Order of the Dark Flame (Story, No Spam)

jennabard · Post by **jennabard** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 12:31 am

OOC- @vivien- heads up, sent you a PM, could you please pass it to gwalchwai?

thanks

send me a sign that you two like it.

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 1:05 am

The Shadow Master nodded and Thantor heard one step behind him before his right kidney seemed to explode. The blinding pain took him to his knees.

"Well, so much for pleasantries," said the Shadow Master nonchalantly. He nodded to the other orc, who presented him with a large, velvet bag. The Shadow Master reached in a pulled out a large metal gauntlet and placed it on his right hand. Through a haze of red, Thantor could see that the palm side of the gauntlet had numerous small metal spikes and that the metal was discolored, probably from the blood of its victims. "This intriguing artifact is part of a set to which your neck collar belongs," noted the Shadow Master, mover closer to him. "You'll love this." With that, he slammed the gauntlet, palm down, into the crown of Thantor's head, the spikes digging into his skull.

The mental landscape of nonpsionic beings can be likened to an orchard, their memories and experiences like fruit hanging from the trees. While this leaves them vulnerable to certain forms of manipulation, the more sensitive parts of the brain are naturally protected beneath the soil. The mind of a psion can be likened to a mining complex. Psionic power arises from delving deep into the recesses of the mind, using strict mental disciplines to extract nuggets of mind-actualized energy. This activity creates an mental architecture that is a double edged sword for the psion. The long, twisting tunnels that the psion has traveled through and mined in order to increase their power can also be conduits for vicious mental attacks, carrying an assault into the most intimate areas of their mind.

"The gauntlet is called the Crown of Thorns." The Shadow Master's voice was very close to Thantor's ear. "It contains the essence of a terrothisic -- an psionic creature who is the embodiment of insanity. Once it establishes a telepathic link and eats away enough of your sanity, you'll tell me everything I want to know."

The terrothisic unleashed a hurricane of psychosis in Thantor's mind. Images of screaming bloody towers, melting into lava flows of faceless torture, nature dying all around him. Chandeliers of immense size, made up of thousands of crystals, inside each one a tiny figure, naked to the waist, wailing and mutated. The edges of his consciousness began to fray … end scenes with long spiral staircases … "because you like it that way"…. the violation opening dark night chasms in the spaces behind your eyes. With a Herculean effort, Thantor began to withdraw his consciousness, pulling it into itself as an octopus its tentacles. As quickly as he withdrew from every corridor of his mind, the psychotic energy of the terrothisic flooded it, raging after him. Knowing he could not use his psionic abilities because of the collar around his neck, he had only one chance: tapping directly into his life force to create a temporary sanctuary. The chanting he need to do in order to create this distracted him and he could feel the terrothisic tearing off edges, corners of his mind as he miscalculated his trajectory down its passageways. Finally, in one last burst of mental effort, he pulled his consciousness completely into a tight ball, sealing it in ki, the terrothisic like a rabid dog snarling and leaping outside.

"NOOO!!" The Shadow Master's scream was followed by a sensation like the side of his face was caving in as the gauntlet caught him across the ear and Thantor was sprawled across the floor. Furious, the Shadow Master paced back and forth in front of him. "You will NOT deny me, priest. Whatever you have done, you will not be able to hold out for long. I will see to that." Thantor felt himself being dragged across the room and chained in his original position. When he could eventually focus, the Shadow Master was standing in front of him, small arcs of lightening emanating from his fingers. "I'm sure this will help spark up a conversation," Thantor heard through the fog. The Shadow Master reached up and Thantor bellowed in pain as his left eye was extracted from its socket…

An eternity of pain later, Thantor's eye hanging grotesquely on his cheek, there was an end. "Take him to his cell," the Shadow Master snarled, knowing that despair and growing hopelessness were as efficient a torture as any physical punishment. As the orcs began to unchain Thantor, he heard Thantor mumble something to one of them. "What did he say?" the Shadow Master demanded sharply. The orc stepped back slightly, uncertain of his master's response. "He said he will keep an eye on you," it answered dumbly.

[ 07-18-2001: Message edited by: thantor3 ]

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 2:04 am

{OOC, Knew I shouldn't have checked in before trying to defeat insomnia.....

}

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 2:52 am

OOC: @Dragon Wench: Glad you liked it.

Sorry about the lack of graphic imagery. I'll do better next time.

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 5:58 am

Originally posted by KramoR:
<STRONG>Kramor smiled, then he got a worried look on his face.
"Loner, um have you been feeling alright? You seem to be enjoying the battle, um a little too much."</STRONG>

{OOC

Hmmm, I didn't write that...

}

"I'm not sure," she replied. "I have been feeling a bit...off-center lately, as if my focus is gone...or at least wayward..."

She sighed. She felt grimy from the battle. She was just about to suggest a nice bath for the two of them...when she stopped breathing for a second. Her eyes grew wide, as if with terror; she was seeing suddenly everything that had happened to Thantor. She held her hands over her eyes, gave a piercing shriek, and fell unconscious.

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 8:08 am

Back in his cell, Thantor had managed to reset his eye and effected some basic healing. Apparently his innate abilities were still intact and not blocked by his collar. His dank cell appeared to be part of an underground cave, a watery fluid flowing along the side of the cell's far wall, eventually dripping in a pool in the cell's corner. In the distance, he could hear what sounded like screams echoing endlessly. He curled up into a fetal position and fell asleep, exhausted.

