The sun was shining above Hawkstorm Keep as Algor and Ziggy lounged on the grass just outside the gates. Algor munched on a ripe bunch of Glowberries, as Ziggy sloppily lapped up a bucket filled with table scraps from the kitchens. It had been a much-needed lazy afternoon for the young Prince. Algor in his Slime form was soaking up the sun, and enjoying the relaxation. The Slime Elder Magi had taught the Prince a chant that would help calm the darkness infecting him “Zar da la lantus”, and as he said it over and over he could almost feel the evil power within contracting itself. It felt good to have some control over the force infecting him, and soon the Magi would have a way to remove it…hopefully. Drifting off in the early afternoon sun Algor was startled alert by the footsteps of Sir Vandi the Slime Knight.
Sir Vandi stood over Algor as he spoke “My liege, Sir Toron has detected a strange object on the scanners. It entered our atmosphere from the space surrounding Jalldoon, and crashed on the edge of Frogmire. He’d like us to check it out”. Algor frowned “Vandi, how many times do we need to tell you…titles like Sir and Liege aren’t necessary we’re normal Slimes just like you, but tell Tor I’ll go check it out myself. I could use a ride,” he said taking his heroic form. Sir Vandi looked concerned “My liege…Prince, I don’t know if going alone is advisable” as he said this he laid his hand on Algor’s shoulder. Algor chuckled “Vandi, didn’t that incident with the Skelton’s teach you that I could hold my own in a fight? I’ll be fine…plus I’ll have Ziggy with me” as he patted his old Slug friend on the head. The Slime Knight knew better than to argue with the Prince once he had an idea in his head so he acquiesced, and as Algor rode off on Ziggy he hoped letting his friend go alone was a wise choice.
On the edge of Frogmire Marsh, the Prince found what appeared to be a small meteor faintly glowing in a crater left behind on its impact. Algor poked the round rock with the tip of his sword and was answered by a hollow-sounding clink. While he debated what to do with this rock he gave it a nudge with his foot, but this time he was answered by a mechanical-sounding voice “Hey! Watch it, buddy!” As the meteor lifted out of the hole. Levitating near eye level with Algor a line of blue light went around the center as the rock split in two revealing a small round ball made of metal. Two more blue lights opened up on the front of this ball as it again spoke, “Keep kicking me like that and we’re going to have a problem pal”. Algor shook his head to make sure he wasn’t seeing things “Sorry my friend, I didn’t know you were a….what are you exactly?” he asked the floating ball. The circular lights on the face of the ball narrowed as it bobbed up and down” I am the personal assistant of Jah Dume, the God of Information himself, sent on important business with the inhabitants of Hawkstorm Keep. Please do not impede my progress or face the wrath of the Gods.” it said starting to float towards the road back to Hawkstorm. Algor called out “Well you’re in luck then sir, I am Prince Algor, and the Keep is my home currently” which stopped the ball dead in its tracks. Spinning around the lights on the face of the ball grew wide with surprise “ THE Prince Algor??” it asked, sounding excited before adding “ You are just the one I am looking for! you must come with me quickly… my master is in trouble!” as it floated back towards Algor. The Prince tried to reason with the ball “I would be glad to help you friend, but let us return to Hawkstorm and gather my allies so we can all help” he said gesturing in the direction of his base. The ball shook itself back and forth “There is no time! We must go now… he needs us!” With this, a hatch on the back of the ball flopped open as a package slipped out onto the ground.
The ball bobbed up and down excitedly as it spoke again “Put this suit on…you’ll need it to survive on the trip to Dumestroid” as it bobbed towards the package on the ground. Algor wanted to get his friends, but the allure of adventure got the better of him as he opened the box and started slipping the white bodysuit over his feet. After the bodysuit, he secured the gloves, boots, and armor. All that was left was a large disc, and the ball used some kind of beam to lift it over his head. Once all the pieces were on the ball used its beam to hit a button on the chest piece as a large clear dome extended from the disc enclosing Algor’s head inside the helmet. After securing himself in the suit Algor looked around “Now what?” He asked the ball hovering before him. The lights on the ball pointed upwards “Now…we go home” it said as it enveloped Algor in a green beam and shot upwards with massive force.
