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Raneth
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Post by Raneth »

Her assault rather brutally rebuffed, Vryala abandoned her plan of trying to trick it to sleep on the spot. There wasn't the luxury of being fancy, it seemed, and she gripped her shield a bit tighter, biting through the numbness of her arm. Karonath was sent sprawling as well, but she'd seen the Khainite get up from a lot worse, and knew she still had the best chance of dealing with this mutant. Time to go old school; V would pin the bastard for K to decapitate.

Doing what the ladies do best. Or so I hope!
Vryala Naïlo - WS5 / S5 / T5 / D5 / I4

Equipment: bastard sword of Speed, shield of Defence, repeater (20/20), spear, mace, dagger, Armour of Night, SDC, whip, blowpipe (9/12)
Inventory: amulet of Strength, grapple, grenade x0, smoke x11, map, mage hand, sleep oil x8, cure balms x20, Yori's balms x1, winter gear, old kit, lion mask
Mount: Dark Steed (Blanky), barding, talisman of Protection
Gold: 1735
Skills: Defensive Fighting, Anarin Sarath (2), Basic Ride
Class: Warrior
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Drainial
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Post by Drainial »

'Shiny' that was Elysian's first, deeply un profound, thought. The tablet gleamed with the kind of inner light that only gold seemed to posses. Elysian had heard that the Dwarves had over a thousand words for gold; that was probably nonsense as such unsophisticated rustics could surely only remember a few thousand words in total, if they used them all up on gold they wouldn't have any left for ale, or dirt. The second thought was 'that was a bloody powerful ward.'

It was embarrassing as much as anything that he should have missed it. Whatever else could be said of house Tvar they were no slouches when it came to magical protection. Quite aside from the fact of the ward and whether or not he himself would be able to pass through it two issues came to mind. Had it already been breached and if so just how powerful was this thing? If it had actually caused this invasion it must have a great deal of power or else a special link to some great leader of the barbarians. He would only learn more however by taking a closer look. Time was running out and if they were to get the tablet away from this place and to a place of relative safety they needed more information and they needed it quickly.

"Caroc, come and help me have a look at this thing. You have been a corsair, perhaps you will have come across something like it in your travels. Let’s not touch it until we have checked it out a little, I don't want to set off any pressure traps or turn into a newt without a bloody good reason."

Elysian will go and have a closer look inviting Caroc to do the same. He is looking for traps or dangers associated with removing it from the plinth or the room. If he finds none his plan is to take it and cover it with something (magic or not if we are seen with a big hunk of gold everyone and their mother will want to kill us, dark elf or not.
Moding a group of Druchii.net players is much like directing the musical 'Cats' using actual cats. Frustrating, difficult, chaotic but ultimatley satisfying and a great deal of fun.

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Calisson
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Post by Calisson »

IN THE NORTH

Casaythe and Caraoc had left the two bodies inside the library, out of immeidate vision from a newcomer.
As he walked, Caraoc observed an alternative path near the bookshelves, free of glass, where they could move noiselessly in case of need.

As Caraoc neared the secret passage with Casaythe following him closely, he heared Elysian calling him.
'...Let’s not touch it until we have checked it out a little, I don't want to set off any pressure traps.', he said.

Enhanced with Elysian's call, the gold lust proved to be stronger than the initial, reasonable intention to check first the altar room.
Or was it only gold lust? Anyway, Caraoc felt dragged towards the secret passage. And he saw no objection to that.

As he passed the ward, he got a similar feeling as Elysian had just experienced.
The pilot's experience in wards was much lesser than the thief's. But still, the arcanist did realize that this ward was preventing something to get out, rather than the contrary.

Had them been trapped there by now?
Caraoc flashed back to his former vision.
"Chaos Warriors leaving the burning temple, roars of victory in their deep throats as they stole away something golden."

Now he could see the Shadowmancer scrutinizing the dark pillar with a gold tablet, which was illuminating the small room.
Caraoc told Elysian:
"I'm not worried. We should be able to do what Chaos Warriors were meant to achieve in the vision."

There it was. Caraoc couldn't retreive his eyes from the fascinating tablet.
"Precioussss... my preciousss...." :p

Examining the tablet.
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Caraoc the scald pilot - WS3 S4 T2 D5 I5 - A saga or it didn't happen!
Equipment: staff, repeater handbow (8 clips + 18/20), Sea Dragon Cloak,
Inventory: "Beastbane" Horn - Mount: - Gold: 100
Skills: Power of Azyr (2), Evasion
Class: Mage (Astromancer)
Winds never stop blowing, Oceans are borderless. Get a ship and a crew, so the World will be ours! Today the World, tomorrow Nagg! {--|oBrotherhood of the Coast!o|--}
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Dauricha
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Post by Dauricha »

Dancing through a warm rain. His sword flashed and struck, his free hand punching, pulling back heads to slit beastly throats. Phalx remained close to Vryala and Karonath as they moved with the Witches, caught up in their wild slaughter. He was lost in it, surrounded by the scant blood dripping beauties and the slaughter he sowed with them. It was ecstasy.

He didn't see the Beast Champion to begin with, so lost in the blood. He let fire with Deathspitter into the living wall of Beastmen. It was when Karonath hit the brute directly that he was shaken from it. By all the gods the brute was a true horror. What a thing to face, what a beast to slay. Phalx was calmer now, slightly. He was thinking as he move behind the heavily armored Vryala. He was needed in this fight, but not here, not in the teeth and claws. One eye on the surrounding Beastmen Phalx moved.

Phalx is aiming to flank the Beast Lord, either drawing its attention to give Vryala and Karonath and opening, or to fully get at its back. If the second happens, he'll aim for a few quick strikes at one of its legs.
Phalx Tr'dasr – WS5 / S4 / T4 / D5 / I4
Equipment: Deathspitter (5/20) 4 of these poisoned (1/2x QD, 3xSD), short sword, dagger, punching dagger (Bloodthirst Rune), shade cloak, full leather armour
Inventory: thieves tools, torches x3, healing balms x5, rope and grapple, Vikarh map, dice, winter gear, orc tusk,
Mount: Dark Steed
Gold: 5829
Skills: Basic Stealth, Precision Fire, Basic Ride, Frenzy, Ambidexterity,Suithenlu Khythan (1): SP2
Class: Shade
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Kinslayer
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Post by Kinslayer »


Phalx joined the combat with the Beast Lord a moment after Karonath and Vryala did, running up behind his armoured companion with all earlier thoughts against the Warrior temporarily pushed aside. If anything their rivalry could at times like these give them strength, for the Shade was not about to let the glory of such an impressive enemy as this go to another if he could help it, let alone Vryala. Phalx reached the combat just as Vryala forced herself back to her feet and Karonath turned around, the Beast Lord not hesitating for a moment as it lashed out with one of the broadswords and turned after K. The nimble Khainite turned in time to see the blade coming and hopped back out of reach, but before V or Phalx could capitalize on the Beast Lord turning it's back it span back to face them, one sword sweeping low as the other chopped in from above. Vryala knocked the overhead blade aside with her shield this time, using the Beast Lords own strength to cause the hit to glance, stepping back from the low sweep. Phalx darted in at the side, having silently joined the challenge.

The Shade was quick, and his short sword lashed out for the flesh of the massive Beast Lords leg, but despite his agility the Beast Lord somehow saw the hit coming. It stepped over the blade almost without looking down, and suddenly took a step towards the Shade, turning side on to Vryala with Karonath at it's back. The step let it avoid the return swing of Karonaths' Draich, and it loomed over Phalx as suddenly as he had arrived. With an almost dissatisfied grunt the Beastman Champion drove one of it's massive knees into the Shades' chest, knocking the wind from him even as it sent him into a backwards stumble. Bloodfeather was chopping down again, but the Beast Lord span on it's heels and brought it's two huge swords up to form a cross, catching the Draich and twisting it aside with almost casual ease. As it's weapons went down driving Bloodfeather towards the ground, Vryala charged in once more from the side.

Vryala pounced on the Beastman and tried to grapple it and hold it in place so her comrades could try again, but even as she grabbed hold of one of it's meaty arms in her own vice like grip she felt the strength coursing through it's veins. Attempting to take the Beast Lord down or even restrain it seemed futile, and as she grabbed it the creature roared in defiance and span, lifting her from the ground on the end of it's arm before stretching it out and flinging her to the ground. Vryala hit the hard rubble on her back with a groan of pain, and instantly kicked herself into a backwards roll just in time to avoid the two handed overhead chop of a notched broadsword. The Beast Lord missed by scant inches, and it took Vryala a moment to register that the beast was now clutching only one sword. The other she suddenly noticed was on the ground beside her, though it looked heavy enough to be unwieldy for a Druchii.

