GameBanshee Forums

Thantor came to the landing. "I hate to interrupt this," he said, "but we have to move now. The battle can only divert the Warlock for so long. Soon he will come back."

Loner and Kramor joined the others, and the group went in search of the Hooters' quarters.

OOC: Can I go to the Hooter's Quarters too? I really want to!

OOC You do know they're not there, right Gwally? What would Lady Vivien say?

Dragon Wench cursed. Momentarily at a loss, she started to rain the gnome with flame arrows in the hope that it would at least disrupt his spellcasting.
"Such small men are not supposed to be able to grow that large," she muttered to herself in disgust.

Wartknee the Giant Gnome stomped around, enjoying his new greatness. Just for the fun of it, he kicked one of the remaining Fire Elementals, knocking it several hundred yards into the river. Gwalchmai thought that there would be no way to defeat this monster, as powerful as he is. Then an idea struck him. Gwalchmai snapped the whip out, causing it to wrap around one of the gnome's ankles. Then Gwalchmai quickly ran around the monster, tying up its feet. "The bigger they are..."


OOC Knowing the Warlock, there are probably tons of video cameras in the Hooter's quarters. I could at least grab a few tapes!

[ 06-26-2001: Message edited by: Gwalchmai ]

[ 06-26-2001: Message edited by: loner72 ]

At Gwalchmai's expertise with his new weapon, the giant soon lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground. Dragon Wench smiled wickedly and quaffed a fire breath potion. Now that the enemy was down.....and so much larger he was far easier to target . The giant let out a bellow of pain as Dragon Wench carefully directed her breath to a well chosen mark.

ooc: hope that's not too far out of line. I figured that this might a good time to inject some comic relief, but I'd be happy to change it.

[ 06-27-2001: Message edited by: dragon wench ]

OOC- welcome back Dragon Wench!!! we missed you!

*********
Coming out of stupor, jennabard slowly opened her eyes, her wounds bound but the pain still intense, forcing her to grasp for breath. the shadow in her mind hiss out loud at the chains that decorate jennabard's wrists and ankles. the nemisis started to throw a fit at made jenna wince when she notice the collar around her neck. jenna sat up and tried to destroy the chains but to no avail. she studied her little prison and the tested the boundaries of the shield. she found no means of escape. dizzy from starvation and thirst she slowly became aware that they were not alone.

"you..."

"yes, my pet, it is i your Master. i've waited for a long time to find you again. i never thought that i will find you in almost the same state as the first time...hunted." the shadow drew closer until she could see the gaunt shadow that was once her lover.

the Master gaze a little while longer, studying jenna with eyes as cold as ice and devoid of any human emotion.

"i know you to be a proud girl, so i'll not try to presuade you to join me. however you are far too useful to me and in your weaken state, perfect for what i have in mind." he smiled coldly watching the words sink into jenna's fractured mind.

jennabard knew her death will come soon if not painfully. the nemisis writhe in her mind screaming to get out of this new prison.
with all the bravado she could muster, jennabard looked back as coldly as possible and smiled back. "once a flame always a flame."

the shadow mage always admired her spirit and wished she never found out that he never loved her. she was too useful as a willing tool, but she weakness cause her to rebel. her need to be loved, something he could never give.

adjusting the various crystals around the anti-magic field the Master looked at jenna.

"shall we start with the experiments?"

The group of warriors soon found their way to the hooters quarters due to the horrific stench leading them their. Due to the hooters ability to fly there were many traps on the floor. Nippy pushed one of the halflings out of the way and an arrow bounced harmlessly off his armour.
"Be careful now. I want the halflings to go through in twos. One detecting traps the other removing them."

Soon the traps were removed and they came upon a long, thin chest. You could almost feel the evil radiate from it.

"OK someone detect and remove the traps and I will hide the staff in a blanket" said Nippy.

"OK got it lets make a hasty retreat" said Thantor.

"NO! Growled Kramor. That bastard will pay for the evils upon my love tenfold"


OOC: I'll let you continue loner!

Loner stretched out her hand. "No," she said to Kramor. "Thantor is right. We have to get out of here. We have you, and we have the Staff. Let's just go."

The party made their way back down to the great hall...only to come face to face with the Warlock himself, surrounded by his elite guard and a contingent of Hooters girls, bows drawn. Dagret and his company immediately donned their glasses.

"Leaving so soon?" said the Warlock. "I wouldn't dream of it. Why, my little party's just beginning!"

While the Warlock was cackling over this, Dagret swore. "The reinforcements must have been driven back!"

"Right you are," the Warlock said. "And now...it is time for my fun to begin. It has been delayed for far too long already."

"Aren't you forgetting something?" said Thantor, and held up the Staff.

