Legend of the Three Gargoyles

      In the badlands, there lived an evil Gargoyle King. He was a terrible and mighty king capable of plunging the lands in chaos, but he chose not to; he was content to just rule over his own domain and leave the humans to their affairs. He had three sons who did not share this opinion. The three gargoyle brothers were enraged by the sloth of their father and secretly plotted against him.

      “It is disgraceful!” the middle brother cried out, “With his magic, Father could rule all the lands! Yet he is content with this measly valley.”

      “Indeed,” The youngest agreed, “Father does nothing but sit on his throne, if I had his power I would go out and devastate the lands of the humans. They would tremble with my might!”

      “And what if that were possible?” The eldest brother mused, “What if we could take fathers magic for ourselves and use it properly?”

      The younger brothers stared at their elder sibling in amazement.

      “Could we?” The youngest asked, “Is it possible to take father’s magic?”

      “Why of course it is!” The eldest grinned, “I have spent many a night in father’s study! Reading through his tomes I found a mighty spell we could use to extract the old fool’s magic and split it evenly amongst ourselves!”

      The brothers laughed, and then proceeded to plan their father’s downfall.

      One night, the three brothers gifted their father with large amounts of his favorite wines and ales. That night, as the King slept in a cloud of booze the brothers made their move. They stole their father’s great magic and were changed by its immense power.

      Leaving the badlands, the three brothers quickly swept over the human’s land leaving chaos and destruction in their wake. As they pillaged and slaughtered the human towns, many rose up to fight against the three brothers, but Gargoyles have magic stone skin incapable of being pierced, slashed, or smashed by any human weapon; combined with their father’s terrible magic the Gargoyle brothers where unstoppable.

      Ramsey Dell was a young man living with his father, mother, and younger sister. He had a simple life, and that’s all he ever wanted. They lived in the woods away from civilization and they lived simply. One day, as Ramsey was out chopping wood for the coming winter, the three gargoyles came to the woods. Ramsey heard them thundering through and grew frightened; he hid behind a tree as they passed by and let out a sigh of relief once they had left. This comfort was short when he realized with horror which direction they were headed towards.

      Ramsey quickly ran back home leaving behind the wood he chopped, only to see his home in ruins. In shock, he stumbled towards his house to see his father slumped against a tree, his neck snapped, he held his axe tightly in his hand as if he had tried to stop the three brothers but had been swatted away without and moments afterthought. His mother was in the kitchen, her throat slashed, she had been cooking a meal and the aroma of the food was what had attracted the three brothers to the woods in the first place. The kitchen was a mess as the brothers had ransacked the place eating the food. In great horror he called out for his younger sister, but received no response, she had been asleep in her room when he left to chop wood. He rushed through the house to see if she was all right but collapsed in despair when he came to her room. The roof had collapsed and she was buried under the wreckage. He struggled long and hard and managed to free her corpse from the remains of the roof.

       In his sorrow, he cursed the three gargoyles and swore revenge upon them. He buried his family, then he went through the wrecked remains of his house. There, he found his Father’s Favored Axe, his Mother’s Treasured Scissors, and his Sister’s Beloved Cup. Wrapping the cup and the scissors he put them in his knapsack. He then took his father’s axe and looped it through his belt. He took the remains of the meal and packed himself a lunch. Ramsey then set out into the world to take his revenge.

      A short while later, following the path the Gargoyles had taken through the woods, Ramsey came across an old man collapsed. Ramsey rushed over to the man to see if he was still alive.

      “What has happened dear sir?” Ramsey asked, “Are you another victim of those accursed Gargoyle Brothers?”  

      “Nay,” the Old Man coughed, “I was just going for a walk in these woods when I had foolishly gotten myself lost. I had not intended to be out so long so I had not brought any food with me and now I’m famished!”

      Ramsey took pity on the old man and offered him the lunch he had packed. The man gratefully accepted it and scarffed it down quickly.

      “Thank you kind sir,” the old man said after finishing the lunch, “You did not have to help me; I was a stranger and yet you gave me your food. Is there any way I could repay your kindness?”

      “Sadly, there is not,” Ramsey sighed, “For I have only one wish in this world, and that is the death of the Gargoyle Brothers!”

      “Such a wish is too great for an old man like me to grant; it’s true,” the old man nodded, “But, I may have something that could help you on your quest. Tell me boy, what were you planning to use as a weapon against the Gargoyle Brothers?”

      “My Father’s Favored Axe,” Ramsey put a hand on it nervously, “Why do you ask?”

      “Such a feeble thing would simply snap if you tried to strike a gargoyle with it,” The old man chuckled, “To get past a gargoyle’s enchanted skin you need an enchanted weapon!”

      The old man then reached into his rags and took out a mace and handed it to Ramsey. The mace was heavier than it looked and Ramsey nearly dropped it. He held the mace to his face and gripped its handle tight; it vibrated as if it were alive. Ramsey gave it a test swing, and the old man smiled and gestured at a large rock behind him. Ramsey struck the rock with the mace and it shattered into pieces before his eyes.

      “Such a mighty weapon,” Ramsey marveled picking up chunks of the shattered rock, “Where did it come from?”

