Chapter 1:

Elgin stood at the sprawling mouth of the dark cavern. His entourage flittered around him, but he ignored their feeble concerns. His sole focus was on the task at hand. He knew he was the one who would have to brave the depths of the infamous dungeon and retrieve the legendary sword hidden deep within its forbidding bowels. That’s what they’d told him after all.

His concentration was shattered when Sister Abeth emerged from the crowd of onlookers and began to observe his current state. He flinched away from her which was a mistake, when dealing with dangerous creatures one must show no fear.

“Look at you in your shiny plate mail,” she sighed, “You look so handsome.” She reached out her hand to adjust the buckles on his chest, “Just let me straighten these out for you.”

He pushed her hand away roughly, “It’s fine!” he protested angrily, “There’s nothing wrong with them!”

She took a step back to eye him critically. He seethed in frustration; he just wanted to get the ordeals started. Sister Abeth always knew how to make even the most important moments awkward. Since he had lacked a mother of his own the young sister had gravitated to the role. This was accomplished primarily thanks to the fact that the other monks would rather flee than risk facing her stone hearted wrath.

“It’s all crooked,” she stated as she finished her examination, “If anyone sees you they’ll think you’re weird.”

“Who’s going to see me in the deadliest dungeon in the world?” demanded Elgin his agitation barely contained, “Do you think the monsters down below are going to critic my fashion sense?” he stared the down the woman defiantly, daring her to continue. His one beam of hope was her reluctance to cause a scene in front of the other monks.

Sister Abeth took in a deep breath; swelling up like a balloon before she let it all out in a disappointed huff. You could hear Sister Abeth’s kind of disappointment from an entire village away. Elgin held his ground refusing to back down from her challenge.

She shook her head sadly, “You’re your own worst enemy.” She stalked away with her head raised; leaving him alone with his retainers.

“You shouldn’t argue with her so much,” said Brother Bellamy as he strapped on Elgin’s fine broadsword.

“We’re both equally at fault,” stated Elgin, staring a foot above and to the left of Brother Bellamy’s head, “You can’t hold me fully to blame for what happened. I’m willing to admit partial responsibility, she’s the one who’s childishly stubborn.”

Brother Bellamy muttered something along the lines of, “Maybe both of you should consider the fact that you’re more at fault than you’ll admit.” Before he finished attaching the weapon to Elgin’s waist. He bid his farewell and retreated to leave the young warrior to his few remaining preparations.

Elgin was glad to finally have some time alone. He enjoyed the monks’ presence, but they could become a little overwhelming after a while.

Elgin fell to his knees before the entrance and prayed for the strength to fulfill his quest. He didn’t know which gods would be watching him, so he prayed to them all. Many would consider this blasphemous, but he thought that all the gods should all have a vested interest in seeing him succeed. He’d take any help he could get to overcome the fearsome trials ahead of him.

The rest of his group were retreating; leaving him in solace. He knew he had to brave this test alone. Only once he emerged could he begin his journey to vanquish all evil from the land. That would be the first real day of his life.

He knew what he must do to accomplish his goal. Every step of the way had been drilled into him from practically the moment he could comprehend tongues. First he would sit in contemplation until the sun faded from the sky. Then he would head below to face the deadly and despicable trials in the ancient dwarven cavern.

It was thus that he knelt in wait, fidgeting only slightly as the sun slowly fell below the treetops. As the last golden ray left the sky Elgin rose and strode into the mouth of the cavern. He left his sword sheathed in its scabbard. He would not need it for the first trial on the way to the magic sword; the Hallway of Perseverance. In his head Elgin went over the words that the high monk had drilled into him about this first task.

They say that the first challenge has brought many an adventurer to his knees. The Hall of perseverance, a true test of will for any would be hero. For no man without the strongest of convictions could overcome its treachery.

Elgin took his first step onto the hallway as the words ran through his honed mind. He was prepared to face whatever challenges awaited him.

