)Order of the Dark Flame (Story, No Spam)
-
Gwalchmai
- Posts: 6252
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2001 11:00 am
- Location: This Quintessence of Dust
- Contact:
A few days ago, Gwalchmai awoke to find a stone golem standing on his head, or at least that was what it felt like. He was lying in a ditch behind a row of tents in the army camp. Unfortunately, this was the same ditch used by the occupants of the camp to dump their dirty wash water and chamber pots. He made a mental note to stay as far away from the chamber pots of all orcs, ogres, and hobgoblins in the future. Dawn was just beginning to break, and there appeared to be much activity in the camp. Gwalchmai crawled painfully into a nearby bush that served to conceal his presence. Gingerly, he felt the back of his head, touching the dried blood that matted his hair. Checking to be sure that no one was near, he quietly cast a cure light wounds spell on himself, but his pain was so great that he stumbled over the words twice before finally getting it right. Partially relieved, he fell into a light sleep.
He awoke with a start, feeling a light rain falling on his face. Two orcs stood at the bush “draining the lizard,” so to speak. Gwalchmai forced himself not to move.
“Why are we going back to village of the Mountain Elves? Its not like we left any loot, and the women all had amazingly weak constitutions,” one of the orcs was saying.
“I hear the Paladins are bound for the village to investigate. We’re to stage a little Welcoming Party”
“He, he. Good one Gat. Welcoming Party. We’ll welcome them alright.”
“Yeah. We’ll shove their holy swords right up their tight asses.”
Suddenly another orc dressed as a captain called from across the ditch, “Polko! Gat! Get your damned hides into formation or you’ll be on Umber Hulk duty for the rest of your short careers!”
“Yes, Sir! Right away, Sir!” Gat yelled, as they meandered their way back to the column that was forming in the parade ground. “All Captains are bastards, eh?”
“You can say that again.”
“All Captains –“
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey, do you think Hobgoblins can really smell Paladins?”
“Guigo told me they smell all sickly-sweet from being so good all the time.”
“Man. Paladins are worse than Captains. I hope I get to kill a few of ‘em tomorrow.”
“Me too, ol’ buddy. Me too.”
The army spent most of the rest of the morning moving equipment, wagons, and an entire column of some of the worst, most vile fighters he had ever seen out of the camp. He was particularly curious as to why catapults and siege engines were mobilized as well. He followed as best as he could, but it was slow going. He almost lost the army when he stopped beside a small stream to clean up as much as possible, the army was amazingly quiet and left little track, despite its large size. Mages must have been working overtime to disguise their passage. Gwalchmai also took a moment to cut a stout staff from an old oak, leaving an appropriate tribute to the forest’s gift. He was sorry to have lost his mace and bow, but he still had his bracers.
The army spent the night preparing for a very devious battle at the site of a decimated village located near a narrow pass in a small valley. He could see that any opposing army entering the pass could be successfully cut off from any escape by only a small troop hiding in the rocks. An opposing army would have to fight its way to the end of the valley, and this evil army would make that a deadly gauntlet indeed. Gwalchmai should try to warn the Radiant Heart before they arrived at the trap, but he was also trapped by the army, and there was no way he could skirt around them without being detected. Instead, he waited, and hoped that he could be useful from the rear.
He awoke with a start, feeling a light rain falling on his face. Two orcs stood at the bush “draining the lizard,” so to speak. Gwalchmai forced himself not to move.
“Why are we going back to village of the Mountain Elves? Its not like we left any loot, and the women all had amazingly weak constitutions,” one of the orcs was saying.
“I hear the Paladins are bound for the village to investigate. We’re to stage a little Welcoming Party”
“He, he. Good one Gat. Welcoming Party. We’ll welcome them alright.”
“Yeah. We’ll shove their holy swords right up their tight asses.”
Suddenly another orc dressed as a captain called from across the ditch, “Polko! Gat! Get your damned hides into formation or you’ll be on Umber Hulk duty for the rest of your short careers!”
“Yes, Sir! Right away, Sir!” Gat yelled, as they meandered their way back to the column that was forming in the parade ground. “All Captains are bastards, eh?”
“You can say that again.”
“All Captains –“
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey, do you think Hobgoblins can really smell Paladins?”
“Guigo told me they smell all sickly-sweet from being so good all the time.”
“Man. Paladins are worse than Captains. I hope I get to kill a few of ‘em tomorrow.”
“Me too, ol’ buddy. Me too.”
