3rd Task: Camuji Fortress (Part 1)

Nigel is startled awake by a blaring alarm that rings throughout the Outside, he grabs his mop and Lefnard rises over him made of books. He looks around and remembers that he's still in the library, and he's made quite a mess in his search for answers. The alarm stops and he takes his time putting the books back, a small Out girl appears next to him, "Thank you," she says.

Nigel starts to smile, "I knew you guys could speak, and you're welcome."

She returns his smile as the door to the library opens and Mineko steps inside rolling the thick black bandages over her body.

"Morning Mineko," Nigel says as Lefnard lifts him in the air to replace a book.

"Good morning Nigel, did you hear the alarm?" she asks

"Yeah, it scared me awake," He responds chuckling, "What was that for anyway?"

"It's the prep alarm before a TASK is initiated the alarm tells everyone to get ready," she says as an Out man appears before her with her bokken raised over his head.

"I'm always ready," Nigel says shrugging, "how do we know when the mission starts?"

"Oh, you'll simply," Mineko starts to say but disappears in a flash of light.

"Ah," Nigel says as he takes the last book out of Lefnard making his arm of books disappear. The Out girl chuckles as Nigel turns to her then a warming light engulfs him.

"Your mission is about to begin, your assignment is as follows. Good luck!



Nigel Storm

Age: 18

Title: The Adventurer: Model: Pirate

Assignment:
Defeat all enemies.
Clear a path.
Defend the wall.
Crush your opponent.
TASK:
Give peace to Meander with "Total En" ability."



The 4th world of BellCrone is Titanluxe, the world where mythology and reality collide. Titanluxe has the largest population of different races in all of BellCrone's worlds. Gray skies in Titanluxe are rare and often the result of a war on the horizon. For a small country in the Bazz Mountains, the tumultuous skies spell a different story. The Kingdom is known as Camuji, which is surrounded by a 20-foot wall that protected its citizens from invasion from other countries. However, the wall did not prevent a disease from seeping into the water and killing everyone over the age of 16 four years ago. Today, the country is governed by children who have learned to farm the land and live off of all its natural resources. The 12 daughters and the 3 sons of the former King act as the leaders of the small country leading their people in light and love.

Approximately ten days ago a large bird landed on the wall, observed the country from various angles and left in the direction from which it came.  The 2nd oldest son of the Hawke family,  Ian notes the actions of the bird and reports it to his oldest brother Bryant, who dismisses it as a random act. Ian tells his other siblings of the bird's behaviors and no one listens to him. On the fourth day Mineko appeared in the middle of the fortress in a flash of light, she was disarmingly beautiful yet fierce at the same time. Bryant welcomed Mineko as a guest and over dinner she announced that the kingdom would be invaded in 8 days. Believing that Mineko was a bringer of Misfortune he had her locked her away in the dungeon of the castle. Mineko did not put up a fight against the untrained child guards and went to the cell quietly. Ian knew that Mineko was on to something and for the last 7 days he stood on watch in his tower with his telescope watching the horizon. On the 8th day, a large army marched towards the fortress. As Ian slept he was unaware of the danger that inched closer with every passing moment. By sheer luck, a light flashes and Nigel appears stumbling backward and slamming into the massive bell that hung low in the tower. The clanging of the bell rang through Comuji and all the citizens were jolted awake. Nigel looks over the edge of the tower and watches as the doors of the homes in the town fly open and children of all ages pour out into the street.

"What's that bell mean?" asks a small child

"I've never heard it," says one of the older children

The bell stops and Nigel turns to find Ian wrapped around the clapper.

He chuckles and addresses the children gathered below, "I'm sorry, I was sleep walking."

The children below all sigh and laugh and talk amongst themselves about how silly Prince Ian is. Ian turns to find Nigel shaking his head, "Why'd you lie? Your countries in danger and you sent a bunch of children back to bed."

"What are you talking about?" Ian asks not even thinking to ask who he is.

"I'm referring to the swarm of soldiers heading this way," Nigel says using his mop to point in the direction of the approaching army.

Ian scoffs and uses his telescope to look in the direction. As soon as he spots the soldiers he scans them quickly to find the bird perched on a man's shoulder in the middle of the army.

