Dracula's Castle - The Knight Approaches

[Vize Viper]

Rapid footsteps. The sound of rattling metal. Heavy breathing that betrayed a deep exhaustion it's source would not allow to show itself any other way.

These sounds moved through the forest surrounding Dracula's castle, as a single, diminutive armored figure rushed through the trees, a large sword clasped in one hand, and a lance in the other.

Arthur, the Bane of the Undead, was on the move. And his goal, the dark castle inhabited by the master of the monsters plaguing Castlevania, a vampire of immense power.

And the brave warrior intended this coming night be the monster's last.

[TurkwithStyle]

The forest was silent, dark, and cold. It almost seemed to be an endless sea of nothing, but suddenly, the air cracked. Out of the ground, woods, swamps, and dark trenches poured in monstrous creatures. Gradually, they all slowly and silently walked and gathered in one location, not uttering one word, keeping an eye on a lone knight...their dinner. From in the distance and some fairly close, several eyes peered off at Arthur, shining different colors ranging from red to gold and to white. The creatures went from a somber walk to a paced jog, and started to show their terrible forms in the small amounts of moonlight.

Minotaurs gathered near the front of the gates of the Castle. About five or so, which stood their ground, holding their axes up high. Grunting and striking their hooves on the ground, they signaled that they meant business, and no one would easily pass. They burrowed their chins down into their necks, horns shining beautifully in the moonlight, sharp and deadly, they were meant for intense situations. They howled up toward the sky, calling all the creatures, letting them know that there is a fearless trespasser that needed to be shown some fear.

Ghost skulls flew toward the man's face, making a screeching noise, at an almost deafening one. More than fifteen of these creatures passed in front of his eyes, soon making a circle around his head. They closed in and out, seemingly using themselves as a distraction, and at the same time calling the others to where he walked.


Skeletons of several shapes and sizes clutched their fists tight, some holding their weapons close, preparing for an attack. They growled and roared, raising their shields, swords, and bows which reflected the light of the moon, giving an almost ominous glow. The creature's bones made a cracking sound with every step they took toward their target, a sound of doom with every step.

Average zombies, warrior zombies, soldier zombies...many cursed undead loomed in the shadows. Their putrid flesh still rotting, wreaking, giving off a terrible scent. These creatures were once human but now they resemble nothing but monsters. Creatures that have passed and forgotten what it was like to be human, living their lives feeding off their brethren.

Inanimate trees soon became animated, as they revealed their true forms known as Dryads. The Dryads moved gracefully, and stopped every so many steps. Only when Arthur wasn't looking would they take the time to move, but stop when his attention was taken to them. Playing an ongoing game of cat and mouse, stalking their prey, observing it, taking few steps at a time as they moved in, awaiting to take action.

Bats of all sizes screeched and flew over head and toward the man, trying to bite at him to taste his blood. Some bats flew directly, some indirectly, all gracefully. A silent brigade of flying servants of darkness, they all attacked. A group of bats circled over head and out of sight, awaiting for Arthur to take to the other larger creatures, so they could attack when least expected.

Several tiny and silent footsteps could be heard, the patters of many legs which belonged to Arachne's, which stalked him from within the forest. Some buried themselves deep within the darkness, some climbed trees and hung from thin webs over head. All Arachne were quiet, awaiting the moment to strike, for they were skilled hunters, and silent predators.

A grand Beel rose out of the road ahead and groaned in front of Arthur. It's long spinal cord twisted in odd ways, it's head rocking backward and forward, while its tongue fell out as if it were detached, falling over its face and to the ground. It then lunged forward once, with its head on the ground, snapping it's jaw intensely at the man, making some odd sound of the dead.

The large doors to the castle opened slowly, creaking, the lights from within shining out...

...and from within the castle marched out an entire army of Knights. Animated armor, ready to defend the castle they were created to protect. Emotionless, faceless creatures, the Knights marched on in perfect unison out and down the path. The sound of armor clanking could be heard, it echoed throughout the forest, as if they were coming from all directions, but they were indeed coming from only one. The mute protectors of darkness were marching on, to take on and destroy the newcomer with sheer brute force.

The once gloomy and uninhabited forest was now a terrible deathtrap. Several monsters have come out to play, each very determined to eliminate that one man. Though it wasn't only the forest and the castle gates that were aware of this human's repugnant stench. A man stood gazing out of a window high up.

