Sooooo uh, as you can tell I'm a complete noob, and I'm sorry to you elitists, but I really feel it necessary to ask a question here and there. anywho, as the formalities have been stated, I was just wondering if anyone here would actually participate in an RP thread, I haven't just RPed for fun in awhile, and I figure you guys would be prime partners in crime. So, anyone feel up to it, or am I in the completely wrong place?
Pick me! I wanna RP! Me, me, me! I love pure RPing, moreso than D&D acctually.:D
Yes that is heresy... so sue me:P
Pick me! I wanna RP! Me, me, me! I love pure RPing, moreso than D&D acctually.:D
Yes that is heresy... so sue me:P
To the pyre!
Nah, I'm just kidding ya. That'd be hypocrisy, burnin' ya at the stake.
I may as well join. What level do we start at?
To the pyre!
Nah, I'm just kidding ya. That'd be hypocrisy, burnin' ya at the stake.
I may as well join. What level do we start at?
You'll never take me, alive!
You'll never take me, alive!
That was never the plan! *manifests a mind blade and shapes it into a fullblade*
"I'll let you in on a little secret," I say after a little bit of battling.
That was never the plan! *manifests a mind blade and shapes it into a fullblade*
"I'll let you in on a little secret," I say after a little bit of battling.
So we are role-playing now? Fine...
"I'm listening..." I say as I lower my rapier.
Pick me! I love rp'ing. It is an addiction.
"I'm not really left-handed."
I say, "I don't care..." and I pull my rapier back out and slash at you.
I parry with the enormous blade of mental energy and flip backward.
"Forget you. You aren't worth the XP" I say as I turn around and start slaying some orcs.
(When are we gonna get serious lol)
*Blocks and parries a few blows*
*Blocks and prries some more*
This is so weird... maybe we should start over...
But it's so much fun! But yeah maybe we should.
I am a human rapier wielding rouge, with a rapier in my right hand and a dagger in my left.
I walk through the door, into yet another stone room of the deep dungeon. I see a massive chest, and I smile. "I finally made it. I knew I didn't need that over-proud dragonborn to help me!" I exclaim with triumph as I walk up to the chest.
"Why bother picking the lock when you can just--"
*manifest fullblade*
"--cleave the lid off?"
A Cloak Figure Enters the Room.
"What the Hell Are you doing with my Spellbooks?" Rolinith Shouts as you two open the Chest.
Readying my staff i cast Haste On myself an Wait for you to move.
"The arts of time itself are to much for the untrained to see, open that book an an uncontrollable Elemental Rift shall open." Rolineth Says
"It could wipe out the Entire Continet, I know How to harness it's power without doing so."
"Why are you Here?" Rolineth Stares more.
" Mad Wizard?!? I'll Show you Mad!" Rolonith Shouts as he casts Stopaga On you, Freezing you in time and space, Leaving your Adjacent Ally Slowed to the Void.
"Your nothing but more adventurers, You know nothing of the balance" Rolonith Says as you begin to return to normal.
Suddenly you find yourselves at the first room of the dungeon.
OOC: Change your Avatar to that looking most like your charecters.
OOC: OK, my avatar is halfling, I know. Lets just say he's human, OK?
Pondering himself
"Mad Wizard, I am really starting to dislike this, well, it seems i must destroy my Portal to the Astral Rift, If my ally wishes to find me, he will know where to find this note." Rolonith whispers as he hides a Letter
Keep Out!
In a slot Above the doorway
OOC: My charecter's name is Chapien.
Rolonith curses under his breath, apearing right outside the dungeon, He should known Rift Traces like tht would limit his powers of teleportation.
Rolonith hears Chapian and his companion come up the stairs of his Adobe, Casting Wall of Ice Over the opening, Then Regeneration on that.
Resting now that he is exhausted from overusing his Magics.
OOC: If anyone wants to play as the Dragonborn I abandoned, you are more then welcome to
Iablo returns
"Why the hell did you leave me in that pit?" He shouts?
"Bah, I just want out!" He Yells as he draws his Greatsword and begins to hack away at the ice.
The ice magicly reforms as he slashes, flawless as mythril when he stops to breate.
Rolonith smirks, Oldest trick in the book.
------
As the ice regenerates the ice chips fall and melt, the ladder you came into the core of my adobe, (Which oddly leads up to ground level, then a hidden cache you did not find Leads back in.) The water level has now slowly risen to 4 inches. Writing in the ice wall appears I am very tired of wanderers simply walking into my home and attempting to steal my wealth, I am not a mad wizard, simply one of The Order of Time And the wall melt completely leaving the room full of watter, the stairs leading up a drenched with water and the top step is splashed by the waves of your movement.
Rolonith Looks disturbed "Are you okay?" He shouts down to you.
"Self Defense you know!"
"Lemme check..." I extend my psychic perceptions. "Um... Do mad wizards feel like madness? 'Cause if they do, then he's everywhere."
"****!" Rolonith says
"Your presence has summoned a Balor, come with me i know the quickest way out of the area." Rolonith Shouts to the Remaining two adventures.
An unhloy light comes from a nearby passage, you'd better hurrry!
OOC: That was a short lived charecter...
OOC: Orcarnia_Guy, what is your charecter's name? The Dragonborn was a little short-lived...
"Do you WANT its magicky bastard sword?" I say as we flee the balor.
OoC: I haven't decided the name yet; I'm not gifted with nomenclature. I was thinking Kyle.
A huge blast of flames ignites every tree visible, only leaving us standing, and the huge Balor to our back, "I'm Back Rolonith!" The Balor says!
Rolonith looks Angrily at you two,
"You had to break open the chest, YOU JUST ****ING HAD TO!"
OOC: Please be something easy to type like Bobalong
"Trees? I thought we were inside."
"STOPERAGA!"
"Take him out!"
And I do just that.
New Charecter: Eldora the Elf Ranger!
Eldora was wandering throug the woods when he saw the smoke. He ran towards the smoke and saw a barlor and saw three fleeing figures. He drew back his bow, nocked an arrow, aimed at the barlor and said, "Meet your death, fiend!"
Suddenly The Balor breaks free of Rolonith's spell a Throws his sword; Near slicing all the way through Rolonith's torso.
Coughing up Blood, Rolonith Smiles and takes the blade into hit offhand.
As he does so, the wound Melds back together, and he charges forward!
The arrows from the Ranger glance off his demonic hide as he lashes out at the SoulKnife with his whip, knocking him prone and giving him ample time to prepare some horrific Spell...
"Whee! Free oversized bastard sword and whip!" I dissipate my mind-kukris and start running.
OOC: Your charecter sounds greedy...
Chapien panted as he ran away from the Barlor. He turned to see the the wizard nearly get cleaved in two. He sighed. "Another would-be companion, slain or near dieing".
Eldora continued raining arrowy death onto the barlor, out of sight from the three fleeing charecters.
Ah, who am I kidding. He loves magic items.
I manifest my mind-fullblade (shaped rather like a falchion--just for flavor) and cleave at the balor.
"Die already! Please?"
Rolonith Casts haste on the blade and throws it through the air hitting the Balor almost instantly.
A wall of bones appears around us.
"You'll have to KILL me to escape!" The Balor laughs as he punts Champien into the wall. :evillaugh
I steal it back and hum the Indiana Jones theme as I use the whip against the balor.
Eldora saw a massive wall of bones appear. "This is it..." he said as he launched another arrow, hitting the barlor in the neck. With a roar, the barlor stumbled, and then fell to the ground.
The Balor falls.
"I. Will. Not. Go. Aloooooonnee!!!" He shouts as he casts, Fatal Retribution
Rolonith Summons himself from an alternate plane and kicks himself forward, The Balor sees him and finishes the spell, a Portal to The elemental rift Consumes both of them.
Rolonith Shrugs
"I'll be fine he gets sent back soon anyway." Rolonith says just before he collapes onto the ground, Bleeding from the two foot SHANK in his Torso.
Eldora cursed under his breath. "Discovered!" he muttered. He pulled out his finely crafted elven long sword and burst out into the group. He sees an injured human with a rapier, an odd human with a mindblade, and a dead elf wizard. "Leave my forests, and none of you will get hurt!" he says angrily.
"*Cough* I'm Not dead. Just Injured"
Rolonith is uncounscious regenerating under the shade of a tree right now, so this one is all yours!
OOC: Wanna play as the ranger till hes back to proper health?
The ranger aims an arrow at the wizard, not recognising you. Then his eyes widen, lowers his bow, and asks, "Rolonith? Is that you? I thought you were dead years ago!" he says suprised.
Rolonith smirks "They don't call it Regeneration for nothing."
" And yes they did let HIM out"
The Ranger Stares at you,
"Well, i know of a place you can stay for now, But only until your freind is back to health.
And after a half a day's travel we find ourselves in an expansive treehouse.
"Your such a kidder Eldora!" Rolonith laughes!
Rolnith is laughing so hard his wound is bleeding.
New charecter: Lief
Lief was only a child of 5 years when he was taken as a slave. He is now 10 and still struggles for freedom, and his master treats him literally like dirt, in fact worse. So Lief escaped his cruel master and fled intothe nearby woods, the same woods in which Eldora dwells...
"Oh, ****" Eldora says as he slowly steps back from the window.
"He landed on a kid..." Terrified Endora Jumps out the window and lands in the Jelly Bin.
Eldora Let's go, seeing what he believes to be his jelly bin, made from a magic spell so he may train his acrobatics. But turns out to be a child.
"Oh, ****" Eldora says as he slowly steps back from the window.
"He landed on a kid..." Terrified Endora Jumps out the window and lands in the Jelly Bin.
OOC: Jelly bin? BTW
Chapien stands slowly, and hears a groan. He looks down, and sees he had landed on a human child, dressed in rags. "Eldora you idiot! You had to push me out the window! I think he's hurt!" Chapien yelled up at the treehouse.
I then land on the child head, pushing it into the pile of leaves below him.
"... Oh, ****" Rolonith and Eldora say in unison
OOC: Rangers yours again.
"Are you OK?" Chapien asks the child. "You stay away from me ! I am not going back, you can't make me! I would rather die!" yells the child, tears in his eyes. "What?" I ask, suprised, as the child faints into a deep sleep.
"Wh-where am I?" he asks. "You are in my home." replied Eldora. "You-you aren't going to take me back, are you?" asks the child. "Take you back where?" asks Eldora.
Rolonith Drifts off to sleep...
"Well, now, isn't this interesting?" I thought, starring out with curiousity at the mortals down below. It had been an age since I had personally dealt with their kind on a regular basis, my apothesis forcing me to concentrate on 'other', more important duties. I granted my worshippers their spells, answered their prayers.. isn't that all that was needed of me by their kind? Hmph, still, it was always fun to see what these fools were capable of doing, to see what sort of potential lay dormant within their hearts. After all, I was once one of them, absolute proof that even the will of a mere mortal can challenge the power of the gods and survive.
Perhaps, for the moment, I shall remain on the sidelines, eyeing this group a little bit more before I involve myself in their affairs. Oh, you want a description? What, you can't use your imagination? Tsk, fine. I am of average height, not that there is anything wrong with it, especially when it's backed by a voluptious figure such as my own. No greater figure in human perfection has been born before or since, and though I do like to show myself off, my particular choice of wears only helps to accentuate my beauty: black tights that hug my body like a second skin, covering me from the neck to my feet. Yes, I suppose having them curve perfectly around my breasts is a tad odd, but you can do many things with magic, even defy the normal logistics of fashion. Over this is an elegant blue robe utterly covered with precious gems, exposing my upper chest and abdomen, long sleeves hanging off my arms and a high collar encircling my head. An embroided cloth drapes over my lower torso to finish the ensemble, with some fine, leather gloves and nice, long blue boots to give it a little spice. To add to my rich finery, a circlet adorned with a light-colored sapphire rests upon my brow and a choker inlayed with a blood-ruby fits snug around my neck. My eyes are large, deep, and filled with the color of intense, unyielding passion, and my should-length, snow-white hair hangs and floats as if alive, like the snakes on a medusa's head. Speaking of which, my ever faithful servant, Destro, is constantly wrapped around my right forearm, a silver viper with fiendish eyes; that hand also happens to hold Rune Blade, my personal weapon, a starmetal jian perfect for a powerful sorceress such as myself. The bottom half of it's blade has been forged to split in two and wrap around itself, while remaining perfectly flat, and I do believe I've placed a great curse into it; low to any who would be cut by my sword and still live.
Sigh, well, I do believe that finishes off my basic appearance, no? I hope you're happy. Oh, you want my name? Why, how can you not know it already? Shame on you! Shame on you all! I am Quintessa, the Lady of Desire, enchantress extraordinaire! Where do you think all of the world's blue roses have come from, hmm? Well, then, let us get back to the actors in this little play, no? No finer starge than the world itself, after all...
"Lief. My name is Lief. I am talking about back to my master. I am an escaped slave, and I thought you to be bounty hunters," responded the child.
"Well, I'm not a bounty hunter. My name's Kyle," I say, extending a hand as a gesture of welcome.
Still, that doesn't mean I can't have a little fun with this poor boy, Lief, no? Let us see if I can not unravel his mind, perhaps learn a thing or two about his master. Ooh, I do so miss political intrigue! It's been a life-age since I blackmailed someone! Why, just thinkng about it makes me feel so positively.. mortal again! Of course to do any real damage, I fear I may have to get a little closer to the action. Still, nothing a good superior invisibility, backed by my phenomenal skills, couldn't fix, no? I think I'll just fly down to this little dwelling and...
"Oh, such a poor, boy!" I remarked to myself, unable to not overhear the conversation down below me. To think he was able to get away with such little physical and emotional scarring? Ah, I can still remember the good, 'ole days when such acts would inflict more than a mere fifty lashings upon a back. Why, do I recall having seen one slave whom, once returned, suffered no physical punishments at all.. but instead had to endure the long torture of her family members. One by one, limb by limb, until she fell to her knees, covering her ears, the screams echoing in her mind. Oh, but perhaps my words are too squeamish for the general audience? I do apologize, sometimes I just can't help but.. get a little caried away, mmhmm...
Still, that doesn't mean I can't have a little fun with this poor boy, Lief, no? Let us see if I can not unravel his mind, perhaps learn a thing or two about his master. Ooh, I do so miss political intrigue! It's been a life-age since I blackmailed someone! Why, just thinkng about it makes me feel so positively.. mortal again! Of course to do any real damage, I fear I may have to get a little closer to the action. Still, nothing a good superior invisibility, backed by my phenomenal skills, couldn't fix, no? I think I'll just fly down to this little dwelling and...
OOC: Great, we have a god observing us now... I wonder if Rolonith can detect the superior invisibility...
I nod to Eldora, and leave the room, motioning for Kyle to follow. "What are we to do with the boy? I mean, he can't stay with us forever, you know our wonderlust will get the best of us!" Chapien exclaimed to Kyle
Lief slipped back into sleep, still exhausted from earlier and still in pain from when Chapien landed on him...
After a quick summary of what happened during his nap he casts, Regeneration on the poor child's wounds. They heal quickly as he awakens
OOC: Aw Crap, i thought the god would help us, not smite us...
Rolonith awakes Imediatly,Sensing a being nearby, Seeing the new addition to the group he begins to suspect the boy because of the aura in the air. Something is here, But what?
After a quick summary of what happened during his nap he casts, Regeneration on the poor child's wounds. They heal quickly as he awakens
OOC: Aw Crap, i thought the god would help us, not smite us...
OOC: The god is more spying and messing with us, I don't think we will get smited... hopefully...
Lief woke up imediatlly and tore off his shirt and looked at where his scars had been, and he was suprised that they were no longer there. A puzzled look crossed his face. "What happened...?" he asked.
"Just out of curiosity, how much is the bounty?"
"Something's wrong" Rolonith whispers in Chapien's Ear.
Casting Haste on the party, he begins toFeel the Aura nearby.
Chapien jumped to a shock. "What is wrong? Some presence you detect? Oh dear, I hope we don't have to face anymore Barlors..." he said, loud enough for Lief to hear. More fear appeared din Lief's eyes.
! My parents were married, I'll have you know," I whisper. "I don't sense anything untoward. You sure, Rol?""Never taught to read? Well, we'll just have to fix that, won't we?" I say to try to distract Lief.
Chapien whisperd to Kyle, "Stay here with Lief. We will all leave the room and search for the presence" as he drew his rapier and dagger and left the room.
I concentrate to attain psionic focus, so that I can bring forth the blade from my mind.
Lief looked at Kyle, wonder in his face. "Mi-mindblade? Whats that?" he asked.
OOC: Jobbut, your charecter's nickname is now Rol!
Rol: "It's something powerfull, and evil. Maybe even, A GOD?"
Rolonith looks at you slightly terrified.
Rol: "Let's head back, we should keep together. besides i can grant the child simple knowledge like what he currently wishes."
He casts Greater Knowledge on the child, granting him moderate reading, writing, and thought capabilities.
Rol: "There Child, Can you still speak?"
OOC: Play the kid as extremely intellegent now.
Rol: "Everyone back up" Rolonith says Sternly
He casts Greater Knowledge on the child, granting him moderate reading, writing, and thought capabilities.
Rol: "There Child, Can you still speak?"
OOC: Play the kid as extremely intellegent now.
OOC: I'll try...
"Whoa... what happened... I feel... smarter..." said Lief, still in a daze from his new knowledge. "No time to explain! Get behind us now Lief!" Chapien exclaimedd, his voice full of worry.
As we turn around we find ourselves in the middle of a sudden battle, large amounts of soldiers dressed in either Red or Blue
???(BLUE): Come with me, or Reddueses will get you!
???(RED): He slashes The youngster in the Blue armor and Violently tells you "You come with me, wait It's that slave boy master wants for the ritual. REINFORCEMENTS!"
And Ten-Fold soldiers charge to the now collapsed tree home.
RON: "Crap, two huge war forces we need to split!" but before he finishes, the soldiers have surrounded us.
What do you do?
OOC: Yay, Random Event!
"I don't know who they are, but they are after Lief... form up in a cricle around Lief!" Chapien exclaims.
The Soldiers aproach weapons drawn and ready for combat. Ready for combat yourselves!
"Kyle... looks like we are surrounded..." Chapien says grimly, my two weapons in hand...
OOC: How about this all is a trick from the god, and the god is making Lief's nightmares of being hunted down and returned to his master come to life. Yes? No? Maybe?
As Nederath enters the story sitting near a quiet lake by the edge of a mighty forest. Holding a slice of stale bread out to entices a duck closer he readies his ax and whispers, “ hear ducky, duck, ducky. Hear ducky, ducky… what was that noise?” the duck takes this moment of confusion to steal the bread and fly off. In his rage from loosing is lunch he a rock at the duck missing it he turns to the contents of his pack to see what remains if his food supply. 3 days rations for a 4 day walk back any civilization not going to be fun if there is no game near by. So with food on his mind he comes to the to a clearing in the forest and ventures forth to find something to eat that is not dryed, over salted of stale.
He comes to a huge crowd of heavily armored worriers nudges one “ what my I inquire is going on hear and do you have some food perchance.” He asks in a cheery voice.
OoC: That would be a cruel trick, wouldn't it? Either that or the boy is psychically sensitive.
Chapien began to swing at one of the armored soldiers, but the blade went right through the soldier. "Illusions!" Chapien shouted. Then laughter started, as the soldiers faded away, leaving only a red robed man and some visciouce-looking Orc bodyguards. "Lief, I have found you at last, my property. Apparently 50 lashings wasn't enough. Fine. Time for your next punishment. Bring the slave out!" the man shouted as the Orcs revealed a figure at the end of a long rope, a boy about the same age as Lief with a rope tied around his neck. "This time it shall be your friend that suffers! Friend, a funny thing... slaves shoulden't be permitted to have friends!" he said again before bursting into laughter. "Rilkos! Don't you dare harm him!" Lief shouted as the man laughed again and motioned for the Orcs to move in on Lief, completly ignoring Chapien and his friends...
OOC: That is right, Lief's master is a powerful wizard!
I somehow accelerate (using the Speed of Thought feat) and zip through the horde and enfold the lad.
To the wizard, I say "Nobody should ever be property. You ever do something even remotely like this again, and you die. As painful a death as I can give you."
Nederath Looks around "do you know where I can get some food around hear?"
OOC: NO just done for the night, for *Plot Spoiler* i teleported with him. you notice im gone
NEW CHAR: Leif2 (Ritual State)
When certain things trigger this he changes personalities, into an astral warrior (This is Rolonith's Fault for the spell, but he can not speak in this state Hence, why he asked that)
He sees the stone walls around him, knowing this familiar type of prison he stands up and sees the Orcish gaurd, Casting Disrupt on him, he falls dead, a knarled body.
he then casts Hasteraga on the metal bars, causing them to accelerate to rusty old bars, kicking down the door, he sees someone, but not Lief.
Then about 40 orcish gaurds burst from the door on the far side of the room.
OOC: Dibs on Leif2
Rolonith notices the person is unconsciuos and that it was a trap!
ROL: "Crap, I guess this is the end..."
Then an Astral light illuminates the room, and one by one the orcs wither away to ashes. Rolonith can see the vague form of a child in the light, but with wings of an Angel and the build of a Dragonborn
ROL: "Is that, Leif?" And at the mention of his name he falls asleep onto the stone stairwell.
OOC: Use this form sparingly! and you can use the guy if you want.
Chapien is having Problems Posting
New Plot line!
Also a test post to see if any1 could post.
"That, my dwarvish friend, was the weirdest thing that happened to me," Chapien responded to the Dwarf's question, "and no we have no food" Chapien concluded.
A wall above an Active Volcano and on a Ritual Platform.
New Char for me! :P
Jambros Darko CN Warlock
A demon Warlock from the Planes of the Abyss, seeking to Return to the World VIA, Ritual (Death of an Astral Warrior) Currently in human Form
As you move onward to the South, a Human is being attacked by a huge group of Orcs, led by a huge Hobgoblin Beserker, What do you do?
Meanwhile, back in the volcano, the evil wizard is talking to Rol and Lief. "Lief, do you know why I am the ruler of this country? Because I assasinated the king and took his heir as a slave. That is right, you are the heir... I found out that the king had agreed to protect an Astral Warrior, and make the warrior his heir. But that won't stand, no no no. I will be the new ruler of this kingdom, I will refound the Empire I collapsed by assasinating your dear old 'father', and I will do it for my master, a great and mighty Barlor! And then I will destroy the Empire all over again! I will see this world burn!" *evil laughter*
Suddenly a huge cloud of darkness covers the area, and after it clears 43 dead orcs with holes in there bodies from ??? Energy
His hands Glow with purple energy as you grow near.
"Names Jambros, Jambros Darko. And you are?" He says.
OOC: Dude Man's master is the demon in my above post
"Why yes, we are headed south... and you are more than welcome to join our little group!" Chapien says.
You continue onward, only to find a large keep surrounding an active Volcano, with ?? on the top.
JB: "1000 Souls of my followers should be easy like this." He murmurs unders his breath
All you hear is "1000 Souls...Followers...Easy...This"
And he opens the large iron gate and Cultists pour out of the Gateway...
Cultist Leader: "Take them, use them as sacrifices to Bring him back!"
and as you fight, one by one we fall unconciuos, finding ourselves at the foot of the volcano...
Decending down before the abode, I reveal my true nature, as grandly I could; no smoke and mirrors, no flashing lights, no.. wait, that doesn't sound very grand, now does it? Oh, this must be good, then! The excitement is getting to me so much I'm even losing my train of thought! Oh, how embaressing. Then again, who needs to be flashy when one can be sneaky? I didn't train as a rogue for nothing, after all; and with the crowd getting merrier by the moment, I might be able to entertain myself a little bit longer before my dinner date with Olidemarra.
No.. wait. Let us see what happens first. This new fellow, this wizard.. yes, a most interesting aura surrounds him. I can feel the strength of his arcana, much like my own in my youth, thoroughly tainted with darkness. Hmm, and he has a connection to that boy. Let us see what we can see, eh? Just a quick, little teleport, and.. oh, my, such a dreary place. Could never understand why these dark-lord wannabies always preferred the shadows, it's just so.. unlovely. Then again, considering who my emmissary is, why should I be asking myself such questions?
"I will be the ruler of this kingdom," I hear the old braggart announce. "I will refound the Empire I collapsed by assassinating your dear old 'father', and I will do it for my master, a great and mighty Balor!" Wait, what? A great and mighty 'Balor'? My laughter resounds throughout the room as I finally make my appearance behind the old codger, unable to contain the humour in his words. "A Balor, did you say? Oh, how delightful! It's been an age since I had to scrape one of them off my heels. Tell me, old soul, why do you serve such wretched things? Whatever happened to the true strenth and ambition of the mortal races? Or have you all become so weak since I left this realm, hm?"
I looked over at the boy I had noticed earlier, and winked at him. So, he's the heir to an empire, is he? I think I know just what to do...
OOC: Eh, can't really play as Quin in a real D&D game, so I figured I'd just hone up my general roleplaying skills and see how subtle I can be with her. Current internet connections are a little loopy for me at the moment, and as difficult as it's going to be to catch up with the story now and then, this is turning out to be a very interesting plot...
Rolonith breaks from the chains a dashes forward, ripping the boy from the wizard's arms and allowing chapien to catch him,
WIZ: Fool, Without your stick you cannot channel your energy!"
And a demonic cackle opens all around as jambros Draws his blade, Bull Rushing me back onto the platform
JB: "You shall not stop My reincarnation!" and Rolonith grabs the blade with his bare hands and tosses it aside, Begging the fight to the Death!
OOC: DO NOT TOUCH THIS FIGHT! DEAL WITH THE WIZZY!
--- THIS IS NOT SEEN BY MORTALS---
Rolonith catches himself on a spire of rock, just enough room to stand on, noticing the formation of rock to the left he readies to jump, But tall towers of stone stop him, each with a walkable top, climbing to the top of one the Walock lowers himself down onto another tower, jumping from one to another ever closer Rolonith charges forward in the same maner, until the Warlock strikes a blow with his fist into Rolonith's face. He strikes back with a kick to the chest, breaking ribs, The bloody battle goes on until Rolontihs is bleeding from the brutal blows and Jambros is merely having a few bruises,
Rol: "He's Regenerating!" He gaspes!, just before being struck by an Eldritch Blast , Knocking him down to a floating rock in the bubbling lava below. Standing he sees the Warlock Float down and Confront him, Unknowing to Rolonith, a hidden Blde in his hand...
!" Chapien exclaimed, angry as he stabbed the wizard with his rapier and turned to a new figure in the room. "So you are the god that has been spying on us?" I ask. "I'll have you know I have no love for the gods. I think them as all cruel beings who spy and interfere with mortals. So either you help or leave," Chapien said firmly to the God.---Now Visible---
Chapien sees a huge skeleton rise up from the volcano along with Leif and Kyle, The others being unconscious. Rolonith dashes up the arm and casts Black Hole on his arm, needing an implement for the spell. Striking into the head of the skeleton and falling onto the now Teetering Ritual platform on a rock pillar (It has fallen and is now Balancing on a stone pillar that apeared earlier) THe skeleton Crumbles into the bodies of the cultists, splashing into the lava and turning to ashes, Rolonith now without an arm and Bleeding to death watches as the Warlock Floats overhead.
JB: "Your a stubborn one aren't you?" and cast Eldritch Rain upon the platform, Striking the platfrom, and the edges cruble away rapidly as the warlock lands.
Rol: "So, *Coughes up Blood* We did'nt kill you the first time around, Nor the second? Darko, It does'nt matter if you've been reincarnated, That boy is linked to you, you only have power in his Astral Warrior Form."
JB: "Why do you think i planned this trap[i] Time Lord [i/]? If i Reincarnate with his form as the Altar i will take his powers, Unlocked by you! Thanks to your little spell you've doomed the world!" He laughes Maniacly.
"Now to end this little game..." Jambros Yells as he charges forward, and sticks the blade into Rolonith's chest.
Rol: "No, I have a continue" Where his final words as he focused the Black Hole spell once more into the face of the Warlock, causing a huge explosion, caving in the Volcano, and leaving remains of a volcano and a bloody battle behind...
OOC: Don't worry i'll have someone to play...
"Help? Why, in what way? Dost thou seek some healing? Or perhaps an easier journey into the afterlife? Or.. perhaps you would like a candied apple," I asked him, conjuring the foodstuffs in my free hand with little more than a thought. Then I smiled as I raised my other hand, watching Destro slither along my exposed forearm as the sleeve rolled itself down. "Perhaps we gods are cruel. Perhaps not. Have you not found yourself in some dire circumstance, seeking hope beyond hope, calling out to anyone that might hear you? And, really, what makes you believe we would care for such insignficant ants such as yourselves as anything more than a mere curiousity? I could return to Roselyn Glæn now and watch in quiet comfort as the years of your life slipped away, your history quickly becoming a forgotten memory..."
I turned my head quickly towards the ruckus nearby. A giant of a skeleton, fearsome to the weak, but ultimately pathetic as a weapon, destroyed by this warrior. Then, there is this other fellow.. Jambros Darko? A fearsome warlock, it would seem, rarely have I tangled with his kind. "Tell me," I called out. "Shall I cut him down with my divine might? Or should disjoin his power, slow time, and set off some nasty fireworks, hmm? Wait, I know... I'll turn him into a newt!"
I hurl a real blade into the stone.
"Pull that out."
---Just as the Explosion Happens---
Ril: "Leif? What happened to you?" He stammers.
Taking the blade from the ground witch the man tossed away with his bare hands. He raises the blade at the Wizard.
Ril: "You did this! You
! You Killed my parents and did something to Leif, everytime something nice happens, you Ruin it! I'm sick of it! I'll kil you or die trying!" And Rilkos charges forward, hacking away at the air the wizard once occupied.Wizard: "Foolish child, your blade cannot touch me. For i am immortal! i control Rolonith's staff of time, your friend the Cronomancer is long gone and Jambros's Power is in my body! Your friend is going to die, and i will kill those left!" He laughs Maniacly.
Chapien watches as the boy's tears drop from his concealed face.
Rilkos Charges the wizard, knocking him into the black hole.
And what steps out is a horrific Demon...
Now let's get on with this demon king. Even after the 123 posts weve been through?
The Demon storms out the portal.
???: "It seems your little friends heroic sacrifice was in vain, For i now control this wizards body. Prepare to die Chapien! You may have beaten me once but i have killed the last of the Time Lords: The world is mine!"
A Bloodied Elf stands in the distance.
???: "I don't think so..." an army of dead cultists behind him,
???: "Think you guys could leave me behind? I am the last one left i guess. Jambros you seek to destroy existance and become a dominate god? Think again
HOLY ARROW! "
And the arrow flies true, striking the New kind of Demon. He simply takes the arrow and snaps it, and out of exhaustion, Eldora collapses into a heap.
Demon Lord: "I don't think so! You think that trick would work again? I think not!" He laughs maniacly!
Chapien Kyle go through a dungeon that turns out to be my adobe, i get ****** after Chapien calls me a Mad Wizard, Ice wall stuff, Dragonborn comes and dies within 5 posts, We fight Balor, meet Eldora. Go to his house, push Chapien out a window. Twice. He lands on Lief, i notice a god, we go home, use a spell to unlock Leif's Astral Warrior stuff (Unknown at the moment) and teach him adiquete knoledge such as reading and writing. we are attacked, wizard comes, Dwarf finds us and we follow the wizzy. Meet Jambros, finish off orcs, go to cultists at active volcano. We get subdued and end up at the ritual platform afterward ( I teleported with Leif, thus becoming the main part of the ritual needed.) Jambros betrays us. Rolonith makes a Vain sacrifice after a battle destroying every bit of his matter on this plane in an attempt to stop him. Wizzy binds with Jambros so he comes back from the Endless Plane of Time. While this is happening your stuff happens. we are on top of an active Volcano outside. Free to act now.
From start to finish: RECAP I (Rolonith's Veiw)
Chapien Kyle go through a dungeon that turns out to be my adobe, i get ****** after Chapien calls me a Mad Wizard, Ice wall stuff, Dragonborn comes and dies within 5 posts, We fight Balor, meet Eldora. Go to his house, push Chapien out a window. Twice. He lands on Lief, i notice a god, we go home, use a spell to unlock Leif's Astral Warrior stuff (Unknown at the moment) and teach him adiquete knoledge such as reading and writing. we are attacked, wizard comes, Dwarf finds us and we follow the wizzy. Meet Jambros, finish off orcs, go to cultists at active volcano. We get subdued and end up at the ritual platform afterward ( I teleported with Leif, thus becoming the main part of the ritual needed.) Jambros betrays us. Rolonith makes a Vain sacrifice after a battle destroying every bit of his matter on this plane in an attempt to stop him. Wizzy binds with Jambros so he comes back from the Endless Plane of Time. While this is happening your stuff happens. we are on top of an active Volcano outside. Free to act now.
OOC: Nice recap. Oh and I do mourn Rolonith's passing
Anyway, is Lief still alive? I am kinda lost when it comes to him at the moment..."That can't be good."
OoC: Prepare the battle music! I'm voting for something by Muse. Likely Knights of Cydonia or Assassin.
"Ahh, this old braggart, again? Tell me, all great and powerful one.. how do you plan on destroying all exitense when Tharizdûn failed? How do you seek to become the dominate god when Vecna could not? These are no mere band of adventurers that you face here this day, and do not expect to be taken so seriously. Time Lord? What is that? Little more than an oversized lizard with wings? I've fought time dragons before, creatures that defy imagination, who's ability to control time is without equal. Even Bahamut and Tiamat appear as little more than gnats compared to their awesome might. How easy it is to slay such beasts, even then..."
I raised my sword against this 'demon', wondering what sort of curse I should place upon him once I pierced his flesh. No.. no, this isn't fair. Just because I'm by far the strongest here doesn't mean I should take all the credit, right? I spun around till my back was facing the demon, holding Rune Blade very casually as I caressed Destro's scaly head. "If anything, why would even the most lowly peon bother to waste his time on excrement such as yourself, hm? Really, you're just not worth the effort. I'll bet you an electrum piece that this band of rabbel rousers could finish you off just as quickly as I could. And, if I am wrong, then perhaps the two of us shall face each other in comat, and you can see just how strong the force of desire can truly be..."
Leif: "You no longer have my friend, While you did i collected power! Foll, Now you shall perish!" He says while he releases a blast that would make DBZ charecters wet themselves. The Demon Lord returns with his own, The huge blast knock Leif into a pillar, causing him to become unconscious...
Demon Lord: He takes Chapien by the head with one hand, and begins to crush, While Chapien attempts to break free of the grapple, but when all seems lost, Kyle slashes out the Demon Lord's legs Causing him to fall back into the portal.
Eldora wakes, seeing the Demon Lord fall back in, he dashes forward. "Stop! that's Rolonith's only way back!" He shouts just as the portal closes...
OOC:
Keep going people! This is gonna be a real campaign! Someone will Play Kyle (HomeBrew SoulKnife forum), Chapien(Rogue), Rolonith(Me, HOmebrew forum Time Mage), Jambros (NPC) Leif (Dunno what Class Pally?) And Eldora (Ranga)Eldora: "Well, i guess that was it, one slash and now Rolonith is dead..." He begins to walk away slowly, "And he didn't even stop them..."
--- Flashback! ---
Rolonoth: "Eldora, we almost have him!" HE shouts as he fires the GunBlade at the Demon Lord. Eldora Fires arrows up at him and Others hack away at him, After a long battle, Eldora is bleeding and Rolonith, Missing an arm
Rolonith: "Damn, Eldora run. I'll hold him off, Don't come back. Take the Book and run!" He shouts back to him as he is hit by the Demon Lord's Death Throw, and Bloody Mess on the grassy Plain...
---END---
Story Arc 1-- END
Story Arc 2-- Begin!
Current CHarecters
Chapien, Kyle, Leif, God, Rilkos (Gotts come up with someone to play!)
It's been a month since we fought the Demon Lord, The day Rolonith died, the day we met a God, The day Leif became the Heir to the empire, and yesterday, He went missing, the only Clues we have is a Teifling Named Aliatra After this i'm Finding Kyle, We are gonna find that kid! And the rest of the page is torn, the cloaked figure Smiles... mechanical right arm puts it into a pocket and conintinues walking...
New Charecter: Cloaked Figure?
A mysterious figure with a Mechanical Right arm, Jobbut's Charecter BTW.
New Charecter: Aliatra, Teifling Assasin.
A Teifling Assassin, abandoned at birth and Graduat of the theives guild, she trained herself in silently killing her foes, after she was attacked by the Paladin's Arc. Jobbut's CHarecter BTW
Pic Of Aliatra
From the
What Art Gets It Right topic
From the
What Art Gets It Right topic
A Page from Chapien's Journal
It's been a month since we fought the Demon Lord, The day Rolonith died, the day we met a God, The day Leif became the Heir to the empire, and yesterday, He went missing, the only Clues we have is a Teifling Named Aliatra After this i'm Finding Kyle, We are gonna find that kid! And the rest of the page is torn, the cloaked figure Smiles... mechanical right arm puts it into a pocket and conintinues walking...
New Charecter: Cloaked Figure?
A mysterious figure with a Mechanical Right arm, Jobbut's Charecter BTW.
New Charecter: Aliatra, Teifling Assasin.
A Teifling Assassin, abandoned at birth and Graduat of the theives guild, she trained herself in silently killing her foes, after she was attacked by the Paladin's Arc. Jobbut's CHarecter BTWPic Of Aliatra
From the
What Art Gets It Right topic
I can't ever lose like that again. I have to train more... And the demons are only going to get worse..., I think, going through the various weapon forms.
They say that's where I got my own strength from. Not surprising, I suppose, I had to get it somewhere, and my looks certainly didn't come from mom. Yet no matter how hard I trained my strength was still no better than her's.. just how could I ever match up to dad? No! I can not go doubting myself already, otherwise I'd be just as weak as every other pathetic soul here. Ugh, such disgusting beasts these all were. Many were pigs, stinking of refuse and scum; others, those who professed to be beautiful or intelligent were no stronger than a newborn babe. Why are they allowed to live? Why can't they just be crushed like the ants they are, huh!?
I had been watching two such blokes out of the corner of my eye, leering at me, undressing me with their mind, making no attempt to hide their thoughts with their repulsive smiles. I did my best to ignore them, to sample the local ale, even if sustenance was something I could naturally go without. I'd rather it be their blood filling this mug, honestly; heh, infact, I might just get my wish... "Well hell-oooo there, little lady," one of those cretins spoke to me from behind, condescending me with his words. If it weren't for the fact that I didn't need to breath, either, I'd have no doubt that even my hardy physique could not withstand his putrid breath. "Now, what's a little lady like you doing out in a place like this, hmm? Very dangerous to be out here all alone like this, especially one so young and pretty like you..." I cracked the knuckles in one hand as I bit my lower lip, ignoring them as best I could.