      “They say it was the mace of a great king,” the old man smiled, “It is capable of shattering anything made of stone, even the enchanted skin of a Gargoyle. With such a mighty weapon I am sure you will have no trouble avenging your family and killing the three Gargoyles!”

      Ramsey smiled greatly and thanked the old man for the mace. With that, he continued his journey after the Gargoyle brothers.

      After many days of traveling Ramsey came across a small town in ruins. A survivor sat in front of the ruins of their home in shock.
   
      “What has happened here?” Ramsey called out to the Survivor, “Was this the work of the three Gargoyle Brothers?”

      “Three Gargoyle Brothers,” the Survivor muttered dazed, “nay it was only one brother. Goro the Youngest, he called himself.”

      “One Brother did all this destruction?” Ramsey asked in disbelief, “And the youngest one at that!?”

      "He was gigantic,” the survivor replied, “As large as a house. He came through here smashing down homes and swallowing people whole. After his rampage, he grew tired and said he would go down to the river to wash off.”

      The survivor then curled up into a ball and refused to talk anymore, so Ramsey continued to the river. Hiding behind a tree, he spied Goro the Youngest lounging by the river side. Ramsey was about to come out and challenge him when a knight on horseback rode up to the Gargoyle.

      “Foul monster! Your reign of terror ends here!” The knight bellowed.

      “Who dares to interrupt my nap?” Goro the Youngest groggily asked sitting up. Ramsey gasped as he saw how huge the Gargoyle truly was; it towered over the knight making him look like an ant standing before a giant.

      “I am Sir Malachi the shining!” The Knight trumpeted, “I have been sent here on my lord’s behalf to stop you and your brothers’ senseless destruction!”

      “Your lord sent you to your death,” Goro chuckled, “for have you not heard? The weapons of man cannot hope to pierce the skin of a gargoyle!”

      “I know all too well of your kind’s enchanted skin, that is why I came well prepared.” With that the knight took out a sword wrapped in a cloth. He undid a clasp and the cloth fell to the ground. The blade of the sword glowed bright hot and Goro shielded his eyes in discomfort.

      “An enchanted blade?” Goro grunted, “We were wondering when you humans would wise up and start to come at us with more than toothpicks.”

      “Yes an enchanted blade beast,” Malachi grinned, “My sword, the Burning Fang, is capable of slicing through any material in this world, save for the magic cloth it was wrapped in, like a hot knife through butter! It shall cut you to ribbons!”

      “You may have a fancy weapon, but what good will it do when you’ll never have a chance to use it?” Goro quickly lashed out and struck the ground in front of the Knight, causing his horse to rear up in fear and knock Malachi from his saddle. As he hit the ground, he lost grip of his blade. Burning Fang sailed through the air and struck the ground. The enchanted blade, true to the knight’s boasts, sliced through the earth and disappeared. Malachi laid on the ground dazed as Goro the Youngest stood up. His shadow fell over the knight and cast him in darkness. As the final blow was struck Ramsey turned and fled.

      Running through the woods, Ramsey fell to his knees. He splashed his face with water from the stream as he tried to get the image of the knight’s demise out of his mind.

      “What a fool I have been,” Ramsey shuddered, “I am no better than that knight waving a toy. He may be the youngest of the brothers, but he is a colossus. If he is this strong, I cannot fathom how strong his brothers will be. I shall never avenge my family’s death.”

      Ramsey then heard the branches shake; he turned around quickly expecting to see Goro the Youngest crashing through the woods to kill him just as he killed the Knight. Instead, he saw a bear shaking a tree reaching for a beehive in the branches.

      “Oh bother,” the bear muttered, “kind sir, if you are done with your bath could you help me with my dilemma?” Ramsey was stunned, he had heard tales of talking animals before, but he’d never seen one himself. He walked up to the bear and looked at the hive.

      “Do not worry sir, the bees have gone.” The bear explained, “They fled the woods like the other forest animals when that lumbering monster walked through. I would have followed, but I haven’t had anything to eat, and I simply could not tear myself away from this opportunity.”

      Ramsey surveyed the tree. He took out his Father’s Favored Axe and, with three quick swings, he felled the tree. The honey hive fell to the ground and split open revealing its golden treasure. The bear rushed to the hive and began scooping honey into its mouth.

      “Oh thank you kind sir!” the bear exclaimed between mouthfuls of honey, “So delicious. You did not have to help me; I was a simple woodland creature, yet you chopped down a tree to feed me. Is there any way I could repay your kindness?”

      “Sadly, there is not,” Ramsey sighed, “For I have only one wish in this world, and that is the death of the Gargoyle Brothers!”

      “Such a wish is too great for a bear like me to grant it’s true,” the bear nodded licking its paws clean, “but, I may have something that could help you on your quest. Tell me, why did you flee from Goro the Youngest? You have quite a fetching mace; surely you could slay him.”

      “I may have a weapon capable of slaying the gargoyles,” Ramsey admitted, “but what use is a weapon when my opponent could crush me like an insect.”

