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You tuck your wings in tight as you come in for a smooth landing. The courtyard is busy with people. Most of the faces are obscured in classic masquerade fashion.
"It's rare that one of your kind is here," a lady says with a sneer.
She's got a distinctly serpentine look to her features. Before you can respond, a group of Holy Paladins walks past her and she falls silent.
Even beneath the masks you can feel and sense the evil within some of the guests. Your wings bristle, but you remain calm. The masquerade is sacred ground. Here members on both sides of light and dark set aside their war.
You take a glass of champagne as you near the mansion entrance. You attempt to enter the mansion, but a living gargoyle blocks your path. He places a hand on your chest and speaks with a voice that's choked in gravel.
"You are not welcome here," the gargoyle tells you.
[[Take a sip of Champagne]]
[[Remove the Gargoyle's Hand]]
[[References]]
<audio autoplay>\
<source src=Museum-The-Louvre_AMBSS256>\
</audio>\Usually, you wouldn't hesitate to challenge this gargoyle. But you remember you have a goal in mind. You carefully take a sip of champagne.
Before you can put down the glass, a beautiful woman bounces up behind the gargoyle.
"My dear old friend, do you remember me? You must not, I look so much different than I did so long ago. Come with me, come with me," the beautiful woman says.
She takes you by the hand and leads you past the gargoyle. She leads you into the main foyer, where you hear the gentle melody of classical music. She never stops talking as she walks and you're not sure if she cares that you're listening. It's endless prattle. Your interest isn't piqued until she mentions the Glass Princess and this aptly named, "Crystal Masquerade Ball."
She says she wants to introduce you to friends of hers and she pulls you along quicker.
[[Try to Avoid Introductions]]
[[Let Her Introduce You]]
You throw the champagne glass over your shoulder and grab the gargoyle's hand at your chest. Your eyes light up with a blue flame. That flame courses through you and burns the gargoyle. He screams in pain and drops to his knees.
You release the gargoyle's withered limb and he looks up at you in rage and pain. You turn around but the shocked stares of the guests, don't surprise you. Some bare their teeth, but other remain anonymous as the night creatures they are.
You walk past the gargoyle and into the main foyer. Before you can get too far, a beautiful woman runs towards you with her arms outstretched. She takes your hands in her own and leads you deeper into the Ball, where you hear the gentle melody of classical music.
"It's so great to see you here. I didn't dream you would show up. But I'm so glad you're here," the beautiful woman says.
She hasn't stopped talking since she saw you. It's mostly mindless prattle, but she catches your attention when she mentions the Glass Princess and the aptly titled, "Crystal Masquerade Ball."
She says she wants to introduce you to friends of hers and she pulls you along quicker.
[[Try to Avoid Introductions]]
[[Let Her Introduce You]]<img scr=Assets/15406482605_17717dee35_b>\
Already the woman's prattling has gotten under your skin. Something about her words and the way she smiles with the evil that surrounds her is unnerving.
You pull away from her and she asks you what's wrong. You can't articulate a particular thing, but you let her know that you don't want to meet her friends. She says something less than flattering about you and storms away.
You turn away as well. The music is nearly non-existent now and shrinking as time passes. You're distracted and run chest first into someone...
[[Apologize and Dust Yourself off]]
[[Find Out Who Was Fool Enough to Run Into You]]
The music swells in your mind again. It's beautiful and melodic. The woman prattles on as she drags you across the floor. A group of two more women and one man await you both. They drink liberally and casually watch the masquerade.
Each of them reveals some piece of themselves, from their need for blood to survive or their nocturnal strength. You play the part, but the darkness is surrounding you. You can see it at the edge of your vision, but it disappears before you can lock it in.
The woman introduces you as one of the Fallen and the group marvels. You bristle at the assumption but remain quiet. You listen to them gush and try your best to remain engaged.
"I'm not quite one of the Fallen. We stand apart," you admit.
Thinking your reveal would change the dynamic backfires on you. The group is now more intrigued by exactly what you are. Before you can speak, immense power washes over you. You turn and see Jareth stalk through the masquerade. Waves of energy swirl around him and the crowd parts as he passes.
Jareth's human appearance is fraying at the edges. Pieces of his primordial form peek through. The length of his tongue, his height, the subtle shine of gold on his skin. All these things scream to you.
