Legacy of The Damned: Book1: The Shadows Fall

[Kataang's Supreme]

Prologue

It was suppost to be a time of peace. A hundred years of war were over. The insidious Fire Lord was defeated and a new era of serenity was suppost to have taken shape. Then why was there still so much suffering? A non- contaigous plauge was rapidly spreading through the northern Earth Kingdom. Over a thousand people were dying every day. In Ba-Sin-Sae, the Earth King and abassadors from the other Earth Kingdom cities have met to discuss the matter...

"I agree with you ambassador, something must be done.", the Earth King stated.

"His excelency, King Noshin of Kuagina, has already issued a quarentine. However, while we have disease experts, we simply lack medical experts."

"I will consolt my new grand secretariate and see if we have anyone who can help"

"In addition, Omashu is ready to offer what help we can.", the ambassador of Omashu added.

"We thank you for any assistance you can provide, but our disease experts are completely baffled. They say there are no records of such a disease ever taking fold in history."

"Then perhaps... the Avatar can help?", the Earth King sugested.

"I don't think the Avatar would have much experiance in this field."

"Probably not, but he is the guardian of the world, and I think stoping a deadly disease falls under the category of saving the world."

"Very well... where is he?"

"Here in Ba-Sin-Sae. I will dispatch a messenger to inform him."

[Kataang's Supreme]

Chapter 1: The Begining

The gaang had been staying at the home they had stayed in while in Ba-Sin-Sae a few months earlier. Needless to say, it had been repaired since Toph earth bended a wall out. They were just comming back from a day in the city. Walking in throgh the doorway, Sokka spoke,

"I just can't believe it! I loose boomerang and space sword at that battle, some random merchant finds them, and is demanding I pay him for my own weapons?!"

"Well, next time make sure your names on them so you can prove it.", Katara said.

"I loved it when you told the guy about how it's made fom meteor rock, and he jacked the price up 50 gold pieces! HA!", Toph added.

As Aang smiled slightly, he noticed a scroll at the door they had missed. Taking it and openening it, he says,

"Hey look at this. It's a summoning to the Earth King's palace. It says it's urgent."

"We should go right away.", Suki states.

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At the Palace:
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"Your majesty, you have a visitor."

"The Avatar?"

"No sir, this man"

A lone, cloaked, elderly man enters the throne rom and approacehes the Earth King.

"Who are you?"

"Who I am is not important right now. What is important is that you heed my warning, your majesty."

"Warning?"

"Yes. This plauge that stalks your land is not as it seems. It is merely a sign of what is to come."

"Explain yourself"

"Your kingdom is in grave danger. The entire world is in grave danger! A great menace is coming from a world beyond this one. It is going kill us all and end everything."

"What is this madness?!"

"Hear me king! If you and your people stay here, you will die. If you travel to the forgotten land to the west, across the sea, you and your people will find allies with whom you can make a stand!"

After a long moment, Earth King speaks,

"I require proof"

"I have only my word."

"Then I think it is time for you to leave."

"Very well. It is your call to make. Not mine. But know this. Listen to me, and this world will survive. If not, then this world will die."

The mysterious man exits the throne room, out the palace, and into the night.

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Later:
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Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Suki entered the throne room.
Judging by the look on the king's face, they could tell the matter was serious. The Earth King spoke first,

"Thank you for coming Avatar."

"Of cource we'd come your majesty. What is the problem?, Aang asked.

"Well, I held a meeting here earlier today with two ambassadors from the other Earth Kingdoms. The ambassador of Kuagina alerted me to a deadly plauge that is destroying their population at a rapid pace. They request you help."

"EEEWW!! I don't want to go near a bunch of diseased freaks!", Sokka yelled abruptly.

"Sokka!", Suki scolded

"Sokka, if people are in trouble, then we should try and help them.", Katara said calmly.

"Besides, the plauge is non- contaigous.", the Earth King added.

