The Lord of the Forums, Aftermath III>>>Death in the Shadows

[Cyril Darkcloud]

Upward they come for their digging is swift and strangely silent as it splits through stone but makes no sound perceptible to mortal ears. Picks strike stone and produce nothing more the shadow of a sound although the splitting of rock produced by their blows is substantial and swift and real in its brutal effectiveness. Soon the flagstones of the floor split open above them and with an angry shout they pour into the room, their movement bringing with it a darkness that quenches light and mutes even the heat sensitive vision of those native to this sunless realm. The anger within their voices fills the room but the movements of their mail clad bodies produce no discernible sound. Swift is their assault and pitiless and the guards fall without even seeing the hatred in the eyes of those that slaughter them. Through the halls they move, butchering all within, until their axes hew apart the great wooden doors to the Clanmaster’s chambers.

Spells are cast, but something about the shadowy darkness of their skin shrugs the magic aside as a thing of no importance and weapons are drawn against them but their rage is insensitive to pain. Again and again the axes swing until not a thing is left alive in this place save a blind gnome, a seer it is said, beaten to unconsciousness and dragged by these strange dwarves into the darkness out of which they emerged into this place.

The Clanmaster and the assembled elders are dead and Tyresias the seer is now in the hands of Terrakis.

Elsewhere in the settlement a similar fate is meted out upon a band of grimlock warriors who rummage the quarters of the mage Dantes. Axes bite into their bodies and break their bones and heavy boots step over their bodies so that 2 stones, one large and the other small, and both bearing runes might be taken. And as the spoil is brought before him, the leader of the Giants of Shadow smiles and he and his fellows speak as one , “None shall contest our claim!”

ooc: The gnome leaders are all dead. Twelve grimlocks have been slain. Tyresias and the runestones are in the possession of Terrakis.

[Cyril Darkcloud]

ooc: OK – One pile of corpses. Now what was next? O! Meal time! That’s right .....

For Arcades
Great is the fire that belches forth from the dragon. But great has been the unkindness of this game to those of draconic stripe. A silver dragon ancient and mighty was slaughtered by the Giants of Shadow simply for being in the way. A red dragon of ancient, even legendary stature, was humiliated in the previous battle and made little more than an afterthought to the course of events. And in the strangest post ever written upon these boards Madman Rogovich hacked his way inside a black dragon slaughtering it at the base of the Tower of Shadow. Great is the might that a goddess has lent the breathing of the dragon. But great is the unkindness of this game to those who bear the mantle of divinity. The One Ring was stolen from the Maker of these boards and the demi-god who committed the crime was slain by a mortal hand. The tower buttressed by Shar herself collapsed and Lolth the spider queen was powerless to save her children from the hands of Terrakis. Small wonder is it then that though the breathing of flame and the power of the goddess be great that such greatness matters little here.

Banewolves are these and with the passing of flame and shadow, banewolves they remain. Already dead with the death of many they feel no pain. Lifeless eyes stare at the defender of their prey and a low snarl builds within their throats, a curiously plural snarling, a snarling as of dozen of wolves with each throat. Surprise is theirs for nothing could be expected to survive such an attack, but they, the already dead, have done so. The curious snarling continues even as the wolves circle this gold scaled creature, a snarling heavy with the monotony of the grave, a monotony that robs the ears of hearing and the limbs of movement, a monotony that can siphon the vigor even from the limbs of a dragon .....

.... Their assault is as vicious as it is sudden and the dried teeth of the grave bite into the hard scales of the creature, a creature strangely sluggish and unable to avoid the rush of the wolves. Impossibly strong are their jaws and a rotting numbness is left within the limbs they seize. A howl rises, a howl like that of many wolves within the throat of each, a howl that sings the joy with which death feasts upon life. And so much greater is the joy of the howling for the knowing that she who is their prey cannot aid the golden beast without leaving the protection she enjoys.

ooc: The dragon is seriously wounded and its movement is very impaired. Another round or two of this and it will die – as it is, an awful lot of healing will be needed to stop the blight of the wolves from destroying its limbs from within.

[Cerek the Barbaric]

The spider had taken Zachary completely by surprise. It had wrapped him so securely in it's legs that he couldn't get enough leverage to free his arms and strike back. Even the magical strength enhancement from his girdle was insufficient to break the monster's hold. The only thing preventing the spider from sinking it's poisonous fangs deep into Zachary was the plate mail armor he wore...coupled with the involuntary squirming the cleric was doing.