As the Beast Lord had hurled her it must have lost it's grip on the weapon, but it was still armed with another. Not only that, it reacted so fast to their attacks that it was almost as if it could see them coming before they even moved.



***


In the Tvar library, Caraoc and Casaythe made it back inside after hiding the bodies of the Marauders just in time to hear Elysian shout out from the hidden passageway. The Corsairs' had been just about to check out the altar room as Caraoc had heard a noise there when the secret door opened, but everything still seemed silent and still so he instead went after Elysian, Casaythe following him through the darkness behind the flickering brazier. As they passed through the wall into the dark corridor, Caraoc too felt the magical ward that was wrought into the very foundations of the stone building, though Casaythe felt only a chill pass down his spine. The ward was a clever one, as well as an incredibly powerful one. It seemed to Caraoc in his momentary glimpse of the spell that it was actually made to turned outside attention away, so no wonder Elysian had not noticed it when they had arrived. Not only that, it seemed to be designed to hold something in rather than out, a thought which made Caraoc shudder like his friend.

Whatever they were expecting to find in the small vault the passage led to however, they were both taken by surprise when they found Elysian stood in front of a black plinth that visibly glowed with the illumination of the artefact sat on top of it. It was a square tablet seemingly made of solid gold, some two foot across and almost six inches thick, carved with strange runes that almost looked like a strange hieroglyphic script. It wasn't just a priceless lump of gold either, the tablet shimmered with arcane power when looked at in the aether, a pure white light unlike anything the Mages had ever seen, as if all eight Winds of Magic were bound together into a single, purer form. That the tablet was magical they had no doubt, but what it's purpose could possibly be they had not a clue. Any attempt to delve any deeper than to view the surface was repelled by a mind-numbing jolt of empty blackness. Caraoc however, despite not being able to read the tablet, felt a strange certainty that it was the cause of his vision, and that it had called to him to retrieve it. To what purpose, he couldn't even guess. Perhaps to save it from the clutches of Chaos? But why him? Why him, Elysian and Casaythe?

"You have been a corsair, perhaps you will have come across something like it in your travels?" Elysian continued.
"I have sailed far, but this is a power I have never seen" confirmed Caraoc.
Casaythe looked at the tablet for what it was physically and added, "It isn't Druchii made, that's for sure, but it doesn't seem human either."



The Corsairs' suggestion received contemplating nods from the Mages, who began to study the plinth for any signs of further wards or traps, but neither of them saw anything. It was simply an artefact on a stone plinth. It took a few seconds pause however before they dared to pick it up, and Elysian had already suggested that they hide it with something before they went back outside. Thinking quickly, the Mage unbuckled the Cloak of Dusk that he wore, the magical cloak once worn by the now dead Shade who had once accompanied him and the others, Vash'nir. The cloak turned the very air around it to shadow, and in darkness made it's bearer, or in this case it's contents, almost completely invisible save for a shimmering silhouette if seen from more than twenty or so paces. The Mages' carefully picked up the tablet as Casaythe kept a wary eye on both the proceedings in the vault and the dark passage through which they had came. The Mages' were surprised when nothing ill happened when they lifted the artefact from it's resting place, and Caraoc helped Elysian wrap it in his cloak. The glow of the tablet was lost inside the cloak, completely shrouding it from view.

For the moment, Elysian kept hold of the heavy item, though clutching it between both arms against his chest he knew it would need to change hands at least a few times before they reached House Blackthorn, for surely that was the place to take such a thing, and it's weight meant they would tire quickly. He voiced such beliefs to the Corsairs' who had no objections, for despite this being a plentiful bounty were they to split it and run, neither of the Mages dared risk trying to break the powerful item, and both were curious to find out more about it's origins. Perhaps Blackthorn could help, and Casaythe too was weary from the fight and wanted to return to a place of rest, at least for the time being. They made their way back into the hall of the library, and as they did so the Mages' physically felt the magical tablet grow more powerful in the aether. It was like a beacon that had been kept locked in the dark, now being brought forth to illuminate and reveal itself once more. Fortunately it seemed the Cloak of Dusk was keeping it's power contained to a relatively small area, for they felt certain now that the Chaos forces had somehow been drawn to the tablet the same way they had, when the ward keeping it secret had been damaged by the Executioners. They had to take it away and hide it before someone discovered that they had it.

As they returned to the dark hall however, they remembered the sound from the altar room just off to their right. The moment they had disturbed Tvars' hidden vault the Mages' had heard a dull thud from that direction, but neither had yet investigated it any further. The fact the whole library had suddenly gone dark too, witchlights that had burned for years suddenly extinguished by the opening of the vault, told them something was wrong. Casaythe had not heard the noise however, being outside at the time, and was unaware of the disturbance until Caraoc asked him to check it out. Elysian however was already heading towards the main door with their precious cargo clutched in his arms, happy to leave before anything bad could happen. Caraoc however had an uneasy feeling, and he approached the archway and held the brazier so Casaythe could see inside. The Corsair straight away saw the three walls of the small antechamber and the casket that dominated the chamber. He called it a casket, because clearly it had once been closed. Now the heavy stone lid lay on the ground beside, cracked along it's length.

"I take it that's how the casket looked before?" asked Casaythe, causing Caraoc to come closer for a look, and even Elysian to stop half way to the door and turn his head.

Crunch...

Elysian heard the sound of broken glass being crushed underfoot, as something in the darkness beside him moved for the first time since they had returned from the vault.
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Calisson
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Post by Calisson »

IN THE NORTH

Elysian had taken the item. No adverse reaction.
He enveloped it in a special cloak he had. It concealed him and it quite well.
The trio moved out of the secret passage. Surprisingly, the ward did not react. That cloak is really powerful! admired Caraoc.

Once inside the library, the artefact was irradiating more power, just as if it was exited to travel around. The cloak dimmed it still, but less efficiently than in the corridor.
Hard to tell who was the happiest, from the golden tablet or its bearers.
"Well, that was easier than I thought." observed Caraoc, in a good mood.

Then he recalled about the noise around the altar.
"Could we check that room?" asked him to Casaythe.
As he lifted the still burning brazier, he could hardly take his sight off from behind. The silhouette of Elysian was shining an ever shifting halo that no arcane eye could miss.

Then Casaythe told about the casket.
"Casket? Altar!"
Quick glance.
"By all Hekarti's thumbs.
WE RELEASED A VAMPIRE!"
shouted him.
Those stories heard at House Blackthorn were becoming true.

Too dark to see what was going on.
The vampire did not attack immediately.
Probably the most perverse of its kind. Certainly a female one.
Darkness was what the vampire was looking for.
She was going to dance around the trio and make them cry with dread, not being able to see where to aim.

Caraoc warned his companions:
"That Baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when we're looking she falls apart
Baby loves to dance, love to dance in the dark
Run, run, her kiss is a vampire grin
The moon lights away while she's howlin' at us
She's a tramp, she's a vamp, but she still kills the dance"


Both arms had to be readied. Light had to be made.
Caraoc threw the brazier onto the books spread over the floor.
The flames hesitated a few seconds, then one book took fire, and another one.
"Quick, Casaythe!"
The books were covering only one third of the library's floor. There was no reason to remain on the part which was being ignited.

Burn!

OOC: Lady Gaga - Dance In The Dark
Lyrics: http://www.directlyrics.com/lady-gaga-d ... yrics.html
Soundtrack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4oohBftPMs

OOC: Caraoc resumed singing! :o
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Caraoc the scald pilot - WS3 S4 T2 D5 I5 - A saga or it didn't happen!
Equipment: staff, repeater handbow (8 clips + 18/20), Sea Dragon Cloak,
Inventory: "Beastbane" Horn - Mount: - Gold: 100
Skills: Power of Azyr (2), Evasion
Class: Mage (Astromancer)
Winds never stop blowing, Oceans are borderless. Get a ship and a crew, so the World will be ours! Today the World, tomorrow Nagg! {--|oBrotherhood of the Coast!o|--}
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Drainial
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Post by Drainial »

Whatever magic this tablet possessed no one had thought to make the gold lighter, and he was certainly not about to try and tamper with a thing like this. The magic of the tablet was strange, he could assign no wind to it and yet it did not have the bitter, burning feel of Dhar. Perhaps this was Qyish, the magic supposedly used by Asur mages; then again the Asur alphabet was similar to the base Druck Eltharion runes and he did not recognise any of these angular letters. Not for the first time in his life Elysian cursed his truncated education forced upon him by Malekith's paranoia. If not for the edict of Caledor he would have been a sorcerer of the convent, a master of the darkest arts and, Elysian reflected, he would probably have someone to carry any heavy artefacts he might find. It was no use grinding about such things though, Blackthorn might know where it was from, at the very least he could probably bring in experts who would (but that meant the convent, something he was far from comfortable with). There was no where else they could go, the tablet itself was a beacon of power and there would be no hiding it forever. Still at least they had gotten away from the library without any major incident; if they hurried they might even get back to the tower without encountering more than random gangs of enemy warriors.