"Then how has it spread so quickly?", Aang asked, curious.

"I don't know, but perhaps that is something you will discover?"

Aang thought for a moment and looked to his friends and his girlfriend. They all nodded in approval, save a certaion Water Tribe warrior. After a punch in arm from Toph, he nodded as well.

"We will help anyway we can.", Aang said with confidence.

[Kataang's Supreme]

A/N: I know it's dull right now, but it's gonna improve real soon.

[Kataang's Supreme]

Chapter 2: The Warning

The Avatar and his friends had set out for Kuagina earlier in the day. The sun was setting as the gaang gathered around their campfire. As the others were getting settled, Aang spoke,

"Guys, maybe we should be continuing on. The Earth King said we should get to Kuagina as soon as possible."

"Aang, this plague sounds horrible, but we won't be able to help much if were exhausted. We all need some rest.", Katara said.

Suddenly, a rustling sound could be heard off in a bush. A black furred hog monkey ran out into the light of the campfire. Sokka gaped at the sight.

"A black hog monkey?!"

"I thought they were extinct.", Suki said, astonished.

As they watched the creature seemed to become engulfed in a white light. When the light vanished, the hog monkey was gone, replaced by a hooded elderly man.

"What the Hell?!", Sokka yelled out rather loud.

"Who are you?", Katara asked.

Turning to her, the man spoke calmly, "Who I am is not important right now, Katara of the Southern Water Tribe."

"How do you know me?"

Ignoring her, the man turned to Aang.

"Avatar Aang, the duty falls to you. The Kings of the Earth Kingdom have chosen to remain, so now it is you who must lead the exodus."

"What are you talking about?", Aang asked.

"This land is lost, Avatar, and those befallen with the plague are lost as well. If you wish to save this world again, gather the people of these lands and travel west the forgotten continent, were you will find those who may help you."

"I don't know what you are talking about. We are going to stop this plague in Kuagina."

"So it is clear your choice has been made. Just remember, the more you strive on this course, the quicker you will deliver this world into the clutches of the greatest evil of all."

The man turned his back to them, and disappeared into the night.

[Kataang's Supreme]

Chapter 3: The Village: Part 1

Aang and the gaang continued on to Kuagina, despite the old man's warning. As they approached a small village, they noticed something was off. Sokka looked up at the sky, infront and behind him.

"Uhh, guys? Have you noticed that village has a large grey cloud over it? And how it's suddenly chilly?", he asked.

"Yeah, I've noticed it too", Aang said.

"I can feel something strange... like... a battle?!", Toph said, sensing vibrations from the town.

"Let's check it out!"

The Avatar and his friends hurried down the path. Soon, Earth Kingdom soldiers came into view. The swords gripped tightly in their hands were swung at what looked like hunched skeletons wearing tattered loin cloths. The skeletons lashed at the soldiers with long, dagger-like claws.

"Quickly men! Take them down!", an Earth Kingdom captain shouts.

"RAARRG!! Must... feed!", one of the skeletons growls.

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Kataang's Supreme]

Chapter 3 The Village: Part 2

Aang and the gaang gaped at the sight before them. Just then, the soldier captain turned to them. He shouted to them.

"What the?! Civillians are still alive?! Leave this place now! We will hold them as long as..."

The captain reconized Aang's arrow tatoos.

"The Avatar! Help us!", he shouted.

Aang and his friends joined the fray. With the Avatar fighting at their sides, the Earth Kingdom soldiers encircled the skeletons and strike at them from all angles. Overwhelmed, the skeltons were hacked to pieces.

"What were those things?", Sokka asked the captain once they caught their breath.

"Not things, people, townspeople... or at least they once were. My men and I were asigned to guard this village and effect the quarentine. The entire village was infected with the plague. Last night, they turned into zombie-lke creatures and began eating one another! After they ate themselves to their bones, they attacked us!"