[[Reveal what you know about Jareth]]
[[Stay Silent]]
<img scr="Assets/15406482605_17717dee35_b.jpg">\You steady yourself so you don't fall. Whoever you bumped into does the same. You look up and there he is, standing before you.
Jareth.
"Excuse me, Bringer of Night. I didn't mean to run into you," you say as you brush yourself off.
"No problem. Do I know you?" Jareth asks.
"I think we met long ago, but your reputation is legendary," you say as you remember your wings are tucked and you try to avert your eyes. Both things help keep you from standing out.
"Well thank you. Let me buy you a drink," Jareth says.
[[Accept the Offer]]
[[Decline the Offer]]Hallowed fire builds somewhere beneath you. The deep core of the heat resonates within you. A power beyond ages courses through your veins. Something inside you shifts and the power slowly emanates from your body. You give yourself over to the raw strength and fury building within you.
“I am he who sits beside the Throne. I am my Lord’s Justice. I am the Lion of Elohim. It was my sword that barred the gates of Eden. My shield that halted death in Egypt. I have watched this world swim through oceans of time. By all that righteous, you will not touch me again!”
[[Face Your Enemies]]You move to accept the offer but quickly re-think it. Jareth's human appearance is fraying at the edges. Pieces of his primordial form peek through. The length of his tongue, his height, the subtle shine of gold on his skin. All these things scream to you.
You gently tell him that you'll pass. Jareth tells you to find him later and the two of you will talk. He wants to know where he knows your face from.
As he walks away, you feel relieved. That relief is washed away when you hear a subtle voice behind you.
"You are either a fool or a VERY brave angel to be here," the Glass Princess whispers in your ear.
[[Ignore Her]]
[[Turn and Look at Her]]Jareth's human appearance is fraying at the edges. Pieces of his primordial form peek through. The length of his tongue, his height, the subtle shine of gold on his skin. All these things scream to you.
You gently tell him that you'll pass. Jareth tells you to find him later and the two of you will talk. He wants to know where he knows your face from.
As he walks away, you feel relieved. That relief is washed away when you hear a subtle voice behind you.
"You are either a fool or a VERY brave angel to be here," the Glass Princess whispers in your ear.
[[Ignore Her]]
[[Turn and Look at Her]]The beautiful woman reappears and asks you to dance. Before you can reply, she pulls you to the floor, disregarding your mild protest. You know better than to make a scene. You have a goal and you have to achieve it regardless of how you feel.
As you walk to the floor, you head feels cloudy. There's too much information, too much noise for you to form a coherent thought. The beautiful woman talks, but you can't hear what she says over the music.
The music is beautiful, melodic, and soothing. It brings back memories of days long gone. It lifts a weight from your mind. It feels inviting, it feels like home.
You look into the woman's eyes and her beauty stuns you. You feel like you're floating with her. The longer you dance with her, the more you never want the embrace to end.
She presses her hands against your shoulders and you're no longer floating. You're drowning. In the center of the masquerade, you can't breathe, you can't move. The woman and the music are all you can discern. The rest of the room fades to blackness. She whispers to you.
"Give into me, Angel," and for the first time, you hear the music in her voice. You hear the banshee beneath the beauty.
[[Call for Help]]
<audio autoplay>\
<source src="Una-Furtiva-Lagrima_FULL_AM07010.mp3">\
</audio>\Something about the Glass Princess' voice awakens you from your trance. The music is quieter, the woman is less beautiful. Yet, the memory remains. You remember the banshee beneath the music that you glimpsed before. You pull away from the woman and she looks at you in shock. An evilly, haggard sneer forms on her face. Hallowed fire simmers just beneath your skin, begging to be unleashed.
"May I cut in?" The Glass Princess asks from behind you. Even though it's formed like a question, it's more of a command as you turn to face her.
There’s so much darkness around you that it's palpable. But the Glass Princess is a beacon of light. It emanates from her skin and invigorates you. The fog lifts from your brain. The weight on your shoulders lifts away.
"I have waited for Ages for you," the Glass Princess explains as she leads you away from the masquerade. Jareth passes by you both again. The Glass Princess looks at you and stops. "Follow me, or pursue him, the choice is yours. I've already saved you once."
[[Follow Her Further Into the Mansion]]
[[Follow Jareth Instead]]
The group goes silent as Jareth passes by. Intense waves of power emanate from him. The beautiful woman is intrigued and barely contains her excitement.