"By all Hekarti's thumbs. WE RELEASED A VAMPIRE!" Caroc's shout send an involuntary shiver down his spine
"Curse the first slack thighed whore that ever opened her legs to an elf of house Tvar!" he hissed in anger and dismay. If Caroc was right then they were all dead, he had barely survived his last encounter with a vampire, for that matter he had barely survived all of his encounters with Euan Tvar. Then he had had the support of the other mercenaries, warriors and shades who had faced her before. To kill her had taken all the strength of house Blackthorn and decades of work, if they had woken another horror just as terrible Elysian put their odds of survival at something less than 10000 to 1. On the plus side any chaos warlord who fancied taking this trinket for themselves would be in for a shock but that thought didn't comfort Elysian too much. He had an altruistic side but it didn't get much exercise.

"Get to the door!" he called to the others "I will try to slow it, whatever it is." Hoping that they would heed his words Elysian prepared to exert his magical powers once more. With any luck what they had woken was some lesser fiend but nothing they found here would welcome thieves. Death was strong here but shadow blew hard as well, he could use that. Careful to exclude his partners in crime he exerted his will on the shadows in the air, biding them to take shape and grasp like tendrils at his unseen foe.


Elysian will cast a spell trying to make the shadows into ropes to catch and hold or at least slow whatever was in the casket. If he is not near the door then he will make his way towards it as well. He will make sure that he and the corsairs are not included in his spell.
Moding a group of Druchii.net players is much like directing the musical 'Cats' using actual cats. Frustrating, difficult, chaotic but ultimatley satisfying and a great deal of fun.

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Kinslayer
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Post by Kinslayer »


The altar in the antechamber had been no altar at all, but a black casket well disguised and holding some slumbering horror. A horror which, now that the secret vault had been opened, had awoken to guard House Tvars' greatest treasure. Caraoc immediately jumped to the worst conclusion and called out to Elysian that they had released a Vampire, but the Shadow Mage dared not to believe what the Astromancer was saying. He had been there at the Fall of Tvar, the final battle in the Blackthorn Estate where the Vampire had crumbled to ash. The blades of the group had hacked away at her seemingly endless strength, before Varin had flown down on his Dark Pegasus, the monstrous creature impaling the creature on it's deadly horn. The Blackthorn Dagger itself had dealt her the final blow, the weapon that had started the century old feud between the two houses when it had been stolen from House Blackthorn in the time of Varins' forefathers. Now the weapon rested in the Blackthorn vault once more, and if they had indeed just unleashed another such creature upon Vikarh Elysian knew they would be helpless without it.

Eaun Tvar it seemed however, had been wise or selfish enough not to share her gift with another. What they faced in the library now was no Vampire, but that fact gave them little satisfaction as Elysian and the Corsairs turned and set eyes upon this new foe. Caraoc had thrown his brazier down onto the piles of books spread across the floor, and one side of the library was suddenly thrown out of darkness as a fiery blaze spread out across the ground. The firelight revealed a gleaming skull grin in the darkness by the doorway, the nightmare they had awoken having made quick work of blocking their only escape. The skeletal Druchii stood almost resplendent in it's silver armour and purple cloak, the steel breastplate emblazoned with a large stylised 'Z'. Elysian recognised the mark at once, the sign of the Zukhil Guard, the elite guard force of House Tvar. He had not seen one of the deadly Grave Guard since Tvar had been defeated, but he remembered them well. This one seemed different, he could tell straight away. It clutched a massive sword in it's iron gauntlets in a two handed grip, which it held out in challenge as it leered at them from under it's spike topped iron helmet.

The Zukhil Wight was not armed with sword and shield, and it's purple cloak and robes had a silver trim that Elysian had never seen before. The Wight burned with an aura of strength and terror, and could only be the Champion of the Zukhil.


OOC - Just giving a bit more description to last modpost, will wait for Casaythe to post in the north before I go with your spell Drainial. Feel free to post again though.
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Raneth
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Post by Raneth »

Intending to create some opportunities for her nimbler comrades, Vryala once again braved the reach of those massive swords and lunged in for the takedown. This beast, however, was proving itself quite a bit stronger and tons more agile than the Cockatrice still. It threw her off without much apparent effort, all while rebuffing K and Phalx as well; she scrambled back to her feet just in time to avoid a would-be lethal strike to the cranium. Dismayed, V looked around to find one of the Beast Lord's crude blades at her feet - her assault had not been entirely without results.

Stowing her own enchanted sword and shield, she risked a moment to appraise the blade, and immediately found that it was too heavy a weapon for any Druchii to wield one-handed, let alone with the speed the Beastman could muster. However, V knew herself to be as strong an Elf as they come; if any of them could wield this blade effectively it would be her. She swung it about - less balanced than a Draich, for sure, but the weight practically guaranteed some damage. Now reaching for the sleep-inducing poison once more, she liberally splashed it over its serrated edge.

All she needed was one hit.

V goes double-time. Duck the first swing, rip the Beast a new one. Hopefully it will be more manageable after that!
Vryala Naïlo - WS5 / S5 / T5 / D5 / I4

Equipment: bastard sword of Speed, shield of Defence, repeater (20/20), spear, mace, dagger, Armour of Night, SDC, whip, blowpipe (9/12)
Inventory: amulet of Strength, grapple, grenade x0, smoke x11, map, mage hand, sleep oil x8, cure balms x20, Yori's balms x1, winter gear, old kit, lion mask
Mount: Dark Steed (Blanky), barding, talisman of Protection
Gold: 1735
Skills: Defensive Fighting, Anarin Sarath (2), Basic Ride
Class: Warrior
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Nightcall
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Post by Nightcall »

IN THE NORTH

Having entered the treasure room with Caraoc and Elysian, Casaythe couldn't help but lick his lips greedily at the sight of the golden tablet. Arcane or not, he could buy a whole fleet with that, and as Elysian wrapped it up in his Cloak of Dusk, the corsair fantasised about how he could steal it and what he would do with the earnings should he sell it to the right person.

Fantasies were all that they were though. Unless his companions all got killed. And that might still be on the cards...

'Forked tongues of sea-dragons, what now?' he exclaimed upon seeing some skeletal form present itself. It had appeared to have come out of a sarcophagus within the altar room that Caraoc had been eager to investigate. Was it a guardian of this treasure, or was it just awoken by their presence in the library? He wasn't sure, but the wight light in the horror's eyes flickered with cold fury as it approached, ever ready to claim the trio in unlife.

Elysian yelled for them to get to the door, and Casaythe thoroughly agreed with the idea. The mage was up to something, but Casaythe realised that he was the bearer of the treasure, and must get out. Whatever magic the shadowmancer and Caraoc could weave, he suspected that this monster could quite easily deal with it. Being dead an' all...

'Now would be a good time to run for it.' he suggested, waving his glaive about in a threatening manner at the sword wielding wight. 'You two go ahead, I'll be right behind you.' "Dark gods, what am I doing..."

Is hoping to attract the horror's attention so the mages can get out with the tablet, whilst he holds it at bay with the length of his glaive. Wants to get out alive too of course!
Casaythe Blackstorm - Warrior (Corsair) - Group 22
Skills: Awareness, Endurance
Equipment: Short Sword, Glaive, Medium Armour, Sea Dragon Cloak, Repeater Crossbow, clip of bolts [11/20], 405 gold, Talisman of Darkness, Tool Kit, 2 months' rations
Stats: WS4, S4, T5, D3, I4

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Post by Dauricha »

Phalx took a coughing breath, the stench of the Beast Lord thick in his nostrils. The bastard was fast. Once again Vryala was thrown away, landing with a great crash of armour and noise. He had lost one cruel weapon however. Th beast was a creature of the mad gods of the north, and no doubt blessed by them. Fine so be it. He felt his pouch of bolts and knew he had many left, and a few special ones to boot.

He sheathed his sword again, without the dagger he was less then deadly up close, and with such a horrid brute. His ribs ached from the powerful blow to his chest. On top of all the other wounds he had received of late he was not feeling well. He needed to rest, needed to gather his strength. One last bastard, he told himself, just one more kill.

