DIABLO

Written by: KnightHawk

Chapter one

Karthgar, a ruff looking middle-aged man, awoke earlier this morning than usual, finding that yet another family leaving the once great town of tristrum.

"Hmm" Karthgar cried, "let the babies leave, no matter what they say is going to happen, I ain't leaving!"

Karthgar's wife had passed away 3 months ago, after a brutal attack, which had not killed her, but soon after did. Even though Pepin the healer had tried to save her, it wasn't enough, all of his magic could do nothing to save her. The attack, was not just on his wife of course, it had been an attack on the village, you see, these "Dark riders" came and almost destroyed all of the village, since them more and more people have been leaving the town, only 8 families where left.

Karthgar felt that he had to somehow try to save the poor now damned village, but there was little he could do at all. He was really not a fighter, but he was still one of the villagers that first went down into the cathedral which had been corrupted shortly after the attack of the dark riders.

The reason that Karthgar, or any of the town's folk for that matter, went down into the cathedral was because the town's king's son had been kidnapped. No one really knew where the child was, or who could have taken him, but most thought it had been the dark riders. The king's name was Leoric, and his son's was Albric. Leoric was going more and madder with each passing day he did not have his son. A group of the villagers, thought that they would go down into the cathedral and find out if the son was down there or not, the arch-bishop Lazerith led all but 2 of the 24 men down into the cathedral, for their internal resting place. Karthgar was one of the two that had made it back alive, the other was farnom, and he was on the brink of insanity.

IF anyone every tried to talk with farnom about the day of the venture, it would only make him more and more crazy. Pepin could only heal his wounds, and not the major mental damage that had happen to him. IF you talked to farnom, he would most likely tell you of the butcher, this demon butcher, was one of the creatures below that had killed probably at least 15 of the villagers that had gone down.

Karthgar had only one son, Ogden, Karthgar had always wanted to also pass the job of saving the town onto his son, but his son was, how you would say, a wimp. All of the children of the village liked to play with their fake wooden swords and wooden shields. They would try to beat hit each other and they made up a sort of fair game for it. Ogden hardly ever won, and when he did it was when he was against a friend of his "Naj", who was the son of the witch that lived on the town's edge. None of the children really cared that he was the son of the witch, most, thought it was rather neat.

Ogden admired Naj, he would fight even one of the good fighters, he went in knowing that he would not be able to beat them, and it wouldn't bother him at all. Ogden hated to lose, and soon, he lost all interest in the fighting games totally.

The two best fighters that their were in the village, out of the children that is, was a boy named damein and another named Danath. They wouldn't really fight with the other children much because it was far to easy for them to beat the others, so they fought each other at least 5-10 times a day. No one would really ever say that they thought that one of them was a better fighter or not, first, because they thought that they might get the crap beaten out of them, and second, no one could really tell. The two boys had almost the same fighting ability. How ever, sometimes one boy would win and other times the other boy would win.

Danath was fighting with Damein one time, and as usual everyone was watching the two boys fight, but damein had mistakenly tripped and put the wooden sword right through Danath's leather jacket, pearsing his right below the heart. Only one of the small boys was not in a total shock at all the blood that he ran over to pepin's home and had him run over right away.

He was lucky, if the one boy had been even a few moments late, then Danath would have never survived. You see, only true healers had the special ability to resurrect people, naturally that is, although you can get the spell so its on a scroll, healers where mainly the only ones to have any. The only other people that really ever used the scrolls here sorcerers, rogues, and warriors who where going on a long quest, or really, just about any quest. Incase that some how they were killed on the way, their accomplish come resurrect them.

Danath soon recovered fine and was starting to go back out with the other children and play again, but he was not one of the ones that where fighting, he was not strong enough to even support himself without the crutches, which Pepin had given to him to use.

Danath hadn't forgotten about how damein had almost killed him, and didn't speak to him at all for the next two days. But on the second night when Danath was feeling sorry for not talking to damein, his father came into his room and told him to start getting packed, and that they where leaving in the morning, and they were moving 6 towns over.

Chapter 2

Danath complained and complained but it didn't do him any good at all, on the next morning, the only one who was awake to here them leaving, was Karthgar, and he, was not in a good mood about them leaving the town.

Later in the day, when most of the children where playing, damein was wondering where Danath was, although, he knew that if he found him he still wouldn't be speaking to him at all. But still, he went over to his house, he saw that there stuff that had been on the front porch, was gone, he then ran into the house as fast as he could. Danath must be in some kind of trouble, or something, he thought to himself, but when he entered the house, it was completely empty.

Demein didn't go to tell the other children who had been wondering where Danath was as well, but Damein figured that it was his fault that Danath had to leave. SO Dameim, sat their all alone, but it wasn't for long before Ogden's cousin, Gillian, had come to see what had happened to both Damein and Danath, but when she got their it was all to clear to her what had happened. Danath and his family had gone away, with out saying a word at all.

