05-17-2007, 04:35 AM
Raphael tread quietly across the mithril chamber, breathing softly in spite of himself. At the other end of the chamber stood an altar with two matching, lit torches, and an enormous statue.
The statue seemed to be carved from solid iron, which stuck Raphael as an unusual medium as he studied it. It appeared to be carved in the shape of a man, but a man made of gears and pistons and things, all connected to what looked like a fire-heated boiler in its chest. In its clutched hands though was the prize Raphael sought; the Blade of Metal.
"What an odd design for a statue..." Raphael said aloud as he reached for the Blade. His sword quivered in response.
'Uh... Raphael... that's not a statue...' it said. The eyes of the statue flared to life, lit by two burning pinpoints of light, which focused on Raphael. The fire in its chest flared to life, bringing its boiler to life and releasing a dramatic cloud of steam. It swung the sword at Raphael once, forcing him to step back.
"Mortal!" the statue boomed in a voice like a thousand rusty hinges all turning at once. "I am the spirit of this Blade, and I am duty-bound to guard it with my life, or what semblance of life I have. If you can defeat me, the blade, and my service, are yours until you too are defeated..." The statue raised the sword (a sharp and massive rectangular block of metal) preparing to drop it on Raphael and sunder him.
The statue seemed to be carved from solid iron, which stuck Raphael as an unusual medium as he studied it. It appeared to be carved in the shape of a man, but a man made of gears and pistons and things, all connected to what looked like a fire-heated boiler in its chest. In its clutched hands though was the prize Raphael sought; the Blade of Metal.
"What an odd design for a statue..." Raphael said aloud as he reached for the Blade. His sword quivered in response.
'Uh... Raphael... that's not a statue...' it said. The eyes of the statue flared to life, lit by two burning pinpoints of light, which focused on Raphael. The fire in its chest flared to life, bringing its boiler to life and releasing a dramatic cloud of steam. It swung the sword at Raphael once, forcing him to step back.
"Mortal!" the statue boomed in a voice like a thousand rusty hinges all turning at once. "I am the spirit of this Blade, and I am duty-bound to guard it with my life, or what semblance of life I have. If you can defeat me, the blade, and my service, are yours until you too are defeated..." The statue raised the sword (a sharp and massive rectangular block of metal) preparing to drop it on Raphael and sunder him.
