The Story of Bo'Glin

Bo’Glin : The Prophecy
By Richard LeBlanc
Level One, Part One: Dreamscapes and Nightmares

It is the same – always the same but each time different. It was an early hour of the day. That much she could tell through the flowing mists and clouds of smoke that wafted up from hundreds of still burning fires. There she stood. Her name was Qu’Tee Pie – the last survivor of the war – cleric to the fallen Order of the Butterfly. Her armour was badly damaged. Her arms – legs – face sported wounds that despite her best efforts would not – could heal.

Around her – hundreds – thousands of bodies littered the blood stained battlefield. She could hear the sounds of war. She could see flashes of fighting as though permanently etched in her brain. She closed her eyes and dropped to her knees. She covered her ears in a vain attempt to block out the screams – the voices – the sounds – the explosions. Yet no matter what she did the echoes remained – reminding her of the failure – and its horrific cost. It took great effort to block out the pain – but she forced herself back up to her feet.

She staggered but managed to steady herself. A gentle breeze wafted – carrying some of the mist and smoke away. Qu’Tee – looked to the east and saw the ravaged remnants of a small village. She knew the name – but for some reason she couldn’t remember it. Everything was too chaotic. Reality hit her in the form of a jolt of pain. She fell to her knees – the bandaged wound on her leg was bleeding again.

Visions flashed in her mind. Visions of brutal fighting – visions of orcs – undead – humans – elves – dwarves – wizards – mages – merfolk – and ken. It was a brutal war – a war to end all wars in the lands know as the Veil. It was a war of good against evil – it was a war of destiny – a war that would free the Veil of the shadow of evil – it was a war – good lost. Her body felt limp and yet like chiseled stone.

Footsteps. Through the sounds of wind – and fire – she definitely heard them. Her head spun around. Through the mist she could see others! She wasn’t alone. Through the mist – fog and smoke she could see the silhouettes of ten figures. Each stood strong – defiant – each wielding a banner that fluttered in the wind. She tried to speak – but her throat was sore. It seemed as though the ten were discussing something – but from where she was – she could hear nothing.

Then – to her horror – one by one the silhouettes vanished – their war ravaged banners falling to the bloodstained ground. She gasped. It was as though icy fingers had reached into her chest and were squeezing her heart. She was alone - so alone. It was then – that she heard it. Laughter! Amidst the carnage and destruction she heard laughter! Laughter that was not human.

“Look around whelp,” the voice demanded. As if controlled by some ethereal power her head panned around – taking in the carnage – the bloodshed – the destruction. “Tell me – oh chosen one – what do you see?” the voice mocked. She wanted to challenge the voice – deny its words – but she couldn’t make a sound. “Tell me!” the voice ordered. She shuddered at the tone.

“Death – death everywhere,” she said – her voice weak. The laughter taunted her.

“Did you really think – on some level that you could make a difference? Did you really think that you could stop me?”
the inhuman voice demanded – as though indignant by her defiance – or in the very least her attempt at defiance.

“Why?” a raspy voice groaned shocking her. She looked over and saw the body of a long dead dwarf beginning to stir.

“You – you said we could win if we stood as one,” a gutted pirate gasped as it crawled towards her. Qu’Tee backed away.

“You did this to us,” an impaled mermaid strained from the pike she was trapped upon. She flailed – trying to free herself but unable. Qu’Tee looked to the river that was turning red with the blood of the hundreds – no thousands that had perished. She tried to run – but tripped over a dead horse. She crawled over to a toppled cart and watched as all of the dead – all of them began to rise.

“Not real,” the cleric stammered. She closed her eyes – as though trying to will all of it away. But even with her eyes closed – she could smell the decay of death – she could hear the staggering shambling footsteps ebbing closer. A blood soaked hand grabbed her shoulder! It was real! It had to be! They were all around her. “No!!” she screamed out. A power all but exploded from her shattering everything as though it were forged of fragile glass. For a few moments she shuddered in the darkness. Again she heard a laughter – only this time it was quiet – as though amused. She opened her eyes. She was in a circle of light – around her – darkness – total darkness.