"This plague is turning people into cannibalistic zombies?!", Katara asked, horrified.

"Apparently so", the captain concluded.

[Sheogorath]

Good, but there are a few things to be addressed. Such as... It's Ba-Sing-Se.

And second and most importantly, a few times, you suddenly go from a past tense narrative to a moment of present tense action. Such as, most recently, in a combat situation, you say "Aang and his friends join the fray. With the Avatar fighting at their sides, the Earth Kingdom soldiers encircle the skeletons and strike at them from all angles. Overwhelmed, the skeltons are hacked to pieces." when mere words before you said "Aang and the gaang continued on to Kuagina, despite the old man's warning. As they approached a small village, they noticed something was off. Sokka looked up at the sky, infront and behind him." If you're going for a third-person narrative, most are usually written completely in the past tense, even if it's happening right now for the reader.

Also, I highly doubt anyone would honestly refer to Aang's group as "the gAang" in a professional book. Think more along the lines of "Aang and his friends" or "the Avatar's group" or something along those lines.

[Kataang's Supreme]

Chapter 4: The Cultist Culprits

Continuing on to Kuagina, but now at a faster pace, Aang and his friends were flying over a small town. Looking down below them, all seemed fine. Townspeople going about their daily lives, children playing games in the streets while merchants sold their wares. All was well...

Having been flying for hours, the team chose to land on the town's outskirts for the night, near a farm. After getting settled, a rustling sound was heard. Investigating, the team found a group of people in black robes, two carrying a couldron. Using buckets and ladles, the robed men spread the couldron's contents, a glowing green liquid, onto the grain, corn, and other foodstuffs growing at the farm.

"Who are these guys? What are they doing to the farm?", Katara asked in a whisper.

"I don't know, but I'd rather not wait to find out.", Aang said, jumping out from his hiding place, his girlfriend and friends following.

Almost immediately, one of the robed men turned and spotted them. He quickly aknowlaged,

"We have been discovered! Flee and continue with the operation."

The mysterious men quickly hurried away from the farm, letting the shade of dusk cover their escape. Aang and the team tried to give chase, but the robed men were too quick.

"dang these interlopers! They must not interfer with the master's plan!", They heard from a distance.

[Kataang's Supreme]

Chapter 5: Ravages of The Plague

The next day, Aang and his friends headed into the town to pick up supplies. Almost immediately, they noticed a change. The cheerful mood of the village was gone. All the townspeople they could see looked gravely ill. Soon, Earth Kingdom soldiers confronted them.

"Avatar? What are you doing here? This town is under quarentine by order of King Noshin of Kuagina.", one of the troops said.

"Under quarentine? But this town was just fine yesterday.", Aang questioned.

"Yes, but as you can see, not anymore. We must ask you to leave. Until a cure is found, nothing can be done for these people."

"Sargeant! Look!", one of the soldiers shouted, pointing.

Turning to the direction indicated by the soldier, Aang, his friends, and the Earth Kingdom soldiers watched in horror as the sickly townspeople disappeared in a bright green light. When the light faded, The townspeople's appearance had changed to that of nightmarish zombies. Aang and the others gasped.

"Wha- what happened to them?!", one soldier asked in a shout.

"Oh no! Remember what that captain said? The people in his town turned into zombies too!", Katara remembered aloud.

Looking around, Aang spotted a stack of empty crates on the side of the road. Remembering the robed men last night and their mysterious activity in the farm fields, he quickly turned to the sargeant.

"What was in those crates?", he asked.

"What does it matter?! Just a shipment of food from the farming communities on the outskirts of town. Why?"

"Oh no!", Aang said, then turned to face the zombies again.

"Those men in the black robes! That stuff they put on the crops was the plague! This is their doing!", Aang yelled in anger.

Just then, the zombies turned, facing Aang and the others.

"Living people? Must consume! Must feed!", one of the zombies growled.

The zombified townspeople charged.

