8 Defeating Starlung

There is a horrible stench inside the old castle. My nose can't bear it,and I feel like vomitting so i tie a scarf over my face and hold my trusted large long blade in front of me, guarding against whatever lies inside. A tenor voice accompanied by bass voices booms out around me, bouncing around the room like an amplified echo.

"Fool. You have entered my castle! In doing so, you have secured your doom!" Starlung roar.

Startled, i react quickly and looking around for my enemy's whereabouts. A deep rumble shakes the castle, and the floor begins to rotate beneath me! As soon as I accidentally lands my right foot on one of the trap tile. Objects tumble across the floor, several hitting me in the legs and chest. I dig my blade end into the floor to steady myself as debris goes flying. The ceiling above me is beginning to cave in and the moving floor shakes the walls and pillars around me.

I jump from one pillar to another, dodging the worst of the falling debris.

The floor continues to tilt, shaking the castle to its foundation. Rocks come down all around me as i skid past more rubble. Finally making my way to the room on the next floor down, i carefully regain my footing and take stock of the situation.

Unsurprisingly, this floor also drops away. The middle falls out and down, pulling me down into a stone funnel with astonishing swiftness. I wedge my blade, daggers and rifles out, against the sides of the pit to try to slow my descent. Sparks shower from the blades, and my knuckles sting from showers of tiny pebbles. Fighting to catch my breath, I cough out dust and mucus and spit, muttering, "Bathing hasn't been this appealing since last time I fought a slime monster and wetlands monster.

I carefully swing my legs onto my rifles, grasping it tightly as one side after the other jerks downward, finding new cracks in the walls. Peering down into the abyss, i can just barely see water shimmering below as the sound of splashing debris rises from the pit. My blades and rifles handle finally settle into a stable position, but before i can climb out of the hole, Lord Starlung lands heavily on my blade.

There is a terrible creaking noise, and we both plunge into the endless rabbit hole at a terrific speed. Grinning despite myself, i say,

"Fancy meeting you here! Had I known you'd drop in, I' would have gotten you something nicer more sponges.

Flinging the salt into the air with one smooth motion, i add, "I'm afraid you'll just have to make with this!"

As the shining mineral scatters in the darkness, the vampire's excellent vision for he is a bat lets him see every thing clearly. His eyes contract and his head swing frantically. He begins to mouth, "one-two-three-four-five--" as his eyes dart back and forth and he managed to escape it all.

Looking down, I see the water coming closer. The stench is almost overpowering. Starlung is totally distracted, and he hits the water with a sickening, crunchy loud splat. I soon follow, since Lord Star, so kindly broke the surface tension for me. I landed on top of him .Sinking into the boggy water, i push upwards until I reach the surface, wiping slime and a few strands of some marsh plant, or, i hope it's just a simple marsh plant, from my face. Starlung did face a deadly fall and he is in deep pain. He broke both his leg and his backbone seem to have twisted.

Swimming through the liquid, i notice a narrow passageway to my left. I slowly press forward, remarking absently to the walls, "I wonder what died here to make this smell? Or maybe it's better that I don't know." Moments later, i finally pull myself onto solid ground near the passage's entrance, my soaking clothes dragging in the mud.

I might have chosen to spare Lord Starlung but leaving him alive to control his cursed castle would have been suicide. But he can barely move to do the spell.I have fallen so far down into the castle, I guess this must be very bottom, which is generally the place with the weakest source of magic, fortunately for me. The darkness is complete. It takes a few tries because my candles Wick are all wet, but i eventually light it, illuminating the tunnel in a dim, azure light.

A few steps later, I notice a change in the feel of the stone. Curiously, i press the wall. It suddenly moves backward and to the side, revealing a staircase winding upwards. A faint light glows from the walls, reflected from some hidden source. Peering into the terrific spooky tunnel, I'm confronted only with two choices.

Keeping my candle lighted would protect me from magical barriers and enchantments while also illuminating the path. The other possibility with my candle, though, is that the light would just be an attraction for any dark creatures still lurking in this forsaken fortress, or I might encounter a strange creatures even Starlung would be afraid to face,but as of now the vampire

will never bother me again,or maybe not.

But on second thought I decided to light my path by lighting a candle. A lit candle seems like a better plan, to prevent me from making the same mistake I make earlier and the feeling of free fall frightened me.

