14 The Demon and the Hammer (1/2)

Another two hours pass by. Sounds of grinding and detailed hammering continue to emanate from the smithy.

Trent woke up hours earlier and is now chatting with two of the apprentices.

One of the apprentices passes you, pushing a cart of flat white stones.

”What are those for,” you ask.

He merely smiles and proceeds to a clearing surrounded by a few ornate torch stands.

He leaves the cart of stones near one of the stands and then he proceeds to light the torches.

The smithy's door opens and Torm emerges holding a large hammer with a spiked end.

Trent stops his conversation with the apprentices and approaches Torm.

”Prepare the boy,” Torm says to Trent, ”take what you need.”

He passes the old hunter and hands you the hammer. He gives you a grim look and then he proceeds towards the lighted clearing.

”Come, boy,” Trent says, a hint of fear and excitement in his voice. ”Let's get you suited.”

An apprentice guides you to a structure near the smithy — this one housing different types of weapons and armor.

Trent hands you a leather cuirass similar to the one he lent you. He then helps you don a metal breastplate after you finish putting on the cuirass.

He scans the room, finally grabbing a round shield and handing it to you.

”This seems to be the place you get your equipment,” you say, seeing the similarity of make and material.

”This is where every sane adventurer gets their equipment,” he replies.

You leave the building armed and armored — not knowing the reason why.

”Get a feel for the hammer and the armor,” suggests Trent. ”You'll need it for later.”

You simply nod at the old veteran and start going through the motions of attack and defense.

The hammer weighs a little more than 22 pounds. The heavy hammerhead makes it top-heavy, but you have no problems wielding the weapon. In fact, you find the weapon quite suitable.

You go through different motions, testing your armor's flexibility as well as getting a feel of the weight. You run, roll, and jump — with no problems whatsoever.

After 10 minutes, Trent calls for a halt.

”It seems Torm is finished,” he says. ”Time to complete your weapon.”

You have a vague idea of what's coming next as you follow Trent to the lighted clearing.

Torm stands outside a circle of white stone.

Various runes seems to have been written on the stones and shavings of iron and wood surround the circle of marked stones.

”Your weapon is tied to a demon,” says Torm. ”The weapon either controls the demon or the demon controls the weapon — and hence the wielder.”

”I will bring the demon here and you must face it,” he says grimly. ”That is the price of that hammer.”

”Demons,” you spat. ”The last one we killed dissipated into nothingness.”

”This time will be different,” says the smith. ”The demon will be here in its true form — with all of its strength and power.”

”Every strike of that hammer will sap a portion of its strength — but you must survive the encounter.”

”Are you ready?” Trent says as he hands you a metal helm.

”Let's get this over with,” you say as you put on the helm and ready your hammer and shield.

”Enter the circle,” says Torm.

Trent nods and gives you a reassuring grasp on the shoulder.

You step inside the circle and… nothing.

You look back at Trent in confusion and he makes a gesture telling you to wait.

Torm starts chanting in a strange language you find unfamiliar — even alien.

You sense the familiar feeling of a portal opening — but the power and corruption you felt when the summoner opened the portal in the mountains could not compare to this one.

Soon the outline of a demon begins to take shape — the same one from the mountain.

It seems taller — bigger — and it feels more real.

The flames on its body are raging, not like the weak fires from before. It holds the same bone sword in its hand — but this time, flames and wisps of shadow envelop the weapon.

”At least its flames,” you think to yourself.

You charge at the demon, aiming to get a hit before it can ready itself.

You swing your hammer at the demon — catching it unaware and smashing its chest.

Karthag!

You hear the sound of bone breaking and the demon staggers back a few steps. You also feel a surge of energy entering the hammer.

”You!” it says, finally getting its bearings and realizing who you were.

The demon grabs its sword in both hands and attempts an overhead strike, its sword blazing with an unholy fury.

You roll unto the ground, narrowly avoiding the flaming sword as it crashes a few inches away from you. The earth breaks and small gouts of flaming dirt fly from the sword's impact.

Torchlight catches your eye and you take a moment to adjust to the flickering brightness.

As you stand, you spin your hammer with a flourish — both to familiarize yourself with the weight and balance of the hammer as well as to gauge the demon's reaction to the weapon.

You see a glint of fear in the demon's eyes, but it is slowly overwhelmed with a burning fury.

”The demon is predictable — strong on offense, weak in defense,” you think, ”that would be its end.”

You charge at the demon, swinging your hammer upwards aiming to hit its left ribs once more.

The demon steps back, shaken by the previous hammer strike. It smashes its sword down in an attempt to cut or even sever your arm.

You lunge — with a speed the demon could not match.

You raise your shield to catch the falling sword and use the momentum of your hammer to strike at one of the demon's arms.

Karakh!

Along with the sound of breaking bones, you feel a familiar surge of energy entering the hammer.

The strike once again staggers the demon, but this time it is prepared.

It blasts you with a wave of fire from its uninjured hand forcing you to raise your shield and slowly retreat.