The group talks about Jareth and the stories they've heard. Jareth is an immortal and guardian of a great power. Jareth can change forms. Jareth's ancient power grows with the Ages and no one has dared challenge him in millennia.
You drink in their conversation silently. They aren't wrong, but they haven't scratched the surface of the being that Jareth is. You know his power is feared. You also know that if he's here, then so is the Orb. They were right about that, he is a Guardian.
Before you can catch yourself, you interrupt the group.
"You all are saying it wrong," you tell the group. "It's pronounced Yar-Wraith."
"Quelle surprise," the beautiful woman says as she grabs your arm. The music swells in the back of your mind again. "Dance with me," she pleads and pulls you to the floor.
[[Dance with her]]
[[Politely Decline]]
The group goes silent as Jareth passes by. Intense waves of power emanate from him. The beautiful woman is intrigued and barely contains her excitement.
The group talks about Jareth and the stories they've heard. Jareth is an immortal and guardian of a great power. Jareth can change forms. Jareth's ancient power grows with the Ages and no one has dared challenge him in millennia.
You drink in their conversation silently. They aren't wrong, but they haven't scratched the surface of the being that Jareth is. You know his power is feared. You also know that if he's here, then so is the Orb. They were right about that, he is a Guardian.
Before you can catch yourself, you interrupt the group.
"You all are saying it wrong," you tell the group. "It's pronounced Yar-Wraith."
"Quelle surprise," the beautiful woman says as she grabs your arm. The music swells in the back of your mind again. "Dance with me," she pleads and pulls you to the floor.
[[Dance with her]]
[[Politely Decline]]
As you walk to the floor, you head feels cloudy. There's too much information, too much noise for you to form a coherent thought. The beautiful woman talks, but you can't hear what she says over the music.
The music is beautiful, melodic, and soothing. It brings back memories of days long gone. It lifts a weight from your mind. It feels inviting, it feels like home.
You look into the woman's eyes and her beauty stuns you. You feel like you're floating with her. The longer you dance with her, the more you never want the embrace to end.
She presses her hands against your shoulders and you're no longer floating. You're drowning. In the center of the masquerade, you can't breathe, you can't move. The woman and the music are all you can discern. The rest of the room fades to blackness. She whispers to you.
"Give into me, Angel," and for the first time, you hear the music in her voice. You hear the banshee beneath the beauty.
[[Use Your Holy Power to Break Free]]
[[Succumb to the Trance]]
[[Call for Help]]
<audio autoplay>\
<source src="Una-Furtiva-Lagrima_FULL_AM07010.mp3">\
</audio>\The beautiful woman pulls you to the floor, disregarding your mild protest. You know better than to make a scene. You have a goal and you have to achieve it regardless of how you feel.
As you walk to the floor, you head feels cloudy. There's too much information, too much noise for you to form a coherent thought. The beautiful woman talks, but you can't hear what she says over the music.
The music is beautiful, melodic, and soothing. It brings back memories of days long gone. It lifts a weight from your mind. It feels inviting, it feels like home.
You look into the woman's eyes and her beauty stuns you. You feel like you're floating with her. The longer you dance with her, the more you never want the embrace to end.
She presses her hands against your shoulders and you're no longer floating. You're drowning. In the center of the masquerade, you can't breathe, you can't move. The woman and the music are all you can discern. The rest of the room fades to blackness. She whispers to you.
"Give into me, Angel," and for the first time, you hear the music in her voice. You hear the banshee beneath the beauty.
[[Succumb to the Trance]]
[[Use Your Holy Power to Break Free]]
[[Call for Help]]
<audio autoplay>\
<source src="Una-Furtiva-Lagrima_FULL_AM07010.mp3">\
</audio>\Hallowed fire builds somewhere beneath you. The deep core of the heat resonates within you. A power beyond ages courses through your veins. Something inside you shifts and the power slowly emanates from your body. You give yourself over to the raw strength and fury building within you.
“I am he who sits beside the Throne. I am my Lord’s Justice. I am the Lion of Elohim. It was my sword that barred the gates of Eden. My shield that halted death in Egypt. I have watched this world swim through oceans of time. By all that righteous, you will not touch me again!”
[[Face Your Enemies]]Instead of fighting the pull of the tide of music, you ride the wave. The soothing music forms a cocoon around you. Something about it seems right, it feels necessary. You wrap yourself in the music and the touch of the beautiful woman. She whispers to you.