Hesitantly she reached towards the darkness
– but as soon as her hand touched it – it burned. She jerked her hand away. Again there was laughter.

“You are crafty beyond your years,” an inhuman voice hissed.

“Who are you?” she demanded – cradling her blistering hand.

“You know what I am – I am darkness – I am power – I am pain,” the voice remarked. She swore the sound came from behind her – she spun around – something in the darkness moved.

“Why are you doing this to me?” she asked – trying to find what was stalking her in the shadows – the darkness. But again – all she could hear was laughter. All she could see beyond the circle of light was darkness.

“Why? You defy me and ask why?” the voice asked. It sounded like it was right behind her. She spun around – but there was nothing there.

“Defy you? I don’t even know you!” she challenged. A pain caused her to double over. Voices screamed in her head.

“Oh but you do. You think that pleading ignorance will save you?” the voice taunted – in the background she could hear inhuman chattering. Before she could react an giant wart covered reptilian hand grabbed her. She couldn’t move. She could feel the hand crushing her – squeezing the life from her.

“Those you serve oppose me – as such you oppose me,” the voice hissed. She could hear her ribs cracking under the pressure. “All that seek to oppose me will perish – all that seek to oppose me will suffer,” the voice echoed. A shuddered window appeared beyond the edge of the circle of light. The hand thrusted her towards it. Just before she was about to slam into it – the shudders opened. She found herself back in the battlefield. The stench of gore and death almost made her gag. “Look!” the voice ordered. Hesitantly she opened her eyes and saw the thousands of dead bodies. “This – all of this is the reality – all of this is the truth of those that seek to oppose me! Can you see them? Friends – family – loved ones? Look closely!” the voice hissed. Her eyes watered as she saw the thousands of lifeless bodies.

“But,” she began. “But so many are suffering – so many people are in pain,” she closed her eyes as memories of the
poverty of the people she had seen – the sickness. She remembered the hatred that was brewing between the nations. It was then that she blinked – her eyes spaced out. “All of this – it isn’t because of me – this is your plan. This is your desire,” her voice was distant. The hand released her as though she was white hot. Slowly she floated to the ground. “You desire the death of every living being in the Veil,” she looked over her shoulder and saw the dead beginning to rise again.

“You are a crafty little bitch – but your tricks will not save you,” the demon taunted. “Slay her!” the undead masses closed in on her.

“Your illusions cannot harm me,” she said – her voice sounded different. It sounded more confident and far older. Reality around her once again shattered like glass. She was back in the circle of light surrounded by darkness. Again – there was laughter.

“The moral indignity, it never ceases to amuse me. What makes you think you are so special? What makes you think that you are the one? What makes you think that someone – something as pathetic as you could imagine making a difference!” the demon demanded. Qu’Tee scanned the darkness – hoping to see her tormentor. She was about to reply when a pain stabbed at her head. She fell to her knees as images flooded her mind.

She looked at her hands they looked so small. How many times had she seen this – lived this? All around her she could hear fighting – a raid, a war, something she could not understand. She remembered her father grabbing her and rushing upstairs. There was shouting – explosions. Everything happened so fast it was a blur of motion. She saw his face – it looked so grim. He was speaking but she couldn’t understand the words. Whenever things were bad – really bad he would speak in the old language. She remembered vividly her mother hiding her in a secret room.

“Remember – we will always be with you,” her mother whispered to her. She closed the door to the secret room and toppled a dresser in front of it. From a small crack in the wall she watched as her mother fought the intruders – armoured – masked soldiers. She wanted to help – but she was too small – too helpless – too weak. She fell to her knees and closed her eyes. It was then that a stinging slap sent her rolling. She opened her eyes. She looked at her clothes – looked around like a cornered animal.

She was in that alley. She backed up until she was pressed up against a wall. She looked up and saw the bullies that picked on her. One of the girls grabbed her by the arm and then showed her cheek to the others.

“I told you she is a witch! Watch and see for yourself!” she ordered. The others watched as the bruise on her cheek healed before their eyes. Terror welled within her as the bully threw her down to the ground. “I heard her the other night. She was trying to cast a spell,” she added.