"Something tells me she doesn't want to play!" the other fool said, laughing.. or gurgling, I could scarcely tell. "Nahh, that isn't right. This one here's a nice girl. I think she knows how to play a few games, right? Yes, isn't that right? You'll play with us, won't you?" I took all of my will power not to laugh right then and there as he took out a dagger and raked it across my cheek. Why would I laugh? Only because I was imagining the look on his face when he noticed it leaving no mark what-so-ever. Honestly, did he really think he'd draw blood against my flesh? Idiot.
I got up off the bar stool and made my way towards the exit, ducking out of the way as one of the two oafs tried to grab me, only to watch him trip on his own stupidity. Oops! Looks like the poor, old boy's all riled up now! Isn't that cute? He thinks he can attack me! I'll let him make a few empty jestures, dodging and weaving out of both their attacks before I snapped my fingers on my gloved, right hand. With a sound similar to a sword being unsheathed, yet deeper and far heavier, Fury appeared in my hand. I don't quite recall what drove me to claim this large greathammer; perhaps it was all those old tales claiming that only the largest of goliaths could wield it, and yet despite my small height of five-feet, two-inches and mere one-hundred thirteen pounds, I was able to wield the two-hundred forty pounds of solid adamantine with the greatest of ease. I clasped it in both hands, willing it to flame until it appeared as a slab of cracked, molten rock, and watched with a demonic smile as those two fools tried crawling away from me. Sorry, boys, but you picked the wrong girl to mess with. I raised the hammer on high and slammed it down with such force that the ground splintered in its wake. A shame that one of the fools' heads was in the way. Well, what was left of it, anyway. Tsk, the other joker got away. Argh! ...well, whatever. He's not worth the effort, anyway. Whatever disease he and these other rat villagers carried would kill him off by the end of the week, I'm sure.
"Attention, you half-witted piles of guano!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, holding Fury high above my head. "My name's Clarissa, and if any of you here is a true warrior than challenge me, now! Otherwise crawl back under the rocks you came from. Don't think for a second that the world cares about your pathetic lives or that you mean anything to anyone. Your very existance is pointless, and you'd do the world a great deal by ending your pitiful lives right now!"
OOC: Yeah.. so, as fun as Quintessa might have been, her powers are just so far out there that it probably would've made roleplaying her rather difficult. Atleast her daughter is a little more normal on the power gauge (even if she is a bit of a jerk). So, let's see how well she works out for now.
???: "So nice to see you again, Deity." He Joyfully says as he lifts Dual-Weild GunBlades, and as the the first bullet hits, A dark trickle of purplish liqued bleeds out from the wound.
God's Blood.
???: "Well, after a time i have learned your weakness. Blood Mythril !"
He says as he loads the GunBlades, but you feel stopped, Unmoving as the bullets Puncture your skin, and as it begins to wear off, your powers hove been nulled.
???: "Blood Mythril my friend, the same thing i killed your Father with" He laughs as he raises the blade to decapitate you... And as he raises the blade a Mechanical Right arm show, and you see punctures in his chest as if from a hand blade...
OOC:IS the Teifling your chars Mom BS?
I'm now playing as the daughter of my first character, who's quite different in terms of appearance, powers, and personality. Recap:Quintessa
The Enchantress, The Lady of Desires
Greater Deity
Symbol: A blue rose encircled by its stem
Home Plane: Heroic Domains of Ysgard
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Portfolio: Beauty, envy, love, magic, vanity
Worshippers: Aristocrats, sorcerers, bards, rogues, artisans
Cleric Alignments: NE, CN, CE
Domains: Charm, Envy, Luck, Lust, Magic
Favoured Weapon: Unarmed strike
The deity of desires, Quintessa (kwin-tess-uh), appears as a beautiful, young woman with snow-white, snake-like hair and rich, magenta eyes, often adorned with a gaudy, blue gown over black tights. She rules over that which is beautiful and wanting, and those who lust for power and dominion are among her worshippers. (As an ascended mortal, Quintessa does not have outsider Hit Dice as other members of the patheon do.)
Dogma
Quintessa teaches that there is no greater force in the universe than one's own desires. Even when things are at their darkest, when all hope is lost, the desires of the heart see feats of epic proportions performed by even the most common of people. One must never shy away from one's own personal wants, for they give strength and happiness, and it is only natural to enjoy the pleasures of these feelings.
Clergy and Temples
Quintessa's clerics are often found working for royalty and nobility in positions of power, yet others may be found in lesser cities working to beautify and ennoble the land, often at the costs of another's freedoms. They wear exotic clothes adorned with jewels in a variety of styles.
Temples to Quintessa are most often found in large, wealthy cities amidst bustling marketplaces. Within it's cleanly walls are numerous artisans and crafters working tirelessly to create works of enduring beauty, which are often sold to aristocrats and townships all over the land.
QUINTESSA
Sorceress 15/Archmage 5/Enchantress 10/Ultimate Magus 10/Rogue 3/Blackguard 7/Abjurant Champion 5/Arcane Lord 5
Medium-Size Outsider (Evil, Chaotic, Extraplanar)
Divine Rank: 20
Hit Dice: 15d4+255 (Sor) plus 5d4+85 (Arc) plus 10d4+170 (Enc) plus 10d4+170 (UM) plus 3d6+51 (Rog) plus 7d10+ 119 (Blk) plus 5d10+85 (AC) plus 5d6+85 (1,348 hp)
Initiative: +45, always first (+21 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative, +20 luck, Supreme Initiative)
Speed: 130 ft. (26 squares), fly 230 ft. (good), swim 90 ft.
Armor Class: 250 (+21 Dex, +20 divine, +25 natural, +30 deflection, +74 superb mage armor, +36 Nemea, +30 insight, +1 dodge, +3 luck); touch 115; flat-footed 250
Base Attack/Grapple*: +40/+132 *Always receives a 20 on grapple checks
Attacks*: Rune Blade +138/+138/+133/+128/+123 melee; or spell +132 melee touch or +137 ranged touch *Always receives a 20 on attack rolls; roll die to check for critical hit
Damage*: Rune Blade 1d8+172/17-20 or by spell *Always does maximum damage (jian 180 points)
Face/Reach: 5 ft. x 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Domain powers, salient divine abilities, spell-like abilities, smite good 2/day (+30 attack, +7 damage), sneak attack +4d6, command undead 33/day.
Special Qualities: Familiar (snakes), mastery of counterspelling, mastery of elements, mastery of shaping, arcane reach 60 ft., arcane spell power +4, expanded spell knowledge, augmented casting, trap finding, evasion, spell sense +1, aura of evil, detect good, poison use, dark blessing, aura of despair, fiendish servant, abjurant armor, extended abjuration, swift abjuration, arcane boost, martial arcanist, recall spell 1/day, expanded spell power 1/day, divine immunities, DR 35/epic and lawful, fast healing 40, darkvision, low-light vision, blindsense, scent, fire immunity, sonic immunity, understand, speak, and read all languages and speak directly to all beings within 20 miles, remote communication, godly realm (100 miles outer plane, 2,000 ft. Material Plane), greater teleport at will, plane shift at will, spontaneous casting of divine spells, SR 72, divine aura (20 miles, DC 60).
Saves*: Fort +153, Ref +158, Will +168. *Always receives a 20 on saves.
Abilities: Str 43, Dex 52, Con 44, Int 36, Wis 60, Cha 70.
Skills*: Appraise +57, Autohypnosis +75, Balance +75, Bluff +153, Climb +70, Concentration +124, Craft (alchemy) +58, Craft (calligraphy) +58, Craft (poisonmaking) +58, Decipher Script +57, Diplomacy +149, Disable Device +57, Disguise +74, Escape Artist +65, Forgery +57, Gather Information +74, Handle Animal +74, Heal +69, Hide +78, Iaijutsu Focus +74, Intimidate +80, Jump +149, Knowledge (arcana) +125, Knowledge (architecture and engineering) +63, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +63, Knowledge (geography) +63, Knowledge (history) +63, Knowledge (local) +63, Knowledge (nature) +63, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +63, Knowledge (psionics) +63, Knowledge (religion) +125, Knowledge (sex) +125, Knowledge (the planes) +125, Listen +144, Martial Lore +57, Move Silently +65, Open Lock +65, Perform (sing) +145, Psicraft +57, Profession (apothecary) +70, Ride +65, Search +59, Sense Motive +132, Sexual Prowess +158, Sleight of Hand +71, Spellcraft +189, Spot +149, Survival +77, Swim +60, Truespeak +150, Tumble +75, Use Magic Device +74, Use Psionic Device +74, Use Rope +65. *Always receives a 20 on checks.
Feats: Alertness, Cleave, Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Dark Speech, Divine Might, Divine Shield, Empower Spell, Eschew Materials, Heighten Spell, Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Improved Unarmed Strike, Jack of All Trades, Maximize Spell, Power Attack, Quicken Spell, Rapid Metamagic, Scribe Scroll, Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Spell Focus (Ench), Spell Focus (Evoc), Spell Mastery, Truename Training.
Epic Feats: Enhance Spell, Epic Divine Might, Epic Spellcasting, Ignore Material Components, Improved Heighten Spell, Intensify Spell.
Divine Immunities: - Ability damage, ability drain, acid, cold, death effects, disease, disintegration, electricity, energy drain, mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, stunning, transmutation, imprisonment, and banishment.
Salient Divine Abilities: - Alter Reality (save DC 70 for duplicated spells, temporary nonmagical objects last 20 days, temporary magic items or creatures last 20 hours), Alter Size, Annihilating Strike (Fort save DC 40 + damage dealt), Arcane Mastery, Automatic Metamagic (quicken spell-like abilities), Avatar, Divine Blast (33/day, up to 20 miles, 50d12 damage), Divine Blessing (Charisma), Divine Dodge, Divine Fast Healing, Divine Inspiriation (Love and Desire, Will save DC 60), Divine Shield (20/day, stops 200 points of damage), Divine Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Divine Spellcasting, Divine Splendor (200 ft.), Extra Domain (Luck), Extra Domain (Magic), Increased Damage Reduction, Increased Spell Resistance, Instant Counterspell, Power of Luck†, Rejuvination, See Magic, Spontaneous Wizard Spells, Supreme Initiative.
Domain Powers: - 20/day increase Charisma by +4 for 1 minute; cast spells that damage or drain ability scores or bestow negative levels at +1 caster level; 20/day reroll a die roll once after it is made; 20/day enhance Charisma by +20 for 1 round.
Spell-Like Abilities: - Quintessa uses these abilities as a 49th-level caster, except for spells that cause ability damage, ability drain, or bestow negative levels, which she uses as a 50th-level caster. The save DCs are 60 + spell level. Aid, antimagic field, break enchantment, calm emotions, charm monster, clairaudience/clairvoyance, crushing despair, demand, disguise self, dispel magic, dominate monster, entropic shield, freedom of movement, geas/quest, good hope, identify, imbue with spell ability, insanity, invisibility, lesser planar ally, mage's disjunction, magic aura, magic jar, miracle, mislead, moment of prescience, protection from energy, protection from spells, ray of enfeeblement, refuge, scrying, simulacrum, spell resistance, spell turning, suggestion, symbol of persuasion, sympathy, touch of idiocy, trap the soul, vampiric touch, wish.
Permanent Magical/Supernatural Effects: - Divine Might, Divine Shield, Epic Divine Might, arcane boost (+30 insight bonus to AC), arcane boost (+30 insight bonus to attack rolls), arcane boost (+60 insight bonus to weapon damage rolls), arcane boost (+30 insight bonus to saving throws), arcane boost (resistances acid 150/cold 150/electricity 150/fire 150/sonic 150), accelerated movement, aligned aura (chaotic), antimagic field (widened), aura of vitality, barkskin, bear's endurance, blinding beauty, darkvision, death throes (intensified), delay death, divine agility, divine power, divine presence, dolorous blows (Runeblade), embrace the wild, energy immunity (fire), energy immunity (sonic), essence of the raptor, fly, footsteps of the divine, foresight, fox's cunning, freedom of movement, greater heroism, haste, hawkeye, heroics (Improved Unarmed Strike), hidden truename, indomitability, instant search, jump, lightfoot, lore of the gods, nixie's grace, owl's insight, owl's wisdom, read magic, recitation, remove scent, righteous aura, righteous fury, serene visage, sharptooth, shield, sirine's grace, snowshoes, storm rage, superb mage armor, superior magic fang, superior resistance, surefoot, surefooted stride, true seeing, wraithstrike, xorn movement.
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/20/20/19/19/19/17/16/16/14/7/6/6/6/6/5/5/5/5/4/4/4/4/3/3/3/3/2/2/2/2; base DC = 41 + spell level): 0—amanuensis, arcane mark, detect magic, message, open/close, prestidigitation, read magic, repair minor damage, silent portal; 1st—, ebon eyes, familiar pocket, magic missile, resist planar alignment, shield; 2nd—create magic tattoo, detect thoughts, entice gift, hideous laughter, slapping hand, wraithstrike; 3rd—daylight, fly, haste, ray of exhaustion, unluck; 4th—fear, greater invisibility, remove curse, spell enhancer, thunderlance; 5th—death throes, dominate person, reciprocal gyre, telekinesis, wall of force; 6th—chain lightning, disintegrate, greater dispel magic; 7th—delayed blast fireball, finger of death, mass hold person; 8th—greater bestow curse, mass charm monster, polymorph any object; 9th—absorption, mage's disjunction, maw of chaos, time stop, unname
Wizard Spells/Day (Levels 0-13): 5/12/12/12/11/11/11/11/10/10/2/2/2/2; base DC=24 + spell level. Prohibited schools: Conjuration and Necromancy.
Blackguard Spells/Day: 9/7/7/6; base DC=35 + spell level, 36 + spell level for enchantment and evocation spells.
Epic Spells/Day: 6 arcane.
Possessions: Quintessa carries Rune Blade, a +6 starmetal jian. It appears as a long, thin blade of which the bottom half splits and wraps around itself. Unlike the standard spell storing effect, the Rune Blade can store a spell of any level, and while stored provides supernatural fast healing equal to the spell level and heals an equal amount when making a successful attack of opportunity (the fast healing does not stack with any other fast healing that Quintessa may already possess).
Caster Level: 25th; Weight: 4 lb.
She also wears a Witch's Robe, a silk-lined, blue-fur adorned gown with the heavy fortification ability and a +30 competence bonus to Truespeak checks, a Brace Circlet, a blue fillet set with a brilliant gemstone which raises her caster level by +19 and grants a +30 competence bonus to Spellcraft checks (sorceror 60, echantress 43, blackguard 26), a Wizard's Belt, an elegent blue-leather belt with a cloth draped in the front, granting her the effects of the rings of wizardry I-IX, Nemea, an animated +5 light mithral shield with great reflection, exceptional arrow deflection, and strengthened with the Divine Shield feat, nintey-nine vials of Love Potion no.9 (as Charm Monster heightened to level 30, Will DC 55), Kiss of Death lipstick (as Poison, Fortitude DC 22), and a spell component pouch with eight gems each worth 50,000 gold.
† (The statistics block already reflects these bonuses)
Familiar: Quintessa's familiar is a snake named Destro. The familiar uses the better of it's own and Quintessa's base save bonuses. The creature's abilities and characteristics are summarized below.
Destro: Snake familiar; CR —; Tiny outsider; HD 60; hp 674; Init +37; Spd 110 ft., climb 40 ft., swim 70 ft.; AC 138, touch 46, flat-footed 138; Base Attack +40, Grp +64, Atk or Full Atk +88 melee (1d2+11+1d6 Con, bite, cold iron); Space/Reach 2-1/2ft./0 ft.; SA greater bestow curse, poison; SQ deliver touch spells, divine immunities, fire resistance 5, improved evasion, scent, speak with master, speak with reptiles, power of luck, SR 30, DR 10/epic; AL CE; SV Fort +65, Ref +74, Will +82; Str 19, Dex 36, Con 24, Int 27, Wis 45, Cha 15.
Skill and Feats: Balance +45, Bluff +89, Climb +45, Concentration +94, Disguise +26, Escape Artist +37, Hide +57, Intimidate +32, Listen +116, Move Silently +37, Search +31, Sense Motive +104, Spot +116, Survival +49, Swim +36, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finnesse, Familiar Spell (greater bestow curse)
Deliver Touch Spells (Su): Destro can deliver touch spells for Quintessa.
Improved Evasion (Ex): If Destro is exposed to any effect that normally allows it to attempt a Reflex saving throw for half damage, it takes no damage with a successful saving throw and half damage if the saving throw fails.
Greater Bestow Curse (Sp): Destro can use Greater Bestow Curse as a spell-like ability once per day (CL 80).
Poison (Ex): If it hits with a bite attack, Destro inflicts 1d6 Con damage with poison (DC 47).
Scent (Ex): Can detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell.
Speak with Master (Ex): Destro can communicate verbally with Quintessa. Other creatures do not understand the communciation without magical help.
Speak with Reptiles (Ex): Destro can communicate with animals of approximately the same kind as itself (including dire varieties).
Destro has the following spells made permanent on him through Alter Reality: aligned aura (chaotic), antimagic field, aura of vitality, barkskin, death throes, divine agility, divine power, divine presence, draconic might, enhance familiar, epic mage armor, essence of the raptor, footsteps of the divine, foresight, fortify familiar, fox's cunning, greater heroism, haste, metal fang (cold iron), nixie's grace, owl's insight, owl's wisdom, recitation, sharptooth, shield, sirene's grace, superior magic fang, superior resistance.
Familiar Benefits: Quintessa gains special benefits from having a familiar. This creature grants Quintessa a +3 bonus on Bluff checks (included in the above statistics).
Alertness (Ex): Destro grants its master Alertness as long as it is withing 5 feet.
Empathic Link (Su): Quintessa can communicate telepathically with her familiar at a distance of up to 1 mile. The master has the same connection to an item or a place that the familiar does.
Scry on Familiar (Su): Quintessa may scry on her familiar (as if casting the scrying spell) once per day.
Share Spells (Su): Quintessa may have any spell she casts on herself also afffect her familiar if the latter is within 5 feet at the time. She may also cast a spell with a target of "You" on her familiar.
Other Divine Powers
As a greater deity, Quintessa automatically receives the best possible result on any die roll she makes (including attack rolls, damage, checks, and saves). She is immortal.
Senses: Quintessa can see (using normal vision, low-light vision, darkvision, or blindsense), hear, touch, and smell at a distance of twenty miles. As a standard action, she can perceive anything within twenty miles of her worshippers, holy sites, objects, or any location where one of her titles or name was spoken in the last hour. She can extend her senses to up to twenty locations at once. She can block the sensing power of deities of her rank or lower at up to two remote locations at once for twenty hours.
Portfolio Sense: Quintessa instantly senses the creation of a work of beauty, heartfelt passion, or burning jealousy twenty weeks before they occur, and retains the sensation for twenty weeks afterwards.
Automatic Actions: Quintessa can use Craft (alchemy), Craft (calligraphy), Craft (poisonmaking), Bluff, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (sex), Perform (sing), and Sexual Prowess as free actions if the DC for the task is 30 or lower. She can use Spellcraft as a free action if the DC for the task is 50 or lower. She can perform up to twenty such free actions in a round.
Create Magic Items: Quintessa can create any kind of magic item.
Avatars
Quintessa's avatars appear as youthful women of any ethnicity, charming the masses and moving them to fufill their most lustful desires and find strength in the depths of their envious hearts.
Avatar of Quintessa: As Quintessa except divine rank 10; AC 230 (touch 105, flat-footed 230); Grp +122; Atk +127/+127/+122/+117/+112 melee (1d4+171, +5 superior magic fang improved unarmed strike) or spell +122 melee touch or +127 ranged touch; SQ DR 25/epic and lawful, SR 62, divine aura (1,000 ft., DC 50); SV Fort +143, Ref +148, Will +158, all skill modifers reduced by 10.
Salient Divine Abilities: Alter Reality (save DC 60 for duplicated spells, temporary nonmagical objects last 10 days, temporary magic items or creatures last 10 hours), Arcane Mastery, Automatic Metamagic (quicken spell-like abilities), Divine Blast (33/day, up to 10 miles, 40d12 damage), Divine Dodge, Divine Inspiration (Love and Desire), Divine Shield (20/day, stops 100 points of damage), Divine Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Divine Spellcasting, Increased Damage Reduction, Increased Spell Resistance, Supreme Initiative.
Spell-Like Abilities: Caster Level 39th, saving throw DC 50 + spell level. Without the Extra Domain salient ability, Quintessa's avatar loses access to the Luck and Magic domains and the spell-like abilities aid, antimagic field, breack enchantment, dispel magic, entropic shield, freedom of movement, identify, imbue with spell ability, mage's disjunction, magic aura, miracle, mislead, moment of prescience, protection from energy, protection from spells, spell resistance, spell turning.
The Enchantress, The Lady of Desires
Greater Deity
Symbol: A blue rose encircled by its stem
Home Plane: Heroic Domains of Ysgard
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Portfolio: Beauty, envy, love, magic, vanity
Worshippers: Aristocrats, sorcerers, bards, rogues, artisans
Cleric Alignments: NE, CN, CE
Domains: Charm, Envy, Luck, Lust, Magic
Favoured Weapon: Unarmed strike
The deity of desires, Quintessa (kwin-tess-uh), appears as a beautiful, young woman with snow-white, snake-like hair and rich, magenta eyes, often adorned with a gaudy, blue gown over black tights. She rules over that which is beautiful and wanting, and those who lust for power and dominion are among her worshippers. (As an ascended mortal, Quintessa does not have outsider Hit Dice as other members of the patheon do.)
Dogma
Quintessa teaches that there is no greater force in the universe than one's own desires. Even when things are at their darkest, when all hope is lost, the desires of the heart see feats of epic proportions performed by even the most common of people. One must never shy away from one's own personal wants, for they give strength and happiness, and it is only natural to enjoy the pleasures of these feelings.
Clergy and Temples
Quintessa's clerics are often found working for royalty and nobility in positions of power, yet others may be found in lesser cities working to beautify and ennoble the land, often at the costs of another's freedoms. They wear exotic clothes adorned with jewels in a variety of styles.
Temples to Quintessa are most often found in large, wealthy cities amidst bustling marketplaces. Within it's cleanly walls are numerous artisans and crafters working tirelessly to create works of enduring beauty, which are often sold to aristocrats and townships all over the land.
QUINTESSA
Sorceress 15/Archmage 5/Enchantress 10/Ultimate Magus 10/Rogue 3/Blackguard 7/Abjurant Champion 5/Arcane Lord 5
Medium-Size Outsider (Evil, Chaotic, Extraplanar)
Divine Rank: 20
Hit Dice: 15d4+255 (Sor) plus 5d4+85 (Arc) plus 10d4+170 (Enc) plus 10d4+170 (UM) plus 3d6+51 (Rog) plus 7d10+ 119 (Blk) plus 5d10+85 (AC) plus 5d6+85 (1,348 hp)
Initiative: +45, always first (+21 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative, +20 luck, Supreme Initiative)
Speed: 130 ft. (26 squares), fly 230 ft. (good), swim 90 ft.
Armor Class: 250 (+21 Dex, +20 divine, +25 natural, +30 deflection, +74 superb mage armor, +36 Nemea, +30 insight, +1 dodge, +3 luck); touch 115; flat-footed 250
Base Attack/Grapple*: +40/+132 *Always receives a 20 on grapple checks
Attacks*: Rune Blade +138/+138/+133/+128/+123 melee; or spell +132 melee touch or +137 ranged touch *Always receives a 20 on attack rolls; roll die to check for critical hit
Damage*: Rune Blade 1d8+172/17-20 or by spell *Always does maximum damage (jian 180 points)
Face/Reach: 5 ft. x 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Domain powers, salient divine abilities, spell-like abilities, smite good 2/day (+30 attack, +7 damage), sneak attack +4d6, command undead 33/day.
Special Qualities: Familiar (snakes), mastery of counterspelling, mastery of elements, mastery of shaping, arcane reach 60 ft., arcane spell power +4, expanded spell knowledge, augmented casting, trap finding, evasion, spell sense +1, aura of evil, detect good, poison use, dark blessing, aura of despair, fiendish servant, abjurant armor, extended abjuration, swift abjuration, arcane boost, martial arcanist, recall spell 1/day, expanded spell power 1/day, divine immunities, DR 35/epic and lawful, fast healing 40, darkvision, low-light vision, blindsense, scent, fire immunity, sonic immunity, understand, speak, and read all languages and speak directly to all beings within 20 miles, remote communication, godly realm (100 miles outer plane, 2,000 ft. Material Plane), greater teleport at will, plane shift at will, spontaneous casting of divine spells, SR 72, divine aura (20 miles, DC 60).
Saves*: Fort +153, Ref +158, Will +168. *Always receives a 20 on saves.
Abilities: Str 43, Dex 52, Con 44, Int 36, Wis 60, Cha 70.
Skills*: Appraise +57, Autohypnosis +75, Balance +75, Bluff +153, Climb +70, Concentration +124, Craft (alchemy) +58, Craft (calligraphy) +58, Craft (poisonmaking) +58, Decipher Script +57, Diplomacy +149, Disable Device +57, Disguise +74, Escape Artist +65, Forgery +57, Gather Information +74, Handle Animal +74, Heal +69, Hide +78, Iaijutsu Focus +74, Intimidate +80, Jump +149, Knowledge (arcana) +125, Knowledge (architecture and engineering) +63, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +63, Knowledge (geography) +63, Knowledge (history) +63, Knowledge (local) +63, Knowledge (nature) +63, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +63, Knowledge (psionics) +63, Knowledge (religion) +125, Knowledge (sex) +125, Knowledge (the planes) +125, Listen +144, Martial Lore +57, Move Silently +65, Open Lock +65, Perform (sing) +145, Psicraft +57, Profession (apothecary) +70, Ride +65, Search +59, Sense Motive +132, Sexual Prowess +158, Sleight of Hand +71, Spellcraft +189, Spot +149, Survival +77, Swim +60, Truespeak +150, Tumble +75, Use Magic Device +74, Use Psionic Device +74, Use Rope +65. *Always receives a 20 on checks.
Feats: Alertness, Cleave, Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Dark Speech, Divine Might, Divine Shield, Empower Spell, Eschew Materials, Heighten Spell, Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Improved Unarmed Strike, Jack of All Trades, Maximize Spell, Power Attack, Quicken Spell, Rapid Metamagic, Scribe Scroll, Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Spell Focus (Ench), Spell Focus (Evoc), Spell Mastery, Truename Training.
Epic Feats: Enhance Spell, Epic Divine Might, Epic Spellcasting, Ignore Material Components, Improved Heighten Spell, Intensify Spell.
Divine Immunities: - Ability damage, ability drain, acid, cold, death effects, disease, disintegration, electricity, energy drain, mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, stunning, transmutation, imprisonment, and banishment.
Salient Divine Abilities: - Alter Reality (save DC 70 for duplicated spells, temporary nonmagical objects last 20 days, temporary magic items or creatures last 20 hours), Alter Size, Annihilating Strike (Fort save DC 40 + damage dealt), Arcane Mastery, Automatic Metamagic (quicken spell-like abilities), Avatar, Divine Blast (33/day, up to 20 miles, 50d12 damage), Divine Blessing (Charisma), Divine Dodge, Divine Fast Healing, Divine Inspiriation (Love and Desire, Will save DC 60), Divine Shield (20/day, stops 200 points of damage), Divine Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Divine Spellcasting, Divine Splendor (200 ft.), Extra Domain (Luck), Extra Domain (Magic), Increased Damage Reduction, Increased Spell Resistance, Instant Counterspell, Power of Luck†, Rejuvination, See Magic, Spontaneous Wizard Spells, Supreme Initiative.
Domain Powers: - 20/day increase Charisma by +4 for 1 minute; cast spells that damage or drain ability scores or bestow negative levels at +1 caster level; 20/day reroll a die roll once after it is made; 20/day enhance Charisma by +20 for 1 round.
Spell-Like Abilities: - Quintessa uses these abilities as a 49th-level caster, except for spells that cause ability damage, ability drain, or bestow negative levels, which she uses as a 50th-level caster. The save DCs are 60 + spell level. Aid, antimagic field, break enchantment, calm emotions, charm monster, clairaudience/clairvoyance, crushing despair, demand, disguise self, dispel magic, dominate monster, entropic shield, freedom of movement, geas/quest, good hope, identify, imbue with spell ability, insanity, invisibility, lesser planar ally, mage's disjunction, magic aura, magic jar, miracle, mislead, moment of prescience, protection from energy, protection from spells, ray of enfeeblement, refuge, scrying, simulacrum, spell resistance, spell turning, suggestion, symbol of persuasion, sympathy, touch of idiocy, trap the soul, vampiric touch, wish.
Permanent Magical/Supernatural Effects: - Divine Might, Divine Shield, Epic Divine Might, arcane boost (+30 insight bonus to AC), arcane boost (+30 insight bonus to attack rolls), arcane boost (+60 insight bonus to weapon damage rolls), arcane boost (+30 insight bonus to saving throws), arcane boost (resistances acid 150/cold 150/electricity 150/fire 150/sonic 150), accelerated movement, aligned aura (chaotic), antimagic field (widened), aura of vitality, barkskin, bear's endurance, blinding beauty, darkvision, death throes (intensified), delay death, divine agility, divine power, divine presence, dolorous blows (Runeblade), embrace the wild, energy immunity (fire), energy immunity (sonic), essence of the raptor, fly, footsteps of the divine, foresight, fox's cunning, freedom of movement, greater heroism, haste, hawkeye, heroics (Improved Unarmed Strike), hidden truename, indomitability, instant search, jump, lightfoot, lore of the gods, nixie's grace, owl's insight, owl's wisdom, read magic, recitation, remove scent, righteous aura, righteous fury, serene visage, sharptooth, shield, sirine's grace, snowshoes, storm rage, superb mage armor, superior magic fang, superior resistance, surefoot, surefooted stride, true seeing, wraithstrike, xorn movement.
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/20/20/19/19/19/17/16/16/14/7/6/6/6/6/5/5/5/5/4/4/4/4/3/3/3/3/2/2/2/2; base DC = 41 + spell level): 0—amanuensis, arcane mark, detect magic, message, open/close, prestidigitation, read magic, repair minor damage, silent portal; 1st—, ebon eyes, familiar pocket, magic missile, resist planar alignment, shield; 2nd—create magic tattoo, detect thoughts, entice gift, hideous laughter, slapping hand, wraithstrike; 3rd—daylight, fly, haste, ray of exhaustion, unluck; 4th—fear, greater invisibility, remove curse, spell enhancer, thunderlance; 5th—death throes, dominate person, reciprocal gyre, telekinesis, wall of force; 6th—chain lightning, disintegrate, greater dispel magic; 7th—delayed blast fireball, finger of death, mass hold person; 8th—greater bestow curse, mass charm monster, polymorph any object; 9th—absorption, mage's disjunction, maw of chaos, time stop, unname
Wizard Spells/Day (Levels 0-13): 5/12/12/12/11/11/11/11/10/10/2/2/2/2; base DC=24 + spell level. Prohibited schools: Conjuration and Necromancy.
Blackguard Spells/Day: 9/7/7/6; base DC=35 + spell level, 36 + spell level for enchantment and evocation spells.
Epic Spells/Day: 6 arcane.
Possessions: Quintessa carries Rune Blade, a +6 starmetal jian. It appears as a long, thin blade of which the bottom half splits and wraps around itself. Unlike the standard spell storing effect, the Rune Blade can store a spell of any level, and while stored provides supernatural fast healing equal to the spell level and heals an equal amount when making a successful attack of opportunity (the fast healing does not stack with any other fast healing that Quintessa may already possess).
Caster Level: 25th; Weight: 4 lb.
She also wears a Witch's Robe, a silk-lined, blue-fur adorned gown with the heavy fortification ability and a +30 competence bonus to Truespeak checks, a Brace Circlet, a blue fillet set with a brilliant gemstone which raises her caster level by +19 and grants a +30 competence bonus to Spellcraft checks (sorceror 60, echantress 43, blackguard 26), a Wizard's Belt, an elegent blue-leather belt with a cloth draped in the front, granting her the effects of the rings of wizardry I-IX, Nemea, an animated +5 light mithral shield with great reflection, exceptional arrow deflection, and strengthened with the Divine Shield feat, nintey-nine vials of Love Potion no.9 (as Charm Monster heightened to level 30, Will DC 55), Kiss of Death lipstick (as Poison, Fortitude DC 22), and a spell component pouch with eight gems each worth 50,000 gold.
† (The statistics block already reflects these bonuses)
Familiar: Quintessa's familiar is a snake named Destro. The familiar uses the better of it's own and Quintessa's base save bonuses. The creature's abilities and characteristics are summarized below.
Destro: Snake familiar; CR —; Tiny outsider; HD 60; hp 674; Init +37; Spd 110 ft., climb 40 ft., swim 70 ft.; AC 138, touch 46, flat-footed 138; Base Attack +40, Grp +64, Atk or Full Atk +88 melee (1d2+11+1d6 Con, bite, cold iron); Space/Reach 2-1/2ft./0 ft.; SA greater bestow curse, poison; SQ deliver touch spells, divine immunities, fire resistance 5, improved evasion, scent, speak with master, speak with reptiles, power of luck, SR 30, DR 10/epic; AL CE; SV Fort +65, Ref +74, Will +82; Str 19, Dex 36, Con 24, Int 27, Wis 45, Cha 15.
Skill and Feats: Balance +45, Bluff +89, Climb +45, Concentration +94, Disguise +26, Escape Artist +37, Hide +57, Intimidate +32, Listen +116, Move Silently +37, Search +31, Sense Motive +104, Spot +116, Survival +49, Swim +36, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finnesse, Familiar Spell (greater bestow curse)
Deliver Touch Spells (Su): Destro can deliver touch spells for Quintessa.
Improved Evasion (Ex): If Destro is exposed to any effect that normally allows it to attempt a Reflex saving throw for half damage, it takes no damage with a successful saving throw and half damage if the saving throw fails.
Greater Bestow Curse (Sp): Destro can use Greater Bestow Curse as a spell-like ability once per day (CL 80).
Poison (Ex): If it hits with a bite attack, Destro inflicts 1d6 Con damage with poison (DC 47).
Scent (Ex): Can detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell.
Speak with Master (Ex): Destro can communicate verbally with Quintessa. Other creatures do not understand the communciation without magical help.
Speak with Reptiles (Ex): Destro can communicate with animals of approximately the same kind as itself (including dire varieties).
Destro has the following spells made permanent on him through Alter Reality: aligned aura (chaotic), antimagic field, aura of vitality, barkskin, death throes, divine agility, divine power, divine presence, draconic might, enhance familiar, epic mage armor, essence of the raptor, footsteps of the divine, foresight, fortify familiar, fox's cunning, greater heroism, haste, metal fang (cold iron), nixie's grace, owl's insight, owl's wisdom, recitation, sharptooth, shield, sirene's grace, superior magic fang, superior resistance.
Familiar Benefits: Quintessa gains special benefits from having a familiar. This creature grants Quintessa a +3 bonus on Bluff checks (included in the above statistics).
Alertness (Ex): Destro grants its master Alertness as long as it is withing 5 feet.
Empathic Link (Su): Quintessa can communicate telepathically with her familiar at a distance of up to 1 mile. The master has the same connection to an item or a place that the familiar does.
Scry on Familiar (Su): Quintessa may scry on her familiar (as if casting the scrying spell) once per day.
Share Spells (Su): Quintessa may have any spell she casts on herself also afffect her familiar if the latter is within 5 feet at the time. She may also cast a spell with a target of "You" on her familiar.
Other Divine Powers
As a greater deity, Quintessa automatically receives the best possible result on any die roll she makes (including attack rolls, damage, checks, and saves). She is immortal.
Senses: Quintessa can see (using normal vision, low-light vision, darkvision, or blindsense), hear, touch, and smell at a distance of twenty miles. As a standard action, she can perceive anything within twenty miles of her worshippers, holy sites, objects, or any location where one of her titles or name was spoken in the last hour. She can extend her senses to up to twenty locations at once. She can block the sensing power of deities of her rank or lower at up to two remote locations at once for twenty hours.
Portfolio Sense: Quintessa instantly senses the creation of a work of beauty, heartfelt passion, or burning jealousy twenty weeks before they occur, and retains the sensation for twenty weeks afterwards.
Automatic Actions: Quintessa can use Craft (alchemy), Craft (calligraphy), Craft (poisonmaking), Bluff, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (sex), Perform (sing), and Sexual Prowess as free actions if the DC for the task is 30 or lower. She can use Spellcraft as a free action if the DC for the task is 50 or lower. She can perform up to twenty such free actions in a round.
Create Magic Items: Quintessa can create any kind of magic item.
Avatars
Quintessa's avatars appear as youthful women of any ethnicity, charming the masses and moving them to fufill their most lustful desires and find strength in the depths of their envious hearts.
Avatar of Quintessa: As Quintessa except divine rank 10; AC 230 (touch 105, flat-footed 230); Grp +122; Atk +127/+127/+122/+117/+112 melee (1d4+171, +5 superior magic fang improved unarmed strike) or spell +122 melee touch or +127 ranged touch; SQ DR 25/epic and lawful, SR 62, divine aura (1,000 ft., DC 50); SV Fort +143, Ref +148, Will +158, all skill modifers reduced by 10.
Salient Divine Abilities: Alter Reality (save DC 60 for duplicated spells, temporary nonmagical objects last 10 days, temporary magic items or creatures last 10 hours), Arcane Mastery, Automatic Metamagic (quicken spell-like abilities), Divine Blast (33/day, up to 10 miles, 40d12 damage), Divine Dodge, Divine Inspiration (Love and Desire), Divine Shield (20/day, stops 100 points of damage), Divine Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Divine Spellcasting, Increased Damage Reduction, Increased Spell Resistance, Supreme Initiative.
Spell-Like Abilities: Caster Level 39th, saving throw DC 50 + spell level. Without the Extra Domain salient ability, Quintessa's avatar loses access to the Luck and Magic domains and the spell-like abilities aid, antimagic field, breack enchantment, dispel magic, entropic shield, freedom of movement, identify, imbue with spell ability, mage's disjunction, magic aura, miracle, mislead, moment of prescience, protection from energy, protection from spells, spell resistance, spell turning.
"Just because you are a Goddess' Daughter does not make you invincible, You have disrupted TIme's Balance, Now as i have sworn must restore it."
But when he swings the Blade you have dogded and hit the ground running...
OOC: KK got it. i got confused there...
Chapien And Kyle have to find a lead on the Teif.
"If you're looking for mom, just go to Ysgard, just don't expect to it to be easy finding her. Dumb broad closed Rosslyn Glæn off from the astral plane, and I really, really hate having to run the fifty miles to get to and from home!" I stood up as straight as I may, balancing the weight of Fury against my shoulder. I continued to eye his strange sword carefully. Blood Mythral? Even with my knowledge of arcana, history, and the planes, I don't recall ever hearing anything about it, and mom certainly never mentioned it. Was that what allowed him to injure me? Tch, jerk. Why can't he just use his raw might like any true warrior? Still.. I've been meaning to pay Old Wicked a visit. Perhaps I could partake of this stuff, hm? "Look! Like I said, I don't care about balancing anything. If you want to fight, then just shut up and fight. Last thing I need is some darned fool blathering on about something no one cares about!"
