The stone continues

[K T Ong]

No worries, Morgeruat. [img]smile.gif[/img] As I've said, your family and work are more important than this thread.

[AzRaeL StoRmBlaDe]

how dare you put this thread on hold for RL tsk tsk tsk. I mean come on who needs a real life when you have IW? [img]tongue.gif[/img] I understand how it is mate, do what you have to do and bugger on whoever says otherwise

[SecretMaster]

OOC>Back, for a bit. Tonight, i wasn't loaded with Homework, so i can post a bit. I'll hopefully be back Fri-Sunday though.
IC>
Jorlon-"And another thing great gods. What has become of our Order? As you may know, it has split into 3 factions (just giving more detail on the Order back when Morgeruat asked about how the paladins fare). The first one is The Champions of Old, the second is Knights of the Scholar, and the third are the rash and unwise Knights of the Sword.
Our Order, is trying to keep the original paladin ways, though there are very few. I fear within 20 years, the knights will have forgotten the system and everything that we stand for. The Knights of the Sword leader, Marathus, is extremely rash, unreasonable, and he doesn't think things through, while the Knights of the Scholar are quiet. They seldom engage in wars, and they rarely stay within their keeps.
But can you tell me o great lords, How has this happened. Most of us speculate it is evolution, a renissance. And what will become of us. Lord Coulon, one of the Leaders of our order, is trying to bring us back, but Marathus is a stubborn fool. What shall we do? Part of my mission was to seek guidance for our dilemma, and now I ask for it."

Khadgar- Khadgar looked dumbfounded. He never realized the extent of the fracture in the Order. Nor did he realize Jorlon's main mission, or so he thinks, was to find guidance. "A most twisting turn of events" He thought. "No wonder he and Morgeruat are quiet when it comes to their knighthood. It is almost hard to believe that the Order is falling. Especially the Radiant Heart, which I believe is a Divison of the Knights of the Champion."

Helm-"You couldn't be close my friend." He said to Khadgar. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at the two. Everyone wondered what was happening. "Yes, it is a very big division mortal, and it IS almost to hard to believe. But change happens my wizardly friend."

Khadgar-"So, he can read our thoughts, the books never said any of this."

Helm-"Because book-keepers and authors have actually never met us."Khadgar gasped. He then went quiet.

[K T Ong]

"Alas," sighed Helm in response to Sir Jorlon's query on the sorry state of affairs faced by the Order of the Radiant Heart, "this is a matter on which we can offer little help, child -- deeply displeasing to the gods though it is. There is really no special reason why the Order of the Radiant Heart should have landed in its current state: suffice it to say that the path of selfish desires is always a more tempting path than the path of light. And it grows all the more lamentable when mortals misinterpret the teachings of the light according to ways of thinking which have been tainted by their selfish desires -- as has been the case with your Order. But still, nevertheless, the inhabitants of the mortal plane must always be granted full freedom to choose the path they shall tread; the gods cannot tell them what to choose, though we can show your friends back in the mortal world the consequences to which their choices will lead. If we force them to tread the path of light, they will do so merely out of blind and unthinking obedience, and not out of their own understanding and love for what is good and right. And that we do not want."

"You can persuade your brothers back in the mortal world, though, my beloved follower," joined Radiant Heart. "Talk to them with patience and understanding, and inspire them through your own example -- for that is what many of them actually need, not stern lectures on how wrong they have been. Lord Coulon can help you. Marathus actually had a very unhappy childhood; he needs the warmth of a radiant heart to guide him gently back to the path of light. Can you be that radiant heart for me, beloved child? Guide them back with the warmth and radiance of your heart. Remember what the Paladin Lord Marcus Aurelius taught in your Order centuries ago: A radiant heart is the mightiest force in all of existence!"

"Your humble servant hears and understands, O Great Ones," replied Sir Jorlon. "I shall follow your instructions without fail!" Radiant Heart smiled and nodded her head.

"As for what had befallen your friends and loved ones back in the mortal world on account of the Dark Knight's heinous acts, children," said Lord Kuan, "most of them are still alive and well -- though soon they will no longer be if you do not make haste. A few, alas, have already been slain -- and their souls are here. Tsao!"

"Your humble servant hears, Great Lord!" said Tsao Chang.

"Bring the souls of our mortal friends' companions and loved ones," ordered Lord Kuan.

