Prince Khaven and the Manor-House

Prince Khaven set out for a stroll. He saw serfs in the fields. He waved! He saw cows in the pastures. He covered his nose! He saw a golden, sparkling mutalisk, emanating a mystic aura of magic!

He blinked.

"PRINCE KHAVEN, HEIR TO THE THRONE OF ISSELUNDE!" the mutalisk bellowed. "YOU ARE NEEDED TO DISPATCH A TERRIBLE EVIL IN A FAR-AWAY LAND!"

"I am?" he asked.

"YES!" the mutalisk answered.

"Wouldn't the Great Hero Desmond be a better choice?" Prince Khaven asked.

"HE'S AWAY!" the mutalisk complained.

"Ah, well," Prince Khaven said. "Well, I suppose I might as well climb on, then."

And the mutalisk lifted its gleaming glittering golden wings, and mystically magically manuevered into the heavens.

Shortly thereafter, Prince Khavren arrived in front of a great manor house. He entered not without trepidation, for in appearance it was aged, and decrepit, and not appetizing to the sight. Cobwebs filled the corners of the lushly-carpeted halls; but not a soul was to be seen. Khavren wandered in the darkness, and found a locked door at the end of the largest corridor at all. He looked at it. "I could look for the key," he thought, "but it would take ever such a long time in the dark; and I see no need to use my energies so." Therefore he took from his pocket certain metals, and exercised skills unbefitting a Prince; and lo, the door did unlock, and open. "Gasp!" said Khavren melodramatically.

The chamber beyond was crimson-walled, and in its centre was a glass-caged bier. Upon it slept a silent figure, cloaked in gold. Prince Khavren walked closer to read the plaque before the bier. It read, "Here, a nikolas slepped quietly." He squinted to read the fine print. "Break in case of emergency."

Prince Khavren looked at the nikolas. It seemed harmless enough, so he shrugged and smashed the glass with one mighty fist. While he hopped about clutching his wounded fist, the nikolas slowly arose. "Even in death I still serve," it declared.

Prince Khavren was a little unnerved, but he was a Royal Prince of Isselunde, and trained for such matters. Speaking firmly, he told the nikolas, "As the rightful master of all in Isselunde except the King, I command you: destroy the terrible evil that lurks here!"

The nikolas paused, seeming to sniff the air; then, gold cape swirling behind it, it set out at a determined pace. As the Prince trailed behind, it chanted a strange litany: "While vile monsters still draw breath, there can be no peace. While obscene heretics' hearts still beat, there can be no respite. While faithless traitors still live, there can be no forgiveness."

Coming to a nondescript door, the nikolas delivered a mighty kick that turned the door into splinters. Behind it, Prince Khavren saw two scientists, identifiable by their lab coats. The nikolas started forward, but Khavren shouted "Stop!" Looking at the scientists, quite startled, he asked, "Who are you?"

"We're scientists, working on these teleporters," one said, pointing to a teleporter. "We're going to use them for completely innocent and harmless purposes."

"What's that next to you, on the floor?" Prince Khavren asked.

"Bombs and poison," the other one answered, then clapped his hand over his mouth.

"Go get them, nikolas," Khavren ordered.

"By your command," acknowledged the nikolas as it lumbered to attack. One of the scientists grabbed a sword; the nikolas batted it away and lacerated the scientist. The other scientist picked up a cross-bow. The nikolas lacerated him as well. Then he turned to the teleporters. Taking one of them, he put it into the other; sending them to the outer reaches. Then, task completed, he turned to Khavren. "What are you doing?" Khavren asked, backing away slowly.

"Do not ask, 'Why kill the Khavren?' Rather ask, 'Why not?'" the nikolas chanted. It lunged suddenly, and Prince Khavren jumped back and ran. The nikolas pursued, gaining speed.

"What do I do what do I do what do I do..." the Prince wondered. "No. What would Desmond do? Ah!" Smashing down a door, he found a rich deposit of cabbage, and tomatoes, and carrots lying in sacks. Taking some, he offered them to the nikolas. And the nikolas did take the vegetables, and he did eat them, and itte was good.