The Hallway is of an exceedingly impressive length, they say it will take upwards of four hours to traverse; which is a really long time to spend in any hallway. Not only is it of such a formidable length, but in an act of dark cunning it has been painted white so as to provide no stimulation to the eyes. You must persevere if you want to have any hope of reaching the end. You cannot give up or everything we have done will be in vain.

The old man had been right about the hallway. It winded down into the depths of the cavern with no end in sight. The white wall began to hurt Elgin’s eyes after he had stared at the for more than an hour. If the terrain had been treacherous or terrifying it would have been so much easier to push on. As it was the walk was just so…boring.

After two hours of trekking Elgin felt his eyes droop. He was beginning to yawn at regular intervals which was the first sign that the hallway was getting to him. He tried to steel himself against these temptations, but it is hard to steel yourself when there is nothing to oppose you. Whoever had come up with the challenge was truly cunning in the most profound way. Elgin was beginning to fear he’d never reach the end of the first trial.

In a desperate attempt to keep himself awake, Elgin began using his dirk to cut himself every few minutes. It was messed up, but the pain kept him focused and on task. He smiled as he realized he’d found a way to overcome his first obstacle. He just had to make sure Sister Abeth didn’t find out about the stains his blood made on his white undershirt.

Pain was something that he could fight; boredom was something he could not. He pushed through the pain, whoever had estimated the length of the trial had seriously miscalculated, but it didn’t matter to Elgin. After seven hours grueling hours of travel he finally saw the light of the next room in front of him. His grin spread across his face, he knew that he had overcome a deadly ordeal. He had succeeded where many before him had fallen; the thought filled him with the strength to push on into the next room where the second trial awaited him.

The second test was one where his combat prowess would be put to the test. Elgin strode into a room lit by a score of flickering torches. Standing in wait for him was a blue robed man made out of forged iron limbs. Its lifeless eyes turned to face the challenger as its metal arms raised into a ready stance. A flat emotionless voice spoke from beneath the cowls of its robe. In each of its hands the metallic figure held a heavy blade.

“Another challenger wishes to test himself against the iron golem?” it asked in an emotionless voice, “Very well then, show me your skill young adventurer.”

Elgin knew how to fight this adversary. He had been instructed on the finest methods of combat in the entire world. He raised his sturdy metal shield in preparation for the golem’s attack. The golem’s blades darted around in wide arcs impossibly fast, but Elgin’s trained eyes kept track of them. Without warning the construct’s two massive swords swung down to be met with the iron solid defense of Elgin’s shield.

To the young champion’s surprise the arms of the golem snapped off as it struck his shield. The two arms fell uselessly to the floor; the golem almost looked embarrassed about its predicament. It shuffled its heavy feet restlessly.

“What was that?” demanded Elgin angrily, “What just happened?”

“Well I’ve been down here for so long.” muttered the golem, “And many other adventurers have faced me over the ages.” It tired to pick up its arms in vain; there was nothing for it to grab them with, “Years of neglect take their toll on even the toughest of metals.” The golem ceased its pointless struggle and looked up at Elgin, “Would you mind putting them back on for me?”

“You want me to put your arms back on so you can try to kill me again?” asked Elgin incredulously, “Do you actually expect me to do that?”

“If you would be so kind.”

Elgin sighed deeply; he bent down to lift the golem’s arms back up. Now that he could see the figure up close, Elgin could see rust covering the construction from head to toe. It was a miracle that the thing could even stand. With great exertion he managed to lift one of the massive arms and stick it back on the iron golem. He let go only to have it fall back to the floor. The two former combatants regarded the fallen appendage critically.

“How, exactly, am I supposed to reattach it?” Elgin asked after a few minutes of awkward silence. “It’s not like I have any tools with me.”

“You don’t happen to be a powerful sorcerer?” ventured the iron golem hopefully.

Elgin shook his head sadly, “I’m sorry. I don’t have any great talent in that area. I can cast a few minor incantations, but this-well.” He made motions of his head exploding.

The golem regarded its state for a few minutes before it spoke again, “Then I guess you’ve passed the second test. Good luck with the next one.”