"At once, Great Lord!" replied Tsao. The page ran off and returned moments later with a great retinue of souls following him. Sir Morgeruat, Sir Jorlon and Ghzarbanan were shocked to find among them several paladins of the Orders of the Radiant Heart and the Tiny Sword, and the presently defunct Keldorn Order. Ghzarbanan in particular could make out that some of his brothers present among the souls were just the ones who had been turned into undead earlier and whom he had killed. And Magnus and Khadgar gasped as they saw a few of their former colleagues and mentors in the Jefferson College of Magic...

(ooc~ Edited this post by making some additions to it, mainly Helm's short lecture, so as to make it fit SecretMaster's post more closely. )

[ 10-03-2002, 09:10 PM: Message edited by: K T Ong ]

[SecretMaster]

OOC>Wow, almost made 2nd page.
IC>
Jorlon-"My god. We must hurry, for the world is already starting to die. These shadow men act quick. I wonder who the War General is. If they act this fast, we may be too late. Come comrades, we must hurry."

Clangeddin-"Ah, indeed young ones. StoneRock, you studied the arts of war in your lifetime, do you recognize how they attack yet?"

StoneRock-"Yes master, I've realized how they are attacking. They first started out with the kingdom made. Slowly, they blighted the land, not showing hostile signs. Then, they grew, making small attacks. They now conquer villages and go for attacks that will impact many people. Then, there plan was to have us send our army fight against theirs, knowing the attackers will lose. We will be crippled, and ripe for the taking. A perfect plan. Hopefully some realize this."

Clangeddin-"Most do, but General Axzucd, does not. He is cut off from any friendly towns or cities, and most messengers haven't made it. Their city is in great peril, and he is about to send most of his army to go attack the enemy. We must not let the city of Muzburd fall. If they take over the city, they will have an gateway to the Dwarven Kingdom and Elvish forest of the Barus Region. One of you must go warn them. Who will go?"

[K T Ong]

(ooc: I would have thought the first reaction of our heroes upon seeing the souls of their friends and loved ones would be to run to them and talk to them... Okay, maybe I'll make it out to be that the souls were just arriving and still far away, so our heroes couldn't see them clearly yet to make out who they are. )

IC> For a moment there was silence, the nine adventurers looking at each other.

"To be sure," said Ra suddenly to Clangeddin, "I reckon it might not actually be necessary to assign any one of our mortal champions with this task. The armies of the Dark Knight dare not engage in their operations in the light of day, only at night or under the protection of massive fog or clouds which obscure the sun. And once our mortal champions acquire the Twin Sunblades, Guthay and Filistin, the Circle of Magic shall be complete and they shall then be able, three times a day in the mortal world, to combine the powers of their weapons and magical items -- and use the combined power either to create a nocturnal sun should it be night, or to dispel clouds and fog throughout their home continent should it be enshrouded in those. In this way every town and inhabited region on the continent should be continually illuminated with sunlight and thence be safe from the assaults of the contemptible Dark Knight and his minions, who would remain confined to their quarters deep underground. Our mortal champions may then direct their attention fully towards destroying the Dark Knight and his followers, and not be distracted by any concern for the safety of the continent's inhabitants."

"But of course!" exclaimed Clangeddin. "How could I have overlooked that? Your resourcefulness never ceases to hold me in amazement, Amon-Ra!"

"Gee," said Rufus, "wouldn't that mean that we wouldn't have to worry about the Dark Knight and his forces anymore, Great Ones, since we would always be able to protect ourselves and the whole of our land by combining the powers of our weapons?"

Amon-Ra smiled and shook his head. "Silly child," he continued, "this is no permanent solution, for the Dark Knight and his minions would then change their tactics by tunneling from underground towards the towns and cities -- though it would take much longer, thereby giving you and your companions more time to dispatch the evil ones, a task you must still complete! Understand, child?"

"Ummmm... Y-Yes, Great One," stuttered Rufus, looking down. "Please forgive me for being so -- so stupid..." The gods laughed again.

"There is really no need to forgive, beloved child," assured Radiant Heart. "What could we expect of a young mortal like you, still fresh to the trials of life? But be courageous and tread always the path of light, and you shall grow!"

"Our Lady of the Radiant Heart speaks true, children," joined Lord Kuan. "But as for now, the souls of your deceased friends and loved ones have arrived. You may wish to speak to them."