OOC: I once hypothesized that Quin's avatar could take on a greatwyrm time dragon by herself and win (though, realistically, the dragon would probably parlay or flee before combat ended); once again, Quin's curiousity has put others in jeopardy. :D
???: "If it's a fair fight you want, strike me first..."
Chapien: I have to find him... I have to find him...
Demon: It is your fault! Your fault! You will never find him! The boy is mine!
Chapien: No! I must try...
*wakes up, gasping for air*
Rilkos: Chapien? Did you have troubled sleep again?
Chapien: Yes... we need to find Lief... the stress is driving me mad...
A teifling woman, with blade in each hand apears infront of the two,
???: "I know who took your friend, This message will dissapear in 5. 4. 3. 2. 1..."
And the Woman vanishes again, leaving a small letter in her place, written on elven on the letter is Alandra.
Inside is a note,
" If you wish to find the boy go to The Blood Grove, 15 miles north, Password is Ransom. "
---Cloaked Figure and Deity---
???: "Yes, i tried to stop your birth by killing your father and failed, your mother eluded me in, um..." He pauses, Slightly embarsed.
???: "Nevermind that, but all existance will be destroyed, including everything you know and love, will have never existed. I know you are the DEmon Lord's key. You may not know who i am, but you'll learn in Due time. Pulling back the hood... To reveal a face her mother told her a story about. It was one of those mortals.
Cronomancer: "Find Chapien and Kyle, They will protect you, tell them Rolonith Sent you..." He says, just before vanishing as if you had never seen him...
s!)Rilkos: No... I saw her too...
Chapien. I am going after Lief! Stay here Rilkos!
Rilkos: But I want to come!
Chapien: You are to young! There is enough food to last you for weeks... I won't take longer than that, I promise you!
Rilkos: But Chapien, Lief is my friend!
Chapien: I know! I will be back, with Lief! I promise! *dons his leather armor, pulls out his old rapier and dagger, and packs enough food to last a week. He then leaves the house* Bye Rilkos!
Rilkos: Thinks he can go without me does he? Well, no way! I am going too! *grabs one of Chapien's many daggers, packs a week of food and a bedroll and follows Chapien, not forgetting to lock the door into the house*
Assassin: "Surry buddy, but 500,000 Gold is just too much to pass up..."
Rilkos: "No! Chapien!" He screams as he sees Chapien dragged off into the forest...
OOC: (Play Rilkos to get him back) KEEP POSTING! BUT FASTER!!!
Rilkos: *draws out the dagger* Back to good old times...
Rilkos follows the man that dragged away Chapien into the trees, dagger drawn. He finds the mans camp and spies on him, revealing his camp containing two other men and three tents surrounding a fire pit.
Champien and Kyle.. yes, she had mentioned those names a month ago. Told me I might have some fun with them. Though wether she was referring to a good fight or something more unwholesome, I could never tell. I didn't need any of them to protect me, but atleast I might find something to do. This whole Demon Lord business was sounding somewhat interesting, I suppose. Anything from the Abyss would certainly prepare me for my battle with Iuz.. hnn, could the fool have been talking about Tharizdûn, perhaps? He seemed like the only thing that ever ruffled mom's feathers, but as far as I had always known he was safely locked away, weakened eons ago. Well, whatever. I was getting bored and I wouldn't find anything to do just standing around here...
Man 1: "Hey, i think i saw a deer over there, this Fish is nasty..." He says as he gets up and heads Rilkos's Direction... Blade drawn, he gets ready to pounce Rilkos, (He thinks he is a deer) And Rilkos...
OOC: Oh dear... Also, lets make a new rule, no double posting 'cause Jobbut pretty much dominates this thread...
Also, when I put somethoing in italics, it is the charecter thinking.Rilkos holds his dagger tightly, but he can't bring himself to pounce...
Rilkos: I can do this... I have killed goblins before on my countless escape attempts from the wizard...
Rilkos: Oh well... here I go...
Rilkos pounces on the man, and attempts to stab him with his dagger. At the same time, Chapien awakens...
Chapien: Rilkos? Rilkos!!!
"Why, Why does every result end in that act?" I whisper,
"Why does everyone's souls vanish from existance, i have the power to travel throughout time and yet can't change one thing." Beggining to cry, I stand,
"Why does it all end. Why end in..."
The Cataclysm
I sit there, in the middle of the End of Time.
"Why, Why does every result end in that act?" I whisper,
"Why does everyone's souls vanish from existance, i have the power to travel throughout time and yet can't change one thing." Beggining to cry, I stand,
"Why does it all end. Why and in..."
The Cataclysm
OOC: That is weird... Is the world ending now or are you in the furure at the moment?
Chapien's bounds suddenly come undone
Chapien:?!? *grabs his weapons, which are just nearby and rushes forth to help Rilkos, stabbing one bandit with his dagger, another with his rapier, and the third one is already dead from Rilkos*
Rilkos: I saved you!
Chapien looks at him darkly.
Chapien: I told you not to follow. To late now. We will loot the camp of food, water, and valuables, leave the corpses here, and continue on to find Lief.
Demons run about and kill the civilians running for there lives...
OOC:hat am i to do now?
(This is the secluded area where Kyle trains)
POLL: Male or Female, Just out of curiosity.
When you get to The Blood Grove, You find the forest in flames...
Demons run about and kill the civilians running for there lives...
OOC:hat am i to do now?
(This is the secluded area where Kyle trains)
POLL: Male or Female, Just out of curiosity.
OOC: Alright, maybe the double post thing is too restricting. And what is up with the poll? Are you asking OUR genders? Because I am Male.
Chapien: Demons? Oh no... here we go again... Rilkos, stay back!
Chapien rushes forward, blades in hand.
Rilkos: Great. While Chapien is distracted, I will sneak around and find Lief!
Rilkos attempts to walk around the Blood Grove.
Demon: "It is one of the humans! Kill it!" Says one demon as others rush torward Chapien...
OOC: HOw about one post per CHAR OR GROUP?
OOC: Male here too.
Demon: "It is one of the humans! Kill it!" Says one demon as others rush torward Chapien...
OOC: HOw about one post per CHAR OR GROUP?
OOC: Sure, that will work.
Chapien: Oh no...
*Attempts to stab the Demon with his Rapier*
Man, i feel like a DM...
Blood trickles from the wound and the ****** demon Rakes Chapien across the face, leaving three deap gashes on his left cheek...
Man, i feel like a DM...
OOC: Well, you were the ones who said the demons were rushing out, so they are your charecters:D
Chapien falls to the ground, but then he sees a familiar figure.
Chapien: Kyle?
Hours later you awake under the shade of a tree, wounds regenerated and armor Made Whole. Rilkos lies asleep next to you...
I stand invisible in the distance...
So, Rilkos is it...
I don't have the heart to tell him...
Vanishing into thin air back to my Adobe...
I double timed it to where I noticed their scent, but it seemed I was too late. Tsk, no surprise there. Still, I wasn't alone; there were two figures laying asleep beneath a nearby tree, while the ruins of a torched village lay in the distance. Lazy mortals, probably slept through their own village's destruction. Whatever, I decided to sit down by another tree close by, setting my hammer down by my side. Something about those two doesn't feel right, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Is it the stench of demon still hanging in the air? Or is it... something else?
" Congratulations! You've found Chapien, now look for Kyle. A human soulKnife. But whatever you do, do not give away who you are, come up with an okay story, like being a surviving Villager wanting to go with them for revenge.
Lonith"
Let's see how this plays out, Goddess, Chapien and Rilkos. Just like old time... I think as chapien awakes.
Too bad i have to destroy this place, for it is a Gateway for his powers...
Note: The village and all things related are erased from time the moment you lose sight of it.
*sniff* "I smell brimstone. Something's very wrong." I grab my travel pack (always handy and kept packed with three weeks worth of waybread, lots of rope and a handy haversack) and head out the door of my tiny temporary home up in the mountains.
---a couple hours later---
I come to where the village used to be...
"What the hells!? Chapien? What happened here!?"
OoC: I suppose I should have clarified. Kyle's been training in the mountains for a month. Although I have no idea if you guys are in the lowlands or the foothills or what.
*sniff* "I smell brimstone. Something's very wrong." I grab my travel pack (always handy and kept packed with three weeks worth of waybread, lots of rope and a handy haversack) and head out the door of my tiny temporary home up in the mountains.
---a couple hours later---
I come to where the village used to be...
"What the hells!? Chapien? What happened here!?"
Chapien: Kyle? Lief... missing... Left... to find... Leif... Rilkos followed...
Rilkos: I don't feel so good...
I could hear the crickets chirping; bloody pests. "Fine!" I shouted, pouting with my arms crossed as I rose. "I wasn't really hiding, anyway! Hmph!" Suppose he had a point, even if he did sound like a jerk. Mom did say they seemed stronger than most mortals, so I guess I shouldn't have expected to remain unnoticed for long, right? Now that I've found these two blokes mentioned in the letter, what now?
Chapien: My name is Chapien. That over there is Kyle, and him here is my adopted son, Rilkos...
(Chapien said that while he was out of breath)
OoC: Kyle's social skills were never really that great to begin with, and a month away from sentient society has really shot it all to hells, not needing to practice.
Chapien has just noticed that the village is completly gone.
"And I don't think there's any need to act like that...
"Any ideas where to find a clue, Chapien?"
OoC: Is the village just gone, or is it replaced with carbon on the ground?
Chapien: Kyle, this isn't the most important thing to me. I have to find Lief. If you really want to investigate go ahead, but I am looking for Lief. While I am gone, could you look over Rilkos for me?
Chapien: What's this? A letter? I will read it out loud... it may be a clue...
I have risen from the dead as a death knight. I have taken your precious Lief captive Rescue him quickly or I will kill him. I will have my revenge, Kyle and Chapien!
Your former friend,
Iablo
OOC: OMG IABLO IS BACK!!!!
OOC: Yes Chapien is REALLY ticked off.
OoC: I go and check on Rilkos. Is he equipped with a weapon at all?
Chapien: Fine. But I still don't trust you. Now, Kyle, perhaps he is in the village, but the news that Iablo is back from the dead is not good. Although he is our former friend, when he died he was pretty mad at you and me. It is best that we avoid Iablo for as long as possable!
OOC: So we still don't know that Rolonith still lives, right?
And as Chapien turns to Kyle, A Giant Neon Green arrow points in a direction to the East., But under a fallen tree a man yells to you:
Man: "I could use some Helps!"
New Charecter.
Billy
A Survivor of the village attack, seems to have masterfull skills with a blade called Aeries. (Fullblade Fighter)
The Green arrow points to an inscription on a huge Marble Tablet.
" Any Dope with half a brain
Can see that the races have gone insane
Where i don't know if i've upset the status quo
By burning everything on this plane.
Listen close to everybodies heart,
And hear that Breaking sound.
Hopes and dreams are shattering apart,
And crashing to the Ground!
A Powerfull entity. "
And on the back in small letters.
" I Control all, I have mastered the universe... "
"I say we look all over the tablet. Legends are full of things like this, and there are almost always hidden things on 'em."
By the Power of Greyskull! Mastered the universe? Quite the he-man, huh? Still, one can't ignore a message like that. I mean, you close your eyes and you'd still see it, it's that obnoxious. "I say we break the thing!" I replied smartly, releasing Fury from my glove and raising it high above my head. "Ancient peoples always leave things inside stone tablets for no reason!" Wait, a cry of distress! Some poor soul is trapped beneath a tree!...seems it's time to apply some euthenasia.
Chapien: Can someone help me move this damn tree?
OOC: This is really fun, but if any of you seek a place to rp even more, check out the forums called Keehrr. The link is here: http://z11.invisionfree.com/Keehrr/index.php?act=idx
He wandered, like he always wandered. Senses developed over thousands of years yet unknown to the conscious part of his mind always seemed to pull him towards ... interesting ... events, like that time he fell into that river of molten adamantine, finishing the healing prayer that had saved his what passed for life the moment he fell in. He came out shiny and hard, which was truly a blessing, since a multitude of sword and magic wielding madmen had tried to slay him over the years.
And now Xim wandered to where a man was trying to remove a tree from atop another man. Perhaps these ones won't run away or try to slay him, he was getting the feeling that this was the modern reaction of sentient beings to strangers.
"Excuse me, may I offer some assistance?"
What are you kidding? He was actually trying to save that fool? What was with mortals, anyway? I thought the law of nature was survival of the fittest; i.e., the strong live and the weak die, right? Whatever. I tossed my hammer to the side and ran over to help; not out of any sense of virtue, but mainly because watching this.. what was his name?.. struggle to move such a small tree was so pathetic, it was making me sick. "I guess someone didn't eat their spinnach today, huh?" I mocked, lifting the tree effortlessly with the strength my father gave me. I can only imagine him tossing it aside like mere kindling if he were here. "Look, I'll hold the tree up, you pull him away, right? Or should I just let it fall on top of both of you?" Out of the corner of my eye I saw a strange being speaking to us. A skeleton, but dark and steely like Fury. "By the Nine Hells, what are you supposed to be? The Pumpkin King?""Pumpkin king? Fleshed one, what you see before you is the result of a mortal foolish enough to be nearby when gods battle. Or, to be accurate, to have one's prayer answered at the worst possible time. I am curious as to how this human ended up with a tree on him. And to ask him, I will need to remove the tree. Which I see you already have."
Chapien backs slowly away...
"What!? HEY! Where are you going? I said move the.. oh, for the love of.." So it was some shiny, talking skeleton. So what? Don't tell me this guy's never seen one? Mom said these guys were supposed to be special, but honestly? Granted, I don't recall seeing any skeletons who were as articulate as this one, but still. Tossing the tree aside, I chuckled to myself as the newcomer recalled his lifestory, walking over to where I left Fury earlier and picking it up, resting the large greathammer against my shoulder."Is that so?" I replied with some speculation. "You've seen gods battle.. and lived? Now that's something else." My sarcasm may have been a little heavy, but it wasn't like this guy was just another typical mortal, so atleast his story could have some credibility. At his inquiry I looked down at the fool who had been pinned beneath the tree with a scowl of disgust. "Personally, I could care less how he ended up there, though I am wondering why he isn't running for his life in abject terror right now." I turned my attention back towards the skeleton, a devious smile curling across my lips. "My name's Clarissa, one of those 'gods' you mentioned earlier. And you are..?"OoC: Chapien, I picked up Races of Destiny. The half-elf fighter substitution levels fit the rapier-and-dagger feel nicely. At each substitution level (1, 2, and 6), their class skills are the fighter list plus Bluff, Diplomacy and Sense Motive. They gain 4+Int mod skill points at the same levels.
At first level, they get the equivalent of Weapon Focus with rapier and longsword, at the cost of the level 1 bonus feat.
At level 2, they get Two-Weapon Fighting as long as they have a dagger in the off hand and a rapier/longsword in the main hand. If they fight defensively, they get a +1 bonus to AC, again costing them a feat.
At level 6, when fighting defensively, they can make a Bluff or Diplomacy check as a free action, opposed by the opponent's Sense Motive check plus base attack bonus. If the half-elf fighter wins, he gets a +2 bonus on attack rolls against that creature until the end of his next turn. This class feature replaces the standard fighter's 6th-level bonus feat.
Just a suggestion, though. First level has a better benefit than just Weapon Focus, and as long as you never plan to use other weapons, level 2 is fine. Level 6 is okay if you put skill points into Bluff or Diplomacy.
IC:How serendipitous. I have walked on this path for many hours, seeking adventure and finding ennui, and now I hear voices talking about gods? Very interesting. As the band of humanoids come into my vision, their words become more clear. It would seem that the one called Clarissa is a God. This shall indeed prove interesting.
"A God, you say? Excellent! Fire a projectile at it and see what happens!" That idiot says in my mind.
"Oh, be silent, you old fool" I say out loud, making sure to be quiet. "You don't control me anymore."
"I am aware of that. It has been so for 40 years now."
I walk slowly towards the group, and shout "Ahoy! What's this talk I hear about gods?"
OOC:When something is underlined and in quotes, that's something the Siege's creator is saying in it's mind. The creator can't directly control Siege, but can sometimes influence it's actions.
"Yes, my name is Clarissa. What, is there an echo here? And I assume you're referring to my mom, Quintessa, right? Taller than me, voluptious, white hair, creepy pink eyes, tight blue robe, thinks she's the most delicious thing on two legs since chocolate parfait? ...yeah, okay, I just made myself sick saying all that." I smirked at 'Kyle's' response, assuming it was directed towards me, anyway. I like men with a dry sense of humor. Though any further stand-up might have to wait as yet another newcomer appeared before us; they were just coming out of the woodwork today, weren't they?"Yes, as I said, I am a god. Future god of lies and deceit.. atleast, once I kick Old Wicked off his throne. I was headed to the Empire of Iuz just now, but being immortal and all I suppose I can wait just a little while. Things are getting a little bit interesting.. maybe mom wasn't so wrong about you guys as I first thought?" I looked over the mechanical monstrosity carefully; something seemed very off about it. Perhaps it was because his words were far more eloquent than I had heard from the mortals, or it could've been that strange look in its eyes.IC:"Very well, Miss Clarissa. I am called Siege. I'd like to accompany you on your quest, if you truly seek to slay Iuz. I have... my own reasons for wanting him dead." (quietly) "Well, Maker, it seems you'll get the blood of a God after all. Though I assure you, the colossus won't work anyway."
"You don't know that! My knowledge of the arcane arts is far superior to yours! I assure you, it will work."
I shake my head and turn to the others. "And who are you? Certainly not more gods?"
OOC:I forgot to mention:Siege always refers to his creator as "Maker," and this is now the only name his creator has. Also, Maker shares Siege's senses, and they have no particular mental link, so the only way Siege can speak to Maker is speaking out loud.
"I am Xim, quite possibly the last cleric in existence who serves the Lord Sjartak, the god of possibilities. This place makes me curious. For now, I shall watch events take place. From a safe distance, of course."
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Hey guys, Matthais here, a fellow role player, and part of the now deceased Pippa's slavemarket, as well as the Revived Traveler's respite, which you can find in my Sig. Now, i hate to be a doomsayer, but our threads where deleted as they made the point that RPing could no longer be done on the D&D boards... and what little RPing they allow here? Well, severally restricted.
Again, i don't want to hone in on your fun... hey, i may join you, but i wanted to offer you guys to join all the old Mature Board roleplayers who got bumped off the site during the big "Crackdown" for RPing stuff.
We of the traveler's respite do wish you the best of luck, but we're always looking for people who are, you know, roleplayers, who don't want to be bumped around, or told that stuff is off limits for roleplay cause it has to do with anything above G. (Threads have been locked for mentioning slavery before after all).
All the people at the respite have been watching this thread, and hoping that you will come visit... as a Admin at said site, i know we'd all appreciate the new roleplaying blood. So just click on the link, and come visit.... just extending the offering, and so that you know that if you guys get locked, deleted, or shut down, your welcome to continue your RP there.
Hey guys, Matthais here, a fellow role player, and part of the now deceased Pippa's slavemarket, as well as the Revived Traveler's respite, which you can find in my Sig. Now, i hate to be a doomsayer, but our threads where deleted as they made the point that RPing could no longer be done on the D&D boards... and what little RPing they allow here? Well, severally restricted.
Again, i don't want to hone in on your fun... hey, i may join you, but i wanted to offer you guys to join all the old Mature Board roleplayers who got bumped off the site during the big "Crackdown" for RPing stuff.
We of the traveler's respite do wish you the best of luck, but we're always looking for people who are, you know, roleplayers, who don't want to be bumped around, or told that stuff is off limits for roleplay cause it has to do with anything above G. (Threads have been locked for mentioning slavery before after all).
All the people at the respite have been watching this thread, and hoping that you will come visit... as a Admin at said site, i know we'd all appreciate the new roleplaying blood. So just click on the link, and come visit.... just extending the offering, and so that you know that if you guys get locked, deleted, or shut down, your welcome to continue your RP there.
"Ugh, please don't remind me of that," I cringed in agony. "Even gods can't choose who their parents are." The automaton soon spoke up, with greater niceties than most creatures I had met. "Miss?" I questioned with an eyebrow raised. "Well, atleast someone knows how to treat their superiors with some respect. I don't need any help slaying that old fool, but maybe I can find some work for you to do when it's all over."Finally it was the skeleton's turn to speak, explaining more of his history and purpose. "From a safe distance, of course. Wouldn't want to get yourself killed, would you? Oh, wait..." Kyle was strangely quiet, but if talk of mom put them aback then I suppose I'd do the same, huh? Is this what she means by a 'divine aura'? Hmm. "Sjartak.. name sounds familiar. Didn't he always speak in riddles? Then again, so do Boccob and Olidmarra at times, so that's nothing special, just annoying. Well, whatever. Just don't get in my way, alright? Just 'cause you look like you're made of adamantine doesn't mean I still can't sunder you."Show
But mainly because of the rampant cybering, fetish indulgence, tentacles and other such nonsense.
This is the Off-Topic forum and the thread has managed to go unscathed by the dread WizOs for almost three weeks, so as long as you make sure to keep the aforementioned content out of here (and I'm sure you're all sensible enough to know that anyway) you'll probably be safe enough.
Be warned if you're inclined to click on that link, though; I was not exaggerating. Everything I mentioned and worse is contained within. If that's your kind of thing then by all means, go for it, but if not then don't be lured in by this innocent "We just don't like feeling restricted" act. There is far more to it than that. In fact, by all accounts it should actually be against the board rules to even link to it in the first place.
In any event, even if you don't believe me, just be sure to check the place out before diving on in or you could well be setting yourself up for some nasty surprises. Advice from a concerned citizen.
Good luck with the thread. Just use a little common sense and you shouldn't have any trouble.
Hey guys, Matthais here, a fellow role player, and part of the now deceased Pippa's slavemarket, as well as the Revived Traveler's respite, which you can find in my Sig. Now, i hate to be a doomsayer, but our threads where deleted as they made the point that RPing could no longer be done on the D&D boards...
But mainly because of the rampant cybering, fetish indulgence, tentacles and other such nonsense.
This is the Off-Topic forum and the thread has managed to go unscathed by the dread WizOs for almost three weeks, so as long as you make sure to keep the aforementioned content out of here (and I'm sure you're all sensible enough to know that anyway) you'll probably be safe enough.
Be warned if you're inclined to click on that link, though; I was not exaggerating. Everything I mentioned and worse is contained within. If that's your kind of thing then by all means, go for it, but if not then don't be lured in by this innocent "We just don't like feeling restricted" act. There is far more to it than that. In fact, by all accounts it should actually be against the board rules to even link to it in the first place.
In any event, even if you don't believe me, just be sure to check the place out before diving on in or you could well be setting yourself up for some nasty surprises. Advice from a concerned citizen.
Good luck with the thread. Just use a little common sense and you shouldn't have any trouble.
Show
Show
But mainly because of the rampant cybering, fetish indulgence, tentacles and other such nonsense.
This is the Off-Topic forum and the thread has managed to go unscathed by the dread WizOs for almost three weeks, so as long as you make sure to keep the aforementioned content out of here (and I'm sure you're all sensible enough to know that anyway) you'll probably be safe enough.
Be warned if you're inclined to click on that link, though; I was not exaggerating. Everything I mentioned and worse is contained within. If that's your kind of thing then by all means, go for it, but if not then don't be lured in by this innocent "We just don't like feeling restricted" act. There is far more to it than that. In fact, by all accounts it should actually be against the board rules to even link to it in the first place.
In any event, even if you don't believe me, just be sure to check the place out before diving on in or you could well be setting yourself up for some nasty surprises. Advice from a concerned citizen.
Good luck with the thread. Just use a little common sense and you shouldn't have any trouble.
Show
But mainly because of the rampant cybering, fetish indulgence, tentacles and other such nonsense.
This is the Off-Topic forum and the thread has managed to go unscathed by the dread WizOs for almost three weeks, so as long as you make sure to keep the aforementioned content out of here (and I'm sure you're all sensible enough to know that anyway) you'll probably be safe enough.
Be warned if you're inclined to click on that link, though; I was not exaggerating. Everything I mentioned and worse is contained within. If that's your kind of thing then by all means, go for it, but if not then don't be lured in by this innocent "We just don't like feeling restricted" act. There is far more to it than that. In fact, by all accounts it should actually be against the board rules to even link to it in the first place.
In any event, even if you don't believe me, just be sure to check the place out before diving on in or you could well be setting yourself up for some nasty surprises. Advice from a concerned citizen.
Good luck with the thread. Just use a little common sense and you shouldn't have any trouble.
Show
Looks like a flame war is coming up... this could be the end of this thread... Look I am not gonna become a member of the respite, I already have a rp forum thank you very much:P Either you rp or leave.
ShowLooks like a flame war is coming up... this could be the end of this thread... Look I am not gonna become a member of the respite, I already have a rp forum thank you very much:P Either you rp or leave.
ShowReallly? Cool, may i ask what one? I'm sort of an RP addict, which is why i started the respite, and i love to find new places. Contrary to wight's portrayal, i'm not demonic or evil, i just like to RP. And i'm still considering wether to join up here or not.... i'm still reading through the thread, and i've got 4 RP threads or so i'm in on the respite. Any rules for this game i should know that i may have missed?
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Enough of this now. So, then... Shall we return?
???: Wait a minute! There's a code!
He begins to scribble down something.
???: Anyone know anyone named Leif?, This says the Lord of Time will do what has to be done.
Handing the paper to Chapien it reads:
" I'm sorry Chapien, i have to take Leif. Iablo may have him but iu must do what has to be done.
Forgive me:
Lord of Time; An old friend. "
???: Can you make heads or tails of this?
I chuckled at the name 'Clar'. Can't recall anyone ever abbreviating my name before; I supposed I should slay him for his disrespect, but I was feeling more ammused and intrigued than anything else at the moment. "Ysgard's not weird, unless you consider being reborn after you die out of the ordinarry; still, doesn't change the fact that mom can be a bit of a freak, no?"Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that man who had been pinned by the tree earlier. Tsk, seems I forgot my manners. Mom always told me to put things back where I found them, and now my carelessness has left the man free to move around! For shame, Clarissa! Well, my amusement was gone as soon as I heard the name 'Lord of Time'; that was that jerk I met earlier, wasn't it? Guess I have reason to stick around then, 'cause if I don't kill this guy now I imagine he's going to be a real headache in the future.???: Your Chapien, From the Jambros Darko series, You, Kyle and that mage guy, Eldora Rilkos, and...
???: Oh, CRAP Then he's.
IT seems like The man is finally putting 2+3 together...
(There is a novel written about our previous exploits...)
???: So where is Leif?
Xim is awestruck that one still remembers his master
"Indeed, Sjartak speaks in riddles. And I do not believe I am undead as some call it, lest some of my own prayers destroy me. I appear to be remade as a witness to all thing with great possibilities, and it seems that I may only leave a light touch on events, for when I try otherwise, it simply does not take effect. My Lord lives in the moment before events are resolved, when all is possible, and indeed my sight becomes... prismatic, such as with a certain tablet, I have an infinite number of visions overlaid upon each other, and can see the world as shangri-la and floating debris both at once.
All I can say is, There are beings beyond the far plane, powerful beyond measure, who have watched the universe with detatched curiosity from the beginning of time, and even they are watching this moment with interest, indeed with bated breath, for what will transpire this day, here and in the ether.
This I tell you mortals. All I have said is true, and this being true means that, although gods have lain hands on you all, what you mortals do is important!. Your kind have the power to remake or destroy all you know and all you do not, for alone among beings, mortals can change their possibilities with pure strength of will. So be not despaired or dismayed, but do what you will, and prepare for the consequences!"
It is easier, Xim realised, to make a long winded speech when drawing breath is no longer necessary.
"As for being sundered, Let's just say, I have been noted as having a somewhat magnetic quality about me at times. So for now, I am content to watch, so treat me as scenery for the nonce, however I may be upset if someone uses me to dry their dirty underwear."
OoC: How are you people with anachronism?
"Yeah, we know a Leif!" I say enthusiastically. "You know what happened to him?"
Now that's how you proselytize! I haven't heard such a long-winded, ecentric speech since that trip to Amariel. Sadly, I doubt any amonst this unruly lot would have the sophistication to care about such things. Then again, I don't care, either, so what little does that make in the end, anyway? "Heh, well, don't worry about dirty underwear, Xim. I don't wear any," I wryly quipped, before turning my attention towards the shaken fellow on the ground. "Then who's who?" I asked coldly, holding Fury out one-handed with only the faintest of threatening geastures. "Is there something I should be aware about, because I detest being left out of the loop."Kyle seemed quite intrigued by the news of this 'Leif' person, though I only smirked at the horrendous news that would be looming over the distance any time now. "I highly doubt this fool knows anything important, and it certainly doesn't seem like we're going to find your friend here any time soon. Well now, being the last of your village, would you like to see them now? I'd say your usefulness has ended!" I exclaimed, grabbing Fury with my other hand and raising the large hammer above my head, ready to put this sap out of my misery. "Xim, I hope those Far Plane jerks you mentioned are going to enjoy the show I'm about to put on for them; I guarantee you you'll have wished you wore a rainjerkin today."OOC:This is getting interesting...
"Yeah, I wish.
"And I just use meatbag as a quicker way of saying organic creature. Comes from associating with assassin warforged."
OoC: Kyle is bitter, having been largely left to fend for himself after being orphaned at a young age. Denied compassion, he resolved to help out the less fortunate.
"Yeah?" I question, almost sympathetically, before smirking. "Well, I like that 'rage' thing you said. Comes from growing up with a 14' tall father who was more demonic than most demons. You ever see a balor cry? 'Sides, from what I recall, his life wasn't all peaches and cream, either, before meeting mom." I had lowered my hammer at this point, considering there was no reason to waste energy keeping it aloft. "When one lives their whole life in the wilderness, all one knows is the fight to survive, and in that fight the strong live and the weak are extinguished. Compassion is for the weak, and I've no intention of letting my guard down or giving up my life for anything, no matter how 'valuable' you mortals think its life might be." I turned my head towards them with a brighter smile. "If you start giving mercy to an enemy, that enemy will take that opportunity to knife you in the back. Just 'cause one can come back to life easily enough on Ysgard doesn't make dying any less annoying."Xim throws his head back and issues an ear piercing shriek as opposing forces battle within his soul, his now former master knowing that he doesn't stand a chance, yet fighting for his last vestige in existence.
Xim falls horizontal and his eye sockets dim in, for him, unconsciousness. Strange light, almost repulsive to look at gently suffuse his bones, remaking the forever cursed one once more...
"Okay, that's weird... Things don't normally do that."
Xim sits up and looks at his skeletal hand, noting strange runes, which on further examination, seem to cover every bone in his body.
"That... that was interesting." he says, shaking his skull "I feel different somehow. Something fought my... well I guess former master for control of me, and they both lost... It seems that both have left their mark on me, but now I am a priest with no god, it seems. Perhaps aiding in the destruction of this malevolent presence will grant me the insight to find a new purpose. Miss Clarissa, what did you say your portfolio is again?"
"Lies and deceit," I replied calmly, after watching the peculiar spectacle. "Once Old Wicked is dead, anyway. Though I have to wonder if Graz'zt and Igwilv would end up facing me if I go through with this plan.. if mom gets in on the action, then you can kiss this entire land goodbye, I would imagine." A vile smile curled across my lips at the very thought of it. Father taking on Graz'zt? Mom getting in a magical cat fight with Igwilv? Seeing the land darken with terror and death as these pathetic mortals fall by the wayside? As if my resolve to claim the Empire of Iuz as my own wasn't strong enough, the idea of all this destruction and terror was just too delicious to pass up.I glanced back towards Xim, eyeing the runes that had suddenly appeared on his body and taking his question into careful consideration. "What are you saying, bones? Now that Sjartak has lost dominion over you, you want to be my cleric?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at the assumption I had made. Granted, my path to divinity would require clergy, and using Iuz's old cronies wouldn't do me any good since I'd probably end up killing them on my rampage, anyway. Still, I never imagined an articulate skeleton being my first, but if one wishes to strike fear into the hearts of the common man, who better could one ask for? Okay, maybe a demon or two, but one can't be picky about this sort of thing.Let us go and deal with this Iuz. I shall decide when the time is right what to do next."
With that, Xim walks off, then turns back.
"Which direction is it?"
"You could worship your own foot if you wanted to... And draw divine power from it."
What would it feel like if I ever lost my psychic sensitivity? I can't imagine it, I wondered.
OoC: Kyle doesn't like religion. Just the idea, not the clerics. Again, left to fend for himself.
"Gasp! Oh noes!" I replied at Kyle's statement. "He's found out our secret! What are we gonna do!?" Then I smiled slyly again, slinking towards him. "And, tell me.. Kyle.. have you actually 'seen' these clerics perform their miracles? Or have you merely just 'heard' of them. Where is your evidence? If one did not believe in Boccob, but still believed in magic, would not the Archmage of the Deities still grant spells to such followers? Heh, perhaps a poor example, considering Boccob doesn't even care for his own worshippers. Even I can not fully fathom the mindset of the gods, and I'm one of them.""Then again, maybe the gods have nothing to do with it at all, and we're all just bluffing. If so, then why do we exist? ..why does anything exist? Tch, reasons I chose to be a warrior, not a philosopher." I turned back towards Xim with a grimmer look on my face. "You serious about following me to Iuz, then, huh? It's in the middle of the Flanaess, and Dorakaa is the capital city from what I've learned, so the curmudgeon should be seated there. He'll have spellcastes, armies, demons under his control. He's got enemies, though, lots of enemies.. even in his own lands. The smart idea would be to turn his enemies against him and themselves, and when the land is fallen under chaos, that's when we'll storm the city. Heh, this'll be fun...!""Yeah, I doubt a god, a kid, a rogue, a construct, an undead, a soulknife and whoever else we pick up will be much good against a dark god. Unless one of us has an epic fierce godbane weapon?"
OoC: Pardon my ignorance, but what IS Iuz, anyhow? I assume it's a dark god.
More information can be gleamed at Wiki.
"Why don't we just kill this one here? We could harvest the required components from this one?"
"Silence yourself, Maker. We don't even know how powerful it is yet."
OOC:Yes, Kyle's name is now "meatbag" as far as Siege is concerned.
"...
"How powerful what is yet?"
Severed with his own mind blade? I was starting to have doubts concerning Kyle's skill. A shame, too; I was actually starting to tolerate him. "Oh, more than likely," I turned back to him, speaking with a mocking tone, "that Pelor looked down upon that cleric with a warm smile, seeing him endeavor to strengthen Pelor's own goals, even if that cleric was not a worshipper. Although the cleric acheived his divine strength from what he believed was his own convictions, The Shining One has been granting him his powers this entire time?" I leaned down to examin his hand before he sheathed it in his glove again, looking up at him with a curious expression. "Any scars? Any marks of any kind? It's true that such powerful magic can leave a wound so perfectly healed it would appear that nothing bad had ever have happned.. or, perhaps, nothing bad had happened, and you're the one who's bluffing? Trying to find any sort of 'logic' that would make your personal beliefs true? Mmm, how quaint.""As for your concerns about Iuz, I'm surprised! I would figure a mortal such as yourself would be the last to doubt your kind's limitless potential, or are you all as weak as I've always believed? How.. dissapointing!" I replied, faking a pout. Was I actually starting to care for these fools? Hm, maybe. I was rather curious about what these fools could do, after all that mom had told me. I may not agree with her on.. anything, but even I can not deny her wisdom about such things. Beneath her seductive facade lies a keen intellect and a sharp wit; doubting her now would be unwise. "If you're worried about weapons, Fury here was forged in my mother's personal armoury with her own blood, sweat, and tears," I remarked, holding my large greathammer above my heard. "Something about fighting a particularly monstrous abomination if ever should cross my path. Even Old Wicked would think twice less he receives a slap across the face with this."Suddenly the ironman nearby spoke up, apparently disagreeing with Kyle's simplistic descriptions. "A piece of rock? Are those the only constructs you've seen? You're missing the metallic ones, ooh, and the flesh.. I've even seen a colossal construct made of marshmallow, something that would haunt even my dreams if I slept. Besides, were you not built by mortal hands? Were you not.. constructed? Ergo, you are a construct by meer definition; and, judging from your words, you share the same lack of intelligence as all the others." This machine was grating my nerves, but Kyle redeemed himself with his next words. "Yes, what?" I added, voicing my own concerns with a devilish grin. "Iuz? He runs his own nation, though his own, personal power only extends so far. Or were you talking about something.. else?"Chapien took this all in vary carefully. "Well... I haven't been on an adventure since that Time Mage died and I met your mother... Kyle, what do you think of goin on another grand adventure? I will join you, but first I need to find out what to do with Rilkos here... who knows? We may find Lief in the process... maybe we can make a stop at Iablo's Fortress?"
"Believe what you want, I guess."
[pause]
"Well, we won't get anywhere if we're constantly bickering. I suggest we all shut up and figure out where to go from here. It's darkening, and I, for one, don't fancy the idea of sleeping out here. Where one demon is, a lot more tend to follow. It's best if we get out of here as soon as possible.
"Any ideas?"
OoC: Kyle was inexperienced with his mind blade. It was the first time he'd manifested it, after all, and he had no clue what was going on. It's not like he knew what a mind blade even was. Also, let's assume it was uncontrolled.
Or maybe someone else was using Kyle's blade... [plot hook!]
"Tsk, some scars, then! Real scars stay with you a life time.. well, unless you really want them to go, I suppose. Have to admit, not having a hand, then suddenly having it reappear sounds a little fishy, even with my otherworldy experience. You mortals are getting more interesting by the moment..:" Why, I dare say Kyle was starting to sound as cynical as myself! Yet my recent attitude was starting to remind myself of mom, the very thought of which sent a shiver down my spine. This was the way she acted around men, after all, but outside of the warriors I scraped off my boot the only men I knew intimately were father and Alex. Was I really more like mom than I thought? Oh, please don't let that be true!I shook the thoughts from my mind as Chapien finally spoke up, strangely silent these long minutes. "Iablo? You mentioned that name before, didn't you? Is he.. strong? I could certainly use all the combat experience I can get before facing Iuz by myself. Lately I've been feeling this.. anxiousness deep in my heart, this welling up of something that's been wanting to burst out of my chest. I can feel it clawing at my flesh, gnawing at my soul.. you mortals may have limitless potential, but the power of us gods are not something to be trifled with. I want to know what this feeling truly is, and how I can use it in battle." I'd have taken in a deep breath right then and there if I actually did breathe.Instead, I looked out into the distant horizon, slamming Fury against my shoulder as I plotted my next course of action, and what to do with this group. "To be quite honest, I can't think of a better place to rest than right here, 'course that's coming from someone who's spent more time on the battlefield than in her mom's palace. 'Sides, I don't sleep, so if any demons do come I can shoo them away. Balors and mariliths are tiresome, but the rest are like nothing against my skill. So rest up, less someone here knows the lay of the land?""I do have a cabin up in the mountains, but I don't think we can all fit in, seeing as it's a one-seater. Unless one of us can cast embiggen hut? Although I have doubts about even going. There is the risk they'll track us, and I'm not about to risk leading them right back to..." I trail off, as though I'd nearly said something I shouldn't have.