The construction sat down on the floor staring at its fallen limbs. The pathetic sight almost brought tears to Elgin’s eyes. He turned and walked from the room, but he was unable to leave without wished the golem goodbye.

“That was…a lot of fun.” He said, “I’d definitely do that test again.”

The iron golem didn’t respond so Elgin left it kneeling on the dirty floor. His journey to complete the rest of the challenges was still far from over. He was only a quarter of the way through his delve. He wanted to complete this challenge quickly so he could return to the surface. There were many above relying upon him to save them from the plentiful evils of the world. He would not let those who had put their trust in him down. He would overcome the rest of the tests with honor and bravery.

The next test would be more challenging. A gauntlet of deadly traps lay between the young hero and his goal. It would take more than brute force to overcome them. He had to be as cunning as he was skilled if he wanted to survive.

Elgin stepped out of the room into a small corridor leading to an impressively ominous door. It was painted black with gothic decorations hanging off it. It let you know that the faint of heart should think twice before they even dared enter. Elgin pulled the door opened, looking forward to whatever challenge lay in wait.

His hopes deflated like a pig’s bladder. Looking into the room was like watching a formerly prized hound now grayed and weak being taken behind the barn.

The room was definitely filled with traps, more than Elgin could count. They were exotic, deadly and most assuredly cunning. But, none of them were what he would call functioning at the moment. Pits of spikes lay revealed, trip wires had been tripped and he could tell just by looking that the hidden holes were out of poisonous darts and arrows. Elgin’s eyes passed around the room, but he couldn’t find a single bare inch of stone. There was no small corner for something sinister to lurk on, waiting to be tread upon by an unsuspecting victim.

The sight almost made Elgin want to go looking for a trap that was still in working condition, but he wasn’t an idiot. He wasn’t going to intentionally endanger himself; regardless of whether there was some small part inside of him that wanted to.

With a stunning lack of conviction he strode into the next room. One of the deadliest trials was supposed to lurk within this wide arena like chamber. The ordeal of the dragon it was called, a deadly test of strengths against one of nature’s most feared predators. He wasn’t even let down by what he found inside the room, his expectations had already been dashed.

Elgin stepped around the pile of massive bones, crossing to the other side of the room. He supposed even dragons didn’t live forever. Especially if they only had the occasional foolish adventurer to prey on.

With a sigh of deep regret Elgin moved on to the the next contest. He walked through what was left of the pool of poison, but his heart really wasn’t into it. A crack had somehow opened in the floor; draining the treacherous obstacle. The deadly liquid only reached the bottom of his ankles. It wasn’t even caustic enough to burn through his plate boots for the divine’s sake.

Elgin didn’t know why he felt so disappointed. He was traversing the challenges far quicker than he had been led to believe was possible. But something about the lack of-well-anything left his successes feeling hollow. This was supposed to be the moment where he finally proved himself to be a great hero. This was supposed to be the first grand accomplishment of a sprawling adventure. Instead it was a walk in the park. The hallway had been the most challenging thing yet!

The walkways of vile vermin looked like the exterminator had come through recently and the moths had long since gotten to the tapestry of terror. It was when Elgin had reached the second to last challenge that his hopes finally soared.

The trial of trickery was a maze of arcane enchantment, traps and mysteries. He stood before the entrance, gazing inside with open anticipation. It seemed like the magical challenge had fared far better than the rest against the passages of time. Swirling orbs of malice floated lazily down a hallway lit with incandescent green light which flickered ominously in an unnatural breeze. Elgin smiled and began to walk into the first real challenge.

It was at this point he noticed the crumbled wall beside the entrance to the ordeal. He brushed aside the dirt and grime that had built up over the years to read the words in faded red paint scrawled across a hidden metallic door.

Service Hallway, was all it read. Elgin’s shoulders slumped. He looked longingly at the passageway before him, but as he had said before; he wasn’t an idiot. He wasn’t going to risk himself on some pointless venture; even if he really-really-wanted to. Instead he pulled the door open and squeezed his way through the dimly lit tunnel. Perhaps if someone had actually used these hidden passageways over the years the trials would be in a lot better shape.