The army spent most of the rest of the morning moving equipment, wagons, and an entire column of some of the worst, most vile fighters he had ever seen out of the camp. He was particularly curious as to why catapults and siege engines were mobilized as well. He followed as best as he could, but it was slow going. He almost lost the army when he stopped beside a small stream to clean up as much as possible, the army was amazingly quiet and left little track, despite its large size. Mages must have been working overtime to disguise their passage. Gwalchmai also took a moment to cut a stout staff from an old oak, leaving an appropriate tribute to the forest’s gift. He was sorry to have lost his mace and bow, but he still had his bracers.
The army spent the night preparing for a very devious battle at the site of a decimated village located near a narrow pass in a small valley. He could see that any opposing army entering the pass could be successfully cut off from any escape by only a small troop hiding in the rocks. An opposing army would have to fight its way to the end of the valley, and this evil army would make that a deadly gauntlet indeed. Gwalchmai should try to warn the Radiant Heart before they arrived at the trap, but he was also trapped by the army, and there was no way he could skirt around them without being detected. Instead, he waited, and hoped that he could be useful from the rear.
That there; exactly the kinda diversion we coulda used.
Thantor took a moment to collect himself. He hadn't felt like himself lately, as if he had somehow been controlled by capricious external forces. It had all started with that pastry Vivien had given him and he resolved to speak to her about that once they got back to camp. "Ironic that we have ended up in a shadow realm," he noted almost to himself, "maybe we'll run into jennabard."
Using his ranger skills, he began to orient himself to his new environment. The darkness had a swirling quality, almost like mist, and the area they were standing in had a feeling of expanding space, like that of being in an enormous cavern. No echoing sounds though, he noticed, stamping a foot. In fact no sound as all except an underlying whispering pulsation. The effect was disturbing, like being out in an open, windy field in the dead of night. He looked out into the distance and unfocused his eyes. After a time, the darkness began to shift, and Thantor began to see geometrical shapes, then more complex patterns, and finally whole landscapes. "Oh, that's not good," he said frowning.
"What's not good, Master?" asked Loner.
"Loner, I have a name and it's not master. My dear mother, Naturae bless her, would heartily disapprove. We need to work and think as a team and that phrasing puts us both at a disadvantage." Loner nodded. "What's not good is that this shadow space seems to be pliable to thought. We will need to be disciplined in keeping our minds focused."
Loner shifted uncomfortably, trying to find a less painful position. "Let's see what we can do for you before we set out." He placed his hands first at the back of her head and then at the base of her spine. At first, all she felt was warmth, but gradually there was a lightness and feeling like flowing butter down the length of her back. It extended out from her spine, enveloping her whole body. There was also a sense of tingling vitality, like the feeling of standing under a waterfall. This was very different from the effects of potions or healing spells and she was instantly curious about its source. Slowly, the sensations began to subside. "Mast... I mean Thantor, what did you do? What was that?" Her pain was better and she felt much less fatigued. "That was a dose of reality," Thantor answered with a laugh, amused by her curiosity and excitement. "We can talk about it on the way. Which direction should we go in?"
"You're asking me?"
"Indeed. You are the one who is linked to Kramor, and since we have no other means of tracking him, that's our best shot."
Loner concentrated for a moment, but was unable to sense anything. "I'm not feeling anything," she said dejectedly. "No problem," Thantor said with a bit more optimism that he felt. "What's your best guess? Go with your intuition." Loner pointed off to the left. "Over there," she said uncertainly. "Looks promising," said Thantor. "There is nothing in front of you and the "ground", such as it is, seems level. Let's go."
[ 06-16-2001: Message edited by: thantor3 ]
Using his ranger skills, he began to orient himself to his new environment. The darkness had a swirling quality, almost like mist, and the area they were standing in had a feeling of expanding space, like that of being in an enormous cavern. No echoing sounds though, he noticed, stamping a foot. In fact no sound as all except an underlying whispering pulsation. The effect was disturbing, like being out in an open, windy field in the dead of night. He looked out into the distance and unfocused his eyes. After a time, the darkness began to shift, and Thantor began to see geometrical shapes, then more complex patterns, and finally whole landscapes. "Oh, that's not good," he said frowning.
"What's not good, Master?" asked Loner.
"Loner, I have a name and it's not master. My dear mother, Naturae bless her, would heartily disapprove. We need to work and think as a team and that phrasing puts us both at a disadvantage." Loner nodded. "What's not good is that this shadow space seems to be pliable to thought. We will need to be disciplined in keeping our minds focused."