"Well, I'm hungry!" I pull out some waybread and start eating while I consult a map.
"Hmm, I guess I should have explained myself a little further; you blokes get your beauty sleep while I'll stand guard," I added, miffed that my original point wasn't made. "You can trust me not to rob you since none of you have anything of value, and killing you in your sleep isn't what I would call a 'challenge'." I eyed Kyle curiously, wondering why he broke off in mid sentence when he was describing his little cabin in the woods. Perhaps I should give it a look over while these guys are snoozing, though I didn't let my face betray these thoughts as I turned my attention to a mumbling old man passing us by. Now, where could this old codger be going, hmm?"Would you excuse me for a second while I talk with my companions?" I move aside and gather the group.
"Everyone knows useless artifacts are really powerful magic! Maybe we could see if we could do a quest or two for him and hope for the magicky stuff in return?"
Shrubbery farm? I was starting to regret taking notice of him, now. Mom was right; the older these mortals get the more pathetic they become. Tch, how worthless. Can't understand why Kyle would take an interest in him, then again I could never fathom the mortal mind to begin with. When he gathered all of us together he seemed rather excited over the revelations this old man was spouting. "Or, better yet, we can hit this guy over the head until dead and take his stuff? Besides, I thought we were going to find this Iablo guy or whatever? I've got all of eternity to do my stuff but I know how miniscule the lives of your kind is. You sure you have enough time before I have to send you into the nursing home, old man?" I asked Kyle with a raised eyebrow and a smirk."You're assuming his soul would even last that long," I replied sternly. "Have you ever seen a soul destroyed? There's nothing left. No trace. No memory. Nothing. Not even a miracle can you bring you back after something like that." I looked out into the horizon for a moment, thinking about my lazy, older half-brother, how I never saw his father around. Could mom have..? Heh, probably. "At any rate, this old man doesn't look like the type for Ysgard. Maybe the Outlands would be a better fit for him, hmm?" I looked back at Kyle with an annoyed smirk. "Well, whatever. If you think this guy's got some über treasure, than go ask him. Or rest, as you were meaning to do. Either way, I'm getting bored just standing here waiting for you guys to make some sort of decision; and I don't like being bored...""Yes you do! You want to bloody well kill him! Bloody well kill him all over the place!" I shouted enthusiastically, mocking them with a little hop. Yet I instantly calmed when Kyle questioned the curious object the old man pulled out of his pocket. Psionic? That word sounds familiar. "Mom might know something about that," I mutter under my breath, smiling as the curmudgeon began to speak. Obviously there was more to this creep than first meets the eye, and when something starts to get my blood boiling that means something fun is about to happen."Unarmed? Humble? From my experience, those are two words you don't often hear together without it sounding.. suspicious. If I've learned anything on the battlefield, those that appear the least threatening are the most threatening indeed. Ever vist the Kingdom of Amariel? Ruled by a half-elf named Alura, my mother's high priestess infact. Young, slender, scantily clad.. not a single weapon on her. You'd think her more an exotic dancer than a mighty cleric." I barely glanced back towards Kyle and Chapien before staring at the old man again. "That is, until she slaps you across the face. If her flesh were adamantine, I'd swear her strikes would be almost as deadly as my hammer, and she weighs about half as much. Of course she could just ressurect a massive number of people instantly, or send someone flying straight into the sun, without saying a word or batting an eyelash... but that's beside the point."It would appear that I spoke more words than the old man could follow, since he declared he needed a nap (after standing up?) and touched another bauble that opened a portal. Big, roomy, plenty of beds, seemes nice and comfy. "Well, now, shall we leave Rip to his rest and journey onwards? Or.." I noticed that the portal was still open. Shrinking Fury down into my palm (how I loved this 'glove of storing'), I sauntered through into the room, rocking my hips and looking back at the boys with a wink. "..would anyone care to join me?"also something about how he shouldn't have shot the sheriff and left the deputy alive not his best plan.
I giggled to myself when I overheard Kyle's response. How cute, I seemed to have broken his mind. One would think that a psion of such power would have learn to resist such physical allures. I wonder what could be going through his mind right about now as I sat myself down gently onto one of the empty beds, crossing one leg over the other before laying down completely, hands nestled behind my head; just because we gods don't need to eat or sleep doesn't mean we can't partake of such actions if we so chose. Besides, a good rest never hurt anyone, although I kept my eyelids lightly closed, keen on watching what the boys were doing next.As much as the thought should disgust me, perhaps teasing men wasn't so bad, after all. Although, I think taking a long vacation with father on one of his campains will be called for after this is all over, less I lose my edge with all this girly stuff. Well, it's not like I said I was cold and needed a big, strong body to help me keep warm, right? Wait, I was about to say that, wasn't I? Rats, this isn't good. Get ahold of yourself, Clarissa, you can fight your mom's influence. You're strong, like father, you won't turn into a harlot like she did.. even if she is far more powerful than anything you could imagine, including dad. I mean, she could kill me with but a thought if she chose. She might even be reading my thoughts and feelings right now. Tch, so what? If she doesn't like what she sees and kills me, then who cares?Great, as if the constant voices in my head weren't enough, now that old coot is mumbling to himself in his sleep; although, this 'Jub Jub' he spoke of sounds rather intriguing. What's wrong with eating a village now and then? How does he expect his pet to grow up to be big and strong, huh? That reminded me, if I keep going down this path I've set for myself, mom told me I'll have to start thinking of what sort of 'fiendish servant' I'd like to have for myself. Both father and mom had sold their souls to darkness, as I was already determined to do, but although mom chose to ignore the option considering she already had Destro, father's nightmare was a true horror to behold, something appropriate for his dark lord image. I mean some might think a black knight wearing spiked plate riding atop a fiery horse might seem a tad cliché, but I really can't think of anything more yummy than that. Just the very thought leaves a smile on my face. Of course I had already learned to accept the fact that I'd never find a man like father on this miserable plane, although.. that Kyle. He's got the right attitude, but...An old song I heard a flighty bard sing came to mind, before father and I slaughtered his village. I wonder why it was coming to mind now? "One love.. one heart.. lets get together and feel all right..."IC:"Either there is an illithid near us that I am not sensing, or some action one of us took has broken Meatbag. I don't suppose we could get a refund?"
I replace the amulet and flop onto the nearest bed.
I laughed out loud at the bot's comment, however my demeanor turned fairly grim as I turned to look at Kyle. Thinking very loudly? How dare he read my innermost thoughts? Granted, I should never have lowered my defenses in the first place, but still! How rude! "If you over heard that, love, than what am I thinking, now?" I replied sarcastically, smiling again as I tried to take advantage of the situation. The moment might have been lost, however, as I stole a glance at the whatever he took out of his shirt. Getting up and crawling to one side of the bed so as to be nearer to him I asked inquisitvely, "what's that? Another bauble? What is with you mortals and these little trinkets, anyway?" Heh, like I was one to talk? My mom's symbol laid loosely upon my breast, a blue, crystaline rose with its thorny stem wrapped around it. She gave it to me thinking I'd be an obedient little servant, yet it always felt like a heavy weight against my heart. Still, that 'devil's eye choker' she made for me wasn't bad. The erinyes' eye was still as fresh as the day it was plucked from its skull.Before the long the sun set and it grew colder, darker, the night sky blanketing the earth. The portal had remained open as I could hear all the vermin chirping and cheeping outside, aside from the more unsavoury orcish squeals and cries and the gnashing of teeth and.. well, you get the picture. I don't think I slept at all, honestly, so atleast I had a show on outside to keep me entertained. I took mom's symbol into my hand again and began wondering just what my own divine insignia would look like once I took over Iuz. Don't think she'd be too happy with me renouncing her faith, but that's how the biscuit crumbles, after all. Sometimes I wondered how someone as strong and powerful as father continued to serve her willingly? I could only assume it was out of fear. Death was nothing, but having one's soul destroyed mean't the end. Me? I didn't care. Why should I? I'd rather be my own boss than to lick her heels, even if it costs me my existance. Better to rule in Baator than serve in Celestia, as Asmodeous was once believed to have said.Morning came later than I would have liked, and the old man was up first, speaking to whatever creature had devoured the orcs earlier in the night. I examined the little statuette he grasped, watching the strange monstrosity dissapear within it. Sometimes I really did wonder about all these little trinkets. Mom had a few artifacts as she liked to call them, mostly for appearance sake, but otherwise if she needed anything done it was by her own hand. I had my own gear, too, but none of it seemed anything out of the ordinary. I mean it wans't like I had little stones flying around my head, right? "I think the gods have already taken notice of you," I replied quietly, still starring at the old one. "I know you're not as absentminded as you'd like us to believe. So, what other tricks can you do, old man? Or are you really that afraid of the gods wrath, hm? Don't worry, I promise I won't bite.. too hard.""I doubt I want to know what you're thinking, anyway.... Okay, are you doing that just to mess with me?"
"This? It's a story both long and not worth talking about. Let's just say it holds painful memories, and leave it at that. There. That satisfy your curiosity?" I say bitterly. "No, of course it doesn't. You gods are all alike. The gods just loooooove mortals until it means lifting a deific finger to help! I was eight! How was I supposed to pay for two castings..."
Taught? Heh, I smiled at the words Kyle had spoken to me earlier. I was not taught anything, simply displaying my divine heritage, that's all. I was immune to the simple mind tricks that would enchant any lesser man; no mere waving of the hand would ever sway my iron will. Though, I must admit, I loved the reaction I got out of him in response to my question. I gave him no reply, letting him thinking about wether I was messing with him or not.Ignoring the old man, I turned back to Kyle. "Are you telling me you never had a lemonade stand as a child?" I asked inquisitively, giving a little pout as a I ran a finger across his cheek. "My dear Kyle, there are many ways one can pay for something.." I smiled a little more warmly than normal, returning my hand to my person. "Your ignorance shows just how little you know about us. There are indeed some of us who adore the worship while doing as very little as possible, instead letting clerics and other divine servants do all the dirty work. Yet, there are indeed a few honest gods who do care for you, and help you out even when you least expect it, without you even noticing!"Pelor came to mind instantly. I remembered seeing the look in his and mom's eyes when the two passed each other one day. I did not know why, but the exchange always struck me as odd, as if there were some secret history between mom and the Shining One. "Then there are those gods who don't care about anything at all. Take my half-brother, Alexander, for example. He could are less about worshippers, about the Blood War, the Dragon Wars, or other celestial matters. Neither mortal nor immortal matters to him at all.. unless she has a pretty face. The lazy bum." I turned away from him, slightly glum. "But that's just boring nonsense..." I looked back at Kyle, smiling again. "How about we leave each other's past to ourselves, hmm? I don't think I need you dozing off listening to one of my long-winded tales, now do I?""You have a half-brother? I guess that's to be expected, knowing your mother..."
"Sure. The past is behind us; let's leave it there, where it belongs. Dredging it up is only going to bring up pain." And the gods all know we've got enough to worry about without asking for more.
[Pause] "Pelor?
You're serious, aren't you?""Oh, you think too small! You start with one stand, then when you start making enough money, you hire another kid to open another stand in a nearby village! Before long, you've started a chain. A lucrative business. Kyle's Hard Lemonade. You don't think that would've worked?" Perhaps I mocked that a bit too much, but such was forgotten after a long, loud laugh thanks to his comment regarding Alex. "I knew I liked you," I replied sweetly.I then looked at him rather curiously due to his next response. "Wait, you're not thinking...? No, my friend, I think not. Although mom's had quite a few affairs, I don't think Pelor would be found anywhere on her list of suitors. He never struck me as the type of man who would fall for her charms. 'Sides, even though mom gave him a haughty smile of total conquest, the scornful look he returned told me there was something else there, yet neither would divulge any more information. It makes me wonder.. could someone as good and pure as the Shining One ever feel true anger? Humiliation? Regret, perhaps?"I looked back towards the others in the room before turning my gaze towards the outside. "Are the others still asleep? And what's that old man up to?""hello is lorax there... yes I know that that this command allows me to connect with your mind directly but it is still fun to say, now then on to business I have killed him, yes I am positive, look I dragged him back to his home realm ripped him to shreds, you are just lucky I avoided notice if they catch on to us before we are finished we don't stand a chance, you haven't fully regained your might back since your last battle, and me and the others aren't as immortal as you are... no not even razethorian can avoid death in the end. now then I have run into some interesting people one has a divine aura not too strong probably a child of some God will have to keep an I open for any symbols, as for the other he seems a competent soul knife, yes they seem to be on some form of journey either way I think I will travel for a while and aid them it will make it less likely for the killing to lead back to me. Yes the pact will hold beyond time and till the day it all ends we shall stand for those who fell and for those to come we are and always be the Kadarians now that old ritual is out of the way farewell my friend." He turns around sighs and goes back through the ripple in the air and sits on one of the beds and then notices that the two of you are awake.
"..."
"Hey...? G'morning? So," I say, getting priorities straight, "when's breakfast?" :whatsthis
My attention immediately turned back towards Kyle, a sarcastically shocked expression on my face. Why, how dare he! I thought I was supposed to be the evil one here! Though the faux look gave way to one of more sincerity as I stared into his eyes hungrily. Crawling over to his bed until I came within a breath of his ear, I whispered. "Well.. I think I found my breakfast. Shall I feast now?," pressing a finger against his lips.
"I'm really not very tasty. All humany and chaotic-good-with-a-sarcastic-streak-y. Unless..." 
"Oh. Ohhhhh.""You mean it, don't you."
"But you're evul. Like with a U. And I'm chaotic good. Won't work out too well." Well, it looks like someone has a dichotomous personality.
"Save it for later. If you'll excuse me," I say, standing up, "I've got to go train with my mind blade."
"Or do you actually want to eat me?"
I couldn't help but laugh. Were mortals always this adorable? "Well.." I replied enthusiastically, rolling my eyes with a wide smile before starring into his. "You're chaotic.. and I'm chaotic.. can't we just leave it at that?" Sigh. Unfortunately this little bit of fun had to end as he got up. Hmph, no fair! Things were just starting to get interesting, too. He looked back and asked if my statement had been more literal than metaphorical, but all I did was look at him and lick my lips. Ooh, I do so love yanking his chain. Still, his reasons to end the fun before it began couldn't not be brushed aside. I could stand to use some training myself, honestly. Somehow hanging around these mortals has left me feeling weak, inempt.. as if I were becoming one of them, almost! Ugh, gag me with a spoon! I leapt off the bed and sprinted out the portal, my boots greatly augmenting my speed so that I ran thrice the distance of any common man, before finding myself deep within the forest. Thinking back to my visit to Amariel I remembered the little bit of dancing that mom's priestess, Alura showed me. 'Twas very graceful, as it should be coming from a half-elf, with a touch of the exotic. Yet the moves she showed me were quickly surpassed by my own natural skill. Unsheathing Fury I closed my eyes and shut out the world around me, focusing only on those movements. Now, please understand I'm not doing this with any hopes of becoming an entertainer. I merely believe that if I focus upon the dance and am able to seamlessly merge with it my combat abilities, I'll be able to achieve a heightened sense of perception on the battlefield. To use the dance to effortlessly dodge one's attack, and to confuse my opponents, that was my goal.And, yet, something about this forest did not feel entirely wholesome. When I opened my eyes I could no longer see the meager path that I had traversed to come to this spot, nor could I see any spot of light through any of the trees. Surrounding me, past the twisting branches and gnarled roots, was utter darkness. I wasn't scared, only concerned, for as lackluster as the mortal world often was even I knew this was completely out of the ordinary. Of course the truth about this feeling came forth abruptely like a blast of energy flying past my eyes.. literally. I turned around to see.. myself? My height, my body, my face, hair, clothes, Fury in her hand.. though her eyes shone an unearthly gold. Heh, I knew this day would come. I knew I couldn't avoid mom for long after angering her so often. So, the old witch's sent an aleax after me, has she? Heh, she really thinks this pathetic clone can topple the daughter of Aži Dahāka? Who does she think she's kidding? Very well, then, if she wishes to punish her daughter, so be it. I've been looking for a fight, and if I didn't get a chance to smash something soon I might've just pinned Kyle to his bed and never let him up. ..wait, what? Oh.. that mortal's starting to affect my better judgment. The aleax soon spoke up, its hollow words of the same like and tone as the speech father and mom would often use with one another, sending shivers down my spine.. perfect. I raised Fury into a ready position and the construct did the same, but a mere machine can not hope to surpass a true divine being when it comes to battle. Charging foward, I eyed its hammer, the first thing to go; it, out of all its weapons, was the only thing that could do me any real harm, and without it I would have the advantange. When I came within reach I swung with all my might, slab of adamantine slamming against slab of adamantine. Tch, of course I would underestimate just how powerful these hammers were. I barely even nicked it, and now left myself wide open. Fool. Fortunately, the aleax did not agree with my mode of attack, and focused all its power upon my person, instead. Heh, a poor aim it had, but what else should I expect from a mere toy? I ducked and weaved under its heavy onslaught, the wind breaking as the hammer flew through it with the greatest of ease. The sight of its emotionless expression, however, was really beginning to tick me off. It wouldn't stop until I was dead, but it would never feel pain or frustration. Argh!Alright, so trying to break its weapon would prove futile in the end, so I could only think of one other solution; since the aleax was a copy of me, it also had a copy of my equipment. My eyes quickly honed in on its own devil's eye choker, the source of much of its defense. With a sinister smile I swung Fury towards the automaton's neck, catching it off guard, striking it four times until the choker splintered and the eye within shattered. Heh, so I guess epic magic wasn't so mighty after all, was it? The aleax snapped its neck back into place and cried out.. oh? So it can be outraged? This was delicious. Machine as it may be, however, it wasn't foolish, and used my same tactic against me.. with less than stellar results, I might say. I bent over backwards just in time to watch the 240 lb. hammer come within a hair's width of my face, before slamming my right foot into the ground for support and returning to my earlier assault. Now, I can focus on her just as it had on me. I connected against its shoulder, but it wasn't enough to fell it as my other swings were not as accurate as I had hoped. I watched with anger as its wounds began to heal as it fired upon me with its optic beams again, barely dodging the searing light in time. I attacked again, frustrated myself at how well this thing was still avoiding my strikes. No.. it was as if I could hear mom's laughter coming from it, even though the same cold, emotionless gaze remained on its face. One of my attacks spun me too far to the side, for as I turned to view my foe it had raised its hammer high above its head, bringing it down upon me. A loud ringing clouded my ears as nearly everything went black, my whole body feeling as though it had been shattered. N-No.. I can't stop now. I spit out some blood towards it as it attacked, and missed, and missed again and again. All this pent up fury I felt within me, flowing through my arms, into my weapon.. this rage as father called it, I could feel it now. Yes, father's rages were legendary on Ysgard. Never have I been so terrified as when I saw him bear down upon a foe before cleaving it cleanly in two. I roared like a lioness and prepared my final assault. My first hit was clean, perfect, striking it in its chest.. but the moment I took to savor such a strike left me offguard as the aleax smashed my back, sending shockwaves up and down my spine. I spit out more blood, my vision becoming hazy, almost dizzy, but I could still see it before me. Swing and a miss. Swing and a miss. Five times it ducked and weaved my attacks, as if it were master showing off against a mere child. Was that what mom was trying to tell me? That I was still a child against her power? That witch. I'd show her who was a child.I gathered myself, letting not my own anger blind me to this battle. My attempts at harming it may have been feeble, but so was its. There was always this darkness inside me, egging me on, to become stronger, faster, more powerful than anyone around me. I could feel it even now, in the depths of my soul, fueling my drive to win, to suceed. Crash went Fury against the aleax's skull, and woosh went its hammer as I used my dance to slip between its motions. It may have not yet been perfected, but what better training could I ask for than this? I could only wonder if Kyle was as lucky with his mindblade. Lucky? I wish I were lucky. If you're going to do some fancy footwork, Clarissa, then watch for the rocks beneath your feet. A minor stumble left me open again, yet it seems the aleax could not take as much advantage with it as it would have liked. My stumble gave me enough room to not only cause its attacks to miss, but to cause it to lose its balance, as well. I stood tall and proud again, finding my opportunity now. Gritting my teeth I lunged foward, hitting its stomach first, making it fall foward at the waist before my final swing hit it square in the chin, sending it flying. Looking at it with darkened vision, it lay motionless, and then dissapeared. Was it all over? That battle felt like it had lasted eons, but barely a minute had passed. I sank to my knees, using what little strength I had left to will Fury back into my glove. No.. it wasn't over. All around me birds flew to and fro, screeching. Animals ran into the deepest parts of the wood, or crawled into the earth, but to no avail. I felt my heart tugged by another force, as if a cold hand were slowly crushing the life out of it. With heavy eyes I looked up, and saw the true horror that had befallen this land, befallen me. "Mother!" I cried out, seeing the witch herself standing in the distance. This was no mere illusion, no avatar to do her bidding. It was her true persona, the Lady of Desires, the greater deity. Hundreds of feat of earth beneath her were scorched by a shadowy flame, destroyed by her awesome presence, and the fear that had struck me was her pure divine aura, stretching out for twenty miles all around her. Surely Kyle and the others would feel it as well. I tried to turn my eyes away but could not. Her appearance was doubled, like two images overlayed one upon the other with only a slight difference in distance, shimmering brightly throughout the darkened forest. Her voice, echoing, spoke the same dark words the aleax had moments before, piercing my heart. Then, she spoke my name.. but not the one she bore me with. "Villorussic'kathoralli'synedabaskaschidaa'cratriuslearctaes." That.. that was all I needed to hear. I covered my ears and shrieked, my eyes crying tears of blood, as I felt every fiber of my being ripped apart.I could feel her smiling devilishly at me, her eyes boring holes into my soul, as I was utterly consumed in blackness. All vision, all taste, touch, smell, all were gone from me; the only sound that came to my ears was her voice. "My dear, darling Clarissa. I have watched you with great anticipation as I do all my servants. Yet I know what lies deep within your black heart, better than even you yourself know. I know your unfounded hatred for me, your own mother, and your glorious quest for power. You would see me destroyed, wouldn't you? To have nothing to do with me, to have not even the memory of me within even the tinest corner of your mind! Very well then, if that is your wish. I free you, Clarissa, from me. From this moment on you are neither my servant nor my daughter; you are nothing save whatever destiny you forge for yourself. All memories of Roselyn Glæn, of Alexander and of your father, and of me, as well, shall be erased from your mind. You shall have no memory of anything save what has transpired here these past few days. Yes.. a true goddess born of absolute nothingness. Appreciate this new day, Clarissa, for when next you cross me I shall not be as merciful. Know that not only do I possess power over the name I gave you but the name the universe gave you, as well. I could have you erased from existance itself. None but myself would have ever remembered you were ever alive. Enjoy this day, for it may be your last." Then, like a rushing wind escaping the lungs of a mortal about to plunge off a cliff, she was gone. I had felt her invading my mind, trying to remove herself from my being.She failed.Clarissa: -1/418 HP (unconscious)
(I seriously wrote way too much :rolleyes
With a wave of his hand two trees nearby turn into chairs shifting to be comfortable he sits down and waits for you to take a seat.
I flopped down on the ground and stared at the sky. "What the Hells was that? Stuff like that doesn't just happen." I retrieved the teardrop amulet from my pack and tapped it with a finger. "Kyah!" It burned. The thing had resisted a huge mind blast before, grew only a little warmer, and I only felt a tickle at the back of my brain. Whatever did this had to be incredibly powerful. I focused, willing it to point to the source. It thrummed, and a small, longish beam of crimson light pointed deeper into the woods. Red...that means a friend's in trouble. And that long a beam means miles. Oh, s---. If it was this bad this far and with this, then it can't be pleasant up there. I refocused myself so I could use Speed of Thought, shouldered my pack and headed off in the direction of the beam, holding the pendant before me like a lantern.
I really should have a plan.
No time. Oh well.
So, I'm still alive? Seems.. Quintessa.. was not quite thorough in my utter torment, was she? Still, a ring of regeneration wouldn't make me feel this much better after something like that, so who? Ah, of course. The old man. I got up into a sitting position, whiping the still fresh blood from my eyes as I listened to his words, watching his form change. Mmm, not bad. Don't see too many redheads very often, even in the domains. I knew there was something special about this 'Roger Von Sorin' the moment I looked into his eyes. "You want to know who that was?" I replied disdainfully. "Heh. That was my mother, Quintessa, self-proclaimed Lady of Desires. A greater deity who makes her home out in Ysgard, at Rosslyn Glæn." I ignored his offer to sit down, instead laying flat on my back against the scorched earth with my hands resting beneath my head."Same old story; parent doesn't like child's attitude, so parent punishes child. Although, why she didn't just destroy me outright is a mystery. That woman's full of mysteries, though, and despite her preference for snakes that witch is just like a cat, always toying with her food before she devours it." Quintessa.. somehow I feel safe calling you by your name, now, mom. You tried to alter reality, tried to erase all my memories of you and my family. Yet I resisted you. Am I indeed growing stronger? Is the emptying darkness within me just my latent, divine nature manifesting itself? Can I possibly challenge you someday? Heh, yeah, right. If I were stronger, I wouldn't have ended up in this mess. Those words she spoke.. what were they? The Dark Speech I was familiar with, but this.. this was something that tore into my very being, that caused every ounce of my existance to scream. As much as I hate that woman I know better than anyone just how powerful she is, and that what she did was likely only the tip of the earthberg."I don't know what you mean by 'Servant of the Forgotten One'; you're gonna have to be a little more specific, friend," I commented sarcastically, sitting back up again, looking straight into his eyes. "Tharizdûn, perhaps? The one who seeks to unmake all of reality? That would explain your apparent senility, earlier, less you're merely a grand actor. Or, do you follow that forgotten god that skeleton worshipped until recently? Tch. Obviously, whoever it is isn't all that important if no one can remember his name. 'Sides, I don't care how powerful you are. After living with that woman for so long, nothing impresses me anymore." I turned my head away, although continued to stare at him out of the corner of my eye. Should I really trust this guy with my words? He must've been within range of Quintessa's divine aura, yet he seems none the worse for wear. I don't even think Alura could resist mom's alure. Well, thankfully this whole event hasn't dulled my senses, as I heard the sound of cracking branches and rustling leaves portent to the arrival of another."Always late to the party, eh, Kyle?" I laughed mockingly, though a warmer smile quickly adorned my face."what the hell Roger seriously, give me babysitting duty, I am the bloody prince of Asroth (another realm that I created a long time ago)" he sighs heavily turns around notices you and makes a sweeping bow, "well if I am stuck here might as well make the most of it I am Elric von zargoth at your service appaearantly" (He stands about 5'8" with ginger hair well toned muscles and a goatee similiar to that of Rogers, he also has at his side an epee, and on the other end of his belt a kukiri, on his back are several strange blade including a long sword, and a pair of well crafted short swords. He wears an outfit of ruin stitched leather and a nice pair of bracers as well as several other obviously magical items.
"Okay, I must have missed something," I said as I entered the area and the blue beam from the teardrop died. "'Cause this area did not look burnedy before."
"Anyone wanna fill me in? As far as I know, something went off here and I felt something or other burn at my soul, so I'm guessing something really, really nasty?"
"You okay, Clar? That can't have been pleasant from up close."
"Really, someone has to tell me things! Just 'cause I can read minds doesn't make me a mind-reader!"
A severed head soon rolled towards me, and it didn't take years of religious study to know it was Gruumsh. Quintessa was certainly far more powerful than he was and I wouldn't be surprised if dad could put up a challenge towards him, but still, a greater deity was a greater deity; guess I should out for this guy after all, huh? "A peaceful god sealed away, huh?" I asked him, my words quiet, pondering the weight of the evidence. An ancient god who had to destroy many, who was sealed away and forgotten. Heh, sounds like Tharizdûn, alright. Still, it was somewhat amusing listening to this blowhard, even if he wouldn't shut up. Ooh, a braggart and a racist? Fool, does he know no better? It aren't orcs who are weak, it is all mortals who are weak. I dropped the head and layed back down on the ground again, rolling my eyes as his words sort of drifted above me. Let him do what he wants, I don't care anymore, just so long as I don't have to listen to his babble again.Oh. He's gone? Well, good riddance. Although, this newcomer is certainly interesting. I sat up at the sound of the comotion, a sinister smile on my face. Mmm, another hot little dish, and he knows his way around weapons, too. As tall as mom with her heels and sadly still towering over me (as did all of these blokes, honestly; now I know how halflings must feel). "Bloody Prince? I like that title," I replied, standing up and sauntering towards him. "So, tell me, Elric, what kind of services do you.. provide?" I didn't get a chance to hear an answer as Kyle finally made his way into the clearing, a sight for sore eyes. "Nasty?" I laughed. "Yes, that's one word I've heard associated with mom. A shame you just barely missed her, although had you been here you probably would've been incinerated by her splendor." Ah, the joys of being immortal. Atleast I can claim to be immune to one of her powers.I laughed again at Kyle's comment, before forcing myself to focus. "Well, it seems that I've gone off and gotten on mom's bad side one too many times so she sent an aleax after me; it's basically a clone of yourself that shoots energy beams from its eyes. Killed that, and its body dissapeared, so mom decided to pay me a little visit herself. Hence the scorched earth and weird vibe in the air. So, anyway, Quintessa no longer claims me as her daughter and tried to erase much of my memory but I resisted. Of course, the fact that I've mentioned her names once or twice means that she's listening in on everything we say at the moment, so she knows that her little trick failed. Why she hasn't tried a repeat performance or just attacked outright... well, I'm my own woman, now. I'd like to say I don't have to worry about her anymore, but... ugh." I put my hands behind my head and craned my neck backwards, stretching. "I'm itching for a fight, honestly. Defeating myself was fine, but not enough to quench my thirst, and a good battle is what I need to clear my mind." I straitened my view and looked back towards Kyle and Elric. "Or, would any of you like to play football with Gruumsh's head there?"Hm. It's cooled, but I can sense power in it. Is it...storing the energy for something?
I idly manifest and dissipate my now-double-scimitar mind blade. "I dunno, it's just like the antagonist to wait until the heroes are off guard. If Quintessa attacked while you were obviously battle-ready, then she can't be that tactically ept. Unless she was trying to wear you down with the aleax, in which case she either underestimated herself or wanted an easier victory.
"But it, as we can see, didn't work. Either you have incredible resistance to unmaking or Q (let's call her that for now) wasn't really trying to kill you. I want to believe the former, but the latter? I dunno. I've listened to enough bards to know how this kind of thing goes.
"Elric, don't most princes learn about tactics, psychological and standard? I don't know about 'bloody princes,' but it seems it'd work about the same."
"Who cares how the orcs take it? Atleast I can say this is one deicide my family isn't responsible for," I replied, thinking back to a story mom once told me of her 'epic' battle with Bahamut. 'To restore the balance,' she cried, trying to justify her actions. Apparently Tiamat had bit the big one, too, so as Kyle mentioned the death of one evil god mean't good would have the upper hand, and of course an evil god like mom couldn't let that stand. Still.. "Well, it's not like there's a terrible balance needed here. I mean, the elves have enough enemies as it is, so the loss of one shouldn't amount for much more."Chucking Gruumsh's head to the ground, both miffed yet nearly laughing at Kyle's comments. "You're the one who's underestimating her, friend. If she so chose she could destroy me with a single divine blast. Apparently Vecna wouldn't stand much of a chance against that, either. That's the problem with her, she was always working to make herself stronger unlike the more ancient gods who were fine with being stagnant." I thought about his words, but even such near-philosophical discussions were giving me a headache. "I know her better than you do; I think she's just toying with me. She knows that even if I defeat Iuz, that even if I were to some how conquer this whole plane, I still wouldn't be able to challenge her might. The whole deal with the aleax is merely for punishment, and technically since I've destroyed it, I can't be attacked for whatever it is that I did to tick her off in the first place.""Well, whatever, I'm sick of talking about her. I doubt any of you have the fortitude to resist godly vomit, so can we just drop it, now?" I stared down at her symbol that still hung upon my breast, and with teeth gritting I ripped the chain off my neck and crushed the azure rose in my hand, a million shards of crystal littering the ground. "If she shows up again, we'll deal with her then. Until that point, as long as we don't speak her name or her titles, she can't see us. Well, assuming she doesn't use her remote sensing. Blast." I looked back over at the others again, my mood still rather sour. "So, what's next on the agenda? We fight that Iablo guy? Take out Lonith perhaps? Come on, I want to smash something!!"Supplies. Crap, I knew I forgot something. I actually had a masterwork composite shortbow and a magic quiver filled with all sorts of goodies; of course I left that back in Rosslyn Glæn in my haste to leave that place. Crap! "Yeah, don't look at me about that kinda stuff. I've got Fury and a pair of masterwork silvered daggers and.. well, what you see me wearing. 'Sides, it shouldn't be too hard to hunt for food, right? Heh, amazing that as you mortals become ever so 'advanced' you begin to forget even the simplest of tasks."The Bloody Prince soon spoke up with his batch of wisdom and a quick history lesson. Fine, so Roger was strong, although it seems Elric had more than mere weapons-based skills at hand. Makes me wonder if this bloke's stronger than Iuz or not. Nah, can't go attacking new 'allies'; I'll be needing them for meatshields, after all. "Well," I replied solemnly, barely smirking at his comment, even if it was one of the nicer words anyone's ever called me. "I'm just wandering around here until I grow strong enough to take out Old Wicked and claim his empire and divine power for my own. 'Though I am rather intrigued about this Iablo guy that Chapien was blathering on about. He's strong, right? Can we fight him? Where is he, anyway? He didn't go on ahead of us, did he? No fair hogging all the fun for himself..!"He pulls out of his belt a long bow, he pulls twice on the string testing it then he pulls out the quiver and speaks a command word (vaess) these are more standard arrows I don't like using the special ones unless in danger, He pulls back the bow aims into the trees, and fires you hear a thud as the arrow strikes into the body of a deer dropping it in one shot. That will supply us with food for a while, he hands over the bow and quiver to you (the bow is a +2 long bow of shocking burst mighty composite +4, and the arrows are enchanted with wounding 3/day create 20 arrows)
He walks over to the deer and pulls out a long dagger and starts to skin and prepare the meat.
"The question is still how to keep the thing fresh. Deer are too big to eat in one go... Unless you've got a handy haversack, Mr. Magicky Armor? And I've got enough waybread for six people for a week."
What's this? Another telepath? I spoke not a word about my bow and yet he already knows I don't have it with me. Great, two hot guys who can read my mind, wonderful. Maybe I should start filling my head with naughty images to get them out of there? Wait, that might backfire. Well, atleast I finally get to have some fun. Haven't used a longbow before. Only shortbows. 'Cause I'm short. And 'cause the 'ole 'rents wouldn't let me play with a longbow, even though they were both proficient with it. Tsk, they could be such a pain. Well, what better way to get some practice, right? Still, the string felt a little loose, although Elric seemed to do well with it. I yanked it back, surprised at how quickly I could do so, before I loosed an arrow that could pierce the Tarrasque through it's heart, barely flying past Elric's ear. "Oops! I missed," I said with a sly smile. "By the way, I could probably carry all of you big boys on my back. Just incase you all get injured..."If the Bloody Prince was a showoff, than what did that make me? Wait, I probably shouldn't ask for an answer. Though, wasn't that the second time Kyle called him 'Mr. Magicky Armor'? I'm wearing magic armor, too, but maybe it's just not as obvious? Then again, sexy-amazon-leather tends to convey other thoughts, I'm sure. I handed the bow off to Kyle incase he wanted a go at it while trying to find the path back to that clearing. "I visted a town the other day, had some jerks in them, but that might help us get our bearings. Honestly, where are we? I didn't quite bother to ask when I was smashing the heads of rude bar patrons, nor did I care when I went through that gate mom opened. So, although I know where Iuz lives, hell if I know how to get there. Wandering around, although sometimes fun, probably isn't the best way to get to wherever we want to go.""If you think your bow's tough, you should try my father's!," I replied with a laugh. "Apparently they had to lace his strings with adamantine 'cause he kept breaking them. Of course when you can lift eighty-nine tons as a light load, I'm not surprised I couldn't pull it back at all..." Heh, so Mr. Fancy Pants doesn't look so fancy anymore, huh? Kinda like Alex, his items of magical goodness look like crap. Still, suppose it makes sense.. might as well try and draw a little less attention to ourselves, right? The three of us might look normal enough, and Chapien doesn't appear anything special, either. If we find that skeleton and automaton again, you can scratch 'covert operation' off our list of tricks. Well, whatever. Scaring weak-minded mortals could be fun, and often intimidation worked better than more traditional methods when gathering information. I glanced over at Kyle, and started giggling wildly...I manifested several mindarrows, held between my fingers. I placed them all on the string, then drew it back in one smooth motion and fired them all at a tree. The slivers of force all fired into the exact same point. "Hm. Th'way Elric went on about it, I thought it'd be harder. Ah, well. Such is the upper class, eh?"
Weird. I did NOT expect that at all. Something's going on with chance. But what?
"Trust me, I'm not that intimidating. I mean, sure, it's really horrifying to see a plane of lavender force slice a guy open, but that's about all I'm good for. Plus it's reprehensible."
"Well.." I replied with a big smile and a gentle eye roll, "my skin may appear soft and smooth in some areas, but my hide's a lot tougher than it looks. Would you care to check out my 'invulnerability', yourself?" I watched Kyle fire off his mental projections, rather intrigued, honestly. What can I say, I've never had that much experience with psionics. "All that glisters is not gold?" I spoke softly to myself. Alright, so in the case of the bow Elric looked just like any other weak mortal, but what he did to Gruumsh's head still left me curious about his true potential. I turned my attention back to Kyle, again, sizing him up and down. "Reprehensible? Probably. Messy, too. Mmm, it's been ages since I had a proper bloodbath," I remarked, thinking back to the battles of yesteryear. "You know, Kyle, I was just thinking.. shocking, right? You know the term, 'undress me with your mind'? I bet a guy like you could take that to a whole new level," I purred.Elric tore my attention away with his insistance that we should get going. Tsk, he was right, and as fun as my thoughts were sounding I had already been gunning for the same thing not a moment ago. Though, from the Bloody Prince's words, it seemed like I might be having fun of a different kind. "Ooh, shiny?" I asked excitedly, remembering that chromatic dragon hunting trip I took with Kord. Don't think he appreciated my over enthusiastic attitude about killing, though. "You know, I hear the odds of even seeing a shiny red dragon are one in eight-thousand, one-hundred ninety." I unsheathed Fury, resting the large greathammer against my shoulder as I jogged down the path Elric laid before us, each footstep nearly the length of a mortal leap. "C'mon, Kyle! If you have to ask, that means there's not enough!""All right, let's go." I shifted my mind blade to fullblade form and activate the psychokinetic part of its psychokinetic burst ability.