I hold up the little light up to the doorway. It smells sweetly of incense in this dark place. A magical flame glow in the blue light, but it disperses with a little 'pop' as the candle takes effect. Nodding appreciatively at my foresight, i ascend the winding staircase.

My footstep echoes oddly in this stifling stairwell, but i find myself comforted by the oval of illumination and familiar smell of my candle. I must have descended hundreds of feet during my fall.

My journey seems never-ending, but I finally reach level ground. Walking carefully into a dark, silent room, i scan the walls but see no windows. Likely, I'm in the exact center of the castle. One wall has a row statue of ancient evil looking creatures holding a torches in each right hand, and i take a moment to light them. The entire room brightens, so I extinguish my own candle and put it away.

I began to explore the perimeter. There are three prominent staircases here. One, a marble staircase, ascends to a sturdy set of beautifully decorated iron doors inlayed with gold and silver, secured with a huge bolt and keyhole. In the center of the room, there is a metal staircase that leads to a smaller door. Both the staircase and door are covered with a variety of strange runes sigils and wards. It doesn't take a genius to know these runes are not friendly...

On the right, a slightly eroded, stone staircase connects to the balcony. The room above is framed in stained glass covered in strange, geometric calligraphy that resembles alot like that of the tower of Babel ruin. It looks like a good storage room for all of the exciting supplies! I quickly decide to explore the most appealing-looking room. The room with the iron door inlaywith gold and silver.

I was curious to know what is behind that warded chamber in the center.The fancy room with the marble steps looks expensive even from the outside. No doubt there are valuables in its chambers.That stained-glass room is the most intriguing, in a mysterious way.

Now I'm confuse which direction to take.

My instinct tell me to explore the stain glass.

I walk up the stone stairs to the beautiful colors, as the lights behind the stained glass seem to shift and change without patterns. Curiously, there appears to be no barrier here. Stepping through the door way,im startled to see a ward suddenly appear behind me. It crackles with malevolent energy, pulsing and writhing like bloodied insects. Turning around, I see that the exit is completely blocked.

I can already tell that my candles and my other items are too weak to dispel this intensity of magic. I have to find another way out of this laboratory, or a way to destroy the ward. Meanwhile, I'm stuck . It's a good thing this castle is so charming and pleasant. Taking a look around, I see so many unidentifiable objects seem most of them are valuable item, and so much dust, that I can hardly make out one item from another.

Most of them are probably only useful for the darkest of spells. To my right, there is a row of oddly colored vessel, undoubtedly magical. They even seem to be labeled in ancient Roman numerals. I guess it's fortunate for me that Starlung apparently had a bad memory. I walk towards the table, carefully avoiding the piles of iron nails and traps on both sides, and thoroughly inspect the vessel and their tag and the label.

One beaker, which contains the number (iv) says "Lucifer charm", is glowing a bright yellow and seems to contain writhing flora. The next is a , vivid blue clouded with snow and ice crystals, labeled (iii) "AGORA BREATH." To its right is a shining, circular bottle. Its twisting red contents have warmed the outside of the glass, and i nearly burn myself as I look at the label:(ii) "Flame of Devil General."

The other two potions at the far end of the table look much plainer. One is a container of dirt that reads (I) "Earth " and the other holds a vigorous white substance but it has no label as well as no number. I examine the white one more closely and find it very cold to the touch,like the feel that I might get a frostbite.

I notice a hand written manuscript positioned on a table nearby, i pick it up and notice that it seems to have information about the potions, written in several different languages, i gather it, Im not familiar with most of them, but there are some pages in God languages.This portion of the ancient page, is written in an older dialect of God, but it's still understandable. I read it silently, it says

The potion of Lucifer charm send many living, moving objects, engulfing your enemy as a spider might a fly. The Earth open a great endless crack which, collapsing upon itself, and drive your enemy to a deadly burial. The agora ,send blades of air spinning through the battlefield, harming all but the caster. The potion of Agora brings a mightily with a north wind, freezing your enemy as it falls. The potion of Devil general Flame surround your enemies in a spiral of fire.

~ signed ,the black wizard, RAMRO,

the year 1200 Ad, in the kingdom of Puanjingkhang.

I wanted all the magic item but my bag will probably gives only room to take two potions, at most.

The charm will be useful for stalling enemies, especially the powerful foes that may lie ahead of me, defeating hordes of enemies, or more powerful ones,for incapacitating anyone i might be facing.

