We headed down the path to the Lake Shore to find a monk in pain. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"The Stag Chargers, vile servants of the Pendragon, wounded me," groaned the monk, clutching his side. "If only I had the waters from the Pool of Radiance nearby, it might heal me."
Christina was about to make a snide remark but I shushed her and went to check out this pool...
We have a problem. :(
"Pool's dry as an exposed bone," I sighed.
"The Pool of Radiance has run dry?!" cried the monk. "Then it's truly the end of me!"
"How did this happen?" I asked.
"'Tis probably the work of Pendragon's pet witch, Black Annie," moaned the monk. "Did she do it herself? Probably not. She probably had the Stag Chargers steal the magical Alphyn statues' gems which keep it running. If ye can defeat the Stag Chargers, ye might find the gems and restore them."
*sigh Another day, another mob to kill. :( (And I forgot that I had JUST run the Tower of the Evil Helephant again[and Sierra failed it because I had her flee just before Grace killed Lyon, so she didn't get the quest done] and everyone had on their boss decks. UGH! Sierra had to flee and potion up to get back before the others got wiped. But at least I fixed the decks and we got all four Eyes in two fights for all of them.)
We got the gems and replaced them in the statues, which caused a waterfall to fill the Pool. I grabbed some water in a bucket and hurried back to the monk.
With a sip, his wound was healed fully. "Thank ye, knight ladies," said the monk. "I am Friar Ockham. Now, how can I help ye?"
"We need to find this Lady of the Lake," said Grace.
"You seek the Lady of the Lake?" said Ockham. "She's trapped above her waters in the Dolorous Tower. Black Annie had corrupted the waters to prevent anyone from getting to her, but there is a secret path over the water which the Abbot of Whitehaven. Black Annie's Strangler Goblins are trying to smoke the Abott out of the Abbey! Chase off the Strangler Goblins and remove the bundles of kindling. The Abbot will know you are a friend."
"Looks like we've got more Froudlings to beat up," I sighed. "Let's do this." (These guys are Fire, you know the drill by now. Sierra can boost too if she casts MMP to convert her Frog to Storm. In fact, she one-shotted the goblins in the first battle with MMP and three blades on her Frog.)
We dumped the smouldering wood into the foul waters to extinguish it. "Let's find the Abbot."
But he came out and saved us the trouble. He spoke in a VERY thick accent, so thick I couldn't understand a word he said, except for "Avalon" and "Queen Gwedolyn."
"You might need some help on this one," said a familiar voice. "Thank you for your help. Are you someone loyal to Avalon and Good Queen Gwendolyn?"
I sighed in relief. "Thanks, G.R." I nodded. "Yes, we are loyal Knights of the Wyrd tasked by the Queen to find the Lady of the Lake. We were told there was a way to get into the Dolorous Tower."
"Ya naed tae cunsoolt wi the Lady ae the Lake?" said the Abbot. "Secrd Speyeral, air voices uv bin 'erd! She is treppd by the Black Annie. Tae restur her pawir, ye hae tae vanquish the Foul Skirkers whut air poisoneen Lake Nimue, ten destrae the Kegs ae Effluent. Raeturn hae when ye've accoomplushed tese tausks!"
"To make it short, defeat the Foul Skirkers, destroy the Kegs of Effluent, and return to the Abbot when you are done."
"Thank goodness you're on our side, G.R.," I whispered.
"No offense," said Christina. "But did anyone get that? That guy needs some serious language..."
"It is all right, Mma Raven has translated it for us," said Grace. "We must slay the Skirkers and destroy the kegs of poison they are corrupting the lake with."
"Whatevs," sighed Christina. "Man, no wonder that guy lives alone - nobody can understand him!"
Great Bartleby, I hate Earthquake. :(
I also hate the kegs. Ew, what was in that poison? X_X (What's annoying is that the Skirkers are too close to the kegs to avoid - you have to go around them - Grace got pulled while trying to get the last keg. I hate this place already.)