But just as Zachary was about to abandon any hope of freeing himself, the spider released it's grip and attacked another foe. Zachary couldn't see who (or what) had attracted the spider's attention, but he didn't waste any of the precious time that had been given to him by the unknown benefactor. Once he was free from the crushing grip of the spider, Zachary's first instinct was to charge back in with his hammer swinging....an urge that was difficult to resist, since he still had a bit of the beserker rage coursing through his veins. But he managed to calm himself somewhat before launching an ill-advised attack. He backed away from the spider a few steps and forced himself to take several deep breaths to calm himself and to find a better course of action. He was a cleric - after all - not just some straight hack-n-slash fighter type. And he needed to use ALL of his weapons against this foe.

Bearing that in mind, Zachary took a few more deep breaths to help calm his thoughts and so he could focus on accessing and directing the magical spell energies Odin had bestowed upon him earlier. The first spell he cast was a Prayer to Odin that would grant him AND his unseen ally some magical enhancement of their battle skills and physical fortitude. Next, Zachary concentrated on finding a spell that could deal damage directly to this monstrosity that had almost turned him into an unwilling meal. Of all the spells at his disposal, one seemed to be the perfect choice for this situation, fighting a powerful opponent in a confined space. Zachary concentrated on the invocation he needed to recite to harness and direct the spell's energy. He began chanting the arcane words and felt the energy begin to coalesce. He concentrated on directing the energy straight down onto the back of the spider and uttered the final words of the spell. A huge pillar of flame seemed to shoot out of the ceiling of the cavern straight down onto the spider as it continued to attack whoever was on the other side from Zachary. The Flame Strike slammed into the spider's body, singing hair and searing flesh....and filling the cavern with a horrible stench in the process.

As the smoke cleared from the spell, Zachary began concentrating on the next spell he would cast, if the need arose. He gripped his hammer tightly as he waited to see how badly the spider had been injured by his spell.

OOC>> Larry - the Flame Strike does 1D6/level of the caster. I will let you determine how much damage was done.

[Cyril Darkcloud]

ooc: And lest we forget what happened the last time someone used shadow related powers in this game ......

For TAO and Arcades

Shadow is somehow still a part of the very fabric of these inner forums and the twisted remnants of the Modding Mage’s excess of power are still to be found within its stones and its soil. To invoke the might of shadow is to risk the invocation of such remnants as these, and in these most perilous of days such risk is sure to produce little in return for the danger it courts. Perhaps it would have been best if but a chaotic effect of the One called Larry’s power had simply undone the breathing of the dragon, but far too many forces have been at work of late for such a benign outcome to be a genuine possibility. No, the might of shadow has grown these last days and nowhere is it stronger than in the deep warrens ruled by Terrakis, and it is there that the effects of the use of shadow magic are felt. One claiming the power and mantle of divinity has made use of it, and the mighty shadows that dwell in this place laugh at the divinity which would command them. Power is summoned, that is true. But it is a power unlike that which was sought. A portal opens deep in the earth and warriors great in stature and mighty in limb step through it, drawn by the call of shadow and the promise of battle. Just beyond the circle where the woman has made her preparations a hand, large and powerful and dusky gray in color burst upward from the soil. A head sheathed in dark iron follows and soon a grim faced giant pulls himself out of the black earth. The first is followed by another. Long has it been since their kind has stood upon the surface of the forums – indeed, their kind in all truth has never done so for it was far beneath the forums that the excess of Modding Magic changed them into what they have now become. Great swords which hum quietly are held within their arms and eyes which show no pity study the woman and the dragon and the wolves. The banewolves themselves pause in their assault of the dragon, for here has emerged something more predatory than they .......

ooc: TAO - If you have a way of getting the two of you away to safety, I’d advise you to use it. The Shadow Giants will be able to breach the protections you have set up.

[ArcadesSabboth]

Arcades lets out a pained roar at the onslaught of the Banewolves. The ancient blood spilled from their attacks quickly ignites into fire as it hits the ground.

Using his limited mobility, Arcades bites one of the banewolves, picking the foul creature up in his maw and throwing him into the rest of the pack, bowling them over. The dragon then spits the remains of foul meat and dead blood from his mouth.

While the banewolves are fighting to get out from under one another, Arcades uses one of his three natural magics to bring forth lightning from the heavens, guarding his slow escape back to within the protection of the ley lines. Arcades finally collapses next to Kaylisa, finally weakened to his limits by exertion and blight, almost oblivious to the arrival of the Giants

"Kaylisa... I've failed you. I've failed the lines."

OOC>> Ok, hopefully my character wont be ended here, but i'm sure not to underestimate the banewolves again *L*

[Larry_OHF]

A grimlock that had been badly injured made it back to his master, crawling for he had lost both legs.

