The Prince That Wasn't

"A Legendary Spear?" Dom said in shock, the spear felt perfect in his hands and he felt he could fight for hours holding it. He was however confused as how this particular spear appeared in this smithery. Dom wondered what was the connection between King Arthur and this race.

"Game Support, can you tell me more about the Rhongomyniad?" Dom asked.

[Rhongomyniad, also known as the Slaying Spear is one of King Arthur Pendragons's three primary weapons, handed down to him by his Father King Uther Pendragon. His other weapons were his Sword Caledfwlch also known as Excalibur and his Dagger, Carnwennan the Little White Hilt. Legendary Weapons will appear all across the world of World Conquest Online and can give their lucky users additional help.]

"What additional help can Rhongomyniad the Slaying Spear give?" Dom continued questioning.

[Rhongomyniad is a Spear of slaying, and will help calm your mind when slaying foes, you will also note that it is easier to wield compared to other spears, helping increase your own skills as a Spear user]

"So it's more like an active skill, rather than an increase to stats?" Dom asked bitterly.

[Yes you could describe it like that, but actually improving your skills will depend on yourself. Also no, if you want to increase your "stats" as you say, such as your speed and strength, then train your body and don't rely on outside help.]

With that Game Support stopped speaking, obviously saying to Dom to rely on himself, rather than trying to take short cuts. He did agree with Game Support though, and her description was correct, when he held Rhongomyniad he felt calmer and that he could tackle an army alone.

"That is an impressive Weapon." Gregorios said to Dom, as he himself was looking through the boxes of weapons.

"It is, it's called Rhongomyniad." Dom replied.

"What a long name." Gregorios said, "Why have you named it something so complicated?"

"That's the spears name." Dom answered, "I didn't name it."

"You should call it something simpler." Gregorios stated, as he lifted a heavy spear himself, before mumbling something about preferring his own that he had left at the Mausoleum with Macro and Dion.

"I'll calling it the Slaying Spear then." Dom replied.

"That's a good name." Gan Ning commented as he politely interrupted them, "Now let's get back and find something to use it on."

Dom agreed as they all left the Smithey and headed back down the corridor to the dilapidated Atrium.

"It doesn't look like anyone has been here for centuries." Leonidas commented when they arrived back in the Atrium. "I think we should be safe to leave our finds here for a later date."

"It does feel weird planning to leave behind all of this." Dom replied, "But I do agree, let's head back to Riverside now and we can send further scouting parties out over the next couple of days."

They then made their way down the next corridor, the long one full of large Skeletons of the unknown warriors, towards the Treasury full of gold and riches.

"It's definitely a shame leaving all of this behind." Gregorios commented as they stood beside the entrance to the underwater tunnel, emphasising all of the riches that surrounded them.

"I agree." Gan Ning said, before looking at Dom for confirmation, "Shall we take some small items back to show Lucius? A Little treat from a hard days work."

"Great idea." Dom agreed, before the group separated to look around the Treasury for small items they could fit in to the sacks they had on their backs.

Dom himself made his way through the Skeletons on the far wall, opposite the watery entrance that they had arrived through. He noted a few Skeletons on this side that wore elaborate rings on their fingers, so decided to first inspect these in the short minutes they had assigned to this task. Their armour was also slightly more elaborate than the others they had seen, except for maybe the one with jewelled Sabre in the hallway.

He bent forwards and grabbed one of the Skeletons hands, to pull the large rings free from it, specifically a thick golden band with a large emerald green stone on the top of it. As he grasped the hand, the hand came loose from the body, causing Dom who was grabbing it to tumble backwards accidently. He banged his bottom on the hard floor and winced in pain.

As he fell, the Skeleton fell back wards as well, as the first time it had been touched in centuries had made it loose. As it fell backwards, it caused a chain reaction, as the Skeleton next to it had been resting against it also fell, and in turn the one next to that. Suddenly more than six large Skeletons all fell and collapsed on the floor, their bones scattering around and causing the pile of gold they were leaning on to clatter and spill.

