Castle SturmVorder

Castle SturmVorder

1331AD, A castle somewhere in the Alps of Morpheus.

         A man cloaked in black runs up to Castle SturmVorder in the middle of the night. He quietly moves to the gates, continuing to look back in fear that they might have been following. Satisfied no one was out there he proceeded to knock on the gates. The guard opens a small opening in the door to see who it is.
         “Who goes there?” he said as he lifted his lantern to see the man’s face. “You! Do you have it?”
         “Yes.” he said as produced a small scroll from under the cloak.
         He unlocked the smaller entry door and opened it, “Get in quickly. He will want to see you immediately.” once the man was inside the guard closed and locked, “Dirk, get out here and watch the gates. It’s arrived”
         “Yes, sir.”
         The guard escorted the man through the cold and quiet castle halls to where the castle lord was waiting.
         “Do you have it, Faust?” He asked seeing the guard and the man.
         “Yes lord Ulrich,” as he produced the scroll from under his black cloak.
         Taking the scroll Ulrich opened it looking it over.
         “I don’t think they know I’ve taken it yet.” said Faust.
         “Then we will preform the ritual tonight. Get the scholars, Quirin” the guard left to get them.
         “I’ll have an army made of shadows stronger then any army in the world. The world will belong to me!” he said smiling.
         Quirin returned with the castle’s groggy scholars. After a quick study of the scroll they proceed to prepare for its use. The against the west wall the drew the out line of a large gate in chalk, then drew a five pointed star in a circle. One scholar stood at each point with the head of them and Ulrich in the center. Then they chanted what the scroll said.
         “Open the gate to the shadows.”
         “Come forth from that realm.”
         “Exit the gate of shadows”
         “Enter into this realm.”
         “And serve your master.”
         With the last line of verse the chalk line disappeared into the wall, then a clap of thunder was heard and the wall shook. From that wall a massive gate emerged from the wall and blocks fell away disappearing in its maw as the center opened. And gargoyle figures emerged from the stone edge decorating its sides.
         “It worked.” Ulrich said as the first creature walking on all fours with knees that bent backwards came through the gate.
         Upon seeing the black creature Faust started backing out of the room then fled. All except one of the scholars backed away from the gate.
         “Command it my lord.” the head scholar said to him.
         “Of course, of course,” still a bit amazed, “creature bow to your master.” he said.
         The shadow creature covered in spikes looked at him for a moment then looked at the lone scholar near him. It roared then attacked the scholar.
         “I didn’t order you to do that! Stop, now!” but it continued to attack ripping the man apart.
         Seeing the creature the remaining scholars now fled as another with bone blades for arms came through the gate.
         “You stop that creature.” Ulrich said as he tried to command the new one.
         The creature just looked around getting its orientations, then it leaped at him.
         “No!” he cried as he tried to grab his sword leaning against his throne, but it was upon and had cut off his head.
         Soon more creatures flowed out of the gate. As soon as the guards saw the first of the creatures they tried to fight them and the castle chapel’s bells were rung for the warning. As the creatures wandered through out the castle they slaughtered all who crossed their path. As dawn approached the only ones left alive in the castle was the creatures.
         As the first rays of the sun glimpsed over the hills the creatures hid, many returned where they came through the open gate. As the sun’s rays entered the lord’s chambers they hit the gate as one creature was just crossing, the wall returned suddenly cutting the creature in half.
         For the next few weeks in the country side the people were troubled by the creatures. They blamed it on revenants, werewolves, and vampires. Over time they were slain by knights and other warriors. And Ulrich’s Gate remained closed.

Word count: Approximately 736
What if...? Contest: Image; Storm Castle: What if?; What if the activities of the occult had real repercussions.