Order of the Dark Flame (Story, No Spam)

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Sun Jul 01, 2001 11:46 pm

Gwalchmai heard the scream from below and knew that the ritual was well underway. He went to check on the others, but was unable to locate Darkpoet. He found Vivien still in the rooftop garden, looking at shadows and playing with leaves. He took the opportunity of her distraction to try to look down her tunic, but she saw his shadow and met his eyes, so he quickly pretended to watch a butterfly. She smiled and went back to her examination of nature.

Gwalchmai wandered back down to his room to pack for the journey they would take soon. He didn’t know how long the ritual would take, maybe days, but it would be best to be prepared. Aside from rations and other mundane items, he made sure to pack the newly-acquired +5 whip and the Girdle of Dwarven Constitution. Lastly, he unwrapped his trusty Semi-Sentient +6 “Louisville Slugger” club that he had retrieved after nearly loosing it the last time they had gone to the temple ruins at Ogre Falls. “We may be headed for a big fight, are you ready?” he asked the club. “Put me in, coach! I’m ready to play the game,” the club said.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Sun Jul 01, 2001 11:51 pm

. “Put me in, coach! I’m ready to play the game,” the club said.

the symbolism........

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 2:04 am

A small glow appeared around Nippy again, when the time came he would be ready. Whenever this field went up he felt so much calmer, he hoped the others would feel calm too.

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 5:26 am

The instant Loner heard the scream from the demon within Anomen, she felt herself transported in her mind, and shuddered violently. She felt a strong hand on her arm and knew it was Kramor's touch, though he wasn't in the room...

She was catapulted through a darkness almost palpable, almost tangible. She felt dark beings reaching out to her, but prevented from seizing her due to the protections of the ritual. Suddenly, to her shock, she heard Nippy's voice:

Loner, I'm right here. When you find Anomen, I will serve as a light to guide you back. Just follow it...

Comforted by this, Loner traveled on, till she sensed a familiar presence, a presence she had not felt in what seemed a lifetime...She drew closer, and began to see. Not with her eyes as they currently were, but with the vision she once possessed. And she saw a form huddled within a mass of darkness blacker and deeper than the darkness surrounding it. The evil emanating from this mass was repulsive. Loner was overcome with fear, and hesitated to approach. But the soul within that living cell of evil was in excruciating torment; and Loner's compassion conquered her terror. She extended her hand. "Anomen," she called. "I'm here. Come with me."

The soul stirred, recognizing her voice. It was very weak, and could not respond.

"Anomen," she called again.

ANOMEN ISN'T HERE!!!!! a voice shrieked, sending tremors of horror down Loner's spine. However, the ritual was still progressing, and in that moment something instilled courage in her. She felt Kramor's presence, and seemed to hear his voice, but again, she could not understand the words.

"Beast! Depart from him!" she cried, charging the evil, reaching into it screaming in revulsion, and grasping the soul trapped within. She pulled Anomen with her and fled, knowing they were pursued by the essence of the demon.

She glanced beside her and saw him. She expected him to appear fragile and sick from his experience, like his body did. But she saw no such thing. Anomen was radiant; the soul glowed with a pure light, and Lonersuddenly understood Thantor's teaching that the purity and integrity of the soul could never be tarnished. Her heart swelled as she gazed on him. Here was the man she had known once, the noble heart, the beautiful spirit she had cherished...He was looking at her with an expression she couldn't quite read; it was either inexpressible gratitude, or...It reminded her of the way he used to look at her, seemingly so long ago, with love in his eyes.

She turned away. She had forgotten that the demon could read her heart, and did not know she had just given it something to play with...

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 9:22 am

Nippy suddenly felt the light explode from him. He was ethereal, in two realms. He would be the guide for Loner and the support of the power of the light took a lot out of him. He needed to concentrate, to focus on something. He thought about his master's training. He pushed and pushed him to ready him for this. He used this, pushed it into a ball and suddely the light expanded again. The shadows that started to come were pushed back. While Nippy was on guard nothing but the pure would get through. He only hoped that Loner would ignore the Demon's punishing mental attacks. They were if not as lethal more so than any blade. Take a man's blade he uses his hands, take his will and the battle is done. Nippy could see Georgi she was still lying down, this task was not just for Anomen but for her. The loss of him caused anguish in her soul. Nippy knew that they would succeed.

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 11:17 am

Kramor's eyes opened wide, when he felt how Loner did, when she looked at Anomen. He couldn't beleive it at first, he wondered if it was a trick. But, he knew deep down inside it wasn't.
"Maybe this was Thantor's plan all along. Having the Flames, take Anomen back, with no hard feelings."Kramor's concentration slipped a bit, as his anger bubbled forth.
"Great, used again. I have more scars now, than I ever did before. When this is done, I'm gone. That bastard Thantor, never did like me. He probably thinks, I'm a diversion to Loner's training." He thought to himself, getting more angrier as the more he thought about it. More than Kramor realized, this wound will never heal. Noticing that, everything was going well and that they didn't need him. He gave Loner some more of his strength and left to pack his things.
He was going back to the ruins he had found, to disappear.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 11:21 am

Lying on the ground in the cell, Georgi closed her eyes and allowed her consciousness to drift....