"I'm not a kineticist!" I yelled, running after Clar. "Well, maybe! I don't really know for sure! There was that one time!"
"One time, huh?" I shouted back. "You'll have to tell me all about it!" I laughed merrily, unable to remember the last time such bloodlust put me in such a jolly mood. Bleah, those words just don't fit my image at all, but how else could I describe myself, now? Seems Elric was really getting into the swing of things, too, with his little acrobatic stunts. Now I finally get to see just how well Kyle and the Bloody Prince could fight! Increasing my pace from a jog to a full-blown spring, I leapt in a similar manner, soaring through the air as dozens of feet of earth rushed past far below me. Hmm, I wonder if this is what it feels like to fly?I neared my first target, what appeared to be a particularly large dragon. He wasn't shiny, but he looked strong and fierce, his fiery mouth gaping open as if he were ready to swallow me whole. Yep. Just, swallow me whole. Okay, so maybe leaping towards his face wasn't such a good idea? Still, I'm not going to get a better opportunity at smashing its teeth in than this, right? Bam! Pow! Right in the kisser as Fury must've broken a canine or.. a molar.. or something. The beast howled out in pain for only a moment before growling terribly, the breath of fear in my heart growing ever so slightly. Man, this thing was big. Ooh, big target! I swung Fury again towards one of it's mighty claws, watching its scales fly off in every direction, the adamantine slab breaking away into its bone.Although hearing its cries of pain was music to my ears, being barbecued alive wasn't on my list of things to experience before I die. I stared up into the dragon's eyes only to cover them with my arm too little too late as I found myself in the center of the inferno, my hair smoldering and my skin baking. Granted, this felt like burning your hand in a campfire compared to what mom had done to me earlier, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. Still, it wasn't strong enough to fully incinerate me, and I was still on my feet. Ooh, this jerk was so going get it now! I swung wildly at its claws again, perhaps two wildly as I spun myself around and nearly fell flat on my tush, but its severed scales and shattered nails was testement to my own imposing strength. Lucky for me my foe seemed to be out of steam for the moment as his jaw rushed down to snap at me, his claws tying to rend me in two; its wings couldn't overcome my short height and I leapt over its tail as it swung it at me. Ha! Fool! Thinking such mere attacks could harm me?I had already taken a huge chunk of its remaining life away, and I wasn't about to rest on my laurels now. I kept hammering away at its claw, dull, I know, but I could start to see its bone deep beneath begin to splinter, and one clear strike caused its claw to break off from the rest of its arm, sending a piercing howl into the sky and echoing for miles around. It stumbled back a bit, but like myself was unwilling to yield until either it or I were dead. Ah, always loved a fight to the very end, always sent such a rush through my blood. It fought with nearly the same vigor as before, but stumbled again on its clawless arm, giving me the opportunity to strike, bashing it on its nose. This was it, time to end this, I could feel it. Another swing of my hammer went straight across its nose, but I had too much moment, putting my back to it. I turned around just in time to see its mouth wide open again, a bright, golden glow deep within its throat. No.. not again. Stupid fool, Clarissa. Like simply ducking was going to avoid the blast of flame as it rushed up your skirt? Now there's a warmth I never wanted to feel again.Bringing myself slowly back to my feet, I stared at it with a fury in my eyes akin to father's. This dragon tried to roast me twice, and yet judging from the look in its ancient orbs I was still the better in this fight. Gritting my teeth as I raised Fury on high and yellow out a roar I unleashed my final assault, intending on finishing this once and for all. I stumbled yet again, however, barely missing its bite. Its gnashing teeth came down again, missing me by a mile and giving me my own moment to strike again. I will win here! I will.. swing and miss? We were tied, now, I'd wager as it let loose another torrent of flame, dragging this fight on longer than it should have lasted. Nuh uh.. not gonna let you win, no no NO!! I shrieked as Fury met its teeth three more times, sending the lumbering beast to the ground. It sighed deeply and breathed out a large column of smoke before its eyes grew dim. Falling to one knee, my foe seemed vanquished. If that wasn't a great wyrm, I'd be sorely dissapointed. With half-opened eyes I looked out upon the field of battle, wondering how well Kyle and Elric were doing.. and hoping the next dragon that tried to snack on me might be a little more tame.OOC: Been using this old post here as a pseudo-character sheet. Ugh, so many ones rolled.
I danced about, slicing at one dragon, dashing off to the next and cutting at it. "Bloody scales! Good thing I keep a wand of wraithstrike handy!" I activated the wand, and my right falchion sank into the nearest dragon's leg as if the scales weren't there. Which they weren't, for all intents and purposes.
A dragon finally got past my nimble dodges and flashing blades (I love Two-Weapon Defense) and caught a claw along my left shoulder, tearing three deep gashes. "Aaah! Your mother enjoys the company of metallic dragons!"
I reformed the left-hand falchion into a psychic pauldron, covering the wound with a barrier of force, and changed the right one into an elven thinblade.
"Clar! Go for sneak attacks!" I leapt onto a dragon's back and continued to attack, holding on for dear life.
For some reason, I remembered a saying in Dwarven. It wasn't perfectly translated, but it went something like this: "When yer on a red dragon's back and stabbin' wi' yer psychokinetic burst min' blade, yer prob'ly boned." Oddly relevant. And unhelpful.
I lay against my fallen foe, Fury still in hand, but otherwise in no condition to continue this battle. Tsk, how pathetic can you get, Clarissa? Father and mom have both slaughtered countless dragons throughout their immortal lives, often without a scratch, and yet here you are near death, ready to give it up? Even Kyle and Elric are doing better than you. Are you really going to let two mortals get the better of you? Isn't this what you've been hoping for all this time? Battles to the death? So what if you die? You've lived a full life, scarring the snot out of many a great warrior. You even took down a great wyrm! You just ended the life of a creature that had seen over a thousand winters! So what if you die? You've renounced mom's name, so you won't likely be going to Rosslyn Glæn. The Abyss, perhaps? Makes sense. Perhaps you could mess up a few demons, hang out with Lolth, maybe find out what mom sees in Grazz't. Oh, right, haven't killed his son yet. Tch, so there's one reason to get up and keep fighting!Fear suddenly gripped my heart again, and with a pitiful look I craned my head upward to see another red dragon breathing in my face, its eyes as hot as the sun. The end.. so soon? No, its turning its attention towards something else.. I saw what seemed like another dragon right beside me.. or, was it over there? Force dragon! Father told me stories about these things! Crap, it probably wants me dead for all the problems my parents caused. No.. I can sense it smiling at me? Or, smirking. Heh, why am I not surprised? This one couldn't have been terribly old, judging from its apparent size, but he looked strong. Like me. Yes! I rose to my feet, gripping my hammer tightly as the great wyrm seemed to back off a bit. With a shout of renwed vigor I swung Fury, hitting my mark four times before it withdrew a bit, giving me a miss. It yelped in pain, though, so I knew that I had hit hard. My 'ally' as it seemed took that opportunity unleash a most devastating attack of its own, as a blast of raw energy issued forth from its mouth, striking our foe in the shoulder. Wow, to think that one blast was as powerful as all of my attacks put together.. soo glad its on my side right now!Tsk, of course red wasn't going to take this laying down, as it opened its own mouth to spew forth a stream of white-hot flame against its draconic adversary. Guess it deemed it the bigger threat, how rude! Ooh, wait, force dragons don't have fire resistance like me, do they? So he's going to.. stand over there? Red missed? Ha! Time to finish this bloke off, then, eh? I swung with all my might, but still being weary from my last fight I missed my mark on the second stroke, and looking back I barely had chance to leap away from my foe's snapping jaws. Now I got to see a cat fight of truly epic proportions, however, as my force ally unleashed an assault that would tear lesser drakes to ribbons. I stared, almost in awe, as the great wyrm received huge gashes all over its body, even getting a chunk of its age-worn flesh torn from its hide. Its attention was no focused squarely on me, however, eager to devour me whole like the last one. Heh, and it would fail just like the OW!!My overconfidence sent me tumbling to the ground as I felt its rock-hard tale smash against my back side, sending a surge of pain rushing throughout my spine. My whole body was sore, my heart ached.. I'm really not looking so good. Neither was he, but this isn't about him, now is it? No, I'm not done yet. I turned and smashed Fury into its arms once, twice, thrice, but missed the fourth time as it stepped back and tried to snap at me. Ha! Head's in perfect view, its large yet empty cranium the best target one could ever ask for. Its eyes seemed to bulge as my hammer cracked its skull, not even a growl coming out as it fell to the ground dead. I collapsed right by it, still very much alive but so very exausted. Looking up at my ally I smiled, wondering what the outcome would have been without his help. I stared out into the field to find Kyle and Elric, lost amonst the ever growing pile of corpses. Bet they're having fun. You know, a nap wouldn't be half bad right about now. As my eyes closed, I felt a perfectly beautiful warmth bathe over me.Lesson learned, Kyle? If you can't fly, never kill a dragon in midair. Time to see what this crystal thing can do, I thought, and pulled out a flawless deep crystal hilt. I dissipated my mind blade, then manifested it through the hilt. Brilliant white light erupted forth, and when it cleared, I stood--or rather, floated--holding a plane-of-force blade with angel-wing handguards and a rapieresque blade that looked almost like a dragon's wing. Fire ran across its length, acid dripped off, cold gases surrounded it, electricity limned it, it hummed with sonic force and pulsed with psychokinetic energy.
"This is AWESOME!" I shut off the levitate effect that the crystal hilt appeared to produce and fell from 60 feet up onto a dragon, blade first. Or should I say turned the dragon into a pink mist. "Whoa. What kind of idiot leaves an artifact lying around like that?"
"Clar! Curses, that's twice today!" Raked again, this time on the back. "AAAH! Okay, that's it! Freeze!" I fired a glacial ray at the dragon, then smashed at the ice. The dragon unleashed its fire breath. "Won't work, ya big lizard. Does the term 'pyrokineticist' have any meaning to you? No? How about 'cryokineticist'? No again? Well, lemme simplify. It means I can control fire..." I pushed away the flames... "and ice," I elaborated, firing a second glacial ray.
I awoke, barely a moment having passed, only to see Elric standing above me. I felt.. somewhat healthier, before noticing the wand in his hand. Cure spell, perhaps? My ring wouldn't have kicked in so soon, so it must've been him. "Awww, my Bloody Prince has come to save me!!" I shouted with a bubbly, higher-pitched voice dripping with sarcasm, even going as far as leaping onto his back and wrapping my arms around him. Ooh, better be careful I don't crack any ribs, eh? "Heh, thanks," I added, more seriously now yet utterly disguted with myself. Me? Thanking a mere mortal? The 'rents wouldn't stand for this, surely! Picking up Fury I looked out towards my next target before looking back to Elric. "Tsk, I guess that means I have to take you off my 'to kill later' list, huh?" I smirked, saying the only thing I could think of that would redeem my failure.Before I could get a response I ran off, seeing my target razing what was left of the village. Jerks. I don't think I even got to finish my ale, did I? Oh, they were so going to pay for that! I charged towards the beast, intent on smashing its skull in just I had done to its brethren, and without that force dragon in the way I might actually be able to enjoy myself! I don't know if it was the ever growing rush of battle, or perhaps that strange warmth I had felt earlier, but for some reason I no longer feared these monstrosities as I had before. Heh, of course, why should a goddess fear a mere dragon, hm? My muscles tensed, my teeth gnashed, and as the great wyrm turned to face me, it received my hammer upside its head, surely breaking its jaw or atleast a few teeth. Tsk, of course that wasn't going to kill it, but it was certainly going to have a headache in the morning. Ooh, look at its burning eyes as it.. not again! "You could barely withstand the fires of my brethren. What makes you think you can withstand mine, young goddess?" It shouted. I tried to leap out of the way but it caught me, emersing me in flame. What? I feel warm, but I'm not burning like before. Elric? Tch, guess I owe that prince for more than just a healing.I stared up at my foe with a demonic smile, gripping Fury tightly. The dragon stepped back, perhaps not knowing what to expect from me, now. I attacked, crying out with excitement with each strike I unleashed. The first slam hit a claw, causing the dragon to lift it in pain, and the second made quite an impression against its elbow. I spun around to hit its leg twice, but by my final attack it had dodged out of the way. Tch, not like it'd matter. This thing was done.. for? It was speaking words in Draconic... the jerk's healing himself! That's not fair!! That's not.. ack! It hurts and stings! Heh.. so, seems he wasn't finished. The great wyrm loomed over me, laughing proudly at my newly electrocuted flesh. Thank you, quickened lightning bolt. I coughed, but was still standing, still gripping my large hammer, still smiling. What, old boy, you think something like that would finish me off? I swung, but missed, my bones aching more than I thought. It missed, too, still realing from the pain in its right arm, and I took that opportunity to strike back, hitting its elbow again, bathing myself in dragonblood as I splintered bone and tore at the flesh.This most ancient of creatures knew that I was but a succulent dish for it to feast upon, and would take its time in devouring me. It seemed to heal itself again, removing all wounds that I had previously inflicted upon it before sending another lightning bolt my way. A decent spellcaster the great wyrm may have been, but I learned its tricks and tumbled out of the way, not even a hair getting frazzled. I continued my assault, trying to attack the parts of the body I had before, hoping, praying, I might open up those old wounds, but my last attack still missed. Hmph, if only my arms wouldn't get so worn out so often against these things. What? It was healing itself again? Ooh, now I'm getting irritated! This time, however, its lightning bolt didn't phase me. Guess it wasn't so tough after all, hmm?Okay, so I've, like, been monologueing for quite a bit again, so, shall I save you the entire play-by-play? Basically, I hit it, it heals, casts quickened lightning bolt, than I hit it again, and so on and so forth. Eventually it seemed to have run out of the big healing and stopped with the lightning bolts, now just using its minor healing spells merely to keep itself alive. Aww, am I really that intimidating? Little, 'ole me? Before long it was using the puny healing that only the youngest of clerics rely upon, so I knew I had my foe right where I wanted him. After smashing him in the chest a perfect five times, I think it knew that no matter how many times it tried healing itself I'd never relent, and why would I? Finally its destructive instincts kicked in as it started raining down eletricity all over me. It power had no effect on me most of the time, although after one lucky bite upon my midsection it aimed true, and I barely ducked out of the way in time. Covered in both of our blood, I was determined to end this.I swung Fury with all the strength and rage that I had inherited from father, but my foe was already dead after the first strike. Perhaps if it had kept healing itself it might have found an opening and finished me off, instead, but once again I stood victorious. After over a minute of fighting (doesn't it always seem longer?), I sat back against the wyrm's corpse, a wide grin stretching across my face and a low laugh echoing from my body. As fun as this had been, I think it'd be in my best interests to stop now. Yeah, sure, I was protected from fire, but eventually I'd get bitten in half or fried by lightning. 'Sides, three great wyrms in one day was good for any tried and true warrior, no? I also figure that by the time I get back up Kyle and the Bloody Prince would have finished the rest off. Mmm, I knew there was something special about that man when I stared into his eyes. Licking my lips I realized I still haven't had my breakfast yet!Was the battle over? What could have started this whole mess in the first place, anyway? Honestly, great wyrms tend to be solitary lot later in their life, are they not? Not only that, but one would imagine that those of the metallic variety would be fiercely opposed to fighting alongside each other. So, why the team up? Just to attack a simple humanoid village? Hnn, no, there's got to me something else going on here.I wandered the battlefield dragging Fury behind me, bones broken, body bleeding, flesh charred, barely alive; a shadow of my formerself, one would say. Yet here's the Bloody Prince, seemingly the image of perfect health but fast asleep, the lazy bum. Willing my large greathammer into a finer size and hiding it within my glove I haunched down, examining him with a sly smirk. "Well, well, well, look't what we have here? There's more to you than what you first let on, isn't there? Not a simple aristocrat like the failing house of Valestra, hmm?" I taking him into my arms I lifted him onto my left shoulder, carrying him like a sack of meal while shouting out for our other companion. "Kyle!?" One can only hope that he's still alive. Necrophilia's not something I'm particulary interested in..."Nah, I'm just messin' with ya. Couple hours at most. But in all seriousness, we could all really use some healing. Clar, you're a deity. Can't you heal people or something?"
I...floated*, as a spectral wind lifted my hair and tugged at my clothing. Best way to describe it. Even hours after I'd dissipated my mind blade, I felt oddly energized, as though the life force of a thousand souls filled me. Probably had something to do with the artifact hilt. Which reminded me, it didn't have a name. I looked all over the hilt, finding only color variations that looked like wings... no name.
"What do you guys think?
I dropped Elric to the ground like a sack of.. oh, I used that analogy already, didn't I? Hey, he asked, didn't he? "Been awhile since I carried something so light," I commented, after searching for what seemed like an eon for Kyle before finally meeting up. "Ah, the three stooges are together again!" My exuberance was short lived as I sat my butt on the ground, stretching back and trying to ignore the rush of pain that was coursing throughout my body. Wasn't enough to prevent me from sticking my tongue out at Elric for his comment. "If I could heal, you think I'd be in this mess?" I remarked sarcastically. "Unfortunately my full apotheosis hasn't quite kicked in yet, but when it does I'll be able to bend reality itself to my will." A tough pill to swallow, having to admit all that, but at this point I doubt it's going to lower whatever respect they might have for me, if any.""You mortals and your little toys," I responded, despite the fact that I readily used ten charges from his wand; I was barely alive, after all. I know it's difficult to gather any information when those who might have been in the know are dead, but what happened to a good, old-fashioned search? Still, if this was going to nab us any treasure or more enemies to beat on, I was all for it."Y'know, we can just use speak with dead. Except that there are probably no corpses left except most of the dragons (one's a pink mist), and they likely don't know where it is. Or what 'it' is."
I smiled devioushly at Kyle, honoured that he actually thought of my request. "Elo-whatsis?" I asked rather condenscendingly, wondering if it was some of his psycho-babble. "Well, once I've taken Iuz's power, I'll probably just alter reality to create a fly scroll out of nothing and then after casting it have it permanently affect me. Worked for mom." My attention immediately turned towards Elric after his little 'mishap', bringing that condescending attitude back to the forefront."Elric, Elric, Elric.." I repeated, shaking my lowered head side-to-side with a closed-eyed, wide smile. "Don't you know not to send a toy to do a woman's job? I can detect magical auras, so if you want to sniff out that artifact..." I closed my eyes, focusing this small portion of arcane power that my mom blessed me with; hey, she had to do something good for me, right? It always took a moment for it to kick in, but I eventually felt the aura of whatever it was Elric's device had exploded over. It's times like this I wish I had more than just a basic understanding of magic, though. Ah, c'est la whatever."But I could teach you to open your mind, if you'd like..."
"Let me search for psionic auras; I don't know if you guys have a clue what ectoplasm feels like." I closed my eyes and extended my perceptions in search of psionic auras, resonance with magic fields, the barest hint of ectoplasm--anything that even hinted at psionics.
"I believe the expression is c'est la vie, that's life."
"Psycho, psionic, it's all in the mind," I reasurred him, or was it myself? Looking back towards him with an ever growing smile, I added, "I don't know about my mind, but there are other parts of me you're free to open!" Mmhmm.. I don't think what I've been doing to Kyle lately could be considered teasing any more, could it? "Ectoplasm? I heard some ghosts leave that behind. I recall a strange tale of a party of four individuals who were 'slimed' after confronting one very green, very hungry ghost in particular. And, yes, I know the expression; I was merely trying to make a joke. Though, that's what I get for focusing my performance skills more towards dancing than comedy, huh?""Burned churches? Magical toys? Come on, destruction and theivery are what I live for!" I remarked to Elric, retuning my abilities having since lost focus. There were definitely strong vibes in the air, though wether they were arcane or divine I couldn't tell, and the school of magic was still aluding me. That's the problem with artifacts, they could really screw up your senses. Mom had long since abandoned typical magical items for artifacts of her own design, although anything I might've felt from those the last time I spoke to her peacefully were generally dulled by her own intense precense. "So, then, you think the dragons were after the little bauble inside these ruins?"It all happened in an instant: Out of the corner of my eye I watched as the Bloody Prince, once appearing so noble and dignified, was reduced to ruin as he flew into the remains of a nearby building. It didn't take comprehend languages or tongues to understand the malevolence hidden deep within the voice of whatever did all this. Every sound, every syllable, seemed to shake within my heart. Was this true fear? Granted, I knew fear whenever father raged. I knew fear when mom spoke those words against me. This was no mere shudder or doubt when facing down a great wyrm, no, this was a taste of a far darker portent.And yet.. I was smiling...Smiling at this thing. Smiling and laughing hysterically, as if I were overcome by madness. Was this my own deep fear coming to the surface, a mere reflex to hide my shame? Or, perhaps, this was an echo of my own darkness, my empty soul being challenged by this new monstrocity that seeked to intimidate us. Maybe I was truly frightened, or perhaps in my madness I was not really frightened at all. As I've said before, I'm not a scholar, merely a warrior that's been searching her whole life for a good challenge. As if by instinct I snapped my right fingers and Fury reemmerged into my hand, willfully growing to its true size, before being gripped tightly in both my mits. My head was lowered again, my teeth gritting, almost sharp, as I continued to laugh. I wonder what did my eyes look like from the others points of view?"End? Is that your attempt at a name of grandeur and decadence? As in the end of history? The end of life? No, more like the end to a meal after its been digested," I spoke up, my tongue afire and dripping with venom. "Why don't you join all the other excrement in the fields after the cows are done with you?" Where Elric had once been now I was standing before it, as tall as I may (even if I'm not much for height), my soul determined to counteract whatever horror this thing was. "I'll never understand you would-be villains. You claim to seek the world's destruction, and yet instead of doing anything about it you spend a life time in monologue. If Tharizdûn had been set free, he would've merely ravaged the multiverse already. No, my friend. You are not the end. You are nothing. You think you're strong? You are not. You are worthless. Weak. Stupid. Ignorant. A total waste of matter. The world has survived countless atempts to destroy it; it survived, while its executioners have all faded out of even the oldest memories. Do you really think you'll accomplish anything? Because you won't. You lack the cunning of Asmodeous and the fury of Demogorgon. Whatever purpose you think you possess is meaningless. Your very existance is pointless! Do us all a favor and rid us of your weakness!!"Bursting into flame, I raised Fury high above my head, before sending it crashing down upon whatever lay before me. Perhaps I spoke to ecentrically, and I seriously doubt I succeeded in intimidating it. This may very well indeed be my end, and I surely didn't think this would be it. Wait, that guy I had met earlier, before Chapien and Kyle. He said that I factored into the plans of some penultimate demon lord? Could this be him? Heh, in that case, perhaps I wasn't destined to die just quite yet...A portal opens and Roger jumps out cursing, "damit I am too late, that stupid kid better still be alive we have invested too much in his training." he looks around moving to the rubble he waves his hands and chanting a few words the rubble spreads away from Elrics body he is horribly bruised and one of his arms is broken he has a nasty head wound and looks like many of his ribs are broken as well. in short he looks like an old rag doll. The old druid goes about healing his injuries and struggles to keep him alive.
You notice that although you got knocked back you were unharmed by the energy though the bump into the rubble hurt as much as getting thrown into it but that is about it.
I picked myself up out of the rubble, brushing the debri off of me while Roger attended to his comrade. Tch, had to figure this would be all his fault. Still, I guess I shouldn't complain. I couldn't even feel whatever it was that thing hit me with, and slamming into these ruins barely left a scratch on me. Heck, I dare say I was still smiling from earlier, perhaps even more so than before. Fear? No, I no longer felt any fear, and it wasn't just because that thing was nowhere to be seen. Somehow, his show of bravado just didn't seem all that impressive. Then, an old poem I heard long ago came to my mind and escaped my lips."...And in the last days, the sleep of a thousand years shall end when the herald appears, blotting out the sun in all its awesome glory. Its shuddering bulk shall sound the trumpets of destiny, those clarion calls to bring forth He Who Waits, the Dark God, the Wrongly Held. The 333 jewels that contain the dread master shall shatter, and the world shall tremble, wailing and clawing, begging their petty gods for escape from the wondrous return of the Unraveler, whose appearance shall set to right all wrongs, restore all balance, and reduce the abomination of creation to its primal, primitive state. Rejoice, for the end is at hand..." Hmph. Now that was the mark of something wholly evil and vile. This thing that fled the church? Pathetic, just as I guessed. He'd probably say something about being so ancient that all had forgotten his terror, but if people forget you, than what's the point of even existing in the first place? He's already proven his worthlessness.I picked up my hammer and made my way back towards Kyle, the only one uninjured in this whole even, content to ignore the machinations of Roger and Elric."You're not going to take this whole psionics thing seriously, are you, Clar? Do you have the capacity to take anything seriously?"
"Hmm. I think that sounds familiar. Although the version I heard mentioned a furious hammer, an energized wing, a bloodied noble and a few other things that escape me. And the wording was weirder, too... The syntax I remember was awkward, almost like prophecy. I think it said something about the wing and the tear pointing the way..." I closed my eyes and trailed off, meditating and trying to remember more.
Did I take psionics seriously? No, of couse not. Why would I? It mean't nothing to me. Just because I was smarter and wiser than your average mortal genius mean't nothing; it was the thrill of battle, the rush you get when something is conquered, growing ever stronger with each new day. That's what mattered, what I took seriously. It was the same with magic. I could care less just how many spells mom knew or if she could challenge the Archmage's power, who cares? I didn't say a word to Kyle as he seemed focused on that poem, but there were things I took seriously; like the comment I had made to him earlier. This tingling feeling I got whenever I was around him was seriously starting to get annoying.My attention turned back towards Roger whom I was still convinced started this whole mess. "That poem's not going to do any of us any good because it had nothing to do with this 'End' guy. It refers to three hundred thirty-three artifacts known as the Gems of Tharizdûn. Remember that name I've mentioned before? Anyway, Tharizdûn is the 'Dark God', a being of such pure entropy that he's sought since the beginning to unmake the entire universe, to reduce all to emptyness, to even make nothing nothing. Legend has it that the old gods, those who existed long before mom and the others, collaborated to do away with him. Good and evil, law and chaos, all joined forces and imprisoned Tharizdûn inside a vast demiplane deep within the Ethereal Realm. He's not dead, though, not by a long shot. His influence and cults have managed to survive, even till this day. If he were free, now, we wouldn't be standing here to contemplate any of this right now.""That, my friends, is why I find no threat in this 'End'. If people forget you than you had no reason to be remembered in the first place, and as such, no reason to have ever existed. He is worthless, in the grand scheme of things, just another weak soul who'll be crushed." I turned directly towards Roger, starring into his eyes, my smile like a cat after catching its prey. "'Sides, you said he had old strength, right? Apparently he was vastly more powerful in the past? He's not anymore, so then what happened? Something had to have occured that made him weaker, so why don't we try and replicate the procedure?" My attention turned towards the horizon, thinking of all the 'villains' I've come across, including father and mom. "Rarely does an entity come along that does not have some sort of great weakness that reduces it to ashes. My mom's power may be bordering on overdeity status, herself, but even she has her weaknesess, I'm sure...""Dude," I replied to Roger with a heavy, stern voice. "Breathe." That had to have been the longest run-on sentence I ever sufferered to listen through; even if breathing was a task he was free from as it was for me, pausing every now and then would've aided all who listened. Still, I got the jist of it, and I laughed heartily, looking back at him with a condescending grin. "You're telling me that's Tharizdûn? That thing that knocked me back into the ruins, yet barely giving me a scratch? Heh, I'm unimpressed." I shook my head, disbelieving much that the old man was saying. "All the old tales said that the Lord of Entropy was a dark, shapeless wraith, or an obsidian orb writhing with many tentacles. Then again, those same tales say that the Old Gods were all destroyed by their own creations, the umbral blots. I've seen one before, and they'd be a fair challenge for me, perhaps more than those dragons, but for father? If it posses no threat to he and the other gods, and if many of the other gods themselves pose little threat to mom, than perhaps this Tharizdûn is not as tough as they say, hmm?""Honestly, I don't care about legends or stories. If that's really him, than why haven't the gods moved to action yet? Why hasn't he started destroying everything around him, yet? Hell, from my understanding, he wants to destroy absolutely everything, including himself. So, why doesn't he just do us all a favor and kill himself now, and remove his weakness from this world?" I watched with disgust as Roger entered one of his portals and dissapeared, leaving us to attend to his comrade. Fine. I don't care if End is Tharizdûn; I'm not letting him destroy this realm before I've had a crack at Iuz. I can feel my inner divinity bursting at the seams, ready to escape, to unleash my true potential. Perhaps the upcoming battles will awaken my power, and I'll be able to see just what I'm fully capable of. I looked to and fro at the ruins that surrounded us, still wondering what those dragons had to do with any of this. Were they trying to stop him from escaping? Were they aiding him in his escape? Or were they completely oblivious to all of this and just sacked this place for fun? What are you saying, Clarissa? Who cares!? They're dead, the town's dean, what's happened has happened and none of that matters anymore. Tch, all I know is that this guy can't be that strong, otherwise mom probably would've come down and destroyed him with a mere slap to the face. She once showed concern if Tharizdûn were to ever be released, but this?...then again, perhaps I'm being blinded by my own naiveity?The teardrop hummed again. "Huh? I think something's up, guys." The pile of ash that used to be a flower reformed itself into a flawless obsidian gem the size of a die. My teardrop pendant hummed louder. I don't know what caused me to think of the word, but think it I did:
"Great. So, we fight a bunch of dragons, survive a near apocalypse, and all we get is a single jewel? Well, better than a t-shirt, I guess." I stepped closer to Kyle to examine.. it, quipping, "could be one of Tharizdûn's gems, perhaps? I could smash it with my hammer, that might tell us something!" I then examined.. other things, eyeing Kyle slyly. "You know, if you keep floating in the air like that, I'm gonna have to ride you..." I stretched my arms back, straining a bit so Fury didn't unbalance me, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Well, if Elric's gonna do some exploring, you wanna do something for reals? I need something to do while Roger does his thing, and waiting around for the End... oh! Heh, bet he thought that was so clever, huh?"I tried psychically probing the crystal, and immediately felt a dark, brooding presence, as though something was trapped inside. But I couldn't sense anything remotely resembling a life force...in...side...
I stood in midair, staring blankly into the inch-on-a-side cube. I didn't appear to respond to any external stimuli.
"What is this? How did I get here?" I stood in an empty void, my thoughts echoing in the endless expanse of white. "Man! Not the Plane of Suck!"
"Oh, you're no fun!" I pouted, before smiling again, dropping Fury to the ground as I lept onto Kyle's back. "Wheee! Giddy-up, horsie!!" Oh, Elric's back. Hmph, of course he had to come back at just the right time. "So, if that's not Tharizdûn, what is it? Have to admit whatever that thing was was a lot more.. talkitive, than I expected the Dark God to be." I wrapped my arms tighter around Kyle, smiling contently. "Well, don't worry about me. I already have some bracers and I don't do wands. Fury's forged with mom's blood and is beyond mere masterwork; it's so epic, hecatoncheires would flee from it. If you know any wizards, you should get your weapons likewise enchanted, especially 'good' aligned if it all possible," as much as saying that wanted to make me gag. "Should be just enough to take down even the most potent of vile fiends.Why did I feel so comfortable with my arms wrapped around Kyle? This was just so unlike me, but somehow I felt.. at peace. "You're trying to find logic in magic. Already, you fail," I murmured, sleepily, atleast retaining some semblence of my true self. "Mmm, Kyle..." I whispered, but was a little concerned when the jerk wasn't responding to the movements of my hands. I mean if he couldn't feel exactly where I was squeezing, then he must be.. dead? "Kyle?" I cried out, turning his head violently towards me so I could get a better look into his eyes. I noticed he was still holding that obsidian thing, and immediatley yanked it out of his hand and threw it to the ground. "It holds monsters, than, huh?" I shouted, thinking that it might have trapped one particular little monster I was growing quite fond of. "Kyle! I choose you! Psychic!" Nothing happened. "G-Go for the horn?"Anyways A LArge Metal object has laned near by, Seems long and has a pointed end, Makes a nice Creator, At the edge of the metal you can see in clear large Orange letters in commen "Nuke"
Haha, no im just jokeing.
He reaches down picking it up and starts to study it. "still there is always a way to release something captured, well I guess I will give this a shot"
Elric seems to go into a trance as he taps into magic deeply sealed within himself the stirring divine energy with the arcane to bring forth a spell to aid him as he comes out of the trance he speaks the words of the spell, and uses it to release what is sealed in the cube. Elric then falls back obviously tired by the use of the magic. "well hopefully that should do it"
"Yes. Yes there is."
"What the--" I saw a dark, vaguely-humanoid shape wrapped in a cloud of darkness. "Not good." I tried to manifest my mindblade, but even with Aegis Wing's assistance the blade flickered and died.
"You fool. You thought that you could resist the lure of Tharizdûn, the Lord of Entropy, the Chained God, the Master of Undoing?"
"Well, that's what I was going for..." I pulled out a crysteel dagger.
"All you've done, Kyle, is given me a free ride back into the world. I will have to deal with a squishy body, but it won't matter eventually." The...thing? flew at me and pulled itself in, trying to possess me.
"KYAAAAAAH!" I felt the thing burning at my soul. Two soulburns in one day...unpleasant. But the teardrop and Aegis shone(in the real world, too) in rebellion, forcing the shadow out.
I awoke to the real world, gasping for breath. ----. That wasn't fun.
"Guys? What happened? And why are you wrapped around me, Clar?"
"And Elric? That didn't contain a normal demon. Didn't even hold a demon."
Kill him. Do it now.
What?
Kill him. You know you want to. And by the way, it's a seal. Keep an eye on it.
What? Are you that thing? Tharizdûn?
Shut up. Kill him.
"Why the Hells would I do that?
"I didn't say that out loud, did I?"
Don't think I'm dead. It seems that squishy mortal bodies are good for something other than destruction fodder. I'll be here for a while; I rather enjoy it iin your brain, even if I can't run the show from in here. Oh, what's this? Some memory of a--
"Don't you dare; those memories are mine. I will gouge you out of my own brain if I have to." Now remember, T, I'm dominant. So no taking over my body.
Your point? I'm a dark god of entropy, splintered though I am. Break that rock over there for me, will you? Why would I bother following rules?
I poured all the energy I could spare into locking away the godsplinter. I like these memories, it whispered.
"D-Did someone get the number of that runaway cart?" I asked in a daze, my eyes twichy and hair frazzled as my grip on Kyle's body loosened and I fell slack to the ground. I didn't feel injured but, evil as I am, that blast didn't leave me unphased. "Elric.. before you do that again, just remember the other dark god who until a moment ago was clinging to our dear friend, Kyle?" Shaking my head I slowly stood up, taking Fury back into my hand, my eyes burned at Kyle, feeling those strange vibes again, sensing that his motives may no longer fully be his own. "Dear friend.. you're not yourself right now, are you?" I asked, my mouth curling into a twisted smile. "See?, this is why I wish we had a cleric amonst us. I could kill Kyle, perhaps rid his body of whatever ails him, then the cleric'll just bring him back to life good as new, right?" My demonic cheerfulness may have seemed sick, but how else would one expect me to act? Raising my hammer on high, I readied myself for a swift strike. "Don't take this the wrong way, Kyle, 'cause I'm really starting to like you. I'm just optimistic that'll we stumble across a cleric sooner or later.""sar-tha-ni-rah-trath-gar-zu-ni-ich-so-tah-rie-fern-sah-ban-zu-ish-tra-ed"
Elric releases a line of holy energy it streams towards Kyle touching his forehead and seems to disappear within him, Elric drops to his knees he seems to be getting really exhausted from using these divine powers, especially when he seems to neither be a cleric or a God.
"Yeah, w-well.. that offer to kill him's still on the table," I nervously laughed, before leaping out of the way of the second blast. I found myself wondering, though; just how strong was Kyle's will? His attitude seemed to mark a strong spirit, or did it merely try and hide a weak one? If he does become possessed by Tharizdûn, then I seriously will destroy him before he destroys me. I just hope it doesn't come to that."Elric, any idea on where to go to procur better items and training? I wouldn't mind adding a little 'burst' to Fury's flaming ability," I commented, looking to and fro at the horizon around us, wondering where our next destination would be. I couldn't help but think of Amariel, capital city of mom's religion. Alura was quite strong when last I left there and I'm sure she's gotten stronger; despite her aloofness and haughty sense of nobility she's proven herself a capable leader, though leading by fear of her divine power as much as 'respect' and 'love' for the people. Amariel's become quite influential throughout the Flanaess, and is apparently gaining ties to other planes as well, but the very thought of turning to her for help is now leaving a very bad taste in my mouth.No, going to Amariel, or anywhere even close to the Echidnea mountains would be a very bad idea for me...Destroy.
Shut up!
"Can I get something that blocks possession? I may need it. I'm also looking for anything that can help me enhance my mind blade. Maybe some psionic armor... And anything evil-deity-bane...(try not to touch those items, Clar)..."
Why didn't it block him? The teardrop resists mental assaults...
Entropy.
Good an answer as any, I guess.
"Heh, alright. Hope he works for free, then; I only have a few electrum on me," I replied slyly, hiding Fury back into my glove only to ponder wether or not I'll have to release it again within the next five minutes as usual. I stuck my tongue out at Kyle and laughed, starting to feel an urge to touch such weapons now. Ooh, just the very thought was giving me a tingle in certain areas. "You know, Tharizdûn's the god of entropy, of destruction and madness; pure, unfiltered chaos. Perhaps, all he really needs is... a hug?""You know, that could be why I'm not melting right now. I'm chaotic good and T's chaotic non-good. Only one alignment opposition. And believe me, I know madness."
Tharizdûn perked up at the mention of destruction. No.
Even with his words dripping with sarcasm I couldn't help but smile and quietly laugh. "Well, duh! Why do you think I've taken such a liking to you? I know there's more to Kyle than just a pretty face and a big, long, hard mindblade." I shook my head after hearing my own words, realizing how sappy and.. utterly mortal I was sounding. "I was merely posing the comical idea that something sickenly sweet as hugs, when crossed with an ultimate evil like the Elder Elemental Eye, should cancel each other out, no? Of course I'm sure that in reality, touching Tharizdûn would probably lead to disentigration or combustion or something slimy.""So, Elric.." I spoke, turning my attention away for the moment. "What IS the name of this place, anyway? I think you've failed to mention that. Any particular means of travel or do we just run the whole distance, hmm? I've never flown on a flying carpet before, but my home life left me used to transportation by foot, anyway, and these boots were made for walking. And kicking. And stepping on things. Mostly walking, though. Atleast if we walk, we're bound to run into something, I'm just getting so restless standing here!" "Oh, left foot. Tentacle rods are associated with the Elder Elemental Eye. And tentacles... I REALLY wish Tharizdûn hadn't made that Knowledge check, and then shared the results..." I started beating my forehed against the nearest tree. "Must...remove...mental...image!"Elric walks over to a spot and starts etching sigils in the ground and chanting words of the arcane, after a little while a gate appears before you, he stands up and steps through saying as he goes "well come on now it is only a couple more miles after the gate."