“No! I swear I’m no witch!” she protested. The eldest of the bullies squatted down before her. There was a look there. A look between absolute hatred and disgust. “I was praying – I swear,” she pleaded. The Bully grabbed her by the chin and glared at her.

“I remember what happened to the last whore who was tried as a witch. They burned the bitch in the town square. Do you remember?” she asked. Timidly Qu’Tee nodded. “It took her so long to die – and if you do not do everything – and I do mean everything we say you will wish you were that lucky,” she laughed as she threw her to the ground. Qu’Tee spaced out and curled on the ground.

In the blink of an eye – all of it was gone. She was back in the circle of light. There was laughter again – followed by unamused clapping

“Behold! This – this is what seeks to defy me. Face the cold hard facts girl. You might have grown up a bit – but you are still the same weak, pitiful, worthless, pathetic girl,” the raspy voice taunted. She was shaking. There was more laughter. It was coming from everywhere. So many people laughing, all laughing at her. She forced herself up o her knees as she remembered every humiliation every indignity she had to endure while she was at the orphanage. Tears escaped her eyes as she slammed her fists against the ground.

“Laugh if you will! I do not know why you torment me! I do not know why you are doing this to me but I will not let you beat me!” she screamed defiantly. The fear was gone. In its place was rage. The laughter began to fade. She could feel it watching her – circling her like a predator closing in on its prey. It was then that a pair of glowing red eyes blinked. They were not human – not remotely and they focused on her.

“So brave – so defiant. You wish to fight? Your wish my dear is granted. Get her!” the raspy demonic voice ordered. She was about to move when another pair of eyes fixated on her – then more eyes. There were thousands of them. They were everywhere.

A starburst temporarily blinded her as something slammed into her face. Before she could react – they were on her.
She could feel claw-like hands scratching at her and cutting her flesh. She screamed out as she backhanded the beasts or whatever they were off her. She spun around and managed to grab a weapon from another of them. Qu’Tee held the weapon and stood as if daring the creatures to try something. It was then that they pounced at her.

Instinct took over. Her movements were fluid and precise. None of the beasts could touch her. It was then that a pain stabbed at her leg. She dropped to a knee and looked over her shoulder. A crude spear was stabbed into the back of her leg. A mixture of frustration and rage began to consume her. She was a skilled fighter – but the numbers were getting the better of her. She jerked the spear from her leg and looked at her blood on the weapon. She was losing her focus and fast.

“Do I scare you so much that you need hide behind these pathetic beasts?” she hissed under her breath. The beasts were going to move in but stopped. They all looked away and stepped away from her.

“Scare? Fear? They are what I am. They are what I do. Believe me child, there is nothing in you worth fearing,” the raspy voice taunted. Just then the darkness around her exploded. She shielded her eyes. Around her was fire. Lakes of molten red – rocks burned and glowed red. There were thousands of goblins and other primitive beasts that were chanting and swaying in unison. It was then that the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Slowly she turned around. She backed away as a wart covered reptilian hand reached out from behind a flaming rock.

“What are you?” she asked hesitantly as a repugnant mass – the demon Bo’Glin stepped out. His watermelon sized reptile eyes glared at her. His moth formed an unnatural looking smile revealing several yellow hued fangs. Of all the things the demon could look like – it would be a frog. She backed away.

“I thought you wanted to fight? Where is your courage child? Or is it that you forgot that I know you. I know every secret you wish remained hidden. I know your strength – but I am your weakness. Before she could move his arm shot over. The hand gripped her and mercilessly began to crush her. The weapons slipped from her hands. She couldn’t focus. The fear and the pain were too much to deal with. “It ends – here and now,” he finished. He flung her up. She wanted to move but all she could do was watch as the demon’s mouth elongated showing hundreds of fangs. His tongue lashed out and coiled around her. She felt herself being jerked towards the pit of teeth. The frog demon leaped up and clamped his monstrous mouth shut.

The pain from the teeth was brief.
Then there was darkness… total unforgiving darkness.

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