Elsewhere...
The chamber was dim. Only a few candles offered any light, and that light was absorbed into the shadows which played against them. He sat alone there, thinking over the signs he has seen, and wondering what he can do to stop them.
He rests in more of a throne than a chair. His hands hold up his chin, which, he thinks, needs shaving. He's been in here for too long. He should get out and see what his enemies are up to.
He stands, and to see him, one can tell that this is a man of importance, of power. He walks with purpose. He wears body armor, shoulders, chest, forearms, back, all protected with a metal that appears to be platinum. The rest of his clothing is midnight blue, and the cape that he wears is black.
He turns, his attention caught by a small globe on his desk. The crystal begins to glow a soft, blue light. The man strides over to the desk and takes the crystal.
His brow furrows. Covering his eyes, nose and parts of his cheeks is a visor, a metal covering similar to his armor. His eyes cannot be seen. His soul cannot be known.
"Interesting..." he says to no one in particular. He returns the crystal to a stand; a pair of miniature bronze dragons. Their outstretched arms welcome the pulsing orb.
He turns and moves to the door, which opens by its own accord upon his approach. He moves into a well-lit hall, and two guards bow as he passes. He smiles when he walks past. They know him, and they care.
"Gilroy!" he calls out. A halfling passing by stops and looks his way, nodding at the lord's approach.
"Yes, m'lord?"
"Have the crews prepare my personal craft. Someone in this area is using a magical item I created. I must investigate."
"But, m'lord, the meeting with Colicor..."
"Can wait. I must see this."
"Yes, Lord Monitor."
Lord Monitor, the Imperium Ars Magican of the Omnispace system watches as Gilroy leaves. He has seen the signs coming. He knows that destiny can no longer be denied.
He turns and strides down another corridor.
Onestar reached the decaying doors to the temple. The daylight pouring through the entrance was the only light within the structure. The samurai looked around the entrance, trying to find something that might pass as a torch. He finally found a piece of wood lying near the entrance, long enough to serve his needs.
The samurai concentrated on the wood, and within seconds, it burst into flame. Checking the entrance for traps, Onestar entered the temple.
The opening chamber was huge, about the size of a small auditorium. It was, in its heyday, a chapel, meeting site and gathering point for the community. It was covered, protected from both the elements and demons looking to terrorize the community. Onestar hoped he could remember the layout fairly well.
Off to the left was an old, familiar sight: A broken lock on a pair of bronze doors. Behind those stairs, Onestar remembered, was a set of stairs leading downward.
[What are you waiting for, little samurai?] Scillabba's voice echoed from around Onestar, but he could not determine a source. [Come on down! Everyone's waiting for you!]
With that, the floor beneath Onestar's feet disappeared like a mist. The samurai fell hard and fell far. He finally landed, roughly, about fifty feet below.
To his credit, Onestar did not yell when he landed. Nor did he yell when he tried to stand on his broken leg. Instead, he just focused his concentration. He closed his eyes.
The torch that he held had faltered, but the room was lit with an eerie green glow. The samurai sat there, eyes closed, concentrating on his leg. He straightened it, concentrated, and then could feel the bones mend and heal.
[Molecular Agitation and Cellular Adjustment, just like I remembered. You were always too good for the rest of us, samurai.] Scillabba's taunts were still coming from seemingly everywhere. [I remember the cleric always wanting to help you, but you sent him away. You never needed the rest of us. You, the one man army.]
Onestar ignored Scillabba, and stood, testing his repaired leg. The samurai looked tired in this green light, and was beginning to sweat. Assured his leg was fine, he moved out once more, to the north, to underground passages that he remembered were there. No matter where he went, however, Scillabba's taunts were still audible.
[You know, Onestar,] Scillabba began again, [you learn quite a bit by spending time in hell. Take it from me. I learned quite a bit about you. Who you are. Where you came from.]
"Just keep talking, Scillabba," Onestar said, the taunts beginning to get the best of him. "I'll remove that tongue when I get to you."
[Are you sure you want to do that, samurai? After all, I even know things you can't remember. I know what happened during those years you don't.]
Onestar stopped suddenly, hearing Scillabba's words. He was in the middle of a large, earthen chamber. The walls danced with shadows. The only lights were from a blue algae growing on the ceiling above Onestar.
[You heard me right, samurai. I know what happened to you.]
It was at that time the hordlings chose to attack.