"Defend yourselves!", the sargeant yelled, drawing his sword.

Before the zombies could reach them, Aang sent a large blast of airbending in their direction, sending them flying.

"We have to get out of here!", Aang yelled to the others.

The zombies returned to their feet and now appeared to be even more enraged.

"Must sate hunger!", one of them growled.

The other Earth Kingdom soldiers drew their swords and met the zombies in a charge. The sargeant turned to Aang and his friends.

"Get out of here! We'll hold them off!"

"But..."

"Go!"

Aang and his friends fled the town. As they flew away on Appa, Aang looked back to see the soldiers being overpowered.

[Kataang's Supreme]

Chapter 6: From Somewhere Beyond

After fleeing the town, Aang and his friends were flying on Appa over a forest, still processing what they had just seen.

"Those poor people...", Katara said sadly.

Aang looked down and spotted a large stone gateway. It must have been at least fifty feet tall and fifty feet wide. It was atop a stone stairway and appeared to lead nowhere.

"Guys, you see that?", Aang asked.

"That's one big gateway.", Katara said.

"But it doesn't go anywhere.", Sokka added.

"As I said before, not seen something once, not seen it a thousand times.", Toph said.

Just then, a black and purplish light filled the gateway. Then, a lone, hunched skeleton wearing a tattered loincloth crawled out, looked around, and crawled down the stairway.

"As I said before as well, your eyes have never not seen something like this.", Sokka said.

Just then, a large group of skeletons walked out of the light in formation. Unlike the other skeleton, these skeletons were standing upright and covered from head to toe in silver/grey armor plating. In their left hands were rectangular silver/grey shields and swords in their right. After the large group marched completely out of the gateway, another large group followed, then another, and another. Soon enough, an entire army had assembled at the base of the stairway.

Appa had landed on a cliff overlooking the gateway. Aang and his friends were watching.

Then, across from them, on another cliff overlooking the gateway, a blue light appeared out of nowhere. When it faded, a being unlike anything Aang and his friends had ever seen before had appeared. It was a skeleton that only had a skeleton down to his waist. He was floating about a foot off the ground. On his waist, he had a blue and silver belt. From his belt and down, he had what looked like five dark black drapings, with glowing blue lights in the center of each, hanging down, the ends spreading outward. He had a blue and silver headwear adorning his skull. Silver shoulderplates were on his shoulders. He had silver cufflings on his wrists. In his eyesockets were glowing blue lights. He gazed down at the assembling army, his arms folded across his ribcage.

The blue light returned, and when it faded, the being was gone.
The blue light appeared again in front of one of the formations of skeletal soldiers. One of the soldiers steped forward. When the light faded again, the being appeared again. It then spoke.

"Our landing force is assembled?"

"Yes, master", the skeletal soldier said.

"Very well. Our first priority is to set up a base camp. Let's head further into the woods. Move out!"

The army of skeleton soldiers began to march away from the gateway, led by the floating skeletal being. Behind them, light in the gateway faded away.

Aang and his friends got back on Appa and took off.

[Kataang's Supreme]

Chapter 7: Soulrender

Aang and the team had been trailing the undead army four over an hour. They lost track of them, but found them again by traveling to a series of flashing green lights. From their hiding spot in the bushes, they saw a series of buildings had appeared once the green lights had faded. The undead army gathered around the buildings. The floating skeletal being spoke.

“Now that the base is constructed, we…”

The skeletal being looked around before continuing.

“I sense we are being watched. The humans cannot discover our presence. Find them and bring them to me.”

“Yes master.”, one of the skeletal soldiers replied.

Some of the undead quickly gathered in groups and split up. Aang and the team became alarmed. Aang spoke.

“We have to-“

Aang was interrupted as the team was surrounded by undead soldiers and ghouls. Looking up, Aang saw skeletal archers in the trees, ready to rain arrows down on them. One of the soldiers spoke.

