Grenth is Coming
Death at the Door - Part 1
Mystery Mesmer found herself in the seedy backstreets of the busy and ancient city of Kaineng,
she could smell the stale air that surrounded Kaineng's many traders and civilians as
they trudged on with their hectic lives. As Mystery ambled down one of Kaineng's streets
she heard the faint noise of crunching footsteps behind her, Kaineng was full of strangers
unlike any people she had grown up with in Istan. Mystery gripped her staff and swung round to
meet a shaded figure that was hunched up and gripping an old battered walking stick. The
figure approached Mystery Mesmer who seemed unsure about what appeared to be an old woman, the
woman began to speak, her voice raspy "You are the one, child." Mystery backed away
from the old woman who was nearing. "Grenth is coming, but he…he can be stopped" the
old woman wheezed as she reached to grab Mystery's arm. Mystery, disturbed by the old
woman shook her arm off violently and backed away, then without warning the old woman lunged
for her and ripped a lock of hair from Mystery's tightly wrapped bun which fell out
leaving her hair to flow.
Mystery turned and ran from the woman clutching her staff as hard as she could, she ran out
into a small area filled with traders selling exotic wears from all around the world.
Mystery's stomach suddenly turned upside down, the traders voices were drown in a sound of
emptiness, Mystery looked up to see a darkened sky as black clouds began to cover Kaineng, then
she felt her legs collapse underneath her, no longer was she in Kaineng.
FLASH! Mystery could see what appeared to be spirits floating around her, reaching for her soul,
but without a further look they started to entwine with each other until they vanished into thin
air. Mystery now found herself by a vast lake that seemed to emit peace as she glanced around,
before her was a woman whose face could not be seen; she wore a straw hat and old ragged clothes.
Mystery peered over the woman who seemed to be washing garments in the river, as she edged
towards the woman, intrigued by her mesmeric ways, as she did the woman still masked to Mystery
Mesmer let out a shrill cry that was harsh and high. Mystery covered her throbbing ears and
plunged to the ground, her ears couldn't take much more. The noise had stopped and Mystery
found herself lying on a familiar beach, the rough sand beneath her fingers. She opened her eyes
and looked out to sea, a terrible vision she saw. Gliding towards her were an army of harpies,
one of the most feared beasts that ventured the underworld, her body froze over in absolute fear,
she tried to move but her shimmering DAD cape was caught underneath a rock. The harpies were
nearing, ready to engulf Mystery Mesmer and rip her body to pieces.
FLASH! Mystery awoke to rain drops splashing on her face, the icy cold droplets refreshed Mystery
Mesmer as she looked around to see a sight of chaos; traders were running about, collecting their
wears and finding shelter from the storm that was about to hit Kaineng. Mystery tried to clamber
to her feet as busy footsteps ran round her threatening to squash her back down.
At this point Mystery heard a familiar voice call her name in the distance. "MYSTERY!
MYSTERY!" Mystery looked over to where the voice was been emitted, to her relief she saw
General Griffin running towards her. He was a broad warrior and had a handsome face when he was
not masked behind his clad helmet, she recognised the DAD2 officer at once as he came running to
her aid.
He held out his coarse hands that had fought many a battle and Mystery grasped onto it, pulling
herself up from the filth and grime on kaineng's bricked street. "Thank you Griffin,
I...I…" Mystery did not finish expressing her gratitude but instead looked up to where the
heavens had opened, a violent storm was brewing and yet Mystery and Griffin stood hopelessly in
the rain that drenched their shuddering bodies.
The sound of heavy rainfall deafened out the sound of voices so Griffin had to shout. "WHAT
WERE YOU DOING ON THE FLOOR MYSTERY, SEEMS AN ODD PLACE TO BE, YOU SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL IN
KAINENG!" Mystery smiled uneasily remembering why she was on the floor and replied "I…I
GUESS I WAS KNOCKED OVER BY SOME TRADERS." Griffin sensed the uncertainty in her voice yet
ignored it as he grabbed her elbow and rushed them under a wooden canopy that leaked rain through
its cracks yet kept them partially dry for the time been.
Griffin didn't say another word as he stood shivering while Mystery was still in shock after
her collapse. What did these images mean? Were they just a dream? No, Mystery could almost feel
the presences in her dream, something wasn't right and she knew it.
Her fingers began to irritate her, she looked down to see sand between her fingers…sand she
thought…I was on the beach! Mystery's hands fell to her sides. "Griffin, the guild
hall! It's in danger we must make haste!" Griffin was just recovering from the rain,
his armour had kept him dry but his hair was dripping droplets on to his face, he shot Mystery a
look of bewilderment. His bemused look did not surprise the delicate Mesmer who had no time to
explain. "Please Griffin just take my hand!" Mystery pleaded. Griffin clasped hold of
Mystery's hand and shut his eyes, as did Mystery.