Loner shifted uncomfortably, trying to find a less painful position. "Let's see what we can do for you before we set out." He placed his hands first at the back of her head and then at the base of her spine. At first, all she felt was warmth, but gradually there was a lightness and feeling like flowing butter down the length of her back. It extended out from her spine, enveloping her whole body. There was also a sense of tingling vitality, like the feeling of standing under a waterfall. This was very different from the effects of potions or healing spells and she was instantly curious about its source. Slowly, the sensations began to subside. "Mast... I mean Thantor, what did you do? What was that?" Her pain was better and she felt much less fatigued. "That was a dose of reality," Thantor answered with a laugh, amused by her curiosity and excitement. "We can talk about it on the way. Which direction should we go in?"
"You're asking me?"
"Indeed. You are the one who is linked to Kramor, and since we have no other means of tracking him, that's our best shot."
Loner concentrated for a moment, but was unable to sense anything. "I'm not feeling anything," she said dejectedly. "No problem," Thantor said with a bit more optimism that he felt. "What's your best guess? Go with your intuition." Loner pointed off to the left. "Over there," she said uncertainly. "Looks promising," said Thantor. "There is nothing in front of you and the "ground", such as it is, seems level. Let's go."
[ 06-16-2001: Message edited by: thantor3 ]
Those who will play with kitties must expect to be scratched.
Many are cold; few are frozen.
Absence is to love what wind is to fire... it extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.
Many are cold; few are frozen.
Absence is to love what wind is to fire... it extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.
[ooc: yes, I bet it was differentOriginally posted by thantor3:
<STRONG>He placed his hands first at the back of her head and then at the base of her spine…There was also a sense of tingling vitality, like the feeling of standing under a waterfall. This was very different from the effects of potions or healing</STRONG>
Thanatos, you sly dog…]Waverly had intended the dimension door to lead somewhere more appealing, but as things were, he was lucky to escape with his life. It seemed even Dark Flames who were nowhere to be seen came out of the woodwork, so to speak, at hearing the sounds of battle. He had no idea he would be so outnumbered. And where was the errand boy-come traitor-become double traitor, Darkpoet?
Waverly tended his physical wounds, and reflected on the condition of his mind. It was back to full sharpness, indeed… but the feeling that he was slipping from the material plane was all too real. In fact, this errant journey to the shadow realm was likely a symptom of that same malady.
He was certain of one thing: Loner, either alone or with help, would follow him as soon as possible. Probably even before she was physically ready to venture forth. She was a fool for Kramor. This would be an opportunity to make up for the harm he had failed to cause while a member or the party; he hadn’t even able to procure some of the those delightful honey buns or strawberry tarts that had looked so inviting
. Ah, c’est la vie, Loner and any bold enough to follow her would suffer for this…Then darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time
Ooc: I re-read the post on Thantor and STILL managed to get it wrong Fixed it now
Vivien walked as quietly as she could while scouting, still feeling shaken by the attacks, and Darkpoet gone. Sadness started to lie deep in her throat and it was a bit harder to scout properly.
She say Dragonwench ahead studying the ground so she approached with a small smile.
"Find anything?" She asked.
"Nope. But I aim to if it's here." Dragonwench seemed shaken, but solid and focused. Viv tried to follow that example as she returned to scouting the area around the camp.
Fixed it now Vivien walked as quietly as she could while scouting, still feeling shaken by the attacks, and Darkpoet gone. Sadness started to lie deep in her throat and it was a bit harder to scout properly.
She say Dragonwench ahead studying the ground so she approached with a small smile.
"Find anything?" She asked.
"Nope. But I aim to if it's here." Dragonwench seemed shaken, but solid and focused. Viv tried to follow that example as she returned to scouting the area around the camp.
-
Gwalchmai
- Posts: 6252
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2001 11:00 am
- Location: This Quintessence of Dust
- Contact:
OOC: Oh, I just thought you were having one of those "I see dead people" kinda experiences!Originally posted by Vivien:
<STRONG>Ooc: I re-read the post on Thantor and STILL managed to get it wrong
</STRONG>
(You know, that Bruce Willis movie....?)That there; exactly the kinda diversion we coulda used.
Darkpoet's arm stopped burning, he stood looking at what he had done. Bodies of Orcs were everywhere, he didn't know what was happening to him, but he was enjoying it. Cutting a piece of cloth off a uniform, he used it to clean his sword. Darkpoet checked around, to make sure they were all dead.
"To bad they were not Drow." he thought. Using his arm, he wiped the blood from his face. Darkpoet moved though the forest to look for his next victims. Putting the hood of his cloak, over his head, he sat and waited.