“You are coming with us mortals.”

“Very well”, Aang said, knowing they could not escape.

The undead escorted the Avatar and his friends to the base, were the floating skeletal being was waiting. He folded his arms across his ribcage, looking down on his new prisoners. He spoke.

“The Avatar? Well, if wonders never cease.”

“You know who I am?”, Aang asked, surprised.

“Of course I know you. The great Avatar, master of all four elements.”

“You know me, then who are you?”, Aang asked.

“I am Soulrender, and these are my soldiers. We are The Damned, and we have come to cleanse this world.”

“Cleanse the world? Of what?”

“Cleanse it of life, Avatar. As you can see…”, Soulrender said, gesturing to one of the ghouls, “…the people of this world now belong to us.”

“So those guys who spread the plague? They answer to you?”, Aang asked, getting angry.

“Yes. I ordered the cultists to plague your foodstuffs. But the sole credit is not mine.”

“What?”

“I serve the Demon Lord, Gromus. It is he who leads us. It is he who will see to it that this world joins us in death. Seek him out in the arctic lands beyond the Northern Water Tribe if you need further proof.”, Soulrender said, casting a bright blue light onto Aang and the team.

When the light faded, they were back at their camp, next to Appa. Now they had to decide what to do next.

[Kataang's Supreme]

Any reviews?

[Kataang's Supreme]

Chapter 8: Return to the North

Aang and the team arrived at the Northern Water Tribe. Nothing was out of the ordinary. The city of ice gleamed as the arctic sun shined. While traveling through the city one day, they came across a group of people from the Earth Kingdom.

"Well met, Avatar.", one of them said.

"Hello", Aang replied, bowing respectfully.

"Who are you people? Why are you here?", Katara asked.

"We are archeologists from Ba Sing Sae University. As for what we're doing here, we came here to find an ancient pass that leads to a cavern. Supposedly, inside the cavern there is an ancient staff called 'Frostwind'. The staff is said to amplify the powers of a bender."

Once the archeologist finished explaining, the people on the streets gasped. Looking up, the team and the archeologists saw hundreds of long ropes decend from the top of the cliffs over the city. All at once, armored skeletal soldiers slid down the ropes. Water Tribe warriors and waterbenders rushed to defend their city as the soldiers attacked. More and more skeletal soldiers slid down the ropes. Aang, the team, and the archeologists ran to the plaza in front of the tribal palace. The defenders of the tribe were assembling there as civillians scattered in panic.

On the steps to the palace, a green light appeared. When it faded, a being appeared. He stood tall with the wings of a bat unfolding on his back. Twin black horns were on his bald head, coming out his forehead. His fingers ended in black claws. His eyes were black with no pupils. He wore green and black body armor. The menacing being spoke.

"We meet at last, Avatar. I am Gromus."

"Gromus?! Your the one who's brought so much death to the Earth Kingdom!", Aang yelled.

"And now the Water Tribes as well. The southern tribe is next."

"No! I'm going to stop you right here!"

"Brave words. Unfortunately for you, your not going to stop me. This is where your journey ends, boy. Trapped and freezing at the roof of the world. Tomorrow will not come ever again. Not for you or any mortal."

Just then, the undead soldiers reached the plaza, and charged.

"Have fun, mortals. Good bye.", Gromus said as the green light reappeared. When it faded again, he was gone.

"Hold the line!", a warrior shouted.

Swords and spears clashed. The water tribe defenders held, cutting down the skeletal soldiers. Just as it seemed as though things were looking up, a group of elderly men in black robes and cloaks arrived behind the undead lines. They each grasped a staff in their right hands. All at once, they spread their right arms outward and cast beams of green light from their staffs. The green lights hit fallen and cut down skeletal soldiers. Their shattered and broken bones reassembled. Then, they stood up, picking up their discarded weapons and shields, and rejoined the fight. This process repeated. Then, a horde of arachneid-like beings charged into the Water Tribe's lines. Fighting alongside the skeletal soldiers, they used their forelimb pinchers to hack down the warriors and waterbenders. Things got desperate real fast.