He can't help but watch and panic, "I've got to tell my brother, I've got to save everyone, where will we go?" He finally manages to pull his gaze away from the telescope and turns to Nigel who simply shrugs.

"Ian!" Bryant shouts from below, "Why did you ring the bell?" Ian looks over the edge his body rigid with fear.

"Say something," Nigel encouraged

"They're coming," Ian sputters, "An army is coming!"

Bryant pinches the bridge of his nose and he shouts in a surprisingly high pitched voice, "Get down her right now!"

Nigel pushes Ian off the tower and the children scream and gasp in shock. As he plummets Nigel drops his bandanna in Lefnard at his feet, a large cloth hand leaps from the bucket and catches Ian by the foot hanging him upside down in front of his brother.

Nigel leaps on the arm and slides down and lands on one foot. Lefnard places Ian next to him and Nigel tugs the bucket out of the tower and catches it with his mop, "I'm Nigel, you've got an army coming at you. What's your plan?"

"Guards!" Bryant shouts, to the top of his lungs, his face turning red and veins pulse on his forehead. In a moment Nigel and Ian are surrounded by guards wielding halberds, "Take them to the dungeon!"

"Brother, there really is an army," Ian insist and Bryant begins to scream and stomp his feet.

"Noooooooo! I refuse!" Bryant shouts, foaming at the mouth out of anger.


The door to a small cellar next to the castle swings open and Nigel and Ian are forced inside. As soon as the door closes a light turns on and the room is illuminated, despite it being a dungeon the decor is gorgeous. Mineko isn't the only one in the cellar, Franc, and Gris are there as well. Franc nods towards Nigel and when Nigel opens his mouth, he raises his hand and says, "Please no questions, I was sent here a day after Mineko and when I offered to teach that little wretch Bryant how to fight and protect his country he locked me in here. Gris came only hours after me and suffered the same treatment. I hope that answers any questions that you might have had."

"Where's Abraham?" Nigel asks laughing knowing he got Franc upset.

"Leave him be Franc, being inquisitive is his nature," Mineko says

"Hi Gris," Nigel says, she raises her eyebrow, scoffs and turns away from him.

"What was going on when you arrived?" Mineko asks

"An army was approaching from the West mountains at least 1,000 soldiers were heading towards Camuji," Ian says

"You wish kid, that was easily 3 to 5 thousand soldiers," Nigel says, "What kind of army is this kingdom working with?"

"Camuji no longer has an army, four years ago everyone over the age of 16 was killed by some disease. There are only kids and babies in this kingdom, my oldest brother Bryant is our leader, my 14 siblings and I were the youngest of the royal Hawke family and we care for those that remain," Ian says

"Such a burden for children to bear," Mineko says embracing Ian squeezing him against her hard body, "We'll protect you."

"So, what are we doing O.C?"

"Waiting for the signal," Franc replies

"What signal?" Nigel asks Franc sighs and moves so quickly that no one is able to follow him. The sound of crashing and screams rip through the air followed by a loud explosion. Time slows down as a boulder crashes through the roof of the cellar and in an instant everyone reappears outside unscathed. Franc sheaths his long sword and says, "That one."

"How did you do that?" Ian asks before Nigel can.

"My clock mask allows me to see seconds into the future and move whoever or whatever I please so that I'm always ahead," Franc replies before adjusting the time on his face to 12 am the witching hour.

A whistling sound can be heard overhead and a large boulder falls from the sky. Mineko reaches for her bokken, but Gris claps her hands and does a three step dance in an instant manifesting her three golden orbs. They transform into golden spikes and slam into the boulder shattering it instantly, Gris does another dance and the floating gold balls combine and transform into a massive golden blade.

"Showing off Gris?" Mineko teases

"My assignment is to go all out. I'm expecting this to be fun," Gris says floating in the air.

More boulders fall from overhead and Franc takes the lead, he leaps on the roof of a house and begins to cut the boulders to pieces before they can hit the ground. Mineko and the others watch as Franc cuts down boulder after boulder as if it were nothing more than paper.

