The monks of Mehlo’s Retreat stood at attention. Each lined up in unison across the square at the center of the monastery. Each was clad in their white battle garments. One that allowed for free movement. At the front stood the monk’s trainer Master Obadai. To each of his sides stood the Arch-Monks who had assisted in the training, Brother Menghest and Brother Hast.
At the front of the line stood Turon who was the head of his class. With a final bow Obadai raised his scepter on high and spoke.
“You are now all officially brothers of the order.”
A great shout went up from the gathered crowd. Emerging from the sides of the monastery making their way to the middle were the monks congratulating their new brethren. Obadai walked forward congratulating every student who rushed towards him bowing and grasping for his hand.
After years of training and dedication Turon had finally realized his dream of joining the Brotherhood Of Mehlo, fighting monks he had idealized since he was a child. To be apart of them was almost more than he could bear. His closest friend and training partner Grius slapped him on the back a wide smile across his face.
“We finally did it brother” he shouted triumphantly.
“We did” replied Turon embracing him.
He and Grius had grew up together in the same village and joined the recruits at the same time and now they were both monks of the order.
Another recent initiate Cleius rushed up to Turon and Grius.
“Well are you ready for it?” he asked excitedly.
“For what?” asked Turon. Cleius shook his head.
“To explore the catacombs of course!”
Mehlo’s Retreat had been built just outside of ancient catacombs. The white cleaned square stone of the monastery contrasted sharply with the pitch black jagged stone of the ancient catacombs. The monastery had been built to drive back the evils that emanated from deep within the catacombs and would terrorize the surrounding countryside in ages past.
The recruits were never allowed to venture deep into the catacombs, except with the guide of Master Obadai and even then never went deeper than the first level. But now as full fledged monks they were permitted to explore the depths of the catacombs to their heart’s content.
Truth be told it had been some time since any true evil had come from the catacombs. Once legions of the dead and damned had marched from the catacombs and fought against the Brotherhood of Mehlo who drove them back into the abyss. But the last real fight had been when Master Obadai himself was recently an initiate many years ago.
Since then an occasional deformed creature would be seen and either beaten to death or lost in the darkness of the catacombs. It was because of this that Master Obadai gave clearance to the monks to explore however deep in the catacombs they wanted. Something that had been forbidden in his time even to full fledged monks.
Turon, Grius, and many of the other recent initiates swarmed over the catacombs that they had so long been forbidden from entering. The catacombs had been built by skilled hands many millennia ago. No one knew who had originally constructed them but they ran deep within the ground with a craftsmanship greater than any currently known.
Turon stopped at a large walkway that descended downwards. Despite being underground the catacombs had high walled ceilings and were roomier than most building of the monastery. He stood the furthest he had ever gone in the catacombs before. He stood at the place where Obadai had them fight Arch-Monks Menghest and Hast to prove their combat worth.
Menghest and Hast had painted their faces black and worn tattered dark robes of some forgotten empire. They wielded wicked black iron staves and were to represent the damned that has risen up from the catacombs years ago. They had fought harder than ever they had in training and many recruits went away with broken bones and banishment from the brotherhood for failing the test.
The other monks raced past Turon down into the passage below. Grius stopped by and placed a hand on Turon’s shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I was just thinking this is the farthest we were allowed to go as recruits”
“Yes, but we are monks now”
The two descended down the wide stone steps that seemed to glow with a faint greenish light. Down into the depths of the catacombs they went. Some of the monks whispered incantations that caused the designs on their garments to shine with a faint blue light that mixed eerily with the green phosphorescent of the catacombs.
Turon whispered an incantation causing the patterning on his garment to glow with a blue light helping to illuminate the way down. Each monk had a special design he stitched into his garment using the same length of special thread. Turon looked ahead of him at the moving line of faint blue shapes in the green light of the catacombs. He felt an excitement come over him.
He imagined this was what the ancient monks had looked like, all glowing as they descended into the catacombs to do battle with the ancient legions of the darkness that poured forth from some unknown depth of the catacombs.
As they descended Turon found himself studying the ancient markings along the walls not able to make anything of them. His attention was drawn away when he heard a shout from the head of the line and raced down towards it. The stairway gave way to a giant domed room that looked like a cathedral of the capital city Turon had seen in his youth. How such a structure could have been made underground Turon could not guess.
