Searching for a King (OPEN)

[iuma]

The tall ironclad knight remained silent during Atlantace praising. Seemingly also taken by the dissipation of the Heartless and the destruction of the door.
While an unhealthy grunt escaped from inside the helmet. Sir Lucas dropped down on one knee as he leaned on his longsword for support. His shoulders moving up and down as he was breathing heavily.

After catching his breath, Sir Lucas then lay down his sword on the ground. With some difficulty, the gauntlet encased hands moved to the side of his neck. Unhinging the attachments that held the wolf head shaped helmet on it's place. Taking it off to reveal his pale human face.

His black and grey strands of hair were dangling ruffled in front of his face. His one eye was closed and swollen and as a stream of blood was pouring from his head over the swollen side of his face. Sighing heavily and freed from the restrictions of the helmet the Wolf Knight breathed in the damp castle air.
The fight had taken it's toll on Sir Lucas.

The health orbs and potions coming his way were immediately put to good use as the wounds were magically disappearing. Returning the lost strength to his tired body and bones.
Picking the long sword back up from the ground, sticking it carefully into the scabbard and hooking the battered shield onto his back. It was only then, after being fully restored that Sir Lucas responded to Atlantace in his usual deep voice.

"Thou are most generous, Sir Atlantace. I will indeed require a blacksmith of utmost expertise to restore my family shield to it's proper state.
I just hope such foes won't cross our paths until then. If mere doors are such a danger here. Then I fear what a true guardian's power would be.
The secrets of this castle do not appear to be willing to be uncovered."

Gearing up and dusting off the last of the battle filth, Sir Lucas righted himself and was ready to continue on. Delving deeper into the dark corridors of this abandoned castle. Hopefully their search wouldn't be in vain. He awaited Atlantace before moving on.

[xepte]

Atlantace nodded, pressing forward into the hallway. It was an ornate and long hallway, the type often found in castles. High ceilings, Vaulted arches connecting to stone columns assorted about the area, it was beautiful. But Atlantace kept a sharp watch about- there were vantage points everywhere.

Luckily, there wasn't anything in the main part of the hall. at the end, there were two doors and a large hole. the doors were situated on either side of the hallway, and the huge hole had the remains of a door attached to it. Atlantace looked at it and shook his head. "Looks like they had to do a little remodeling around here..." His voice was low, but in the empty room, it echoed slightly. Atlantace frowned. Which door? Hmmm....

Leaving the large hole alone, Atlantace walked over to the door on the right. The door had a light breeze flowing out of the crack, meaning that within, there was an opening to the outer world. Atlantace took note of that, and crossed the hall once again to the door opposite. There were slivers of light escaping the cracks in and around the wooden door, meaning that there was some kind of opening to the sky beyond the door.

Walking back to the large hole in the wall, Atlantace motioned to Sir Lucas. In a light whisper, Atlantace explained the doors. "Well, this hole was once a door. It leads deeper into the castle, down into the depths as well. Possibly even to the main entrance, somewhere we could possibly get transported into town."

Pointing at the two doors, Atlantace continued. "The rooms behind these doors are somehow opened up to the outside. There is a breeze coming from this one-" Atlantace motioned to the one on the left. "- Leading me to believe that there is either a walkway or open patio of some sort."

Atlantace motioned to the door on the right. "Also, there is a faint light coming from this door here, but no air flow. This tells me two things." Atlantace looked towards the door. "There must be some kind of windows in that room, and also, it is past midday."

Atlantace lifted one of the ornate plates on his chest and reached inside, pulling out a small scroll. Replacing the plate with a small click, he showed the scroll to Sir. Lucas. "This is a map of the castle, drawn back before the castle was turned into the birthplace of the heartless. When we reach an area with better light, we can examine it and decide a path through the castle, maybe even into the core. What do you think?"

