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

[Morgeruat]

Morguerat

The man's mind was a tangled mess of confusion doubt and questions that he dared not examine, he had a great fear of examining his actions more than a cursory "what to do next" mentality. Striking quickly he stabs the injured crawler, doing minial damage, but opening a fair sized cut along it's side, he turns and strikes with a speed that belies the size of his blade and hacks deeply into one of the stunned carrion crawlers, keeping a low horizontal angle on his strike since an overhead chop would give more power, but would only get tangled in the stalactites. He moved quickly to get into a position to defend himself from the other two creatures, or that manthing with the thundering hammer.

As his second blow fell, the fog shrouding his memories grew a bit tighter, as the cackler watched with some concern and no small amount of anger over the clerics actions, he would be dangerous, but she would not relinquish a find so great as this one easily, his spirit was strong, and he would make a powerful tool, either as a larva, or as a mortal pawn.

[Morgeruat]

[img]graemlins/elf.gif[/img] Saithele

The lion came into view along with Ana and Ruby, trying to hide, but poorly, he stepped from the shadows, and spoke in the common tongue, "You survived! How in the underforums did you escape? I saw the statues of the others being carted away." He turned to Anarrima and spoke in elven "I tried to stop the grimlocks but the giants arrived before I could recover any of the statues, and I've recruited an ally, the gorgon is taking me to her lair, where she has a few supplies, then we're striking out to take down Terrakis. From what I've seen we'll need more than swords or sorcery to win, and I fear I do not know the source of his power, but it is great."

ooc this should make for some interesting discussion.

[ArcadesSabboth]

Arcades awakens from his healing rest in time to see his companion weaving her illusion, and remains motionless under her ward.

The scales under Kaylisa's hand soften of the dragon's own volition, giving her notice that he has woken from his rest.

Kaylisa, what is the situation? Do you have any plans yet?

[Larry_OHF]

Anarrima 60/60

Suddenly the elf came out of hiding and greeted the trio. Anarrima nearly jumped out of her skin and had begun chanting a prayer for a spell when she then realized who it was and that it was okay. Listening to his elvish, which was strange since she had been accustomed to drow for so long, she almost doubted her understanding when he mentioned that he had become allies with the gorgon, Euryale. Sadly though...she knew that she had heard correctly.

Speaking common for the sake of Ruby, she asked, "Are you quite mad with dilusion from being underground so long? For we too would have been turned to stone by the very creature you profess to barter with if not for our magical hiding. What in the name of the great Choc. are you thinking? How are we to believe that she would want to help us, or for that matter, you have not turned against us and are trying to lure us into a trap?"

In elvish, she said, "We elves do not join tasks with evil creatures such as she..."

In her mental link with Ruby, she said, "Beware of this one...I do not know if he is truely who he claims to be..."

[Larry_OHF]

OOC>>>Okay, Ms. Tao. I have read and re-read the notes that Cyril gave me, and though they say nothing of the activity of the shadow giants at this time, nor or the shadow dwarves...I do have reason to keep the bane wolves on your trail and raise your eagerness to get things accomplished. Therefore, the only thing I am authorized at this time to do is move the wolves closer to you without spoiling the fun too much. Here it goes.

The pack had the scent, though it had merely drifted in the air. They could taste the blood in thier unnatural nostrils and knew that the dragon had come this way. They found the mountain on which he rested and healed...but it was an impossible climb for any creature at all without wings. The banewolves sought after the blood which was still fresh on thier undead maws, and needed more. They gathered at the base of the mountain, knowing that they could not follow thier prey but waiting and listening and smelling. The dragon would have to move sooner or later, and then they would track him to wherever he attempted to go. They stopped...and waited.

However, their howls did begin to ascend the mountain, their hungery cry already reaching your ears and causes the air to go stale and icy.

[ 12-20-2003, 10:15 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Cyril Darkcloud]

Terrakis

All goes well and it seems ready access to the surface is now within reach. The dwarves dig with swiftness and skill and soon the way shall be secure and ready. And even the storms have ceased their raging. Such tidings are welcome. Greater perhaps than any of the battles they waged in these dark places was that fought against the flooding which destroyed so many of the One they name father’s dark creations. Not only have they survived, however, they have grown strong and they shall triumph .......

....... Steady footsteps call to his attention and Terrakis looks up as the messenger enters. “All is made ready, then? Very well I shall join the others at the doors.”

The statues have been arranged facing the great stone doors, save for that of the woman called Rhianneth which has been placed near the stone pedestal upon which the Book rests - that tome for which the drow were broken and destroyed, their fabled might consumed along with their lives by the Hunger. “So these are the ones who came to destroy the Hunger. I know not whether they are greater fools for attempting to do so or for coming so quickly to so bitter an ending.” He turns to the statue of the woman. “And you, how far you have fallen. You stood at his side within the tower! And now we find you a trophy in the lair of a hag and with fools as companions.” Rage flashes in his eyes for a moment. “Still, woman, you stood at his side. And though he is no longer, such depths are no fitting place for you.” Moving to the pedestal he takes up the Book and begins to speak its strange words.