Phalx will reload Deathspitter with Quick Kill bolts. He will then aim for the monsters arms and head, hopefully above his comrades.
Phalx Tr'dasr – WS5 / S4 / T4 / D5 / I4
Equipment: Deathspitter (5/20) 4 of these poisoned (1/2x QD, 3xSD), short sword, dagger, punching dagger (Bloodthirst Rune), shade cloak, full leather armour
Inventory: thieves tools, torches x3, healing balms x5, rope and grapple, Vikarh map, dice, winter gear, orc tusk,
Mount: Dark Steed
Gold: 5829
Skills: Basic Stealth, Precision Fire, Basic Ride, Frenzy, Ambidexterity,Suithenlu Khythan (1): SP2
Class: Shade
Check out, http://thingsfrom1934.com/
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Kinslayer
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Post by Kinslayer »


The Beastlord stood triumphantly over the three mercenaries for a moment, Vryala on the ground in front of it beside it's fallen sword, Phalx on his knees to the left where he had been kicked down. Karonath stood defiantly behind the creature, but she barely stood as high as the Beastlords' shoulders, and it had huge curved horns that sprouted from it's skull. As the Khainite began her next advance upon the creature it turned to face her, it's arms wide in a display of power that caused the onlooking beasts of the herd to howl their applause. Unseen to the Beastlord as it turned it's back on them, both Phalx and Vryala pushed themselves back to their feet, pushing aside the numbing pain of their battered bodies. Vryala slid her enchanted blade back into it's sheath and flung her shield across her back, deciding to take up the Beastlords' own fallen weapon and use it against it. Phalx meanwhile stayed low only long enough to switch the clip in his magical repeater, putting in the last of his bolts poisoned with the hyper-traumatic Dark Venom.

Karonath ran into the immovable object that was the Beastlord again, swinging her Draich in an upward cut this time that the Chaos champion batted down with a mangy grin. As the huge cleaver of the Beastlord hit the ground, Karonath danced around the blade and lashed out again, scoring a long gouge across the exposed skin and fur of the creatures' chest before it could bring it's heavy blade back up to block. A huge stream of red blood sailed through the air from the cut, flung from the end of Bloodfeather to fall upon the bestial crowd like rain. The Beastlord didn't howl in pain or stumble backwards as expected, but instead changed it's grip on the heavy blade only long enough to smash one double sized fist into the side of the Khainites' helmeted skull. Karonath went down like a falling rock, her golden helmet the only thing protecting her head from being crushed under the powerful hit. Instead she hit the ground face down barely a moment after the fist connected, with force enough to send loose stones and splinters of wood spinning up into the air around her. And there she stayed, knocked senseless by the Lord of the herd.



Vryala watched her friend go down from behind the Beastlord as she dripped a vial of sleeping toxin onto the tainted blade, hoping to at least slow her opponent down if not outright paralyse it as the potion was supposed to do. The toxin bubbled and steamed as it touched the notched blade, confirming her suspicion that the weapon itself was as tainted as the creature that had wielded it, leaving her in doubt as to whether the poison had settled on the blade or simply evaporated. Beside her Phalx rushed to his feet once more, snapping the firing mechanism on Deathspitter back into place and taking aim at the Beastlords' back. He had a clear shot for a moment and bolt after bolt thudded from his repeater, one hitting the back of the champions' shoulder and causing it to snap around with a savage snarl. It's motion caused the next three bolts to sail past it, but a third hit it in the chest just as Vryala hefted the long broadsword and swung it in a quick practise sweep. The tip of the blade went back to the ground and almost caused her to stumble, but she went with the motion and turned it into a wild spin that brought the blade back up and across, aiming a slash at the Beastlord.

The bestial champion seemed transfixed to the spot as Vryala swung at it, barely able to keep hold of the heavy blade as she drove it around, aiming for it's neck. The weight of the weapon caused it to hit far lower than expected, and it tore a great gouge through the Beastlords' abdomen before it struck the rubble strewn ground once again, throwing up sparks that seemed to glitter blue rather than gold. The Beastlord did not scream, it simply looked down dumbfounded as it's entrails spilled out on the ground in front of it, and it's arms went limply to it's sides. The second of the chaotic weapons slipped from it's fingers, and the mercenaries noticed the flesh around the bolt protruding from it's shoulder had lost it's mangy hair, and blackened veins could be seen bulging beneath the skin as Phalxs' venom took hold. The toxins failed to kill the Beastlord outright, as if the creature was somehow forcing itself to live on for a few more moments in an attempt to finish the pair, but Vryalas' wound to it's gut now drove it to it's knees.

The Beastlord let out a gurgling cackle of dark laughter as it fell to it's side and exhaled it's last breath. The onlooking herd immediately roared their disbelief, and began to push against each other in their panic.



***


In the Tvar library, the Wight Lord stepped out of the darkness below the pillar beside the doorway into the path of the mercenaries, silent save for the crunch of the glass being powdered beneath it's ironclad, skeletal feet. The champion levelled it's great sword in challenge, and patiently waited for the thieves to approach it, almost becoming a ghastly statue save the fluttering of it's purple robes in the breeze that blew in from outside. It's silver armour glittered in the firelight as Caraocs' blaze quickly spread, already starting to climb the bottom of the wooden bookcases on their side of the library. It would only take minutes for the whole chamber to become a blazing inferno, and the Zukhil Lord seemed ready and willing in it's unlife to keep them trapped until they all burned together. Clearly it had been reincarnated with only one command in it's rotten mind, to awake the moment the vault was breached and protect what was kept within at all costs. Now Elysian, Casaythe and Caraoc were trapped by the undead Wight, and the fire had put a countdown on their chance to get past it.

They quickly decided that taking it on in an attempt to outright kill it would be unwise, pressed for time as they still were and also lacking the greater part of the fighting contingent of their group. What they did have on their side was quick wits, agility and magic, not to mention a stalwart and well equipped Corsair in the form of Casaythe. Elysian was already casting his mind out and reaching for the Wind of Ulgu, pulling the power of the shadows to himself until the firelight itself seemed to shy away from him, leaving him half shrouded in darkness. Caraoc had just thrown the brazier down and was now summoning his own energy, the power of Azyr creeping back into his veins slowly and first but with more and more vigour every moment he let it build up. As the two Mages prepared their spells, Casaythe marched forth to Elysians' position and stood beside the Shadow Mage as he prepared himself in mind and body for what he was about to do. Hoping to distract the Wight Lord so his comrades could get past it with the tablet, Casaythe took a deep breath and charged the unmoving guard.



The Zukhil Champion burst into motion with speed that belied it's earlier creeping movements and temporary standstill. It brought it's huge sword up as Casaythe neared it and then stepped almost right onto his glaive. It swung the blade around almost effortlessly, the dark magic of Shyish the only thing fuelling it's skeletal limbs but strong enough to lend the Guard Champion speed and immortal strength. The Corsair brought his glaive up to defend himself but the Wight advanced no further, bringing it's blade down in a cut that was kept at bay by the length of his polearm. It was only as the blade missed his face that Casaythe realised the blade had never been aimed for him, and he quickly lashed his glaive away as the two handed sword of his undead opponent made to sever the weapons' hilt. The blade missed the glaive by a hairsbreadth and clipped the stone floor of the library will a sharp clang. Casaythe had no time to capitalise on the lowered weapon and attack, for the Wight ripped it back upwards so close to his chin that he stepped backwards out of sheer instinctual fright at seeing something move so close to his face.

It was then that Elysian struck, seeing the Corsair struggling to shift the Wight from the doorway. At his command, the shadows that clung to the high ceiling of the chamber started to writhe and move like a body of living snakes, curling around each other as they slowly started to descend from above the Wight. Caraoc stepped up beside Elysian as the Shadowmancer put more effort of will into aiming and speeding up his spell, his own power now reaching a good level to cast a spell, the faint flicker of sparks forming an aura around him at random intervals. If the Astromancer held on for too long without casting the results could be catastrophic, and trapped indoors as he was with no view of the skies he could not read the fates from the stars. It was attack or defend, and it had to be direct, unless he wanted a comet bringing the roof down on their heads. As he contemplated a spell, Elysians' shadow tendrils suddenly rushed down as he cast forward his arms, the darkness reaching for the Zukhil Champion and coiling around it's arms as it swept it's blade for Casaythes' head.

The Corsair ducked, but the blade only missed because it seemed to slow down before it reached him. When he came back up he saw the darkness that clutched their opponent, but knew it would never be able to hold such a creature for long.
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Raneth
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Post by Raneth »

The poison Vryala applied had apparently sizzled off the blade, but the sight of Karonath falling confirmed time to reassess her strategy had run out. She stumbled under the weight of the crude weapon; with a grunt of resolve, she willed her muscles to push past their normal limits and spin with the momentum for a death-or-glory attack. Bolts sailed inches past her head as she delivered the final swing, the Beastlord still in that victory pose, while the herd still watched with confidence in their eyes.

No doubt thanks to the Amulet around her neck, V hit the beast with enough force to cut deep into its midriff, and to her surprise it fell down to its knees. Only now did she see the effects of Dark Venom around Phalx' hits, and she risked a glance back at him to share a grin, before summoning the very last of her strength to rip the blade through and finish the Beastlord in an orgy of blood.

