Golden Sun Redux
Author's Notes: How to explain, how to explain. Well here goes: You may or may not have heard of the recent decision in the US, a judicial decision, that video games cannot present ideas or philosophies, or for that matter say much of anything. This sounds like adults at work to me (Kidding! I know of a 70-year-old who teaches her grandchildren how to beat Ocarina of Time!).
I have always seen great stories come through in video games, right back to ancient things like Target Earth for the Sega Genesis (Don't get me started or I'll tell you about the Space Colony Blitz). These days people can put more story into games than ever before, but sometimes you can even see it in games where your main character only ever says 'Yes' or 'No'. Hint hint.
As an experiment and proof of this, I'm taking Golden Sun and rewriting parts of it. I'm starting with the Venus Lighthouse and (if this is popular enough) moving on from there. Sometimes back in time (you should hear my story about the first time Flint goes into battle) and, when Lost Age comes out, sometimes forward.
You may point out that since this is a rewriting, it doesn't count as being part of the game, only the writer's mind. You are dead wrong. All of this was created within the game, and here I have connected the parts. Look carefully at the icon for the Revive Psynergy. Turn the volume way up on your GBA and listen to it being cast outside of battle. That's all it took to create half of the ending of this story.
Another point: in the interests of drama, I've divided the classes and summons further. The highest classes are only reached with all seven Djinn attached (wait 'til you see the battle with Deadbeard, should I ever post it) and have more significant effects. Also, a new summon is reached at 1, 3, 5, and 7.
Oh, and if anyone would be kind of enough to give me an example of successful HTML documents, they'd be much appreciated. This story is kind of bland without any effects, but nothing I've done works, no matter what tabs I add or what type of file I save it as.
That's it. Now sit back and read Golden Sun Redux part one... the end.
Part 1: Venus Lighthouse Redux
"It's a seamless iron door three feet thick that is embedded in some kind of special, indestructible granite wall," explained Faran.
"That does put a damper on our plans," said Isaac, thoughtfully. He stared at the door for a moment or two, then looked over to Faran. "And if we can open it?"
"You?" demanded Faran. He stared at the children in obvious disbelief. "A wannabe knight, a kid who looks like his hair exploded, a boy with a four-year-old's face and a grand priest's staff, and a girl in healer's robes who's glaring at me slightly more intensely with every second?"
"I can show him some other things exploding," muttered Garet, but he just waited to hear Isaac's response. At the edge of his vision, he saw Ivan's hand twitch, almost moving up to perform a Mind Read. No need to freak the guy out.
"Can you think of a better plan?" asked Isaac. He didn't add any inflection or suggestion, it was just a question. Garet knew this plan well by now. Isaac was simply as solid as his element, never wavering in his thoughts or getting angry, and the other person was so unnerved that they relented. It was like arguing with a boulder.
"Faran, be reasonable. I have seen their powers, and they really are capable of such things," said Iodem. "What harm is there in letting them try?"
"We don't even know what's behind that door!" protested Faran.
"We did see those other people go through it," offered one of the guards without much enthusiasm. Mia, calm as a still lake, stepped up to Faran. She looked into his eyes.
"Have you ever heard of a Kraken?" she asked, innocently.
"Mythical creature," Faran replied, waving her back.
"We fought one on the ship to Tolbi. And reduced it to fried calamari," she added.
"I did the frying," said Garet, waving from behind her.
"Would have been better to get some bread crumbs first though," commented Ivan. Garet looked at him with a betrayed expression. "I'm not saying we had time," Ivan explained. "Just that it would have been ideal."
"Or maybe the pirate Deadbeard?" asked Mia.
"Ironically, dead for centuries."
"Not his ghost. Not until recently, that is," said Mia, looking thoughtfully at Isaac.
"Fine. I refuse to believe a word of this, of course." Faran looked to Iodem for backup.
"Of course," said Isaac, graciously. "But will you at least let us try?"
"If it is so important to you. Once you fail, can we get back to work?"
"Naturally. But we won't fail." That said, Isaac stepped up to the door and studied it. "Ivan," he whispered, "can you give me a link to your sight?"