Flying through Space was a strange sensation for Algor, but the ball was communicating somehow inside the beam as they sped through the sky “ You see Prince, my Master disappeared from the Dumestroid two days ago, and I can’t reach him through any means of communication…I fear the worst may have happened” the concern in its voice seemed rather genuine for a mechanical contraption. Algor thought for a moment before responding “Who or what could be any trouble to a GOD?” He asked the ball. Swerving to avoid a cluster of space debris the ball corrected course before replying “ My Master has been troubled of late by a growing darkness on Jalldoon. A darkness he fears is brought by an evil force hellbent on escaping the Northern Asylum as that is where it has originated. He went to investigate, and never returned.” As the ball spoke Algor could see a large comet spinning before them getting closer and closer. Lights twinkled all around the comet, and as they floated closer a large bay door slid open to let them through. Algor couldn’t believe his eyes, technology was everywhere the likes of which were rarely seen on Jalldoon. The ball nudged Algor “ You can take that helmet off in here the air is perfectly safe to breathe. It’s that little yellow button there on your chest” it said floating over to a large bank of screens. Al hit the button, and as he felt the helmet unseal from around his neck he pulled the whole apparatus off his head. The Ball bobbed up and down “Now hit the button on the underside.” it said using its beam to turn the screens on with a slight hum. The dome of the helmet retracted, and the disc-like base floated through the air securing itself to Algor’s back. The Prince was stunned at all this “Thank you…uh I never actually got your name friend. What should I call you?” he asked. The Ball flashed bright green briefly“ Oh Prince excuse me in my excitement I neglected to introduce myself. I am the Technical Evaluation Relay Recorder, I was created to assist Jah Dume here around the Dumestroid. My Master calls me Terry, and you may as well if you wish.” it responded. Algor laughed “Pleasure to meet you, Terry. Now what would you like to show me?” the Prince asked. Terry flashed red “Oh yes! Please have a seat” he said using his beam to extend a seat from the floor. Algor sat down as the screens flashed to show one large image. It was the room they were currently in. Terry used his beam on the screens “This was the recording of a few days ago here. Jah Dume was investigating some mysterious readings from the Northern Asylum, and we were attacked as you will see.” he said as the image started moving.
Algor could see from Terry’s point of view on the screen. He was floating next to a large armored man who he rightly assumed was Jah Dume. The imposing stature of the man was impressive, but his one very large armored boot was even more impressive. Jah Dume turned towards Terry, his pitch black skin glittered with thousands of tiny points of light as his white eyes narrowed “These readings are troubling. Very troubling indeed, and it may require a trip down to the Asylum itself in the near…wait what is that?” the god asked turning towards the large bay doors opening. Six pods landed in the bay, and from them emerged five Shocktroopers as well as some unknown large lizard man Algor had never seen before. Jah dume bellowed “How dare you intrude on the realm of a GOD!” As he jumped towards them. His giant armored boot landed square in the chest of one of the Shocktroopers which disintegrated into a puff of dust at the hit. Terry’s voice rang out on the recording “Nice Doom kick Master!” as the footage bobbed up and down. Jah Dume blocked balster shots from the Shocktroopers and the lizard man with some kind of energy shield on his forearm, and with his other hand he sent a beam of energy flying towards the lizard who deftly dodged the blast. The Shocktrooper behind him was not so lucky however, and was blasted up against a bank of computers nearby. He fell to the group leaking black fluid on the floor. The footage bobbed up and down again “Blam! Get them Master! Get them!” Terry could be heard saying. Dume launched into the air coming down with his big boot on one Shocktrooper, and a blast of energy from to the other. One more puff of dust, and one more leaking corpse on the floor. The lizard man swung at Dume with his Large clubbed tail, but the God ducked it while landing a hard punch sending the lizard flying. The last shocktrooper looked left and right for a place to go, but could not even move in time before Dume blasted forward with another kick of his big boot. Suddenly a small blue ball landed on Dume’s back, and it started spreading itself across his body. Dume looked at the lizard man who was laughing “Jah Dume, supposed “God of information” you have been bested by Captain Kandross!” he said walking over to the large bubble now imprisoning Jah dume. He pressed a button on his wrist, and the bubble zapped out of view, and Kandross walked back to his pod. As the door slammed shut he fired a shot in Terry’s direction, and the pod took off flying out the bay door. The view bobbed a bit as a flash of red could be seen “Master?” Terry could be heard saying as several cleaning bots scurried out of their bays already taking care of the Shocktrooper corpses littering the area.
The screens cut to black as Terry flashed red “ So that’s what happened. I have no idea where they’ve taken my Master. I have no idea who Captain Kandross is, but I do know those were Shocktroopers. It’s up to me to save Jah Dume, and you’re the great hero of Jalldoon so who better to help me than Prince Algor?” he asked a stunned Algor. The Prince thought for a second before responding “Well I don’t know who Kandross is either my friend, but if he’s working with Shocktroopers we know Dracktholme and Boshak are involved somehow. So let’s return to Hawkstorm Keep… maybe my friends can help.” Algor exclaimed standing up as Terry bobbed up and down flashing green “ Yes! Put your helmet on, and let’s go!” he said excitedly to Algor as his systems readied for the return trip to Jalldoon.
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