(about 2 miles)
"Tentacles, huh?" I asked, eyeing Kyle curiously. "And shouldn't a guy like you know better tricks than bashing your own head in? 'Sides, if you want, I can give you better mental images to replace them with..." Ah, what am I saying? Am I possessed or what? Is this mom's doing, did she affect me with her 'divine inspiration' ability? I struggled to turn away from Kyle, biting my lower lip, focusing my mind on images of battles, bloodshed, screams, destruction, and what I'd do to Kyle once I got him alone. Ack! Not helping, not helping!!"A c-couple of miles? I can run that a few minutes, no problem!" I replied nervously, unable to stop smiling. "And I can keep out of trouble if I wish, though it usually ends up following me, anyway." Hmm, yeah, maybe that's it? I run on ahead, find myself alone, and maybe I can start to think clearly again. I'll finally be able to take my mind off his rugged good lucks, his strong bod, his cute butt. "Uh, Kyle? Got some room on that tree? Think I need to take a whack at it or three."'"Don't tell me psionics isn't awesome."
I fell, not having ended a move on a vertical surface, although I hit the air a foot up.
I smirked, albeit uncomfortably, wondering if what Kyle said was an insult or just an attempt at humor. "Heh, not bad," I replied, somewhat impressed by his performance. "But what happens when you get a brain freeze from eating too much ice cream, eh? I'll meet you at the spire.." And with that I ran through the portal, thinking of nothing but the landscape that lay before me, the sky above and the horizon in the distance. My heart was racing, not from the running but from all these mix feelings flowing through me. What happened to me all of a sudden? I used to be so focused on the fight, my only goal, my one true desire to overthrow that ancient demon and take over his throne; but.. now?After about five minutes I found myself in Artorinth proper, wondering what plane we were in since from what mom told me gate spells only open one plane to another. Considering that Ysgard's infinite, I almost thought I was there, yet I didn't feel my remaining wounds healing, and despite the damage all around me the world just didn't seem vibrant enough. The Outlands, perhaps? Always said that old druid seemed appropriate there, but then that was when I thought him as simply an old druid. Whatever, it doesn't matter, so long as I get back Oerth. Still, not a bad place. Big, and obviously rich considering that tower. My even be comparible to Amariel, though I figure the realestate on the outer edges would leave much to be desired.The tower would certainly be easy to find, but the first thing that came to mind was a bath house. Unfortunately being divine in nature did not prevent me from stinking, and a nice, relaxing bath might help me to clear my head and forget.. certain things. After all, if I seek to confront one dark god after another, must I not be darker, still? Mom might be able to suffer thoughts of romance and lust every moment of the day, but I can not. I have to remain focused, remain strong, remind myself that I'm not some silly mortal, that I'm destined to be the most powerful warrior in all of the Flanaess; and I can't do that with him on my mind all the time.
"Ugh. I do need to bathe."And then can we destroy the bathwater?
Knock yerself out. But ONLY the bathwater.
"Or IN yer mind. Don't leave that out."
Elric turns to him a look of annoyance in his eyes. "I will go where I please little brother but I am here for only a little while just picking up some items for a trip I am going on. I would appreciate it if you got out of my way."
His brother after finishing laughing at him speaks in a dark tone "you think that I would let you pass through father has left the capital in my hands and now I will crush you and with the axe of vengeance you will be cleaned from father's slate for ever." He springs forward drawing his axe which glows with the might of a deities weapon, and he glows with the power of a lesser Deity. Elric blocks with his sword Ragnorak and slides back a few paces, sheathing his sword, he begins to chant (mah to hai rei so tri) from his hand spews a powerful bolt of magic which throws the jade knight back into one of the buildings. "Do not underestimate me little brother you have been born with your powers and barely understand how they work, I have earned my might, and I have much more to fall back on then simply pumping energy into my blade." Elric touches his arm and begins chanting again energy this time wells up from within him powerful divine energy spews forth striking into His brother crushing him against the wall. Elric is starting to sweat a little as he says "do you yield"
I channeled Weapon Afire and Weapon Afrost into Aegis, limning the already-existing fiery, icy, acidic, shocking, screaming, and psychokinetic bursts with extra frostflames. The myriad auras playing about the blade, as well as a second, harsher voice layered over my own, added weight to my threat: "Stand down, both of you, or I will slay you where you stand."
The fact that I looked wild and floated a foot of the ground didn't hurt.
Mmm, now THIS was relaxing. Fortunately I was indeed able to find a bathhouse, expensive, but with a little intimidation they accepted my coin. It was worth it getting a few feathers ruffled, though, this bath was absolutely divine! Don't think I experienced anything like this since I left Rosslyn Glæn. The bulk of my gear lay beside the basin, leaving me with nothing more than the mystical tattoos mother had etched into my flesh, one addorning each shoulder and a massive one covering my back, and the ring of regeneration that held firm not upon a finger, but in a special location. I could finally feel its cooling magic affect me deep within while the hot bath water and scented oils washed over my naked form. Without the powerful magic contained within my gear, I felt so absolutely vulnerable, as weak as any of these mortals. It was funny; I kept condescending my companions for the items they wielded, when I was no better than any of them at all. Tsk. Granted, when I defeated Iuz, I could use my strengthened divine might to enchant myself with all sorts of powers, but until then I had to rely on my toys.And, yet, the feeling of vulnerabilty also brought with it a sense of tranquility and peace. I may have been far weaker now without my devil's eye choker or armor or boots of swiftness or any of that, yet there was also no perceivable threat anywhere around me. Okay, so I did hear some shouts out in the distance, some heavy ruckus, and for a moment I could've sworn I recognized the voices. Tsk, and they told me to stay out of trouble? Hypocrites. Ironic that the purely evil, dark deity amongst the group is the only one who can keep her nose out of anyone's business. Ah, whatever, I came here to relax, not worry abot them. Not Elric or Roger or End or.. Kyle. What was I going to do about my feelings for him? How did they even spring up in the first place? I mean, he's just a mortal. His powers of the mind may have been impressive, and I loved his wit and attitude, but I never really experienced his combat ability first hand. If we were to fight, and I were to soundly crush him, than my lust for him would've been a complete and utter waste!I blame mom and her foolish influence. Thinking it so humorous to tease men, why did she have to rub off on me like that? Why couldn't I have just been raised my father on the field of battle like any normal warrior, hm? Then the only emotions I'd have to focus on would be anger and hatred. That's all I need to do; just focus on what makes me.. ME! I may have gotten a rise out of Kyle before, but aside from that he's never recyprocated any of my advances. You'd think with all my immortal wisdom I'd have gotten the picture already, eh? Sigh.. ah, well. I suppose when I get out of this bath.. if I ever get out, mmm, sooo good.. I can challenge Kyle to a battle. When I win, then I'll no longer have any reason to lust after him. Then I can go back to focusing on the fight, getting stronger, and staking my own claim of the Flanaess. But first, where's that cloth? Amazing that with all the magical baubles in this world, a simple cloth is all one needs to wash the dirt and grime off one's figure. A shame it'll never fully wash the blood that's stained my hands, figuratively speaking, but then it's not like I'm aiming to become a girl scout, either.The knights disperse the crowd and after looking at you the Jade Knight walks over to were you are floating, "Just a hint of warning i can sense the taint on you. so get out of my kingdom as soon as you can, I will not stand for demon spawn and their ilk in my lands."
Looks like Tharizdûn has his uses. But do I command him or the other way around?
Simultaneously, Tharizdûn thought, Looks like Kyle has his uses. But do I command him, or the other way around?
You like the god, don't you?
Stop asking questions.
You think about her all the time, Kyle. You can talk to me; it's not like I'll be able to tell anyone else.
Fine. It's something about her, you know?
Not particularly; you're discussing psychology with a god of chaos. Pineapple, by the way.
Whatever. I just feel that bit of good wedged deep in there, and if I can just find it...
Ick. Good.
I mean, it could be a godly compulsion; you know anything about that?
Quotients.
I'll take that as a no...
Maybe there's more to life than just fighting? Father hunts sometimes. Dragons, titans, celestials. Atop his nightmare, Mycyn, he can track them through the air as easily as any common ranger could track a rabbit on the ground. Mom.. yeah, the less about her activities the better. It's, just, I don't think I've given much thought towards what I planned to do with my life after I defeated Iuz. I mean, I'd be ruling my own empire, of course. Deciding on political matters, making and breaking alliances.. ugh, how dull. Now I can see why mom never set herself up as a god-queen; as long as they worshipped her, who cares what those littles peons did, eh? Yet often I look into father's eyes and wondered if he did not have such plans himself at some point.Well, it's not like I'd be giving up fighting completely, right? Iuz's old allies, if any, would become my enemies, and the enemies of his land would become my enemies, too. Heh, plenty of opportunities to rage war on this land. Still.. despite all of mom's daliances, father's still her favourite 'pet'. Even if that's no where near the mortal concept of 'love', it's got to count for something, right? Could I actually settle down with someone? Have myself a little king to play with it? I just.. can't see it. I can see only one throne in my future, mine. Mom only has one throne, with father being little more than her cherished lap dog and bed mate; and, yet, therein lies one major difference between mom and I. Mom far outclasses father when it comes to power, dispite his titantic strength. Yet, any mate I've imagined would be my equal in strength and combat. After all, why should I ever want someone who was weaker than me? Ha! Does that mean, that if I ever became stronger than father, I'd lose all respect for him?Applying some body oil to my skin to give it that delicious sheen my brother seemed so fond of (perhaps too much?), I happened to glance out the window to catch that little scuffle dieing down. Hm? Large man in fancy armor, obviously important. Axe looks kinda cool. Ah, how cute! Big man's trying to intimidate Kyle and failing! Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to lust after him, still? Even if he's.. NOT as strong as I am? I don't think I could lose respect for father, no matter how powerful I become. Even if I could wield power like mom, he's still.. my father! Heh, fortunately I have no respect for mom so there's no worries there. Even if I can't see myself having a king, having Kyle as an eternal lov.. oh. Right. He's mortal. Mortal's the opposite of immortal. I.e., not enternal. So... what do I do when he dies, then? Heh, a good soul would probably find some way to become mortal, happy to choose such a life with a lover instead of living forever without one. Dieing and not coming back just doesn't appeal to me, though, no matter who I'm with. On the other hand, the idea of mourning forever makes me want to vomit.So, what should I do? Go after that hunking piece of psychic meat, Kyle? ...Or, just let him go? If I weren't a goddess, I'd be drowning right now after slipping so deep into the water. Yeah, that's it. I'll just hide from all my problems in the tub. That'll work...So many emotions... I can't keep a hold on Aegis. I let the mind blade dissipate and lost my psionic focus. Didn't want to waste it, though, so I used it to add to my speed to catch up with Elric.
"Where's a good inn, Elric? I need a place to be alone with my thoughts for a while." As alone as I can get with Tharizdûn in my head, anyway, I thought., but didn't add.
You have secrets.
It took you that long to figure it out? We've all got things we're hiding, T. Mine are just darker.
"kyle I will be willing to stay here for only two days, pick up what items you need by then, you can find me at the sight were I created the gate at sunset on the second day, best of luck in finding what you seek."
He heads up to the door of the tower and Knocks.
I sat back up in the bath again, starring out the window, starring at Kyle. He seemed to be saying something to Elric, though sadly I lacked the divine senses needed to hear their words; and, yet, I kept getting these vibes from him, as if he could hear and respond to my thoughts even from this distance. Mmm, if only I could hear him in return. I'd tell him, "come. Join me, Kyle. The water is still quite warm, and the oils are soothing. We've both experienced a very exhausting day. Let us relax..." Heh... stupid girl. Winning the heart of a man is a thousand times harder than conquering an empire. How did mom even do it? Considering father's often sour dismeanor around her, something tells me it took her more than mere seduction to bring him over to her side. Fear, perhaps? Some sort of enchantment? It's not to say he hated her, for it would seem he's been granted extraordinary power because of her, something he fully enjoyed.They don't love each other, not by a long shot. Not even close. There's just a mutual resp... ug, why am I still talking about this!? Oh, right, 'cause I'm still thinking about HIM. Blast. I'd get out of the tub and run after him, but, I mean.. I only got in here a few minutes ago! Barely enough time to clean all my little bits, right? 'Sides, he seems busy. Best not disturb him, right? I'll just lay back here, relax like I'm supposed to, wash myself down; I still had a few burns on my biceps and thighs from when we fought those dragons, but they were much better now and likely to dissapear within the hour. Sigh. Come on, Clarissa. Snap out of this foolish daze. He's just a mortal. Nothing worth worrying over. You step on a dozen of 'em a day, not giving any of 'em a second thought. Granted, none of them had his smile or attitude or.. but what does that matter? He'll be dead in a few decades, you'll live on for an eternity, and you'll forget all about him, right? Just focus on what you're supposed to be doing, Ms. Goddess of Darkness. Hatred, tyranny, trickery, evil, chaos. 'Love' doesn't fall anywhere into those categories.That shadow that clings heavily to my heart has been silent lately, but it's still there, and it's still waiting. To grow stronger, to grow darker. To encompass ever fiber of being, to awaken my true power. I can't keep tieing myself down to such weak, mortal emotions like this. I have to empty myself of all this, for with nothing to worry about I can more readily unleash total fury without thinking of any concenquences. The good wizard holds back his fireball in fear of harming innocent casualties. The true wizard gives it his all, knowing that no creature in this cosmos is truly innocent. I just.. I just have to remember who and what I am. I'm not some foolish, mortal girl looking for love....so what happens if love finds me?What? Hearts? Huh. My mindscan's never worked this far before.
I like confusion. Do it again.
I shook off the confusion at both the sudden range extension and the new ownership of the Black Dagger. I walked up to the door, where an old friend's voice greeted me.
"Weapons at the door, Kyle."
"Zev Shalzen, you old choor," I said, slipping easily into Gutterspeak. "How ya been doing?"
"Like a dwarf in a forest, ravan. And you?"
"Eh. Can't complain." For the most part...
Can I kill him?
No.
"Hey, Kyle," Zev said after some catching up. "You seem...quieter than I recall. Everything good?"
"Lotta things going on, Zev. Lotta things. But matta' neh standin' eh puddles when alush tasa, neh?"
"Hey, man. 'Vivendi thosel sennivi, nievana sen fis. Elrad losi sennivi, nievana jen skiimer lareth.'"
"Neh, Zev. Lemme 'splain. We need a room, though."
Zev sensed my shift to seriousness and changed gears. "Right. Well, I can take you to the enclave, then we can talk."
"Haven't been home in a while."
Elric looks at him saddly "don't you think I know that, my life is forfeit for coming home the only thing keeping father unknowing is that my brother will not wish to speak of his defeat. I need the item I asked for 100 years ago, is it ready."
The dwarf ushers him inside and pulls an old case out from under his bed, "of course it be ready you gave me 100 years to craft an artifact of truely great power I finished it in 50yrs boy."
Elric: "good I will be needing it soon, and you are certain that it will replace the missing piece properly."
Zimar: " what part of 50yrs don't you get, I make artifacts for greater gods boy I am one, and you question the man who forged the original artifact before he was a god. Give me a little credit here, now then I didn't build an exact replica only a fool would otherwise you would be no different from the last warrior who wielded artifacts, and your father made a complete mess of that."
Elric: "what does it do now then"
Zimar: "well for starters it is not as strong without the other pieces, but the handle of the blessed is still a force to be reckoned with, it will grant you superior healing powers that of a strong cleric without you having to draw upon your innate powers. Second it can no longer form a blade of divine energy but I built it so that it can bring forth a holy blade of silver and cold iron blend it is also heavily blessed. Third it grants its wielder the power to infuse their body with short bursts of divine might and prowess. It will get stronger when united with its brothers, I disguised it as a shield for you, so your father would not suspect what I made, I also sent out a old command to the other two pieces of the sword, they will take their secondary form and no one will be able to discern exactly their new functions that should buy you some time and a considerable advantage over their current owner."
Elric: "that will help now then who has the other two that you couldn't get your hands on them."
Zimar: "the psions have the eye, and as for the blade well, you aren't going to like this, sigh it is in the hands of the lord of fire."
Elric: "I can shield from a little fire traveling through molten lava just to get ot the entrance is not going to be easy."
Zimar: "well I can offer you some rings of immunity fire, also is there anything else you need."
Elric: " I have to allies I came here with I told them to visit you for some upgrades, one is a young goddess from another realm Her name is klar, and she wields a hammer called fury, the other is a sole knife, he carries traits bound to this land I believe he might be connected with the psion guild in town. He is possessed by thaizudune to an extent, anything you could make that might help him would be useful."
Zimmar: " is that all I was expecting you to tell me to step back up into my old seat as a Forgotten like Loraxrion did, well I can make your friend a little device but he will have to claim it himself try to use it to barter for the eye."
Elric: " of course."
Elric picks up the shield in his right hand and begins heading out of the tower.
Zimmar: " you are going to challenge the king of fire by yourself aren't you."
Elric: "it is for the best, he may be a greater god but I have faith, and I cannot afford to surrender this is my only chance to get the artifacts."
Zimmar: "then fair thee well, Elricthoran the banished blood prince, may we meet again and next time perhaps you can stick around for an ale or twelve."
...It's not even been five minutes and already I'm bored out of my mind; a girl can only wash herself down so many times, you know? The water's warm and cozy, sure, but.. now I really do think I'm just finding an excuse to hide away from all my problems. 'Course, I could just ignite Fury to keep the water warm, but that doesn't really solve anything, does it? Not to mention the fact that if I have to sit here thinking to myself one minute more I'll shove some needles up my nose and yank out my brains. Ugh, this is why I'm not much of a conversationalist; I just don't have the same flare for the spoken word that mom has. Even now I can sense her vile smile, feeling her eyes burning holes into my soul. That witch.Stepping out of the bath I made my way to the window, but out in the distance I could see no one whom I recognized. Hmm, been awhile since I fully explored such a large kingdom, not since Amariel, I suppose, although that trip to Union was.. enlightening. That's it, I'm out of here. A minute to dry off, a few more minutes to put my gear back on, and I was gone, back on the city streets. It seemed barely mid-day, so I should certainly be able to find something to do before night falls. Maybe there's a colloseum in the area where I can test my strength? Maybe a studio where I can practice my dance moves? Well, until I find a sign stating, 'you are here', there's only one other place I can think of going; that massive tower Elric had mentioned.It was fortunate that I had some familiarity with exotic metals to tell the difference between each spire, 'course the fact that my destination was composed of the same material as my hammer helped, too. I ran towards it at top speed, nearly knocking over a few pedestrians who dared to stand in my way, seeing what appeared to be a wizened, old dwarf in the distance starring out towards someone with a shield. Elric? "Glad to see the shoppe's not closed, eh?" I asked, slowing to a stop. With a snap of the fingers Fury appeared in my hand, and I swung it up, the handle slamming and resting against my shoulder. "I was told this was a place where I could get this baby further enchanted?" I smiled cockily, but a gut instinct told me to watch my back with this guy, and it wasn't just the usual stereotype associated with dwarven merchants...The Dwarf stands there waiting for your reply.
You notice that people seem to give his tower a wide berth, staying always at least across the street.
"Cur! This hammer was forged by my mother, the Enchantress, the Lady of Desire, Quintessa! A greater deity! Mistress of luck, magic, lust, charm and envy! An insult upon this hammer is an insult upon her!!" I shouted with a voice of power and command, anger filling my eyes.Anger. Right. Like, maybe for a split second before I burst out laughing, tossing the 200 lb. behemoth towards the dwarf. "I like you already, dwarf! It's getting kind of boring being the only one to insult that hussy!" My cocky smile grew ever larger, enjoying the momentary backlash of words. "Why? 'Cause what else are you going to do, old man? Feed the birds? This 'nameless child' has been meaning to change Fury's flaming ability into a flaming burst. Maybe souldrinking, marrowcrushing, and wounding if you can find the time, too.""Oh, know any good colloseums or underground arenas in this city? I've been itching for a fight..."Meanwhile
Elric is making his way towards the edge of town he starts heading for a large volcano in the distance, he stops and begins chanting as the words leave his mouth he begins to glow with the mixture of arcane and divine energy forever caught in conflict within his soul and he teleports himself to the base of the mountain.
"Well, atleast you're not ENTIRELY weak," I observed with a raised eyebrow. "If I was looking for a mere artifact, though, I would've just asked her to finish it. I thought you could do better, but I guess not!" My voice grew louder with each word as he walked away, my smile shrinking to a smirk but ever present. I could feel my heart racing with those words; did I just tick off a simple dwarf or something greater, hmm? Of course the only reason mom never made Fury into an artifiact was 'cause she thought I didn't deserve one yet. 'Wait until you're a real deity with some power! You don't see your brother using any, do you? He just uses his fists!' Blah blah blah.. heh, guess I know where I get my attitude from, huh? Selfish witch. Still, that dwarf wasn't entirely useless. I looked over towards where he had pointed and raced like the wind, knocking over more denizens and carts, excited to see what these 'young knights' and 'real warriors' would be like. They'd better surpass a huge balor...He moves over to his forge, pulling on his gloves and his goggles to protect himself not really necessary with all the permanent enchantments on him still a practice he was too used to. He raised his hammer beautifully crafted of a strange alloy magically made forging all the metals of the lands into one single metal. As he brought it down onto the anvil he channeled his divine energy into the metal as he began crafting and enchanting. He would do better than that toy fury he would craft a real warhammer capable of crushing a titan with a single stroke. then he would make a device capable of trapping the mind of thaizudune for the psion. if they asked for more he would make it he owed Elric that much for what he had done for him.
Else where
Ellric finally at the volcano begins to make his way up, careful to avoid the many vents that open from the volcano made by the lord to let light into some of the caverns, he also worked to avoid the centuries. Slipping into one of the larger tunnels he begins to slowly move down the corridor, he makes his way to were he senses the Fire lord resides, as he moves down the corridor he enters a large chamber. Lookiing down upon him with burning eyes is a large pyroclatic dragon.
Elric: "well that isn't good."
He whips out his twin short swords and quickly goes to work, leaping out of the way of the dragons mighty breathe, Elric then leaps up slashing with his blades cutting the dragon deeply, after a short battle the dragon is slayed, and Elric begins moving further in seeking the Lord of Fire.
"Thanks anyway, Council." I sighed and closed the massive, ornate doors behind me with a wave. "So if they can't remove Tharizdûn, I guess there's nothing for it but to try to reseal 'im."
"Sorry I can't come with you, Kyle," Zev lamented. "Sounds like you need everyone you can get. But the Cullers're keeping me here, teaching the little anklebiters."
"Anklebiters? They're fully grown!"
"Meh. Potato potato," he said, pronouncing the two words identically. I think I can pull a few strings to get you a few psionic items, though."
"That'd be nice. You got those gauntlets I'd always been asking for?"
"Yeah. ...'S been too long, Kyle."
"Sure has, Zev. Sure has."
We passed several youngsters, most the offspring of adults who'd been selected for (but not put through, obviously) the Process, but a few chosen early because of psionic potential. "Hey! Kyle's back!"
As the children swarmed me and clamored for tales of the outside world, did I bring anything for them, why was I floating, what's with my aura, Zev broke in. "Sorry, kids. All Kyle's got for you is a boot full of trail dust. He's gotta leave now anyway, and you shouldn't be in this hallway."
Zev walked with me to the door. "Come back tomorrow, an' I'll have the stuff ready. You got enough mundane supplies?"
"And then some, Z. You know we don't really need food, but I've still got a week's worth of waybread. Conserve power points, you know how it is. Well, I should probably be going; it's getting dark. See ya eventually, Zev."
"Good luck on all counts, kid. I think you'll need it."
After a minute and a half I found myself at the arena that old dwarf had mentioned. Hmm, not bad. Grand, full of splendor, and the cheering of the crowds within was pratically drowning out my own thoughts. Must be packed, so something awesome has to be going on, eh? Resting Fury against my shoulder, I walked through the massive entrance, the view of the arena grounds coming quickly into view as one armoured knight with a large, spiked chain struck against a nimble rogue with a pair of handaxes. Well, not nimble enough, apparently, since by the time I reached the edge of the grounds the rogue had already been bloodily dispatched, though a voice echoing above announced that the loser would soon be healed and back in action for another day. Tsk, how pathetic. Losers should just die instead of wasting everyone's time. The knight played up the crowd's enthusiam as roses, strangely red in color, were thrown at his feet, along with a few undergarments. "Is there any in this fair city who dares to challenge my might?" he shouted towards the crowd, showing off his skill with the chain.With a smirk on my face I was about to approach, but before I could even take one step a collective gasp rose from the crowd as a figure high above blotted out the sun for a moment, before descending a length greater than the colloseum's height and landing infront of the knight perfectly on his feet. The stranger stood with his back towards me, his tattered, black clothes were of simple make, a rope belt wrapped around his waist and straw sandles addorned his feet. What really stood out was the strange, bead necklace and crimson hair like hellfire. He spun around on his right foot, slamming his left into the ground causing the whole arena to shake, and my heart to skip a beat. Who was this man? He seemed no taller than mom, though he was covered with thick muscles and seemed to radiate this intense, almost godlike aura. He spoke something inaudible before the announcer shouted, "a new challenger has entered the ring!" Ooh, great observation, Captain Obvious!Leaning against the tunnel that led into the arena I rested Fury upon the ground and crossed my arms, eager to see what this new guy could actually do. Both warriors entered a fighting stance, and when the announcer gave the call.. the fight ended. I'm still not quite sure how to describe what I saw; just as the knight was about to swing his chain, the dark-skinned warrior was already upon him, grabbing him and then everything went black. It was almost like when mom spoke those words to me, I could sense nothing but the aura of this warrior as violent flashes of light erupted from where they were standing. One, two, four, seven, twelve, they just kept appearing one after the other in an instant; the whole universe grew quiet before exploding in what appeared to be a massive rush of flame. Shielding my eyes I could barely see the warrior standing before the broken, crumpled corpse of the knight; the strange warrior's back turned to me again as this bright, red symbol blazed upon his back. I think my heart just stopped! The flames soon dissapeared along with the symbol, and the man's aura seemed to die down but was still amazingly potent. As the knight's body was dragged off to face the same fate as his previous opponent, I picked up Fury in my hands and stepped foward to face this foe, a hungry grin growing ever wider on my face. This was the kind of fight I'd been searching for...Elric: "hey ted how are ya I kinda need to ask a favor of you."
Ted: "well I wonder what that could possibly be, oh wait it is what you came for last time, and the answer is still no. The blade of hades is mine and no one will take that from me."
Elric: "then you shall die and I will take it from your cold rotting corpse."
Ted: "you have guts talking to me like that."
Elric smiles then releases a powerful cone of cold energy ripping into fire lord ted.
Ted: "ow I didn't even finish my monologue I had five more pages for the next time you try to get it from me. Also that really hurt I mean seriously what kind of jerk are you."
Elric: "I am trying to kill you and you are asking me to give up an open shot. which by the way guess what is up my sleeve."
Ted: "what?'
Elric releases another blast of cold energy.
The lord of fire whips out his sword anarchy and leaps towards Elric hitting the light shield that elric is carrying, his sword bounces off the shield and Ted is launched across the room hit by a wave of divine energy, Elric then focuses on his inner divine energy using the shield for an extra push, with a powerful cold wave draining The fire lord of much of his strength. He then quickly strikes out with a second powerful spell, ripping into the fire lord. Ted looks up at him, with shock in his eyes. "how are you capable of this your just a demigod."
Elric aims his hand at the fire lord, you don't get it do you, I may not be a true god but I am very powerful, and you are dead." with a twitch of his finger he releases a bolt of destructive energy that rips through the fire lord ending his life and drawing his divine essence into Elric. "well now then you should have used the blade you would have stood a chance but this shield gives me better control of my divine power, I no longer get as drained by using this power. With the blade of hades I will increase my arcane power further and both will rise because of being rejoined." Elric lifts up in his hand a long sword with no handle focusing a handle of gold appears around it and it begins to glow with a fireish light. smiling Elric leaves the volcano, ignoring the minions of the once proud lord, a fool to think that being a greater god could protect himself from Elric's power, especially when Elric was ready for him. still he would have to contact the psion council quickly or loose his chance to gain the Eye the third and final piece of the sword of the kadarian king.
I just don't know. They seem open-minded enough, but... What if they don’t accept me, T? I consider them friends. I don't know if I could handle being rejected anymore.
The tiny minds of humans can't comprehend your power, Kyle. Show them what an elan can do.
You're right, T. I'll teach them not to push me away. I'll show them. I'll show them all.
Try the arena, Kyle, Tharizdûn said. You can show them your power and impress the goddess.
You fight dirty, T. I laughed. Sure, I'll go for it. Can't be too dangerous, and I need to let off some steam.
OoC: The Council of elan can't directly help Elric. The Eye was sent off over fifty years ago--about the time one of their number struck out on his own...
There was I was, standing before this demon of a warrior. No. That's not correct. No demon would dare face such a foe. He appears to be the kind of man who could cower a balor with a single blow. It's been ages since I felt this excited! I swung Fury around, loosening up my arms so I could fight at my full strength; I could see the same determination in his eyes. I wonder.. could he sense my dark aura as I sensed his? "Shin no chikara misetemiyo!" he shouted towards me, before quaking the ground beneath his feet again. I could only wonder what those words meant when I tightened the grip on my hammer, steadying my stance and readying myself for the fight of my life! The announcer signaled the round, and immediately my foe came towards me, appearing like a shadow out of a nightmare, consuming me in darkness. It was the same technique he had used against that knight, but it would seem he didn't expect my divine power to withstand such unyielding hatred and murderous intent. Those few attacks that broke through my defenses, however, seemed to strike at my very soul, but as one clawed hand rushed past my nose I found a weakness in his assault and exploited it.My hammer struck him clear in the stomach, though despite his flesh being bare while I wore enchanted leather, I wouldn't doubt that the massive slab of adamantine inflicted less harm upon me than his fists did to my bod; heh, I wonder would Alexander hold up, hm? My hit was enough to put him off balance, though, as I kept up with the strikes, hitting him in the arm, the leg, even a heavy smack against his jaw. I watched him spit out blood, staring at me like a feral predator, unwiling to give up the fight as I was. He planted one foot behind him, digging into the earth and refocusing his power. The crimson haired warrior unleashed another barrage, weaker than before, only striking me twice before I found an opening; he was ready for me, though, as he appeared to pass through me when I attacked, swinging a foot above my head that I barely ducked. Perhaps the technique he first used upon me lessened his defenses, since he was now dodging all of my swings. Two fists struck my back; this time it was my turn to cough up blood. My earlier excitement was giving way to near rage, my weakening body desiring only my foe's destruction. Argh! Just die, already! I swung again and again, missing each time, his overwhelming aura suffocating me, swallowing me up with his evil.No. I'm not done yet! I ducked and swerved around his attacks, like an elegant dancer avoiding even the gentlest leaf. One wrong step, however, proved that even he wasn't invincible. Just quick at dodging. Blast. I swung and I swung and I could never manage to hit him, yet a kick to the back of the head nearly gave me dirt for dinner. I hit the ground and tumbled, and attacked again, but nothing. The aura of power that had been surrounding him the entire time, however, nearly dissapeared. Was my foe not nearly as tough as I thought? Especially since he was having nearly the same luck at hitting me as I did him, despite his greater number of lightning quick attacks. My next move, however, surprised the both of us; I ran. Yeah, I know, how cowardly of me. And, despite my attitude towards fighting to the death, I wanted to live! Yet no matter how fast I could run, he seemed to run faster. No. Not run. He.. got up on one leg and seemed to sort of.. hover along the ground. He was already there when I stopped running, slamming his fist down upon me like a hammer, but I dodge back to avoid it. Heh. This was it. He looked up. He saw Fury, held on high in my tiny hands, crashing down upon his skull. And, then.. he was gone.I nearly buckled under the weight of my own hammer, normally nothing 'cause of my prodigous strength, but feeling as heavy as the world itself thanks to all these wounds. Didn't stop me from holding it high into the air again, standing tall and proud as the crowd around me exploded into resounding cheers while the crimson-haired warrior was dragged off. He was one warrior who would learn that no matter how much you mastered your fist, it was no substitution for a real weapon. The aura of evil that I felt from him was replaced with a sickingly sweet aura of kindness, as my bones mended and my cuts closed. I was whole again, whole and bursting with energy. Yet before I could be the recepient of my own cascade of roses and dirty underwear, though, another opponent entered the ring...Elric: "I am here to offer a trade that you might be interested in."
Councilor: "what would that be."
Elric: "i seek the third eye of the psion, I know at one point it was kept by this conclave, in return I will give you an item that can seal away the mind of thazidune, as I have come by information that tells me one of the members of your conclave has had a run in with possession and I can promise you the longer he is possessed the stronger it will get it will feed off of his mind and eventually it will be the master of his mind and body."
Councilor: "then I greatly wish we still had it but you are fifty years to late it was sent off at that time, and we no longer have it."
Elric: "I see then I will need to know where you sent it if you find out any information I would appreciate it." Elric leaves a small stone on the ground as he leaves.
The councilor picks it up and says "Elric you are too charitable to be your father's son, this item will be of great use to the community, still how are we to use it.
Elric looks over his shoulder and says, "that is simple, you click the button on the back, mind you it only has three charges a day, enjoy your stone of hero's feast."
Elric leaves the conclave and starts to head back to the tower, all of a sudden he gets a dark feeling in the back of his mind, spinning around he comes face to face with a dark armored figure standing at almost 7 feet tall with glowing red eyes, "well well well, if it isn't Elric welcome to your funeral, I am the shadow knight servant of your great father, he has noticed that you killed one of the greater gods, and has decided that you have outstayed your welcome. So as not to cause a fuss we will be battling in the arena." He grabs Elric letting a surge of divine energy stun him as he pulls him toward the arena. This isn't good he is obviously one of the enforcers, he is a lot stronger than me and I have already used up a lot of my divine strength, I don't know how I can beat this guy.
Ooc: um does Kyle have it or would he know where it is.
***Several battles later***
Destroy, Kyle. Kill him.
I whirled Aegis and settled into a defensive posture, one almost more suited to wielding a quarterstaff than a double-ended scimitar. "Have at you, then," I challenged the generic gladiator.
I manifested skate and forward, striking twice with blinding speed, Aegis cutting deeply into the hulk and lashing with barely controlled elemental force. I ended my Bounding Assault ten feet behind the gladiator, who then fell to the ground, a smoking wreck.*
I flipped Aegis into the air and psychokinetically caught it, spinning and orbiting it around me (think Final Form, when Sora lands after jumping). "Will there be REAL challenges anytime soon?" Thrown things everywhere.
"I don't believe it! The scrawny soulknife took down the favorite in six seconds flat!" Announcer says something. But I don't catch it. Why did I do this? I'm feeding their lust for violence. This isn't what I wanted. I wanted to show them what an elan can do, not what we can break... But only fighting gets T out of my thoughts...
"Hey, kid!" The announcer's voice broke me out of my soliloquy. "Here're yer winnings--" he tossed a sack of coin at me, which I caught "--and if you'll follow Gorg, he'll take ya t'yer next fight."
"Hey, Gorg," I said conversationally and skated over to the enormous lug.
Gorg grunted.
***
"So who'm I fighting next?"
Gorg pointed out the doorway
"Whoa! You gotta tell me these things, Gorg!"
"New challenger. This one good. Big hammer 'n everything. Besides, no back out now," Gorg said as he took advantage of my active skate to easily shove me out through the doorway and hastily shut the grate.
"Hi, Clar. Small world, huh?"
*OoC: I don't even know how I do these things anymore. Several hundred years does add up to a lot of XP, I guess.
Elric started to tap into his own arcane powers and began forming wards of protection the blade of hades granting the spells extra strength. Elric noticed that the blade had changed its form part of Zimar's spell more than likely it was now a battle axe. He quickly casted his spells and the shadow knight gave him that much time as prepared his own using his divine powers to enhance his powers. (spells bulls str, cats grace, and bears endurance, followed up with chasing perfection, then stone skin, and shield, and greater mage armor, and haste. then he set a delayed blast fire ball right in the middle of the arena.) "I am ready Shadow knight now face me in battle and let us end this."
The shadow Knight looks up and laughs as he charges Elric he steps on the blast spot getting hit by the flames full on but keeps on charging only lightly burned, Swinging an overhand strike with his massive flameberg he barely misses Elric who just tumbles to the side in time to avoid being sliced in two. Elric then responds with several strikes with his twin short swords which bounce off of the shadow knights armor that seems to have no openings in it. The shadow knight makes several sweeps at Elric who dodges most of them taking the last strike to his light shield which reflects some of the blow but sends Elric rolling across the arena. Elric gets back up, he reaches into his divine power and unleashes a bolt of powerful energy striking the shadow knight in the chest the blast knocks the knight back. The knight seems hesitant slowly moves forward gathering energy to himself and then all of a sudden striking out again with a powerful blow this time the shield can barely contain the strike and Elric's arm seems to go numb from the force of the blow. Elric Jumps back and with his right arm limp at his side tries to once more focus up a blast of divine power, he releases it at the knight and once again scores a strong hit, but he starts to feel weaker. Dammit I guess that is my limit I used it twice to teleport, once for the spell against the fire lord and twice against this brute that means that I only have five uses of my divine power before I get tired. At this rate I have only a few shots left before I loose consciousness. The shadow knight charges him once more unleashing a wave of incredible force with his blade, Elric tries to avoid it and ends up blocking a little with his battle axe which sends it flying from his grasp it hits the ground behind Elric. Elric looks at the titanic figure before him, knowing his end has come. He couldn't possibly best this monster, his strongest weapon was removed from him, his short swords couldn't hurt the thing, even Ragnorak had to hit flesh in order to do its work, and it was worthless against gods. He pulled together for one more shot, and as he fired the Shadow knight seemed to fadeout avoiding the shot completely the bolt raced over the battle axe and seemed to disappear. As the shadow Knight phased back in he raised his sword to finish Elric and then released a terrible scream of agony, as the battle axe struck him in the back tearing through his armor. Standing behind him was a clocked mage wearing a robe made of a hell cats main, and clasp that resembled a devils face. The man was about 5'6" with glowing red eyes, he smiled and introduced himself "you may call me Hades, you seem to be in a bit of trouble here, my friend hope you don't mind but I would rather you not die yet. Not after you woke me up." He spins around striking his axe into the armor around the knights chest cutting a deep gash into both flesh and steel. Taking this opening Elric draws ragnorak using another surge of divine energy to awaken its might and rammed it into the Knights now open wound, the knight screamed as Ragnorak ripped its soul apart slaying the Shadow knight, aiming his hand at the knight he prepared to drain his divine spirit only noticing that Hades already had. "Way ahead of you besides how do you think that your sword slayed him it can't hurt gods. I am Hades and I am the spirit of your blade. feed me orion and ,when you find him, Xorion the souls of these so called gods and we will become the greatest weapons this land has ever known. He tosses the axe to Elric, and vanishes into thin air. Elric draws on his last reserve of strength and heals his wounds knowing that one more use of his power would probably completely knock him out cold. He leaves the arena and hides in an ally waiting for night when he would try to sneak into the forest and wait for the others.