"What do you know of Jareth and the Orb?"
Your mind wants to resist, you want to remain silent. But your heart wants something else. Your heart wants to tell her your deepest desires. Your heart wants to reveal every secret you've kept. You open your mouth to speak but are stopped by another voice from behind.
"You are either a fool or a VERY brave angel to be here," the Glass Princess whispers in your ear.
[[Ignore Her]]
[[Turn and Look at Her]]
<audio autoplay>\
<source src="Una-Furtiva-Lagrima_FULL_AM07010.mp3">\
</audio>\Your body has already given up, your mind is too slow to realize it. It wants to fight, it wants to run. But it's too slow and the music is too loud. You no longer know which way is up. But you can feel yourself sinking into darkness.
You open your mouth to scream for help. Darkness fills you up. It chokes the words from you and forces itself down your throat. You're overwhelmed with dark, ancient and undeniable power. Before your eyes close, your last thought is of the entrancing melody that brought you to your knees. You last vision is of the Glass Princess shaking her head at you in sadness.
You embrace the cold and lonely blackness of oblivion while the masquerade continues around you and the music serenades you into nothingness, fool that you are.
THE END.The Glass Princess walks in front of you, just out of reach. Still, her voice echoes off the walls.
“If someone unclean touched the Ark of the Covenant, they dropped dead instantly. Most people don’t know that. They only know what they’ve seen in movies. Nazi’s transporting one of the holiest things in existence. Doesn’t make much sense, does it?”
“Some people think that Jareth is the guardian of the Orb. I let the rumors flourish because most people fear him. Jareth is as bound as anyone else. The Orb can only be touched by the worthy. Years untold have passed, people beyond count have come to claim the Orb. You are just the latest. I pray that you are worthier than those that came before you.”
“The Orb contains the VOICE that spoke this world into existence. Jareth cannot claim it. But should the worthy falter, he can destroy it. Jareth is a beast of prey, waiting for you, waiting for anyone to claim the Orb so that he can use his power beyond the Ages to destroy them.”
"Some have asked why I haven't taken the Orb for myself. My power rivals that of Jareth. But my power is protective, I am here to be the caretaker of the Orb. It's another's job to wage this war. I pray that it's you."
“Choose your path,” the Glass Princess says, as you look at two doors.
[[Pick the Door on the Left]]
[[Pick the Door on the Right]]
The time for patience and subtlety has flown past you. You no longer care about the dark creatures that inhabit the ball. You no longer trust the oaths of the Holy Paladins that are scattered throughout the room. You’re free from constraints that you put on yourself. Jareth’s power might be as old and deep as a chasm but you will overcome him.
Bigger things are at stake than a fight. Without the Orb, you can’t free the woman you love. Without the Orb, no matter what you do here, the world will come to ruin.
You follow closely behind Jareth, stalking him like prey. If he knows you’re there, he makes no moves to suggest it. You cloak your power inside yourself, preparing for the right time to strike. You know you have to be quick and effective, or Jareth will overcome you.
He turns a corner and disappears down a hallway. The only exit from this hallway is a door at the far end. It looks like it hasn’t been disturbed in centuries. You approach slowly and in the middle of the hallway, blistering cold washes over you. You look around but nothing has changed. This cold seeps beneath your skin and rages against your hallowed fire. You pause for a moment in front of the door.
[[Open the Door]]
[[Return to the Masquerade]]
The masquerade is suddenly silent. The celebrants fade from view. You hear a far-off voice but you don’t quite understand what it’s saying. As the Glass Princess floats towards you, you quickly realize that she is in your mind. You try to break free, but in this place, she is beyond your power. She lands in front of you and fixes you with a look of disappointment.
There’s so much darkness around you that it’s almost palpable. But the Glass Princess is a beacon of light. It emanates from her skin and clears the fury from your mind. You leash your temper and control your fire long enough to listen to her.
The masquerade fades back into view. It’s as if no one saw you draw on your power. No one noticed the gathering of your strength. The Glass Princess shielded you and them.
“I have waited for Ages for you,” the Glass Princess explains as you catch Jareth’s eye again. He walks away from you and further into the mansion. The Glass Princess looks at you and stops.
“Follow me or pursue him, the choice is yours. I’ve already saved you once,” she tells you as she turns her back on you.