(Sure,) Ivan replied in thoughts. (Try not to think about Mia, though, okay? It wouldn't do for me to look embarrassed while we're trying to be mystical.)
(What *about* Mia? Ah, forget it. Reveal would be nice right about now.) In a flicker of non-colour, the world turned black-and-white. Except for a metal object on the wall, inscribed with a triangle, which hadn't been there before. Isaac reached out and pressed it, the metal cold to his touch and feeling like history.
The door, silently and without ceremony, slid open. Each half of it sank into the wall, and bright torchlight extended through it, into the cave where they stood. Faran gaped.
"You did it. How did you. what did you. Never mind that. Let's go!" He rushed forward, followed by his Lalivero guards. The door slammed closed before them.
"Oy," muttered Mia, one hand on her face. "Do you realise what this means?" Garet nodded, the situation becoming apparent to him.
"This door has been Psynergy-sealed, which means it leads to Venus Lighthouse. And that means Saturos and Menardi are already there, with the Venus Star. We don't have much time."
"But Felix is the only Venus Adept with them, and he's not so much in favour of Saturos and Menardi as he's going the same way they are. They won't be able to rush through like they did at Mercury Lighthouse," said Ivan, joining them.
"It's not like we were slowed down much by the trials there either," called Isaac. "Let's go. Faran, sorry, but we really can't let you follow us."
"Let me?!" demanded Faran. "I'm twice your age! You don't 'let me' do anything! I am capable of far more than any child like yourself could." Isaac, still looking at Faran, extended one hand toward the door's hidden switch and whispered 'Force'. The door slid open without Isaac ever stepping near it.
"What was that?" he spluttered.
"Something you can't do. Now let us go; you're only stopping us from saving Sheba." Faran's mouth worked as though he was trying to say something, but words failed him entirely. He nodded, and they ran through the door, out of sight.
"Really a Kraken?" he asked, eventually.
"So I've heard," replied Iodem.
"What's the plan, mystical one?" asked Garet as they ran into the halls of Venus Lighthouse.
"Shut up," replied Isaac good-naturedly. "How else do you think I should have convinced him?"
"No, that was good. You might be forced to do some explaining when we're done here," Garet said. They stepped through the door of the lighthouse proper, and found themselves in a temple of green stone and yellow torches. Above them, curved granite arches held up the ceiling seamlessly from one side to the opposite.
Across the floor, pillars and staircases made trails that went up and down all over the place, apparently not heeding the usual architectural ideas about floors. It was like a broken ziggurat with waterfalls of sand at intervals. Occasionally, a growth of ivy had climbed the walls and tied itself around statues.
"I remember this place," said Sap from Isaac's shoulder. "This is where we were born."
"You were?" asked Isaac, slightly surprised.
"What, did you think someone sculpted us?" asked an ancient, tired voice. "Ah, good to be home." The Adepts looked to the floor, where Bane was studying the walls appreciatively.
"Do you think you can lead us through this place?" asked Ivan. "We need to be quick."
"Amen," said Kite. "The sooner we win, the sooner we can get away from all this Venus Psynergy. Why Saturos and Menardi even want it is beyond me."
"Did I ask you?" demanded Bane. "Whippersnappers."
"Well, where do we go?" asked Mia, kindly. Bane looked a though he didn't feel like helping, but he never could resist Mia. He set out along a walkway and the others followed.
"Hey, we're here!" said Flint, waking up and materialising on Isaac's head. "I'll get the others!"
"You'd think the builders would've got tired of pillar puzzles eventually," muttered Garet as they found one blocking their path. He leapt down a level and started heaving against one of the blocks, positioning it into a makeshift bridge.
"At least they were nice enough to include a treasure chest in the deal," said Ivan, jumping to the block Garet was moving and across to a ledge, where a red and silver box lay in wait.
"Don't bother helping or anything," said Garet, hauling on the pillar. He kept dragging as Ivan half-turned to apologise. Behind Ivan, the chest opened an eye for a split second.
"Ivan!" called Isaac. "Don't try to-" Ivan spun and kicked the lid and a way that should have opened it. Instead, the Mimic leapt up and snarled at him.
