Welcome to an AAR about Rockius - a guy who gets killed and finds himself to be an undead, roaming through the underworld and trying to find answers behind his corrupt existance, as well as to get his life back.
Saturday, 1 August 2009
Chapter 13 - Payback
The 4 shadow skellies waited there for a while longer, until some weird portal appeared inside this strange medium which was so strong that it momentarily sucked them in.
Rockius now found himself and the others back in Hades’ palace, or more precisely – Hades’ throne room. He panicked when he saw Hades, but then he also saw that mighty human. It looked like the human was summoning the undead with the special scrolls. Maybe those scrolls were imprisoning the undead so then they could be summoned.
Rockius saw 4 more shadow skeletons appear, and then 4 more after them. Slackeros was one of them. There was 12 of them now, plus a mortal, so 13 creatures against the God of the dead himself. Rockius also noticed that all of the shadow skellies including himself were now bigger and more powerful, just like Xenokrates was. The scroll must’ve charged up some kind of force within them all, making them all more experienced in battle and not needing even a weapon.
- “Fellas!” Rockius said to other shadow skeletons, “Hades is the one who made us like this. He steals our souls so he can make red balls of death.”
The shadow skeletons got enraged and each one battle-screamed very loudly and charged towards Hades.
The mortal kept on walloping Hades on the head with a big mace, until Hades got fed up and morphed his body slightly to look like a giant squid.
Two of the skeletons grabbed his staff off his hands, and then three more pounced on his face. Hades was getting piled on. Mortal enjoyed the sight and kept on smacking Hades on the face. Rockius was right on Hades’ back now, like on a horse, and kept on hitting Hades on the head too. It was fun to finally have great power.
Hades then went down. But it was just his physical body that died. His powerful evil spirit emerged from the pile of bones and began casting various spells into the crowd, causing shadow skeletons to fly all over the room.
At one moment Slackeros got hit so high up that he got stuck on one of the hooks. It was fine though as he found a bow there and used it to shoot at Hades. Physical things did little damage to Hades’ now ethereal presence.
- “Guys, he took our shades away from us. Let us take it back now!” Rockius suggested.
- “What are you on about?” Nicholus questioned.
- “Genius!” Polyrion admitted, “Rip him apart.”
So Rockius, Nicholus, Forcus and Polyrion charged towards Hades and began ripping bits of ether from him.
- “What are you doing?” Hades asked.
Soon other shadow skeletons joined them, even Slackeros stopped being lazy and got down to get a bit of ether as well.
Hades was being ripped off, but it’s the price he had to pay back for all those shades that he used for making red balls of death.
He didn’t have much left in him, so the human took a massive swing and delivered the finishing blow, causing Hades to explode in a massive ball of energy.
The battle was won. Persephone appeared before them. Mortal went up to her and they began flirting, while Rockius and other shadow skeletons were each holding packets of ether in their hands.
- “We got it, guys! We now have the chance to be normal.” Rockius said with happiness.
Each of them absorbed the ether that they held. It was so rich that it made them very mighty. In fact they could even choose to be humans again. Rockius and a few others including Nicholus, Polyrion and Forcus did exactly that. The others decided to turn their powers to become machae and went on to take a machae course.
Persephone created a portal for the human hero to take back to Greece. Rockius, Nicholus, Forcus and Polyrion decided to follow him so then they won’t have a hard time getting out of Hades. Since then on they were a team and Rockius now had a few causes to fight for. He realised what kind of noob he used to be and he won’t make the same mistakes ever again. His death count was now 1.
THE END
Rockius now found himself and the others back in Hades’ palace, or more precisely – Hades’ throne room. He panicked when he saw Hades, but then he also saw that mighty human. It looked like the human was summoning the undead with the special scrolls. Maybe those scrolls were imprisoning the undead so then they could be summoned.
Rockius saw 4 more shadow skeletons appear, and then 4 more after them. Slackeros was one of them. There was 12 of them now, plus a mortal, so 13 creatures against the God of the dead himself. Rockius also noticed that all of the shadow skellies including himself were now bigger and more powerful, just like Xenokrates was. The scroll must’ve charged up some kind of force within them all, making them all more experienced in battle and not needing even a weapon.
- “Fellas!” Rockius said to other shadow skeletons, “Hades is the one who made us like this. He steals our souls so he can make red balls of death.”
The shadow skeletons got enraged and each one battle-screamed very loudly and charged towards Hades.
The mortal kept on walloping Hades on the head with a big mace, until Hades got fed up and morphed his body slightly to look like a giant squid.
Two of the skeletons grabbed his staff off his hands, and then three more pounced on his face. Hades was getting piled on. Mortal enjoyed the sight and kept on smacking Hades on the face. Rockius was right on Hades’ back now, like on a horse, and kept on hitting Hades on the head too. It was fun to finally have great power.
Hades then went down. But it was just his physical body that died. His powerful evil spirit emerged from the pile of bones and began casting various spells into the crowd, causing shadow skeletons to fly all over the room.
At one moment Slackeros got hit so high up that he got stuck on one of the hooks. It was fine though as he found a bow there and used it to shoot at Hades. Physical things did little damage to Hades’ now ethereal presence.
- “Guys, he took our shades away from us. Let us take it back now!” Rockius suggested.
- “What are you on about?” Nicholus questioned.
- “Genius!” Polyrion admitted, “Rip him apart.”
So Rockius, Nicholus, Forcus and Polyrion charged towards Hades and began ripping bits of ether from him.
- “What are you doing?” Hades asked.
Soon other shadow skeletons joined them, even Slackeros stopped being lazy and got down to get a bit of ether as well.
Hades was being ripped off, but it’s the price he had to pay back for all those shades that he used for making red balls of death.
He didn’t have much left in him, so the human took a massive swing and delivered the finishing blow, causing Hades to explode in a massive ball of energy.
The battle was won. Persephone appeared before them. Mortal went up to her and they began flirting, while Rockius and other shadow skeletons were each holding packets of ether in their hands.
- “We got it, guys! We now have the chance to be normal.” Rockius said with happiness.
Each of them absorbed the ether that they held. It was so rich that it made them very mighty. In fact they could even choose to be humans again. Rockius and a few others including Nicholus, Polyrion and Forcus did exactly that. The others decided to turn their powers to become machae and went on to take a machae course.