[[Follow Her Further Into the Mansion]]
[[Follow Jareth Instead]]
The moment your hand touches the door, you know you’ve made a mistake. The handle is colder than the hallway. But once you touch, you can’t pull away. The door opens inward and pulls you in with it. The sitting room looks empty, but as you are pulled into the center, phantoms appear along the walls. The beautiful woman from earlier floats at the edge of the room. Her gown is in tatters, her skin hangs off her bones. She’s abandoned the façade of beauty. She floats before you in her glorious and terrifying banshee form.
“You are even more a fool than I thought,” Jareth’s voice rumbles through the mansion as you see him disappear through the far wall. His golden tail drags behind him.
You thrust your hand forward and three phantoms drop in burning piles of plasma residue. You expected more, but the cold is so stifling, that it’s hard to move. You drop to a knee like you’ve been hit in the back when the banshee song smashes into your head. You grab your temples and try to push the sound from your mind. But it’s too loud, she’s too powerful. The phantoms descend on you and you can hear the Holy Paladins at the door, but the sound is far off. You release power again and fight back.
You know if you can let the Holy Paladins know you’re still fighting, you will survive.
[[Call for Help]]
[[Keep Fighting]]The hairs on the back of your neck rise and goosebumps pop up on your skin. You’ve been doing this a long time, you’ve never let your anger overwhelm your instincts. You’re not going to now. Still, you feel something pulling you deeper into the hallway. You’re moving closer to the door but not trying to.
You break away from the gravitational-like pull that’s moving you towards the door. You use just a pinch of your personal power to propel you in the opposite direction. Something about that hallway sends a shiver of dread down your chest. You know the beast that controls fear. Immediately you know the only thing awaiting you behind the door is death.
You walk back into the masquerade and look for the Glass Princess. She’s at the far end of the room. As soon as you make eye contact, she leaves the room. She slowly saunters down another hallway. She looks back to make sure you’re there. She waves you closer with a finger.
[[Follow Her Further Into the Mansion]]
Your body has already given up, your mind is too slow to realize it. It wants to fight, it wants to run. But it's too slow and the music is too loud. You no longer know which way is up. But you can feel yourself sinking into darkness.
You open your mouth to scream for help. Darkness fills you up. It chokes the words from you and forces itself down your throat. You're overwhelmed with dark, ancient and undeniable power. Before your eyes close, your last thought is of the entrancing melody that brought you to your knees. You last vision is of the Glass Princess shaking her head at you in sadness.
You embrace the cold and lonely blackness of oblivion while the masquerade continues around you and the music serenades you into nothingness, fool that you are.
THE END.You open the door and a vortex of power pulls you inside. It’s not like the hallway, there is no warning, there is no remorse, there is no turning back.
Your back slams into the floor and your claw at the walls, desperately trying to regain your footing. Power swirls above you and whips you in the face. The beautiful woman from earlier floats at the edge of the room. Her gown is in tatters, her skin hangs off her bones. She’s abandoned the façade of beauty. She floats before you in her glorious and terrifying banshee form.
The music is deafening now. The banshee sings each note with horrifying perfection. The song tears at your flesh and claws at your brain. It’s hard to concentrate, it’s hard to breathe. You don’t have much time, if the banshee gets her claws in you, all the centuries will be for nothing.
You dig your hands into the ground as the music threatens to overcome you. You grit your teeth as every fiber of your body fights against the banshee’s power. You summon all the strength you can muster in one last ditch attempt at survival.
[[Unleash Your Power to Break Free]]
[[Unleash Your Power to Escape]]You open the door and a vortex of power pulls you inside. It’s not like the hallway, there is no warning, there is no remorse, there is no turning back.
Your back slams into the floor and your claw at the walls, desperately trying to regain your footing. Power swirls above you and whips you in the face. The beautiful woman from earlier floats at the edge of the room. Her gown is in tatters, her skin hangs off her bones. She’s abandoned the façade of beauty. She floats before you in her glorious and terrifying banshee form.
The music is deafening now. The banshee sings each note with horrifying perfection. The song tears at your flesh and claws at your brain. It’s hard to concentrate, it’s hard to breathe. You don’t have much time, if the banshee gets her claws in you, all the centuries will be for nothing.
You dig your hands into the ground as the music threatens to overcome you. You grit your teeth as every fiber of your body fights against the banshee’s power. You summon all the strength you can muster in one last ditch attempt at survival.
