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I now take you to the Ruins of Norin... To the best of my calculations, we were hopelessly lost in the jungle that surrounded the Ruins of Norin. Scottie kept assuring me that he knew exactly where we were, but I rather doubted him. We should have reached the Ruins about two days ago, but we still had yet to see even one of the broken down huts that probably served the sentries of the ancient city. To make matters worse, our arrival into this densest part of the jungle happened to coincide with the arrival of what seemed to be every misquito, gnat, biting fly, horsefly, and hornet in the entirety of Doggainia. Needless to say we were all madly itching ourselves (despite our vain attempts not to) and were wholly miserable. The healing salve and seltzer water had provided much relief, but we had run out of that luxury this morning, and it was now nearly dusk. Sylvia, however, was still rattling on-and-on about how happy she was to be going on a great adventure, and about how much fun she was having. Had it been anyone else, I probably would have been extremely annoyed and tempted to tell her to kindly stop her incessant babbling. But in her case I could not. That voice of hers, even when just talking, was still vaguely entrancing and comforting. So I let her talk, and talk, and talk. As the sun set below the horizon, when the world was in that last little burst of brightness before night came with all its darkness, something flashed. As I could not have seen it, I was initially puzzled by the sudden flurry of conversion from my band. In the confusion of so many people talking at once, I could only catch snippets of "did you see that light....I did too....What...I do not know" Pulling Scottie over to me, I had him explain what had just happened. I then called for Flash to come over, as he had the keenest eyesight in my band. I asked him if he was able to pinpoint exactly where that light had come from. When he replied that he could, I ordered him start off towards that location, and the rest of the band followed in his path. Despite the darkness, both from it being night and from the denseness of the foliage that blocked out much of the moon's light, we moved at a rapid pace. Flash's keen eyesight allowed him to see any obstacles well in advance, and then shout them out to us so we could avoid them as well. It seemed as though almost no time had passed before we were dismounting in what had once been Norin's town square. By way of explaining the flash of light, I told Flash to climb the pole that was standing in the very center of the square, and yell down what he found at the top. True to his name Flash was on and up the pole almost before I had finished speaking. Then he shouted down that there was a small crystal up there. I smiled, remembering when my Sire had placed it up there to help guide other Doggs to the Ruins. As soon as Flash was on the ground again, we headed over to the only structure in the town that still had a roof to set up camp, interestingly enough, it was an Inn. Upon awakening the next morning, we headed over to the castle gate. The gate, as far as I know, has always been locked. We tried the Platinum key, but it failed to work. I still had a feeling that the key had to work some place inside the castle, so I had Butch smash in the gate. Not to hard of a task, as it was almost ready to fall of its own accord. As we climbed the long weed encrusted path to the castle of Norin, the key in my hands grew steadily warmer. When at last we reached the top of the hill (only about 20 feet high, but a very gradual ascent) I took a short rest. My lungs just aren't in the shape they used to be in. Flash, meanwhile, explored the front of the castle. As soon as I was rested, Scottie led me over to him, and I asked Flash what he saw. "Well...All things considered, the castle looks to be in pretty good shape. Not the best, but its not all crumbly and rotting like the rest of the city. Its almost as though it all it needs is to have someone wash the walls before it looks like it did in the old days. Obviously that cannot be so, but a nice thought all the same. As to how we get into it...I say we let Scottie handle that. The drawbridge is up, and the moat around it is about fifty yards wide. I could probably swim it without problem, but there are some nasty looking creatures swimming in it." As I turned to ask Scottie's opinion, I noticed that I no longer felt his presence beside me. The next thing I knew Flash was hurrying me out of the way muttering something about a "show-off". Then I heard a crash against the ground moments later I heard footsteps crossing over strong wood. Then Scottie's voice rang out, "What are you bloody fools waiting for? The heavens to part? Come along now, nothing to fear. This old bridge is still as solid as the day it was built." I smiled, realizing that Scottie must have teleported himself inside the castle, then lowered the drawbridge by hand. Following the heat of the Key, we wandered into the bowels of the castle. Cobwebs and spiders brushed across our faces, but we never once heard a single rat or mouse. Every door we opened seemed strong and solid. It was hard to believe that they had been unused for ages. At last we reached a door of solid steel and well tarnished. The key was now practically burning in my hands, but the door had not a keyhole anywhere on its surface. Turning to Butch, I asked him if he could knock the door in. I heard him scratch his head, then he replied that he honestly could not say, but he gave it a try anyway. >*KLANK*< The door had not even moved an inch. Butch wanted to try again, with some extra muscle from his Onyx, but I held my hand up. Slowly I reached forward and lightly flicked the door with the finger of my gauntlet. *clink* My ears had not deceived me. Turning to Scottie I asked him what kind of door this was. I could hear his puzzled look in his reply of "steel?" I shook my head. Reaching into my cloak, I brought forth a small handkerchief. I wet it with my spit, and proceed to polish a small spot on the door. The "oooo"'s and "ah"'s behind me gave me all the information I needed to prove my theory. This door was not made of steel, but of platinum. Replacing the handkerchief in my cloak, I brought forth the Key, and just pushed it into the door's smooth face. I met with some resistance at first, as though the door had forgotten how to respond, then I felt the door seem to turn into jelly. Soon my whole hand was inside of the door. When I felt the Key exit from the other side of the door, I heard a slight whisper as the door vanished. I could tell by the echoes of our footsteps we were in a huge hall of some kind. As Scottie guided me forward into the hall, he suddenly stopped in mid-stride, almost causing me