"My Master! We were attacked by strange beings that our noses nor our ears can identify. They killed us and the gnomes as we were there killing gnomes. They took one of the gnomes away, one of the important ones. We do understand what has happened."

Euryale was tired of hearing the sqeaky language of the dying Grimlock. She ordered others nearby to silence him with death and then walked over to the entrance of the gnome settlement. There was nothing left alive. All the gnomes had been killed and half eaten, laying around in piles. By her servant's word...she was told that the strange creatures came and took one of the important ones. Maybe an Elder? It mattered not who or why this pathetic gnome was captured and spared from the death that awaited it at the hands of the grimlocks...but she was very concerned about who had attacked a part of her own army. She did not like having unknown enemies. Word had it that the giant Terrakis was down here making trouble...that he and his crew had been the ones to kill that Silver Dragon in the other levels of the underforums...and it made sense.

Terrakis must have gained some powerful ally or power and was using it to take over these lands beneath the forums. The land that she herself desired. Bitter hatred welled up inside her black heart and she cursed Terrakis for this. Was she to go to war with this big brute and take what was rightfully her's...that she had fought for and planned for so long? How could she be expected to turn all her life's ambition over to a hairy giant?

This would not do. She would perhaps try to gain his confidence first and learn of this new power he possessed...then attempt to take it from him when she learned all she needed to. Yesss....it isss a good plan. Oh Yesss....

She ordered a grimlock to run fast and catch up with the crew that were carrying the petrified would-be heroes back to her din. She ordered that one of them be selected and taken to the deep underforums where Terrakis would be found...and offer it to him as a gift of...peace.

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When the grimlock delivered the message to the crew that were carrying the statues back to Euryale's level...they stopped and examined which one might be the best to deliver to the giant. Feeling of the stone and trying to pick out one that seemed to be the most wonderous, they finally made their choice. The crew then split up, half going the route of the original plan,,,and half going the route of the giants' lair.


OOC>>>The statue that was chosen to be delivered to Terrakis as an offering was...

hehe...I am not going to tell you yet. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 12-13-2003, 04:00 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Morgeruat]

ooc Ruby will bo offline till monday larry, I'll pm you with what I have in mind for Elethias, but I'll post for Morguerat for now.

Morguerat

The spider-man sent part of itself after him, it tried to spray him with some sort of web, but the massive warrior pulled himself free with only a slight bit of trouble. But while he was doing so the creature sent a blast of flame straight up into the air. In the face of the searing brightness he reflexively closed one eye, the other was blinded and he got a good view of the monster, light glinting off of it's metallic metal, it's hairy face seemed grotesque in the burning light.

Moving quickly around the column of flame he struck at the creature, hoping to end it's threat before it could make it's burning appendage come after him as well. But luckily for the creature the disorientation caused by the flame was enough to cause the blade to go wide, but the sparks flying as it struck a stalactite to the left of the cleric sent an unmistakeable message, that whatever had caused the spider to move was no ally. And in the shadowed fog shrouded confines of one confused man, an evil cackle continued, but the sound would not rise through the clouded consciousness of the warrior, and he would not hear the sound until his min cleared on some intangible level.

[Larry_OHF]

The black spider was wounded terribly and no longer had the ability to attack, nor the desire. Realizing that this foe was stronger than it, the spider retreated by running away from the two humans and down the exit ramp that led to the caverns below.


Zachary: You have been attacked by Morgeraut but he has missed his aim. You have the next move in this confrontation.

[Larry_OHF]

OOC>>>I am still suffering internet trouble, as it goes on and off all dang day and night. Ice is on the lines and also ice is weighing down the tree limbs around the city that causes crap like this. I am angered by it all, but can do nothing.

Morgie has asked that I post in his stead, and has given me the details that he wants to follow. I had to write it one Word, then copy it here. I can now finally post it. Here it goes. I hope you like it, Morg.