Ooc: ok then well hopefully the conclave will mention his offer to you
I didn't get a chance to savour my latest victory as I was soon accosted by another opponent; although the overwhelming aura of evil of my previous foe was now withering away, the obnoxious cries of the crowd did not as I turned my head to see this new warrior. Ooh, this one was actually good looking for a change. Not a whole lot taller than the last guy, but he appeared just as strong; instead of being clad in tattered cloth, however, he wore silvery platemaille utterly covered in what appeared to be massive, blueish crystal. This crystal, it seems, was also his weapon, for he held a long slab of it tightly in his right hand. It looked as though it could cut to one's very soul, and the glowing orb of light upon the hilt burned my eyes. I liked his eyes, though. Cool, calculating sapphire eyes, matching his fabulous get up. The scar over his right eye both overshadowed and yet augmented his natural handsome exterior, while his flowing locks of golden hair blew in a sudden breeze. Mmm, he would be positively delicious if that look in his eyes didn't mean one thing; that I must die."Sinners need no mercy.. or sympathy," he spoke, holding that crystal slab thingy straight in my direction. Why, was he talking of little, 'ole me? Gasp! Thinking that I am a sinner? For shame! Heh, okay, so I am. What of it? Sinning's fun, better than being all sweet and kind like Mr. Goody Two Shoes over there, anyway. "Is that right? Well then, big boy, you think you can stop me with that oversized glass toy, hmm?" I gripped Fury tightly in my hands again, taking a step back to ready myself as he did the same. "I won't fail.. even if I have to sacrifice my life!" he soon shouted. Ugh, what is this guy, a paladin? These sugary sweet vibes I was getting off of him and his weapon was wanting to make me puke; guess the only thing I can do now is show him the pure evil of my soul, right? I smiled demonically, my teeth grinning wildy as I pictured that shiny armor of his smashing under the weight of my hammer. With that at the forefront of my thoughts I charged forward, swinging hard and fast at him, taking a small chunk of crystal from his armor! Yes! Take that, boy scout!So, then, why was he just standing there? Why wasn't he fighting back? If he was looking for an opening I surely wasn't about to give him one! I continued my attack, striking his arms, smashing Fury heavily against his chest, a huge crack in his crystal encasing growing ever wider. Heh, as tough as his armor might've been it obviously wasn't enough to withstand my power! My foe, once handsome, appeared a mess, breathing heavily. I smirked with pride, ready to deliver the killing blow. "You're mine!" he shouted back, rushing towards me. Oh, so he had some fight left in him, after all! I braced myself for whatever he was about to throw at me.. but it wasn't enough. I felt that crystal slab of his slice right through my bare thigh, scorching my flesh like acid, burning me to the very core. His wasn't a flaming weapon, it appeared cold like ice, but I screamed just the same. No.. not fire, nor ice.. holy. Ah.. holy weapon! Duh! I almost fell to one knee, but I noticed my foe trying to catch his breath, my previous wounds too much for him. I raised Fury high above me and let it down again, hitting his shoulder, bringing it up to his face, against his other shoulder.. ahh, his cut still burned like crazy. N-No, wait!Stupid girl! Your moment of weakness just gave him the upper hand! I screamed hard, my voice echoing throughout the arena as his blade tore into my back. Y-You know.. I really should wear armor that covers more than just the naughty bits. Bare back, bare thighs, what was I thinking? I turned around, starring the blond, crystal knight in the eyes. He breathed heavily; I would, too, in my condition. He took a lot more hits than I did, but his disgusting rightiousness was as noxious to my soul as any poison. No.. I can still win this. No knight, no matter how holy his weapon may be, or how much justice he has in his heart.. no one can topple a dark god so easily! I felt like father, blinded by hatred and lust for destruction, swinging my hammer wildly, watching it break deeper and deeper into my foe's armor, feeling it impact upon his bones within, seeing his life ebb away. When I finally dropped to my knees I heard a thud before me. Looking up, I saw him, that holy knight, laying flat upon the ground, the light in his blade seeming to die along with him. Heh.. another notch for my belt, eh? I smiled again, feeling the darkness within me swell, yet its hunger still insatiable. More.. give me more souls to crush!As the announcer above proclaimed me the victor yet again, I felt a familiar and long missed presence; Kyle. Did he come here looking for me? Or.. for a challenge? Well, I had been looking foward to this, haven't I? To see his full potential, to see everything he was capable of. I stood back up at full health and vigor, thanks to whatever healers were present in this arena, I'm sure. My back turned to him but my head looking towards his direction, I smiled warmly. "Well, now.. isn't this a surprise? And here I was expecting someone strong..." I teased. My whole body tingled all over, my deepest parts dripping with warmth. Mmm, I was so going to enjoy this...OOC: So, what's Kyle's CR? :D
"All right, then. Let's get this over with." I pulled out my ioun stone of theme song and set it to "über-epic."
I split Aegis into two copies of the original and manifested double katana through them, then telekinetically wielded one using the Psychokinetic Weapon feat. I charged both with psychic strike, and skated back to a less face-hammeredy distance. I focused for a bit, and covered myself in a shimmering aura of psychokinetic force.
"Your turn."
Still he needed time, and to avoid any of the knights for at least an hour. As he sat there he heard a knight running by talking to another, "the two strangers that entered around the same time as sir Elric are at the arena fighting each other, come on everyone you got to come see this." Not good news, but it would buy him some much needed time, and it would be the talk of the town, no one would be bothered to think were is Lord Elric with those two fighting each other.
I chuckled at the sudden sound of music that was playing from his direction; glad to see he was enjoying himself, too. I stood there a moment, watching him ready himself. Yes, Kyle, that's it. Give me your all. Please don't dissapoint me. I took a step back, tightening my grip again, raising Fury into the air and stiffening my stance. I may not have quite the fancy powers he had, but I had something else deep within me. That darkness that consumed my soul. That pure evil essense that flowed throughout every fiber of my being, that undying maliciousness that was needing to cry out for blood. Ah, yes.. this is how a goddess of darkness should feel, no?I instinctively charged him, feeling the rush of evil overflow me as my shadow grew beneath my feet, the ground dissapearing inch by inch as I came ever closer to my target. Atleast in this arena I didn't have to hold anything back, since whoever dies would probably come back to life just like all the rest, right? I leapt upwards, bringing my hammer down towards Kyle. Sorry, old boy, nothing personal; just trying to win is all. "Just try and stop this, Kyle!"Elric stands up his composer regained from his brief rest. He heads out towards the arena. The jade knight moves in his way.
Alex "brother what are you planning. I must know."
Elric: "I plan to kill thazidune who has gained his freedom. That is my only plan currently I need the artifacts that father used to gain god hood only with their power can I defeat such a being. Even if the third piece is destroyed the other two will grant me enough control of my power to give me a fighting chance."
Alex: "brother I don't know where the third eye is but I can tell you that father is not happy, you killed one of his enforcers not the strongest but a tough one. Don't intervene with the gladiator match leave them and continue your journey kill thazidune and we will leave you in peace, but if you intervene he will come himself and even with the other item you would not be a match for him."
Elric: "I know that I have used up too much of my strength to intervene anyways all I want to do is make sure that they leave that place alive will you promise me that brother."
Alex: "you have my oath brother."
Elric "then tell them to visit Zimar and then meet me in the forest so we can leave, I will kill thazidune tell father that, and I will not bother his great kingdom if he chooses to leave me be."
Elric heads into the forest quickly finding the place where they entered he begins to rest taking note that his old retainer and some of his men are standing guard around the area to make sure that no one takes advantage of his weakened state. Elric smiles perhaps I have finally shown him that I am worthy of being called his son
Ooc: Elric is a character from a god campaign I played in, he has a flaw that was a big part of the story in exchange for taking the flaw the dm gave him a big power boost. (which wasn't worth much with the flaw) he is a 20th level wizard 10th level fighter divine rank 15 well with defeating the fire lord and the scrap of power from grumsh it is more like 18 or 19 (he gets so many ranks per god he kills depending on their strength 1 for lesser 2 for moderate 3 for greater, 0 for demi.)
I struck at Clar with the floating katana, inflicting about a jillion-d6 points of energy and a lot d8 points of psychic strike. Oh, and that one die from the katana. I then tensed, ready to use Fury's backswing to awesome effect.
My eyes turned towards the floating katana currently embedded within my flesh; Kyle was strong indeed. That had to have been full damage, considering the blood I was starting to lose. Yet, all that energy that surrounded it.. I couldn't even feel that. "You think your soulknife mind tricks will work on me, boy?" I smirked confidently, willing Fury aflame. Heh, well, that's funny. Fury's flames are a vibrant violet shade instead of it's usual crimson hue. I wonder if that has anything to do with that feeling of darkness deep within me, huh?I pulled Fury out from beneath his feet, swinging it in an arc as it came down upon him again. My full power was applied to the strike, so although it would prove a bit unwieldy, it was bound to break something when it connected. Wait, I wonder... can I break those blades of his? Might be fun to try!OOC: Psychic Strike (Su) Creatures immune to mind-affecting effects are immune to psychic strike damage. :D
I've been looking over the soulknife class.. remind me to play one sometime, looks fun. Those epic enhancements are going to hurt so much. *cries* Ah, shall I try and draw a pic of Kyle for a little VS match up as I did for Gouki and Siegfried above?
"Hm. Psychic strike didn't seem to do it," I muttered on the way down. "Maybe I can--" double strike "--use falling damage to my adavntage?" I stood up unscathed in the middle of a crater, holding a pair of crystal hilts. "Shoot. Broke 'em again."
OoC: I'll work on a Kyle. Could use the practice, I guess. Expect it in a few days.
It didn't take much for me to regain my composure; I mean, a mere impalement like that wasn't going to keep me down for long. Still, I can't treat my foe like some common thug. As much as I loved to use my full power to smash heads in, I'd have to focus my strikes if I was going to win here.The smoke and debri from the crater clouded my vision for only a moment before I saw Kyle land, and that's when I pounced, aiming my hammer towards.. oh, their broken? What happened? Ah, whatever. Just means I'll change my target, and a target can't get much bigger than his chest right. I swung Fury five times, intent on atleast trying to dent his power. This was soon becoming a war of wits; his mind over my body.Elric sends a return message spell
"I will try stop I am seeking the eye any information stop see you around stop."
Hmm... this is interesting why would loraxrion who has stayed out of the champions battle for so long finally join the battle. something is not right.
OoC: They're katana, which're designed for slicing, not stabbing.
A few more cuts on my arms proved his skill and strength. Tsk, my cute, little hide's tougher than some dragons yet it's not enough to resist his power. Still, that slam with my hammer must've knocked the wind out of him for a bit, right? Or, not.. I dodged one of his blades but in doing so took the other to the back. Hmph, my dancing skills still weren't insync with my fight ability.Still, I wasn't going to stop trying here. I honed my mined, emptied my heart of my rage, and chased after him. Yeah, just 'cause fighting with a soul full of hatred and anger worked for dad doesn't mean it was going to work for me. I'm a rogue, consumed by darkness. I'm supposed to be like the very shadows themselves, silent until I strike. Granted, a full frontal assault wasn't quite the same thing, but being in an open arena in broad daylight doesn't leave much room for trickery.As I came near to Kyle I swung my hammer with greater force in an upward arc towards his chin, hoping for one hell of an uppercut. "Fore!""Pie!" I countered, focusing less on strength and more on speed as my hammer rushed towards his lower legs, then his arms, down upon his arms, against his chest, hoping I my power would beat his nimble reflexes.Ouch. Okay, now he's really starting to get on my nerves. Dodging my attacks was one thing, but insulting me, too? Why, that was just plain rude! As my last swung finished, I eyed his movements, turning around just in time to see his blades carve through my armor, cutting deeper than expected. Heh, he was in range.With the opportunity presenting itself I took a step foward, launching my head against his nose. Even if I didn't break anything it'd be sure to surprise him. After utilizing this tactic, I tossed Fury high into the air and pounced him. I wonder how well can he fight when grappled and pinned?When it actually does come to HP and Hardness and whatnot.. I'm a little lost in figuring those stats out. I think a goliath greathammer counts as "two-handed hafted weapon", though? Technically it should weight 60lbs. based on the rules, but I thought 240lbs. (medium 30lbs. x 8) sounded more impressive (albout 1/13th of Clarissa's maximum light load).
Sooooo uh, as you can tell I'm a complete noob, and I'm sorry to you elitists, but I really feel it necessary to ask a question here and there. anywho, as the formalities have been stated, I was just wondering if anyone here would actually participate in an RP thread, I haven't just RPed for fun in awhile, and I figure you guys would be prime partners in crime. So, anyone feel up to it, or am I in the completely wrong place?
http://forums.drowtales.com/viewforum.php?f=52&sid=45b0da494dc39e8445e1af00c17c7b45
A lot of webcomic reading, but the most strictly enforced roleplay only environment I have ever seen.
I still find it funny that the guy who started this thread never posted in it again.
"Not well, I'm afraid. At least, in real hand-to-hand combat.
"Hand-to-claw, on the other hand--" I manifested claws of the beast and a devilish grin "--please forgive the pun."
OoC: All right, I've got a wish list: one ring of solar wings (fly speed of 150 feed (good)), one adamantine mind blade gauntlet (replace one plus with adamantine quality), sandals of harmonious balance (vertical surface/liquid balancing FTW!), horizon goggles (range boost), a set of ghost gauntlets (turn hands and gauntlets ethereal, add ghost touch to weapon) and whatever psicrowns you can get, preferably all combined into one.
I found myself on top of him, resisting the urge to make a lewd comment.. but I was liking his smile. Ah, Clarissa, now is NOT the time to start falling for him again! His claws were sharp, though, cutting into my hands. Tsk, what's the point of magic gloves if they tear just as easily as regular gloves, huh? I could pin him down eternally, I'm sure; I mean, unless he was some sort of slippery monk I just had to be stronger than him, right? Still, I wasn't getting very far with this tactic, either. I suppose I could just pull his arms away from his body and headbutt him a few times, my short height finally giving me an advantage in something.Oh. Right. My hammer. It was still spinning in air high above us. It was going to fall eventually, and probably smash me in the head or back if I didn't look out. If I roll us around so that I'm flat on my back, it could hit Kyle.. or he could escape and it'll hit me in the face. Blast. If I let go of his claws now to grab it, he might just go for my throat, but if I can grab Fury's handle I might be able to smash it down upon him, too. Ugh, decisions, decisions. Why must all the worst life choices be made within the span of only a split second?OOC: Can Zimmar make kazoos? I'll never get that Bushido Blade commercial out of my head.
this weapon also has speeding and transmuting (after one hit on a target it counts as the qualities needed to counter a creatures dr.) this is all in addition to its normal powers so increase from +6 to +10, enjoy.
Also the kazoo stats are as follow kazoo of super sonic doom: 5 charges/ day 1 charge 3d6 sonic damage 30ft cone dc 25 fortitude success no deafening, and 3d6 sonic damage dc 25 reflex half damage, 3 charges: 5d6 sonic damage cone 60ft dc 28, yadda yadda, 5 charges 7d6 sonic damage cone 90ft dc 30, enjoy
Now then for Kyles items:
one ring of solar wings (fly speed of 150 feed (good)), one adamantine mind blade gauntlet (replace one plus with adamantine quality), sandals of harmonious balance (vertical surface/liquid balancing FTW!), horizon goggles (range boost), a set of ghost gauntlets (turn hands and gauntlets ethereal, add ghost touch to weapon) granted but increase flight to 200 perfect (like an artificer of his level would shame himself with anything less.) and make that adamantine quality with the blade gauntlet ability to offer up to a +5 ability. now then as for the psi crown.
2000 power points (50Xthe creators manifestor level equivalent 40)
powers: Energy barrage, Astral construct, pick about 8 more powers that you want.
Thanks for the future upgrades, although the speed effect isn't necessary with her boots of swiftness (and if/when she defeats Iuz, she can just grant herself a permanent haste effect).
...I hope Ocarina Guy posts soon! I wanna continue the fight!
Show
Angra Mainyu
Forged with divine blood by the hands of an ancient god, this +10 adamantine greathammer is embued with raw chaos and malicious intent. Wreathed in unholy flames and weighted with the sins of the world, Angra Mainyu's size can be changed at will as a swift action from Fine to Colossal, dealing damage as so: 3d6 Fine, 4d6 Diminutive, 6d6 Tiny, 8d6 Small or larger. The weapon also inflicts 5 additional points of damage above and beyond its enhancement, as well as 3d6 hellfire with each strike. A critical hit from Angra Mainyu does quadruple damage, raising the hellfire to 12d6. After its first attack against a foe it bypasses that foe's damage reduction (this effect lasts until a foe with a different damage reduction is struck or the foe is destroyed). Finally, up to three times per day, Angra Mainyu may heighten its wielder's emotional senses, granting the wielder battle rage, increasing her Strength and Constitution by +4, her Will by +2, and her speed by +10 ft. If two charges are used, Strength and Constitution increase by +6, Will +3, and speed +20 ft. If all three charges are used, Strength and Constitution increase by +10, Will +4, and speed +30 ft. This effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the wielder's newly increased Constutition modifier, and afterwards the wielder is fatigued until the end of the encounter. These charges renew each day, represented by three bloodrubies that glow with an inner fire, the light dulling whenever a charge is used.
A deity with the Divine Fire Mastery salient divine ability receives the same bonuses as if Angra Mainyu were a flaming or flaming burst weapon.
Forged with divine blood by the hands of an ancient god, this +10 adamantine greathammer is embued with raw chaos and malicious intent. Wreathed in unholy flames and weighted with the sins of the world, Angra Mainyu's size can be changed at will as a swift action from Fine to Colossal, dealing damage as so: 3d6 Fine, 4d6 Diminutive, 6d6 Tiny, 8d6 Small or larger. The weapon also inflicts 5 additional points of damage above and beyond its enhancement, as well as 3d6 hellfire with each strike. A critical hit from Angra Mainyu does quadruple damage, raising the hellfire to 12d6. After its first attack against a foe it bypasses that foe's damage reduction (this effect lasts until a foe with a different damage reduction is struck or the foe is destroyed). Finally, up to three times per day, Angra Mainyu may heighten its wielder's emotional senses, granting the wielder battle rage, increasing her Strength and Constitution by +4, her Will by +2, and her speed by +10 ft. If two charges are used, Strength and Constitution increase by +6, Will +3, and speed +20 ft. If all three charges are used, Strength and Constitution increase by +10, Will +4, and speed +30 ft. This effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the wielder's newly increased Constutition modifier, and afterwards the wielder is fatigued until the end of the encounter. These charges renew each day, represented by three bloodrubies that glow with an inner fire, the light dulling whenever a charge is used.
A deity with the Divine Fire Mastery salient divine ability receives the same bonuses as if Angra Mainyu were a flaming or flaming burst weapon.
Id est, running the Hells away.
Ow, what's this? Every time I tried to crush him I felt my own body being crushed, instead. Must've been another one of his mind tricks, right? Well, if that were the case I'd--WHOA!! I found myself dislodged from him and flying backwards, landing hard in the dust, grateful that I didn't have to breathe it in but rather miffed that he still had the advantage in this fight. I mean, just look at him standing there! All tall and proud and noble, like some honourable elven high courtier! Well, I had only one answer to his so-called 'valor'."Come and get it!" I shouted, turning around after getting up and bending over, giving my butt a good spanking while laughing at him. Let's see how he liked this target, eh?Fire burst all over the great mountains of the plain of earth, as the two ancient gods clash, Loraxrion wielding his powerful staff calling forth powerful bolts of raw arcane energy. The might of Thaizudune was still not at its peak, but neither was Loraxrion. As they flew around in the sky dodging each others powerful magics. End draws forth a blade that seems to be made of crimson metal with a deep dark tone to it that seems to pulse like a heart beat. Yelling over the howl of the wind "well now mad one it has been awhile, I may only have some of my memories but I remember you well. You went insane and killed so many of those little Gods. So why is it now that you defend them."
Lorax: "I do not defend them I simply seek to defeat you, they too very different things I assure you"
Loraxrion uses an intensified time stop in order to give him a full minute to cast his next devastating spell, which conjures a gate in the sky which when it opens starts spewing out numerous comets and meteors, some making direct hits on End but most are easily dodged.
End: "if that is your best then this fight will be over swiftly I am afraid, for you see I have little time to play with you."
He strikes out with his sword in a blur that almost seems to be a solid line of red energy, cutting a long jagged gash across Lorxrions chest.
Loroxrion then strikes down at him with his staff, but misses as End nimbly flys out of reach. Loroxrion holds up his hand and quickly casts a swarm of powerful Force missiles each hitting End hard, knocking him back a ways.
Loraxrion: "I have other spells, that seems to be the problem it has been so long since I fought you last that I just can't wait to try my new spells on you, to see the effects."
End "is he going mad again or is he still mad, I can't really tell, but if his madness takes full control I will lose, he normally a weak god but combining chaos with his arcane might is not going to be healthy for me, better finish this quick.
End holds out his hands the sword floating in between them and launches a powerful divine blast into Lorxrion, creating a massive explosion.
Stay tuned for the Next episode of when The Jew gets bored and forces ancient super beings to fight to the death. Will Loraxrion go mad will he survive getting nuked with destructive powers, will End ever find a hat that goes with his shoes, find out next time.
"Well, it's a Hells of a lot better than intellect bomb, lemme tell ya. Took forever to get the cerebrum stains out last time.
"Oh, it doesn't actually deal damage. Otherwise, there's that whole resistance thing. Troublesome at best, huh?"
The rush of power felt...good. I almost expected my clothes to turn black [Spider-man style], when suddenly I realized that something was wrong. I mean, besides that Tharizdûn was lodged in my skull and not coming out, and I had about a jillion conflicting emotions drumming on my psionic nodes.
Damn it, T! What are you doing!?
Winning, idiot.
That's not what I bloody wanted, Tharizdûn!
I grabbed my outstretched right arm with my left and tried to force it down, smothering expletives and hurling invective at my psychosymbiont all the while. "We... don't... go... around... roasting... people... just... because... they... happen... to... be... evil! You're a pyrokineticist. That's different! How so? ..."
Tharizdûn shut off the Heat Death and let my arm drop.
"... I'm waiting. Explain to these nice people why I'm not allowed to burn people but you can. Truncheon walnut."
"... I can't. Not knowing what I did." I put away Aegis and shut off all my defensive powers. "I don't deserve to live after all those things I did. Ignorance is no excuse; I should have known," I whispered. Guilt!
So, this must be what living in the heart of the Plane of Fire must feel like, right? The air around me sizzled, my flesh grew warm, nearly charring as it did against the breath of those dragons the other day. Heh, nearly... we gods have an innate resistance against magic, and it would seem the same might hold for psionic powers, as well. Yes, I gritted my teeth, struggling to take a step foward against the strain of the the force being used against me.. but somehow, in the back of my mind, I knew that what was happening to me wasn't as bad as it could have been. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Fury laying on the ground; guess I should be thankful to Kyle for knocking me away before, less I had been injured in its fall.With a haughty smirk I leapt and tumbled towards my hammer, feeling my body cool with great speed as I took it back into my hand; wow, what a rush! This was so great! Whatever Kyle was doing nearly killed me! He really wants me dead, huh? Ha ha.. this is how battle should be waged! Two veteran warriors giving their all to each other, never holding back. I walked slowly towards him, each forceful step leaving a deep imprint in the earth, holding Fury tightly in my right hand as I spoke loudly to my foe. "This is the end, Kyle. Don't think your little tricks are going to keep working on me. Don't think that having some pathetic excuse for a dark god lodged in your heart will give you an edge!" My steps became wider as I went into a sprint, holding Fury in both hands now as I charged towards him. I didn't really want to kill Kyle, it's just that the excitement of battle and my heightened emotions were getting the better of me! You all can understand that, right?As I drew nearer, however, I felt as though something was wrong. Kyle didn't appear to be as focused as he was before; infact, it seemed as if he wasn't even going to try anymore. What were these vibes I was feeling from him? Despair? Regret? Guilt? "No," I whispered, my voice growing louding as I leapt into the air, bringing Fury down upon him with all my power. "You are not giving up yet!"The dust from the blast clears, and Loroxrion stands unscathed by the blast. Surrounding him is a barrier of magic. He smiles and says "Well if you think that I am that weak, then your memories are no where near complete, you will die and when the others arise I will slay them as well."
Loroxrion calls power of the ancient gods to his left hand charging it in a sphere of pulsing light energy. "The power of creation was gifted to the Kadarian Lords, the power of destruction was gifted to the Lords of the pact, still the greatest tools of destruction were crafted by both races and I am the keeper of those secrets." In his right hand appears an orb of pulsing dark energy he launches the two orbs at End as the y collide into him from both sides ripping and tearing end apart. "each one of those pieces torn by the dark orb are thrown into a different dimension created only for them, you will not return for a long time end. Still thazidune will more than likely rise again as vow darin and Jorik are still in slumber within the other Gems, as well as the mind and memories of the dark gems. Still I will crush each and every one of you into oblivion." Loroxrion lands on the ground collapsing, he had used far more power than he had planned to, he would need to rest for a while longer before dealing with any new threats luckily he still had three champions left to fight the darkness Elric, Roger, and the King of Force dragons with their aid it was still possible to defeat the remaining three before they consumed the remainder of the gems, and became strong enough to become thaizudune once more.
"Strike me down, and your fall to the dark side will be complete. THIS HAMMER HURTS A LOT THANK YOU FOR ASKING I CAN HAS SOME HEAL NOW*?" Speaking of which, pain affinity field should be inflicting pain about now. Pretty horrible pain, given that the amount of force Tharizdûn put into that wrenching would've ripped the muscles off of any normal mortal's bones, even with elan resilience and this bizarre regenerative ability that I seemed to have. Always just assumed it was the elan psychometabolic connection... Why am I thinking about this?
*Kyle's in enough pain to have stopped caring about proper Common. Also, I like anachronism.
Heh. Maybe Kyle has some fight in him left, eh? ...I wish. That certainly didn't sound like him. It was the same voice, most certainly, but the tone and inflection.. that was not Kyle; the fact that he was also able to pull Fury from my grip with just one hand didn't help matters either. Tch, this wasn't good. I gritted my teeth again, feeling my stomach not and my arm.. the same arm that Kyle was holding Fury in.. tense and strain. Guess it was another one of his tricks that he had prepared earlier, and this time I was having a difficult time resisting it."Strike who down?" I asked loudly, my voice as defiant as ever. "Kyle or Tharizdûn? Either or is not a real challenge, honestly, and my fall to the darkside was complete the day I was born!" I could care less how ancient Tharizdûn was or how powerful he thought of himself; he was still a weak piece of excrement to me. Still, if Kyle was unable to fully resist him, what did that say of him as well? Hmph. Guess I had to give Mr. T some credit; mom said that divine possesion never inheritely messed with a mortal's physical stature, so for him to do this. Tch, whatever. Even though my twin silver daggers were no match for Fury's might, that didn't mean I didn't have other weapons at my disposal.With an ever growing smirk I pulled a leg back and swung it forward, aiming right for Kyle's family jewels. Sorry, pal, but this is going to hurt me a lot more than it hurts you. Damn your mind tricks.Trog "that is simple one will die and stay dead, as your father the God king commanded it to be."
Alex: " thanks for telling me that, this arena is now mine." He draws Vengeance from his back the axe glows with with power and seems to radiate a feeling of hunger for the blood of its foes. Alex quickly strikes Troganto severing one of his arms from his body.
Trog "what are you doing, my prince." he leaps up drawing his scimitar. "you have doomed yourself, by defying your father."
Alex: "I am simply keeping a promise, these two will leave here alive. You are in my way, no hard feelings."
He strikes like a blur bringing vengeance into the pit lords side cutting a deep gash. Trog tries to strike back but the Princes armor deflects the blow harmlessly. Vengeance comes in for a finishing strike severing the head from the body of the pit lord. "well that was easy, he looks out at the crowd from the box no one had noticed. Good he relayed the order for the two to be fully healed and revived, and left the stand, seeming to vanish into the crowd and leave the stadium back to his abode.
"You will do no such thing," I say coldly.
"Ha ha ha.. slay me? That's a laugh. Like how you slayed all those other, weaker gods eons before? Oh, wait..." I don't know what Tharizdûn's plan is, but he was doing a very poor job of intimidating me. Honestly, why should I feel scared of him? He hasn't done anything but talk.. well, so have I, but that's beside the point. Still, nothing he's said yet has diminished my smile or lessened my attitude; if nothing else, it's only strengthened my fervor. Ripping my foot from Kyle.. Tharizdûn's grasp and slamming it hard upon the ground I took a step foward, starring deeply into my foe's eyes, hoping to see some remaining vestige of Kyle's persona. "Slay me?" I repeated, my smile growing ever wider and revealing my gritted teeth. "Slay me!? How can you slay me while trapped in the body of such a weak mortal? How can you slay me when your will has been entirely dominated by him this whole time!? A god of darkness, powerless against a mere mortal. How pathetic."I wretched Fury from his person, tightening my grip upon my hammer until the bones in my hands felt as if they were going to shatter. "If you were strong, Tharizdûn, then you never would have been trapped in the first place! You would have conquered all and destroyed all existance. No, instead you were cowed by weaker gods. Gods weaker than their elders, elders whom were all destroyed by the very umbral blots they themselves created. Those same umbral blots, gargantuan in size, are nothing compared to the gods of today. Boccob and Pelor were young then, but now? Stronger, still, are the youngest gods. So incase that was too difficult for you to comprehend, let me sum it up for you: the elder gods, that includes you, are weaker than umbral blots. Umbral blots are weaker than the gods who were young then, and those gods are weaker than the young gods of today. That's the one, unbreakable law of nature. The strong survive and the weak perish. Now die!!" I swung Fury in around in an arc before bringing it down upon Kyle's head, pouring every ounce of my power and darkness into it.Now we would see if my little show of bravado was going to get me killed or not..."But I did. It's amazing what you can learn from-- --the unlikeliest places." I manifested a holy-white mind blade and stabbed myself in the arm. Otherworldly, agonized banshee-wails burst forth. "Good thing I learned a technique or two from the kalashtar," I said through gritted teeth. "Their soulknives learn a technique for... gah... banishing evil influences. Godshards can't be too different."
Tch. This was proving to be rather annoying. What ever happened to the days when two warriors would just duke it out with their weapons? Now strange powers are being thrown about so casually... Tharizdûn was tougher than I'd like to admit, but by the looks of it, so was Kyle. There's no way T would ever stab himself intentionally (unless it was to return that same pain to me, ouch), but the tone of voice that came soon afterwards.. "C'mon, Kyle!" I shouted, grasping my arm. "Get it together and snap out of it already! I'm here to fight one of the most powerful mortals I've ever come across, not some pathetic, little punk who calls himself a god. I told you not to dissapoint me!" The shadow within me was yearning to finish this fight, enflaming every fiber of my being, screaming at me to conquer Kyle right here and down; and it's a little difficult with Tharizdûn always getting in the way.Ooc: it is a sphere used to seal away multi-personalities, it can work for God level ones, and it has been attuned to thazidune. all he has to do is beat thazidune once.
*(I'm going with the assumption that that's Tharizdûn's rank while imprisoned, and not his rank when free and at full strength)
I took advantage of his temporary distraction to mentally shove him into the sphere and seal it. "Son of a hellhound--"
I couldn't resist a parting taunt. "I win."
I win. Those were the words that came out of Kyle's lips; the words I had been waiting so long for him to say. "Tsk, it's about time," I said with a smirk, swinging Fury up and resting it against my shoulder. My arm was still quite sore, and my whole body felt like I had been swimming in a pool of hellfire, but I was determined to finish this fight. "So, then, shall we continue? Or is widdle Kylie too tired from his ordeal, hmm?""you shouldn't have intervened in a pit fight you know what happens to those who intervene."
Zimmar's smile seems to grow even bigger as he pulls out a war axe out of thin air leaps high above the guard and splits him in twain. he then looks up at the other two guards and says "do ye lads know what happens to someone who pisses a Greater God off. They die, now scram peasants before I decide that you can share his fate."
Well crud, now i am really going to be bored.
"Hmph... messy, but effective," spoke the white-haired woman in blue, standing behind the dwarf and the two halves of mortal flesh that dared contest such power. She looked up at the other guards, cracking a deliciously devious smile. "Really, even with one's divine aura diminished you'd think they knew who they were dealing with! Ah, the foolishness of mortals never ceases to amaze me." Turning her head, the woman stared out into the stadium with passion-coloured eyes, watching the remnents of what had thusly been an epic battle. "She's tough.. but her foe's no pushover, either. As weak as Tharizdûn is, any mortal who could hold him off for this long must truly have a strong soul. What are you thoughts on the matter, Zimmar?" She asked, her eyes half-closed, her smile twisting ever more with pure deviousness. "I tried to erase myself from her mind when last I spoke to her, yet she resisted." The woman then raised an eyebrow, laughing softly to herself. "Ah, Clarissa.. do you have the iron will to resist my power again?"Feeling a shiver crawl down my spine, I looked out into the crowd. There was that strange dwarf I spoke to earlier, but... that woman standing beside him. No. Why is she here? I thought that witch was done with me.. why does she seek to torture me further!? I turned back to Kyle, a grimmer look on my face as I straitened my posture. "Tch.. take a break, Kyle. We'll have our own special battle again.. in a location determined by us. I could care less for these worthless souls, but I'm sure a goody little two shoes like you wouldn't want any unnecessary deaths, right? If we fight where we want, though, we can unleash our full potential! That shadow inside me tells me I've a long way to go before I can even dream of calling myself 'powerful'; something tells me it's the same for you?" Lowering my head and smiling wildly, I closed my eyes for a moment, imagining what kind of battle a clear-headed soulknife could have with a true goddess of darkness. I laughed, before turning away and walking towards the crowd behind me. "Is there anyone else in this audience who thinks they can provide me with a challenge?! Boys and pathetic gods are not enough to slate my thirst for blood! Come at me!" My answer didn't go unchallenged for long; from out of the stadium seats a man leapt out, dressed simply in a white robe-top and what appeared to be a long, red skirt. I would've thought such dress to be peculiar, but the intense aura I felt emanating from him told me he was not to be underestimated. "I shall stain my hands.. with your blood!" he spoke menacingly, his fiendish grin matching my own. Yet just as I grabbed Fury in both my hands he was dashing towards me, the aura I felt exploding like fire. "Deadly Rave!!" My heart was racing as each strike barely brushed past my face, moving like lightning. One well placed step and I had dodged one massive blast of energy, landing a few feet away in awe. Heh, would hate to see what sort of face lift I would've gotten had I stayed put. Now he was mine, however, and stepping foward I began my own onslaught. I swung Fury with all my might, and although I smashed the hammer hard against his face, he was still grinning. What was he---?"RAISING STORM!!!" Son of a... I leapt away from what looked like.. reverse lightning. Like, instead of coming down from the heavens to strike the ground, these jagged pillars of energy rose up from the ground after slamming his fists into it. I smelled burnt flesh and looked down at the same arm that had been injured by Kyle's powers. Tch, that blast didn't hurt at first, but now it was stinging something awful. Yes. Just what I'm looking forward. I gritted my teeth and swung Fury again, hitting him in the shoulder, then the chest, but just as I was about to aim for his head, I found myself flying through the air. "Predictable!" Jerk. He was right, I mean, you really can't get very creative with a hammer, but still! I hit the ground hard, but not as hard as his fist would've hit had I not rolled away in time. I felt the ground tremble with each stomp he made upon me until I got out of his reach. "Come on.." he taunted, stepping closer. Getting up I barely dodged a kick to the temple, but before I could strike back he grabbed me again, sending me to the ground. "RAISING STORM!!!" he shouted, as I rolled into a face down position, covering my head as his energy washed over me. I rose from the ground, soaked with sweat, covered in dirt, my flesh fried. He lunged towards me and missed. I could see it. He was sweating, too. His breath was heavy. My foe must've expended a lot of energy with those two blasts. Tch, weak fool. I grabbed Fury and swung and missed. He grabbed and threw me to the ground. Argh! This was getting annoying! Yes, he succeeded in grabbing me again and again, but this punk punched like a venerable elven wizard. I couldn't even feel his fists, honestly. "Double Reppu Ken!" A blade of energy sliced through me, and a second just barely missed. I rose again, laughing loudly. "Is that.. ha ha.. is that the best you can do!?" My hammer swung upwards, hitting him square in the chin, but just as I was about to bring it down upon his skull I was on my butt again. His hand reached for my throat and, lifting me into the air, I felt something like a jolt of lightning shock me to my very core before he slammed me back down. I watched his hand try to claw at my eyes, but almost instinctively I stepped aside, standing tall and proud. My return attack was to no avail as I was soon eating dirt again, however; never had I seen a fighter so focused, one who could counter my blows with my own momentum.I watched him with keen eyes as he stood in a rigid pose, breathing heavily, his eyes clothes. The wounds that I had been inflicting upon him this whole time began to heal, but there was no way I was going to let him finish! Two.. two strikes to the head, one against either temple before I was taken down. No, as frustrating as this was becoming there was no way I could give up now! Never!! He struck me again; I guess he could hit hard after all, huh? I got up and swung fiercely, missing, but he took a misstep and received Fury to the back of the head. Despite my renewed vigor, however, my arms were quickly wearing out, my vision growing dizzy. I couldn't even see his palm as it smashed into my nose, my neck craning so far back I thought it'd snap. I took a moment to whipe the blood from my lip, as he spat out some of his own. "You can not escape from death!" he spoke with confidence. I just growled. Even with my body making contact with the earth so much I wasn't willing to give up. Even when his foot made an imprint in my stomach, I wasn't going to lay down and die. Fall down seven times, get up eight, right? That's what I did. I got up. He attacked. He missed. I swung Fury. He lunged foward, yet his weakening body could no longer hold against my slight frame.. and, this time, he was the one hitting the ground. Yes, right where I want him. My hammer came crashing down hard against his chest, but not hard enough as he avoided my other strikes. I swung again when he rose, but quickly held Fury close to me, blocking his quick thrusts. A smash to the top of his head ended with me at his feet, but as he tried his next assault he stumbled. Again, I was on my feet.. this was getting way too reptitive. Heh, but I knew it was ending soon. His cries of pain, his look of frustration.. yeah, I bled, had some scrapes, bruises.. he had scars, broken bones. Maybe I even ruptured something? His clawed hand went right past my head, and I immediately grabbed it and threw him back down again. You've been a tough fight, pal, but it's time for a bloody nap! No, he was a quick lil' bugger, but when he got back up I sent him stumbling again! Ha ha, yes! Fall.. FALL!! "Look at you! What is it with you guys, anyway?" I shouted. "Just like Alex.. why do you think your fists can stand against a real weapon, huh? Why do you think your frail, pathetic bodies are a match for raw adamantine!? DIE!!" With a curse he attacked, but it was finally the end for him. I swung Fury, striking right between his shoulder blades, sending him back to the earth. A moment passed, and he wasn't getting up.I turned to the crowd, gripping Fury tightly as I raised it high into the air, roaring like a lioness after a kill. "Who's next!? COME ON!!"OoC: After the initial attempt failed, Quintessa has sent an avatar to try and erase Clarissa's mind again; however, the avatar's weaker abilities combined with Clarissa's defenses growing ever stronger is making success difficult (Alter Reality DC 60 compared to Will Save 47.. doesn't take much). Funny coincidence that Elric and Clarissa both have brothers named Alex, though. Oh, and Defensive Throw from The Complete Warrior is VERY annoying.