[[Unleash Your Power to Break Free]]
[[Unleash Your Power to Escape]]
Hallowed fire shoots from your palms and propels you into the air. You fly through the maelstrom of power around you. Your wings burst from your back and you hover in front of the banshee. If at all possible, she looks at you with disbelief. But in this place, her power is still strong, it’s still wrapped around you. Her song is still on your head, drowning out any coherent thought.
You move forward and place your arms around her.
“You wanted a dance, now we’re all alone,” you say, as you move to the music.
The pain in the music subsides. The melodic needles of torture become a sensual tune in your mind. You lead the Banshee around the room, soaring on the currents of her music. You twirl her and the music stumbles as she giggles. You dip her and place your hand on her cheek. You look deep into the pits of black that she calls eyes. She stares silently back as the music stops.
“Give into me, Angel,” she says as you move closer.
“I will give you flames and dust,” you growl in her ear as you release your power.
Too late, the banshee realizes it was a trap. She struggles against you, but you hold her there as power pours out of you. The maelstrom subsides, but the room is still filled with power. Your fire devours everything that came before it. Flames lick over the room and feast on the banshee’s latent energy. When the smoke clears, you’re hovering in the air, holding ashes.
A shriek of anger/terror from above brings you back to the present. The dark creatures felt your surge of power. The Holy Paladins will hold them off, but not for long. You’ve violated the sanctity of the masquerade, it’s going to all fall around you.
To your left golden light shines from beneath the door. You don’t waste any more time. You go to the door, open it and see the Glass Princess waiting for you. She stands behind an elaborate altar with the Orb floating above it.
“The time is now, Warrior,” the Glass Princes says as you move towards the Orb.
[[Take the Orb]]
[[Destroy the Orb]]
[[Offer the Orb to the Princess]]
<audio autoplay>\
<source src="Assets/DinosaurRoar MON01_47_1.mp3">\
</audio>\You want to move, but your body has already given up, your mind is too slow to realize it. It wants to fight, it wants to run. But it's too slow and the music is too loud. You no longer know which way is up. But you can feel yourself sinking into darkness.
You open your mouth to scream for help. Darkness fills you up. It chokes the words from you and forces itself down your throat. You're overwhelmed with dark, ancient and undeniable power. Before your eyes close, your last thought is of the entrancing melody that brought you to your knees. You last vision is of the Glass Princess shaking her head at you in sadness.
You embrace the cold and lonely blackness of oblivion while the masquerade continues around you and the music serenades you into nothingness, fool that you are.
THE END.You place your hand on the Orb. You feel it’s power reverberate through your body. It’s something like you’ve never felt inside you before. You take it off the altar and it floats just above your hand. The Princess smiles at you and breathes a sigh of relief.
“I spoke with Judas recently. Consigned him to a fate worse than what he already endures,” you tell the Princess.
“I don’t understand your meaning,” the Princess replies.
“I’ve known Judas a long time. I sentenced him the first time. We’ve become something close to friends. Yet I sent him to his fate with no qualms.”
“When we spoke, he talked about the Lord Under the Firmament. I had no idea what he meant or why he would want that,” you continue talking.
“And now?” The Glass Princess asks.
“Now…? I, AM THE LORD UNDER THE FIRMAMENT!” Your voice booms throughout the mansion, rattling the walls.
You dig your fingers into the Orb and fire spiderwebs across its face. The Orb changes from a pure gold to a living ball of blue flame. You stretch out your hand and plasma shoots from the Orb and blows through the Glass Princess chest.
The wall behind you explodes, but you don’t turn around. Inhuman breathing echoes off the walls. Jareth, the Golden Dragon trots around you and sees the Glass Princess’ lifeless body.
“Make your choice, beast,” you tell Jareth.
He says no words. He bows his head and kneels before you.
“You no longer belong to the darkness and I no longer belong to the light. We shall bring justice to both.”
THE END.
You place your hand on the Orb. You feel it’s power reverberate through your body. It’s something like you’ve never felt inside you before. You take it off the altar and it floats just above your hand. The Princess smiles at you and breathes a sigh of relief.
The wall on the side of you explodes. Flames engulf the room, but the Glass Princess protects you both. The flames subside and Jareth in his Golden Dragon form stalks into the room. His body is almost too large to enter the altar. The power of the Orb reflects off his golden skin. His wings are folded on his back as he sets his deadly gaze on you.