      The bear nodded in understanding, “Of course. Your offense is fine, but your defense is lacking. Come with me, I have something for you.” Ramsey followed the bear as it led him to his cave. The bear entered the cave, and then it came out with an enchanted breastplate. Ramsey marveled at the armor and picked it up. It was a lovely jade color with six glowing gems in the shoulder pads. He put it on and it magically resized to fit him.

      “The armor is quite beautiful,” Ramsey stated, “but it feels so light. How could this possibly protect me against a giant?”

      “This is no ordinary armor,” the bear chuckled, “the gems house a powerful magic. If you wear that armor and you are ever to receive a mighty blow that could take your life, the gems will cast a protective barrier and prevent you from harm. Be warned though, for the barrier can only be used three times a day. After the magic is expended, it will take a day for the gems to recharge.”

      Ramsey thanked the bear for his new armor and set off to confront Goro the Youngest. The gargoyle was once again asleep by the river, his mouth smeared with blood. Malachi’s belongings sat off to the side in a pile. Ramsey stepped forward.

      “Goro the Youngest!” Ramsey bellowed, “It is time you paid for your crimes!”

      “Another one?” Goro groaned rolling over and sitting up, “Can we do this another day? Can’t you see I’m trying to sleep?”

      “You who killed my family think I care for your comfort!?” Ramsey cried out enraged, “You can sleep after I slay you, you foul beast!”

      “Or maybe,” Goro grinned, “I’ll sleep after I slay you, you foolish man!”

      Goro lashed out at Ramsey with intent to smash him, but two of the gems on the armor’s shoulders glowed brightly. A barrier of bright light flashed and repelled Goro’s hand.

      “That armor!” Goro marveled, eyes going wide, “How did you get that armor!?”

      “Surprised monster?” Ramsey grinned, “If we came with enchanted weapons it would make sense for us to bring enchanted armor as well!” Ramsey drew his mace and Goro grew furious. Once again he lashed at Ramsey, but Ramsey leapt out of the way. Dashing towards him, Ramsey swung at Goro’s leg. The gargoyle yelped and jumped back, but not fast enough.

      The mace struck Goro’s knee with a mighty crack shattering the skin. Goro shrieked in pain and clutched his knee.

      “How does it feel monster?” Ramsey yelled, “That was for my mother!”

      Ramsey swung the mace once more, Goro raised his hand to shield the blow, but the mace shattered his hand to pieces.

      “And that was for my sister! And this is for my Father!” Ramsey readied for another blow when Goro lashed out screaming furiously. The gems glowed once more and the barrier shone again to defend Ramsey from the blow, but the force still knocked him back.

      “Enough of this foolishness!” Goro raged getting back to his feet, “I care not for your petty complaints! So what if we killed your family, you are nothing but ants! Why should we care if we step on a few!?” Goro grabbed a nearby tree and wrenched it from the ground. Limping forward, he raised the tree above his head ready to bring it down on Ramsey. Goro bellowed loudly as Ramsey tried to get back up. In a last ditch effort, Ramsey threw his mace at Goro. The enchanted weapon hit Goro in the abdomen shattering him in half.

      Getting back up Ramsey surveyed Goro’s body. The body glowed as the Gargoyle King’s magic left it; it swirled into the air and condensed into a red crystal apple. With the magic gone, Goro’s body reverted to its normal size. Ramsey took the red apple and, at once, could feel the great power emanating from it, but also he felt something else. Ramsey felt eyes watching him full of greed and hate. He turned around and surveyed the area, but could find no one else around.

      “Such an amazing treasure,” Ramsey marveled, “But I feel this would bring me nothing but trouble in my quest if I were to use it…” He then noticed the enchanted cloth the knight had used to wrap his sword. He picked it up and wrapped it around the crystal apple; at once he could no longer feel the magic of the apple or the burning eyes of greed. He quickly tucked his prize into his shirt and moved on.

      Ramsey continued his journey following the river. He had hoped that perhaps if he found one of the brothers by the river, the other two would not be far off. This proved to be correct. The path by the river had led Ramsey up into a group of mountains. As he traversed a cliff, he was soon accosted by Yoko the Middle.

      Yoko stood in the middle of the path with his arms crossed and bellowed, “Are you the one with the enchanted mace and breastplate?”

      “Indeed I am.” Ramsey replied, “What business is it of your’s monster?”

      “Murderer!” Yoko sneered, “You have killed my younger brother and for that you will die at the hands of Yoko the Middle!”

      “You who killed my family dare call me a murderer!?” Ramsey bellowed, “I have taken my revenge on your brother and I shall now take it on you!”

      Yoko and Ramsey rushed forward and began to fight. Yoko came at Ramsey with blinding speed. Every time Ramsey swung his enchanted mace, Yoko swiftly dodged the blow and hit Ramsey with a flurry of punches. Ramsey was under constant attack with no way of retaliating against the gargoyle’s immense speed.

      “This is the one who killed my poor brother?” Yoko laughed, “It is such a joke that you thought you could take us on human. Be sure to apologize to my little brother when you see him in hell!”