Saithele, the Elven Shadow

Saithele was covered in webs twice, but only one of the webs effectively slowed him down. Struggling through the tight stickiness of the web, he was still able to get his sword up in time to swat at the closest ettercap that had moved in to rip at his throat. This swing severed it’s arm, and the ettercap leaped back in pained estonishment. The other ettercap used this time to jump in and bite at the elf. It got ahold of him from the left side and bit at his shoulder. His armor was not heavy enough to protect against those long fangs, and he suffered moderate pain as he attempted to shove the creature off him. It was nearly a full head taller than he was, but he was the stronger. The ettercap retreated and tried to move in again. The first ettercap also wanted to feed, and also jumped in to bite at the elf. As it moved in, Saithele brought his sword up and through the ettercap’s chest. It died, throwing up it’s blood upon Saithele’s arm. The second ettercap came in from the rear, but Saithele heard it’s choppy approach. Dropping down to the floor, he kicked backwards and knocked the ettercap off balance. As it fell forward, the nimble elf swung around to face the creature and leaped back to his standing position, sword arm leading the way. This ettercap too was gutted and died as it wretched upon the blade. He then heard the spider descending closer from above, turned around and shot a magic missle into the air. The spider came tumbling to the ground and skitted off down another corridor…no longer as hungry as it thought it was.

Quickly cleaning the webs from his body, Saithele quickly took cover behind a large stone in time to not be seen by the few grimlocks that had decided to find out what was going on. They had heard the commotion and were on their guard now. They cautiously crept along the rock until they could smell the dead ettercaps and also the live elf, who was breathing heavier than normal. They could smell his blood from the wound, but underestimated it's graveness. They charged, thinking that maybe he was injured enough not to fight hard and that they had the advantage. Just then, Saithele leaped out of his hiding and blasted them with a cone of cold, which killed them instantly. He surveyed his kills. There were three of the grimlocks on the ground, covered in frost.

Now that he was ready to move on, Saithele drank down a small potion of cure minor wounds and healed his aching shoulder a little. He ran along the pathway that he had come from until he found the cave entrance that led back to the gnome village. He listened for any movement down the hole and heard a small noise. They were not close but on their way, it seemed. The return seemed a bit faster than one would have guessed, and that did not sound like good news. He had left his companions to fend for themselves and already, he could make out the shapes of grimlocks coming back from the battle that they had obviously fought, carrying five large items in their groups. The closer they came, the better Saithele’s eyes could see that the things being carried were statues…very familiar looking statues. These were his friends! Despair filled his heart and anger. They had lost so quickly…and not very honorable was it to be turned to a mocking statue. His count seemed to indicate that there were about fourty to fifty of the grimlocks, and Saithele prepared a spell for such a host. But then the grimlocks were approached by another group of grimlocks that had ran to catch up. They talked in their speech for a few minutes, then they seemed to come to a decision to separate one of the petrified from the other four. The one they separated was larger than the other four. Saithele recognized this one as the gladiator that had been a friend of Anarrima when they were in the bonds of the drow. What a terrible end to such a valiant human, Saithele thought, and he wondered why they would be picking him out of the rest of the petrified ones. It seemed that about thirty of the grimlocks decided to take another route and move away from the others…still about fourty in number. Those fourty were coming his way…and he prepared his spell. Just as the fourty came into distance for the spell to take effect, Saithele cast cloudkill and watched the show from this safe spot. The grimlocks in the front gagged and puked as they died on the ground. The ones near the middle got enough poison in their lungs to kill them as well, as they leaped about and tried to get away from the deadly gas. They choked and gagged longer than the other ones that died instantly, but one by one, they too fell. A few near the back were able to move out of the way in time but still suffered severe trauma as they could not use their noses to detect any enemy near them. They backed away from the dying or dead group and chatted fiercely with themselves. A few of them ran back to warn their master of the attack. Others drew their weapons and cowered in the back corner of the tunnel, waiting and listening. The petrified lay upon the ground in front of them.

OOC>>>All but fifteen were destroyed of the 40 that were with the four statues. The other thirty with the Possessor statue have moved out of range, down another tunnel. Three have escaped to run back to Euryale and warn her.

[ 12-14-2003, 02:43 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Larry_OHF]

The three grimlocks that had escaped Saithele to return and tell thier master what had happened finally made it back to Euryale. They were out of breath from running and they had inhaled a small portion of the gas as well. Gasping and foaming...they made thier report. Euryale was wroth. She ordered them killed and then summoned her troops up to go and find out what was going on that had killed so many of her slaves. She hoped that the statues were safe and that the one to Terrakis was still on it's way, unhindered, When they were ready to go, 70 grimlocks, 28 shadowhounds, and 1 pissed gorgon were leaving the ruins of the gnome settlement and traveling back down to level 6 of the caverns to find out what had attacked and killed so many of her grimlocks.

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Anarrima 60/60

Ana released herself from her spell and fell to the ground, weakened by her prolonged state of ethearality. She just lay on the cold stone and cried...mourning for the loss of all her friends as well as the gnomes that were family to her. She looked up and cried for Ruby to show herself if she were alive. She needed to know that she was not alone here.

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OOC>>>Saithele: Check your PM