The potion I choose is actually very light, and almost seems to hover very slightly if i watch it carefully.

Putting the potion gently into my pack, padded with a strip of cloth, I turn back to the table. To my surprise, the manuscript disintegrates and a colourless barrier appears in front of the remaining potions, buzzing frantically. It seems to be the same type of spell that appeared in the chamber's doorway earlier.

I'm about to exit the premises when the same fancy spells letter from the ward outside the castle appears on the magical barrier. It reads, "Claimed the key from the depths in order to take what you desire!"

Initially, I suspect that this is some sort of riddle, but a creak from behind me reveals otherwise. Turning, i see a new doorway . Proceeding boldly towards the doorway, i raise my long large blade and watch carefully for any traps. I was immediately overwhelmed with the smell, stale state of water. There is a pool in the middle of the room but otherwise the space is empty,except for a few faded purple curtains embroidered in the ritual of he lord of files, covering parts of the walls.

The surface of the pool ripples slightly, reflecting light onto the ceiling, but nothing seems to be disturbing the water. The bottom is tiled with small stones, and in the very middle there is an odd, irregular object: a small, brass bone key. If I wanted a second potion, then, it seems I must dive to the bottom of the pool. Something about the pool is vaguely disturbing, and tempting too, however.

Taking out a candle, i light it and hold it out towards the water. My candle makes no effect on the pool as it's contains magic. As within this entire castle, it appears like dark magic is at work and at it best. On the other hand, though, the bottom isn't very far away and the key is valuable, considering it could unlock the wards keeping me from one of the other potions and from exiting this chamber at all. Something tells me to rethinks again, now an option appear on my brain screen,that I will have to take my chances with the magical barrier, and give up on getting a second potion or

I will attempt to retrieve the key in hopes of breaking these barriers.

I decided to choose the second one.

Shedding my clothes and setting my equipment aside, i plunge into the pool. Its waters are warm and strangely thick like that of a jelly, and the key is tossing and turning gently at the bottom. I kick steadily towards the key, keeping my eyes trained on it, ready for any tricks this pool may have waiting for me. Although it only seems to be a few feet away, I can't get any closer to it no matter how forcefully I struggle.

However, a backward glance confirms that the surface of the liquid is farther away now. There must be a wicked enchantment on this pool: distance forward becomes relative to the spell's whims. I continue to swim downward, but i make no progress at all. As I near to get hold of the key it seem that it's very far from my reach again .

My lungs begin to burn from lack of oxygen, and my vision is diminishing. At this point, it might be best to consider turning back. But i have no idea how long this curse will continue, and every second brings me closer to death.I really don't want to died as even if I die I have no place in heaven or in hell.

I have a feeling that i should turn back before something terrible happens Or to continue despite the danger.

The thought of Judas comes, and thought of leaving him alone , jumpstart me, it gave me another hope.I ignore the burning sensation in my lungs, swimming stubbornly downwards. My muscles are aching and I can barely keep holding my breath. Im starting to wonder what I have gotten myself into. Finally the enchantment finally breaks and now I'm free.

Snatching up the key, i turn, pushing my feet off the bottom and rocketing upwards. Just when i can no longer stand to hold my breath, my face is out of the water. I gasp, sucking in deep lots of air.

Panting, i swim to the edge and pull myself out of the water.

Pausing and staying still only with the sound of my heavy breathing for several minutes to regain my strength as fatigue washes over me,i lay on the ground, clutching the key happily and singing softly the hunter victory chorus. Fighting exhaustion, I finally stand to my feet, dress, and gathering my things. And I head over to the remaining potions and lift the bone key, bringing it to the magical barrier.

The ward draws it inwards, and the barrier, the spell on the doorway, and the key disappear in a shower of blood droplets...how pleasant. At least now I can choose a second potion.

The second one I choose feels surprisingly heavy. I put the second potion gently into my pack near the first, then wrap them together so they won't rattle against each other and chip or break. My mind already struggling with the dual attacks possible thanks to these potions, i turn to leave the dark alchemy laboratory. As I exit, im startled by a massive rumble that shakes the castle's foundations. I instinctively shield my neck and head but are only showered by loose particles of dust. Still, i need to move quickly. Starlung domain is decaying as quickly as its master who is good as a dead man.

I can't be so sure that he died, for vampire are cunning and tricky.