"Yes, I see you have my most valued possession. Well, I may be willing to strike a bargain with you. I'll give you the Staff, in exchange for something I want."

"And what might that be?" asked Loner.

The Warlock advanced a step. "The ruby slippers. Give them to me."

Loner's jaw dropped. Thantor whirled around to face her. "The slippers -- the shoes Manveru gave you before we left the Prime Material!"

"The very ones," said the Warlock.

"Don't give them to him, Loner," said Thantor. "Their magic must be very powerful, for him to want them so badly."

"But I'm the only one who knows how to use them!" cried the Warlock, advancing another step. "They're useless to you!! Give them to me, or I'll --"

Just then Loner pulled the slippers from her pack. Without any command, the innocuous shoes seemed to glow with a power of their own, encompassing the whole party in a soft pink aura. The Warlock screamed and began to cast protection spells on himself; the guards readied their swords; the Hooters girls raised their bows. The the slippers sprang into action again, and the Ruby Ray of Reversal shot forth, taking the Warlock's protection down. Sweet shoes, thought Loner...

With the walocks protection spells down Nippy and Kramor advanced towards the warlock.

"We've got a score to settle" said Nippy.

"Not today my friends" cackled the warlock. He teleported away.

"Damn! I wanted to kill him" shouted Kramor.

"We've got other problems though" whispered Thantor.

At that moment the rear guard of the warlock advanced.

Nippy charged into battle. His katanas were like a blazing inferno. His fire blade was blazing like an uncontrollable fire and his cold blade froze on touch. All this due to the intense rage he felt in his soul. The warlock had escaped. The blades sliced through the Halter tops +3 of the Hooters they were frozen in place or burned to a cinder.

Kramor raged into battle. He was almost in a bezerker state. He got gash upon gash but shrugged the wounds off. He had a reason. His love had been hurt and someone was to pay. He lopped off three of the elite guards head in one stroke. He had an arrow in his leg. he simply pulled it out ignoring any wounds that befell him.

The rest of the group did not know what to do. Loner could not move due to the protective enchantment around her and the rest of the group.
At last Thantor casted some support spells giving Kranor skin of stone and Nippy protection from Normal missiles.
The arrows bounced off the two warriors. There blades singing through the air cut down enemy upon enemy. Thantor was removing opposition with destructive spells from the fire sphere.

After the 10 minutes of the battle they felt like it lasted hours until the enemy was gone. There was still a dead echo around the castle of death throes and piercing battle cries. There was the awful stench of blood and death. Already the bodies had begun to stench like carrion.

Kramors energy was spent. He was battle weary and was injured. Thantor began healing spells upon Kramor and Nippy

The healing complete they exited the castle. The lullaby league had setup camp outside. There was cries of "hurrah" as they exited. Nippy however was not in a joyous mood. He had not only just taken part in a slaughter akin to the death of cattle he had failed his quest. He had failed to kill the warlock.

With little left to do he excused himself of his companions.

"I must leave" he said.

"But why!?," cried Thantor (not weeping crying ) "There is so much still to do"

"What are you talking about man? The warlock has fled and I have failed my quest to end the tyrant!"

"Ah, no you haven't my friend. We will continue to search for him on our plane."

"Well...Well what I ask is difficult. May I be permitted to join you in your quest? I am skilled in the art of the katana and I also have knowledge of kai healing. I will surely help you in your noble quest!"

Oblivious to the discussion the mages of the group formed a circle. They began a deep and long incantation. They called on the elements to bring down the castle. There was a massive thud as rocks were lifted up and pelted down on the castle. Fire, acid, lightning anything came down on the castle to remove it's foul presence.

OOC: I'll leave the rest up to you loner/thantor/kramor. I forgot to mention my class: warrior monk (allowed to use blades)

[ 06-27-2001: Message edited by: Nippy ]

Dragon Wench gazed at the agonized expression of the giant. If you don't want that to happen again I suggest you start talking, now.
The giant, curled into a fetal position, shuddered in pain.
"I'm just following orders," he said feebly.

"That's usually the excuse for genocide isn't it, blame someody else," spit Dragon Wench acidly.

"Ok then," she continued, "whose orders are you following?" Even as she posed the question, she had an awfull feeling that she already knew the answer. This sort of base slaughter was all too familiar; she struggled to repress the nausea that threatened to overwhelm her. Dark shadows swam before her eyes, and the screams of a terrified people echoed in her ears. "No!," she said quietly to herself, "I can't deal with this, not now."
And then she heard the words that confirmed the gut wrenching emotions twisting around inside her soul, "I'm working for the Shadow Master."

ooc, I'm thinking that maybe the warlock and the shadow master could be the same person. As you'll have gathered I'm working on beginning to expose large chunks of my past life, much of which will become evident at the return of Loner, Kramo et al.
let me know what you think.