"Garet, move that back!" Garet looked up at Mia to ask why, but instead followed her gaze to the now-unreachable ledge where Ivan was staring down the aggressive luggage. He started to push the block back, but at another screech from the Mimic, four growling creatures pounced from a higher level.
"What are those?" yelled Isaac as he drew his Silver Blade.
"Uh, Fenrir," Bane said, backing away.
"They look like it," said Isaac. One of the two-headed wolves circled him, saliva flowing onto its venomous purple fur. It growled and lunged at Isaac, both sets of fangs snapping ravenously.
"What's- oh," said Flint, reappearing and losing a great deal of his enthusiasm.
"Unleash Flint!" called Isaac, and swung his sword at the beast. It was knocked back in an explosive slash, but rebounded quickly. One head grabbed the hilt of Isaac's sword while the other tried to clamp onto his neck, driving Isaac onto the tiled floor. The snarling head opened its jaws wide before his face, straining against the resistance. It got close enough to bite, the stench of its breath sending waves of nausea through Isaac's body-
"Unleash Mist!" A staff smashed against the creature's head and sent it crashing into the wall, fading as it hit. A much more attractive face appeared above Isaac, offering her hand. Isaac took it gladly and pulled himself up.
"What happened to the other one?" asked Isaac, trying to shake away the odour of its breath.
Mia jerked her thumb over her shoulder at a Fenrir trapped inside a Glacier. "I'm sure when it thaws out we'll have to pacifying to do. Now let's get Garet out of there."
His back to the pillar, Garet was trying to hold off the remaining pair of monsters, and without much luck. The beasts were too quick to let him get in any Fire Psynergy, and were almost immune to his other attacks. But as Isaac got closer to the Fenrir, he felt power growing in his sword, and it let out a howl that echoed through the hall.
"Aqua Sock!" A column of water stabbed from above as Isaac swung the Silver Blade, smashing into one of the monsters. It petrified and disintegrated, the animals trapped in a nightmare's shape no more. One head of the remaining Fenrir noticed this, while the other kept snarling at Garet. He almost laughed as the better-informed head tried to get the first one's attention (without much success) and took advantage of the delay.
"Flare Storm!" called Garet, casting a gout of burning wind at the creature, and the corrupted form burnt away. He breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to thank Isaac when Ivan called out.
"Hello! This thing isn't Wind-vulnerable, you know!" Ivan was currently fending the Mimic off with his Crystal Staff, bashing the lid closed to keep the teeth under control.
"Not a problem. How many on standby?" asked Isaac, looking to Garet and Mia.
"Only one, Mist," Mia replied.
"Corona, ditto," Garet added.
"I think it's wearing out!" said Ivan, thrashing madly. "And I've got Kite."
"Well, one might be enough then. Go for it!" called Isaac. The shadows deepened and torches brightened as the fury of the Djinn was unleashed. Mia's voice, echoing in an unsettling way, spoke confidently as she faced the disguised monster.
"Water Power Rise! Mia Summons Mercury!" A blue spirit leapt out of nothingness, blasting a salvo of ethereal water bolts at the Mimic. It was knocked back by the blast, but leapt up again quickly.
"Wind Power Rise! Ivan Summons Jupiter!" Heralded by the purple spectre, hails of wind blades slashed at the Mimic. Recovering more slowly, it began to cast Bind Psynergy on them, too slowly.
"Fire Power Rise! Garet Summons Mars!" The red ghost sparked into being, took aim at the Mimic, and hurled itself forward into a tremendous flare.
"Earth Power Rise! Isaac Summons Venus!" The Djinni soul dove into the ground, explosions following in its wake. The Mimic greyed out, and they breathed a sigh of relief. "I can never understand why Summoning takes it out of you so much. It's not as if we do the work."
"Sure it is," Mia said. "We're the ones supplying the power that the Summons ride into existence."
"Freeloaders," Garet muttered, leaning against the pillar.
"Right, that's enough of a rest," said Isaac, ignoring the grumbled 'Rest?!' from Garet. "Let's keep moving." He started toward the sand- falls again, Bane following at his feet.
"Great. How about I get down first?" called Ivan at the receding figures. "Hello?"