As their leader slumped to the ground, the goatman audience turned tail as one and fled back towards the gate, doubtlessly right into the waiting blades of the Maibds. Their deaths were sure to be painful, but V hadn't the time to relish this righteousness. K wasn't moving, and needed help fast.

CPR, Bandaids, anything. Time for some good old-fashioned battlefield healing.

OOC: Vryala wants to take back the Beastman's (great-)sword for at least further examination. That okay Jase?
Vryala Naïlo - WS5 / S5 / T5 / D5 / I4

Equipment: bastard sword of Speed, shield of Defence, repeater (20/20), spear, mace, dagger, Armour of Night, SDC, whip, blowpipe (9/12)
Inventory: amulet of Strength, grapple, grenade x0, smoke x11, map, mage hand, sleep oil x8, cure balms x20, Yori's balms x1, winter gear, old kit, lion mask
Mount: Dark Steed (Blanky), barding, talisman of Protection
Gold: 1735
Skills: Defensive Fighting, Anarin Sarath (2), Basic Ride
Class: Warrior
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Dauricha
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Post by Dauricha »

Phalx watched the bolts strike, seeing the gold fly from Deathspitter. These were his finest bolts with the deadliest poison. If these bastards didn't kill that horned bastard little else he had could. He watched Karonath go down, wit a blow that would have either pulverized his own head, or knocked it clean off. was she dead, the helmet seemed intact but still.

Three bolt flew by, pure gold wasted. Another struck the monster in the chest, as Vryala went in for the kill. A rather unnecessary blade for a warrior such as herself but it teared as good as any other. Its hair was mottling, black spiderweb like lines crossing its form. It should have been dead by now, but damn it, spilt guts would surely see it fall.

It dead, and heavily. Phalx was breathing heavily. He had four of those beautiful bolts left. He would have to remember to pick up a few more of those beauties. It was having the effect, the cows were running. Phalx gave a howl, what joy there as to be found in seeing your foe run. Vryala would see to Karonath, Phalx would see a few more of the horn heads dead.

Phalx will secure the area, scaring off any of the remaining beastmen whilst Vryala tends to Karonath.

OOC: Might be my only post for a few days. I'm off to visit some friends.
Phalx Tr'dasr – WS5 / S4 / T4 / D5 / I4
Equipment: Deathspitter (5/20) 4 of these poisoned (1/2x QD, 3xSD), short sword, dagger, punching dagger (Bloodthirst Rune), shade cloak, full leather armour
Inventory: thieves tools, torches x3, healing balms x5, rope and grapple, Vikarh map, dice, winter gear, orc tusk,
Mount: Dark Steed
Gold: 5829
Skills: Basic Stealth, Precision Fire, Basic Ride, Frenzy, Ambidexterity,Suithenlu Khythan (1): SP2
Class: Shade
Check out, http://thingsfrom1934.com/
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Calisson
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Post by Calisson »

IN THE NORTH

The exit was there. They had to get out, for the atmosphere was quickly filling with smoke.
But there was this undead champion. The Wight did not attack them, but blocked the only way out.
Caraoc needed more air. The breeze was blowing in from outside, fluttering the gast’s purple robe.

Get on the sides, I’ll try to pump a stronger wind to push that skeleton deeper inside.
Caraoc knew the love affair between fire and air: where fire was raging, the air would come in a haste, and together they would fuel more fire.
The idea was here to have a sudden influx of wind to push the wight into the library, leaving enough room for the adventurers to get out. Better, it could possibly damage the skellie with the proximity of the fire.
It had to work, and to work fast.

I Wanna See You Push It Push It Push It
I Wanna See You Move It Move It Move It
I Wanna See You Wind It Wind It Wind It


Calling strong wind to push the wight inside the library

OOC: Pretty ricky & sean paul - push it baby
Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/prettyri ... tbaby.html
Video: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1tm3w ... baby_music
OOC: last days, over busy at work.
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Caraoc the scald pilot - WS3 S4 T2 D5 I5 - A saga or it didn't happen!
Equipment: staff, repeater handbow (8 clips + 18/20), Sea Dragon Cloak,
Inventory: "Beastbane" Horn - Mount: - Gold: 100
Skills: Power of Azyr (2), Evasion
Class: Mage (Astromancer)
Winds never stop blowing, Oceans are borderless. Get a ship and a crew, so the World will be ours! Today the World, tomorrow Nagg! {--|oBrotherhood of the Coast!o|--}
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Post by Nightcall »

IN THE NORTH

"Damn that was close..." His instincts had saved him, but only thanks to the wight being slowed somehow. He had already nearly lost his glaive, and now nearly his head. For a walking stack of dust and bones, his opponent showed a frightening level of intelligence apparent in the way he countered and attacked.

The fire was spreading, and the smoke was stinging his eyes as the ancient tomes were consumed. He imagined the mages would be sick to the back teeth at losing all that knowledge.

Caraoc called for them to move to the sides, and so Casaythe sidestepped to the left of the doorway, trying to still draw the wight with him. If he could lure him back, would he buy his companions a few precious moments to make their escape? The risk that he would be trapped here with the undead guardian played on his mind. He prepared himself for another barrage, crouching and raising his weapon in a defensive position across his body.

Dancing with the dead dude.
Casaythe Blackstorm - Warrior (Corsair) - Group 22
Skills: Awareness, Endurance
Equipment: Short Sword, Glaive, Medium Armour, Sea Dragon Cloak, Repeater Crossbow, clip of bolts [11/20], 405 gold, Talisman of Darkness, Tool Kit, 2 months' rations
Stats: WS4, S4, T5, D3, I4

Mod, Group 38
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Drainial
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Post by Drainial »

On the plus side it wasn't a vampire, on the down side the skeletal wight was proving to be a tough customer and to top it off it had somehow managed to get between them and the exit. Smoke was filling the air as dancing flames erased lifetimes of knowledge, perhaps forever, dark mages were not known for overly large print runs. He wished he could save some of the remaining manuscripts but there was no time. His spell may have saved Casathye's life, though he was no seer to know the fates of others, but Elysian knew from bitter experience not to try and maintain such spells for too long. Indeed it was hardly worth doing, he had tried to prevent it from intercepting them and in that he had failed, now they needed to destroy or disable it in order to progress and they needed to do so quickly. The wight had fine equipment, more than the equal of their own warrior, he could try to even those odds a little.

Using Chamon Elysian will attack the Wight’s sword to rust and degrade it so that it loses its edge and strength.
Moding a group of Druchii.net players is much like directing the musical 'Cats' using actual cats. Frustrating, difficult, chaotic but ultimatley satisfying and a great deal of fun.

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Kinslayer
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Post by Kinslayer »


In the east, the Beastlord lay slain by the three mercenaries thanks to a combination of poison, strength and sheer determination. Karonath lay injured however, and the challenge had proved to be a costly victory that had sapped the last of their strength. Fortunately the beastmen all around them did not rush the group in anger, but turned and started pushing each other in fear. It seemed where only moments ago the the resolve of the herd had seemed unbreakable, the charge of the Witches and then seeing their champion cut down had now caused the beastmen to panic. The fear spread like a fever across the ramshackle herd, another huge swathe of the beastmen already fleeing before the Witches. More and more of the beastmen routed and fled, until the Witch Elves were shouting victories cries as they ran after them, stabbing them in the back with poisoned blades. Many of the herd ran straight onto the waiting blades of the Executioners, and dozens were beheaded as they tried to push past the golden armoured warriors.

Those who made it past them all still had to contend with the Drach, who had flown his Dragon back into the breach, cutting off the way back for all save the lucky few hundred that got past. Within just a few minutes the herd was dispersing en mass, and shortly after that the beastmen were trampling each other and being crushed between the bodies of their kin as they struggled to get away from the Maibds and past the Drach. Phalx had cut down those he had the strength to reach before returning to the girls, getting back to find Karonath sitting upright with Vryala applying a healing balm to the cut on the side of her head. The Khainite was concious after all, but had taken quite a hit from the champion of the herd. After all the fighting they didn't have the strength to pursue the fleeing beastmen, they had used the last of it when they charged with the Maibds, let alone their battle with the Beastlord. They looked eastward and watched the forces of Vikarh reaping their bloody revenge as they overran the fleeing herd.

They stood catching their breath as they heard the blast of Druchii horns signalling the victory, and watched as the Khainite forces followed the Drach and Hag out through the breach, pursuing the last of the herd out of Vikarh and northward. It was a pursuit that would also bring them around the City to the North Gate, closing off the escape for the Chaos Warriors once they realised their beastmen allies had been defeated. The mercenaries were too far away to hear the commands being shouted, but knew the Drach would want to regroup with his champion in the north as soon as possible, for the defence of the City was his first and greatest concern. The Hag would follow, for there was more blood for her and the warriors of the Temple of Khaine to spill this day. The City Guard remained inside the breach, called to a halt by whoever command had fallen to now that so many of their number had been slain. They were quickly ordered into small regiments again and sent off to silence the dying and deal with the last of the Orcs still vandalising the City.