      With that, Yoko kicked Ramsey off the cliff. Ramsey fell a great height and would have surely died if not for the enchanted armor he wore. Just as he was about to hit the ground its gems glowed a third time as the magical barrier activated and saved him. Ramsey lay there for hours, too sore to move from his fight with Yoko the Middle.

      “Oh, it is hopeless,” Ramsey moaned, “I may have a weapon capable of killing the gargoyle brothers, but what’s the use of it when it is too heavy to use against Yoko’s speed? I shall never avenge my family’s death.”

      A wave then washed over Ramsey’s feet, he slowly sat up to see that he was on a beach. He looked at his surroundings absently when he noticed the strangest sight ahead of him. A writhing mass of tentacles was before him; it was an octopus tangled in a fishing net.

      “Oh dear me.” the octopus complained, “Kind sir, if you are done with your nap, could you help me with my dilemma?” Ramsey got up and walked over to the tangled creature.

      “I had been hoping to take this net for my collection,” The octopus explained, “but alas I have foolishly gotten myself tangled into it instead. Now I want nothing more than my freedom from this infernal thing!” Ramsey looked at the net and took out his Mother’s Treasured Scissors. With the scissors, he cut the loops of the net and freed the octopus.

      “Oh thank you kind sir!” the octopus exclaimed stretching out its tentacles, “So good to move around once more! You did not have to help me; I was a simple cephalopod, yet you cut up a net that entangled me. Is there any way I could repay your kindness?”

      “Sadly there is not,” Ramsey sighed, “For I have only one wish in this world, and that is the death of the Gargoyle Brothers!”

      “Such a wish is too great for an octopus like me to grant it’s true,” the octopus agreed climbing onto a rock, “But I may have something that could help you on your quest. Tell me, why did you lose to Yoko the Middle?”

      “His speed is too great.” Ramsey sighed, “My mace is too slow; I can’t possibly hit him with it.”

      “That is quite the dilemma,” the octopus puzzled scratching his head, “But, tell me what use is all that speed when you can’t move?” The octopus then reached under the rock and took out a net that shone a brilliant white. The octopus handed it to Ramsey and Ramsey marveled at it. “This is the prize of my collection, said to be completely unbreakable. Simply call out the name of your target as you throw the net, and it shall tangle him up in an instant!”

      Ramsey thanked the octopus for this treasure and then set off again to relocate Yoko the Middle. He found him again up on the cliffs, sitting on a rock.

      “Funny, I thought you might have survived that fall.” Yoko mused while cleaning his nails, “I thought you would have gone home after how badly I beat you.”

      Ramsey frowned, “I have no home. You and your foul brethren destroyed it remember!?”

      Yoko snorted, “Oh well, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway; I would have just hunted you down and finished the job. It looks like your armor ran out of magic as well, so you won’t be walking away this time!” With that Yoko leaped up and rushed at Ramsey.

      Ramsey quickly took out the magic net he received from the octopus and called out, “Yoko the Middle!” He threw the net and it magically enlarged and swept over Yoko. Once it surrounded him it shrank down quickly and held him in place.

      Yoko thrashed around madly and shrieked, “This net! How did you get this net!?”

      “It is no concern of yours where I get my tools monster,” Ramsey smiled, “worry more for what you will say to your brother in the afterlife!”

      With that Ramsey brought down the enchanted mace down on Yoko’s head, killing him.

      As Ramsey gathered up the magic net, Yoko’s body glowed as the Gargoyle King’s magic left it and condensed into a yellow crystal apple. Taking it, Ramsey once again felt the power of the magic and gaze of the greedy eyes until he slipped the apple into the cloth along with the other one. Ramsey then set off once more to find the third and final gargoyle brother.

      The third brother proved to be more elusive than the first two; he had traveled far into the lands, and Ramsey traveled many days and nights until he found him. Togo the Eldest had traveled to the Kingdom of Lid, an impenetrable fortress held up in the air by four immense stone pillars. The brother had flown up to the castle using the Gargoyle King’s magic and killed its owners. He then proceeded to destroy all the entrances to the kingdom ensuring only he could enter it.

      Ramsey stood before the mighty fortress and bellowed his challenge, “Togo the Eldest! Come out and face me!”

      The windows to one of the castle’s towers flew open; Togo leaned out with a drunken woman at his side, “No thank you! You see, I am hosting a party for this castle’s working staff, and it would be quite rude of me to just leave!”

      Ramsey was flustered, “Then if you won’t face me out here, then allow me in your castle so we can settle this in there!”

      Togo laughed, “So sorry my boy, but this is fancy party and you’re dreadfully underdressed!”

      “You who killed my family think I care for your party!?” Ramsey shouted, “Fight me now! Either out here or in there! I will avenge my family today!”

      “I wouldn’t count on it; I have no intention of going out there and fighting you, nor will I let you come in here and fight me, so it looks like you won’t be avenging them today, tomorrow or ever really. So could you go away?”

      “But I have slain your brothers!” Ramsey shouted desperately

      “That’s sort of the reason I won’t be fighting you. I’m confident in my abilities but from what I’ve heard, you wield some enchanted items that would swing the fight in your favor. I won’t be getting into any fight where my defeat is guaranteed like that.”