Persephone created a portal for the human hero to take back to Greece. Rockius, Nicholus, Forcus and Polyrion decided to follow him so then they won’t have a hard time getting out of Hades. Since then on they were a team and Rockius now had a few causes to fight for. He realised what kind of noob he used to be and he won’t make the same mistakes ever again. His death count was now 1.
THE END
Chapter 12 - Inside
Rockius now found himself in some ethereal dimension. He was floating in this weird medium and he couldn’t see what was around him. There was just nothing, nothing but 3 other skeletons who looked like him. One of them was Nicholus.
- “Hey Nicholus, what’s going on?” Rockius asked him.
- “Rockius?! What are you doing here? And how do I know your name? We never properly introduced.” Nicholus responded.
- “I don’t know. Who are the other guys?”
- “Never seen them before I found myself here, but their names are Forcus and Polyrion.”
- “Someone called me?” Forcus responded.
- “Yes. We’re confused.” Rockius said.
- “Did you see a weird scroll as well before you found yourself here?” Forcus asked.
- “Yes, that is exactly what I saw.” Rockius replied.
- “I’ve been here for an absolute eternity. I think we’re trapped.” Polyrion said sadly.
- “I hope not.” Nicholus responded.
- “Well are we inside the scroll or what?” Rockius asked.
- “I would think so, but it sounds weird.” Forcus said.
- “Trust me, I’ve seen weirder things in Hades’ palace already.” Rockius said.
- “You were in Hades’ palace?” Polyrion asked.
- “Yes. How did you guys get in here then if you weren’t?”
- “I was running away with a few others from the crazy human that attacked us in the Dreaded Halls when I stumbled onto this peace of parchment.” Nicholus said, “Looks like Xenokrates finally got what he deserved. He’s the only one I won’t miss.”
- “Ha, me too.” Rockius agreed.
- “I was in Dreaded Halls as well once, but that was ages ago, before I got sucked into here.” Polyrion said.
- “What about you, Forcus?” Nicholus asked.
- “I’ve never been in Hades at all. Not that I remember anyway. I just remember dying and then I’m here with Polyrion.”
- “That is weird. Maybe you were put into here before you got your consciousness.” Rockius predicted.
- “What do you mean?” Forcus asked.
- “Well I didn’t get mine straight away. Apparently us the shadow skeletons get transported across Styx by Theophrastos the Plump. Though the dude gave up on rowing now.” Rockius explained.
- “So who’ll transport them now?” Nicholus asked.
- “Maybe Charon will fill in his Saturday afternoon for the shadow skellies. Who knows?” Rockius said.
- “Oh well, we need not worry about them. It’s us who are in deep crap right now.” Polyrion said.
- “I hope someone finds this scroll and will find a way to free us from here.” Rockius said.
- “Hey Nicholus, what’s going on?” Rockius asked him.
- “Rockius?! What are you doing here? And how do I know your name? We never properly introduced.” Nicholus responded.
- “I don’t know. Who are the other guys?”
- “Never seen them before I found myself here, but their names are Forcus and Polyrion.”
- “Someone called me?” Forcus responded.
- “Yes. We’re confused.” Rockius said.
- “Did you see a weird scroll as well before you found yourself here?” Forcus asked.
- “Yes, that is exactly what I saw.” Rockius replied.
- “I’ve been here for an absolute eternity. I think we’re trapped.” Polyrion said sadly.
- “I hope not.” Nicholus responded.
- “Well are we inside the scroll or what?” Rockius asked.
- “I would think so, but it sounds weird.” Forcus said.
- “Trust me, I’ve seen weirder things in Hades’ palace already.” Rockius said.
- “You were in Hades’ palace?” Polyrion asked.
- “Yes. How did you guys get in here then if you weren’t?”
- “I was running away with a few others from the crazy human that attacked us in the Dreaded Halls when I stumbled onto this peace of parchment.” Nicholus said, “Looks like Xenokrates finally got what he deserved. He’s the only one I won’t miss.”
- “Ha, me too.” Rockius agreed.
- “I was in Dreaded Halls as well once, but that was ages ago, before I got sucked into here.” Polyrion said.
- “What about you, Forcus?” Nicholus asked.
- “I’ve never been in Hades at all. Not that I remember anyway. I just remember dying and then I’m here with Polyrion.”
- “That is weird. Maybe you were put into here before you got your consciousness.” Rockius predicted.
- “What do you mean?” Forcus asked.
- “Well I didn’t get mine straight away. Apparently us the shadow skeletons get transported across Styx by Theophrastos the Plump. Though the dude gave up on rowing now.” Rockius explained.
- “So who’ll transport them now?” Nicholus asked.
- “Maybe Charon will fill in his Saturday afternoon for the shadow skellies. Who knows?” Rockius said.
- “Oh well, we need not worry about them. It’s us who are in deep crap right now.” Polyrion said.
- “I hope someone finds this scroll and will find a way to free us from here.” Rockius said.
Chapter 11 - The force within
Rockius was running the exact way he came in from. He ran past the Night’s Mistress again. She was still flirting with the two Gigantes. Some other Gigantes spotted him and were confused. They didn’t understand why a random skeleton just ran out of Hades’ throne room. Three of them dashed forwards in order to smash Rockius, but all of them missed: the first one hit a statue, the second one came off the edge and the third one bumped into the Night’s Mistress.
Rockius ascended several flights of stairs and came into a room with multiple doors. He didn’t remember this bit, but that’s because he never went past here – he fell. He needed to find the right way. Time was running out and so he gambled for a random door and went through it.
There was a big crystal in the centre of the room. It looked really beautiful, but Rockius just ran past it. The two Gigantes that were guarding it were fast asleep.
He then went through another door and there were lots of machae and melinoe in that room. He prepared to run back, but the doors behind him have closed.
All of the machae and melinoe saw him and were confused to see a skeleton here. Rockius was scared and confused.
- “Hades was being a dick.” Rockius said.
Machae and Melinoe then nodded their heads and continued doing what they were. Rockius walked past them, still not trusting them entirely and soon came to a random scroll lying on the floor. It had some writing on it. Rockius couldn’t understand the writing, but he could hear voices and some force was drawing him in. He felt somehow connected to the scroll.
