The Lord of the Forums >>> Return of the Nightmare

[Cyril Darkcloud]

Near the Ley Line

Opening a large pouch one of the giants withdraws a gemstone of no small size, its faceted sides are clear in color, or rather would be were it not for the swirling smoke colored vapor moving within them. Mist diamonds, stones such as these are called by those few who have heard of such strange gems, strange in their great size and strange in the swirling vapor trapped between their unmoving facets. Few are those who have heard of such stones as these, fewer still are those who have heard the strange things told of such gems, and even fewer are those who believe both that such stones exist and that the things spoken of them are true. So long ago, the day is now but a dim memory a band of giants newly arrived in the sunless Underforums heard such things and risked much in the belief that what they had heard was true and in the turmoil of the sinking of the dead Blue Boards beneath the newly emerged brown vigor of the present forums theirs were the arms mighty enough to seize these stones that have served them so well.

While his companion patrols the immediate area, the one who holds the stone gazes into its swirling center. His eyes find that one to whom he would speak, “Sevvord,” he says with blunt authority, “a way must be prepared. See that it is done.” He places the stone back into its pouch and his eyes survey the area. No sound of further battle reaches his ears – the woman and dragon it would seem have escaped the wolf like creatures that hunt them. So be it, let them do what they must elsewhere, but any who seek out this place shall die for it is now claimed by the Giants of Shadow.

Below the surface, a command has been heard. And silent digging begins. Silent only, however, in the soundlessness with which picks strike stone, for they sing, these dwarves, with a strangely fervent joy a song that was once for them a hymn of pain:

And it’s go, boys, go!
They’ll time your every breath.
and every day you’re in this place
you’re two days nearer death,
but you gooooooooooooo!
- Great Big Sea

They sing as they dig and these singing shadows that dig with such speed and skill shall see to it that a way is made ready.

[ 12-17-2003, 10:54 PM: Message edited by: Cyril Darkcloud ]

[Larry_OHF]

Euryale

She walks toward the vial on the ground and takes it up, drinking the contents with a sick look on her face as though the contents were most vile in taste. Throwing the empty bottle to the cave wall, where it crashes into shards, she wipes her mouth and speaks to Saithele.

"What a trusting foolish elf you are, expecting me to honor some code you live by...and die by. Yesss....pull out your sword and strike me down...or try to. Have you no sense to know that by merely flashing my eyes at you, the last thing you will see is the green glow that brings forth your transformation into cold, dead stone? Attack me not! Put down your elvish blade. I do not have wish to kill you this day. You have told me something that rings beautiful in my ears. A chance for my vengence.

Listen to me, elf. You cannot hope to win against this giant. Not unless you can discover the source of his power, for it is unnatural. I should have turned him to stone, or my blood should have killed him. Both did nothing and he mocked me for it! It is against the Gods above that this unnatural beast lives! He must be destroyed! If you will aid me...I will do what I can to...compensate you."


OOC>>>

Ruby...this does not change your power to post as you wish. You decide how close we are and that will determine if Saithele can hear your approach,,,,for his elven ears are more trained than even Anarrima or Wyrd would suspect. It is his job. Still...if you do not post near enough...he won't spot us. Anarrima is in your power to get into trouble if you deem this as trouble or stay in safety, if you think you are safe...your choice.

[ 12-18-2003, 12:58 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Morgeruat]

Saithele

Listening to the gorgon speak the elf was first worried, and then relieved, her lust for vengeance agains the giants kept her from thinking that he might be the cause of the deaths of her soldiers, perhaps to such an evil creature the loss of her subordinates mattered little, either way he now had the weapon he desired. He let his sword slide back into it's sheath, keeping his eyes closed and listening for any sound that would signal a betrayal.

"I do not trust you, but I know your desire to see this "Terrakis" dead is even greater than my own, as long as we do not attempt to kill each other before he and his fellows are dead, I shall be satisfied, I have some tricks that may help where your natural powers failed, but as you say I think we need another advantage, sheer weight of numbers did nought for you. The giants will think they've broken you, and will not expect an attack, do you know of any power here in the underforums that can be turned against his strength?"

[Larry_OHF]

Euryale

"Young elf...if I knew of such a power, then surely I would not be standing here talking with you, would I? You say that you may be of benefit to me, and at the moment I shall entertain that thought. For now, I would like to return to my lair and discover the degree of damage that has been done to my home. There may be something there that will interest you, unless you are afraid to follow me. Do as you will...I shall go now to my place of rest, for I am in need of it."

Euryale crosses the bridge and begins to walk in the direction of the cavern exit that leads down into her dwelling. She calls back to you, "Coming, Elf?"

[RevRuby]

Ruby and Ana moved along as quietly as possible. The only voice ruby could hear was wyrd, alerting her to voices ahead. Only one of which sounded familiar, both sounded intense to his lion ears. Ruby suspected that if he could hear the voices, those ahead might already know of their approach.

She reaches out with her mind and touches anarima's. 'There are voices ahead that wyrd can hear. He only recognizes one of them, but he feels we are probably known about as well. I think we should go on, rather than end up being the hunted when they decide we've followed long enough.'