to fall. He whispered, ever so softly... "Sir, I see it. I see the sword. It is sitting on some kind of alter, as though it was only put there for a moment, then forgotten..." Scottie trailed off, deep in thought or wonder, perhaps even both. I felt Flash grasp my other arm. In a voice that was shaken with anticipation Flash asked if he could retrieve the sword. As we had not yet found its proper bearer, I thought it would be as safe as anywhere in Flash's possession. As soon as I nodded, Flash moved forward. I heard his footsteps change as he climbed up on to the raised platform where the alter stood. An Unknown voice rang out, "STOP!!! COME NO CLOSER TO THE SACRED SWORD OF PLATINUM!!!" The voice seemed to emanate from everywhere, yet nowhere at the same time, "WHO DARES TO ENTER MY CHAMBER??? THE CHAMBER OF THE SACRED SWORD!!!" To my surprise, Flash replied, "I do! I, Flash, peasant of unknown birth. I, the greatest swordsman of the land. I, come here to claim this Sword. Unless there is one whose claim is truer." The Unknown Voice took a cynical tone, "Ah. At last someone has come to try and best me for possession of the Sword. You are not the first, you know. I have slain men twice your size without hesitation. That is why it is I who have the sword. For I am NAWLAN! The greatest warrior of all time. You claim far too great a name for your pathetic size. You have only a slight skill. I shall best you and validate my claim." Nawlan!!! My heart called out for Flash to back down. But words would not come to my aid and my body refused to respond to my will, frozen to the floor. Nawlan!!! My mind continued to race and spin. My dear friend was about to be slaughtered by the Great Nawlan, and I was powerless to prevent it. For Nawlan was the greatest warrior ever to tread the land of Doggainia. When the great beasts from across the sea invaded Doggainia may ages ago, Nawlan was there. He rallied the entire country behind him in an assault against the beasts. Though each beast could easily handle a multitude of Doggs at one time, non could even scratch Nawlan. He fought with a sword thrice his length, yet still it was a mere toothpick when compared the beasts. Never the less, he could with one swift movement evade a beasts defenses and kill it in seconds. His blade, the ancient texts say, hummed in the air when he swung it, and was impossible to follow with the naked eye. Single-handedly he killed over a hundred of the great beasts, and drove hundreds more back across the sea. No single beast could match him, and even a group of them could not slow him for long. Nawlan the Great. The First Hero of Doggainia. How he could still be alive I knew not, but he definitely was worthy of the Sword, and my dear Flash was doomed. Unswerved by the boasting of the voice, Flash responded in kind, "I accept your challenge Nawlan. I have heard the stories of your battles, but I show you no fear. Your day is over, and a new day is dawning. Come, step out from the shadows and face me. My blade is ready for thine. Come, let us settle this now." I heard metal scraping metal as Flash drew his sword, and sealing his fate. The voice of Nawlan rang out mockingly, "Ha-ha foolish peasant. My body has laid dead for many a year. I stand before as what I am now, nothing, not even a myst of essence. But I shall destroy you anyway. For the Platinum Sword is not just the finest sword in the land...it is, in fact, ME!!" The sword awoke from its resting place on the table and attacked my companion. I have no doubt that Flash was startled by this turn of events, but I heard the klanging of swords as he parried each blow. Unused to fighting a floating sword, Flash could do nothing but parry the blows trying to discover a way to defeat this opponent. As his grunts grew louder, I could tell Flash was tiring. Soon the Sword would wear him down and finish him once and for all. Then I heard a sickening >*CRACK*< followed by a soft "KLANK" as the top part of Flash's now broken blade hit fell to the ground. With on last grunt the battle stopped. I thought for sure my friend had died, then I heard... "I DID IT!! I POSSESS THE PLATINUM SWORD!!!" After his sword had broken, Flash had found himself unarmed against an opponent. Through years of training he had learned that the when your weapon breaks, the only way to survive, is take that of your opponent. In this case his opponent WAS a weapon, but he still applied the same principal. In a last, desperate attempt to save himself, he grabbed the Platinum Sword. And just as quickly, the Sword became his. Then the all of us in the room were flooded with memories. Memories not of any one person, but of the history of Norin. After the war with beasts, Nawlan headed West until he arrived at a small village. This village was so small that it did not even have a mill to make its own flour. Nawlan took pity on them. He spent years building them a mill, a smith, a store, anything they needed. He showed them how to farm for more yield, and how to tame oxen and boars. Soon the village grew. By the time Nawlan's beard began to turn grey, the village was larger than any other town in all of Doggainia. Yet, because of their secluded location, no one even knew they existed. Needing a leader, they appointed Nawlan their Breed Leader. They built him the castle in which my band was now standing. Nawlan had but one pup. A young boy. The lad was Nawlan's pride and joy. Then one day Nawlan had a vision that his son would be taken from him. From that day on he kept his son under constant guard. Then one day, when the pup was but four years old, a strange distortion appeared in the fields near the castle. The pup, naturally curious, wandered over to examine it. Nawlan saw the danger too late, and before he could reach his son, the pup vanished through the distortion which closed behind him. Nawlan lay there on the ground sobbing. He had protected his people, but could not protect his only son. Out of grief, Nawlan drew his sword and fell upon it. However, instead of killing him, the sword drew him inside of it. One of the castle guards, saw the entire scene and reached the sword just as it was falling to the ground. Not knowing what else to do, the guard brought it inside to the High Priest. The High Priest feared it to be the work of some demon. He had never before encountered such a happening, and refused to get near it. The Priest ran out of the castle and never returned. The town's people were not about to remain inside of a city that had a demon sword in it, so they left. They moved East, and set up a towne called Rover. Eventually they grew into my Breed, the Retrievers. Before the vision ended, we saw one more thing. We saw the young pup fall out of a distortion near a forget spring. It was then I recognized the pup as Flash. Ace Dogg of Doggainia |