Gillian, was a little younger than Ogden was, and one of the two girls that where in the village. She was good at comforting, thought Damein, the two where know side by side, not talking and moving, it was like they where both thinking the same things. Soon, Gillian broke the silence by saying softly, "This isn't your fault, Damein, you do know that don't you?" there was another long pause as she waited for her answer.

"Well, whose fault could it be, I mean, everything was fine until he got stabbed. Then he wouldn't talk to me, and then his family leaves without telling anyone at all, I don't get it, I thought that him and I would be friends forever, at least, that's what I thought. Shows you what thought does".

Gillian couldn't think of anything really to say, no matter how she looked at it, it couldn't be anyone else's fault, no one else could be blamed even in the slightest. So, again in silence, the two sat their for the rest of the hour, until, Gillian's mother called her in for her supper, although she told Damein that she would be right back after supper, Damein didn't bother to wait and left the home shortly after she did.

After Gillian found out that Demein had not waited for her, she though that she should try to find out where he had gone just in case he may try something stupid. She looked at his house, Pepin's place, you name it, she had looked everywhere. She, was now no the only person that was looking for him, more than half the village started looking, but they never did find him.

The village was again in terror, thinking that yet another child had either kidnap or murdered or worse, more people left. This time how ever, Karthgar didn't really blame them for doing so. Even Gillian's family had left, of the children, there where only two of all of the children that remained. They were Ogden, and Naj, Naj was now not seen as much as his mother, the witch, was teaching him some stuff or something; no one really knew what they were up to.

Chapter 3

It was now about six or seven years after, few families where still living there, some included:

-Ogden, who is now running his own tavern.

-Griswald, a blacksmith that moved to the town not long after most others moved out,

-Pepin, who was now quite old but was still same old Pepin.

-Farnom, who never did anything but drink ale from Ogden's tavern

-Adria the witch that had moved here 3 months after naj's mother died, Naj himself though, left the village and made quite a name for himself as an extremely great sorcerer.

-And about 5 more families with no children

The town was growing into a terrible place to live, the noises from the old cathedral, which the townsfolk know learned that it was attached to a labyrinth, that some say, reached down to hell itself! Which most tried not to think of it too much.

The town had nothing to protect itself against even a drunken boy, so, they tried telling other places of their troubles and hoped that they would come quick. IN no later then a week, a warrior, a rogue and a sorcerer all came in aid of the town.

The introductions where rather shorter than most had probably expected though, it was Danath, Gillian and Naj who had returned to save their town of birth.

The first night after their return, they talked about old times and wishing that it had been different. Most noted that this would be the first quest the young rogue would be doing, and most feared and prayed for hers, and the rest of the group's safety.

The next evening, they started to get down to business, Ogden told them of all the things that had happened since Danath had departed more than 7 years ago. Danath, who of course, the only one in shock about hearing that his old friend had been missing, he couldn't believe it, if only he hadn't left!

The 4^th evening that they where back in the town, they had decided to make there departure into the labyrinth, but it didn't turn out that way at all...

Chapter 4

Something was approaching the town, almost like, yes, it was, it was an army approaching! Most ran in terror, but the three didn't know what was happening, they at first thought it was an army coming to aid the poor town, but, as the townsfolk ran in terror, they began to take up arms.

It was the dark riders, they were attacking from the south east, a man came running into the room, and quickly he blabbed out that there was about 30-40 of them coming on an attack, they where as tough as most normal humans, unfortunately, they out numbered all the villagers about 3-1.

The three did there best to prepare for the devilkin's but with most of the villagers running for their lives, it didn't make a difference if they have 20 or 100 people, they would still probably lose.

They got as many people as they could and prepare for battle, they used whatever weapons they could find or get at the blacksmith shop.

Most only got some cheap clubs and maybe some leather armor. The only good weapons there here where being held by Danath, Gillian, and Naj, Naj had the most elaborate and wealthiest from quests long forgotten. Soon the devilkin where only about a mile away, and they where starting to move faster!

The battle was now upon them, the dark riders, armed with only the brute clubs that they had gotten from long lost battles.

Gillian had taken 8 of the other villagers to the top of a tower, which was near the end of the village where they were being attacked from. They all were armed which bows, they weren't very good ones, but they still shot.

Gillian now raised the first arrow, as the others followed, then Gillian squealed "Fire one", and as she squealed that, all shot off their arrows. It was almost one at a time but they still were all shot off. As the arrows hurled through the air, few managed to hit the target, but Gillian arrow struck right through one of the riders skulls, he fell immediately, even if the shot had not kill the rider, the others that trampled over him would have surely.

Danath, know that he couldn't have a sword to sword fight with the riders, he and Griswald, along with Ogden, who didn't do really anything, managed to rig up a cheap catapult, it could only launch about 50 pound rocks. Even though the catapult couldn't fire off large rocks, by the third shot Ogden though that they could launch something that could hold some boiled water, or that they could lit the rock by putting some gas on it. They soon used the boiling idea, it took a long time to get up the water hot enough, but they did manage to get away one shot with boiling water in a barrel.