"I should have stayed behind," Ivan muttered as they forded a sand river. The coarse powder was much worse than water in his opinion, and was going to require some serious beating to remove from his robes. "At least I could handle the ivy and the block puzzles. No-o, we have to walk through quicksand."
"You didn't mind the Lamakan this much," said Isaac, typically happy when surrounded by his element. Ivan would have sworn that he had already crossed and gone back to do it again.
"The Lamakan had Smog in the middle of it. Any place with Jupiter Djinn is okay with me."
"That reminds me," Smog commented, hovering beside Ivan's head, "I still owe you a duel."
"Of course," said Ivan, trying to pull his left leg out of the deep sand.
"You know I only went with you right away because of the sandstorm."
"Naturally."
"I'm going to need to test your skill to make sure you're worthy of me."
"I should think so."
"If you want we could postpone it again."
"Smog, ol' buddy?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
"Okey-dokey."
On the other side of the sand river, they were faced with a maze of stepping block, all sticking up out of the shadows. Really deep pits also seemed to be on the architects' list of favourite trials. These, like all the others, were so huge that the bases of the pillars weren't even visible, only a void from which there was likely no return.
"So? Who's first?" asked Garet, brightly. Mia shook her head, sighed, and stepped daintily onto the first pillar. And, in accordance with the rules of good narrative and heroes' luck, was immediately slashed at by a diving gryphon. It swooped upward again, and prepared for another buzz.
The Angelic Ankh whooshed as it was swung through the air, bashing the gryphon off course with a quick blow to the head. It skidded to a halt and screeched angrily at the Adepts.
"Ouch!" yelped Garet, covering his ears against the sonic onslaught. "That's not natural!"
"No, it's not, but there are such things as acoustics," said Isaac, trying to concentrate enough to use Psynergy on it. "This is a big place, after all."
"And that means you can hear it anywhere. Look!" yelled Ivan, pointing toward the arched ceiling. From a dozen hiding places, swarms of gryphons flew out, spiralling down toward the Adepts. Beaks snapped, talons glinted, and shrieking voices filled the air as the lethal flock fell upon their prey.
"Hells bells..." Isaac muttered.
End of Chapter One
Author's Notes: How to explain, how to explain. Well here goes: You may or may not have heard of the recent decision in the US, a judicial decision, that video games cannot present ideas or philosophies, or for that matter say much of anything. This sounds like adults at work to me (Kidding! I know of a 70-year-old who teaches her grandchildren how to beat Ocarina of Time!).
I have always seen great stories come through in video games, right back to ancient things like Target Earth for the Sega Genesis (Don't get me started or I'll tell you about the Space Colony Blitz). These days people can put more story into games than ever before, but sometimes you can even see it in games where your main character only ever says 'Yes' or 'No'. Hint hint.
As an experiment and proof of this, I'm taking Golden Sun and rewriting parts of it. I'm starting with the Venus Lighthouse and (if this is popular enough) moving on from there. Sometimes back in time (you should hear my story about the first time Flint goes into battle) and, when Lost Age comes out, sometimes forward.
You may point out that since this is a rewriting, it doesn't count as being part of the game, only the writer's mind. You are dead wrong. All of this was created within the game, and here I have connected the parts. Look carefully at the icon for the Revive Psynergy. Turn the volume way up on your GBA and listen to it being cast outside of battle. That's all it took to create half of the ending of this story.
Another point: in the interests of drama, I've divided the classes and summons further. The highest classes are only reached with all seven Djinn attached (wait 'til you see the battle with Deadbeard, should I ever post it) and have more significant effects. Also, a new summon is reached at 1, 3, 5, and 7.
Oh, and if anyone would be kind of enough to give me an example of successful HTML documents, they'd be much appreciated. This story is kind of bland without any effects, but nothing I've done works, no matter what tabs I add or what type of file I save it as.
That's it. Now sit back and read Golden Sun Redux part one... the end.
Part 1: Venus Lighthouse Redux
"It's a seamless iron door three feet thick that is embedded in some kind of special, indestructible granite wall," explained Faran.
"That does put a damper on our plans," said Isaac, thoughtfully. He stared at the door for a moment or two, then looked over to Faran. "And if we can open it?"