"..." the pale man stared out holding a glass of red whine. He sighed deeply and looked downward, "And again they come." He rose his head without emotion, though showed he was disgusted through his voice. "Every so many years, every time I re-awaken..." He rose his right hand and made a beckoning gesture. "Those damned Belmonts come."

Two Succubus that happened to be awaiting the vampire in his bed, nodded at him before getting out and flying out the window. They headed toward the top of the tower, where clock gears ground against each other. The Succubi flew up and said with fairly soft and sultry voices, "He needs you...the time has come...please help us again giver and taker of valued life..."

A scythe emerged out of the darkness and reflected moonlight, creating a blinding light. "..."

The creature emerged, showing no more than an undead wearing a cloak. "I come when called...I grant your wish...I am fully indebted to you...Mr. Tepes." The creature flew out of the top of the clock tower, tattered robes blowing in the wind. The creature appeared before Arthur, stopping all time and all movement except for he and the man, and just floated there ominously. He moved in closer, making heavy breathing noises, and stared Arthur directly in the eyes, showing its dead face. No eyes, only cavities, and a decrepit skull was all that could be seen. Arthur was indeed staring Death in the face. "Time is valuable...you have wasted your time...and now your time has run out." Death slowly faded into the air, disappearing, muttering the words, "Time...is eternal...humans...are not...Belmonts...must fade." And with a sound of a snap, life was back to the way it was, and the hungry creatures were about to attack. Death was no longer in sight, but a small whisper could still be heard, "As it was commanded by Mr. Tepes..."

[Vize Viper]

The brave knight heard the dark monsters calling their brethren, and gathering around him, the ghostly skulls earning only a cursory glance.

And he showed no fear.

He felt the trees coming to life and following him, and heard the bats shrieking overhead, obscured by webs that hung from the trees... and their malicious occupants.

And he showed no fear.

He smelled and heard the skeletons and zombies gathering around him, and saw the massive undead head rise from the road ahead of him.

And he showed no fear.

In the distance, he heard the clanking of armor, and could see in the distance its source, the army of knights coming to face him.

And he showed no fear.

The very visage of Death itself appeared before him, as time slowed to a stop, while the skeletal being gave its warning, and its prophecy, although the knight did not understand the comment about "Belmonts". And even in the face of death, he showed no fear, as it disappeared, and time's flow once more resumed.

Because...

The man who would soon face a seemingly unending horde of monsters and demons...

Felt. No. Fear.

"Time shall not stop me in my appointed task, nor wilt this horde of foul darkness and undeath." Arthur's voice rang out clearly as he drew his mighty blade, Excalibur, raising it overhead. The light of the moon, as if responding to his resolve, caught the blade, and seemed to surround the knight with golden light.

"I art Sir Arthur! And I hath made a vow to cleanse this mortal plane of your foul kind! COME AND FACE ME!"

[TurkwithStyle]

The smaller bats all swooped down at Arthur, biting at his armor, trying to force it off. About a dozen of these creatures hovered around his head, all trying to take his attention. Some blinded him by sticking themselves directly in his face, and just fluttered and nothing more.

There were a few larger bats, also wanting their fair share of action. These bats were as bout as big as small dogs, and they all repeatedly rammed themselves into Arthur's gut, intending to push him on his back. Nothing all that harmful with these creatures, but they were indeed a nuisance. Several bats ranging from one foot to three and a half feet all charged at Arthur at one time, stalling and cutting his movements so they had a fair chance and hoped that a larger creature would come through soon so they could all get out alive.

[Vize Viper]

Arthur, his expression one of intense focus, simply used his sword to clear the air around him, killing several of the smaller bats, and even bisecting one of the larger ones, before he drew his daggers from behind him, using them to finish off the lesser fling monsters. Then, his path clear, he charged into the forest, slicing his way through several of the zombies lurking nearby. And to follow this move, he threw a flaming blue bottle into the trees, where it struck one of the Arachne and shattered, causing it, and the webs throughout the trees, to suddenly burst into blue, supernatural flame.

Arthur would allow NONE of these foul creatures to live.