The dome stretched high above. Turon swore it must have been above the ground but knew otherwise. They must have descended much further than he had guessed. Turon looked around the floor of the great dome which was littered with bones. Some seemed as if they were charred while others were snapped and shattered. It seemed this had either been the site of a great battle or the burial place after one. The walls glowed with a green light illuminating the entire room.
Directly across from the stairs they had just come down was another stone staircase leading downwards. At the top of the stairs Turon spotted a black form highlighted against the green glow. The form was like that of a small crippled man bent over and seemed to be watching the monks. Turon grasped a monk by him and pointed towards the staircase.
The monk shouted and the form disappeared down the stairway.
“After it!” shouted the monk taking off towards the stairs. The other monks soon joined in as they swarmed down the stairs. Turon tried slowing down the mass but it was too late even Grius was already descending down the stairs.
Turon gritted his teeth in anger “It could be a trap” he shouted. But no one listened. He raced down after them. He could hear the shouts that echoed up the staircase as the monks gave chase to whatever the creature had been. Turon overtook them at the bottom of the long stairway. There with their shining white staves they has cornered the pathetic creature which was hissing and pawing at them.
The creature had on tattered rags and looked to be a giant rat like creature that walked upright. Its long clawed hands swept out towards the gathered monks to push them back. The monks pushed and prodded the creature with the ends of their staves.
“Who wishes to strike the death blow of this foul thing” asked one of the monks.
Turon looked down at the creature who seemed more pathetic than foul “Wait” said Turon.
The others monks looked at him wide eyed. “For what?” asked one of the monks.
“We do not know what this creature is…or who it is” said Turon.
“It’s a creature of the darkness from the catacombs, it is an evil to be destroyed” answered one of the assembled monks.
Turon looked at the creature again. A fear shone in its eyes. “This is some pathetic beast that’s wandered in here, it is not of the darkness of the catacombs…watch”
Turon brushed aside the gathered monks and walked towards the creature his staff down at his side but still at the ready should the creature choose to strike. Turon looked into the creatures eyes that stared at him wide with fear.
“Do you speak?” asked Turon.
The creature continued to stare at Turon breathing heavily.
“You have rags…were you once a man?” asked Turon.
The creature did not answer. Turon continued staring into its eyes. “Do you know of the secrets of the catacombs?”
The creature’s eyes shone some intelligence as if it understood the question.
“You understand me don’t you?” asked Turon.
The creature made out a low croaking sound as if trying to speak. “Come with me” Turon offered his hand. The creature recoiled widening its eyes in fear again.
Turon turned towards the monks “Alert Master Obadai that we have found a creature in the catacombs…now!”
Grius raced off with two other monks to alert their master. “This creature is not of the darkness” stated Turon turning towards the other monks.
“If it was I’d strike it down myself, but no…he is something else”
Master Obadai came down and together they led the creature back to the monastery where it was given some food. Obadai looked at it curiously as if remembering something from a far off past.
“What’s wrong Master?” asked Turon.
Obadai shook his head “Nothing…a faint memory. You were right to not slay this creature. It is not of the darkness.” Obadai turned towards Turon “that is why I placed you as head of the class. Not only is your skill with the staff unmatched but your wisdom and temperament as well. I believe this creature can tell us something of what the catacombs hold.”
That night Obadai and Arch-Monk Menghest the wisest of the monks sat with the creature and tried to communicate with it. The creature seemed to be able to understand their words but unable to communicate itself. Eventually growing tired they went to sleep late in the night having a monk watch over the creature who was sleeping peacefully.
Obadai concluded that the creature had once been a man once but had been corrupted by the darkness of the catacombs into the form that was before them. Obadai deduced that the creature must have lived in the catacombs for many a year to have been affected in such a way. How he survived for such a long period of time Obadai could not guess.
The next night the creature woke with a start, screeching. Obadai and Menghest flew up at the sound from a deep sleep. The creature raced to a corner of the room as if all the horrors of hell were descending upon it. Obadai studied the creature who tossed and turned as if being struck with a million blows. After a few minutes of this it collapsed in exhaustion.
A few hours later it awoke. Obadai felt a clawed hand tugging at his robes. He woke up and saw the creature was trying to communicate something. It was chattering excitedly and pointed towards the north where the catacombs resided. Obadai woke Arch-Monk Menghest and Arch-Monk Hast and made for the catacombs with the creature and a few other choice monks towing behind.
There the creature led them down excitedly chattering but with a fearful look in its eye. It went to the bottom of the staircase where it had been found and began racing about excitedly chattering and screeching pointing excitedly further down into the catacombs. When the monks reached it, it descended further down leading them with it.