[iuma]

Sir Lucas also walked up towards the doors and seem to examine them. Noticing the light and the breeze aswel. His attention however was more drawn toward the dark gaping hole that leaded deeper into the castle. It was like staring down the throat of a giant monster that was eager to consume them.

Finaly he turned his head to Atlantace and answered him:
"We should verify thou assumptions about these doors. The doorway that shows light would also be a suitable place to gaze upon this map of yours. After we have our bearings, we can securely venture deeper."

Sir Lucas was also anticipating the room with the window. Eversince he was casted unto this world from his homeworld he had not seen the sky or sun. The long abandonned shadowy halls were his only scenery for now. The Wolf Knight was anxious to see the outside world. To learn how much it was different from his own.

Still, with his sword drawn, Sir Lucas made his way to the lefthand door. Grasping the handle he slowly and carefully opened it and peeked inside the room.

[xepte]

The door that Sir Lucas was opening gave no resistance, and let a flood of sunshine into the hall. Squinting and blinking, He peered out, and saw that he was partially correct- the room beyond the door was open to the air, but only because the roof and outside wall took some kind of blast damage at some point in the past. However, one table and two chairs in the corner closest to the door were strangely intact, but covered with dust. It seemed that there were no heartless within the room, so Atlantace slowly entered. As he examined the area more, he looked out where the outer wall should have been, and sighed.

"Well, one assumption was correct: the sun is getting low in the sky. I say we have four hours of sunlight left."
Pulling out the map, Atlantace opened it carefully and set it down on the table, after a quick whisk of the debris on top.

"Ok, let's see... we started here... and now we are.... Here." Atlantace pointed to the map as he spoke. "If we go out and down, into that gaping hole, which at one point was a grand staircase, we can eventually go to the entrance closest to town."

"However, if we enter the room across the hall, there seems to be some kind of staircase behind a wall, which leads down into the basement of the castle. From there, however, I'm not sure, because the map might not be accurate about the laboratories..."

"Also-" Atlantace laughed lightly. "If we take the small staircase, it is a long way to get to the main entrance again. Personally.... I think we should go through the secret staircase, but I want to see if the Grand stairs are still intact or not. What do you think?"

[iuma]

As the Wolf Knight ventured into the room, the low setting sun struck him with a blinding light as he shielded his eyes from the large gaping hole. After a moment of adjusting, it was safe to glare outside and took in the sights and horizon of the world known as Radiant Garden. It's lush green gardens and civilized cities stretched as far as the eye could see.
Sir Lucas took the view in and stood there in awe. For it was the first time ever he laid eyes on another world. The level of advance technology compared to his own left him mind boggled. For his own world seemed rather primitive now.
But from afar, there were so many details eluding him.

The view from the missing wall was so compelling that it diverted Sir Lucas his thoughts from the makings of such destruction. Still it troubled the knight as he imagined what force would be needed to achieve such feats. The damage however seemed old. Dust had piled up and settled in the cracks. Rubble was displayed on the ground round the gaping hole, undisturbed for a long time.
His eye caught sight of a shred of paper lodged underneath some loose bricks. It peaked his interested for it was strongly out of place.
Plucking the prop out of the wall caused some of the rubble to stir and fall down. Rolling over the floor as some small boulders also fell down out of the hole. Sir Lucas hoped that it would not struck anybody who was currently standing at the base of the castle for the height would make the small rock have a great impact once it reaches the ground.

After a moment, Sir Lucas inspected the paperworks. It was a bundle of papers held together by something alien for him, namely staples. A large chunk was out of it, as if a beast had taken a bite out of the bundle. And the rest was eroded by weather and time.
Feeling as this find still holds importance, Sir Lucas turned round and joined Atlantace at the table as he gazed over the map. Bringing the sides of his hands to his helmet again he removed it from his head so that he could better see the markings and the outlining.
Following the dragon knight's explanation he took the details and the overview up from the map and gained insight in the structure of the castle.
This castle was much larger and taller then his own home castle. So large it seemed to defy nature by it's very existence. The uneasy feeling of being terrible out of place took hold of him.