"You?" demanded Faran. He stared at the children in obvious disbelief. "A wannabe knight, a kid who looks like his hair exploded, a boy with a four-year-old's face and a grand priest's staff, and a girl in healer's robes who's glaring at me slightly more intensely with every second?"
"I can show him some other things exploding," muttered Garet, but he just waited to hear Isaac's response. At the edge of his vision, he saw Ivan's hand twitch, almost moving up to perform a Mind Read. No need to freak the guy out.
"Can you think of a better plan?" asked Isaac. He didn't add any inflection or suggestion, it was just a question. Garet knew this plan well by now. Isaac was simply as solid as his element, never wavering in his thoughts or getting angry, and the other person was so unnerved that they relented. It was like arguing with a boulder.
"Faran, be reasonable. I have seen their powers, and they really are capable of such things," said Iodem. "What harm is there in letting them try?"
"We don't even know what's behind that door!" protested Faran.
"We did see those other people go through it," offered one of the guards without much enthusiasm. Mia, calm as a still lake, stepped up to Faran. She looked into his eyes.
"Have you ever heard of a Kraken?" she asked, innocently.
"Mythical creature," Faran replied, waving her back.
"We fought one on the ship to Tolbi. And reduced it to fried calamari," she added.
"I did the frying," said Garet, waving from behind her.
"Would have been better to get some bread crumbs first though," commented Ivan. Garet looked at him with a betrayed expression. "I'm not saying we had time," Ivan explained. "Just that it would have been ideal."
"Or maybe the pirate Deadbeard?" asked Mia.
"Ironically, dead for centuries."
"Not his ghost. Not until recently, that is," said Mia, looking thoughtfully at Isaac.
"Fine. I refuse to believe a word of this, of course." Faran looked to Iodem for backup.
"Of course," said Isaac, graciously. "But will you at least let us try?"
"If it is so important to you. Once you fail, can we get back to work?"
"Naturally. But we won't fail." That said, Isaac stepped up to the door and studied it. "Ivan," he whispered, "can you give me a link to your sight?"
(Sure,) Ivan replied in thoughts. (Try not to think about Mia, though, okay? It wouldn't do for me to look embarrassed while we're trying to be mystical.)
(What *about* Mia? Ah, forget it. Reveal would be nice right about now.) In a flicker of non-colour, the world turned black-and-white. Except for a metal object on the wall, inscribed with a triangle, which hadn't been there before. Isaac reached out and pressed it, the metal cold to his touch and feeling like history.
The door, silently and without ceremony, slid open. Each half of it sank into the wall, and bright torchlight extended through it, into the cave where they stood. Faran gaped.
"You did it. How did you. what did you. Never mind that. Let's go!" He rushed forward, followed by his Lalivero guards. The door slammed closed before them.
"Oy," muttered Mia, one hand on her face. "Do you realise what this means?" Garet nodded, the situation becoming apparent to him.
"This door has been Psynergy-sealed, which means it leads to Venus Lighthouse. And that means Saturos and Menardi are already there, with the Venus Star. We don't have much time."
"But Felix is the only Venus Adept with them, and he's not so much in favour of Saturos and Menardi as he's going the same way they are. They won't be able to rush through like they did at Mercury Lighthouse," said Ivan, joining them.
"It's not like we were slowed down much by the trials there either," called Isaac. "Let's go. Faran, sorry, but we really can't let you follow us."
"Let me?!" demanded Faran. "I'm twice your age! You don't 'let me' do anything! I am capable of far more than any child like yourself could." Isaac, still looking at Faran, extended one hand toward the door's hidden switch and whispered 'Force'. The door slid open without Isaac ever stepping near it.
"What was that?" he spluttered.
"Something you can't do. Now let us go; you're only stopping us from saving Sheba." Faran's mouth worked as though he was trying to say something, but words failed him entirely. He nodded, and they ran through the door, out of sight.
"Really a Kraken?" he asked, eventually.
"So I've heard," replied Iodem.
"What's the plan, mystical one?" asked Garet as they ran into the halls of Venus Lighthouse.
"Shut up," replied Isaac good-naturedly. "How else do you think I should have convinced him?"