- “What IS this?” he asked himself.
He felt sleepy. It was weird being he was dead. Maybe it was just an illusion. It felt really nice though and Rockius just let the force take advantage of him, causing him to pass out.
Rockius ascended several flights of stairs and came into a room with multiple doors. He didn’t remember this bit, but that’s because he never went past here – he fell. He needed to find the right way. Time was running out and so he gambled for a random door and went through it.
There was a big crystal in the centre of the room. It looked really beautiful, but Rockius just ran past it. The two Gigantes that were guarding it were fast asleep.
He then went through another door and there were lots of machae and melinoe in that room. He prepared to run back, but the doors behind him have closed.
All of the machae and melinoe saw him and were confused to see a skeleton here. Rockius was scared and confused.
- “Hades was being a dick.” Rockius said.
Machae and Melinoe then nodded their heads and continued doing what they were. Rockius walked past them, still not trusting them entirely and soon came to a random scroll lying on the floor. It had some writing on it. Rockius couldn’t understand the writing, but he could hear voices and some force was drawing him in. He felt somehow connected to the scroll.
- “What IS this?” he asked himself.
He felt sleepy. It was weird being he was dead. Maybe it was just an illusion. It felt really nice though and Rockius just let the force take advantage of him, causing him to pass out.
Chapter 10 - The Boss
He entered Hades’ throne section and stopped. Hades spotted the little skeleton and so got out of his throne and walked up to Rockius.- “You’re a shadow skeleton. What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in the Dreaded Halls.” Hades told him off with a menacing voice.
- “Lord Hades, could you please tell me why I’m not a shade?” Rockius asked politely.
- “Why do you care? Just do what you were given to do.”
- “But I’m just very interested to know.”
- “All right, if you must know – I made a pact with Gaia. She gives me 2% of the dead as soldiers, and this way she doesn’t get polluted by rotting corpses. I have a team of necromancers who bring back the skeletons to life.”
- “What happens to our souls then?”
- “Your souls… hahaha… your souls I collect so then I can make more red balls of death.”
- “What’s a red ball of death?” Rockius got confused.
Hades then laughed even louder and then created a small red energy ball in the palm of his hand.
- “This!”
And at this moment he launched the red ball of death directly at Rockius. Rockius ducked in time and the ball whizzed past his scalp and hit the crystal wall behind him that got formed to blockade the exit. When the ball hit the wall it exploded on impact into numerous other red energy balls.
- “Woah!” Rockius got astonished.
He then looked back at Hades and saw him swinging with his huge sharp-edged staff. Rockius ducked again and Hades missed. Hades then swung again, but this time vertically. Rockius rolled to the side and Hades missed him again.
Rockius knew that he has virtually no odds of winning this battle, so decided to head back for the crystalline wall. It got slightly weakened after the impact of the red ball of death. He tried hitting it with his mace, but it didn’t do anything to it.
- “You will pay for your hubris!” Hades shouted and then shot a red beam out of his staff.
Rockius moved out of the way and the beam hit the crystalline wall, damaging it even more. Rockius could now climb through a tiny gap in it and escape the throne area this way.
Being so thin paid off and now Rockius finally began enjoying being what he is, as it saved him twice now. But there was no time celebrating the escape. He got the information that he needed, so now it was the time to get the hell out of here.
Chapter 9 – Hades palace (at its best)
Rockius looked around and all he saw was corroded apart walls, abyss down below, beautiful bronze doors, and of course a nasty smell. Yes, even he without a nose could sense that weird smell. Hades must’ve had gas or something.
He didn’t let that smell stop him and so proceeded through one of the bronze doors. He now entered a massive chamber. There were peculiar pale coloured spiders walking about, which didn’t touch him, but also a few machae. Two of them walked up to him and asked in their strange language again. Rockius sighed because he didn’t understand it.
- “Fumet Kudat!” said one machae.
- “Guys, I don’t understand machaeian.”
- “You’re a fool then.” The second machae said in a very bad accent.
- “Why’re you here?” the first one asked Rockius.
- “I’m here to see Lord Hades.” Rockius said.
- “Is he exp… expecting you?” the first machae asked.
- “Yes.”
- “Liar!” second machae said.
Both machae then gave away their attacking screams and raised their swords. Rockius quickly hit them both with his mace of virility and stunned them. They might’ve had swords and he had a mace, but his attack speed was still way better than theirs.
He took this opportunity to run for the next door. He couldn’t see any around, but he kept on running and descended a couple of stairs. There was a very big gigantes standing in front of the only door leading further into the palace. Rockius walked up to him and waited.
- “My name is Dactyl and I’m not nice.” The gigantes said.
- “Bonkers.” Rockius didn’t know what else to say.
Here the Dactyl guy swung with both of his arms and then suddenly produced a very powerful shockwave. The shockwave pushed Rockius a great distance, causing him to fly off the edge and plunge down, only to land onto one of those pale spiders, killing it.
- “Oops, sorry! Don’t blame me. Blame the Dactyl dude.” Rockius said and got up from the spider corpse.
There were a few ordinary Gigantes walking about this place. They all wore huge, tight masks and could barely see what’s in front of them. Rockius used this opportunity to sneak past them without them noticing and so managed to do so successfully.
He walked along a narrow bit of ground and soon saw a door in front of him. It was guarded by an infamous Night’s Mistress. She was too busy though chatting up a couple of Gigantes. This meant Rockius sneaked past them no problem.
He went through a small corridor full of crystals, avoiding being zapped by a bolt of lightning between them and soon exited into another big chamber. He could see Hades on his throne at the other end.
Rockius took a very deep breath, trying hard to think of what he could say and then proceeded.
He didn’t let that smell stop him and so proceeded through one of the bronze doors. He now entered a massive chamber. There were peculiar pale coloured spiders walking about, which didn’t touch him, but also a few machae. Two of them walked up to him and asked in their strange language again. Rockius sighed because he didn’t understand it.
- “Fumet Kudat!” said one machae.
- “Guys, I don’t understand machaeian.”
- “You’re a fool then.” The second machae said in a very bad accent.
- “Why’re you here?” the first one asked Rockius.