Ruby continues along staying as quiet as she can. Even though her intent is to approach those ahead of her, she does not wish to alert them that she knows they are there.

[Morgeruat]

Saithele

her words dripped more venom than the snakes that made up her hair, she was rteacherous, and filled with malice, but for now her venom was not directed at him, and he was very glad for that.

As he starts to follow, he catches the slight sound of a claw scratching on stone, coming from above, "Wait around the corner Euryale," he then backtracks and opens his eyes. Keeping to the shadows looking for the source of the noise. He does determine that there is more than one of whatever follows, and that they are trying to move in stealth, if not for the length of time he had spent in this soundless and lightless realm he might have missed their passage completely.

OOC: Saithele is readying components for a rather nasty spell in case whatever shows itself is a foe to light and hope.

[Larry_OHF]

Anarrima

Anarrima heard the mental warning and begin to think of the prayers she would need for protection for the three of them. They did not know what they would see around the turn. She did not dare utter the words just yet, as that might alert whatever they were tracking. She crept on, leading the group.

[Cerek the Barbaric]

Zachary froze for a moment as the carrion crawlers approached..running along the floor, walls, and ceiling (sometimes all at the same time). He didn't have much time to consider his options. The beasts were almost on top of them already. There was no time to cast a spell - at least not yet. Zachary took a firm grip on his hammer and took careful aim on one of the monsters. He chose one that was farther away in hopes of lessening effect of the thunderclap on him and the warrior, but he needed it to be close enough so that the other beasts would be affected by. With a silent prayer to Odin, Zachary threw the hammer with all of his might. It slammed into a crawler on the wall, smashing it against the rock and releasing the thunderclap that always accompanied a successful strike when the hammer was thrown. The carrion crawler fell to the cavern floor, almost dead from the impact of the hammer and the stunning boom of thunder that followed. The sheer volume shook the cavern from top to bottom as the thunderous boom reverberated back and forth off the walls, floor and ceiling. This caused the other crawlers to lose their footing and fall to the cavern floor. It also managed to stun 2 of the remaining 3 monsters, but the fourth one managed to shake off the effects and regain it's footing. It still took it a few moments to get its bearings back, and Zachary used this time to cast the spell of telepathy he had been planning to use later to establish a rapport with the warrior.

The two adventurers were now able to "hear and understand" each other's thoughts - at least on a surface level. The spell bypassed the language barrier...somehow, it allowed the two men to understand what the other was thinking, without worrying about the actual word being that were being thought. Zachary did not use this link to try to direct the attacks of the warrior, however. Instead, he was just establishing a way for the warrior to understand what he thinking and to determine what action he was preparing to take. This would be vital for them to coordinate their attacks on the creatures and make sure they were killed quickly.

Zachary didn't have time to retrieve his Hammer of Thunderbolts, so he grabbed one of his normal hammers instead, then charged forward towards the one carrion crawler that had been unaffected by the thunderclap. He shouted a battlecry to Odin and began hammering into the side of the crawler.

OOC>>Morg - according to Larry, these things should be easy enough for the two of us to kill. The first one is Near Death, and will most likely crawl off the other way if it is able to move at all. The next two are stunned for the next 2-3 rounds. I will leave the next move up to you.

[RevRuby]

going slowly through the passage knowing someone was up ahead was hard. she wanted to run and hide, or at least let wyrd charge into battle. keeping excitement in check was never her strong point.

ruby's mind is still connected to anarima's. it was easier for her psionics than ana's type of magic. it was silent, very quiet. another advantage ruby felt was that now she could identify the female elf's mind. she can find her mind even if their bodies are apart and lost from eachother.

'wyrd says he heard a distasteful name. the familiar voice may have been speaking to an enemy. we may have a traitor on our hands."

ruby works hard to keep her pace and breathing steady. wyrd said they would be upon the voice soon. that the one of the two had started coming this way confirmed that they were known to be there.

on occaision wyrd loses the sound of the other coming this way. the voice's owner is very skilled at sneaking and this left ruby very nervous. she wants to feel confident with approaching this possible traitor, hard to feel that way tho when expecting a surprise.

wyrd's eyesight in this dark cavern is so much more useful than her own, and she is now depending on him to see the upcoming person first. since wyrd had said the person is moving with stealth, and seems to be keeping to the edge of the cavern where it is most shadowed, ruby has an idea of who it is.

it comes as no surprise to her when wyrd tells her the voice's owner is right there witht hem, but even he can't see him to identify him. ruby misteps once catching herself, and then continues on as if she had no idea there was another present.

OOC:your turn deary

EDIT: WOOHOO!!!! 900TH POST!

[ 12-19-2003, 09:04 AM: Message edited by: RevRuby ]

[TAOWolf]

She stops her movement as she spies the spot she is looking for. Replacing the rune in her cloak, she lays a hand on Arcades snout, thinking and planning.

An idea slowly forms in her head of how to maybe get the banewolves off of Arcades trail, since she now knows the clasp will keep her from sight for the time being... she thinks back to Fisk, and something he had showed her...

She also keeps a watchful eye on the giants, watching their movements, trying to gauge what they are up to...