      “But do you not wish to avenge their deaths!?”

      “I’m going to be the bigger man here and tell you that I forgive you for killing my brothers. I’m sure you had you reasons.”

      “But what of honor? If you refuse to fight me, you will be thought a coward!”

      “Yes, but I still will have this impenetrable fortress filled with great treasures and plenty of people who much rather party all day then worry about trivial things like justice and honor, so I think I can live with that.”

      With that Togo slammed the window shut and left Ramsey alone. Ramsey was furious at this; the final brother was a smug coward who refused to fight him. Ramsey then stared at the stone pillars that kept the castle in the sky.

      “If he wishes to stay in that castle rather than fight me,” Ramsey muttered, “then I will simply remove that castle!”

      He took out his enchanted mace and smashed it into the pillar. The pillar shattered and the castle in the sky teetered. Ramsey then traveled to the second pillar and shattered it with his mace as well.

      The castle fell to the ground smashing into pieces sending its treasure, food, and wines everywhere. In the wreckage, guests of Togo’s party stumbled away miraculously unhurt. The more sober party goers took some of the treasure with them. Togo emerged from the wreckage enraged.

      “Are you mad!?” Togo bellowed, as he flew over the remains of his castle, “What kind of buffoon destroys someone’s house just because they wouldn’t fight them!?”

      “Now without the castle, you have no choice but to fight me!”  Ramsey grinned, as he took out his magic net and prepared to fight.

      “No I will not!” Togo raged, “For you see I can still fly, and you cannot reach me from down there.”

      “Think again!” Ramsey bellowed as he threw the magic net, “Togo the Eldest!”

      The magic net flew in the air towards the gargoyle, but Togo gave a large flap of his wings and blew the net back to the ground. He then swooped down and grabbed a roasted pig and jug of wine. He then perched on top of one of the remaining pillars.

      “Just so you know, if you smash this pillar I’m just going to fly to the other one,” Togo called down as he began eating the pig, “and if you smash that one I’ll go find something else really tall to sit on. I’ve got all the time in the world!”

      “Then I will hound you every day and night!” Ramsey shouted, “I will follow you to the ends of the earth! You will never know a day of peace for the rest of your life!”

      “More like the rest of your life!” Togo grinned mockingly, “A gargoyle’s lifespan is three times that of a human’s. All I have to do is wait for you to kick the bucket and I can restart my reign of terror on this land; I can wait for that.” Togo then guzzled some wine and went to sleep.

      Ramsey gathered up his magic net then stormed off in a rage. After some walking, he sat down in the shade.

      “Damnable coward.” Ramsey muttered, “He mocks me; what use are these enchanted items if I can’t even get the beast to come down and fight me! I will never avenge my family’s death.” With that, a bird covered in black muck hopped onto his lap.
“Hello there.” The filthy bird chirped, “Kind sir, if you are done talking to yourself, could you help me with my dilemma?” Ramsey stared at the bird.

      “You see I am quite the mess; I had a bucket of muck fall on me and now I cannot fly.” The bird explained, extending its wing, “I found some water to wash myself, but it’s not enough.”

      The bird pointed to a spot beside him where a single drop of water would fall down every minute or so. Ramsey looked at the dripping water. Then he took out his Sister’s Beloved Cup to catch the water in. They waited as the cup filled. Once it had gathered enough water the bird hopped into to the cup and washed itself.

      “Oh thank you kind sir,” the bird tweeted shaking itself dry, “it feels so nice to get that gunk off of me! You did not have to help me; I was a simple sparrow yet you let me use your fancy cup as a bath! Is there any way I could repay your kindness?”

      “Sadly there is not,” Ramsey sighed, picking up the cup and wiping it clean, “for I have only one wish in this world, and that is the death of the Gargoyle Brothers!”

      “Such a wish is too great for a bird like me to grant it’s true,” the bird agreed flitting its wings, “but I may have something that could help you on your quest. Tell me, why have you given up on fighting Togo the Eldest?”

      “He won’t fight me,” Ramsey moaned, “and with his ability to fly I will never reach him.”

      “Indeed that is certainly frustrating.” The bird agreed bobbing its head, “But what if you made him mad enough to want to fight you?”

      “And how could I do that?’ Ramsey replied annoyed, “I’ve killed his brothers and destroyed his castle; there is nothing I can do that will make him wish to fight me!”

      The bird flew into a corner and chirped, “Oh yes there is.” The bird then came flying back with a sapphire flute. The bird handed Ramsey the flute and chirped, “Togo may seem content with this situation for now, but blow a few notes on that flute and he’ll change his tune.”

      Ramsey stared at the flute confused, but thanked the bird and went back to the pillar. Togo woke up when he returned.

      “Oh, you’re still here?” Togo yawned, “I thought you realized it was pointless by now.” Ramsey ignored Togo, took out the sapphire flute and began to play. Togo immediately frowned. He slapped both hands over his ears, but he could still hear the song of the flute.