"To bad they were not Drow." he thought. Using his arm, he wiped the blood from his face. Darkpoet moved though the forest to look for his next victims. Putting the hood of his cloak, over his head, he sat and waited.
>Loner and Thantor made their way through the shadow terrain. The ground felt strange, and once Loner stumbled. Thantor caught her arm, inadverdently resulting in a shock of pain. She tried not to react. They went on.
For a long time, there was no sign of Kramor, and Loner began to get discouraged. Finally she stopped. "Ma--Thantor," she said, her head bowed. "I...I have no sense of him."
Thantor placed a hand on her shoulder. "Do you know if he lives?"
"Yes. I would feel his loss otherwise."
"Good..." He sighed. "I think we should rest here for a while. You need to conserve your strength, in order to carry on the search."
She nodded reluctantly. Thantor led her some yards away, and her booted feet hit what felt like cobblestone.
"Are we on a road?" she asked, surprised.
"Yes," Thantor replied. "It appeares to be a pavement of yellow stone." {OOC @Georgi: } Here, sit here and rest," he said, guiding Loner to a tree stump. "Hmm," he said. "We appear to be in some sort of orchard. I'm surprised to find such things in a shadow realm..."
For a long time, there was no sign of Kramor, and Loner began to get discouraged. Finally she stopped. "Ma--Thantor," she said, her head bowed. "I...I have no sense of him."
Thantor placed a hand on her shoulder. "Do you know if he lives?"
"Yes. I would feel his loss otherwise."
"Good..." He sighed. "I think we should rest here for a while. You need to conserve your strength, in order to carry on the search."
She nodded reluctantly. Thantor led her some yards away, and her booted feet hit what felt like cobblestone.
"Are we on a road?" she asked, surprised.
"Yes," Thantor replied. "It appeares to be a pavement of yellow stone." {OOC @Georgi:
} Here, sit here and rest," he said, guiding Loner to a tree stump. "Hmm," he said. "We appear to be in some sort of orchard. I'm surprised to find such things in a shadow realm..."Kramor was in and out of consciousness, he thought he had heard voices. His eyes where glued shut from the blood, couldn't see. He tried to call out, but his throat was too dry. Pulling out his sword, he started to tap it on the rocks. At this point, he didn't care who heard him. If they weren't here to help, he hope they would put him out of his misery.
Loner suddenly lifted her head, and stood.
"What is it?" Thantor asked, going to her.
"I...I just heard him call me," she answered. "I heard his voice. Very close by."
Thantor looked about. "There's no one here." He cast farsight. "Even my divination can see nothing, though that only goes so far. He is out of range of all the senses. Can you...do you think you can call out to him? Perhaps he will also be able to hear you."
Loner nodded and bowed her head. She began calling to Kramor, silently.
"What is it?" Thantor asked, going to her.
"I...I just heard him call me," she answered. "I heard his voice. Very close by."
Thantor looked about. "There's no one here." He cast farsight. "Even my divination can see nothing, though that only goes so far. He is out of range of all the senses. Can you...do you think you can call out to him? Perhaps he will also be able to hear you."
Loner nodded and bowed her head. She began calling to Kramor, silently.
Loner stood seemingly an hour, motionless. Then suddenly she let out a deep breath. "He answered me," she said, amazed that it actually worked. "He is very weak. We need...we need to go...that way," she said, pointing diagonally to her right. "I have no idea what we'll find when we get there..."
She was off so fast that Thantor had to jog to catch up.
She was off so fast that Thantor had to jog to catch up.
"Hold, Loner," Thantor said, caution in his voice. "Someone approaches." Loner reached back for the Katana. "Haven't I taught you better than that?" Thantor reproached her sternly. "We must wait."
Loner heard quick footfalls on the road ahead. "'Tis a Halfling," said Thantor.
"Aye," said the Halfling, stopping directly in front of them. "I represent the Lollipop Guild. And on behalf of the Lollipop Guild, I wish to welcome you to the shadow realm!"
"A nonsense realm, more like," said Thantor in an undertone. "*Ahem* Tell me, good sir, we seek a man who is lost. Have you happened to find anyone wounded and wandering this way?"
The lad shook his head. "Mmmm-nope," he replied. "But if anyone would know of such a thing, it would be..." He looked about, leaned forward, and lowered his voice reverently: "The Wizard." He then placed a hand over his heart and bowed solemnly.
"The Wizard?" Thantor repeated. The Halfling nodded somberly. "You must go to the Wizard and ask him."
Loner stepped forward. "Where can we find this Wizard?"
"He lives far away," the lad said in a mystical tone. "In the Sapphire City."