"What about my family?" Ian asks after being brought back to reality when he's struck by a small rock.

There's a flash of light and Abraham appears, a shot rings out and another boulder is obliterated, he tilts his hat, holsters his gun and says, "I'll be taking care of them."

"Good, follow me," Ian says looking up at the chunk of the castle that was now missing.

"No," Abraham lifts his revolver and shoots Ian at point blank range. His body glows as he's lifted off his feet and takes a few steps backward, the glow wears off and he looks at the O.C.

"Why'd you shoot me?" Ian asks feeling for a hole in his chest

"That was a safety shot it was supposed to teleport you to the safest place within 100 miles," Abraham says shocked.

"Camuji Fortress is the safest place in all of the Bazz Mountains, we are the only humans for at least 3,000 miles around the wall. Isolation is its first defense," Ian says

Mineko chuckles, "Not gonna be so easy this time huh?"

"I noticed," Abraham says dumping all the safety bullets on the ground, "Where are your siblings?"

"Probably cowering in the castle, we don't have any evacuation protocol or any kind of defense measurements outside of the wall being 20 feet tall and being in an isolated location."

Abraham looks up to the castle and says, "I hope no one was crushed."

"No, they should be fine, our parent's old wing was destroyed, none of us ever went there. Everyone should be on the other side," Ian says heading towards the front of the castle. He bursts through the front doors with Mineko, Abraham, Gris, and Nigel. He shouts, "Hawke family!" Followed by an interesting whistle, a moment later the whistle is returned from several different areas of the castle.

"Everyone is safe," Ian says, "What do we do now?"

"What about all your people?" Nigel asks, "I saw a bunch of kids appear when I rang the bell. Where are they now?"

"Most likely in the tunnels beneath the fortress. The tunnels were built for easy travel in the winter months. There's an entire bazaar beneath our feet, I'm sure after the explosion they all must have fled to that area," Bryant says appearing at the top of the stairs, he throws back his shaggy hair and addresses the O.C, "I will speak with the leader of this army. I will offer him all of our treasure, we have no need for silks, fine metals, and precious gems."

Nigel wrinkles his brow, "Um, they catapulted boulders over your wall and destroyed part of your castle."

"I am aware, but once we wave our white flag of surrender we will give him the treasure and he will leave," Bryant says

"What if they don't leave?" Mineko asks

"What if they decide they want all the women and children?" Nigel asks

"What if they want this fortress and everyone in it as a slave?" Gris asks

Bryant has an appalled expression on his face and says, "No one turns down treasure. If I give it to them willingly they will leave."

"This kid is clueless," Abraham says

"Guards!" Bryant shouts, as a vein throbs in his forehead, a group of guards appears seemingly out of nowhere with halberds.

Abraham lifts his hat and looks around, the OC all have their hands up and he chuckles, "Ya see kid,"

He starts to say as he lets off a volley of shots hitting all the guards, "When dealing with people you don't know. You never know what they are capable of."

Bryant's face turns ash white and he is terrified by Abraham, "Did you just kill them?"

"No, I put them all to sleep with Sanctuary Bunny Bullets," Abraham says, he spins his gun on his finger and holsters it. Gris glares at him and tilts her head, she does a quick dance and the triangle window opens and the gray bunny appears. He looks up to Gris, and she squats down and whispers in his ear. The bunny leaps back in the window and returns a few seconds later, she smiles and says, "I didn't know if one of you were hurt. Just making sure."

The bunny disappears and the triangle window closes and the golden orbs return to their golden blade form. Abraham laughs and says, "I wouldn't hurt an innocent animal. I have a great appreciation for all that they do for us."

"Mhm, if you had, you wouldn't be alive," Gris says and she turns on her heel and storms out of the castle. From the door Gris launches into the air with her giant golden sword flying behind her.

Bryant is awed by Gris and seems to swoon, "Such a powerful presence."
Ian clears his throat and Bryant looks to him, "Ah, yes. Let's gather the treasure shall we?"

"This kid still doesn't get it," Abraham says, he takes off his hat and rubs his thick eyebrows.