A distant piercing scream shocked her eyes open, and she found herself in a drafty stone corridor, her hand poised to open a door. Trying to calm her breathing, she looked cautiously in both directions, and listened for a moment. There were no more screams, but a thumping noise pounded in her ears... She frowned, and then realised it was her own heartbeat. Georgi's trembling hand grasped the doorknob and turned it, already knowing what she would see.

A despairing howl accompanied the creak of the heavy oken door, as it revealed what had been a woman's body, mutilated, almost beyond recognition. Almost. The once-white sheets were stained with blood and entrails. She didn't step into the room, but turned and ran blindly away, the image indelibly imprinted on her mind...

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 11:59 am

Watching Kramor leave, Darkpoet followed him. He heard a crash, as armor hit a wall. Looking into Kramor's room, Darkpoet saw Kramor packing his things. Throwing anything into the corner, that had to do with the Radiant Heart Order.
"Going somewhere?"Darkpoet asked.
Kramor looked up, his eyes narrowed.
"Yes. They don't need me anymore, besides they will have Anomen back. You might want to do the same. I'm not coming back either."

Darkpoet leaned against the wall.
"What did you feel?"

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 12:10 pm

Stuffing the rest of his things into saddlebags.
"Enough to know, I won't be needed here. Thantor will see to it even more. I'm done, I can't take anymore of this sh!t, and as far as trusting someone. They can just pissoff. Have a good one Dp, hope they don't mess with your head."
Kramor left the room, saddled a horse and headed to the ruins, not looking back.

At the ruins, he found the door he had hidden. Kramor also found a underground stable, he started working to clean it up.

[ 07-02-2001: Message edited by: KramoR ]

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 12:12 pm

Nippy felt a disturbance. There was anger somewhere, somewhere in the keep. He could do nothing except hope that there would be no problems because of this.

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 12:44 pm

Darkpoet smiled as Kramor rode away.
"Now's the time to cut Anomen's head off and feed it to the hogs."
Drawing out his sword, making sure it was sharp. He made his way down to the cell, as he walked in. Darkpoet stared into the eyes of Anomen the demon. At first it didn't show any fear, but when it realized, there was no one to stop Darkpoet. The fear was there now, looking around at the others.
"They can't help you. You bastard! Your kind has tortured enough, I'm going to make sure you pay."
Darkpoet made small cuts on Anomen's neck, with his sword.
"You are going to bleed slow."
He made more cuts, on the arms and legs. Darkpoet then raised his sword to cut of the head............

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 1:05 pm

Suddenly the flash of steal glinted in the gathering shadows. Recognizing it as Dark Poet's sword, Dragon Wench sharply drew in her breath (good thing she hadn't just quaffed a fire potion

). With surprising speed, considering her distracted state of mind, she placed an improved hold spell on the warrior, and hoped that somebody else had noticed his presence.

ooc, let me know if this works, I don't want to interrupt any planned plot or dialogue.

[ 07-02-2001: Message edited by: dragon wench ]

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 1:12 pm

Verily, the sound of the casting had awoken Nippy from his state of meditation. Telepathically Nippy motioned dragon wench to a bottle of sleeping potion in his potion container.

OOC: Is this OK DP, DW?

[ 07-02-2001: Message edited by: Nippy ]

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 1:13 pm

As Darkpoet started his down swing, he couldn't move.
"What the?.. Who else is here?"

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 1:35 pm

Dragon Wench was relieved that her spell had disabled Dark Poet, she had not wanted to hurt him, but she guessed that attempts upon Anomen's "life" would have dire consequences for the ritual. Then she headed for Nippy's pack.

[ 07-02-2001: Message edited by: dragon wench ]

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 1:36 pm

Loner, flying through this dream-realm or whatever it was, felt the demon gaining speed behind them. She saw the light Nippy had promised though, and headed towards it. There was whispering all around her, as of many tortured voices; but she could not make out any words...

Suddenly she felt a tearing in her mind, and she stopped, frozen. Anomen's soul was secure in her left hand, and with her right she reached out, groping blindly into the darkness to retrieve what was lost. It was Kramor's presence. It was gone. How could he leave me, she thought, saddened almost to despair. She knew he wasn't hurt. He had just...left. She felt a deep sadness in him...I can't do this without his strength to help mine...

"Where are you?" she cried out, and her voice also sounded in the cell, causing the others to wonder what had happened..."Where are you? Why have you left me?..."

It proved disastrous for Loner to stop like that. The demon pounced. It appeared to her mind, and said, "You really don't know? Let me show you some things you may have forgotten..."