[ 06-27-2001: Message edited by: dragon wench ]

Georgi rode further into the forest, unsure how she knew where to go, but knowing, all the same. She reined in her horse, reaching a small clearing, and quickly dismounted. She was close now... "This way, my lady," Anomen's voice called. She stumbled towards the sound, and almost tripped over the lifeless body.

She gazed down, uncomprehendingly, at Darkpoet, arrows protruding from his torso, glazed eyes staring up at her from a blood-stained face. She turned away, and leaned against a nearby tree as a dizzying sickness washed over her. When it subsided, she knelt on the ground next to him, and reached out to close his eyes, tears welling in her own, then pulled out the arrows. "Damn you, Anomen!" she screamed at the forest, "You said I could save him..." Her anger gave way to helpless sobbing.

"You still can, my lady..." Georgi looked up, but there was no one to be seen. Looking down, she saw her hands were encompassed in a blue glow, familiar to her, but unlike any magic she had ever learned. But she knew enough to focus her magical energy, and she reached out to Darkpoet again.

When her hands made contact, the agonising pain returned to Georgi's head. She gritted her teeth, concentrating on the magic. As she did so, the pain spread throughout her whole body, until it overtook her and she passed out, falling forwards.

Anomen helped her up. She recognised her surroundings, a large cavern in the Underdark... "Am I dead?" she asked him.

He shook his head. "No, resurrection is a very draining process... I'm sorry, I didn't know the effect it would have, using my power through someone untrained. I apologise for the pain, my lady."

Georgi rubbed her head. "Anomen, what has happened to you? The man I left back at the battlefield... that was you, but not all of you... what can we do?"

"You recall, my lady, interrupting a binding ritual some time ago? That was the final step in removing the good part of my soul, which was supposed to be confined, removing all possibility of the two being reintegrated. But your interruption allowed this part of me to escape. Helm has allowed me some use of my powers..."

"Such as when you resurrected me?"

"Yes, and the transfer of that power to you just now." Anomen looked mournfully into Georgi's eyes, "Please, my lady, you must find out how to restore my soul. There is a great evil controlling my mortal body... it has manifested itself within Jennabard also. You have to stop it. I know not how, but this connection to you may be the key." He smiled suddenly. "You must go. He's regaining consciousness."

The scene slowly faded...

A faint moan startled Georgi back into the real world. She saw Darkpoet's eyes flutter open, and smiled. "Can you travel? We need to get back to the others."

He gingerly sat up, looking confused. "I think so... but... Jennabard?"

Georgi's brow furrowed. "You've seen her? Is she here?"

Darkpoet shook his head. "He took her... the Shadow Master must have taken her." He climbed to his feet and helped Georgi up, and they mounted the horse and set off back towards the battlefield.

[OOC: @Dragonwench: I Hate comic relief! How dare you inject this story with comic relief? You know I NEVER say anything funny! This is a serious situation. We are faced with a Giant Gnome about to stomp us into the ground! Clearly the only solution is to sick the Miniature Giant Space Hamster on him! — j/k Read on:]

IC

“I’m working for the Shadow Master” the large gnome said, and with that his body seemed to heave and crack open. The original, small, Wartknee suddenly broke out of the large body, stark naked and running like hell. Gwalchmai grabbed for the gnome, but he slipped away. The gnome was surprisingly fast and his skin was kinda greasy. Soon, Wartknee crested a hill and was gone, his cackling fading with distance.

Vivien noticed the stricken look on Dragonwench’s face and ran to her but Dragonwench soon composed herself.

Meanwhile, Gwalchmai picked through the remains of the large gnome, “Its just a papiermaché construct!” he said incredulously, “Well, at least he left all his little goodies behind.” Gwalchmai picked up several items that seemed to radiate magic: a red ring set with amethyst, a heavy girdle with an iron clasp, and a pearl amulet. “Too bad Jennabard isn’t here. She could identify these in a flash.”

“I’ve got an Identify spell memorized, but just one,” Vivien offered. She took the girdle and performed her incantation, “Seems to be a Girdle of Dwarven Constitution. That might explain how that gnome could regenerate so fast. Hmmm, I wonder how this would work with our old Ring of Swift Recovery?” A coy smile played across her face.

[ 06-27-2001: Message edited by: loner72 ]

Originally posted by loner72:
<STRONG>

[ 06-27-2001: Message edited by: loner72 ]</STRONG>

OOC:
Great addition, Loner! I love your use of the blankness, signifying your own blindness and empty heart - only to be filled again by your surprising use of the date, your own name, and those immortal words "message edited by." Classic! Bravo! (J/K )

{OOC @Gwalchmai: I thought the use of existential nihilism at this point in the story would indeed manifest Loner's empirical knowledge of her own irrational nothingness. In addition, the "editing" makes clear the sense of illusory reality, constantly "re-written" by the very nature of impermanence. }

ooc, @Loner, do you know when you guys are returning to camp?