For Vryala, Phalx and Karonath, there was nothing more they could do to help the fight. Exhaustion threatened, but they still had a long walk back to the north, to see if House Blackthorn had survived the siege.



***


In the Tvar library, the Zukhil Champion continued to swing it's two handed blade for Casaythe as Elysian kept it held by the writhing energy of Ulgu. Tendrils of shadow clung to the undead creature and shortened it's reach, slowing it's movements enough for Casaythe to at least avoid them and see them coming in time to react. The Corsair continued to work defensively with the Wight Lord however, unable to get into a good enough position to try and turn the tables on his opponent. Fortunately, his Corsair friend was on hand to help, and he heard Caraoc call for him to step to the side. Still working his glaive to block the constant pressing of the ancient broadsword, Casaythe began to step to his left so that the Wight Lord was forced to rotate with him. Caraoc had been building power and summoning a spell, and the moment he had the right alignment between his allies and enemy he unleashed the words of power in a rush of deadly wind. The air howled like a raging beast as it blew in from outside, and Elysian immediately dropped his shadow spell to release the Wight Lord into the blast of the wind.

The air rushed in with enough force to rip the Zukhil Champions' purple and gold cloak from it's silver shoulder pauldrons, and a moment later the Wight itself began to stumble away from the door. It tried to plant it's feet on the ground at the top of the stairs between the pillars, but it's armoured boots scraped as the sheer power of the wind dragged it inwards. A moment later and the Wight was crashing down the stairs, finally losing it's lifeless ability to hold itself upright against the gale. As it tumbled it's blade had already started to rust and corrode, Elysian having turned his mind to a spell fuelled by Chamon this time. The wind caught the fires in the library and swept them into a raging blaze as suddenly as the Wight had fallen, and suddenly the entire library was an inferno of hot air and choking smoke. The flames burst up along the bookcases on the far wall, and the three mercenaries were forced to make a run for the door as the wind abated as quickly as it had arrived, Caraoc letting his spell drop and running for his life.

Elysian made it out first, still clutching the golden tablet to his chest inside the Cloak of Dusk. Casaythe was right behind him, but stopped at the door and turned to defend Caraoc if necessary. The Astromancer ran past him and leaped out into the clear air just as the Wight Lord appeared through a wall of flame like an apparition from hell. It's leering skull grin appeared under as a bleach white dome, it's iron helmet lost during the fall. It's cloak had blown away and burned to cinders, as had all the finery that had once adorned it's armour. Now the iron plates were blackened and burned, and it's sword was bubbling with corrosion and blunted by rust. Yet still the Wight moved with an unthinking determination fuelled by the sheer will of a being long since cast back into the abyss of oblivion. Casaythe had to throw himself backwards through the door to avoid the downward cut of the large blade, and he skidded across the ground before throwing himself down the steps outside back into the square, where Elysian and Caraoc looked back and waited for him to catch up.

The Zukhil Champion emerged from the shadowy doorway behind them. It levelled the short, jagged spike of it's now broken blade at the trio and opened it's bony jaw in a soundless roar that was still terrifying to behold.

The Wight Lord began to descend the steps in pursuit of the mercenaries and the stolen artefact it was raised to protect. The library was now burning behind it, sending thick black smoke into the air for all around to see.


OOC - Yes Vryala you can take it, though as I have tried to get across it is unwieldy for a Druchii to use even two handed. Think Cloud from Final Fantasy 7.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... fe_art.jpg

Drainial, the Wight was already by the main door not the antechamber door sorry, it crossed the room while you were all in the vault after watching you from the antechamber.

Vryala, -1 healing balm, + Tainted Broadsword
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Calisson
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Post by Calisson »

IN THE NORTH

Azyr winds intervened and provided the kick the trio needed to be able to rush out of the library, which was becoming progressively an inferno.

Countless tomes were turned into ashes. Given the taste shown by House Tvar leaders, they were probably among the finest and the rarest.
Good, thought the corsair. The next tomes we steal will get a higher value on the market.

They had made it in the open. Alive.

- Catching breath -

Caraoc soaked the sweat on his forehead.
He had noticed that while Azyr power overcame brutally the undead champion's steadiness, Elysian had proven again to be able to use the winds of magic in a much more subtle and accurate way.
How can magic be so focused? wondered Caraoc.

No time for such investigation. The Wight was still un-alive (OOC: how do you say that?) and behaved as it was angry at them.
It seemed to be slower than them, but contrary to them, it needed no rest and seemed not willing to pause. Ever.

The once formidable foe looked more manageable now with his main weapon reduced to a puny rusted needle. Casaythe might be able to handle that threat for some time.
Could them outrun their foe long enough for the golden artifact to be sold or brought to a safe heaven like House Blackthorn? Doubtful. But that could be investigated.
Remembering the dangers lying in between them and House Blackthorn, Marauders, Chaos ironclad brutes and now the restless Wight, Caraoc imagined to leap in the sky again and circumvent them all.
Once in House Blackthorn, they would find strong allies to fend off those threats.

He concentrated on a single blast of pure Azyr energy, which would thrust them three into the skies, towards their destination.
Landing wouldn't be a problem, the skies were full of cloudy cushions, one of them would smooth the arrival.
Hopefully they would land close enough to House Blackthorn to reach it without further attack.

Immediately before casting the spell, Caraoc frowned: he knew he could get sufficient power from Azyr, but would he be able to be as accurate and focused as Elysian?
Nah, no time for doubts. Never mind, go ahead and adjust as you can. Even landing on a rooftop would be fine.

"Let's take off tonight, Going in so hard that the world can't take us,
Out of sight, Say goodbye and we disappear,
Let's take off tonight, Going in so hard that the world can't take us,
Can't take us, can't take us,
Break it down now, Shake the ground now,
Wanna hear you scream loud with the countdown, (5)
With the countdown, (4) With the countdown, (3, 2, 1)..."


"Ignition."

Trying to lift the trio towards House Blackthorn with a blast of pure Azyr energy.
Learning how to become a space pilot. :p


OOC: Conor Maynard - Take Off
Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/conormay ... keoff.html
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_Si3oBwIHY
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Caraoc the scald pilot - WS3 S4 T2 D5 I5 - A saga or it didn't happen!
Equipment: staff, repeater handbow (8 clips + 18/20), Sea Dragon Cloak,
Inventory: "Beastbane" Horn - Mount: - Gold: 100
Skills: Power of Azyr (2), Evasion
Class: Mage (Astromancer)
Winds never stop blowing, Oceans are borderless. Get a ship and a crew, so the World will be ours! Today the World, tomorrow Nagg! {--|oBrotherhood of the Coast!o|--}
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Drainial
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Post by Drainial »

Journeying with a mage, Elysian was discovering, was something that took getting used to. He wondered if the others he had travelled with felt the same, although he had felt on some level the build up of Azyr power in their singing companion the sudden gale nearly knocked Elysian off his feet. Despite being right at the heart of this sudden storm the skeletal warrior seemed fit to stand its ground but little by little the winds got the better of it and sent it stumbling towards the inferno the fire had now become. Inwardly cursing the loss of so much un-catalogued knowledge Elysian never the less realised that this was his chance to escape and rushed away from the flames towards the open air. Coughing the smoke from his lungs the thief looked back to see the corsairs follow him out. Unfortunately they were themselves followed by the wight, battered and with its finery in ruins but still intent on protecting its crypt and very likely retrieving the tablet. That was something he had no intention of allowing; in the first place one wight no matter how powerful would be able to keep the artefact from the chaos hordes, besides which no thief even reformed willingly gave up a prize like this. He knew he might well have to hand it over to Blackthorn but he was sure as hell not going to give it back to the shattered remnants of house Tavar.

Casathye was already squaring off with it and in its condition he might well win with no further help, that was not to say a little extra help would go amiss. The trouble now would be in destroying or disabling the fiend, since it could not die by conventional means that meant magic banishment or smashing it to such an extent that even if the animating spirit remained there was no way for the body itself to function. Elysian didn't know if Casathye's glaive had that kind of power, but he knew it could. Reaching out to the golden wind once more Elysian began his soft chanting, this time to enhance rather than degrade.

Elysian will enchant Casathye's glaive, boosting its power so that when he goes up against the zukhil wight he can hopefully smash it to bits.
Moding a group of Druchii.net players is much like directing the musical 'Cats' using actual cats. Frustrating, difficult, chaotic but ultimatley satisfying and a great deal of fun.

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Post by Nightcall »

Casaythe's hopes were raised as a blast of wind forced the wight backwards and sent him crashing down the stairs. Flames billowed up along with a searing draft from the burning that rasped across his face. He coughed at the fumes as the smoke pooled around the ceiling of the chamber, slowly falling downwards. Elysian and Caraoc made it out, Casaythe turning and defending their exit; his back to the doorway.