With his cold grim eyes he shifted his attention to Atlantace and spoke on a serious tone. While laying down the damaged report on the table next to the map:
"I found this parchment of sorts. Most of it is illegible but the words I can read confuse me. "
On the table was now lying a reports about one of the countless of experiments conducted in this castle. By Ansem himself or his disciples, it did not say. Any useful information was beyond restoration. As he offered the damaged report to Atlantace so that he could form his own opinion about he, the Wolf Knight looked back at the map and continued:

"I believe we best assure ourselves of this grand staircase prior. Should the need arise for a hasty retreat, then we better naught stumble upon unpleasant surprises.
But what is this La-boh-ra-tori thou speak off?"
Sir Lucas finally asked as he stared ominously at Atlantace.

[xepte]

Atlantace jumped in surprise when Sir Lucas's exploring shifted the rubble, but quickly went back to the map as he realized what had caused the disturbance. Musing over secret passages and faster routes, contemplating which ones would probably be destroyed and which wouldn't, Atlantace was about to reveal his plan of action, but the wolf knight walked over with a stack of papers stapled together.

Atlantace nodded when Sir Lucas stated his concern of knowing the staircase. "Agreed. We should most definitely check the condition of the stairs as well, so we don't worry about dropping through holes or weak points. Then, depending on the condition of the stairs, we either come back up here and use the secret passage, or we use this access hallway-" pointing to the map as he spoke, Atlantace traced a finger over the small hallway behind the staircase. "-which will lead us to the basements, and then, the laboratory."

Atlantace smiled at the question. "A laboratory is where someone, usually a scientist, or an alchemist, sometimes even a magician, conducts various experiments on the world around him. In the case of this castle, the laboratory is where they conducted experiments on the hearts of mankind and on the hearts of the worlds, and unleashed the Heartless and a host of other things. This experimentation, however, also opened up the means to travel amongst different worlds, so it wasn't entirely horrible. Just mostly."

Atlantace's attention shifted as he took the sheaf of papers from the wolf knight. A quick look produced a soft whistle from Atlantace. "This here..." carefully lifting the mangled pages and examining the legible parts. "Was probably a report on the activities that occurred within this castle. If i can find something.... here we go, this might be interesting." Atlantace, finding a passage in the middle that was complete, read it aloud.

"A room within that castle of memories contains something... something about my past. I don't know why it is there, I don't know who put it there. All I know is that they are in there. I don't know how... but I can feel it. Castle Oblivion. Why wont you reveal your secrets to me? I have explored you for years... with and without His knowledge. Yesterday I found Her room. I am not sure who She exactly is, but She somehow stirs memory from a long time ago."

Atlantace shook his head, puzzled. "Well, that did nothing in the realm of making sense." Examining the page again, Atlantace sighed. "And the author's name has been cut off by this bite mark. All that is left are the first three letters. X, E, and H."

Atlantace, pondering over the three letters, shook his head. "Worrying about a name won't help us explore the castle. we should continue onwards." As Atlantace said this, he rolled the map back up and returned it to his pack. "I'd like to bring these papers along. we might be able to find more information within them, after more deciphering. Also, I'm sure we can find someone in town who would love to have these." Atlantace carefully placed the report into his pack as well." Atlantace looked at Sir Lucas and nodded. "Ready whenever you are!"

[iuma]

Sir Lucas stared seriously in Atlantace his eyes at his final words and gave a slow single nod to confirm that he was indeed ready.
Nearly instantly he brought his wolf shaped helmet back over his head and carefully lowered it. His face disappearing under the craftsmanship and the black visor that covered the eyes.
With an easy snap and tug with his fingers, the hinges at the side of his neck attached the helmet securely into place. Tightening it to his shoulder guards.
Then the wolf knight exhaled and a hollow, muffled sound escaped from the area where the mouth is.