"And how does one find the Sapphire City?" Loner asked, becoming exasperated.
"All you have to do," the little man replied, "is follow the road you are now on."
Thantor looked about. "But we seem to be standing at a crossroad," he said.
The Halfling nodded. "Mmmm, true. Well, you could go that way, or you could go that other way. Of course some people do go both ways. Good luck!"
He turned and was going, then stopped and hurried back. "OH!" he cried. "I can't believe I almost forgot to tell you! Beware of...the Wicked Warlock of the West!"
"The --"
"He's terrible! Ever since we dropped that house on his brother." He shook his head. "That was a bad scene, I can tell you. Sometimes I wonder if it was worth it, 'cause now he's worse than the other one."
Finally he bade them farewell and made good on it, leaving Loner and Thantor standing in amazement at the crossroad.
"Well," said Thantor. "I suppose you can help us here, Loner. Left or right?..."
Loner was still a moment, then pointed to the right. They started off.
Well, thought Loner, I suppose we're off to see the Wizard...
Loner heard quick footfalls on the road ahead. "'Tis a Halfling," said Thantor.
"Aye," said the Halfling, stopping directly in front of them. "I represent the Lollipop Guild. And on behalf of the Lollipop Guild, I wish to welcome you to the shadow realm!"
"A nonsense realm, more like," said Thantor in an undertone. "*Ahem* Tell me, good sir, we seek a man who is lost. Have you happened to find anyone wounded and wandering this way?"
The lad shook his head. "Mmmm-nope," he replied. "But if anyone would know of such a thing, it would be..." He looked about, leaned forward, and lowered his voice reverently: "The Wizard." He then placed a hand over his heart and bowed solemnly.
"The Wizard?" Thantor repeated. The Halfling nodded somberly. "You must go to the Wizard and ask him."
Loner stepped forward. "Where can we find this Wizard?"
"He lives far away," the lad said in a mystical tone. "In the Sapphire City."
"And how does one find the Sapphire City?" Loner asked, becoming exasperated.
"All you have to do," the little man replied, "is follow the road you are now on."
Thantor looked about. "But we seem to be standing at a crossroad," he said.
The Halfling nodded. "Mmmm, true. Well, you could go that way, or you could go that other way. Of course some people do go both ways. Good luck!"
He turned and was going, then stopped and hurried back. "OH!" he cried. "I can't believe I almost forgot to tell you! Beware of...the Wicked Warlock of the West!"
"The --"
"He's terrible! Ever since we dropped that house on his brother." He shook his head. "That was a bad scene, I can tell you. Sometimes I wonder if it was worth it, 'cause now he's worse than the other one."
Finally he bade them farewell and made good on it, leaving Loner and Thantor standing in amazement at the crossroad.
"Well," said Thantor. "I suppose you can help us here, Loner. Left or right?..."
Loner was still a moment, then pointed to the right. They started off.
Well, thought Loner, I suppose we're off to see the Wizard...
Waverly kept track of Loner and Thantor ever so diligently. He couldn’t believe that just two of them came to retrieve Kramor. Perhaps the others had enough common sense to give him up for dead. When the last of the runes were drawn, Waverly decided he may as well hurry them along. There was no direction they could approach Kramor from and not trigger his snare. Waverly had never been mazed, but he was sure it wasn’t a pleasant experience. The denizens of these particular mazes he had learned the keys to were rumored to drive their prey insane before digesting them alive. He must thank that old wizard for those tomes.. no wait he had killed that mage. Oh well.
Walking up to Kramor, Waverly prepared to send out the call that would bring Loner post haste. Instinctively Kramor lashed out, but Waverly sidestepped the attack and dropped a vial on the ground before stepping through a dimension door. As the vial cracked open an acid cloud formed and Kramor cried out as if the gates of hell had been opened.
edit: ooc: err Loner, if you and your 'little dog' have other plans, than by all means avoid the traps. I'll be in the emeral city entertaining my courtesans
[ 06-17-2001: Message edited by: Waverly ]
Walking up to Kramor, Waverly prepared to send out the call that would bring Loner post haste. Instinctively Kramor lashed out, but Waverly sidestepped the attack and dropped a vial on the ground before stepping through a dimension door. As the vial cracked open an acid cloud formed and Kramor cried out as if the gates of hell had been opened.
edit: ooc: err Loner, if you and your 'little dog' have other plans, than by all means avoid the traps. I'll be in the emeral city entertaining my courtesans
[ 06-17-2001: Message edited by: Waverly ]
Then darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time