Clarkman, Ironhide and Jenuall take a brief moment to gather themselves, the shock of losing another of their group so close to the end was another hard pill to swallow.
Looking up toward the heavenly staircase they steel themselves for what they know may be their toughest challenge yet. Clarkman gripping hard onto the lock and mallet within his pockets, as if trying to channel their power directly into himself, Ironhide briefly closes his eyes, lips moving silently as if reciting an ancient verse to lend him strength. Jenuall, the most intelligent, athletically built, and possessing of a beauty that none before or since would ever match, clenched his chiseled jaw as if to say "bring it on."
The group began their ascent. "Any thoughts on what the last challenge might involve, I'm petrified of what we might face!?" Clarkman asked, breaking the somewhat uncomfortable silence that had seemingly taken hold over the three friends.
"Hah, tis but the Path of Scotticus, an interesting name for a challenge no doubt but it holds no fear for one such as I" Jenuall responded with the confidence of a man truly without equal, "The Gecko mentioned it in connection with the password so a simple deduction indicates that must be the key to passing the test." Jenuall continued with astounding intuition, once again demonstrating his famed and unique skills at deducing simple solutions to complex problems.
"Good point Jen, I don't know what we would do without you!" Smiled Ironhide, almost in awe of his exemplary comrade.
"Fear not my friends, with me by your side we will see the GRail before the end of this day" Jenuall gave Clarkman and Ironhide a pat on the back, like a master patting his faithful pet dogs.
As the continued along the staircase they could see faded plaques on the wall, clearly put in place to commemorate great moments from the kingdoms past: "StayDead gets hay fever", "Gary Neville's Phone Number", "How much for the box?". Passing what would be the final plaque, "Towel Guy" the group reached the end of the stairs and walked out onto a small rectangular landing.
"Is this it?" Asked Clarkman looking to see if there was anything else at the top of the stairs, "A bit underwhelming after everything we have been through to get here isn't it". He was not wrong, before group stood a single, somewhat uninspiring looking wooden door. The words "Mod Room" were scratched into its surface, seemingly by means of a crude implement such as a screwdriver or perhaps a butter knife.
"Well Clarkman, sometimes things don't need to look impressive to be of value" responded Jenuall, looking down at his companion, "you of all people should know that! Also often when it comes down to it you have to accept that people don't have the time to make things as impressive as you might have wanted them to be, and that is nobody's fault - as I'm sure everyone will agree."
"Quiet! I hear something." Ironhide interjected as a shuffling noise could be heard from within the Mod Room and a small intercom built into the frame crackled to life.
"P....s...d p....e, y.. h..e th... at..s re..in..g" a muffled voice requested, the words of the speaker hard to determine through the low quality of the interface through which it was received.
"What was that supposed to be?" Clarkman asked, not understanding the voice from with the Mod Room. "I told them to upgrade the bloody software on this place years ago! As be spoke a giant glowing hammer emerged from the door and with a truly hideous act, squashed Clarkman on the spot!
"What the hell!" Cried Jenuall and Ironhide! "Clarkman!"
"Pa...sw..d ple..e, y.u h..e tw.. at..s re.ai..g" came the voice again, sounding more insistent this time.
"What do we do Jenuall, Clarkman was destroyed before our very eyes?!" Ironhide wailed, looking to his far braver and generally more impressive friend.
Before Jenuall could respond to his frail companion the hammer returned and sent Ironhide into oblivion.
The voice crackled thtough the intercom once again, this time slightly clearer, "Passw..d plea.e, you h.ve one at.mpt remai..ing".
It was a request for the Mod Room password, Jenuall had worked this out straight away, but he also knew that telling his friends would not have saved them. This was the final challenge, the Path of Scotticus and with his razor sharp intellect Jenuall had already deciphered its meaning from the moment he heard its name - there are some challenges that are tackled without others, some doors and thresholds which cannot be crossed with friends or colleagues by your side for support but which an individual must face alone. The final challenge is one which none of us can prepare for and which we must simply walk tall and enter into solo.
Jenuall closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
" strawberry float it " he whispered.
The door opened, an incredible light shone from within and Jenuall stepped inside.
Lights flashed, images bent and twisted all around Jenuall, explosions like fireworks could be seen everywhere he looked, it was big, bright and above all, impressive. Like the CGI budget of a whole phase of Marvel movies being blown all at once. A voice spoke in the darkness but its words were impossible to comprehend, each sound seeming to come at once.
No sooner had the images and voice entered then they disappeared, Jenuall found himself suddenly back in the heartland of GRcade, GRail in hand and crowds gathered cheering around him.
"HOORAY, THE GRAIL IS RETURNED!" The crowds chanted, lofting Jenuall into the air.
"But what happened to the others who set off with you?" A forumite asked.
"My fellow GRail hunters were lost on the journey, their sacrifice shall never be forgotten," Jenuall raised his voice to address the whole crowd, "Let all the people for GRcade never forget this day and the losses we suffered to return the GRail- OrangeRKN, Somebody Else's Problem, Drumstick, DarkRula, Quantum Name, Clarkman, Ironhide, Karl, mic, and Hulohot, legends all and names that shall be etched into GRcade lore for eternity. May each and every one of the RIP in peace."
The speech was incredible; touching, rousing and as perfectly pitched a piece of Oscar bait as you could ever conceive.
"But Master Jenuall, what does the GRail do, surely you must have learned this on the quest!?"
"A voice spoke to me when I crossed into the realm of the Mod Room, but though I know it passed great knowledge onto me and the keys to the mystery of the GRail were part of that, I cannot comprehend the all of what was said. Only two parts of the message is clear to me:"
The power of the GRail will only awaken in the chosen Era
"I sense this tells of a further quest required to unlock the GRails secrets and true potential. A quest that I shall not shirk the responsibility of" Jenuall continued.
"What was the second part of the message that you understood Master, what did that tell?"
"The second part was a warning, and why we will need some time to prepare for the quest:"
IT'S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE!