The Ritual: Don Martin and the Void

Submitted by Quest Center

The night was cold, the moon was yellow and the leaves came tumbling down. I was standing on the corner when I heard my bulldog bark. He was barkin' at man who was walking in the dark.

As Don Martin went into the house of the Witches of Cove alone, he realized that Alainn was quite annoyed. She looked him straight in the eye and said, "I see a hero but no doorway, where is the Wraith?". "He is in Cove" Don replied. The witches eyes flashed crimson red as she tried to restrained her anger at the foolish hero. "Cove is not here! He must be here!", she replied sharply.

And Ole Don, he didn't flinch, as he as he looked at her and said, "Just letting you know I was coming," with a smile meant to hide the unbridled fear of these powerful beings.

The other lovely witch, Morrigan intently watched Alainn, expecting her to roast this hero alive. But Alainn merely put her hands on her hips and said, "How considerate."

Don was out the door in less than a heartbeat as he headed towards Cove at a trot. As they watched him leave, Morrigan mused with a smile, "Hmmmm, a handsome hero too."

Alainn crackled and said, "I would say so. I will take his blood to bind him to the circle, so that whatever he brings forth will not endanger us."

"I remember he was quite friendly during some other quests, though he has chosen a most dangerous course," said Morrigan "None return from his path... Untouched."

The childe, Danielle De'Rosa listened to them carefully as she watched out the window. Alainn simply replied, "That is not our concern though. He must hurry, the night has fallen."

Alain thought for a second and said, "Hmm, that ring, the wedding ring of his bride, ruby was it not?"

All at once Morrigan sensed a dark one as they all stopped talking....

Meanwhile Back in Cove...

The small group of friends had managed to not only capture a Wraith but they had gated him to Cove. They figured out that if Don kept the Wraith paralyzed, he could be somewhat controlled. Don had scouted ahead to make sure the area was secure and that the witches were ready. Between the warrior ODIN and the trade master mage Vienne, they managed to keep the Wraith at bay.

Don came running back and after trying several things, determined that if he ran, the Wraith would chase him. The Wraith chased him all the way to the home of the witches.

It was a terribly cold night as the wind came in from the North. The only good thing about a north wind in Cove is that it drove back the stench of the Orc Fort. Vienne did not like it at all and wished that Don would get this over with so that she could get back to her warm fireplace at the PaxLair Survival Shop.

The Ritual

The Witches of Cove instructed the heroes, Alainn snapped, "Place him in the center, swiftly!" ODIN pushed the Wraith into the center as the witches bound him within the ring.

The Wraiths dark eyes fell on the witch as she commanded, "Ye two stand guard at the door. We will call ye. Shooo!"

The two proud members of the Veiled Alliance took their posts outside the door hoping Don did not come back Evil.

The Wraith and Danielle watched each other for a moment as Morrigans voice coldly asked, "Shall we begin?" then added, "As a portal must be opened so this one must be prepared."

It was at that moment that Don realized Alainn had a knife in her hand. The knife looked ancient, the handle was some sort of antler with nine of the gems of the earth encircled around it. The tenth, a flawless red ruby encrested the hilt. Alainn ordered, "Don Martin, give me your hand!" The razor sharp blade sliced so easily that Don felt no pain, that is until he began to see the amount of blood that flowed from his palm. Don gritted his teeth and looked away trying not to let on that he wanted no more of this. As the witch took the blood, Don tried to focus on the pentagram, the vials of blood, Alainns blue dress, anything other than his hand.

As Alainn Brid dripped blood on the gem and waited, Morrigans eyes rolled up as she moaned, "Aye... the way is ready." Don watched in fascination as Alainn made motions in the air with hands. Morrigan poured a decanter of green tinged liquid which she somehow willed the Wraith to ingest. Alainn nodded quietly as the Wraith stumbled around in confusion and pain.

Morrigans hair rased as if in a breeze as the Wraith began to wobble. Alainn raised her arms as Morrigan chanted, "The way is opening." Alainn added, "From the form of the Void, the doorway is opened!" The now weak Wraiths eyes darkened to black as Alainn continued, "From the substance of the Void the path is made clear. One may enter, One might return."

Morrigan chanted softly.

"The Dark Father claims its own. The soulless ones haunt the shadows," the now hollow voice of Alainn echoed.

As the Wraith stumbled around in confusion and pain, his dark eyes gazed around the room.

Alainn motioned to the dying creature saying, "Gaze upon thy portal Don Martin. For when it's life ends, Ye shall be within the blackness of the Void itself."

The wraith seemed to shimmer and fade as the room grew cold. Danielle De'Rosa shivered slightly as she watched Morrigans eyes roll back, as the chanting increased. Don Martin shivered as he clutched his ring.

A cold breeze wafted through the building as Alainn heard a howl in the air. The Wraith staggered around inside the circle.

Alainn commanded the Wraith, "Return to ye maker and form open the portal with thy doom." Don felt the room begin to spin as the wraith seemed to swallow all light.

Don Martin appeared dazed as Alainn, Morrigan and Danielle shivered slightly.

"Remember what binds thee Don Martin only that will endure yer return," Alainn pointed out as Don mumbled..."Tameria."

"Forget not thy vows....Be steadfast," said Morrigan.

"Now hero slay him and enter thy doom!", commanded Alainn Brid. "Feel the presence of the Void. Feel it encircle ye, beware its traps lest it swallow ye completely."

As Don Martin began to wobble, Morrigan warned, "Be steadfast!"

Don Martin stiffened as Alainn Brid glanced at the window, "It is time now. The shadows fade as does life."

The corpse of a Wraith lay on the floor as Don Martin faded from the light......

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