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 8:32 am

Vivien spent the time after the battle prerparing herself, straightening her tunic, running through her spell list, and making sure she had enough baked goods in her pack for everyone.
After that she set about charming Gwally's pet lion with honeyed words and bits of meat. Luckily Gwalchmai seemed preoccupied with his own preparations, and hadn't noticed her stealing his pet. Soon she had had it's head in her lap, purring happily with an expression of rapture on it's furry face.

Ooc: Couldn't help myself

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 9:02 am

@Vivien, ROFL!)

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 10:33 am

T’lainya accepted Darkpoets hand and gracefully rose to her feet. She turned her clear green gaze on him and spoke. “Thank you for the offer, that day may come sooner than either of us expect.” They walked in companionable silence for a moment, and then Darkpoet grinned and asked about the merits of elven wine versus human vintages. Involved in that pleasant discussion, T’lainya suddenly stopped, a slightly guilty look on her face. “I wonder how the others are faring in their search for Thantor?”

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 10:57 am

Kramor stood shocked, then knelt beside Loner. The ring he had given her, the stone was even darker. Picking up Loner, he carried her to their room. Kramor gently laid her on the bed and put a cool towel on her head. He searched her ki, he then saw, what she did.
The Shadow Master, was torturing Thantor, even Kramor felt the pain. He refocused on Loner, nudging her to come too.

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 11:01 am

Loner slowly opened her eyes, and saw Kramor, leaning over her with a concerned expression. She clasped his hand. "Thantor," she muttered. "I have to find him..."

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 11:04 am

Touching her face. "You mean we, have to find him." Kramor answered Loner. "The one way to find out, is how? You think Georgi, might know?"

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 11:08 am

"We can ask," Loner replied, coming around. She tried to sit up, too fast, and fell back against her pillow with a groan, holding the towel to her head.

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 11:13 am

Ooc: I'm confused, who's near me now besides I thought Gwalch, Dragonwench?

Ic:
Vivien felt a slight chill move through her body, and looked up in confusion. Something was happening.
Her eyes scanned her surroundings, looking past her companions to a shape becoming clear in the shadows of the forest.
"J-Jennabard?" She asked, squinting her eyes to pierce the gloom.
But, the shape was no longer there, and she wondered if she was seeing things.
With a slight shake of her head, she went back to teaching the cute lion to role over.

[ 07-18-2001: Message edited by: Vivien ]

[ 07-18-2001: Message edited by: Vivien ]

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 11:20 am

"When was the last time you had sleep? If you don't get any rest, you are going to get sick. The you will be no help to Thantor."

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 11:22 am

After the battle, seeing that Darkpoet seemed ok, Georgi quietly crept off. She had an increasing sense of unease about Thantor's disappearance, but while the others dawdled around the keep, she had something else she needed to take care of. She set off on horseback for the ruins, intending to meet up with the others at the scene of the earlier battle. If they ever get there, she thought to herself, exasperatedly.

[ 07-18-2001: Message edited by: Georgi ]

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 11:27 am

Loner shook her head. "I can't rest, not with that..."

She couldn't go on. "Shh, I know," Kramor said. But Loner got up and went to the window. Looking out over the courtyard, she saw everyone stnading around, Vivien playing with a big lion.

"HEL-LOOOOO!" Loner cried. "WHAT IN THE NINE HELLS ARE WE ALL DOING, PEOPLE?!?! THANTOR IS IN SOME CELL SOMEWHERE WITH HIS EYEBALL HANGING ON HIS CHEEK!!!! NOW WHAT ARE WE ALL GOING TO DO ABOUT IT??!!"

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 12:00 pm

Georgi took a few steps into the ruins. "Hello?" she called. To tell the truth, the whole affair creeped her out. She much preferred socialising with people who hadn't been dead for centuries. As she thought about it, Rai'ya startled her by stepping out of a doorway, and Georgi felt a little guilty. Rai'ya didn't seem all that bad. She dug the locket out of her clothing, and held it out. "Who are these people?" she asked.

Rai'ya smiled. "You know the woman already, I believe. She was the wife of this man, a seer named Hermanes. He died from a mysterious illness," she said sadly. "I suspect it was far from coincidental, though. Ismena certainly didn't think so. She both guided my grandaughters and fought alongside them to bring about the downfall of the Shadow Master. You have more than a little of her fiery spirit in you, I see. Now make haste, child, lest your own loved one suffers a similar fate at that... creature's hands."

Georgi stared at her in shock. "The Shadow Master has him? That's where Thantor is?" She muttered a string of expletives as she hurried for the exit, just remembering enough manners to thank Rai'ya as she left.

jennabard · Post by **jennabard** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 12:03 pm

"PLAYING UNO!" jennabard yelled back. "Come over here i need to talk to all of you!"

loner and kramor left the window to gather everyone to the garden. jenna turn to vivien and the lion.

"viv, i have to give you something. i think it's part of our legacy." she handed the ring to viv.

"i think you'll know what it can do in time. i feel as if we will have memories that are not ours. it's hard to explain. one thing i need to remind you. the ring of joy is more powerful than its counterpart, the ring of sorrow, but DON't wear it at the same time or even let them come in contact with each other. the ring of joy will negate the power of the ring of sorrow, but the sorrow ring will destroy the the other ring and the power will be unleashed into the world.
life will go unchecked if it happen."

viven only nodded, "what about the sword?"

jennabard looked away," don't worry, i have it."

the rest of the group made there way to the garden for a meeting.

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 12:19 pm

Ooc: Loner : Rofl

I was ready, just providing comic relief while I waited

Walking with the others, Vivien studied her ring, feeling a new connection with what? She would have to get used to this.