'd like to examine the guild-"

The two were interrupted by the arrival of two heroes. One was a pirate with a pistol named Edward. He had distinguishable pirate features (such as his hat, wooden leg, hook hand, and eye patch). The other was an assassin named Alash. Alash was quit short in comparison to his companion, and sported dual daggers with several bottles of poisons at his belt. Both men, although mercenaries, saluted Maximillian. Following ten minutes of introductions, Edward eventually notified Maximillian more heroes would be coming to his aid.

*          *          *

Three hours later, a good deal of men and women joined them. Firstly, Sarah's father Urza and his father Philinus were here, along with the captain of their guards, Eugene, who was a short and stoutly man. Sarah and Nicolai stood next to them. Octavius was a bladesman and expert tactician, who stood next to Ignatius, an elven knight of much renown. Next to them stood Arthur and Alexander, Maximillian's two leading governors. Then came Shazzo, a strong commander, Circe, a dark mage, Morgana, the sister of Circe, Belthor, a high-ranking mage who studied much dark magic. Then stood Merlin, Hi-En, Zenon, and Tennin. Charion and his brothers Chamile and Chastine came next, followed by Edward, Alash, William, Reinhard and Joan in that order. Cannon, chief of the northerner barbarians, along with Hedvig, his sister, came next. Manto, a odd man who barely spoke, Charles, a strategic old man, and Uriah came next. Overall this was an impressive collection of people, and Maximillian alone commanded them all.

Within thirty minutes all of them had understood what Maximillian planned to do. Maximillian led the team of twenty-eight (including Maximillian) to Bligo, a remote town with little to no inhabitants.

Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28: Abdication and Exile

Maximillian had just woken up in his room when Sarah came bursting in. She was shouting frantically, and soon enough Nicolai and William both came into the room. 

"Whoa! What's the matter? What's so important?" exclaimed Maximillian.

Sarah immediately burst into frantic speech. "Your majesty, in all the lands beyond here, it is known that you have abdicated. After some research, we discovered a plot called the Pdonis Plot. We are not sure how they managed to send a message with our papers, unless-"

"Unless someone we know is a traitor." finished Nicolai.

William held up a piece of paper. "This is the message that was sent to all the major governments of the world under your control.".

Maximillian read: 

THE EMPEROR MAXIMILLIAN HAS ABDICATED AND CURRENTLY LIVES IN EXILE IN THE ALPEDELLE MOUNTAINS. WE HAVE DETECTED SHADOW CLONES OF THE EMPEROR GOING AROUND THE WORLD. SHOULD YOU SEE ONE OF THESE, KILL IT ON SIGHT!

The threesome waited with baited breath. until Maximillian finally said, "There is only one choice. I flee to the Alpedelle Mountains."

"But- but- your majesty you can't-" began Sarah.

"Unfortunately I must."

After that thye all went silent, as Maximillian, along with William, Sarah, Nicolai, Reinhard, Joan, Uriah, Merlin, Zenon, Hi-En, Tennin, Philinus, and a new recruit at the palace named Charion L'Champiyon with his two brothers, Chamile and Chastine. The group traveled silently and invisibly (Merlin had cloaking charms) to the Alpedelle Mountains.

Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27: The Pdonis Plot

Maximillian was in one of his own private chambers back at Central City. Only a week ago did he go with an army to rescue the fallen companions at Sandland. Ever since, he didn't feel quite right and just knew there was some evil plot somewhere against him. So, he locked himself up in his private chambers and attempted to find a plot. Servants occasionally brought him food and drink, but it was not known if he even slept anymore. Somehow, someone he trusted had gone bad...

That someone was Onslow. Even though Onslow had failed at decimating Maximillian's army, he was working up a plot to overthrow Maximillian. With the emperor gone, the world would be in anarchy and Doom could take over. The plot was to go into action the next day, and what Maximillian did not know (he is not all-powerful) is that his chief guard, Donnery, is a traitor. Onslow decided to name this plot the 'Pdonis Plot' because of the last name of Donnery being Pdonis.

Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26: Solar Saga: The Magnus

After a day of camping on the summit of the mountain, finally the companions (now only five) found a way to attempt to destroy the evil that killed Travis in this region. Actually, that was a bit of a incorrect statement. The companions didn't find the evil, the evil found the companions. Because on the second day of trying, Sivrat-Gilles appeared again.

"You fools! I told you to leave. Hmph. Have my minions already killed off the others members of your group so that you have been forced to recruit another?" asked the tantalizing, snake-like voice of Sivrat-Gilles.

"Never!" shouted William and he charged headfirst. He was, incidentally, also blown back headfirst and lay in a corner, knocked out. Sivrat-Gilles hit Joan and Reinhard, and they too were motionless. Leaving only Hi-En and Zenon, Sivrat-Gilles tried to run. He was no fool, but perhaps Hi-En would be to quick to dodge his attacks and his reflections. He still tried to attack Zenon, though, and Zenon, caught off guard, was tortured into agony.

"That's for disobeying the master! That's for not dying when you should have! That's for-"

Sivrat-Gilles couldn't control his own power and was knocked out with the force of it. However, his master seemed to have appeared.

"Sivrat, failed so early? Sigh.... I will have to finish this. My name is Condyne."

"Condyne, you don't scare us!" taunted Zenon.

Condyne raised towo muskets and blasted Zenon and Hi-En so fast they couldn't react. Both crumpled. Condyne blew away the smoke, when suddenly he sensed a being more powerful than himself. Dressed in such elgeant white and gold robes... who was this?

It was the god-emperor, Maximillian.

With a single blast Maximillian issued from his hand, he hit Condyne (previously known for his insane speed-being so fast his movements couldn't be sensed by most humans) with a honing spell. It shot Condyne into the air, then obliterated him, possibly into pieces so small he would never be found. Having completed ths fight, Maximillian helped bring the five friends' unconscious forms over to Sarah and Philinus, who immediately began healing them.

Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25: Solar Saga: The Temple

The group, now reduced to seven, continue to head on climbing the mountain while reinforcements continue to fight and sitract enemies so the companions and head on. Tennin, however, is a person of extremely proud status, and so leaving the rest of the companions to continue their journey, Tennin jumps into the battle and pulls out his Buster Katana. Immediately he uses his special ability.

"Special Ability! ThunderStrike!" Tennin yells as he smashes a column of the enemy dead instantly.

The six head on, with Merlin and Zenon occasionally firing a spell or too and any aggressive beings. Reinhard is at the back of the group, occasionally stabbing at an enemy that saw them. Uriah led the front of the group, closely followed by William, Joan, and then Merlin and Zenon.

Five hours later, the Doom forces having been defeated, the tired companions rest, almost at the summit. The sun glows red in the sky signalling it would be giving way to the moon soon. Tennin apparently set up camp and the army was now immobile. Reinhard suddenly noticed a large structure on the summit of the mountain.

"What's that, guys?" asked Reinhard, referring to the structure.

"I don't know, but we should check it out." replied Uriah.

The six took up camp and began climbing again. Merlin, being old and frail, had to drop out, and Uriah escorted him back down the mountain to where Tennin was camping. The structure turned out to be a large temple, in which a man was completely clothed except for his eyes, which were closed, apparently in meditation.

"Hey! Hello? Who are you?!" yelled William to the stranger.

"Me? Would you know anyone named Hi-En?" replied a calm voice belonging to the stranger.

"Aren't you a ninja, one of the east?" asked Reinhard.

"Of course. Where else do ninja live?" replied Hi-En, now opening his eyes. "Look out!" shouted Hi-En, and it didn;t take much to realize why. A large oozing black and purple blob was heading their way, firing streams of acid melting through the floor of the temple. Hi-En through a shuriken, and Zenon amplified it's power to pierce. The shuriken went straight through the ooze and exploded it. It reformed and attacked again. Joan healed her allies while striking the beast, using her ability, Healing Strike. The beast, unable to stand all the holy power in the attack, was subdued and morphed into a patch of odd-looking dust. The heroes were safe, for now...