Drawing his sword and readying his shield, Sir Lucas was ready to venture forth. Capable of withstanding any assault that would try to hinder them. Awaiting his companion at the door, it was now Sir Lucas who took the initiative to take point. Carefully threading down the gaping dark hole that was meant to lead to the master staircase. The black cape and contours of his armor soon blended in the surrounding. While the silver parts shimmered a final last time in the faint light, before also dimming to a cold grey tone.

The silence was unbearable as every step of Sir Lucas his boots echoëd through the dark corridor. With raised sword he carefully stepped further. Granting his eyes the opportunity to adjust to the growing darkness. A source of light would be a welcomed asset at this point.
For just in time did the Wolf Knight halted, for he had reached the top of the staircase. From here on out it was clear there were stairs going down. Stairs that at first glanced seem to be in sturdy good condition. But the central staircase had no windows to allow outside light to illuminate the area.

Sir Lucas recognized this phenomenon with his own castle. The castle back at his home world, even though smaller, also had area's deep in the center of the structure where no windows were present. To see in those parts of the castle, torches and chandeliers were placed.
This thought caused him to look up at the ceiling and walls. And yes, there were torches and chandeliers present here. With a single spark they could be lighted and cast away the veil of darkness that hindered their journey.

Sir Lucas turned around at Atlantace, and silently he motioned with his sword. Pointing at the torches and chandeliers. Perhaps he would have a way of setting fire to them.

[xepte]

Atlantace followed the Knight cautiously, Ranseur at the ready. His eyesight was able to operate in a lower light level than the average human, a result of the time he had spent with Bloodbane, yet the darkness within the area was so thick and oppressive, he could not see very much.

The only definate things that Atlantace could see included the faint glimmer of stray light reflecting off of Sir Lucas's armor and sword, and the ghostly outlines of the furniture and objects around them. Reaching the staircase, Atlantace pondered the best way to light up the area.

They were in a castle, in the center. Thinking to his life in Wurrcyan castle, and thinking of the grand hallway and it's.... He looked up, catching the movement of the wolf knight's sword. "It seems that we've come to the same conclusion." Atlantace whispered softly.

Pointing at the vague outline of the chandelier above them, Atlantace gathered his energy into a small whisp of flame, which he then directed to the chandelier. The candles were coated in cobwebs, but the whisp of flame incinerated them and proceeded one by one, to light the ancient candles.

As light was restored to the room, Atlantace smiled. "Wow. this place must have truly been an ornate and beautiful castle." There was evidence that the walls were once covered in tapestry and murals, but the heartless had also shown their marks. Claw slashes, bite marks, heavy footprints, burns... there was also evidence of battling, as most of the decorative pillars scattered about the hall were broken or cracked.

The staircase itself was in good condition, except the large hole in the right half of the middle landing. Atlantace cautiously stepped onto the stairs, which he determined were made of stone and still in good condition, slowly making his way down, occasionally pushing aside debris and being careful not to make too much noise.

Slowly approaching the crater within the stairwell, he noticed that there was something at the bottom which glinted in the low light. Motioning for the wolf knight to proceed down the stairs, Atlantace cautiously glanced around the room to make sure it was still safe. Crouching, he reached towards the glinting object, curious to see what it was.

[iuma]

Sir Lucas observed from te edge of the crater what Atlantace was doing and keeping an eye out for any sign of trouble. The shadows sometimes moved pecuriour by the dancing lights of the torches and chandeleers.

As Atlantace crouched down to identify the shiny object that lured him down. It dissapeared in an orb of darkness. The bait had done it's job and the trap was sprung. Immediatly the Wolf Knight became aware and was alarmed by creatures appearing through portals of darkness around them.
Above them, higher on the staircase 2 neo-shadows appeared. Blocking their retreat back up. The same happened below them, lower on the staircase. Two pairs of yellow menacing eyes glared upward. Pinning the two knights on their location.