The roar of flames and cracking of stone and wood filled his ears, and he was sure he could smell his hair singe in the heat. 'Quickly, before those marauders turn up.' he urged.

Stepping out behind them, he turned slowly as a terrible roar mingled with the noise of the inferno. The skeletal guardian had survived the magical barrage and was now as furious as a manticore with a sore tooth. It brandished its corroded sword. Its purpose was clear - to slay them.

Out of instinct, Casaythe roared back, bringing his glaive down in an overhead strike, hoping to smash the monster's skull in two. The undead horror struck terror through him that made his bones shiver. Could it ever be stopped?

Hoping to bring the skeleton down or at least slow it so they can get away before the marauders arrive.
Casaythe Blackstorm - Warrior (Corsair) - Group 22
Skills: Awareness, Endurance
Equipment: Short Sword, Glaive, Medium Armour, Sea Dragon Cloak, Repeater Crossbow, clip of bolts [11/20], 405 gold, Talisman of Darkness, Tool Kit, 2 months' rations
Stats: WS4, S4, T5, D3, I4

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Kinslayer
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Post by Kinslayer »


Caraoc, Elysian and Casaythe made it out of the library as it became engulfed in smoke and flame, descending the stone steps into the square. The Mages turned around as they reached the bottom, waiting for Casaythe to catch them up. Caraoc was already summoning a great jet of Azyr energy to give the trio flight, and Elysian kept his grasp on the Wind of Chamon, turning the energy to another spell. Casaythe ran down the steps in front of them two at a time, hearing the scrape of metal on stone as the Wight emerged from the burning library behind him. Elysians' hex had corroded it's ancient blade and as it swung it for the Corsair and missed, it hit the stone and shattered, leaving only a jagged point. Knowing he had hampered the Wight as best he could, Elysian now turned his magic on Casaythes' glaive, infusing it with magic until it gleamed a brilliant silver.

The air was spinning around them now, Caraoc whipping the Wind of Azyr into a tempest that could launch them into the air. He would think about how to control their flight, not to mention how to land, once they were up there. Casaythe was left with only enough time for one more attack, and he met the Zukhil Champion at the base of the stone steps and let it lunge for him with it's broken blade. The Corsair dodged easily around the short range of the attack, the Wight seeming to take a moment to realise its' blade was now ruined. As it looked at the sword quizzically for a moment, the Corsair slashed his glaive around, it's glittering edge leaving a smear of golden light in the dark air for a moment behind it. The blade caught the Wight on the side of the shoulder, and shore through the corroded armour pauldron, before cutting through the bone of the arm and shearing off half a dozen of the undead Champions' skeletal ribs.

Despite losing it's left arm, which clattered to the floor beside it still clutching it's ruined sword, and having half it's ribcage smashed by the enchanted blade, the Wight Lord did not falter. It stepped closer and reached for Casaythe with it's other hand, just as the Corsair felt a rush of air behind him and heard Caraoc shouting over the gale. The Corsair hopped back out of the undead Champions' reach, leaping straight into a huge upward draft that Elysian and Caraoc had already entered. The trio were lifted upwards by the howling wind, and watched the Zukhil Wight look up and glare at them as they soared higher and higher. Eventually it took it's chilling gaze off them, and stooped down to retrieve it's broken blade from the dead grip of it's severed arm. As they ascended higher than the three storey buildings that surrounded the square, taking the golden tablet with them, they saw firelight reaching the concealed square at last, as a mob of Chaos Marauders came out of the alleyway. Half a dozen armoured Chaos Warriors followed them into the dark square, clearly eager to claim their prize.

The Northmen did not find what they expected, instead coming face to face with an angry, one armed Wight and a burning library, their treasure already taken by the mercenaries gliding away above them.



***


Phalx, Vryala and Karonath made it back to House Blackthorn almost three hours after leaving the scene of the battlefield in the south east quarter of Vikarh. The three mercenaries were exhausted, and had only made it all the way back across the ruined City thanks to Phalxs' great skill with his crossbow, the Shade having knocked down several Orcs along the way so that the group did not have to face them in combat. Vryala was carrying the heavy blade of the Beastlord with her, so had her own weapons sheathed and was ill prepared for another fight. Karonath looked more bloodthirsty than ever, blood dried to one side of her face and Bloodfeather clutched in a white knuckle grip the entire march back to the north west. Other small bands of Druchii survivors gave the three mercenaries a wide berth when passing on the road, one look in the three warriors' eyes enough to assure them that the three meant trouble. When they finally reached the estate, they found Sevro waiting in the street outside with a small contingent of his guards.

The Guard Captain welcomed them back and immediately had his men open the gate, allowing the three mercenaries to head straight inside. Dead Marauders littered the road outside and a heap of armoured corpses was piled beside the gate. Clearly Sevro and his men had kept busy while the mercenaries had been away. The road was quiet now however, and Sevro left his men to their duty and followed the mercenaries inside, crossing the large courtyard and passing the stables, guard house and training hall before reaching House Blackthorn. In his few words to the trio on the way to the house, Sevro told them that Varin had only just returned. Heartrender had been wounded in the fighting at the North Gate, so Blackthorn had flown him back and left him to recover in his large pen behind the stables. Their Lord was tending to his noble mount himself, for no other could get near the Dark Pegasus without being kicked, impaled or otherwise seriously injured.

K, V and Phalx had plenty to tell Varin about the battle in the east, but first they wanted to see Yurul. The Master Apothecary worked in the right wing of the ground floor of the house, and they headed straight down there to see what the old healer could do to patch them up. Sevro followed them, still giving an informative speech of all he knew to be be going on in the Nobles Quarter, though it was of little interest to the exhausted mercenaries. They reached the Apothecarium to find Yurul already tending to several wounded guards, and Sevro ordered his men to their feet as the mercenaries arrived despite their bruised bodies, broken arms or terrible cuts inflicted in the fighting in the street. Yurul was soon applying a healing balm to the worst of their injuries, starting with the side of Karonaths' head before moving onto Vryala and then Phalx, the Shade refusing out of sheer will to be the next of the two to collapse onto the bed to be tended to.

As Yurul went about his work, Sevro cleared his throat and spoke once more. "What of the others? I saw Elysian with two Corsairs over an hour ago now, before they headed off to the Merchants' District. What of Fiat, and where is Saldrimek?"



***


Casaythe touched down first, as Caraoc would probably refer to it at least, in reality crashing to the ground in a stumbling run that ended in him sprawling on his face in the cold, wet snow. Perhaps it was due to the weight of his armour, though Elysian was still clutching the heavy tablet and he plummeted back to earth a few seconds after the Corsair. The Shadow Mage was released from the cloud of energy Caraoc had formed as it bobbed a little closer to the ground, and landed on his feet for a moment before the weight of the tablet pushed him to his knees. Caraoc dropped out of the air behind him with a mad laugh, ecstatic that his spell had worked despite now being completely drained of strength from sustaining it so long. The three mercenaries had drifted back to House Blackthorn above the rooftops on a cloud of Azyr energy, Elysian occasionally helping them stay unseen if unwelcome eyes turned to look at them from the streets below. Casaythe had taken over the weight of the tablet half way back, but had returned it to Elysian so that he could present it to Blackthorn.

In the air, they caught a beautiful glimpse of dawn approaching before they crashed down into the courtyard of the estate. A red sun was rising, an omen of bloodshed during the night, and the tainted moon had yet to fully retreat from the now starless sky, telling them that the powers of Chaos were strong this night too. The trio composed themselves and dragged themselves up onto aching legs, before crossing the courtyard from behind the guard house where they had landed in the direction of House Blackthorn. What they did not expect to find was the other half of their group waiting for them on the steps outside, along with three others. Varin, Sevro and Yurul were deep in conversation with the three mercenaries, who looked to Elysian and the Corsairs as though they had been fighting non stop since they had parted ways, each of them black and blue and clearly patched up by Yurul. The six Druchii turned to look at them as they returned, Varin looking curiously behind them as if wondering how they had arrived behind the guard house instead of outside the gate.

Varin greeted Elysian and the Corsairs with a curt nod and a warm smile, and as Sevro stepped forward to speak he cut his Guard Captain off by raising his hand, instead addressing the trio himself.
"Welcome back Elysian, friends. Sevro has told me everything of note, and these three of everything endured in the east. It seems the beastman herd has been broken and run down, the Drach and the Hag leading the defence in person. They have taken their forces north, and already they fall upon the human forces still holding the North Gate from outside. We were just organising what is left of our strength to go looking for you lot, and perhaps push north again to help retake the gate. The Northmen are surrounded but by Khaine do they put up a fight, so our strength may yet be needed to see this battle to it's end. I was just telling your comrades the fate of the traitors, for Kronus had been taken captive by Bane, and she now wears his Sorceress' head on a trophy spike upon her shoulder. When I left the fighting and flew back here, there were only a few hundred Chaos Warriors left alive."