Nigel sighs and says, "That army wasn't put together just for treasure. They are coming for more than that. A lot more than that and if you don't come up with a plan to stand your ground and fight then you're all as good as dead."

"Well said," Franc says appearing in the doorway, "I took the opportunity to gauge our enemy, they have 20 giants on their side, that's how those boulders were flying over the wall. They are still a few miles away, but they will be here before dawn. The risk of them attacking tonight is slim. Engaging a fortress at night is not ideal for any army no matter how formidable they think they are. It's not strategic."

"So, we basically have a few hours? I'm assuming they stopped throwing boulders because they ran out?" Mineko asks.

"Yeah," Franc replies, "There is a group in the midst of the army that seems to be the main bulk of the power. Everything else is intimidation, the 3,000 men are pawns. Not saying the soldiers and giants aren't formidable, but against Mineko, Gris, and I there is not many who can contend."

"What do they look like?" Nigel asks

"Who?" Franc asks

"The people in the middle of the army, what did they look like that made you say they are the power of the army?"

"They were surrounding a king," Gris hisses from the door, her golden blade is shaped like a large spyglass, "Franc's the leader, the strategist. Stop questioning him."

Mineko and Abraham keep quiet, but Franc says, "Thank you Gris," Franc says, "Now, back to what I was saying. They won't attack at night, but I'm sure they will try something to shake up the fortress. Abraham, I'm assuming you've been assigned to the safety of the citizens. Please take both the Princes of Camuji Fortress to their siblings. The rest of you know your assignments, complete them as the occasion calls. Until then we must wait."

I don't want to go," Ian says, "I want to fight for my kingdom."

"Come, brother, you are speaking nonsense. Let these beings sent from nowhere protect us. You heard them, they have assignments," Bryant says wiping his brow with a silk handkerchief. Ian scoffs and runs out of the doors and Nigel quickly races behind him.

"Hey, it's dangerous out here," Nigel says chasing him.

"My brother is a coward!" Ian shouts, "That boy is as spineless as a snake."

"Calm down," Nigel says catching up to him, "You're brother's a jerk, but you guys raised yourselves. Of course, you're all gonna have major character flaws."

They find themselves climbing up the tower steps and onto the 20-foot wall, in the distance the army continues to get closer. The giant's silhouettes can be made out amongst the smaller soldiers.

"How are you going to fight against them? This Fortress was designed to keep single monsters out one at a time. There used to be a tale told in the village about an evil horde of monsters that once swept over the village, but at the time the wall was only 10 feet tall and then they added the other 10 feet on top of that to keep the monsters out."

"Pretty cool story," Nigel says, "We're the Outside Counsel, we specialize in shit like this. Don't worry about your kingdom you're in good hands."

Ian looks up to Nigel and for the first time shows his true age and begins to cry.

"Thank you so much," he manages between sobs. They watch the sun begin to fade away behind the mountain.

"Let's get back inside," Nigel says, he drops his bandana in Lefnard. They retreat to the castle where the O.C remained. Gris is sitting in a massive golden throne in the middle of the room, Mineko is meditating in the corner and Franc is as still as a statue when Nigel and Ian walk in.

"You've been gone awhile," Gris says, "I know you're nothing like Pearl, so what have you been up too?"

"Why am I not like Pearl because I didn't leap off the wall and charge head first into enemy lines? Well, you're right I'm nothing like Pearl, but I've got an assignment and I've got a plan. Did I show you last time what I was capable of?" Nigel asks offended

"Yeah, cute water arm," Gris says laughing at herself, "Don't take me too seriously kid. I don't like people very much."

He uses his bandanna arm to giver her a thumbs up, Franc begins to move slowly as if he's ticking. He stops and says, "We're no longer alone."

12 seconds later on the dot, a swarm of goblins pour through the door wielding all manner of weapons. Gris cheers and gets up from her throne. As she begins to dance, the throne lifts over her head and slams into the closest goblins. She cackles as more goblins climb over their brethren. Gris continues to dance and the throne transforms into the golden blade and begins to cut down the goblins from behind.

Time stops and Franc cuts the wall of the castle to pieces. As time speeds up again the wall crumbles and goblins swarm the city like an ocean. They pour over the walls of Camuji Fortress as if it were a waterfall.