- “I’m here to see Lord Hades.” Rockius said.
- “Is he exp… expecting you?” the first machae asked.
- “Yes.”
- “Liar!” second machae said.
Both machae then gave away their attacking screams and raised their swords. Rockius quickly hit them both with his mace of virility and stunned them. They might’ve had swords and he had a mace, but his attack speed was still way better than theirs.
He took this opportunity to run for the next door. He couldn’t see any around, but he kept on running and descended a couple of stairs. There was a very big gigantes standing in front of the only door leading further into the palace. Rockius walked up to him and waited.
- “My name is Dactyl and I’m not nice.” The gigantes said.
- “Bonkers.” Rockius didn’t know what else to say.
Here the Dactyl guy swung with both of his arms and then suddenly produced a very powerful shockwave. The shockwave pushed Rockius a great distance, causing him to fly off the edge and plunge down, only to land onto one of those pale spiders, killing it.
- “Oops, sorry! Don’t blame me. Blame the Dactyl dude.” Rockius said and got up from the spider corpse.
There were a few ordinary Gigantes walking about this place. They all wore huge, tight masks and could barely see what’s in front of them. Rockius used this opportunity to sneak past them without them noticing and so managed to do so successfully.
He walked along a narrow bit of ground and soon saw a door in front of him. It was guarded by an infamous Night’s Mistress. She was too busy though chatting up a couple of Gigantes. This meant Rockius sneaked past them no problem.
He went through a small corridor full of crystals, avoiding being zapped by a bolt of lightning between them and soon exited into another big chamber. He could see Hades on his throne at the other end.
Rockius took a very deep breath, trying hard to think of what he could say and then proceeded.
Chapter 8 – The transporting waters
So Rockius and Theophrastos both walked the filthy streets of the City of Lost Souls until they reached the first fountain shrine they could find. Hekaline the Outcast happened to walk past them and mocked them by making an ugly face. Not that it was beautiful beforehand, but still it was clear he was mocking them.
- “So what now? We jump inside or something?” Rockius asked.
- “Exactly. Follow me.”
Here Theophrastos jumped into the waters of the fountain and momentarily sunk down. Rockius quickly followed him in there.
It was weird being underwater for the first time and not feeling like you need to get back up in a few seconds for some oxygen. Rockius could see many shades swimming through the waters, going in many different ways. Above them they could see openings. Those openings indeed were the fountain shrine entrances. However it was impossible to get back up once you went down, unless it has been activated and only one can be activated at any time.
Soon they reached the currently activated one.
- “I sense a mortal.” Theophrastos said.
- “This one leads to Elysium.” Rockius said when he saw beautiful landscapes through the shrine opening.
- “Yes. Hades’ palace one is not far.” Theophrastos said and continued swimming or more like flowing through the current of the water.
They carried on until every opening now was wide and above it was very dark.
- “Looks like we’re here.” Theophrastos said.
- “There’s someone there.” Rockius said.
Theophrastos looked and Rockius was indeed right. One of the Gigantes Vindicators was standing above the opening and looking down at them.
- “All right, let’s get to another one.” Theophrastos said.
The two skellies swam to the next one and it seemed clear.
- “All right. Allow me to attempt to open it.” Theophrastos said.
He then concentrated on the shrine opening and in a few seconds it got activated.
- “There. It drained me off my energy, but I’ll be fine. You’ll have to go alone from here. I’m too scared of this place.”
- “All right. Thanks for your help.”
And on this note Theophrastos went back, while Rockius accended through the shrine opening and now found himself in Hades’ palace. Some other shades were streaming up there as well. They must’ve been very brave.
- “So what now? We jump inside or something?” Rockius asked.
- “Exactly. Follow me.”
Here Theophrastos jumped into the waters of the fountain and momentarily sunk down. Rockius quickly followed him in there.
It was weird being underwater for the first time and not feeling like you need to get back up in a few seconds for some oxygen. Rockius could see many shades swimming through the waters, going in many different ways. Above them they could see openings. Those openings indeed were the fountain shrine entrances. However it was impossible to get back up once you went down, unless it has been activated and only one can be activated at any time.
Soon they reached the currently activated one.
- “I sense a mortal.” Theophrastos said.
- “This one leads to Elysium.” Rockius said when he saw beautiful landscapes through the shrine opening.
- “Yes. Hades’ palace one is not far.” Theophrastos said and continued swimming or more like flowing through the current of the water.
They carried on until every opening now was wide and above it was very dark.
- “Looks like we’re here.” Theophrastos said.
- “There’s someone there.” Rockius said.
Theophrastos looked and Rockius was indeed right. One of the Gigantes Vindicators was standing above the opening and looking down at them.
- “All right, let’s get to another one.” Theophrastos said.
The two skellies swam to the next one and it seemed clear.
- “All right. Allow me to attempt to open it.” Theophrastos said.
He then concentrated on the shrine opening and in a few seconds it got activated.
- “There. It drained me off my energy, but I’ll be fine. You’ll have to go alone from here. I’m too scared of this place.”
- “All right. Thanks for your help.”
And on this note Theophrastos went back, while Rockius accended through the shrine opening and now found himself in Hades’ palace. Some other shades were streaming up there as well. They must’ve been very brave.
Chapter 7 - Ex boatman
After lots of looking around, Rockius was lost. He didn’t wonder why it was called a City of LOST Souls. They all clearly were lost. He then decided to call it a day and just went into a nearby tavern for the shades.
A lot of the shades were getting drunk there, while a few others were just dancing – celebrating their eternal stay in this dull place. How sad. Rockius walked up to one of the corner tables and sat down by it as another skeleton sat by it.
- “What is it?” That skeleton asked him.
- “You’re a skeleton too.” Rockius said.
- “Oh right, yeah.”
That other skeleton was of dirty green colour. He was also quite big for a normal human. He put down his drink which he didn’t manage to drink anyway and continued:
- “So what brings you here?”
- “I’m lost. I need someone’s help. Someone who is mighty.”
- “Well you missed him a while ago. A mortal walked by here.”
- “I think I saw him. What’s your name by the way?” Rockius asked.
- “Theophrastos, but shades always call me Theophrastos the Plump. Because I used to be fat when I was still a human.”