"We have one chance. If I can get 'Frostwind', it might tip the scales in our favor!", Aang exclaimed.

"I'll take you to the cavern!", the archeologist shouted.

"We'll help hold off the undead until you get back!", Katara shouted, water whipping a skeletal soldier.

"Gah!", it shouted, falling back.

Aang and the archeologist got on Appa.

"Yip yip!", the Avatar shouted. The flying bison took off.

[Kataang's Supreme]

Chapter 9: Frostwind

"There!", the archeologist shouted, pointing to a cavern entrance.

Appa landed outside. Aang and the archeologist dismounted and walked into the cavern. Inside, a large boulder blocked the path, hiding the chamber beyond.

"The staff was hidden by someone. They don't want it to be found.", Aang determined, earthbending the boulder out of the way.

Inside the chamber, a grey staff illuminated by blue runes stood on a dais. Aang ran to it.

"Yes! Let's take it and go!", he shouted.

"Wait! There's an inscription on the dais. It says, 'Whoever so takes up this staff shall wield power eternal. And just as it's energies destroy it's masters foes, so must it's power scar the spirit.'. Oh! I should have known! The staff is cursed! Let's get the hell out of here!"

"I would gladly bear any curse to protect the world!", Aang exclaimed.

"Leave it be, Avatar."

"No! Nothing will stop me! Gromus and his undead must be destroyed!"

Aang reached for the staff and pulled it from the dais. As soon as he did, a bright flash of black light covered Aang.

"Avatar!", the archeologist yelled, horrified.

After a long moment, the black light faded, revealing Aang. He looked different. His blue arrow tatoos were now black. His eyes were pupilless and pitch black. He smiled grimly. A faint, incoherent whispering echoed in the cavern. Niether of them had spoken.

"Now we can go.", Aang said. His voice had a new, sinister tone to it.

"A-alright", the archeologist said, following Aang out of the cavern.

Once outside, Appa saw Aang and took off without them. Aang did nothing, only staring out at the snowy wastes in front of them, as if he was seeing something the archeologist couldn't see. Just then, the green light from earlier appeared. It faded, revealing Gromus. He shot his right hand out. A dagger, glowing green, shot out of his hand. It hit the archeologist straight in the chest, penetrating his heart. The archeologist fell back onto the snow, dead. Aang didn't move or do anything. He only stared at Gromus, narrowing his black eyes.

"So, you've taken up 'Frostwind'. Just as the King said you would. You are stronger than I thought, human.", Gromus stated.

"You waste your breath, Gromus. I heed only the voice of 'Frostwind' now."

"You hear the voice of the King. He whispers to you, through the staff you wield. What does he say, young human? What does the King of The Damned tell you know?"

The faint whispering returned. Aang smiled grimly.

"He tells me... the time for my revenge... has come.", he said, darkly.

"What?", Gromus said, confused. "He can't possibly mean to..."

Aang created a series of large icsicles and flung them at Gromus. Before the Demon Lord had a chance to react, the sharp spikes of ice broke through his armor. The staff's power had enhanced the durability of the ice. Gromus could only feel the sharp ice penetrate his flesh.

"AAARRGH!!", he grumbled loudly, stumbling back.

Just then, a bright blue light appeared. When it faded, Soulrender was there. He acknowlaged Gromus before smiling a sinister smile.

Gromus looked at the two in disbelief as fell to the snow and quietly died.

Soulrender and Aang turned to face each other. Another faint whisper echoed across the snowy wasteland. Soulrender stood before Aang, his arms folded across his ribcage. He spoke.

"You are now one of us, Avatar. Welcome to The Damned."

Aang kneeled before Soulrender and replied, "Thank you, master."

THE END