The air in this place grows cold and things shine with a yellowish cast as he reads. Dimensions near the statue seem to twist and fold over upon themselves, as if the usual three of height depth and breadth would be crowded aside by a host of other, more curious measures. His eyes gleam with something other than sanity at the speaking of the guttural syllables of the words. Upon reaching the end of the passage, he simply stops reading and places the book once more upon the pedestal, his hands shaking slightly as he does so.

Turning to the giants nearest the statues he gives a simple command, “The sacrifice.” At his words great blows strike two of the statues, and the petrified limbs of a gnome and an elf crumble to pieces. There is a weak movement of yellow light about the petrified form of the woman. When it grows still, she is restored to her herself and the towering form of Terrakis shall be the first sight to greet her eyes.


ooc: Rhianneth - Welcome back.

Kethotar and Dankorona have been destroyed.

[ 12-20-2003, 11:37 PM: Message edited by: Cyril Darkcloud ]

[Morgeruat]

[img]graemlins/elf.gif[/img] Saithele

In Elven: "You doubt the wisdom of my actions, fair enough. However, I saw Terrakis spring up out of the earth of these forums, destroy the grimlocks that were carting around the statues of the others, How did you escape that fate?" He eyes the elf suspiciously, knowing that the amount of grimlocks should have been enough to discover any hiding place.

Speaking in common now, "You think me crazy, or perhaps a traitor, I've been called that and worse by those of much higher station than you, I want nothing more than to leave this blighted realm, but know that the full power of these giants will be brought against the elven nation as soon as the giants feel ready, would you rather face them in those circumstances?" Anger flashing in his eyes he turned on his heel and spoke over his shoulder in elven, "Follow if you wish, but don't get in the way, and don't get yourself killed, I'd hate to have to avenge another lost elven life. We (ooc: obviously meant to exclude Ruby) are too important to lose ourselves in chance encounters, we have too much to do down here, and I need to find a way to free the other elf from his stone cage." He kicked a stone as he walked to let Euryale know he was coming and closed his eyes, as always, expecting an attack from her as he came around.

[ 12-20-2003, 11:36 PM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

[Larry_OHF]

Anarrima

She heard the words and judged his heart. It seemed to be in the right place. She looked back at Ruby and motioned for her and Wyrd to follow. She was deathly afraid to meet this Euryale...but she had to trust Saithele to keep her alive now. She would not live long on her own either way.

"Silly you are...I am a cleric. I prayed for the power of the spell that turned me into undetectable ether until safe. the human did some type of mind trick to fool the grimlocks into not finding her."

================================================== =============================

Euryale

She heard the approach of the elf, and could also discern that he was not alone. Was he bringing help to kill her? Was he turning on his word and thought himself now sufficiently equipped to deal a death blow?

Euryale readied an arrow and aimed toward the coming footfalls.

"Elf! If you come to destroy me...know that my arrow will find your heart first! You had best be approaching me with no indication that you aim to kill...for I shall prove the swifter."

[Cerek the Barbaric]

The speed and skill of the warrior are impressive. The fact that he can direct the blade with such swiftness and accuracy, despite it's seemingly awkward size, speaks to many, many hours of training. With thei telepathic link helping to coordinate their attacks, the cleric and the warrior soon make quick work of the carrions crawlers. During the battle, Zachary tries to read the thoughts of the warrior, to see if he can gain some insight into the man's inner motivations. He is surprised by what he finds. His thoughts are very simplistic and straightforward..yet more than a little confusing at times. It takes Zachary several minutes to figure out why the warrior considers him a man-spider. He also notes distinct lack complex thought patterns. There is no in depth pondering from the warrior regarding Zachary's motivations. There is also no reasoning or planning aimed at achieving any goal past the next few actions. It's almost as if the man was under a permanent spell of Confusion and was only able to react to his immediate surroundings and situation.

Zachary had a spell in mind that would allow him to probe deeper into recesses of the warrior's mind. There was some kind of barrier blocking the mental passages and preventing access from any outside source. Zachary was eager to probe this barrier for weaknesses or seams that could be slipped through...but that would have to wait. The two consistent emotions he picked up from the warrior were confusion..and mistrust. He would have to be very careful with both his timing and his approach when he tried to delve deeper into the warrior's inner psyche. For now, Zachary would have to be content with their telepathic link (which was not indefinite in duration - too soon, the spell would expire and would need to be re-cast).

For his part, Zachary tried to keep his own thoughts as friendly and non-threatening as possible...since their link allowed the warrior to examine the cleric's thoughts just as the cleric examined his. Zach also thought now would be a good time to try to establish a friendlier bond with the warrior.

"Well fought, warrior. I am glad to have you fighting at my side. May I ask your name?"

[RevRuby]

ruby followed ana, trusting her instincts, but still cautious. she lept the mind link up so that she may have silent communication with her in the presence of a possible traitor.

rubys flinches with the words from euryale. she stays close to wyrd and waits to hear what saithele had to say.