The Highborn paused for a moment, signalling with quick hand gestures for Yurul to check the three mercenaries for their injuries, before his eyes turned to the package grasped to Elysians' chest, concealed in his magical cloak.
"Sevro had also told me of your revelation, Corsair Mage, and of where he sent you after the vision you spoke of to him. What evil did you uncover there? What were these Northmen looking for in the library?"


OOC - Speeding things along a bit here but our 4th Anniversary is fast approaching and I'd like that to be the start of the next chapter
:P
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Raneth
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Post by Raneth »

The streets were littered with debris, corpse piles containing friend and foe alike seemingly at every corner like morbid waymarks. V trudged along wordlessly, the Warlord's blade grating across the cobblestone drowning out the silence as she dragged it back to the Estate. She'd asked K if she felt okay, but apparently the Khainite was in no mood for talking. So they trudged, the three of them, all trying to put up a brave face despite their numerous injuries as to dissuade passers-by from approaching.

Sevro greeted them at the gates, caked in blood but unharmed, and immediately took them to see Yurul to tend their wounds. V grunted as her armour was removed, but her gaze steadied on the Captain as they spoke and through the pain she felt comfort. It was good to be home, to find it still standing in the wake of war. Not like last time. When Sevro asked about Fiat and Sal, V regrettingly informed him of their heroic demise. Their sacrifices may have well saved Vikarh itself. Where the others were, she could not tell - she just hoped Elysian's good sense of self-preservation would see him back safe.
In return, Vryala showed the Captain her latest trophy - the Beastman's massive broadsword, requesting it could be examined by a weaponsmith to see if it was safe for use. When he looked at her, puzzled, she smiled in agreement; it was going to be a steep test in itself to gain the necessary strength to ever properly wield it.

Once outside to assess the damage to the Estate, it didn't take long for the other three to make their appearance. All in one piece, so it would seem, which V had to give the Corsairs credit for. For those sea-dogs to survive in the hellhole this City had become was no mean feat, even with Elysian's guidance, and moreover they seemed to be carrying something with them. V smiled, awaiting their response to Blackthorn.
Vryala Naïlo - WS5 / S5 / T5 / D5 / I4

Equipment: bastard sword of Speed, shield of Defence, repeater (20/20), spear, mace, dagger, Armour of Night, SDC, whip, blowpipe (9/12)
Inventory: amulet of Strength, grapple, grenade x0, smoke x11, map, mage hand, sleep oil x8, cure balms x20, Yori's balms x1, winter gear, old kit, lion mask
Mount: Dark Steed (Blanky), barding, talisman of Protection
Gold: 1735
Skills: Defensive Fighting, Anarin Sarath (2), Basic Ride
Class: Warrior
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Calisson
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Post by Calisson »

IN THE NORTH - oops, now everybody is in the North...

-=-=-

A tornado had been summoned. It lifted the trio away from the reach of the Wight.
Phew! Just at the right time. Indeed, a horde of Warriors of Chaos stormed the square that the three companions had just left.
Unable to follow their steps, the Wight and the Northmen only could try and find a way to express their aggressivity and frustration against each other.

Whazza Heck(arti)! This is powerful! thought Caraoc in an ecstasy, as they were fast travelling in space.
It opened highly interesting perspectives to be investigated, possibly for a journey to the Moon itself. Caraoc would be the first pilot to land on another planet.

Once in the air, the control of the direction proved better than the first time.
In order to reach a perfect mastery of the steering, there were three necessary steps: practice, practice and more practice.
Hopefully, his companions would enjoy it as much as Caraoc.

-=-=-

Caraoc managed somehow to concentrate enough for the touchdown to be perfectly safe (meaning: out of reach of foes).
Three small clouds had conveniently cushioned the landing and decreased the speed, to the point that nothing worse than bruises were experienced by the three air-elves.
These clouds also managed to mask completely the landing.
Were they caused by Elysian's influence? Caraoc couldn't tell for sure.
What was certain was that no guard had seen them coming.

"Wow! Let's try again!"
The lack of enthusiasm shown by his two companions made Caraoc give another thought.
"... another night, maybe? I need a refuel at the moment."
The three adventurers stood up and made sure all limbs were still there.

-=-=-

Elysian took the tablet with his two hands and the lead with the others.

Across the courtyard, there were six Druchii waiting for them.
Elysian told the two corsairs about the Master Apothecary before they joined the group.

The news were good.
The impressive tide of invasion in the East had been repelled.
In the North, it seemed that Caraoc's vision of despair had been replaced with a much brighter outcome.

The Highborn knew everything: "Sevro had also told me of your revelation, Corsair Mage".
Caraoc replied, half convincingly:
"Mage? I wish I were. That would be cool to summon a Major Daemon. And to order him to sctratch my back."
He made that sentence come true, taking his "Beastbane" Horn and scratching his back with it.
The assembly burst in laugh as Caraoc played the fool.

Then he pursued, proudly.
"I received a vision!
Even it does not make me a Mage, I feel like kind of Chosen One by some Almighty Will.
Mom would be so proud!
But why me?
Why me?..."
He pointed at himself, and started singing:

"I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours
But I think that Gods got a sick sense of humor
And when I die I expect to find'em laughing"


He took back a more serious tone and explained.
"As I am a pilot - and a good one - it makes sense to select me to inspire the right path.
The vision I received led us to search for the incredingly precious artefact that Elysian has the honour to carry.
Had it not been for that vision, the Chaos invasion force would detain it by now.


He looked at Varin, trying to evaluate how much could be obtained by the prize brought back by the group - that they could not keep for themselves anyway.
"We have seen the effort that Norsemen has made to take this object.
The vision I received was obviously inspired to change the predictable gloomy future into the much preferable present what we have now.
It surely indicates that the object that Elysian, Casaythe and myself have retreived, against unbelievable odds, has an exceptional value?
The kind of value that you, very honourable Highborn, must be able to apreciate to its full extent?
The kind of object which will add greatly to the pride of your House?"


Boasting about own importance.
Also playing the fool in order not to be taken seriously as a Mage.


OOC: Depeche Mode - Blasphemous Rumours
Lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/depeche+mo ... 39337.html
Video: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x21dsq ... ours_music

OOC: Joined: 04 Jun 2008 + 4th anniversary = Thanks D.net?
This thread / rpg started 13th November 2008
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Caraoc the scald pilot - WS3 S4 T2 D5 I5 - A saga or it didn't happen!
Equipment: staff, repeater handbow (8 clips + 18/20), Sea Dragon Cloak,
Inventory: "Beastbane" Horn - Mount: - Gold: 100
Skills: Power of Azyr (2), Evasion
Class: Mage (Astromancer)
Winds never stop blowing, Oceans are borderless. Get a ship and a crew, so the World will be ours! Today the World, tomorrow Nagg! {--|oBrotherhood of the Coast!o|--}
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Nightcall
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Post by Nightcall »

'Khaine's arse.. not again..!' Casaythe managed before he was swept up into the air. It had been a close call with the wight, somehow he had managed to cut the bugger's arm off. He was certain he had a little help from one of the mages. Hollering over the rooftops, he paused from his outburst of profanities to catch a glimpse of northmen running to the burning library. The thought of what greeted them brought a smile to his face and temporarily made him forget about the hundreds of feet between his body and the cold hard unforgiving ground below.

That is until, they landed. The corsair crashed in a heap on the street, ending in a stumbling run which resulted in a face plant in the cold snow. It at least muffled the curse that left his lips. Lifting himself with a groan and brushing himself down, he was interested to see that Caraoc's travelling tempest had brought them to a safe place within the city. The red light of dawn lit the wet cobbles and buildings around them, making them appear as if they were coated in fresh blood. Casaythe had no doubt that much had been spilt that night.

They had been brought to House Blackthorn, where Varin, Sevro and Yurul, were speaking with a trio of battered familiar faces. Casaythe was pleased to see that they all still lived. 'Aye aye, you lot. Did we miss all the fun?' he asked heartily.

Varin himself gave a breakdown of the status of Vikarh's defences, and as he asked about the artifact, Casaythe thought it was best he kept his mouth shut for the time being. He only ever put his foot in it when talking to the fancy folk of the upper classes.

Behaving himself.
Casaythe Blackstorm - Warrior (Corsair) - Group 22
Skills: Awareness, Endurance
Equipment: Short Sword, Glaive, Medium Armour, Sea Dragon Cloak, Repeater Crossbow, clip of bolts [11/20], 405 gold, Talisman of Darkness, Tool Kit, 2 months' rations
Stats: WS4, S4, T5, D3, I4

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