"Prelude"
                                          by Phaet


          In the darkness a small globe of crackling red energy appeared, bathing the
     chamber in a pale light.  Hovering near the ceiling it began to move.  Drifting
     slowly, the globe gradually revealed the chamber's wide circular design.  Covered 
     with a layer of dust and filled with stale air, the chamber had remained silent 
     and still for centuries.  It was about twice as tall as a man and its diameter was 
     about three times as wide.  In the center of the chamber a large rectangular block
     of rock sat on a raised dais.  The walls were covered in deeply etched runes.  They
     began near the ceiling and spiraled around the circumference of the chamber in a 
     tight line until they reached the floor, many revolutions later.  A black disk, 
     about a hand-width in diameter, was embedded in the wall where the runes ended.
         The globe of light revolved around the outer edge  of the chamber disturbing
     the dust, which swirled around in tiny vortices.  As it circled its' pace increased
     and it began to hum and crackle with energy.  When it again reached the point at
     which the runes began, it settled into the deep grooves and began tracing.  As it 
     passed, each rune melted and the wall was scorched black.  It raced around the 
     chamber, seemingly devouring the runes.
          When it reached the end of the runes, it was absorbed into the circular black 
     disk, and for a moment the chamber was again engulfed by darkness.  The disk slowly 
     began to glow with the eerie light it had absorbed.  Brighter and brighter it grew, 
     until crackling tongues of red energy lept from the surface, burning the wall and 
     floor.  With a roar a beam of primal energy shot from the disk and into the 
     rectangular block.  The block exploded with such force that many of the countless 
     fragments embedded in the surfaces of the chamber, as solidly as a slinger's stone
     in flesh.
          Where the massive stone block had been mere moment before, a mummified form 
     floated a few feet off the ground.  The mummy was enshrouded in the red energy.  It 
     hovered in a cloud of settling dust.  The cloak of energy around it crackled softly 
     and the form began to rise.  Slowly the form tilted until it was standing among the 
     debris of the block.  The mummy gasped loudly like a near drowned man, and staggered 
     as if hit by an invisible fist.  After a moment it once again stood tall.  It 
     clenched its fists and bowed its head, and the red energy disappeared as it was
     absorbed into the form.
          With the glow of the energy gone, the chamber sunk back into darkness.  The 
     sound of tearing cloth filled the room, and two glowing eyes appeared.  The eyes 
     turned about, scanning the room.  Slowly they looked up, and a voice, like that of a
     billion souls weeping, spoke a single arcane word.  A massive ball of fire appeared 
     and instantly launched into the chamber's ceiling.  Rock melted and shattered, and 
     debris rained down.  The ground trembled with the impact.  The arcane word was voiced 
     again, then again, and then again.  Each time a ball of fire was launched at the 
     chamber's ceiling.  Each time an explosion of fire and rock, belched down.
          When the cacophony of falling rock died down, the mummy stood bathed in
     starlight, untouched.
          It stared silently at the sky above.  Raising its arms to the night sky, it 
     called out, "It shall be done!"  It lowered its arms and whispered more of the arcane 
     words.  Slowly its feet lifted off the ground and it began to float up through the 
     hole.  The mummy disappeared into the night, and the empty chamber returned to the 
     task of collecting dust.