      Togo gritted his teeth, “That damned flute! That damned flute!! Where could you have gotten that damned flute!?” Ramsey continued to ignore Togo and just kept playing, Togo glared at him, eyes burning with great hatred. “That mace, that armor and net, and now that damned flute! I know where you have gotten these items and know who gave them to you! If you would go so far to fight me than you shall get your wish!”

      Togo dived from the pillar and tried to slash Ramsey open, but the armor’s gems glowed and his claws bounced away harmlessly. Ramsey swung at Togo with his mace but Togo leapt into the air. Togo dive bombed Ramsey but Ramsey quickly threw out the net and Togo flew straight into it getting tangled.

      “YOU DAMNED FOOL!’ Togo shrieked, “You are nothing more than his pawn! He is just using you! Let me go this instant and maybe you’ll live but kill me and your fate is sealed!”

      “There is no running this time Togo the Eldest.” Ramsey cried out, “Today my family is avenged!” He then hit Togo with the mace and shattered him to pieces.

      Togo’s remains glowed as the Gargoyle King’s magic left his body and formed into a green crystal apple. Ramsey took the apple, felt the magic and the greed once more, but, when he placed it with the other two in the cloth, the greed did not vanish. Ramsey grew worried when a familiar voice called out to him.

      “So you finally got your revenge boy! How does it feel?” Ramsey turned around and saw the old man from the forest behind him.

      “Old man, what are you doing out here?” Ramsey asked startled.

      “Oh I’ve been watching your progress on your quest my boy,” the old man chuckled, “For you see, I’m not just an old man, but a wizard. I knew you had it in you, and, with a little help and guidance, only you could stop those dangerous Gargoyle Brothers.”

      “Help?”

      “Why yes, speaking of which since, I have helped you, it’s time you repay me for my services.”

      “Repay you? For what?”

      “Well for example your breastplate,” the old man sat on a rock, “it was I who gave the bear that piece of armor and told him to gift it to anyone handy enough help him get that honey. I’m not asking for much, I just desire a small treasure as compensation.”

      Ramsey put a hand on the pouch containing the three apples, but frowned when he saw the look in the old man’s eyes. Ramsey instead took out his Father’s Favored Axe and gave it to the old man.

      “What is this?” The old man snapped angrily, “I ask you for a treasure and you hand me a plain old axe?”

      “But good sir,” Ramsey exclaimed, “this is no ordinary axe! ‘Twas my father’s favored. A handy tool he never went without, everyday he would take that axe out into the woods and everyday he came back with many a fallen tree. That axe built our home and kept us warm in the winter. Such a mighty tool has been in my family for generations and a great treasure to behold!”
 
      “Fine, fine,” the old man grumbled as he took the axe and hid it in his cloak, “But what of your enchanted net? Twas I who gifted the octopus the net on the condition should he ever become trapped in one of his collection, he was to repay the man who freed him with that enchanted item. For such a valuable tool I simply require one treasure. Perhaps a gem or crystal?”

      Ramsey felt uneasy as the Old man stared at the pouch containing the three apples; he reached into his knapsack and took out his Mother’s Treasured Scissors. He handed them to the old man.

      “Scissors?” the old man roared, “I ask you for a treasure, and you hand me a pair of simple shears?”

      “But good sir,” Ramsey explained, “they are no ordinary scissors! ‘Twas my mother’s treasured. A delicate yet sharp instrument that could cut through any fabric, with it she cut many a cloth to sew and make many fine clothes. That kept my family in comfort in any weather. Such a fine item could be used to make many a treasure so it itself must be one as well.”
 
      “Bah!” The old man chuffed as he took the scissors and placed them inside his cloak, “You are quite clever, and as I’m sure you must know by now, that sapphire flute you now wear around your neck, it was yet another gift from me. I told the bird to give it to anyone willing to wash them of their messy predicament. I believe you know my price for such a helpful item, please don’t be stingy!”

      Ramsey took out his Sister’s Beloved Cup and sighed. A tear fell from his eye as he gave it to the old man.

      “Why must you be so difficult!?” The old man ranted, “I asked for treasure, and all you give me is worthless rubbish!”

      “Good sir!” Ramsey stamped his foot offended, “That is no ordinary cup! “‘Twas my sister’s beloved! I had gotten her that cup on her fourth birthday. I worked many a month to be able to afford it, and seeing all my effort to get her that cup she has cared for it like a newborn child. She used it for everything, yet she never let it get stained, nor cracked, nor chipped. That cup is as pristine as the day I gave it to her. Something so loved cannot be anything but a treasure!”

      The old man glared at Ramsey with hateful eyes, he gritted his teeth as he placed the cup in his robe along with the other family treasures. He looked at Ramsey long and hard, and then his face broke out into a wicked smile.
 
      “You have granted me three simple treasures for three enchanted items,” the old man mused, “but your debt is not yet repaid. That mace I gave you, it has helped you throughout your quest, without it you would have never succeeded. That mace helped you kill all three brothers… so clearly it is worth 3 treasures.”

      Ramsey opened his mouth to speak but the old man interrupted him immediately, “AND NO MATTER HOW YOU WORD IT, A SANDWICH IS JUST A SANDWICH! THERE WILL BE NO WRIGGLING ME OUT OF THOSE APPLES BOY!”

