The Book of the Dead

The Book of the Dead
The Book of the Dead is the first installment of the Men of the Mountains saga.

Chapters
1) Schemes in the Shadows

Gertrude, the sister of a powerful ruler, plots her sister's downfall with the help of the corrupt Reginald Rutching.

2) Mombray Dew

In a town called Mowbray, Aidan Tanner and his close friend Evie talk about the northern war and politics. Evie wishes for adventure away from Mowbray whereas Aidan is more reluctant to get involved.

3) The Man of the Mountains

At night, Ghul and his followers attack the village. Evie and Solomon are taken prisoner, wheras Aidan is saved by a strange man, Bedeling, from the Mountain cities. They sneak to where Ghul has the prisoners and witness him begin a ritual.

4) The Book of the Dead

Ghul is about to complete the ritual using the prisoners as sacrifices until Aidan intervenes and slays Ghul. Ghuls followers flee. Ghul drops the Book of the Dead which shows how Ghul gained his powers.

5) The Great Habanaca

Bedeling reveals one of his companions, Zara, was taken by Ghul's followers to Habanaca, an old abandoned fortress. Aidan and Evie formally meet Jedd, the third Night Rider.

6) Zara and Zara

The group infiltrate Abanaca but are separated as Ghuls followers pursue them. Aidan and Jedd hear an explosion and find Zara dazed and confused at the rubble. When they escape they find Bedeling and Evie with the real Zara.

7) The Shadow in the Night

The group camp in the forest for the night where Aidan has a strange dream about a shadowy figure. His startles alert the others and Bedeling looks in the Book of the Dead for a description of the dream creature. He determines that Ghuls death brought about the release of a Hallowdemon, which will pursue Aidan for the rest of eternity. Bedeling thinks the creature is close and orders the group to continue through the night to Peak City.

8) Peak City

The group arrive at Peak City, to take cover from the pursuing Hallowdemon. They meet Stobor, Captain of the Guard who reluctantly admits them to the City Council Chamber to meet Mayor Mandel. Bedeling researches the Hallowdemon and finds it is a remant of the Divine's dark magic. It will pursue its victim for eternity unless killed by Necravore, the Sword of the Dead, a magic sword capable of killing monsters.

9) The Destruction of the High Towers

Next morning, Bedeling has an idea of how to find Necravore. Mandel will not assist the Night Riders. News breaks out at the city that the Dread King's army has destroyed the 29 towers that act as the Angland-Dreadland border. This is an intention of war. No one knows who the Dread King is.

10) The King and Lionheart

Many miles away from Peak, at the Kingdom of Dune, an independent kingdom from Angland, King Robin announces he will join his kingdom with Angland in order to shore up defenses against the Dreaded Army. This is not taken well by the Kings advisors, his brother and many of his people. Nina, the daughter of a smith, witnesses a disguised Robin in the market. She also sees him help a local family rebuild a fallen roof. He explains he does not wish to be king and only wishes to help people. One day Robin is killed on a hunting trip which distresses Nina deeply and she runs away from Dune City.

11) The Unquiet Darkness

The group travel to a nearby abandoned mountain town where at sunset the light begins to fade and darkness descents on the town. They find they are stalked by strange shadows which indicate the Hallowdemon is close. They escape only when Bedeling finds the secret passage to deep underground.

12) Skell

The group find some underground caves and lakes which they explore for days. A glow leads them to Skell, a skeleton lying on the ground that is only brought to life by moonlight. Skell is a neutral ancient entity possessing infinite knowledge. Skell tells Aidan about Otherwhere and how killing Ghul and possessing the Book of the Dead allows him to see visions of Otherwhere, also known as the afterlife. Skell informs them that Necravore is at Havenhill but an army has been ordered to take Havenhill.

13) The Misty Moors

On the main road, the group vote on whether to risk the much longer main road as there are reports of Dreaded spies. They cut through the Moors to save time and not take the risk on the road. They find an abandoned village with houses built into the top of the trees. A light shines from one of the houses which the group investigate. They find a man, Roger, and his daughter in a state of shock.

14) Night of the Wolf

The pair warn the group it is not safe to travel through the moors at night. They camp for the night but suddenly the man goes missing. Zara and Bedeling go looking for him. After a few hours, they return panicked claiming there were creatures out there fearing the Hallowdemon is close. Suddenly the creatures attack the house and take Bedeling. The group go after him only to be chased and then surrounded by a large Wolf pack.