That name rang a bell. Rockius thought for a second and then remembered where he heard it.
- “You’re a boatman, right?”
- “Ex boatman.” Theophrastos corrected.
- “How come?”
- “I quit today. The job is too tedious. I want to do something more fun.”
- “I agree with you. Why can’t we be shades?”
- “Well technically I didn’t die, so I can never become a shade.” Theophrastos admitted.
- “Does that mean I didn’t die properly either?”
- “Don’t think so. You Shadow skellies are just like normal dead people, but you are chosen to do some dirty work for Hades. On what principle you’re chosen I don’t know.”
- “That is why I need to see him.”
- “Are you crazy?”
- “Yes, and always was.”
- “OK. Well I can tell you a quick way of getting there.”
- “Sure.”
- “Use the fountain shrines.”
- “That is why I needed someone mighty. Because I can’t activate them myself.”
- “I see. Well I did activate one of those before. I suppose I can come with you and help you out if I can.”
- “You will? Oh thanks man.”
- “I ain’t a man.”
- “Sorry, boatman.”
- “Nope, not that either.”
- “OK, Theophrastos.”
- “OK, let’s get to the nearest shrine then and I’ll navigate you from there.”
A lot of the shades were getting drunk there, while a few others were just dancing – celebrating their eternal stay in this dull place. How sad. Rockius walked up to one of the corner tables and sat down by it as another skeleton sat by it.
- “What is it?” That skeleton asked him.
- “You’re a skeleton too.” Rockius said.
- “Oh right, yeah.”
That other skeleton was of dirty green colour. He was also quite big for a normal human. He put down his drink which he didn’t manage to drink anyway and continued:
- “So what brings you here?”
- “I’m lost. I need someone’s help. Someone who is mighty.”
- “Well you missed him a while ago. A mortal walked by here.”
- “I think I saw him. What’s your name by the way?” Rockius asked.
- “Theophrastos, but shades always call me Theophrastos the Plump. Because I used to be fat when I was still a human.”
That name rang a bell. Rockius thought for a second and then remembered where he heard it.
- “You’re a boatman, right?”
- “Ex boatman.” Theophrastos corrected.
- “How come?”
- “I quit today. The job is too tedious. I want to do something more fun.”
- “I agree with you. Why can’t we be shades?”
- “Well technically I didn’t die, so I can never become a shade.” Theophrastos admitted.
- “Does that mean I didn’t die properly either?”
- “Don’t think so. You Shadow skellies are just like normal dead people, but you are chosen to do some dirty work for Hades. On what principle you’re chosen I don’t know.”
- “That is why I need to see him.”
- “Are you crazy?”
- “Yes, and always was.”
- “OK. Well I can tell you a quick way of getting there.”
- “Sure.”
- “Use the fountain shrines.”
- “That is why I needed someone mighty. Because I can’t activate them myself.”
- “I see. Well I did activate one of those before. I suppose I can come with you and help you out if I can.”
- “You will? Oh thanks man.”
- “I ain’t a man.”
- “Sorry, boatman.”
- “Nope, not that either.”
- “OK, Theophrastos.”
- “OK, let’s get to the nearest shrine then and I’ll navigate you from there.”
Chapter 6 - The Answers
Rockius braced himself, then moved the gate and walked into the chamber. Cerberus spotted him and was confused, but as his orders were to let no-one through, he attacked Rockius.
Rockius got terrified and began running around the room in terror. Cerberus was chasing him like a lion in a cage. Rockius soon saw the gates on the opposite end of the room and began running for them. But here Cerberus caught up and grabbed him in his mouth. Rockius quickly slid out of his torso armor, leaving it in Cerberus’ mouth and carried on running. He reached the gate and barely squeezed through the gaps between the metal bars.
- “Phew.” He sighed deeply.
After a few deep breaths he continued along a small corridor and finally reached the 3 judges.
- “Greetings weird skeleton-man.” Minos said.
- “Nice to finally see you guys.” Rockius said.
- “I didn’t know we get undead here.” Rhadamanthys commented.
- “Me neither.” Aecus agreed.
- “I wondered why I wasn’t a shade.” Rockius said.
- “Hmm, maybe this is something you should discuss with Hades himself.” Minos suggested.
- “So you guys don’t know either?”
- “No. Never seen a skeleton around here.” Minos admitted, “We only judge shades.”
- “Well how do I get to Hades then?”
- “You’ll need to find his palace, but it’s a difficult place to reach.”
- “Please do tell me.”
- “The only way to get there is to use one of those fountain shrines. However you may get into any of them, but the only way to come out is to activate it.”
- “And how do you do that?”
- “That’s the catch. Only the most almighty ones can do that. There can be only 1 of them active at any one time.”
- “Now that sucks.”
- “Nevertheless go back to the City of Lost Souls. Find a daemon hero and ask him or her to go with you and to activate the fountain of your choice. The ones in Hades palace are the hardest ones to activate.”
- “Thank you very much. I will do that. Now how would I get to the City of Lost Souls?”
- “Through our judgement.” Aecus suddenly said, “I judge you not worthy to go to Elysium, so you can go to City of Lost Souls.”
- “Same with me.” Rhadamanthys said, “You aren’t heroic enough to go to Elysium, but you did manage to get here, so I judge you worthy to go back to the City.”
- “You got all 3 judgements to go to the City.” Minos said.
- “Oh yeah!” Rockius cheered.
Here Minos opened a doorway to the City of Lost Souls. Rockius went in and instantaneously found himself in the City. He was quite awed as the place was actually pretty nice compared to those horrible Dreaded Halls. But he now needed to find some monster hero who will be willing to help him.
Rockius got terrified and began running around the room in terror. Cerberus was chasing him like a lion in a cage. Rockius soon saw the gates on the opposite end of the room and began running for them. But here Cerberus caught up and grabbed him in his mouth. Rockius quickly slid out of his torso armor, leaving it in Cerberus’ mouth and carried on running. He reached the gate and barely squeezed through the gaps between the metal bars.
- “Phew.” He sighed deeply.
After a few deep breaths he continued along a small corridor and finally reached the 3 judges.
- “Greetings weird skeleton-man.” Minos said.
- “Nice to finally see you guys.” Rockius said.
- “I didn’t know we get undead here.” Rhadamanthys commented.