To make matters even worse, above their heads three Crimson Jazz's joined the ambush. Hovering above them, circling the chandeleer.
"Curses! A trap!" Was all that the Wolf Knight yelled before turning around and raising his sword against the two neo-shadows that held the elevated position.
With his kite shield directed towards the one on his left. His sword quickly struck towards the Heartless on his right. Not granting it a chance to attack first.

[xepte]

Atlantace cursed loudly, whirling his Ranseur around into the ready position. He knew it. The second he had almost touched the object his brain screamed, IT'S A TRAP! but there was nothing he could do, he had already broken the proximity field.

As the Wolf knight slammed the two heartless on top of the stairs, Atlantace focused his attention to the bottom. "Focus on these black ones first! They will prove to be more dangerous than the ones circling above us! Take note, the ones circling above us shoot balls of flame that have a small amount of time before explosion!"

Following his own advice, Atlantace jumped into the air, spinning his spear and smashing down onto one of the Neo-shadows, sending it reeling. As he landed, Atlantace rolled forward into a horizontal slash, further knocking the Current Neo-shadow back, and then speared it through the head, causing it to dissipate. spinning his Ranseur, he looked around to find his next target, the other Neo-shadow, which was already leaping towards him.

A quick spin allowed Atlantace to ram the butt of his spear into the abdomen of the creature of darkness, which he flung against the wall. As he spun the spear again, a searing heat approached, which he dodged just in time to see a fireball splash against the Neo-shadow, consuming it. Spinning around to see what had caused the flame, he noticed one of the crimson jazz heartless was floating over towards him. Gripping the butt end of the Ranseur, Atlantace focused, producing a blue gray glow from the Ranseur, which he then swung like a baseball bat, straight into the red creature, knocking it into the adjacent wall and causing it to fall to the ground, shuddering and emitting a blue gray glow. Atlantace, before it could react, speared several times until it dissipated.

As he returned to the stairs, two sergeant heartless jumped out of darkness portals at the foot of the stairs. Rushing to engage them, Atlantace glanced up to see how his comrade was fairing.

[iuma]

Sir Lucas fought valiantly against the Neo shadows that appeared above them. Unfortunatly, his shield was still bashed and battered from their encounter with the Tresholder. So it served to little purpose in guarding the Wolf Knight. But his skill with the blade parried many of their attacks and those that did made it through were halted by his platemail.

His armor also shielded against the attacks of the crimson jazz's that spew fire and blaze around. Heating up the area, in synch with the battle.
Lucas his long sword flew fluently through the air and made contact many times with the dark creatures. Knocking them back and dispersing them in a growing rage.

More balls of flame were launched against the ironclad warrior from the two that had chosen him as their target. But as the exploding bursts engulfed him he kept on emerging hardly affected at all from the inferno's. The combination of his superior defence and ruthless willpower was to much for the heartless.

The two neo shadows were defeated after an intense struggle, so Sir Lucas now focussed on the airborne enemies overhead. Although his aerial skills were not as sufficient as that of Atlantace. Instead the Wolf Knight leaped over the crater and dashed downward the stairs. Passing Atlantace as he yelled:
"I'll shall vanquish them on the ground. Thou can better use thou're reach for our flying foe."

And with a howling battlecry the knight of Nordenfrosd rushed down to engage the soldiers head on.


(ooc: not feeling inspired to go into detail, after all it's just an encounter)

[xepte]

Atlantace paused and nodded, "Understood!"

Jumping up into the air and spinning the Ranseur around, Atlantace caught both of the crimson jazz's in the sweep, disorienting them enough to send them to the floor. As he descended, he slammed the Ranseur into the closer of the red heartless, making it dissappate.

The other jazz had regained its senses by now, and sent a large fireball towards Atlantace, who held out his hand and shouted "Freeze, Blizzara! And five chunks of ice formed, one collided with the fireball, canceling both out, and the other four zig-zagged into the remaining Jazz, causing it to freeze, drop to the ground, and then shatter.

Atlantace looked over at the Wolf knight, assessing whether or not to assist the man.