15) Moon Howl

The Wolves take the group hostage to their den where they are presented to the Alpha Wolf. He wishes to perform a ritual known as the bite to infect the rest of the group. He wishes to pick out his next Beta Wolf. The man believes the Wolves killed his son only for Alpha to reveal he is the man's son who was bitten by the last Alpha to become Beta and then eventually Alpha. The man is bitten who begins the Wolf mutation. Aidan uses the Book to cause a distraction of fire which spooks the wolves enough to escape. They find a way out of the moors but are blocked by Roger. Aidan finds a spell to give Roger back his old mind and when Alpha arrives with his pack, Roger kills Alpha.

16) The Kingdom of Dune

Roger says goodbye to his daughter and orders his pack to return to the den. He shows the group the road to Dune. They arrive at Dune and meet the newly crowned king Maxille son of the late King Robin, who grants permission for the group to investigate the monastery on top of Havenhill. Aidan notices Maxille's advisor Wesley speaking to a strange man he recognises from Ghul's ritual.

17) Havenhill

In the morning, the group venture to the top of Havenhill and are greeted by the Head Monk who shows them round the monastery's important artefacts mainly from previous Divine wars. They finally find a sword with a black jeweled hilt which matches the description in the Book. Bedeling pretends to think that that isnt the famed sword of Grengagald much to the frustation of the Monk who leaves the chamber in order to find the records to prove Bedeling wrong. Aidan then runs through various spells to awaken the swords powers in order to kill the Hallowdemon. Suddenly everything goes black.

18) The Sword of the Dead

Aidan finds himself in a ruined misty chamber and a glowing figure sits nearby. He approaches the figure who is confused where he is. He gets up then starts scanning the area. Then he tells Aidan that he has made it finally to Otherwhere, the supposed afterlife of all living things in Everwhere. Aidan believes he is dead but is corrected by the figure that Aidan has simply utilized the sword to travel to Otherwhere without dying. Aidan asks how to kill the Hallowdemon to which the figure explains the Book must be destroyed as that is the source of the demons power. Only the sword and a sacrifice will destroy the Book.

17) The Lizard's Assault

Aidan returns to Everywhere where he realises he was only gone for a few seconds. The Monk returns and is astounded when the group are holding the sword. Suddenly the town warning bells sound off as an army approaches Dune. The group head back towards Dune's palace. They find the City captain directing all soldiers to the Palace to defend the king. They persuade him to spare some warriors to defend the monastery. They then realise the army is a Dracon army (Lizard Men) and that they aren't aiming for the king; but the monastery.

18) Battle on the Hill

The group and the few warriors who accompanied them barricade themselves in the monastery as the Dracon army storms up the steps of Havenhill. The monks hide away in the cellars whilst the Night Riders make a stand to protect the Book and the sword. The Dracons, led my the ruthless Garmok, penetrate the doors and attack and overwhelm the group.

19) The Awakening

Aidan and Bedeling get swamped by Dracons and run for cover in the library. Aidan turns to the sword which does not fail him in battling the lizard men. He uses the hilt which takes him back to Otherwhere. He talks to the figure again and asks for help against the Dracons. He notices a lot more white figures around him who are the warriors he was just with. The figure agrees to help him. Back in Everwhere, Aidan's sword emits a white light which blinds the Dracons giving the advantage back to the Riders. Bedeling defeats Garmok and the remaining Dracons flee.

20) The Hallowdemon

With the battle seemingly won, the group reunite. They notice the sky go dark and the doors suddenly slam shut. Black mist seeps into the building; the Hallowdemon has arrived. They huddle in the middle as the demon takes shape, enormous and deadly. It starts to surround the group, destroying the monastery in the process. The group try to strike the demon but to no avail.

21) Darkness Converges

Aidan remembers what the figure said how to kill the demon. He can't locate the Book due to the battle commotion. Since the Hallowdemon is only after him, he lures it away from the others so they can find the Book. The sword gives him some cover to the demons attacks. Suddenly Evie emerges with the Book and takes one look at Aidan realizing what must be done. She gets the Hallowdemon fixated on her and whilst holding the book, she is swallowed up by the Books/demon's darkness.

22) Light Emerges

Aidan is stunned as he has just lost his best friend. Bedeling grabs him quickly telling him to finish the deed. The Hallowdemon begins to advance until Aidan stabs the Book with the Sword causing it turn to ash. The Hallowdemon erupts into a bright light and is defeated causing the mist to ascend, the earth to shatter and darkness to scatter. Aidan mourns the loss of Evie holding her scarf that was dropped.