Elgin emerged on the other side of the tunnel feeling like a cheating bastard. He supposed that he really couldn’t be blamed for taking the obvious route, but it didn’t help. His journey into the depths of the earth was supposed to be an epic one of which bards would sing for centuries to come from every tavern across the nation. Instead it felt like he was questing through a misused practice gym.

Elgin stalked through the once deadly caves. The only challenges he faced were avoiding the occasional aberrant looking fungi or once ducking underneath some unknown beast lurking in the darkness dripping foul liquid upon his path. The stuff wasn’t dangerous, but it stunk up the place something fierce.

He pulled to a stop in front of the stone doorway which would take him to the final challenge. He was reluctant to enter; his hopes were currently breathing their last.

The once sturdy door looked as if it had been pried open at some point, but he was hopeful that the dim lighting was just playing tricks on his overly disappointed mind. With a grunt of effort he slid it out of the way.

It was pitch black inside, but as he walked past torches sprung to life next to him. By the time he reached the central dais the chamber was lit with a flickering glow of many ancient flames. Sitting in meditation was the oldest man Elgin had ever seen. A sprawling gray beard reached down to the floor where the man sat cross-legged. His withered flesh was so muscled it looked painful for one of the monk’s respectable age to possess. Only wisps were left of his once full hairline. Despite his appearance Elgin could still feel the awe inspiring effects of the living legend’s presence.

This was Oldar the man they called the immortal monk. He had lived for thousands of years training the best warriors who had ever walked the earth. The best warriors other than himself of course. They said at the battle of Augsford he had felled a dozen men with a single exhalation. Facing this man in one on one combat would truly be an honour. Elgin readied his weapons and waited for the monk to face him.

He waited for three minutes.

He waited for another four minutes.

He was beginning to become annoyed after the ten minute mark.

But he rallied and waited for another ten minutes.

“Oldar?” asked Elgin after the thirty minute mark. Even he could only wait so long. “Are you there?”

There was no response.

Elgin waited another five minutes.

Elgin walked over and prodded the shoulder of the legendary monk. The man’s eyes snapped open and he leapt to his feet with his hands outstretched. He darted around for a few seconds before he collapsed to the floor.

“Are you okay, master?” asked Elgin. He had been taught to show the upmost respect for all his elders. At the monastery that had been everyone.

“Oh, my back.” moaned Oldar clutching his-well-back. “I’m not as young as I once was you know.” He muttered as he slowly struggled to his feet. Instead of a fearsome warrior Elgin saw an old man who he thought he could snap like a twig.

The deceptive element the man held was truly impressive. Elgin wondered how many warriors had met their end by underestimating the esteemed martial artist.

After he had straightened himself out Oldar turned to regard Elgin. “I see, so another warrior has come to challenge me?” He laughed out loud at this notion, this led into a wheezing fit of coughing which somewhat spoiled the effect. “Very well young warrior. Know that no challenger has gotten past me yet. No one can escape my hawk eyes, especially not you young lady.”

“I’m a guy.” Corrected Elgin.

Oldar peered curiously through the dim room at Elgin. “So you are.” He admitted after a few seconds.

The man shook himself out and assumed a fighting stance that had been fabled throughout time. He smiled once showing slightly yellowed teeth-Elgin assumed he hadn’t had much access to toothbrushes in the years he had spent under the earth-and gestured for Elgin to come forward. If he dared.

Elgin advanced cautiously. He knew the man was a legendary warrior and he did not want to walk into a trap. He advanced within five feet of the monk before he struck out with a testing blow. In an instant his opponent vanished.

Elgin felt the brush of air as Oldar moved faster than his eyes could follow. He could sense the man appearing behind him, preparing to strike with his deadly kick. Tears formed in Elgin’s eyes. He had to save the world, but it seemed he would fall here. The blow that would end his quest was coming and there was nothing he could do to stop it. It was then that Oldar collapsed onto the ground clutching himself.

“My back!” He howled in protest.

Elgin swiveled to look down upon the collapsed man. He considered his situation before he knelt down to put the full weight of his plate mail upon the monk.