- “Me neither.” Aecus agreed.
- “I wondered why I wasn’t a shade.” Rockius said.
- “Hmm, maybe this is something you should discuss with Hades himself.” Minos suggested.
- “So you guys don’t know either?”
- “No. Never seen a skeleton around here.” Minos admitted, “We only judge shades.”
- “Well how do I get to Hades then?”
- “You’ll need to find his palace, but it’s a difficult place to reach.”
- “Please do tell me.”
- “The only way to get there is to use one of those fountain shrines. However you may get into any of them, but the only way to come out is to activate it.”
- “And how do you do that?”
- “That’s the catch. Only the most almighty ones can do that. There can be only 1 of them active at any one time.”
- “Now that sucks.”
- “Nevertheless go back to the City of Lost Souls. Find a daemon hero and ask him or her to go with you and to activate the fountain of your choice. The ones in Hades palace are the hardest ones to activate.”
- “Thank you very much. I will do that. Now how would I get to the City of Lost Souls?”
- “Through our judgement.” Aecus suddenly said, “I judge you not worthy to go to Elysium, so you can go to City of Lost Souls.”
- “Same with me.” Rhadamanthys said, “You aren’t heroic enough to go to Elysium, but you did manage to get here, so I judge you worthy to go back to the City.”
- “You got all 3 judgements to go to the City.” Minos said.
- “Oh yeah!” Rockius cheered.
Here Minos opened a doorway to the City of Lost Souls. Rockius went in and instantaneously found himself in the City. He was quite awed as the place was actually pretty nice compared to those horrible Dreaded Halls. But he now needed to find some monster hero who will be willing to help him.
Chapter 5 - Descent
The first floor of the Tower was big already and Rockius was yet to see the others. Most daemons were ignoring him as he was descending the floors. However a few unfriendly machae attacked him. Rockius still had some fighting experience from his previous life and so didn’t sweat it too much. He battled both machae and chucked them into the abyss eventually. It looked a very long way down.He descended down a few floors now. Every floor looked identical to him. Same monsters everywhere, same design – it was way too confusing. He did however pick up some nice loot. He got himself a torso armor now. It wasn’t magically imbued but at least it was better than nothing. He also found a pair of greaves. They seemed to have made him walk faster. He liked it.
Finally he reached a floor where monsters were different. They were these fierce beasts with big claws. There were also a couple of giant looking skeleton dogs there. One of them came up to Rockius and tried to bite him, but Rockius hit it on the teeth and it left him alone.
- “Amateurs.” He commented.
He then entered a room where he saw a male shade fly through a locked gate.
- “I wish I could do that.” Rockius said.
The shade looked at him and didn’t say anything. He ignored him too and continued. A group of machae stood there. One of them spoke in a strange language, but Rockius couldn’t understand it. So the machae then cleared his throat and slowly began saying:
- “Where’re you goin’?”
- “I need to see the judges.” Rockius said.
- “Don’ go there.”
It appeared that machae found it hard to speak like humans.
- “Why not?” Rockius wondered.
- “Cerberus.” The machae replied.
- “Oh. What’s he doing here?”
- “Keeps shades away.” The machae replied.
- “Ah, good idea.” Rockius commented, “Would he let me through?”
- “Don’ think so.”
- “I’ll try anyway.”
And on this note Rockius continued through the next chamber and came to a gate, through which he saw Cerberus in the next room.
Chapter 4 – The towering Tower of Judgement
And so Rockius walked through more Dreaded Halls, though these ones were not familiar to him. He saw groups of ugly troglodytes walking about. Some were playing tag with a hammer. None of them really paid
attention to Rockius. A few Keres and Epiales were there too. Rockius didn’t understand the language they were speaking so kept on going. He nearly got lost at one stage and thought of going back, but soon he came to an exit from the hall cave and found himself looking up at the tower.
He felt jealous of those shades that were flying into it. He wished he could fly too. But there was no time for dreaming. He began heading for the tower. It was standing in the middle of an endless pit, but had a tiny thin bridge leading towards its main entrance.
As Rockius began approaching the bridge someone got his attention. It was a merchant shade.
- “Hey, please buy something off me. No-one cares about loot in this place, so I’m like out of business.” The merchant said.
- “Sure. In fact I am glad I came across you. I’d like to sell this piece of crap (handing him over the mentor’s mace of spirit) and buy something better.”
- “OK, how much gold have you got?”
- “I found 10 pieces on my way here.”
- “OK, this mace would sell for 850. This means you have 860 now.”
- “Cool. What can I buy for that?”
- “Err… Mentor’s spear of spirit?”
- “That sucks. Anything better?”
- “Well not really. But all right. I’ll give you a discount just because you were the only one to buy something off me when I came here. Let’s say 50% discount.”
- “Woooo, thanks. Now what can I buy?”
- “How about this mace of virility? It will give you extra strength in battle.”
- “Sounds good enough for me. I’ll take it.”
And so Rockius bought the mace of virility from the merchant shade. Rockius was the first good being he actually sold something to. Before he used to sell illegal stuff on the black market, hence why he wasn’t allowed to go to Elysium.
Just before stepping onto the bridge, Rockius looked up at that cliff where he was looking from previously.
- “I won’t miss that place.” He said quietly to himself.
Suddenly he saw a few shadow skeletons fly out of the entrance to Dreaded Halls and roll down the hill, breaking apart. Rockius was confused. He then saw more bones flying out. Some were running out. He then saw Xenokrates come out and what looked like a human.
- “Well glad I left in time.” He thought, “These humans always get themselves involved in everything.”
He was observing the battle between Xenokrates and the human, and the human won. He struck Xenokrates down with his axe and carried on as if it was nothing to him.
Rockius turned away from the cliff, then proceeded through the wobbly bridge and entered through the doors of the beautiful Tower.
attention to Rockius. A few Keres and Epiales were there too. Rockius didn’t understand the language they were speaking so kept on going. He nearly got lost at one stage and thought of going back, but soon he came to an exit from the hall cave and found himself looking up at the tower.He felt jealous of those shades that were flying into it. He wished he could fly too. But there was no time for dreaming. He began heading for the tower. It was standing in the middle of an endless pit, but had a tiny thin bridge leading towards its main entrance.
