Episode: Seige Stories V
Posted by Story on 04/23/17
They came to the Great Cathedral where it all began, where the Pale Man first struck at the Compact and the Faithful. This group, composed of Gisele, Armel, Aureth, Aleksei, Fortunato and Freja, gathered for a desperate attempt to put an end to the terror spree that had gripped the city, and avenge the many innocents who fell to the demon's mad whims. And thus while Gisele, Aureth and Fortunato focused their efforts on a ritual they hoped would weaken the demon, Armel, Aleksei and Freja stood guard to protect them.
The attempt almost failed before it had even truly begun. Releasing a deadly poison upon the Templars guarding the Cathedral outside, the demon used the frenzied warriors of the Faith as diversion to attack those attempting the ritual directly. Worse was when fragments of the creature appeared from the sinister gifts he had given to his victims as part of his campaign to break their spirits.
Yet our heroes pulled through. Aleksei destroyed a fragment outright with his blade, Freja preventing the other from joining the demon's efforts in ending the ritual, while Armel kept the demon himself distracted. Gisele, despite being thrown halfway through the Cathedral, despite the demon's obvious intention to kill her most of all, rose up again to complete the ritual, with Aureth and Fortunato rising up to the task, unyielding in their devotion to the Gods and their intention to see the monster destroyed.
Our heroes threw everything they had at the Pale Man, and yet again, it almost wasn't enough. The beseeching of Gods went unanswered, and though Freja was successful in summoning the Spirits to her aid, they were not enough to prevent the demon from not only nigh crippling Armel, but almost saw both Freja and Aleksei devoured.
And when the moment was darkest, when all seemed lost, when hope died in the hearts of some... The Gods, finally, answered. The ritual was completed by Gisele, AUreth and Fortunato, and robbed much of the demon's strength, banishing it from the holy place that was and remains the Great Cathedral. Their hearts soaring with this show of favour, our heroes fought the demon with renewed fervour. Fortunato was able to light it up with divine fire, while Freja and Aleksei proceeded to stab and cut the Pale Man ruthlessly. Already on the verge of death, it ended when Armel's staff, imbued with essence anathema to the Abyss, struck the Pale Man.
And finally, he fell.
Though our heroes stepped out of the Great Cathedral wounded and bloodied, they did so with the knowledge that, on this day, they had finally freed Arx from the horrors of the Pale Man. And the sun that met them? Looked just a little brighter than usual.
The attempt almost failed before it had even truly begun. Releasing a deadly poison upon the Templars guarding the Cathedral outside, the demon used the frenzied warriors of the Faith as diversion to attack those attempting the ritual directly. Worse was when fragments of the creature appeared from the sinister gifts he had given to his victims as part of his campaign to break their spirits.
Yet our heroes pulled through. Aleksei destroyed a fragment outright with his blade, Freja preventing the other from joining the demon's efforts in ending the ritual, while Armel kept the demon himself distracted. Gisele, despite being thrown halfway through the Cathedral, despite the demon's obvious intention to kill her most of all, rose up again to complete the ritual, with Aureth and Fortunato rising up to the task, unyielding in their devotion to the Gods and their intention to see the monster destroyed.
Our heroes threw everything they had at the Pale Man, and yet again, it almost wasn't enough. The beseeching of Gods went unanswered, and though Freja was successful in summoning the Spirits to her aid, they were not enough to prevent the demon from not only nigh crippling Armel, but almost saw both Freja and Aleksei devoured.
And when the moment was darkest, when all seemed lost, when hope died in the hearts of some... The Gods, finally, answered. The ritual was completed by Gisele, AUreth and Fortunato, and robbed much of the demon's strength, banishing it from the holy place that was and remains the Great Cathedral. Their hearts soaring with this show of favour, our heroes fought the demon with renewed fervour. Fortunato was able to light it up with divine fire, while Freja and Aleksei proceeded to stab and cut the Pale Man ruthlessly. Already on the verge of death, it ended when Armel's staff, imbued with essence anathema to the Abyss, struck the Pale Man.
And finally, he fell.
Though our heroes stepped out of the Great Cathedral wounded and bloodied, they did so with the knowledge that, on this day, they had finally freed Arx from the horrors of the Pale Man. And the sun that met them? Looked just a little brighter than usual.