"Having fun over there?" Gan Ning asked Dom from the other end of the room, a grin on his face seeing his Lord causing some chaos.

"Yes, lots!" He replied, getting himself back to his feet and taking the ring from the Skeletons finger. He then noticed that beyond the central Skeleton was a smaller Skeleton. This was wore no armour and had much smaller tusks and jagged teeth than the others. It's size made it look almost child like in comparison. Atop it's head was a small white gold crown, encrusted with diamonds and other jewels, and rather than armour it had the remains of some purple fabric tied on it's body.

Dom gently leant forwards and took the crown from the Skeleton that was lay on the floor peacefully. The Armoured Skeletons around it seeming to have been guarding this smaller version. As he removed the Crown, the temperature in the room seemed to drop and Dom felt the back of his spine get cold and wet.

He looked around as he stepped back, but saw that everyone else was continuing to do what they were doing, and it was only him that seemed to have noticed. He raised the Crown to his eyes as he looked at it closer, seeing that their were small engravings of unknown words around it.

"System, can you show any information?" Dom asked.

[Unknown Ancient Crown, from Unknown Ancient Prince of an Unknown Ancient Race]

Dom understood from that the system had limited knowledge, but it had still been able to tell him that it was the Crown of a Prince. One that had died protected by his warriors in this strange underground city that they had discovered. He wondered what their stories were, and what had happened to put them in this situation. He looked at Gan Ning and his two Warriors that had accompanied him, and wondered if he was in a similar situation, would they also defend him to in this way. He felt that they would, and it made him realise that he was getting to drawn in to the gameplay.

"Everyone done?" Gan Ning asked, as Leonidas and Gregorios joined him with a variety of small objects that they could take back with them easy enough.

"I think so." Dom said as he reached them with the Crown in hand.

"A Crown?" Gan Ning asked in shock, with Leonidas and Gregorios looking at it with their eyes wide.

"Yes, It seems to be from a Prince of this kingdom." Dom replied.

"We should bury his body then." Gan Ning said seriously. "A Royal deserves the proper treatment."

"Let's add this to the tasks for tomorrow then." Dom commented. Gan Ning nodded as he placed the collection of items he had in his pack.

"Let's go then." Gan Ning stated, as he climbed in to the water. He was soon followed by the rest of the group, who all took a deep breath before swimming down the Cave tunnel back to the open water of the small Lake.

Dom swam with his new spear in one hand, whilst the crown he had placed in his pack on his back. They swam quickly and soon reached the edge of the tunnel, where they quickly raised for air just past the small waterfall that trickled in. The sun hurt Dom's eyes as the natural light suddenly hit him again.

As they reached the surface and got air back in their lungs, Dom saw that Dion, Cleon and Macro were sat waiting for them. Dion was sat up with his leg bandaged with cloth from the others clothes. There was also what seemed to be a stretcher at the side as well that was most likely built by Macro. They were all sat on some fallen Logs and had seemed to have been waiting for a while.

"How did it go?" Macro shouted to them as they slowly swam across the lily pads to the shore line where the rest were gathered.

"We found an underground city." Gan Ning grinned back, "You'll have to join us next time!"

"I best get practising my swimming then!" He grumbled.

They soon reached the shore and climbed out, grabbing at their armour that had been left on the ground and re-equipping it.

"Is that stretcher for my snake?" Gan Ning asked.

"Erm, it's supposed to be for me." Dion replied, "But I can most likely walk if you want to use it."

Gan Ning stopped and thought for a few seconds before replying.

"Let's leave the snake here until tomorrow." He replied, "We can come get it whilst you are recovering."

Dion looked visibly relieved at this response, whilst everyone replaced their armour and prepared for the journey back. Cleon and Macro grabbed the Stretcher from each side as Dion climbed on to it. Leonidas took the front of the formation whilst Gregorios, once again, took the rear. They headed back through the Red Woods following the markings from earlier.