The pair of adventurers opened their eyes to reveal the peaceful haven of the DAD2 guildhall; the
hall's beacons were lit and shining brightly on the grim guild hall. The skies had darkened
like they had done in Kaineng, Mystery and Griffin hurried to the shelter of the DAD2 canopy were
red flags hung from the tall ceiling that sheltered the two adventurers. The guild lord who safe
guarded the ancient building that was built upon the peaceful Isle of Meditation stood boldly as
he always did. Mystery looked out to the usually colourful guild hall but today it seemed grim and
lacked the colour it usually paraded.
Mystery looked out into the distance and saw a tall figure running through the front gate of the
guild hall, the archers were lowering the red painted gate and as Mystery peered out she could make
out Jule Shannara running towards them. Jule was proud guild leader of DAD2 and was at one with his
bow, his blond hair was always tied back and his face covered with a ranger mask that many believed
was made from bones. Jule scampered towards the sodden pair from across the bridge, even the mighty
ranger was grasping for breath, Mystery looked at the sky, it seemed to tell her all was not well,
as did Jule's face.
"Corsairs! There everywhere…attacking the village to the south!" Jule proclaimed as he
caught his breath.
"Corsairs? What about the harpies, what about them?" Mystery queried, things weren't
making sense. "What are you talking about Mystery I said corsairs, corsairs are attacking the
island, there are a hundred or so of them." At that moment Dagger came wandering up the guild
stairs to the left, he seemed to be dragging something and his footsteps were fast paced and fearful.
Dagger kept to himself a lot and was trained in the arts of the assassin, he was notorious for his
passion of killing and his lack of regret for it but Mystery knew him better than this, she knew his
skills did not end there.
Dagger was pulling along what appeared to be a corsair which was kicking to break free like a
captured imp, Dagger's face was stern as he seemed to march towards Jule with no sympathy for
the poor corsair who was been dragged by his hair and whose hand was covered in blood, Mystery knew
this to be the works of an interrogation method used by Dagger and she also knew how successful it
could be.
Dagger was drenched from the icy rain and his face was not amused, he strode up towards Mystery,
Griffin and Jule and violently tossed the corsair in front of the guildies. The corsair clambered to
his knees and tried to stand up but he was met by Dagger's sharp blades "So, you think an
attack on the isle of meditation would be wise, what is your purpose here?"Dagger looked at
the corsair in disgust and was getting impatient. "Do you want to lose another finger?"
Dagger threatened as the corsair flinched in fear. "No! No! Please, we were sent here by a
mysterious contractor, we were given gold to raid the island; we just do as we're told! Please
spare my life I have two children waiting for me in Istan!"
Dagger, Jule, Mystery and Griffin glanced up at each other inquisitive about this "mysterious
contractor". Jule spoke "If you promise to return to your corsair friends and set sail home
then we shall call of our guards and you may leave peacefully, if not I guarantee none of you will
leave this island." The corsair was frightened by Jule's cool tone but got to his feet and
ran, he ran as far as he could until he froze in his tracks and warm blood trickled from his mouth,
he collapsed on the floor with a pair of daggers edged in his back. Mystery gasped and clapped her
hands over her mouth, "What was that for?" Griffin asked. Dagger replied quickly "I
didn't believe him" his face was sinister and he ran out into the rain to fetch his daggers.
At that moment Thorn Scythe came running up towards the four guildies wheezing for air, his voice
seemed dire and his face breathless, he was a good friend of Mystery Mesmer and he had trained for
years in the arts of the Dervish, and Mystery knew she would never like to meet the edge of his
scythe. "JULE! There was too many of them" he still could not catch his breath "I
couldn't capture the flag stand they are surrounding it, we need more of the guild."
Jule did not seem happy, if the corsairs captured the second flag stand then it would be like claiming
the half the island for themselves, this could not happen.
Then Mystery decided to speak, her voice was low and quiet, "I think that after I tell you this
you're going to think I'm crazy…but I think there's more behind this attack, in
fact I know there is, today an oracle told me Grenth was coming, shortly afterwards I collapsed and
I saw the guild hall been attacked, I think maybe it's true maybe Grenth is coming for whatever
reason, I think he wants something, something this island possesses." Dagger and Griffin seemed
skeptical, while Thorn wanted to believe Mystery yet thought the idea to be doubtful himself. Jule
stared at Mystery his face interested in what she had to say, "I know it's strange and most
likely preposterous but I just know something strange is happening." Jule his eyes still fixed on
Mystery seemed to be thinking the matter over, his eyes narrowed and he finally spoke, "Uncle once
told me that this island was special, he said one day it will try be reclaimed, but never did I think
by a god! Never by the hand of death itself." Thorn, Mystery and Griffin looked apprehensive; the
thought of a god wanting their lives was just terrifying.
Then the winds changed, the sky darkened and the guild hall was even grimmer, a cold breeze hit
Mystery's face and the sound of the crashing waves on the beach sounded suffocating. Dagger gave
an excited smirk as he held tightly onto his dripping daggers, "I guess Grenth is coming then."