“Be on the alert” warned Obadai “we still do not know this creatures intentions”.
The creature led them to a small passageway that overlooked another large domed room far far below just like the one above them. It pointed to a small hole in the passageway that gave view of the floor hundreds of feet below. Obadai peeked in and gasped. Below a great green smokeless flame rose up from the center of the room below. Around it gathered skeletal beings in black tattered robes each holding a black iron scepter with a dark iron claw that held a red ball at the end.
Obadai could make out chants and murmurings below. He bade the other monks to take turns looking one by one.
“Should we go down and put a stop to it now?” asked Menghest.
Obadai shook his head “There is more than what we see. Those beings you see below are the curse callers. They are simply preparing the way for something greater that is coming. Striking them down would only serve to destroy our element of surprise and do nothing to stop what comes after them. No, what we must do is get the monks ready for war.”
The monastery was a whirlwind of activity as news of the coming invasion from the catacomb spread. Obadai being the only one with experience fighting the legions of the damned was worried how his monks would hold up. He had no doubt in their fighting ability, but that was against humans that they knew. Not against unnameable horrors of the darkness that caused grown men to freeze in fear or turn and run in panic.
The next night the rat creature began squeaking and racing about the room. Obadai led it out and into the courtyard. It bounded towards the catacombs.
“It may be time” said Obadai to Menghest.
Obadai followed the rat creature until it stood at the entrance to the catacombs and started sniffing. It turned to Obadai with a knowing glance. Obadai nodded and raced back to the monastery where the monks were being gathered for battle. The monks were ordered into lines with the most advanced monks taking the front led by Obadai, Menghest, and Hast. Turon would lead the new initiates in the rear.
Obadai led the monks out of the monastery to the entrance of the catacombs. A faint green light emanated from down the passageway into the catacombs. The light began to grow brighter and the monks heard the sound of marching feet. Obadai ordered the monks to disperse to either side of the passageway to lie in wait to spring a surprise attack. He had Menghest, Hast, and twelve other chosen monks stay with him. They whispered their incantations and their garments began to glow with a bright blue light.
The green light now completely illuminated the passageway. Obadai caught site of a figure climbing into view. A skeletal being in tattered black robes with a long staff with a glowing green ball at the top emerged from the stairs. He was immediately flanked by a larger skeleton covered from head to toe in black iron armor who held a large warhammer with both its hands.
The skeletal wizard took notice of Obadai and halted. Seeing the few monks spread out before him he turned behind and gave out orders in an otherworldly voice using an ancient language the monks did not understand. The brutish armor clad skeleton marched forward followed by a mixed array of armed skeletons.
Some had random pieces of the same armor the brute wore. A helmet here, a pair of gauntlets there, leggings here, and so on. They bore weapons of many different kinds short swords, scimitars, and maces all made from the crude black iron of the catacombs. The brute began gurgling in the unknown tongue of the skeletons. The dark abominations began to pick up speed as they surged towards the monks. The wizard lurked in the background observing his advancing forces.
Obadai began to retreat a few paces with his men leading the skeletons further back towards the monastery. Once the skeletons neared, Obadai called out the order to attack and from either side of the road fighting monks whipped into action their white metal staves whirls of motion. Helmets were crushed, chest cavities caved in, and necks broken as the hardened metal went to work in the skilled monks’ hands.
The skeletons taken by surprise were quickly beat down. However those in the front continued their charge towards Obadai and his monks. Obadai raced forward against the brute skeleton striking out skillfully. But the brute was not as slow as he looked as struck aside Obadai’s blows with skill, precision, and strength. The other skeletons surged around their leader and met with Menghest, Hast, and the other monks.
Turon found himself towards the rear in view of Obadai and the other head monks. He made quick work of the first few skeletons he engaged with but now they were fighting back. He saw a brother fall in front of him his head smashed in the skeleton standing over him beating him again and again each blow sinking with a thud into the monk’s limp body.
Turon felt a mix of rage and adrenaline surge through him, he rushed forward swinging his staff down into the skeleton’s head smashing the exposed bone dropping the creature to the stone. He smashed it a few more times to make sure of its demise before turning to other enemies. He caught the eye of a skeleton bearing a bloodied scimitar who had just finished off a monk.
Turon approached cautiously carrying his staff at the ready position. The skeleton rushed forward lashing out wildly. Turon battered aside the strike and countered smacking a hard blow against the skeleton’s exposed knee. He heard a satisfying crack as the skeleton fell to one knee. Turon quickly landed another blow at the back of the skeleton’s head sending it crashing to the ground not to move again.