“Have you no honour!?” Demanded Oldar.

“I’ll do what it takes to save the world.” Stated Elgin with conviction. He leaned down harder on the man, focusing on his back.

“Ow, ow! Oh! I surrender!” proclaimed Oldar. “I give up! Uncle, uncle!”

Elgin let the man go. Oldar scrambled away to hide somewhere in the shadows away from the cruel young man. Elgin felt bad, but he had no choice. If he had fallen here then the whole world would have suffered for centuries. It was better to commit a minor evil than to let a major transgression go unchecked.

Elgin left the room filled with resolve. The final challenge was over; now he just had to reach the sanctuary. The path he took winded through the core of the mountain until it stopped suddenly on a rocky outcropping. Lying below a dizzying drop was the small shrine where the sword would lie in wait for a champion from the world above.

Elgin carefully crawled down the side of the underground cliff. It would be embarrassing to come so far only to plummet to his death on the rocks below. It took over an hour, but he made it to the bottom. His feet rested upon a smooth brick path that led to the entrance of the small pillared refuge.

He set off down the path with a skip to his step. He soon reached the front where he knelt down as he had been instructed.

He recited a brief prayer as he sat in wait for the shrine’s guardians. It was a few minutes later that he heard them stirring. What he heard was a little disconcerting.

“Emmet. Emmet? Emmet!”

“Wut?”

“Wake up! It looks like somebody’s finally reached us.”

“Wut!?”

“I said it looks like somebody’s finally reached us Emmet!”

“Oh. Well they took their bloody time doing it didn’t they Geoffrey? It’s been two bloody centuries!”

“Why are we saying each other’s names like this? I know you know who you are. At least I figure you know who you are. You’ve been a little fuzzy for the last century.”

“Wut!?”

“Just as well.”

Two ghostly specters floated out of the sanctuary to meet Elgin. They wore the robes of an ancient order upon their ethereal forms. Elgin watched them with awe as they came to a rest in front of him. The two ghostly guardians of the sword were here to reward him and set him on the road to complete his quest. The dungeon might not have been what he was expecting, but it was the end that truly mattered.

“You have traveled far to reach us brave warrior.” Said Geoffrey.”

“Brave, noble warrior.” Cut in Emmet.

“Brave, noble, worthy warrior.” shot Geoffrey. “Now stop trying to outdo me.”

“Wut!?”

Elgin looked back and forth between the two ghosts. They were not what he had expected at all. If they gave him the sword he wouldn’t care. They might not have finished their lines, but his came to him as easily as breathing.

“Yes I have traveled far to seek your aid. With the sword hidden inside I will-,”

“Yes, yes, whatever. Now get that off so we can do the bloody ritual already.” Muttered Geoffrey darkly.

“What? Wait-no I know what you mean.” Sighed Elgin sadly. It seemed that no one else cared about the details. He’d spent days learning the intricate and complex ritual which was supposed to last two full hours. Now it had been thrown away without so much as a whimper.

Now what he had to do was discard his weapons and armour to show that he put his faith in the magic of the dwarves. He slowly stripped off each piece of his plate mail and tossed them into an inky black pool next to him that was there for just this purpose. The last item he threw in was his trusty broadsword which had held him through many challenges. He wished it farewell before he watched it vanish into the clutching waters. He would never see those items again.

“Now we’ll go get you that armour and sword.” Promised Geoffrey.

The two dead minks floated to the sanctuary’s entrance where they hesitated upon the threshold. Geoffrey turned to Emmet reluctantly.

“Emmet, my good man. Did you by any chance happen to move the sword and armour?” he asked innocently.

“Wut!?”

Elgin wasn’t having any more of this. Despite their protests he raced up the stairs and looked into the room which was supposed to hold the fate of the future inside it. Golden pillars spiraled up the side of the room, sending golden rays of splendour upon a diamond pedestal cut into the floor of the chamber. Magical runes and carvings covered a holder for the magical items he had been promised.

But there was a startling lack of sword or armour.