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

[Larry_OHF]

Brendon was tired of the Giant staring at him. He was desperate for any plan that might have a chance to work.

Speaking to the Giant guard, he said,

"You overgrown dwarf! If you were to untie me and fight me, I would kill you, therefore your cowardice prevents you from releasing me! You are nothing to me! Free me now that I might kill you in honor, or continue to hide behind your fake sense of security! Your choice, fool!"

Brendon was now working himself up a great deal and could feel the hatred in his heart growing darker for his tormentors. He indeed believed that he would kill one with his bare hands if given the chance.

[Cyril Darkcloud]

For Brendon

Stern are the Giants of Shadow, stern and unswayed by the passions of others, for the fierce but undisplayed emotions within them burn with a focused intensity. Many have been their enemies and all that have stood against them have been swept aside. Many have promised their destruction and all who have done so have been broken. The giant turns slightly at the change in the prisoner’s voice, but a knowing nod of the head is all the answer the young man’s rage receives. The giant’s attention is taken then by something of much more importance than the impotent fury of an adventurer, for a new silence has settled in this place.

“It is finished,” the giant says, a slight trace of anticipation about his voice. The singing of the dwarves has stopped and they now prepare to move the great stone object they had been preparing. Even great Terrakis watches with a keen enthusiasm about his gaze as the dwarves, these fierce survivors that have won his respect, bring the great seat forward. All is silent now as they work, a solemn silence as if matters of great weight were about to be decided. Soon it is in place, a mighty stone chair, a throne fit for a ruler, a seat well-formed and sturdy made from the mingling of the ruined stone of this place with a strange black rock.

Turning once more to the prisoners the giant looks coldly upon them. “It is time.”

[ 03-19-2004, 06:54 PM: Message edited by: Cyril Darkcloud ]

[mistral4543]

Rhianneth

At the sound of Brendon's outburst, she had stifled a wry smile for was it not too long ago that she had done the same foolish deed of challenging these giants? Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought that she would one day be reduced to this state of submission - with the thoughts "We are going to die" ringing in her ears so emotionlessly.

It is time.

So Terrakis' attention had once more shifted to them. She opened her eyes, willing herself to breathe as normally as she could afford to, her gaze occasionally darting to the chair of rock. No doubt, that was for Terrakis.

What part would she and Brendon play in the heathen ceremony that was to come?

[Larry_OHF]

Brendon bit back his rage from throwing more curses at the Giant. Obviously, something was about to happen...and it dealt with that chair that had been built.

"Time for what? What are you going to do to us? Don't tell me that you had us hanging here while you built us furniture. We would have taken a seat on the floor, no problem!"

[Cyril Darkcloud]

Terrakis

He smiles, taking cold pleasure in the young one’s comment. The smile is brief, however, for his eyes narrow in appraisal of the ranger. Behind him blind Tyresias moves onto the stone plaza followed by the dwarves who bring forward the great runestone the party had found in the lair of fallen Adalon. “Yes,” he says, “indeed, it is time.” All again is silent as the giant draws his sword and once more the bite of the grave fills the air of this place.

[Larry_OHF]

"Tyresias!! You are in this too? I was there trying to save your village with my friends, and this is how you repay our help? Get over here, you little gnome! You betrayed your own people!"

Brendon struggled terribly against the chains, desperate for action, no longer concerned with escaping. He only wanted revenge.

[Cyril Darkcloud]

Terrakis

With a practiced and lethal ease, he swings the sword in a sweeping arc toward the prisoners. Such a motion, had it been allowed to touch them, would have cut each of them in two. But bloodshed, for the moment at least, appears not to be the issue. At the approach of the blade the shackles loosen and fall away from the limbs of the prisoners. Mighty hands then seize the humans, the press of unyielding fingers about their throats allowing only scant room for breath to pass. “Bring them,” he says and strides onto the newly cut stones.

[mistral4543]

Rhianneth

She watched the drama unfolding in front of her with remote interest, though her eye was upon Terrakis more than the pudgy little gnome that Brendon was now fuming against.

Why struggle as you do, Brendon? The toneless words weaved themselves around her, trying to penetrate his thoughts. Why subject yourself to the indignity of being laughed at, when there is nothing you can do? Nothing they could do, indeed. Not able to die with integrity using their own hands, not able to swing a last punch and break their puny hands against the massive impenetrable giants, not able to even squeeze the breath out of traitorous gnomes. So, why struggle?

In a way, she wished that Terrakis had more action than now. The wait was more intolerable than the deed itself, and she wondered if this was part of the giant's plan - to tip them slightly off their mental balance, not knowing what they would finally be subjected to...

But now, they were finally grappled by their captors and heaved to their feet, about to face THE END. Strangely enough, she found herself relaxing a little more.

[ 03-19-2004, 07:34 PM: Message edited by: mistral4543 ]

[Cyril Darkcloud]

Tyresias

He turns to sound of a voice that is dimly familiar. “My people? No, child, I have no people any longer. No people among these brown Forums, that is, for the land of Yellow has claimed my heart and filled my sight......” His voice trails off as if in a rapture of some sort. His speech is cold when it again resumes, however. Pointing at the woman he orders, “Bring her to me. Now.” There is a peculiar power in his words, an authority more than even a prophet might possess and so the giant holding the woman at a nod of assent from Terrakis brings her forward placing her near the runestone. At another nod from Terrakis the great book of the Yellow Kingdom is brought forth and placed on a low stone slab before the gnome.

[ 03-19-2004, 07:40 PM: Message edited by: Cyril Darkcloud ]

[Larry_OHF]

Brendon watched as this took place. He struggled against the fist of the giant about his neck, but that got him nowhere. He could not even call out to her anymore. He simply gurgled and moaned, while his eyes filled with sympathy for the sorcerous and her fate.