Turon heard a cry and looked over to see Obadai tossed aside by the great brute skeleton. Menghest was held back by a row of skeletal warriors hemming him in as Hast rushed forward to defend his fallen master. The brute skeleton turned towards Hast and with a mighty blow smashed his warhammer into the monk’s ribs with great force killing him. Hast’s body skidded across the stones and lay still. Turon saw an opening and rushed towards the brute.
He aimed a blow against the brute’s head and struck with great force. The creature tumbled forward crashing against the ground. Turon raced towards Obadai’s fallen form and helped his master up. Obadai looked around in a daze. Turon heard a cry from Menghest and saw the brute was rising from the ground. He set down Obadai and raced forward to strike another blow before the brute got to its feet.
Turon’s staff smashed against the brute’s helmet again and again and again beating it to the ground. The helm dented in with each blow of the monk. Turon continued until the creature’s skull was reduced to fragments and its helmet a misshapen lump of iron. By that time Menghest had broken through.
“Take watch of Obadai while we drive these creatures back” ordered the Arch-Monk.
Turon nodded affirmatively and walked to his master who had risen to his feet supported by his staff.
“I cannot retire the field while my monks fight” said Obadai.
“I know” replied Turon “but you must get your wits about you before returning to the battle.”
Obadai nodded solemnly and tried standing without the support of his staff but fumbled Turon catching him. In front of them the battle raged. Menghest and the remaining monks that had been with Obadai created a line that drove back the skeletons before it.
“We will have the day” said Turon. Obadai nodded again and looked around at the shattered bodies around him. Suddenly the monks making up the line fell back from a pulse. The wizard skeleton had entered the fray and a energy emanating from its staff sent out a wave that knocked the monks to their backs making them easy targets for the skeleton warriors.
The monks were now being pushed back more and more. Obadai stumbled forward.
“The wizard’s staff, it must be dealt with” he mumbled gritting his teeth.
Turon watched against as the skeleton wizard flashed his staff sending out a shock wave that knocked the monk’s to the ground. Some rolled back instinctively while others were not quick enough and were smashed or cut to ribbons by the foul weapons of the skeleton warriors.
Menghest tried frantically to clear a path to the wizard but was repulsed every time. An idea began to form in Turon’s mind. He reached down and picked up the staff of a fallen comrade and raced towards the battle. He set down his own staff a little ways from the front of the fight and raised the other staff over his head.
Seeing an opening his threw it forward as if it were a spear. The staff whipped through the air and smashed into the chest cavity of the wizard. The creature let out a piercing shrill shriek as it fell backwards letting go of the staff. The creature collapsed on the ground not to move again.
Menghest looked back and smiled but his smile faded as quickly as it had come. He shouted and pointed behind Turon. Turon whipped around to see two skeletal warriors descending on Obadai who was propped up by his staff. Where they had come from Turon had no clue.
Obadai who was watching the approaching skeletons with wary eyes whipped into action as the first one came in range. Even severely wounded Obadai’s strike rung true as it caved in the head of the attacking warrior. But the next warrior was soon upon Obadai and buried his wicked sword into Obadai’s chest. The skeleton crashed to the ground with Obadai who lay motionless a pool of blood forming underneath them.
Turon reached them and bashed in the skeleton’s head as it rose from the kill. He looked down with horror at the bloody form that was once his master. The last of the skeletons were soon defeated with their leaders gone. The night was theirs.
Turon looked at the long rows of covered bodies spread out before him. The sun was just beginning to rise. Menghest now the master of the order said a prayer over each of the fallen bodies before setting them alight. At the head of the rows was Master Obadai with Arch-Monk Hast by his side. The other monks stood to the side having already said their goodbyes.
Turon stood with them his eyes filled with tears. He felt responsible for the death of Obadai and shameful of the new title of Arch-Monk he now bore. Grius stood by his side and placed a hand on his shoulder as Master Menghest set Master Obadai’s body alight. All of the monks now burned their bodies turning to ash to fly away on the breeze.
With the rat creature, Master Menghest, Arch-Monk Turon, and many others delved deep into the catacombs to see what they could find. The further they went the more they found. Ancient dark relics and artifacts that they destroyed and ancient green flames that they extinguished. How long all of this would keep the darkness at bay they did not know but they would always be ready for when the next cycle came around.