      Ramsey took a step back, startled by the old man’s ferocity. He looked at the pouch with the three apples, and then at the mace on his belt.
 
      “Good sir, you are correct it is a mighty fine weapon and worth of many a treasure,” Ramsey mused, “But I have gotten my revenge and have no more use of it anymore, you may have it back now.”

      With that Ramsey gave the mace back to the old man, who stared wordlessly at it. The old man became furious and began stamping his feet.

      “NO!” He cried, “NO YOU CANNOT DO THIS! YOU WILL GIVE ME THOSE APPLES! THEY BELONG TO ME! THEY ARE MINE!”

      “I received these apples from each slain Gargoyle Brother. You may have provided the tools, yet it was I who did all the hard work. How dare you claim ownership of these treasures!”
 
      “FOOLISH BOY! THEY WERE MINE TO BEGIN WITH!” With that the old man grew 10 times in size; his cloak torn to shreds and the Mighty Gargoyle King towered over Ramsey. “THOSE CRYSTAL APPLES ARE THE CONCENTRATED MAGICS THAT WERE STOLEN FROM ME BY MY UNGRATEFUL SONS!” The Gargoyle King bellowed, “I HAD ONLY AIDED YOU IN YOUR QUEST TO TEACH THOSE BRATS THAT NO ONE DARE CROSS THE GARGOYLE KING AND LIVES! NOW RETURN MY MAGIC TO ME OR DIE!”

      The Gargoyle King raised the enchanted mace, now the size of a tree over his head; Ramsey just crossed his arms and stared.

      “SO BE IT!” The Gargoyle King bellowed as he brought the Mace down on Ramsey’s head. Ramsey continued to stand there completely unharmed.

      “I thought so.” Ramsey smirked, “If you had the power to kill me, you wouldn’t have needed my help in taking your magic back. This isn’t your true from, and now that I know it, it is useless to try and hide it from me any longer! Show me your true face oh Mighty Gargoyle King!”
 
      With that, the towering figure standing before him vanished, in its place stood a shriveled up, decrepit gargoyle.

      “Yes it’s true…” The Gargoyle King admitted, ”Without my magic, I’m capable of little more than illusions now, please young man take pity in this once Mighty King and return my magic? I will grant you any wish you desire. Money? Power? Just name it and it shall be yours I promise!”

      “You who have done nothing but lie and deceive me from the very start dare make me a promise?” Ramsey looked disgusted, “You had threatened to kill me and swindle me; I will not take anything you say to be the truth! You were a terrible father, and, as such, your children rebelled; now you must suffer the consequences of your poor parenthood!”

      Ramsey turned to leave when the Gargoyle King shrieked and purple flame surrounded him.
 
      “Impudent human!” The Gargoyle King bellowed, “I may not be able to take your life, but I can certainly ruin it! I curse you human! I curse you to have sons like mine, who will never truly love you, and they will eventually turn on you like the dogs they are! May you live the rest of your life knowing your precious sons will one day ruin everything you love and cherish!”

      With that the Gargoyle King vanished in his purple flame, leaving no trace of him or the enchanted mace. Ramsey looked around the area then turned his attention to the pouch of apples. Curiously he took one out and held it in front of his face. He could no longer feel the Gargoyle King’s greedy gaze; the beast had truly left. Setting the apple back inside his pouch he set out for the nearest town.

      Ramsey traveled the land aimlessly; he had no home to go back to, no revenge to drive him forward, he felt lost and had no clue what he should do anymore with his life. On a whim, one day, he crossed over the border of his homeland and entered the desert kingdom of Shaggar. There were many amazing sights in this new land, yet Ramsey took no notice, still he wandered aimlessly until he saw a huge crowd. Curious, he walked up to the crowd and asked a Strange Fellow what the crowd was for.

      “It’s to see the tourney good sir,” the Strange Fellow replied, “Shadam, the wealthiest merchant in town, seeks to marry his daughter, Melinn, to the strongest, smartest and most agile man in the land. To find the perfect suitor, he is holding a contest to see who is worthy of his daughter.”
 
      Ramsey looked at the center of the crowd- there stood four men at the peak of physical fitness, a rotund elderly man and the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. He swiftly walked through the heavy crowd of people like it wasn’t there and stood with the four other suitors.

      Shadam stared at Ramsey, “A late arrival? And a foreigner at that? You must be quite determined to win my daughter’s hand in marriage if you have traveled so far.”

      Ramsey said nothing and simply marveled at Melinn’s enchanting beauty. Shadam shook his head and the other contestants laughed; there was no way a foolish foreigner could ever best them.

      And with that, the contest began. In the first competition, the five contestants were to prove their strength and lift heavy rocks, the one to be able to carry the most rocks for the longest amount of time would be the victor. Each of the four other contestants rushed out before Ramsey and grabbed as many rocks as they could, leaving none for Ramsey. Ramsey just laughed.

      “Oh, he finally does something other than stare at my daughter!” Shadam exclaimed, “Is something funny foreigner?”