Mineko opens her eyes and gets up slowly. As she rises to her feet she swings her bokken from the hip creating a shockwave that mows down part of the goblin horde. Ian is wowed by the sheer awesomeness of the O.C and looks to Nigel.

"What are you going to do?" He asks

"Oh, I haven't decided what I want to use yet," he replies

"What do you mean?"

Nigel laughs and removes his bandanna from Lefnard and ties it over his mouth. A goblin wielding a goblin dagger rushes towards them, Nigel lifts his mop to defend but it gets snagged on lamp mounted on the wall. The goblin snickers and approaches them twisting the shiny blade between his clawed fingers. Nigel tugs the mop and pulls the lantern off the wall and it ends up falling onto the goblins head. Ian and Nigel cringe as the goblins dagger spins in the air and lands in Lefnard.

Nigel's eye flashes with stars and he shouts, "Goblin Metal Arm!" A giant's arm made of the white shiny goblin metal bursts from the bucket and waves. Nigel laughs as the goblins immediately begin to retreat, but he uses Lefnard to completely decimate the goblins around him.

"Whoa," Ian manages as Nigel holds on to the buckets handle and begins to rampage out of the castle and into the city.

Franc, Mineko, and Gris finish up the remaining goblins inside the castle before moving outside. Mineko sticks close to Ian making sure he's safe.

"I can fight you know," he says.

"Sure, just stay behind me so you won't have too," she replies, her orange eyes warm.

Gris spins and her sword stretches and gets larger, and turns into a shield as arrows rain down. The shield protects everyone and shrinks immediately.

Gris leaps towards the wall, but shots ring out and all the archers crumble from the wall.

Abraham appears and says, "I can't let you have all the fun."

"You said they wouldn't attack at night!" Bryant shouts from behind Abraham, "You said we would be safe until morning."

"I didn't know they had goblins and dark elves with them," Franc says removing the head of a goblin with ease.

"Well goblins never appear without an Ogre King," Gris says, "if the goblins are still coming around that means the Ogre King must be lurking nearby."

As soon as Gris finishes speaking a large ogre easily 9 feet tall falls over the wall and lands before the O.C. It roars and produces a massive goblin metal club with spikes. It slams the club and no one in the O.C even moves, they look up at the beast and it stares at them. It tilts his head and goblins surround him tilting their heads growling and sneering at them.

"The source!" Nigel shouts as he leaps off the roof of the castle followed by the giant goblin metal arm, Lefnard hits the ground first and the hand catches Nigel. He puts himself down and the metal arm slams down on the Ogre King. The goblins disperse immediately after the king is crushed. Nigel waves as they all scurry over the wall, "With no Ogre King goblins flee with no loyalty."

For the remainder of the night the O.C took turns to keep watch over the Camuji Fortress, Franc was on duty first and as the sky darkened, even more, two girls approach him on the wall with tea and biscuits.

"Hi, I'm Sammi Hawke," one of the girls says,

"And I'm Tammi Hawke, were twins," the other finishes.

"I can tell, why are you awake so late?" Franc asks taking the tea, from Sammi who has three braids.

"We are the night owls, were always up late at night and often wander the kingdom," Tammi replies

"The kingdom is in danger and our oldest brother Bryant is a coward," Sammi says.

"We sleep all day so that we can ignore him," Tammi finishes, "Ian told us that you are here to protect us."

Franc chuckles, "Something like that. You two should head back to the bazaar with the others. Although the walls are high the army of goblins was able to get over, and they've still got those giants. I don't want any citizens of the kingdom getting in the way."

The girls smile at Franc and embrace him at the same time, "thank you for saving us."

He lifts his arms and is careful not to spill his tea. The girls let go and leave the biscuits on the wall next to him. Silence falls as the kingdoms residents take cover in the tunnels beneath the kingdom. In the distance, Franc can see a large tent drawn up in the midst of the army, but what gets Franc's attention is the faint blue globe surrounding the tent. The soldiers begin to move, from the sound of clinking armor Franc can tell that they are ready for a full-scale invasion.