((Sorry for the wait! ))

[iuma]

Soldiers are not known to be fast on their toes, or in their minds. The two small Heartless creatures that were running up the staircase were caught off guard by the charging Wolf Knight.
Being larger, heavier and storming down from an elevated position, his accumulated force was simply to great to be stopped by the midget sized opponent. Like a soccer ball the Soldier got knocked back and soared in an arc back through the air. Until it's head landed on the stairs from were gravity took over. Clanging and rattling the Heartless bounced down the staircase, sustaining so much damage it dispersed back to darkness.

His companion wasn't one the wiser either with Sir Lucas standing right beside him on the steps. Still it used the opportunity that presented itself. As it lashed out with it's long sharp gauntlets toward Sir Lucas his side.
The Wolf Knight buckled from the lash, gritting his teeth as a soft cry escaped his lips. Feeling the sting of pain slither from his side over to the rest of his body. But his full body plate armor prevented any serious damage to his flesh and tissue. Making the painful blow subside very quickly.

Another lash from the Soldier got parried by Sir Lucas his long sword. Who then immediately followed with a counter attack and started to hack wildly at the Heartless. Forcing it back to the edge of the staircase where it could not retreat no further. The Heartless got beat up like a rag doll before Sir Lucas finished with a final blow that toppled it over the side of the balustrade and caused it to fall plummeting to it's end. Squashing into black smoke and vapor as it smacked on the floor deep down below them.

With these opponents gone, the ironclad knight looked back up to Atlantace and his fight to see how he was faring and required assistance. But the mighty dragonknight had taken care of the flying crimson jazz's.
silence returned to the staircase as the echo's of the battle sounded from the high walls and long corridors until they to died out.

Sir Lucas stood still, his longsword in his hand as he waited for a moment. Expecting more enemies to show up, but they didn't. As the rush of fighting passed over, the longsword was slowly placed back into the scabbard. Finally he said with a grim voice:
"These halls are treacherous."

[xepte]

Atlantace visibly relaxed as the sounds of the battle died down, breathing heavily as he made his way down to the other knight. He returned the Ranseur to its place on his back and looked up as Sir Lucas spoke. "Aye, they are. Haven't had a workout like this in a while."

When he was on the ground level, near where the Wolf knight was standing, he stopped and stretched. "So, now what?"

Atlantace looked at the shadows caused by the flames of the chandelier and smiled. For just a moment, it had felt like home. But he shook his head to snap himself out of it. It wasn't home, and he knew that. Turning back to Sir Lucas, Atlantace assessed the damage the man had taken. It wasn't anything serious, but the knight's shield looked about ready to fall apart.

"I mean, We can do one of two things. Do you still want to continue descending? or do you want to go into town and get healed up and maybe even repair your shield?" Atlantace stretched his back out as he spoke. "because I'm sure it only gets worse from here on down. I can guarantee that one. In all of my experiences, the closer to the goal, the more difficult the enemies. I will gladly descend deeper if you would like to, but now would also be a good time to leave."

Atlantace finished stretching and looked about, waiting for the wolf knight's answer.

[iuma]

Sir Lucas turned his head towards Atlantace, his face hidden behind the black visor of his helmet. The broad shoulders were slowly going up and down, in sync with the heavy breathing. But slowly turning to a normal breathing as his stamina recovered in the short rest they were currently in.

Answering Atlantace he said:"
The loss of a shield would not render me defenseless nor useless in the furthering exploration. And I have stand for more strenious tasks before in my life. I have been trained all my life in the way of the knight and there was no sparing on hardship in that life."

The Wolf Knight pauzed as he looked down the staircase. Deeper into the black abyss that still laid unexplored before them. On a colder and less optimistic tone he continued:
"Though I must admit, that I do fear that we could traverse these lightrobbed cellars for eternity and find naught.
But do not believe that thou should question my ability to keep up or fend for myself. I say we go forth."