As Rockius began approaching the bridge someone got his attention. It was a merchant shade.
- “Hey, please buy something off me. No-one cares about loot in this place, so I’m like out of business.” The merchant said.
- “Sure. In fact I am glad I came across you. I’d like to sell this piece of crap (handing him over the mentor’s mace of spirit) and buy something better.”
- “OK, how much gold have you got?”
- “I found 10 pieces on my way here.”
- “OK, this mace would sell for 850. This means you have 860 now.”
- “Cool. What can I buy for that?”
- “Err… Mentor’s spear of spirit?”
- “That sucks. Anything better?”
- “Well not really. But all right. I’ll give you a discount just because you were the only one to buy something off me when I came here. Let’s say 50% discount.”
- “Woooo, thanks. Now what can I buy?”
- “How about this mace of virility? It will give you extra strength in battle.”
- “Sounds good enough for me. I’ll take it.”
And so Rockius bought the mace of virility from the merchant shade. Rockius was the first good being he actually sold something to. Before he used to sell illegal stuff on the black market, hence why he wasn’t allowed to go to Elysium.
Just before stepping onto the bridge, Rockius looked up at that cliff where he was looking from previously.
- “I won’t miss that place.” He said quietly to himself.
Suddenly he saw a few shadow skeletons fly out of the entrance to Dreaded Halls and roll down the hill, breaking apart. Rockius was confused. He then saw more bones flying out. Some were running out. He then saw Xenokrates come out and what looked like a human.
- “Well glad I left in time.” He thought, “These humans always get themselves involved in everything.”
He was observing the battle between Xenokrates and the human, and the human won. He struck Xenokrates down with his axe and carried on as if it was nothing to him.
Rockius turned away from the cliff, then proceeded through the wobbly bridge and entered through the doors of the beautiful Tower.
Chapter 3 - Time to escape
So Rockius in a meanwhile returned back to the chamber where him and a few other skeletons were meant to be guarding. He could see a couple of shades at one of the entrances and Nicholus along with a few other skeletons charging at them in order to stop them from coming in. Slackeros was just sitting down because he couldn’t be bothered to chase petty shades.
Rockius went after Nicholus and the others to see the end of this story and once he exited the cave he found himself standing on a side of a cliff with more Dreaded Halls further along. And there it was. He saw a towering Tower of Judgement not too far away from the cliff he was standing on. It was beautiful. Shades flying in and out. ‘Wait a minute. Out?’ he thought. That was strange, but that didn’t bother him. He needed to find a way to get to that tower. However he already saw Nicholus and others returning and so went back into the halls with them.
- “What kind of boring ass job do we have to do now?” Rockius asked.
- “We’re going to bury under the floor and once anyone except for our type comes along, we pop out and engage them.” Nicholus replied.
- “Why do we have to be under the floor?” Rockius asked.
- “In order to ambush our victims.”
- “And what are we supposed to do while there?”
- “Nothing, just chill. It’s the only time we get to rest on our job.”
- “Well this job doesn’t satisfy me. I didn’t sign up for this. I want to be a shade!”
- “Too late. You’ve been chosen already.” Nicholus said.
- “Chosen by whom?” Rockius wondered.
- “I don’t know. I don’t answer questions. I just do the job and you better start doing it as well.”
- “Yeah, just chill man.” Slackeros added.
Rockius wasn’t at all pleased with the situation, but there is nothing he could do… yet.
So the skellies dug themselves in. It’s a difficult process. Rockius thought it was pointless since it takes so long to dig yourself in just so then you can pop out within a second to scare someone. But he still obeyed. Whilst inside the ground it smelled of rotting corpses.
- “Which idiot was the last one here?” Rockius asked.
But unfortunately no-one could hear him. Then it came to him. What if he was to pop out when everyone’s still inside and to secretly escape this way? He didn’t know of any better idea and so decided to utilise this one. He counted to a 100 and then decided to pop out. He wanted to come out slowly but it didn’t work. He then put more effort and something pushed him out of the ground. The Halls now looked absolutely deserted.
Rockius on tip toes headed out of the hall cave and took a glimpse at that beautiful towering Tower of Judgement again. He couldn’t find a way to climb down the cliff, so he decided to head into the next Dreaded Hall, hoping that it will lead him down.
Rockius went after Nicholus and the others to see the end of this story and once he exited the cave he found himself standing on a side of a cliff with more Dreaded Halls further along. And there it was. He saw a towering Tower of Judgement not too far away from the cliff he was standing on. It was beautiful. Shades flying in and out. ‘Wait a minute. Out?’ he thought. That was strange, but that didn’t bother him. He needed to find a way to get to that tower. However he already saw Nicholus and others returning and so went back into the halls with them.
- “What kind of boring ass job do we have to do now?” Rockius asked.
- “We’re going to bury under the floor and once anyone except for our type comes along, we pop out and engage them.” Nicholus replied.
- “Why do we have to be under the floor?” Rockius asked.
- “In order to ambush our victims.”
- “And what are we supposed to do while there?”
- “Nothing, just chill. It’s the only time we get to rest on our job.”
- “Well this job doesn’t satisfy me. I didn’t sign up for this. I want to be a shade!”
- “Too late. You’ve been chosen already.” Nicholus said.
- “Chosen by whom?” Rockius wondered.
- “I don’t know. I don’t answer questions. I just do the job and you better start doing it as well.”
- “Yeah, just chill man.” Slackeros added.
Rockius wasn’t at all pleased with the situation, but there is nothing he could do… yet.
So the skellies dug themselves in. It’s a difficult process. Rockius thought it was pointless since it takes so long to dig yourself in just so then you can pop out within a second to scare someone. But he still obeyed. Whilst inside the ground it smelled of rotting corpses.
- “Which idiot was the last one here?” Rockius asked.
But unfortunately no-one could hear him. Then it came to him. What if he was to pop out when everyone’s still inside and to secretly escape this way? He didn’t know of any better idea and so decided to utilise this one. He counted to a 100 and then decided to pop out. He wanted to come out slowly but it didn’t work. He then put more effort and something pushed him out of the ground. The Halls now looked absolutely deserted.