Thantor found Loner and Kramor by the fire. They were not talking to each other, both seemingly lost in thought. "It is good to have you back, Kramor. The trees back on the Prime Material Plane were missing your head-knocking." Kramor managed a weak smile as Thantor sat down next to them. "I have something to tell you that may be of interest. There may be a way address Loner's blindness." Kramor bolted upright. "Is this possible? Tell me what you know!" he demanded.

"When Loner and I first came to this realm, I notice that it is psychomorphic-- responsive to thought. Reality, such as it is, is more malleable here. Perhaps we can use this to our advantage." Loner, who had been listening quietly, turned so that she was directly facing Thantor. "I don't mean to be pessimistic, Thantor, but while the reality here may be more pliable, I am not. I don't see how this could help me." There was dejection in her voice. "It would take a miracle." Kramor put his arm around her, struggling between the tiny spark of hope that Thantor offered, and his own inner doubts.

"You are quick to accept the sovereignty of the physical and dismiss the influence of the extraordinary," noted Thantor. "In my way of thinking, the reason that magic works at all is because our whole existence takes place inside a dream. There is a force, however, that I believe lies beyond the dream. A force that bears witness to the true Reality." Loner showed increased interest in what Thantor was saying. Thantor had hinted of interlocking realms of power, but had never formally spoken of them.

"You speak of miracles, but have you ever considered them as an energy, studied them as one might study lore or tactics? It is said," Thantor went on, "that miracles occur naturally as expressions of love. The real miracle is the love that inspires them. In this sense, everything that comes from love is a miracle." From the look on Kramor's face, Thantor was sure that Kramor knew were this was going. "Do you remember the merging phenomenon we spoke of that occurred between you and Kramor?" Thantor asked Loner. Loner nodded, and she felt chills of excitement within her. Was there really a way … could it be true? She could feel a similar excitement in Kramor. "The effect of the field of force that the two of you generate may have a more profound effect here in the shadow realm. The mages and I can create a vortex of energy through chanting and other means. I will be sure to add component of "healing mist" for privacy," Thantor chuckled. Loner blushed and Kramor gave a broad smile. "What happens then is up to the two of you. You should know that there is a risk. We cannot be sure what will happen when the shadow realm and the vortex intersect. Shall we try?"

Kramor looked at Loner. "It's up to you, Loner. I think you know I will do whatever it takes." No one spoke for some time. "I think a purple mist would be nice," Loner offered lightly, breaking the silence. "With a hint of yellow around the edges."

"It shall be so, my lady," Thantor laughed, and he left to make the arrangements.

[ 06-28-2001: Message edited by: thantor3 ]

{OOC @Thantor: Purple and yellow, eh? Nice color scheme, Than...}

Loner was glad the others weren't here to snicker at them { }. When Thantor left she turned to Kramor. "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked quietly. Kramor knew why she had asked him that, and tenderly touched the scars on her face in response.

*****************
Towards dawn Loner awoke, still wrapped up in Kramor's arms. She had never removed the blindfold. Kramor had tried to convince her to remove it but she had been adamant. The wounds were still too ghastly.

She had been awake for a few moments when she felt a searing pain in her eyes. She rose quietly so as not to wake Kramor, threw on her cloak, and stumbled outside. The pain was growing deeper and more intense by the second, boring into her head, it seemed. Finally she cried out and collapsed to her knees at the edge of a nearby stream.

Thantor and Nippy heard her and ran over. Kramor awoke with the awaremess that something was happening, grabbed a robe and rushed out.

He found Thantor, holding on to a pain-wracked Loner and chanting softly. "Gods," he said, going to her. "What's happening to her?"

"Wait," said Nippy.

Loner finally quieted. There was silence for a while.

Nippy looked at Thantor. "I think so," Thantor softly replied to Nippy's expression. "Loner," he said. "Take off the blindfold."

She hesitated. "Kramor?" she said in a quaking voice. "I'm right here," he answered, taking her hand. She reached back and removed the blindfold.

The wounds were still there, but much healing was evident. "Try to open your eyes," said Nippy. Loner struggled to do so, and finally, to her astonishment, succeeded in lifting her lids a tiny bit. Through the slits she could make out vague forms, lights and shadows, and the movement of the water before her. She didn't understand, and turned to Thantor.

"How am I seeing?" she asked, breathless. "My eyes were completely destroyed."

Thantor grinned. "The organs of your sight have been restored. Re-made, actually. You have new eyes, Loner. Literally."

"It will probably take some time for you to see properly," said Nippy. "You must be patient."

Loner turned to Kramor. "I can see you," she said, smiling.