They had now realized that the dark rider's numbers had been cut in half, and since they were to close to use the catapult, everyone got up any weapon they could find. The last shot the catapult shot, the one with the boiling water, had taken out about 6 of their approaching army, in the one shot, the bowmen hadn't even taken out 5 men, well, Gillian had taken out about 8 of them, while the rest of them 2.

TO show that the close combat battle was now on, Naj, who no one knew what he was doing or where he was, shot off a flaming wave towards the dark riders. It had the effect of a flash fire, everything as the wave went up in flames, it didn't hurt the riders to much, though, but when their armor started to catch fire, most of them dropped to the ground rolling trying to get the fire out. This is when Danath and Gillian took all the villagers out to the field to attack, and soon everyone was fighting. The clashing of swords, the bashing of broken skulls, all the sounds of battle where everywhere, and it didn't look at all good for the village. It was almost like a sweep; all the villagers fell to the ground dead. Soon only 5 people remained Gillian, Naj, Danath, Griswald, and Ogden. The riders were about to press on, and attempt them to kill the remaining, but they just ran past. Almost as an insult, but more. As if they wanted to let the rest live, to grow stronger, just so that they could come back and kill them again, as if war was a treat to them. Watching the cowards run Ogden screamed "Come Back and Fight You", and then with a major crack in his voice, he repeated himself.

Only the five survived, now, the only thought that was in the mind of three was how on earth could they ever beat things like that.

Chapter 5

No one could even think of going down into the labyrinth now that they thought that they knew what awaited them. Gillian was ready to tell the Ogden that he should leave the damned town. Of course Ogden wouldn't listen, he was never going to leave the town, although he sometimes doubted the fact, he still believed that he could some how save the town.

The three, along with the others, where about to leave the town, when two of the dark riders, returned. The riders had to have known that they would be beat easily if they tried anything against them, but they just continued to come. This time, they had no weapons, the one on the left began to speak, "It no hard beat us down dungeon, but you not live, you go there, you die, three no can make it. You no live here, you die here if stay". It was quite obvious that the creature was stupid, but most likely only bothered to remember the important words from the message, but who could have sent such a message, Gillian thought.

They for no reason, the two dark riders turned around and left. Naj figured that it was no more than a mere threat, but still, why would they have told them that it was easier down in dungeon, and where is this dungeon, but watching the two figures leave, it was obvious. They were walking up to the cathedral; it was now obvious as hell that it really did go beneath the very ground before them, but, how far?

As Naj pondered this, the others had already disided that there was no point in trying to attack the cathedral. So, they were going to leave at dawn the next morning.

The village was still in shambles from when they had first attacked, but, it was still their home, no one would talk about leaving it, they still loved there home as they always have. Soon it was about 10 minutes till sun set, so they went to sleep, with weapons at their sides, and one person always acting as a look out.

In was about three hours till dawn, no one was awake except for Ogden, who was acting as look out, when someone or thing started to approach the village, it was no dark rider, it looked human, a male too Ogden noted. Of course he never thought that it could have been danger, so he never warned the others.

The figure was still far away, about more than a mile, but Ogden could see his armor glistening in the night's sky, it looked almost magical, and, for a second, he thought that he recognized the figure. Ogden now disieded that it was time to wake up someone else, he chose Danath because he had far better eyesight compared to any of the others, or so everyone thought.

Danath was quick to wake up for fear of an attack, but Ogden soon clamed him telling him that it was an approaching warrior, and the figure looked somewhat familiar. Danath rubbed his eyes, and walked over to the look out tower. No figure was to be seen. Ogden soon went into a tantrum trying to find out where this warrior had disappeared to. It was no use, Danath soon stopped looking himself and told Ogden that he should go and get some rest, and that he would stay and watch for this "Warrior".

Ogden had gone to sleep slowly, he was still startled by the man being there one minute, and gone the next. But, soon his tiredness got to him and he soon fell asleep.

It was more than half an hour later that the figure made its move again, somehow, it had gotten onto the tower. Danath was only half-awake when he felt something was behind him, he turned around in a flash, but nothing was to be seen. Danath was now starting to believe that Ogden was telling the truth, there was something else in the town, but where could it be.

Soon Danath thought that it was time to get the others up and start to leave, "the sooner the better, something's going on here", he muttered to himself. But as soon as it had come before, again he felt that something was approaching from behind him, this time, however, it was getting closer, and closer still. Danath closed his eyes. This time, he did not turn around, this time; he slowly reached for his sword with his left hand, and swung the other behind his back. The figure which was behind his back had been concentrating on the hand which was sheathing the sword, when Danath's fist came right smack into his jaw.

The figure now lay on the ground, unconscious.

More to come...