"My highest compliments, you are a truly a servant of Noble King Artorius," said G.R. "Actually, I can just adjust your hearing so you can understand this thick accent."
Our ears tingled and I thank G.R. again. She is a saint... well, a goddess actually, but you get me.
"Although the Lady of the Lake is trapped," said Abbot Ewan. "She is not without her allies. The Seraph Guardian at the Tower will attack any who are not a friend to her. Take a branch from the Olive Tree and show it to the Seraph, that will show you are a friend."
"Thank you, Rra," said Grace. "We will do so."
We found the olive tree, took branches from it, and waved them at the shore. The Seraph saluted us so we returned to the Abbot, who told us a little more.
We found a tree of Goblin Kudzu and tore it away with our weapons, revealing a horn. I was wary about blowing it because it had been buried in poisonous vines, but I blew the horn loud and long. A magical path of light crossed the water to a foul hut. I knew the hut well because my House of the Wyrd had one - it stood on insectoid legs.
That was where Black Annie was. We stormed into her house and confronted her. (I sadly couldn't get a dialogue as another player called Carlos - a Conjurer - joined us and drew two mooks.)
The battle with the foul hag was long and difficult, and we suffered many wounds, but we were victorious. (I apologize to Carlos - he really needed this win but Black Annie killed him JUST as Grace unleashed a Tempest which was buffed and hit a Feint, taking the witch out. Sorry! If I had known she would hurt you, I would have healed you instead of Grace. I am sure you can find another group. :( )
(Also, Black Annie is a gimmick boss with Belloq's Cheat with a variant; it won't trigger unless you use any spell on Annie which isn't an attack, and you'll get hit with a Vampire that stuns you. So you need to plan on one-shotting the hag and use mostly buffing instead of debuffing. She is Storm and has a lot of health. Also, the Black Crow for the Lake Shore is in this hut, so don't forget to touch it before you leave or you will have to deal with Annie again.)
We tore the Iron Key from the witch's hand and left, following the path to the tower. We used the key to unlock the door and enter the tower.
The first thing we saw was a giant stone that floated in mid-air.
"Greetings, children," said a voice.
It was the mermaid I had seen in the Nameless Knight's tomb. We bowed deeply. "You must be the Lady of the Lake," I said with great respect.
"Yes," she said. "I am she. Look at you three, Knights of the Wyrd and Archmages as well!"
"You know about our magic?" asked Grace. "You knew about us?"
"Only an apprentice of Merle Ambrose would have the power to rescue me, find Queen Gwendolyn, and defeat both the Jabberwock and the Bane Wyrm!" She laughed a musical laugh and I felt joy and couldn't get angry at her for stealing the Sword of Kings. "Come, let us look at the Stele of Nicole and see the name of that who will save Avalon." She pointed to the giant stone behind us.
"We aren't technically apprentices," I said. "But I know what you are talking about." We turned...
We approached the stone and I suddenly felt my body growing very heavy and I saw my friends feel the same way. I felt mana swirl around us, and then the stone flashed with light...
And a name appeared on it. We were shocked and Christina broke down.
"I... I don't deserve this honor," sobbed Christina. "I failed my friends, and I fled like a coward and hid behind a false identity, pushing them away. I can't..."
"Your heart was weak, but only for a brief time," said the Lady. "Look again."
We were doubly shocked to see our names on the stone as well!
"Glorious, no?" said the Lady. "Your fates are intertwined, Christina. Do not fear failure, as one can learn from it as well as success. Together, you will be able to overcome the Shadow Queen and bring peace to the Spiral."
"About that," I said. "I..."
"I know you have come to ask about the Sword of Kings," said the Lady. "I have returned it to Castle Avalon, the lair of the Pendragon." We gasped. "Do not worry, he and his minions cannot touch it due to its magic - it will not be wielded except when the time comes. Come, let us meet outside of this sorrowful place." She vanished in a flash of light.
I had a feeling that this quest was about to take us to the endgame, the final battle with Pendragon.
[To be continued...]
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