"No, that was good. You might be forced to do some explaining when we're done here," Garet said. They stepped through the door of the lighthouse proper, and found themselves in a temple of green stone and yellow torches. Above them, curved granite arches held up the ceiling seamlessly from one side to the opposite.
Across the floor, pillars and staircases made trails that went up and down all over the place, apparently not heeding the usual architectural ideas about floors. It was like a broken ziggurat with waterfalls of sand at intervals. Occasionally, a growth of ivy had climbed the walls and tied itself around statues.
"I remember this place," said Sap from Isaac's shoulder. "This is where we were born."
"You were?" asked Isaac, slightly surprised.
"What, did you think someone sculpted us?" asked an ancient, tired voice. "Ah, good to be home." The Adepts looked to the floor, where Bane was studying the walls appreciatively.
"Do you think you can lead us through this place?" asked Ivan. "We need to be quick."
"Amen," said Kite. "The sooner we win, the sooner we can get away from all this Venus Psynergy. Why Saturos and Menardi even want it is beyond me."
"Did I ask you?" demanded Bane. "Whippersnappers."
"Well, where do we go?" asked Mia, kindly. Bane looked a though he didn't feel like helping, but he never could resist Mia. He set out along a walkway and the others followed.
"Hey, we're here!" said Flint, waking up and materialising on Isaac's head. "I'll get the others!"
"You'd think the builders would've got tired of pillar puzzles eventually," muttered Garet as they found one blocking their path. He leapt down a level and started heaving against one of the blocks, positioning it into a makeshift bridge.
"At least they were nice enough to include a treasure chest in the deal," said Ivan, jumping to the block Garet was moving and across to a ledge, where a red and silver box lay in wait.
"Don't bother helping or anything," said Garet, hauling on the pillar. He kept dragging as Ivan half-turned to apologise. Behind Ivan, the chest opened an eye for a split second.
"Ivan!" called Isaac. "Don't try to-" Ivan spun and kicked the lid and a way that should have opened it. Instead, the Mimic leapt up and snarled at him.
"Garet, move that back!" Garet looked up at Mia to ask why, but instead followed her gaze to the now-unreachable ledge where Ivan was staring down the aggressive luggage. He started to push the block back, but at another screech from the Mimic, four growling creatures pounced from a higher level.
"What are those?" yelled Isaac as he drew his Silver Blade.
"Uh, Fenrir," Bane said, backing away.
"They look like it," said Isaac. One of the two-headed wolves circled him, saliva flowing onto its venomous purple fur. It growled and lunged at Isaac, both sets of fangs snapping ravenously.
"What's- oh," said Flint, reappearing and losing a great deal of his enthusiasm.
"Unleash Flint!" called Isaac, and swung his sword at the beast. It was knocked back in an explosive slash, but rebounded quickly. One head grabbed the hilt of Isaac's sword while the other tried to clamp onto his neck, driving Isaac onto the tiled floor. The snarling head opened its jaws wide before his face, straining against the resistance. It got close enough to bite, the stench of its breath sending waves of nausea through Isaac's body-
"Unleash Mist!" A staff smashed against the creature's head and sent it crashing into the wall, fading as it hit. A much more attractive face appeared above Isaac, offering her hand. Isaac took it gladly and pulled himself up.
"What happened to the other one?" asked Isaac, trying to shake away the odour of its breath.
Mia jerked her thumb over her shoulder at a Fenrir trapped inside a Glacier. "I'm sure when it thaws out we'll have to pacifying to do. Now let's get Garet out of there."
His back to the pillar, Garet was trying to hold off the remaining pair of monsters, and without much luck. The beasts were too quick to let him get in any Fire Psynergy, and were almost immune to his other attacks. But as Isaac got closer to the Fenrir, he felt power growing in his sword, and it let out a howl that echoed through the hall.
"Aqua Sock!" A column of water stabbed from above as Isaac swung the Silver Blade, smashing into one of the monsters. It petrified and disintegrated, the animals trapped in a nightmare's shape no more. One head of the remaining Fenrir noticed this, while the other kept snarling at Garet. He almost laughed as the better-informed head tried to get the first one's attention (without much success) and took advantage of the delay.