[TurkwithStyle]

The Arachne within the tree were indeed finished. They burned continuously and screeched out a horrible sound, fell out, and burnt to ash on the ground. The Arachne already on the ground and clear away from the trees were much more fortunate though. One lunged toward Arthur out of the shadows, pushing him to the ground. The creature looked down at him, eyeing up his scratched face. It continued to try and damage him, by pinning its legs over his arms and legs, beating on him with its arms. Two more of these foul creatures skittered near and attempted to trample over his body.

[Vize Viper]

The knight, as he was struck to the ground, raised his arms, defending him from the arachnid's blows, until he shoved the creature away, and brought his sword up, slashing the creature from belly to the top of its head. As the creature fell into two halves, he then turned on the zombies and skeletons that had begun trying to close in on him, sheathing his sword as he drew an unchained axe, throwing it and lodging it in the head of a zombie coming towards him, as he used the sickle to decapitate one of the skeletons, using more axes to destroy more of the creatures.

[TurkwithStyle]

The trees would stop every time Arthur would turn to see them. As the man walked on the path to the castle, the trees would move in closer, faster, and block his path. The man would be confused as to why the path that was once open was now blocked. These creatures, the Dryads, were very deadly yet playful creatures. They've been known to lead men astray and into the deeper woods, only to find death. If Arthur would change his path, so would the trees. Which were trees and which were Dryads? Who could tell? The Dryads made a faint giggle, all at once, and all came from different directions. Arthur may have been unaware, but there were over 12 Dryads circled around him, along with real trees. There was absolutely no way to tell.

[Vize Viper]

The knight glanced around, hearing the Dryads all around him, as he took a careful step...

Right onto a Dryad's root. The plant monster screamed in startled pain, lifting the injured root and throwing Arthur to the ground.

The knight, however, was already throwing daggers as he fell, striking the monster in the head. Standing as it shrieked in pain, dissolving in blue flame, he then turned his attention to the other Dryads, which he could now pick out against the true tree.

And as if they realized this, several of them rushed him all at once.

The knight, however, simply drew his axe... and began cleaving away at the monstrous trees like so much firewood. In moments, he was surrounded by dissolving fragments of Dryads, as he turned towards the rest.

[TurkwithStyle]

The Dryads that were left skittered about the forest. Some blended in with the background, some stayed within view. All Dryads however released some sort of cluster made of pollen and flung it at Arthur. A large amount of attacks headed for Arthur from every angle. Two Dryads rushed him from behind, one spearing it's branch into the armour covering his arm, and the other wrapping it's branches around his body.

[xenomina]

Surely some god had been watching over the knight, for a guardian angel clad in blue arrived in what seemed to be in the nick of time. A small tornado appeared around the dwarven knight, dispersing the pollen as evil roots stabbed and pierced him.

Not but a moment later, a young woman appeared from the tree branches overheard, a large axe appearing in her hands before being launched, flying with near utmost precision as the branches that held Sir Arthur were cut asunder the branches immediately dissolving as the last of Ecclesia landed on her feet. her expression remained stoic as she shoved her hand in front of her, symbols on her arms flickering before flame burst from her hands, catching the two Dryads aflame as she finished them off with a quick swipe of a sword, it flickering away as quickly as it appeared in her hands.

"Are you alright, Sir?" A clearly feminine voice rang out, her tone just as emotionless as the expression she wore on her face.

[TurkwithStyle]

Before the man could speak, Bloody Zombies stabbed their swords up through the ground, stabbing his lower body and causing him to fall forward. When the man was at his weakest, the undead creatures didn't rise, but grabbed his feet and started to bring him down to them. Soon the man was completely underground, and silence fell.

[Vize Viper]

The silence, however, was soon broken as a golden sword stabbed up through the ground, its owner beginning to pull himself free, before he began stabbing his holy weapon into the ground around him, trying to hit the zombies that had ambushed him.

Once he was freed, the knight looked... tired, very tired, but resolute in continuing his deadly trek.

"I wouldst thank you for thine assistance a moment ago, fair lady, but I must continue on."

[xenomina]

"As do I," Shanoa replied, turning to look upon the castle which Dracula called home. She turned back to Arthur, noticing that he was getting weary from his battles. "If you are heading for the castle Dracula, I suggest you turn back, you are too weak to go on. He will destroy you with a wave of his hand."

[Vize Viper]

Arthur simply waved off Shanoa's statement, his expression resolute.

"I hath faced for greater dangers, in much worse condition. I doth understand thine concerns, but I cannot turn back. I hath given mine oath to cleanse this land."