The party turned to look and saw a great retinue of souls led by Tsao the page arriving in the vast hall, their outlines growing clearer as they approached.

"Sir Brothers Claremont and Reginald!" exclaimed Sir Jorlon.

"Khadgar," cried Magnus, "look! Isn't that... Terence Goldsmith, our ex-colleague at Jefferson College?"

(ooc: I leave it to Morgeruat and Azrael what friends and loved ones their heroes will find among the retinue of souls. )

[ 10-11-2002, 01:07 AM: Message edited by: K T Ong ]

[Morgeruat]

OOC: I'll try to post tomorrow, but I'll have my step-daughter so I can't guarantee anything.

[K T Ong]

ooc: Fingers crossed!

[SecretMaster]

StoneRock-"By the gods, the Dark Knight is acting fast! Look, members from my order, and more villagers. We must go, before it is too late!"

Khadgar-"Yes, and I see some more colleages from the Jefferson Order. This is getting scary."

[K T Ong]

Ghzarbanan was overjoyed when he saw his fellow paladins among the souls of the recently deceased. Without further ado he ran to them and embraced them happily. Magnus also ran to his former colleagues and held them by the hand, while Sir Morgeruat and Sir Jorlon likewise approached their fellow paladins and greeted them.

"Sulaiman! Al-Khorasan!" cried the halfling. "I'm so glad to meet you all again! You're not angry with me for destroying your physical shells earlier before so that you could be released from the Dark Knight's curse, are you?"

"Terence Goldsmith!" cried Magnus happily. "Never expected to meet you here!"

Sir Morgeruat and Sir Jorlon greeted their fellow paladins. "I missed you greatly, Sir Brother Claremont and Reginald," said Sir Jorlon as he laid a hand on their shoulders. "How have you fared?"

"How indeed have you fared, Sir Brother Justin and Galantheus?" asked Sir Morgeruat.

"Of course we're not angry," replied Sulaiman with a smile in response to Ghzarbanan's query. "It was nevertheless sad that our Order should have been destroyed..."

"Our halfling friend said it all for us," said Terence as he in turned gripped Magnus' hand warmly. "The evil Dark Knight's forces slew us all; we were at a loss to defend ourselves. But since arriving here in the Seven Heavens, we have been most kindly treated by the gods. So there's no need to be concerned for us at all. Would have actually kind of preferred to stay back in the mortal plane so I could continue my research work, though. Missed those good old days at Jefferson College, huh, old boy Magnus?"

"Indeed, as our friend Terence said, our lives have been without care ever since we came here," joined Sir Justin. "Hope yours haven't been weighed down with too much care and worry either, Sir Brother Morgeruat. How fares the Keldorn Order?"

"Alas, the Order is all dissolved," sighed Sir Morgeruat. "The forces of good have been in eclipse back in the mortal world for a long time now; fewer and fewer people now answer the call to the noble path of the Paladin, and the remaining few who have, have turned back to the path of worldly temptation. And right now, the forces of light are at their lowest ebb back on earth, and evil is at its zenith."

"What Sir Morgeruat said is true indeed, Sir Brother Jorlon," said Sir Claremont. "In fact we're the few lucky ones who merely got killed so that our souls were released from our mortal coils. Most of our comrades back on earth were not so lucky -- their souls have been locked in their physical shells, forced by the Dark Knight's will to do his evil bidding and become part of his growing army. If this continues, the Dark Knight's power will soon reach critical level, and then not only the Prime Material Plane but even the Planes of Good could be in jeopardy -- among them the Seven Heavens!"

"We must hurry, then," said Sir Jorlon, "and destroy the Dark Knight while his level of power is still low!"

"Indeed you must, children," said Lord Kuan. "You need not worry for those of your friends who have deceased; they are in good hands here, as you can see. It is the countless lost souls back in the mortal world that cry out for your help. Go, then! My page Tsao Chang shall now take you to the Sacred Mount of Taphthar-tharath where he shall show you the Twin Sunblades before bringing you to a portal there leading straight back to your earthly home, a portal which we have prepared for you! Your steed Clonin should also be waiting for you when you return -- we have given him wings and equipped him with a chariot to carry you all! Go, now!"

[ 10-14-2002, 09:28 PM: Message edited by: K T Ong ]