"Flare Storm!" called Garet, casting a gout of burning wind at the creature, and the corrupted form burnt away. He breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to thank Isaac when Ivan called out.
"Hello! This thing isn't Wind-vulnerable, you know!" Ivan was currently fending the Mimic off with his Crystal Staff, bashing the lid closed to keep the teeth under control.
"Not a problem. How many on standby?" asked Isaac, looking to Garet and Mia.
"Only one, Mist," Mia replied.
"Corona, ditto," Garet added.
"I think it's wearing out!" said Ivan, thrashing madly. "And I've got Kite."
"Well, one might be enough then. Go for it!" called Isaac. The shadows deepened and torches brightened as the fury of the Djinn was unleashed. Mia's voice, echoing in an unsettling way, spoke confidently as she faced the disguised monster.
"Water Power Rise! Mia Summons Mercury!" A blue spirit leapt out of nothingness, blasting a salvo of ethereal water bolts at the Mimic. It was knocked back by the blast, but leapt up again quickly.
"Wind Power Rise! Ivan Summons Jupiter!" Heralded by the purple spectre, hails of wind blades slashed at the Mimic. Recovering more slowly, it began to cast Bind Psynergy on them, too slowly.
"Fire Power Rise! Garet Summons Mars!" The red ghost sparked into being, took aim at the Mimic, and hurled itself forward into a tremendous flare.
"Earth Power Rise! Isaac Summons Venus!" The Djinni soul dove into the ground, explosions following in its wake. The Mimic greyed out, and they breathed a sigh of relief. "I can never understand why Summoning takes it out of you so much. It's not as if we do the work."
"Sure it is," Mia said. "We're the ones supplying the power that the Summons ride into existence."
"Freeloaders," Garet muttered, leaning against the pillar.
"Right, that's enough of a rest," said Isaac, ignoring the grumbled 'Rest?!' from Garet. "Let's keep moving." He started toward the sand- falls again, Bane following at his feet.
"Great. How about I get down first?" called Ivan at the receding figures. "Hello?"
"I should have stayed behind," Ivan muttered as they forded a sand river. The coarse powder was much worse than water in his opinion, and was going to require some serious beating to remove from his robes. "At least I could handle the ivy and the block puzzles. No-o, we have to walk through quicksand."
"You didn't mind the Lamakan this much," said Isaac, typically happy when surrounded by his element. Ivan would have sworn that he had already crossed and gone back to do it again.
"The Lamakan had Smog in the middle of it. Any place with Jupiter Djinn is okay with me."
"That reminds me," Smog commented, hovering beside Ivan's head, "I still owe you a duel."
"Of course," said Ivan, trying to pull his left leg out of the deep sand.
"You know I only went with you right away because of the sandstorm."
"Naturally."
"I'm going to need to test your skill to make sure you're worthy of me."
"I should think so."
"If you want we could postpone it again."
"Smog, ol' buddy?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
"Okey-dokey."
On the other side of the sand river, they were faced with a maze of stepping block, all sticking up out of the shadows. Really deep pits also seemed to be on the architects' list of favourite trials. These, like all the others, were so huge that the bases of the pillars weren't even visible, only a void from which there was likely no return.
"So? Who's first?" asked Garet, brightly. Mia shook her head, sighed, and stepped daintily onto the first pillar. And, in accordance with the rules of good narrative and heroes' luck, was immediately slashed at by a diving gryphon. It swooped upward again, and prepared for another buzz.
The Angelic Ankh whooshed as it was swung through the air, bashing the gryphon off course with a quick blow to the head. It skidded to a halt and screeched angrily at the Adepts.
"Ouch!" yelped Garet, covering his ears against the sonic onslaught. "That's not natural!"
"No, it's not, but there are such things as acoustics," said Isaac, trying to concentrate enough to use Psynergy on it. "This is a big place, after all."
"And that means you can hear it anywhere. Look!" yelled Ivan, pointing toward the arched ceiling. From a dozen hiding places, swarms of gryphons flew out, spiralling down toward the Adepts. Beaks snapped, talons glinted, and shrieking voices filled the air as the lethal flock fell upon their prey.
"Hells bells..." Isaac muttered.
End of Chapter One