“Give me the Orb, winged one,” Jareth commands you in a voice that is deep and timeless.
“You can have my flames!” You reply as you stretch out your arm.
You release the power within in you. Jareth makes no attempt to avoid it. Your power hits him in the chest and pushes him back through the wall. You keep pouring all your strength into it, but you hear booming laughter. Then you feel the force of Jareth pushing against you. Jareth has fire of his own. It locks against yours and places you at a stalemate. You reach within the depths of yourself, but you can feel Jareth’s flames already leeching around your own, ready to overtake you.
Exhausted, you drop your hand and Jareth makes a wall of fire in front of you. His form seems even more powerful now. If it’s possible, he smiles at you. His booming laughter echoes off the walls again.
“Had enough, winged one?” Jareth asks.
“I can’t overcome you. But the woman I love needs this Orb to undo what is to come,” you answer.
“Your time is over. Surrender the Orb,” Jareth insists.
“She needs this Orb… What she doesn’t need, is me…”
You dig your fingers into the Orb and fire spiderwebs across its face. The Orb changes from a pure gold to a living ball of blue flame. Jareth charges at you as you slam the Orb into the ground and release the last of your power. The Orb shatters and the energy inside it shoots into the sky. The energy from the Orb burns through Jareth, but not before he’s able to sink his teeth into you.
A pained and triumphant scream escapes your lips. Darkness fills you up. It chokes the words from you and forces itself down your throat. You're overwhelmed with dark, ancient and undeniable power. Before your eyes close, you see the power of the Orb spiderwebbing through the mansion walls as they crumble around you. The Glass Princess remains in the corner with a satisfied smile as the mansion falls around her. You embrace the cold and lonely blackness of oblivion knowing that even though you’ve entombed yourself, others will live and the world will survive.
THE END.
<img src="Assets/golden-dragon-1521140591hh8.jpg">\You place your hand on the Orb. You feel it’s power reverberate through your body. It’s something like you’ve never felt inside you before. You take it off the altar and it floats just above your hand. The Princess smiles at you and breathes a sigh of relief.
The wall on the side of you explodes. Flames engulf the room, but the Glass Princess protects you both. The flames subside and Jareth in his Golden Dragon form stalks into the room. His body is almost too large to enter the altar. The power of the Orb reflects off his golden skin. His wings are folded on his back as he sets his deadly gaze on you.
“Give me the Orb, winged one,” Jareth commands you in a voice that is deep and timeless.
“Come and claim it,” you answer as you throw a blast of fire above him.
Jareth dodges the falling stone as you take to the air. Your power proceeds you and you crash through the roof, streaking into the sky. Jareth explodes through the roof behind you. He’s quickly gaining ground. You throw bursts of power at him, but you know your personal store of energy isn’t enough to overcome his dragon form.
A distant voice speaks to you.
“Speak to the mountain, say be removed and it shall be.”
You don’t know where the voice comes from, but it speaks directly to your mind. The shadow of Jareth overtakes you. His claws dig into your skin. His hands cover you. He wraps you in his wings and the two of you go into freefall.
All you can see is darkness. The wind whips around you. The distant voice rings in your head once again.
“I have come for your words.”
You clutch the Orb tighter. It responds to you. You dig your fingers into the Orb and fire spiderwebs across its face. The Orb changes from a pure gold to a living ball of blue flame. Jareth grunts in pain above you.
“Let there be light!” You roar and when you speak, it’s like seven thunders utter their voices.
Jareth releases you and continues falling. You change direction and fold your wings back. You stretch out your arm and the Orb.
“You can’t have the Orb, but you can have its flame!”
You and Jareth crash into the ground in an explosion of blue light and flame. When the smoke clears and you walk out of the crater, the Glass Princess’ mansion is destroyed. The Holy Paladins and the dark creatures have gathered around the crater. Jareth lays lifeless within the crater, denied his golden form.
Your clothes are in tatters. You stalk out of the crater and flames dance in your eyes as you look over the dark creatures. A moment of silence is all it takes before the disappear into the night. The Holy Paladins look at you. You nod to them and they give chase.
“You know what to do, Warrior. She needs you, the world needs you,” the Glass Princess whispers to you.
With the Orb at your side, you take to the sky, destined to save the woman you love.
THE END.
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