Rockius on tip toes headed out of the hall cave and took a glimpse at that beautiful towering Tower of Judgement again. He couldn’t find a way to climb down the cliff, so he decided to head into the next Dreaded Hall, hoping that it will lead him down.
Chapter 2 - Complaints
Rockius was looking around the Dreaded Halls for Xenokrates for too long. He was asking random skellies about him, but their answer was ‘he appears sometimes, but most of the time he is not here’.
Xenokrates of the Shadowblade was a very mighty Shadow skeleton. He was the first one of that type. He still doesn’t know how he became what he is, but he was given tonnes of power and also to be a leader of the shadow skeletons in order to guard some parts of Hades.
Rockius was beginning to get bored when suddenly he saw a big skeleton walking through the halls.
- “Is your name Xenokrates?” Rockius asked.
- “Sir Xenokrates to you!” Xenokrates replied angrily.
- “Sorry. Could you tell me something, please?”
- “Sir!”
- “What?”
- “When you talk to me, refer to me as ‘sir’ because if you don’t then I’m going to assign you a prop job.”
- “What’s a prop job… sir?”
- “You’ll be a decoration for the walls of Dreaded Halls.”
- “OK. Well can I please ask you a question, sir?”
- “Go ahead, trooper.”
- “Why is it when I died I am this… not a shade, but a skeleton? I thought when people die their soul comes here and gets taken across the river Styx by Charon and all?”
Xenokrates looked at him menacingly and so Rockius quickly added:
- “Sir.”
- “Well, because we’re different. I don’t know how we became like this, but what the heck - I’ve been given power and a physical form. I’m happy with that, so I don’t ask questions.”
- “So how did I get here then, sir?”
- “You along with other junk were transported by a much less experienced boatman. His name is Theophrastos the Plump and he’s a skeleton too, though not a shadow skeleton like us.”
- “Oh. I see.” Rockius tried to think but his brain was gone, so he couldn’t, therefore he carried on asking “Well who might know the answers, sir?”
- “Not like I care, but what the heck. Ask the judges.”
- “Where would they be, sir?”
- “Tower of Judgement. Mate, you’re still a noob. If you don’t know that then what are you doing here?”
- “That is what I am trying to find out. OK, am I allowed to go to the Tower of Judgement and find them, sir?”
- “Absolutely not.”
- “And why is that, sir?”
- “Because your job is to stay here and guard the Halls from intruders.”
- “Yes sir.”
Rockius got mad, but tried not to show it because he knew what Xenokrates would do to him if he did. Therefore he decided to be cunning. He was good at that when he was a human. But now that his brain was gone it’ll be much harder. Nevertheless he decided to run away from his guard post sooner or later and to question his origins.
Xenokrates of the Shadowblade was a very mighty Shadow skeleton. He was the first one of that type. He still doesn’t know how he became what he is, but he was given tonnes of power and also to be a leader of the shadow skeletons in order to guard some parts of Hades.
Rockius was beginning to get bored when suddenly he saw a big skeleton walking through the halls.
- “Is your name Xenokrates?” Rockius asked.
- “Sir Xenokrates to you!” Xenokrates replied angrily.
- “Sorry. Could you tell me something, please?”
- “Sir!”
- “What?”
- “When you talk to me, refer to me as ‘sir’ because if you don’t then I’m going to assign you a prop job.”
- “What’s a prop job… sir?”
- “You’ll be a decoration for the walls of Dreaded Halls.”
- “OK. Well can I please ask you a question, sir?”
- “Go ahead, trooper.”
- “Why is it when I died I am this… not a shade, but a skeleton? I thought when people die their soul comes here and gets taken across the river Styx by Charon and all?”
Xenokrates looked at him menacingly and so Rockius quickly added:
- “Sir.”
- “Well, because we’re different. I don’t know how we became like this, but what the heck - I’ve been given power and a physical form. I’m happy with that, so I don’t ask questions.”
- “So how did I get here then, sir?”
- “You along with other junk were transported by a much less experienced boatman. His name is Theophrastos the Plump and he’s a skeleton too, though not a shadow skeleton like us.”
- “Oh. I see.” Rockius tried to think but his brain was gone, so he couldn’t, therefore he carried on asking “Well who might know the answers, sir?”
- “Not like I care, but what the heck. Ask the judges.”
- “Where would they be, sir?”
- “Tower of Judgement. Mate, you’re still a noob. If you don’t know that then what are you doing here?”
- “That is what I am trying to find out. OK, am I allowed to go to the Tower of Judgement and find them, sir?”
- “Absolutely not.”
- “And why is that, sir?”
- “Because your job is to stay here and guard the Halls from intruders.”
- “Yes sir.”
Rockius got mad, but tried not to show it because he knew what Xenokrates would do to him if he did. Therefore he decided to be cunning. He was good at that when he was a human. But now that his brain was gone it’ll be much harder. Nevertheless he decided to run away from his guard post sooner or later and to question his origins.
Chapter 1 – Welcome to Undeath
Rockius used to be a warrior. He never really had a cause or a country to fight for. He just fought off random elves in the woods and lizards in the swamp. One day as he was walking through the hills he saw a giant battle outside of
He was now in Hades, more precisely walking around the Dreaded Halls not far from the Salt Flats of Erebus. He was confused to have retained his bones, but not his soul. With him were many others in the same situation. They were called Shadow skeletons. Very few of those knew dark magic and were Liches.
Rockius was quite angry when he realised that his bristlebash stayed back on the Athenian battleground and now he only had a crappy mentor’s mace of spirit with him.
- “Why are we not like other shades?” Rockius asked one of his fellow skeletons by the name of Slackeros.
- “I don’t know.” Slackeros replied.
- “Well there must be an explanation.”
- “There isn’t one.”
- “How long have you been here?”
- “Too long to remember.”
- “Well you’re boring.”
Rockius then walked up to another one of the skeletons. The skeleton’s name was Nicholus.
- “Hey. What is the meaning of this?” Rockius asked.
- “The meaning of what?” Nicholus asked.
- “Why are we not shades? Why are we the undead?”
- “I don’t know.”
- “You don’t know either?”
- “You ask too many questions.”
- “Because I want to know.”
- “Ask the one in charge. His name is Xenokrates.”
- “Thanks. I am definitely going to complain.”
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