Somewhere else,  the emperor Maximillian was worrying about one of his best fighters, William. The entire army had failed, and apparently no heroes had reported back yet. Maximillian decided to journey to Jaem Tuung, to find it in ruins. Nicolai and Sarah were both unconscious  just outside the city gates, and many others were badly hurt. Jaem Tuung itself was still burning, although very soon there would be nothing left. A cursed fire of some type had burned everything, and Maximillian swore to avenge this act as he found the same brand Zenon did on the island...

Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24: Solar Saga: The Finding 

After hearing the legend, Zenon's curiosity leads him deep into a forest, followed by Reinhard and Joan, who have also awoken. Zenon notices a temple and runs up to it.

"Whoa. This temple is insanely large!" exclaims Zenon.

"Yes... That's strange. There's no mark on the temple!" states Joan.

"I say, we should go back to tell the others." says Reinhard.

"Tell us what? Anyways, we're here, so whatever," grunts Uriah, carrying a heavy load of tents, sleeping bags, and supplies on his back.  "Wait, what's that grotesque temple?"

"We're not sure, but I suggest we check it out." replies Reinhard.

The party of eight moved into the temple, not knowing that a relative of Travis was waiting...

"LEAVE THIS PLACE, OR DIE!" screeched the shrill voice of a masked stranger.

All eight pulled out weapons, and Travis, out of impulsiveness, attempted to impale the stranger.

"Travis... Good to see you... Remember me, Sivrat-Gilles? said the stranger.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the strange person reflected Travis' lance, impaling it upon Travis himself.

"Holy crap!" yelled William, and the seven remaining charged on Travis. All seven were blown back.

"Fools, leave me alone and you will be spared... I came only for Travis." And with that, Sivrat-Gilles vanished.

"Damn it!" cried Joan a moment after the battle ended. " I was really looking forward to beating the hell out of his face!"

"Travis is dead, and we need to continue on our journey here. We've gone this far; we can't stop now." murmured William.

"William is right, we need to continue to-" said Tennin before being interrupted by a large group of kobolds, goblins, orcs, and trolls.

Joan called for reinforcements, and another battle begun...

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23: Solar Saga: The Legend

After much conversation, Merlin attempts to use an identify spell on the symbol to discover what it symbolizes. The spell succeeds, and Merlin identifies the symbol as truthfully being from the Dol Sol. In the language of the Dol Sol, a script appears.

"This script will tell you what happened to the Dol Sol." says Merlin in a calm voice.

"But we can't read it!" says Joan.

"I could try a translate." suggests Zenon.

"First we should keep a copy of the text, just in case the translate damages the original." says Tennin.

The copy read:

Textoon readuus. sykusin machuus?
Denn machuus tu finn, end-us texdinn.

Onke Dol se magnifecentex.
Po a semoes Dol Sol yei Dol Lun.
Overria un stimpleei relugu wrrt, 
Do Dol se vanisico!

Wrrt werted onne, 

Pacs no de cumme.

Do Dol, bi Do Dol Sol oke Do Dol Lun,
VANISICO!
An cau un Semo Wrrt!
Po, readuus, soc a oppe.
Finn de pyramedia!

After the translation, in poorly written but amazingly legible writing, was:

Reader of this text, do you seek much?
Then much you will find, in this text.

Once the People were magnificent.
But seperation caused the People of the Sun and the People of the Moon.
Over a stupid religious war,
The Dol had vanished forever!

War waged on,

Peace did not come,

The People, be the People of the Sun or the People of the Moon,
VANISHED FOREVER!
All caused by a seperation war! 
But, reader, there is a hope.
Find the pyramid!

The translation was enough to fuel the group to go further into the mysteries of the Dol...