      “Yes there is.” Ramsey chuckled, “These fools are grunting and straining to keep these rocks held, but I could carry more rocks than they ever could in one hand.”  

      “Oh really!?” A contestant puffed, “We’d love to see you try especially as there are no more rocks to lift!”
 
      Reaching in his pouch, with his left hand, he took hold of the red crystal apple. Squeezing it tight, the magic swirled into him causing Ramsey to grow to gargantuan size. Bellowing, Ramsey reached over and grabbed each contestant and held them all over his head.

      “Well he has gone above and beyond what I asked for. Not only does he hold the most rocks, but the most contestants as well!” Shadam gaped, “This makes him the winner of this competition!”

      Ramsey smiled and put the other contestants down. He released the red apple in the pouch and shrank back down to normal size. The contestants grumbled; they had not expected anyone to resort to magic for this competition.
 
      The next round was to see who was the fastest, so a race around the town was set up. The other contestants stared at Ramsey warily- expecting him to grow large once more. Ramsey only chuckled and reached in his pouch for the yellow crystal apple. The race began and Ramsey took off in a flash using the apple's magic he ran around the town seven times before the last contestant crossed the finish line.

      "You have proven your speed as well as your strength!" Shadam marveled, "I feel it would be unnecessary to continue this contest!"

      The other contestants yelled loudly and complained. “There should be one more competition, winner take all!”

      So the third competition was to be a Battle Royale. The other competitors surrounded Ramsey; his magic would not help him now! But Ramsey showed no fear. He smiled and grasped the green crystal apple. The others rushed him, but Ramsey jumped high in the air. The contestants all ran into each other and knocked themselves out.

      With that, Ramsey won the competition, but when Shadam presented Melinn, she became enraged.
 
      "I do not care for such spectacles!" Melinn cried. "So this man has magic tricks, why should I marry a man simply because he cheated in a competition?"

      Shadam attempted to apologize for his daughter’s outburst but Ramsey stopped him, "She is correct, I could not have won without this magic. But acquiring this magic was no easy feat. I had to battle three mighty gargoyle brothers to attain them."
 
      The crowd gasped; they had heard of the Gargoyle Brothers from the neighboring lands, a man who could have defeated them must have been mighty indeed.

      "I do not expect your hand in marriage, but I do wish to get to know you better, and, in good faith, I shall gift you the three magic apples that allowed me to win this silly competition." With that, Ramsey gave the pouch containing the three crystal apples to Melinn.

      Ramsey turned to leave but Melinn took his hand, “to obtain these apples must have been quite a trial, perhaps you could tell me the tale?”

      With that Ramsey was invited to Shadam’s home, where he spen the night telling Melinn of his great quest to avenge the death of his family. After the tale was done Ramsey kissed her hand and bid her farewell.

      “Will I ever see you again?” Melinn called after him.

      “I shall return,” Ramsey replied, “But first I must have a new tale to tell you.”
 
      Throughout the years Ramsey traveled the lands, going on many adventures. After each quest he would return to Shaggar and head to the house of Shadam. There he would gift Melinn a great treasure, then tell her the tale of how he had come to acquire it, and each visit a spot in her heart for Ramsey grew.

      One day after Ramsey had finished his tale and turned to leave, Melinn grasped his hand tightly.

      “Ramsey please,” Melinn begged, “There is no need for you to go. The tales of your adventures are amazing, but I no longer wish for tales. I only wish for you!”

      Ramsey gave her a great smile and kissed her. The very next day they were wed, and on the night of their union she had eaten the three crystal apples before they went to bed as husband and wife.
 
      Ramsey and Melinn lived in a great palace, and a year after their union Melinn became pregnant. Ramsey grew worried at this news; he remembered the curse that the Gargoyle King laid on him. But, on the day of his first child’s birth he burst out laughing. Melinn has given birth to a daughter. The curse would not take place. They named their first child Terena.

      5 years later and Melinn had become pregnant once more and Ramsey felt the fear again, Terena was loving daughter and cared deeply for her father but if Melinn were to give birth to a son it would hate Ramsey and one day be his downfall.
     
      He worried in vain, for Melinn had given birth to another daughter. Ramsey was overjoyed and they named their second child Yaara.

      Another five years had passed and once more Melinn had become pregnant and Ramsey became worried.  Terena and Yaara were the best things to ever happen to Ramsey, but this third child could be the foretold son, who would hate and destroy his father.
For a third time his fear was baseless for Melinn, in great love for her husband gave birth to a third daughter. They named their third and final child Gadah, and life was good for Ramsey. He lived well with his wife and daughters, then on Terena’s fifteen birthday they discovered something amazing.

      Melinn’s consumption of the three crystal apples had affected her three children, when Terena became fifteen she had discovered she could fly. On Yaara’s fifteenth birthday she gained great speed and could run great distances in mere minutes. And on the fifteenth birthday of Gadah, she grew to an immense size.

      Ramsey knew his daughters were destined for greater things with the magic they possessed, so when they came of age he gifted them one of the enchanted items that helped him in his quest against the three gargoyles. With their magic, and their enchanted items, Ramsey’s three Daughters set out into the world and became mighty heroes like their father.