Then the blackness around her was gone, and Loner was walking through a forest with Anomen. He was smiling and handsome and strong. She was just getting to know him. He took her hand as they walked along, and a thrill of happiness surged in her heart...

No, she said in her mind. I reject this vision. I reject this memory. Be gone from me, demon!

And she began to move on, but now the going was much slower, and the demon stayed before her the entire time, facing her. It was far from done yet...

[ 07-02-2001: Message edited by: loner72 ]

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 1:40 pm

Gwalchmai saw Kramor ride away from the keep at full gallop. He thought that Kramor must be on some mission related to the ritual and shouted, “Hey! Do you need any help?” but the knight was riding too fast and could not hear him. Gwalchmai would not be able to saddle a horse in time to follow, but was worried that the knight might be facing danger alone. As a precaution, Gwalchmai cast Far Sight, and watched as Kramor rode up to a seemingly vine covered rock face, and tore at the vines revealing an elaborate, ancient doorway. Gwalchmai’s spell could not follow Kramor inside, and dissipated.

Curious as to what might be going on with the ritual, Gwalchmai descended into the dungeon, to find Anomen severely wounded, Darkpoet poised to deliver a killing blow, and the others oblivious in their trances. Gwalchmai’s jaw dropped. What the hell was going on? Was this part of the ritual? Without thinking, Gwalchmai cast hold person on Darkpoet, but the spell had no affect because he was already held. Running to disarm the frozen Darkpoet, Gwalchmai met Dragon Wench, who poured a sleeping potion into Darkpoet's mouth. Gwalchmai smiled at her to let her know that he would take care of Darkpoet. She returned to the ritual. He awkwardly drug the Darkpoet statue into an unused cell where he could not interfere. He then stood guard, ready with hold, stun, and silence spells if needed, and hoped that the ritual would soon be over.

[ 07-02-2001: Message edited by: Gwalchmai ]

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 2:26 pm

Georgi tried to focus her concentration, as her feet carried her down a narrow staircase. Got to find Anomen... She didn't understand what was happening, other than something Thantor had said about painful memories... She slowed, as she became aware of a dull roaring and crackling noise, getting closer. She noticed a sweat had broken out on her brow. And then recognised the noise. No wonder she was getting hot.

She ducked into the next room she came to, and smashed the window. She stuck her head out, but had to withdraw it from the heat. The entire ground floor seemed to be on fire. Georgi tried to fight her rising panic. This already happened, she told herself firmly. It's not real. You have to find Anomen...

Georgi suddenly felt Thantor's presence, calming her. She closed her eyes, and breathed deeply. When she opened them, the scene before her had changed.

[ 07-02-2001: Message edited by: Georgi ]

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 3:23 pm

The demon cackled in Loner's ear as it showed her every memory of Anomen. The feelings weren't remembered, but experienced as if for the first time. Loner fought to understand that this was a manipulation of the demon, twisting her emotions, trying to confuse her. Damn Thantor for having me do this, she thought...

"Where is your love?" the demon asked.

Again Loner stopped, confused.

"You didn't know who I meant, did you?" the demon taunted, glee in its foul voice.

"I'll kill you," Loner said.

"Ah yes, why don't you? That's your solution to everything, isn't it?"

A vision of Pandora flashed into Loner's mind: storming into the Copper Coronet in a blind fury, finding the woman, raising the quarterstaff again and again to rain down the terrible blows; the woman's bruised and bloodied form, beaten nearly lifeless, lying limp on the floor...

"You enjoyed that. Didn't you?"

Loner grabbed her head. "No..."

"Can you blame Kramor for leaving? When he knows how you really feel? What did you call him before -- a substitute? Well wasn't he? He's gone, you won't ever see him again. He left before you could kill him too. Thantor knew you could do it...remember? 'Who's next? Kramor?"

Loner was exhausted from fighting the demon's attacks. She struggled to reach her thought out to Kramor, but all she felt when she did so was a rage and a pain and a sadness she couldn't understand. It was as if he had built a wall against her. What had happened to him?...She sent out her love to him in the hope that he would sense it, wherever he was..."No," she kept whispering to the demon. "Be gone from us...be gone..."

[ 07-02-2001: Message edited by: loner72 ]

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Mon Jul 02, 2001 3:42 pm

As Kramor cleaned the stalls and rubbed down the horse. He couldn't believe how he was deceived and used. Going into the inner chamber, lighting his way with torches. He was amazed of the craftmanship, checking out the different rooms. Noticing everything was spotless, Kramor then found the library. The Library went down eight stories, into the earth, it was enormous.......
Something entered in Kramor's soul, Loner calling out to him. Trying to shake it, he realized he couldn't. He sat down and called back and gave her, strength. Telling her to focus on what she was to do, and block everything else out. He also let her know where he was.

[ 07-02-2001: Message edited by: KramoR ]