The noon day patrons give him a wide berth.
Lost in thought, a wry smile occasionally plays across his weather hardened features as he ponders recent events, sipping slowly at his latest ale.
Well, here I am in Kajhar.
What an armpit.
How in Kord's name did I end up here anyway? I'm from the North. I'm smart. I'm strong. I can handle a sword and an axe. I've seen twenty-two winters! I coulda been a leader in the village by now.
D@mmit. That old guy sure made the life of a sellsword sound good. "Head to the cities". "You'll find it all there".
Feh....
I hope the wolves got him after he left.
It sure didn't go well fer me once I left. First, I got lost in the frozen wastes looking for some warlock's castle. Shoulda bought that map from the gypsy. Took me a week of wanderin' in the pines to get out'n I lost both little toes to th'Bite.
Heh, then there was the caravan through the grasslands. "Sure, I'll be a guard." Boy, that didn't work out. Not my fault those dummies got ambushed. They shouldn't'a sent me ahead to scout fer trouble.
Well, at least I got a horse out of it.
My fault that it got stolen once I got here. I shoulda...
"Dahhh!" Too much thinkin' Now I've gone and finished my last silver's wortha beer..
“HEY MISSY! HOW'BOUT A FREE ONE?"
Well, that wasn't a very nice thing to say.
I miss that ole b@$t@rd...
I'd like to wring his neck.
I heard a heavy thud behind me, and as I turned I saw a creature of monstrous proportions standing upon the body of my last foe. The beast was more than my height and a half, its massive muscles bespeckled with green spots, wearing its black hair in a single ponytail, the rest of its head bald, and its form covered with glimmering arm and shin guards and a.. well, a pair of black briefs with a mystic emblem on its belt. I watched as it easily swatted away the pair of guards that had been sent to collect the corpse, before turning its eyes in my direction, stretching its four arms back wide and bellowing into the air, its roar echoing throughout the stadium. Tch, he might be fun, so long as he wasn't some dumb brute. I whiped more blood from my lip before I fully turned to face the creature, gripping Fury tightly in my mits. "So, you're my next challenger?" I asked condescendingly. "Foolish girl!" it replied in a deep, commanding voice. "To think that you would dare consinder yourself a match for me, why, the idea is laughable! I have faced the very best your kind had to offer, and even that White Lotus monk lay broken at my feet. If you wish suffer his fate, then come at me!" I gritted my teeth, my heart racing, loving every moment of the conflict. Of course I've suffered many frustrations this afternoon, but overall I've quite enjoyed myself. "Alright.. let's dance."I stepped foward and began the fight in earnest, wanting to end this all quickly; that last battle was drawn out too quickly and the last thing I wanted to do was waste my time against any more idiots. My hammer hit him hard, as I expected it to, and although the creature cried out in pain it didn't bruise as much as I would've liked; curse its thick hide. No, three good strikes certainly weren't enough to bring this thing down, and the hatred burning in its eyes was proof that it wasn't done with me yet. Towering over me like a dark, cold mountain, the beasts lower arms reached for me, pinning my arms to my body, crushing me with its three-fingered hands. I hate to admit that the beast's strength made me cry out as its other fists crashed down repeatedly against my chest, my ribcage quivering within my flesh, my heart beating fiercely, before he threw me a distance away. Darn it! I'm not supposed to be doing this badly right off the bat! I picked myself up off the ground, seeing Fury in the distance, but my foe was nowhere to be seen. Ah, of course. Look up, Clarissa! The creature had leapt high into the air, higher than myself could ever dream of doing, as it stomped me back into the earth! Argh!! This.. thing.. lacked the grace and finesse of my last foe. So, why am I losing!? Grabbing me by my hair it smiled like a dragon catching some weary adventurer off its guard, bringing one of its arms back before throwing a punch towards my face. I shrieked as I went flying through the air again, my face burning. Not a punch.. that was not a punch!Darn it.. my hammer felt so far away, now. I'm sure I could grab it, especially considering how slowly this thing was lumbering towards me.. argh! I rose up half away and made a dash just as its bulk came crashing down where I had been standing; I had gotten away just in the nick of time, and within a moment I had Fury in my hands again. I was a mess, though.. my face still burned, my sides and arms ached, and my chest was just two massive lumps of pain. Heh. I still lived, though. Still stood strong. "Come at me! Is that the best you could do!?" I asked, repeating myself now. It roared in defiance and ran at me, but I was ready. It swung at me and I took one of its great fists to the chin, but I smiled as I coughed up blood and attacked, striking two blows against its midsection but missing thrice. Darn it, Clarissa, you should be doing better than this! It was its turn, but despite all its strength the beast was awfully slow. Add to that its large size and I was able to duck and weave through its many attacks with the greatest of ease. Its backed turned momentarily, just a split second; it was enough. Fury broke through the aid like a boulder from a catapult, hitting a thigh, smashing its lower back, falling against its shoulderblades and greatly injuring an arm. The stupid beast moaned loudly with pain and frustration, but as it turned to look at me, I felt something pierce my heart. It was the creature's crimson red eyes, wanting to rip me limb from limb. Mmm... as delicious as such a death would be, he would not be the one granting it to me today.It roared at me again as it chucked another bolt of flame towards me, just singeing my shoulder as I deftly stepped out of the way, quickly returning the favor. Hope he likes busted kneecaps. If nothing else, it'd atleast bring him down to eyelevel. Nope! A hand shot out and grabbed my throat, trying fruitlessly to crush the life out of me. The pain was easy to ignore, but not being able to laugh at such stupidity was maddening. How does one strangle a creature that doesn't breathe? The harder it tried to squeeze, however, the more I could feel its strength beginning to fade, the light of life in its eyes dimming. I watched with a crooked smile as it released me, planting all four arms firmly on the ground, breathing hard as it looked back up at me with sorrow in its eyes. "This is where you fall down..." I quipped, swinging Fury down upon its head, sending it face first into the dirt. A twitch or two was all it could do before I ended its pitiful life, cursing the fact that he'd probably be returned to life in the end from what I recalled of the previous matches. Tsk, just like Ysgard. I nearly collapsed, myself, staining my armor with the blood I coughed up before I felt an unseen power tending to my wounds. No.. not enough. This fight wasn't enough. I could feel that darkness within me still, begging for release! I had only felt a taste of its power earlier when I fought against Kyle and Tharizdûn, but it a just a mere trickle compared to the torrential waterfall that was welling up within me. It needs to be free! My shadow needs more blood!OoC: Ooh, fresh meat! :D
"Who..?" I asked slowly, softly. "Who's next?" My last opponent had been strong, but not very skilled; my foe before that had been talented, but weak. No, I craved a truly challenging force, something that could test my growing abilities to their fullest. How else was I to release this darkness within me? If I didn't fight again, and soon, then the shadow would creep back into the deepest corners of my soul, dimming into nothingness. I had to fight, to feel every fiber of my being overflowing with this darkness, to know the true godpower that I was born with. I just know that mom's avatar in the crowd was laughing at me, at my futile attempt to prove just how powerful I was. Tsk. Of course she'd have no struggle against such foes as I've faced, nor would father. Why can I not be as strong as they? What is holding me back so? If I don't fight soon...Well, atleast I didn't have to wait too long, for my next opponent so showed itself. Tsk, trying to sneak up on a rogue, eh? Pathetic. Still, this.. thing.. was quite stranger than the rest. It appeared feminine in form, yet its entire body gleamed like silver. Its emotionless face spoke not a word, its empty eyes appearing to stare right through me. No.. no, whatever this thing was was not going to intimidate me with its vapid stare. I raised Fury high into the air and attacked, smashing the massive hammer against the creature's cheek, but the moment I drew my arms back for another swing I found myself on the ground; hnn, not again. I deftly rolled out of the way as its foot came crashing down, standing back up with my hammer clutched tightly, ready to defend myself against whatever tricks this thing might try next. Yet, it was just standing there, starring at me blankly. Argh!, stop starring!! Of course I have to focus more on its appearance than its attacks, right? Three punches seem to come at me at once, yet I duck and weave through them before striking back, smashing Fury against its chest. The thing stumbled back and I continued attacking, eyeing it curiously. This thing reminded me a lot of that aleax; I wonder, would it cry out if I hurt it hard enough? I missed, unfortunately, but as it made a grab for me I sidestepped, though even with its back to me it seemed able to read my motions. Hmph, as well as that might have served it, though, this thing was a terrible hit; I certainly don't have this thing's foresight and yet even I was able to avoid each of its attacks, even finding an opportunity to strike its back again. No, not good enough, I still missed!Planting my feet harder against the ground I steadied myself, gritting my teeth as I struck my hammer square in the creature's face, watching as it stumbled even more, but not before balancing itself by grabbing my arm; oh, no, you are so not sending me to the ground again! I pushed against it but it relented, taking a step back each time I swung Fury. Was this thing taunting me? Its face remained blank, its form silent, but I could swear that it was taunting me! No!, bloody.. ah, as well as I could dodge it still struck me hard in the nose, blast that hurts! I lashed out, my blood splattering against its silvery form as Fury hammered into it again and again.. but I swung too hard the second time, sending my body lurching downward towards the side, rising just in time to bend backwards, watching its foot swing right over me. Forget, you monster; I don't care how tough your body is, you're not hitting me again! It tried to grab my hair but missed, but my own attacks faired no better. You know, as much fun as I said I was having before, battles that dragged on like this was just annoying! It attacked me again, but I tried foolishly to swing Fury against the back of its ankles, hoping to trip it; of course I'm the one who ends up getting tripped instead. I get up quickly, missing a knee, but I as I swung again it grabbed my hands. I forced it back an inch, then it forced me back an inch, then I forced it back again.. this time knocking it down to the ground. Ha, that's right.. try to get up as I play Whack-A-Gnome with you! First your stomach! Then your ugly face! Worthless piece of trash!I took a step back, watching as it squirmed a bit, its movements appearing more.. rigid than before. Was it dying, I wonder? No, not yet.. otherwise it wouldn't be moving, would it? The creature rolled onto its back, its legs tucked into its chin, feet pointing high into the air, kicking forward for momentum as it leapt back into a standing position, only to see Fury striking its head again. It reached for me, but my hammer blocked it, only to try again with greater fervor. It did get its arms around me, but I brough my arms outward, knocking it back, gripping Fury tightly again and smashing it down hard, striking only the ground; yet, as I took a step towards it to continue my assault, it knocked me to the earth again, but I rolled farther than it expected as I watched its foot come down with even more force than Fury. Heh, this thing definitely had some life in it yet! I got up again in time for its next flurry of blows, laughing as it failed each and every time. "Come on!" I shouted. "I said I wanted a challenge, not a training dummy!" I brought Fury up against its chin, but the extra momentum I put in my swing caused me to stumble back this time, but I caught myself fast enough to dance around its pitiful strikes. I laughed when I hit it square in its metallic tush, but I wasn't so joyish when it took hold of Fury, even if was able to shake its grip free. It attacked again, and I dodged again; honestly, at this rate the monotony was going to kill me before my opponent did, as if it was even a threat. My nose was still sore, sending shockwaves of pain throughout my face and down my spine, but for the most part this really was turning out to be just a grand practice session as I focused on my dance.This was it; I was done. I slammed Fury down on its head, knocking free whatever brains this thing might've had as it fell to the ground. Ah, another job well.. done? Ah, no, come on! This thing is NOT getting up again! That was a direct hit! Practically base of the skull! If this thing weren't made of metal I'd be surprised if I didn't knock its head clean off! Bloody hell... I sidestepped again as it rushed towards me, but my next three swings were just out of reach. It turned and attacked, but missed as well. Argh! Why won't you just die already!? I swung again, and it grabbed hold of me once more, but I broke free and kept attacked, my vision focused solely on the heart of my dreaded foe; my failed attempts were met one by one, and as frustrating as this was conitnually growing, the roars of the crowd proved that they loved it. I wonder, how do we look from such lofty positions? Two.. well, one woman and one woman-shaped thing attacking and missing at such great speeds that the air seemed to sizzle with heat and crackle with electricity all around us. I wouldn't say I was admiring my foe's tenacity, because I was just plain sick of it. I knocked its feeble form to the ground again, slamming Fury down on its stomach again. It got up again, rolling backward so as to avoid another swing, missing its counterattack by a mile. I tried to smash its head open again, but it grabbed me again, yet it still couldn't match my strength. I sent it down to the ground again, but it seemed to dissapear. No, Clarissa, you're not tired out yet, get a grip. Honestly, this thing's harmed you less than either of your previous foes! Focus!Turning around I swung Fury up high to block a punch, smirking with pride. Why? Well, 'cause I was winning, even if we several moments not even coming close to hitting each other. I made one lucky smack to its side, nearly tripping myself in the process; my enemy finished my fall. It tried to stomp me, but as I dodged I tried to swing at its legs, missing myself. Heh, is anyone else getting as tired of this as I am? Please! I got up quickly, avoiding a punch only to have that same hand grab my hair and pull me back down again. Not fair! I rolled away, rising and swinging Fury all in one motion, hitting its chin and sending it falling with style through the air. Walking slowly over towards it, I noticed it lay motionless, yet it didn't seem dead. Yet. A scream was all that it heard last, high above the cheers of the crowd, as I repeatedly beat it into oblivion. Finally.Closing my eyes, I tried to calm myself. My enemy was dead, there was no denying that now; and, the darkness within me? Coursing my veins like my own, natural blood, fueling my divine power, pouring into my fists. I felt a little tingle in my fingertips, a burning sensation as I gripped Fury, despite its violet flames that did me no harm. "Who..?" I asked slowly, softly. "Who's next?"An arcane glow rippled behind Clarissa.
It began to glow brighter and brighter, becoming what seemed to be a hole in mid air, pulsing energy; pushing objects backwards.
-- END OF TIME --
Rolonith left the stasis he had set himself in.
14 Elven years he lay dormant waiting for the right time.
“Now.” He said standing.
“Now it is time to deliver another message to the world.“ Rolonith spoke.
Out of the void rose another large mythril tablet.
“One may follow the traces to the end of time.” He thought.
His equipment appeared in a neat stack adjacent to him.
The tablet faded away, into the plane that Clarissa resided.
“Wonder if they have found life yet.”
((Have you? What has happened? Recap plz?))
A battle with red dragons led to the release of "End", an aspect of Tharizdûn, dark god of madness and entropy. While finding a means to put an end to.. er, End, Kyle (who is partially possessed by Tharizdûn), Clarissa, and Elric are bumming around the city of Elric's father.
A flash of light, followed by the sound of an imploding vacuum, alerted me to a familiar presence behind me; Rolonith.. heh. Old bloke was still kicking around, was he? Him and his cryptic messages, as if I had the time to examine his tablets, anyway; 'sides, I'm sure Elric would find more interest in it than I would, anyway. I mean, come on!, I'm in the middle of battle here! Unless he wanted to face me, I'd rather he left me alone for the time being. "Is there no else left to fight!?" I shouted above the cries of the roaring crowd, kicking the tablet away after the pulsating light dissapeared. I looked around frantically, seeing no one leaping out of crowds or sneaking up behind me.. was that it? I can't be declared the winner just yet.. not when I was so close...I soon received my answer in the form of an energy beam striking past my form, burning through my last foe. Looking up, I saw the creator of the beam floating in the air on a pair of large, black feathered wings, his horned head facing me as he landed before me, standing up tall and proud. Mmm, not bad looking, this one was.. handsome face, strong body, nice tattoos, and the chains were a nice touch. "Kyoufu wo oshiete yarou!" I heard him speak in a low, almost echoing tone as he clenched a lightning-encased fist. I smirked at the audacity of such words.. he should fear my wrath over any other's. "Well, then, let's get started, shall we?" I replied, swinging Fury around at a slow and nonchalant speed, before stepping forward and begining my assault with great haste. Unfortunately, only one of my attacks made its mark; his reflexes were quick, and his well oiled hide tougher than I expected. Suddenly I felt a shockwave as his stance grew more solid, before he ducked down and spun towards me, nearly breaking my chin with a fierce uppercut, my whole face almost numb from the electrocution. H-How'd he do that? Picking myself up, I had no time to ponder such thoughts, not if I wanted to get out alive. That one strike hurt me more than anything my last opponent had done to me... mmm, hot and powerful. Oh, I was going to enjoy breaking him.I put a little extra force into my next swing, hoping to break something in that pretty face of his as Fury made contact with the side of his head; well, so much for having symmetrical, eh? Mmm, another guy with one of those, 'I'm going to tear you apart' psycho looks; oooh, I just love it!! What I didn't love was all these jerks knocking me to the ground.. no fair pushing around a little girl, even one with a giant hammer! One stomp to my stomach, another into my chest, and a third upon my face proved that angel boy was much stronger than anyone else I had faced yet. The tingling I felt deep within with each hit he made against me was driving me wild; my scarred body was a mess, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. C'mon, baby, give me another one! Yes, another uppercut to my chin as I rose to my feet, but I steadied myself this time before he could knock me over, returning the favor with Fury, hitting him square in the gut, before moving foward with an ever quicker assault, breaking shoulder, striking thigh, smashing face.. he was just starting to look as bad as I felt, and I was growing ever more excited. My last two attacks missed cleanly, though, as my foe rose into the air, sending another ray of energy in my direction. Instead of blocking or running, however, I just.. stood there in awe.. as his beam ran up the middle of my legs over my stomach and chest, ending right between my eyes. I cried out in pain, of course, but braced myself.. I'm not dead yet!I swung Fury with all my might but missed terribly, as another of his mean punches sent hard to the turf again. I barely rolled away from another stomp before getting up, dodging a follow up kick. I only hit him once before my knees began to buckle, my body coughing up more blood than usual. I refocused my mind as he let loose a barrage of attacks, each one I danced through like gentle leaves falling quietly on an autumn day... eh, forget I said it like that. Picture me saying something more baddass, 'k? I struck again, still only once, my body definitely wearing itself out now.. c'mon, Clarissa! This was the kind of fight you'd been hoping for all along! He's almost got you beat! Your body is tingling with excitment, burning with furiousity, overcome by darkness.. and his chest has two smoldering, hammer shaped marks on it... heh... ha ha.. seems my true power is finally manifesting itself at full force! My foe stumbled a bit from the force of my blows, but refocused himself again. He flew up into the air again, but this time I recognized his trick and ran under him, his blast hitting nothing but dirt. He almos fell to the ground when he landed, the intense aura I felt emanating from him no where near as strong as it was before. Screaming wildy I dashed up and slammed Fury into his back and again upon his head, feeling my body explode with power; YES!! This is what it's like to be a true goddess of darkness! Who else dares stand against my might!?It was coming from Zimar "Something interesting is happening get back to the city now." Sigh "I can never get some decent rest." Elric stands up and start moving towards the city, quickly moving noticing that he had fully recovered, the watchers must have healed him. He focused on the boots he was wearing and allowed the magic built into them to grant him the full speed of his divine powers and a nice haste effect. As he reached the city Elric starts toward the arena where he senses some strange energies starting to gather. "this could be interesting" Elric smiles largely, and pushes his way into the arena where everyone seemed to focus on the battle at hand without noticing his arrival. Looking around he noticed standing next to Zimar a woman with an aura very similar to that of clarissa's. "she never mentioned having a sister so taking a wild guess, Crud that is her mother. Which would also explain why Zimar looked nervous.
"Well, now, it seems you humans aren't as weak as I once thought," I heard behind me, turning to face my next foe.. and what a peculiar creature it was, which was saying a lot, honestly. How best to describe it? It was taller than I was, six feet perhaps, and heavily built, especially with its massive legs and tail. Its skin was a dull grey with a violet stomach running all the way down the bottom of his tail, and though its arms appeared to have less muscle than my own I was taken aback at the sense of power radiating from it. My eye twitched a little when it turns its head, spotting a strange.. tube-like thing.. potruding from the back of its head and connecting between its shoulder blades, before it turned its fierce eyes towards me, speaking to me in a noble voice without moving its tiny mouth. "Let us get this over with, shall we? I want to see how well your pathetic form can.. entertain me!""Fine by me," I replied, gripping Fury, charging the ugly beast with a roar of excitement, swinging my hammer against its face... and missing horribly. "Really, is that the best you can do?" it asked, mocking my earlier remarks against fallen foes. Lousy karma. I watched as its eyes turned a bright, glowing blue for a moment, before a sudden whirlwind swept me up and sent me flying through the air; blast! I was able to land on my feet, barely slamming against one of the arena walls, as my foe floated softly through the air towards me. "Well, now, it would appear you have.. some skill," it spoke, further taunting me. I charged foward again, missing by a mile, before feeling a violent chill up and down my spine, consumming my body. I stood my ground, as best I could, but I was quickly regretting wearing a microskirt. "I saw your earlier battles.. I was hoping you'd atleast aford me some challenge." I replied with a curse, speaking a language I wasn't sure I even fully understood, yet instantly reminding me of the language mom and father spoke to each other with. Steadying my grip I went all out against the creature, but Fury only seemed to phase through an image of nothing before I barely dodged his.. his.. three-fingered.. well, I guess it was a fist. Man, this thing looks creepy. It eyes shown again as I was hit with another blast of cold, but I wouldn't let up just yet.Fury smashed fiercely against its face... and yet it didn't even flinch. "Honestly, child, do you really believe your pathetic toys can harm me?" I felt another chill before being sent flying into the air, barely catching myself again. This.. was not good. I mean, sure, some of my other opponents were tough.. but, this? "Perhaps its time I end your pitiful existance..." it spoke with a sorrowful tone. "No.." I replied softly, my voice growing louder with each syllable. "I'm not done yet!!" I charged, and I missed again, before seeing its eyes flash ever brighter. I shrieked like a banshee, dropping to my knees and covering my head with my hands, feeling a pulsating pain at the back of my brain, my vision going dark for a moment. "Hmm..." was all I could hear from it, seemingly ammused with itself. Slowly I got back up, taking Fury in my hands again, swinging like a wild woman, my enemy fixed plainly in my eyes... still, my efforts were not enough. Again, a wave of cold washed over me, chilling me to the bone, nearly stopping my heart. Blast.. I had been doing so well earlier.. and now.. I'm completely powerless. Me, a dark goddess. How can this be? How can this shadow within me not be enough? I stood as tall as I may and attacked, only one of my attacks connecting against its form yet receiving no reaction from it. "Worthless carbon-based lifeform... still, you are not without some uses." I heard it say, as its creepy hands, now glowing black, thrust towards me... I barely dodged.I was in utter ruin.. my body looked and felt like I had been living in a glacier for millenia. My brain was throbbing. My bones felt brittle. Blast.. I can't give up, can I? What about all that crap I told Chapien and Kyle and Elric? About how the weak don't deserve to exist. Maybe I don't deserve that.. I fought a soulknife with the essence of a dark god within him, and even then I did better than this; and they think Tharizdûn's trouble? I swung with Fury again, my attacks either missing, sliding right off him, or having no affect when struck. I avoided his black hands again, but nearly stumbled while doing so; I planted my feet firmly on the ground again, however, and attacked once more. No.. still no good. I think all I was doing now was annoying it. "You're quick, like that rat.. perhaps I can't assimilate you. That doesn't mean I don't have the power to finish you off, though!"...and that was it. I stared into its glowing, blue eyes as I felt a final, wave of cold caress my divine flesh, freezing me to my core. My goals, my dreams, my future.. all dissapeared the moment everything went dark.Rolonith walked from his portal, whistling an odd tune.
“Dispell!” He shouted.
Clarrisa stood, she looked as if she were dieing.
“Now now, this can’t be the goddess I shot at years ago? You are crushed much too easily.” He spoke
“For the sake of the planes at stake I have decided to give you something important, special you could say; but unique to you.” He said, tossing a small glass sphere in the air and catching it.
“This.” “This is will make any one weapon enchanted with the power of God Bane.”
“Oh, and I wouldn’t bother trying it on me, as I am immune to it.” Suddenly all that was left was another small tablet holding a message.
“20 days”
‘4 more messages”
“Act fast.”
“or Lief is dead.”
“As you read this Day one has begun, seek out the one named Blade the mighty, his corpse will show you the next clue.”
“You have 7 Days.”
Time resumes.
--THE FIRST DAY--
Sighing Elric leaps down into the arena landing lightly on his feet. He rushes forward, he starts channeling the energy to bring Clarissa back to her full strength. As he moves forward the creature steps in his way. Elric smiles leaps into the air, and lands right next to Clarissa. He unleashes his healing spell, revitalizing her. He then turns to the monster still smiling and says to Clarissa. "I will give you an option, I can help you kill this monster, or you can kill it, but if you cannot kill this creature then I must re-asses your capabilities." in Elrics hands he has his Shield and he draws forth a strange crossbow which has no pull mechanism and surrounds the bolt section with a barrel. "I would love to show this fool my strength. So give me your answer Clar."
Elven characters changing constantly.
It was a countdown.
The world got darker a bit, as if something were casting a shadow over the area.
I awoke suddenly, my life slipped through Death's fingers; only now I felt something round in my hand, the words of that Rolonith echoing in my mind. Yet, I don't think it was his power I should thank for my revival, as I turned to look up at Elric standing by my side. "This thing took a 240 lb. sledgehammer right in the face without flinching, and you think that little crossbow'll do it harm? You mortals are crazier than I thought," I spoke, starring hard against my foe who remained without a scratch. Of course I would love to see this monster crushed beneath my heels, my heart anticipated its destruction... and yet doubt remained strong. "Hmph!" it snorted, turning and floating a short distance away. "Do not make me laugh, humans. If Boss Rocket couldn't stand against me, what makes you think your foolish abilities stand any chance?" Hnn... this punk needed to die. "Well, old man," I talked back to him, chuckling. "If you really think you can handle him, go ahead and show me what you can do."The woman in blue grinned like a preying jungle cat as she watched the events transpiring before her. First, her ex-daughter is practically slaughtered by an alien being, and now Rolonith has popped onto the scene again. Ah, yes, Lief. Whatever became of that boy, and of Chapien and Kyle? She was starting to miss those boys, they were quite.. entertaining. Leaning down towards Zimar she whispered in his year, "my friend, if you think that being is powerful then you haven't seen anything yet. Time might stand for no man, but even it must bow before raw, unyielding desire." Her attention turned towards the arena again, curious as to why this new boy would be so willing to aid someone so weak. After all, if Clarissa couldn't even scratch this foe, than she truly was a worthless girl. Well, she always had Alexander to carry on her lineage properly. She was a mistake, one that would be rectified.. later. Now, who was that tall, delicious man with the long, silver hair, black coat, and long, massive.. katana? "Yoo hoo? Handsome?" she shouted, pushing through the crowds and waving towards the stranger overlooking the battle below.The Opponent:
Show
Mewtwo
30th-Level Pokémon Kineticist
Medium Monstrous Humanoid (Genetic)
Languages: Can read, write, and speak all languages (not including magical script)
Hit Dice: 30d4+360 plus 20 (455 hp)
Initiative: +13 (+12 Dex, +1 insight)
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 74 (+20 armor, +12 Dex, +10 Wis, +10 natural, +10 deflection, +2 perfection), touch 44, flat-footed 62
Base Attack/Grapple: +15/+35
Attack: Unarmed strike +27 melee (3d6+12)
Full Attack: Unarmed strike +27/+22 melee (3d6+12)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 2/—, power resistance 42, telepathy 100 ft., evasion
Saves: Fort +23, Ref +23, Will +26
Abilities: Str 35, Dex 35, Con 35, Int 45, Wis 28, Cha 38
Skills: Autohypnosis +46, Balance +32, Climb +32, Concentration +45, Disable Device, +50, Intimidate +47, Jump +44, Knowledge (psionics) +54, Knowledge (all) +30, Psicraft +54, Speak Language (Abyssal), Speak Language (Celestial), Speak Language (Draconic), Speak Language (Infernal), Speak Language (Sylvan), Use Magic Device +15, Use Psionic Device +30
Feats: Ghost Attack, Greater Psionic Fist, Improved Natural Attack (unarmed strike), Improved Unarmed Strike, Mind Over Body, Overchannel, Psionic Body, Psionic Fist, Psionic Meditation, Quicken Power, Speed of Thought, Superior Unarmed Strike, Talented, Unavoidable Strike, Wounding Attack
Epic Feats: Epic Manifestation, Epic Psionic Focus (2), Polyglot
Psionic Powers Known (650; base DC = 27 + power level): 1st—control object, defensive precognition, offensive precognition, offensive prescience, force screen; 2nd—control air, ego whip, energy missile, sustenance; 3rd—body adjustment, body purification, energy cone, time hop; 4th—control body, inertial barrier, empathic feedback, energy ball; 5th—energy current, fiery discorporation, incarnate, power resistance, psionic plane shift; 6th—breath of the black dragon, dispelling buffer, null psionics field, psionic overland flight, retrieve, suspend life, temporal acceleration; 7th—decerebrate, divert teleport, energy conversion, energy wave, evade burst, insanity, personal mindblank, psionic moment of prescience, psionic phase door, psionic sequester, reddopsi, ultrablast; 8th—matter manipulation, psionic greater teleport, psionic iron body, psionic mind blank, psionic telekinetic sphere, recall death, shadow body, true metabolism; 9th—affinity field, apopsi, assimilate, microcosm, psionic etherealness, reaility revision, timeless body, tornado blast
Epic Powers/Day: 3
Alignment: Neutral
Epic cloak of charisma (+12), epic headband of intellect (+12), epic gloves of dexterity (+12), epic amulet of natural armor (+10), epic ring of protection (+10), epic ring of psionics ix, bracers of relentless might, boots of swiftness, monk's belt
Notes: While psionically focused, Mewtwo gains a +10 insight bonus to speed and can strike incorporeal creatures normally. Every day it makes an Autohypnosis check to gain +18 temporary hitpoints and damage reduction 2/— (the damage reduction lasts for 12 hours). Every day Mewtwo utilizes Epic Psionic Armor to grant itself a +20 armor bonus to its defense; otherwise it uses its epic powers in conjuction with quickened powers (+6 cost). When running low on power points, Mewtwo will resort to using its unarmed strike, expending its psionic focus to make a Greater Wounding Unavoidable Psionic Strike (+4d6 and 1 Con). Mewtwo can refocus itself as a move action instead of as a full-round action, allowing it to attack foes at all times. Its manifester level is considered 33 when manifesting powers of 3rd level or lower.
Mewtwo
30th-Level Pokémon Kineticist
Medium Monstrous Humanoid (Genetic)
Languages: Can read, write, and speak all languages (not including magical script)
Hit Dice: 30d4+360 plus 20 (455 hp)
Initiative: +13 (+12 Dex, +1 insight)
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 74 (+20 armor, +12 Dex, +10 Wis, +10 natural, +10 deflection, +2 perfection), touch 44, flat-footed 62
Base Attack/Grapple: +15/+35
Attack: Unarmed strike +27 melee (3d6+12)
Full Attack: Unarmed strike +27/+22 melee (3d6+12)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 2/—, power resistance 42, telepathy 100 ft., evasion
Saves: Fort +23, Ref +23, Will +26
Abilities: Str 35, Dex 35, Con 35, Int 45, Wis 28, Cha 38
Skills: Autohypnosis +46, Balance +32, Climb +32, Concentration +45, Disable Device, +50, Intimidate +47, Jump +44, Knowledge (psionics) +54, Knowledge (all) +30, Psicraft +54, Speak Language (Abyssal), Speak Language (Celestial), Speak Language (Draconic), Speak Language (Infernal), Speak Language (Sylvan), Use Magic Device +15, Use Psionic Device +30
Feats: Ghost Attack, Greater Psionic Fist, Improved Natural Attack (unarmed strike), Improved Unarmed Strike, Mind Over Body, Overchannel, Psionic Body, Psionic Fist, Psionic Meditation, Quicken Power, Speed of Thought, Superior Unarmed Strike, Talented, Unavoidable Strike, Wounding Attack
Epic Feats: Epic Manifestation, Epic Psionic Focus (2), Polyglot
Psionic Powers Known (650; base DC = 27 + power level): 1st—control object, defensive precognition, offensive precognition, offensive prescience, force screen; 2nd—control air, ego whip, energy missile, sustenance; 3rd—body adjustment, body purification, energy cone, time hop; 4th—control body, inertial barrier, empathic feedback, energy ball; 5th—energy current, fiery discorporation, incarnate, power resistance, psionic plane shift; 6th—breath of the black dragon, dispelling buffer, null psionics field, psionic overland flight, retrieve, suspend life, temporal acceleration; 7th—decerebrate, divert teleport, energy conversion, energy wave, evade burst, insanity, personal mindblank, psionic moment of prescience, psionic phase door, psionic sequester, reddopsi, ultrablast; 8th—matter manipulation, psionic greater teleport, psionic iron body, psionic mind blank, psionic telekinetic sphere, recall death, shadow body, true metabolism; 9th—affinity field, apopsi, assimilate, microcosm, psionic etherealness, reaility revision, timeless body, tornado blast
Epic Powers/Day: 3
Alignment: Neutral
Epic cloak of charisma (+12), epic headband of intellect (+12), epic gloves of dexterity (+12), epic amulet of natural armor (+10), epic ring of protection (+10), epic ring of psionics ix, bracers of relentless might, boots of swiftness, monk's belt
Notes: While psionically focused, Mewtwo gains a +10 insight bonus to speed and can strike incorporeal creatures normally. Every day it makes an Autohypnosis check to gain +18 temporary hitpoints and damage reduction 2/— (the damage reduction lasts for 12 hours). Every day Mewtwo utilizes Epic Psionic Armor to grant itself a +20 armor bonus to its defense; otherwise it uses its epic powers in conjuction with quickened powers (+6 cost). When running low on power points, Mewtwo will resort to using its unarmed strike, expending its psionic focus to make a Greater Wounding Unavoidable Psionic Strike (+4d6 and 1 Con). Mewtwo can refocus itself as a move action instead of as a full-round action, allowing it to attack foes at all times. Its manifester level is considered 33 when manifesting powers of 3rd level or lower.
--Oblivion--
The Soul Knight stood before Rolonith.
"If they don't find the amulet in 20 days, you know what happens." Rolonith informed the knight.
"Yes father."
The knight removed his helm.
An aged boy stood before Rolonith.
"I know."
--Current Location--
A blast bounced off the creatures back.
"well ****." a stranger said.
Rezuko took slow steady walks into the dark dungeon into a room in which smelled of rotting corpses and fungai. He had a stern look on his face as slowing to stop to get a look around the room. He darted his eyes from left to right. There were two doors. One on the other side of the room, and one to the left. Cobwebs were all over the ceiling, especially in the corners. He took a walk towards the door on the left and opened the door slowly, remembering to come back later to check the other door. He entered a room that was three times as big as the previous room with a huge double door to the right of him. He slowly moved to go check out the door, when all of sudden a tile under his feet sunk in. He started darting his eyes around the room. He heard sudden music starting to play from the other side of the huge door. Thats when he heard it. Grunts. Loud grunts. He gripped one of the daggers that was holstered on the front of his vest, and gripped the other digger on the waist tightly. The grunts started to get loud, along with big thumps on the ground, that were starting to get louder and quicker. He took a few steps back, but was too late when all of a sudden the huge door blew open with two gigantic cyclops's charging through. He fell back on the ground, but got stable enough to prevent him from continuous rolling. He looked back up and saw the cyclop's (two o' them) about 20 feet from him. He dived to the right side of them, and quickly stood up in fighting position while unsheathing his daggers. The two cyclops looked back at him and yelled loudly as shaking their clubs wildly.
Rezuko had no motion on his face, but was thinking in his head.
"Cylcops? Not to mention two big ones. They've got to be guarding something good."
He snapped back in reality and saw one swinging down at him with its club. He jumped back and took no timing as charging the cyclops before he brought his club back up. He jumped in the air and landed on the club. He charged up the club but felt the club being risen in the air. He took a leap of faith with both of his daggers above his head. Both of them stabbed just under his shoulder. He quickly climbed up the cyclops by using the daggers as cicles to climb up onto its shoulder. He noticed the other cyclops getting angry, waiting for its chance to strike him. The current cyclops tried sqaushing Rezuko with his hand.
Rezuko got under his head a little bit to evade his hand, then took his opportunity to jump on the hand and run up its arm. Before the cyclops made its attempt, he jumped from the highest point of its arm and stabbed its eye with both of his daggers. The cyclops screamed in terror and tried grabbing for his hands. Rezuko caught the other cyclops now coming to aid him. He quickly yanked the daggers out of his eye, now free-falling. He held one of his daggers out to catch it on the cyclop's cloth and ripped through it till he got all the way to the ground. The cyclops swung its club around in pain, hitting the other cyclops. Then the two cyclops started fighting. Rezuko found this as a chance to escape. He darted through the busted door and into what seemed like an endless hallway with giant chandeliers on top along with torches on the walls to light the room.
He heard more roars, and looked back around, and saw that both of the cyclops saw him trying to escape, and charged towards him. Rezuko ran as hard as he could down the hall. (i'll stop it there for the post :D )
Elric leaps forward his body glowing with diving energy. He easily any strike from the monster. "I expected more, come on I am only a mortal, surely you can at least hit me."
The creature swings hard striking Elric's shield "big mistake, punk." the energies of the shield lash out at the monster returning its might back to it in a powerful blow. Knocking the monster back. Elric then releases a bolt of energy from his cross bow. a red blast of energy surges out of the crossbow slamming into the monsters arm ripping it off. "I probably should have informed you, this is a very special artifact formed before the new gods arose it may not be complete but it is still a force to be reckoned with."
The monster charges forward leaving its back open to Clarissa, it swings at Elric who seems to become a blur as it tries to strike him and continues to miss.
"nows your chance Clar finish him or I will do it for you. Prove to me that you aren't weak."
Zimar smiles and says to the woman in blue. "young lady I have seen wars between the old ones, don't claim that you have seen power till you meet the real end, or Elementar either one could be very dangerous and there is no telling what they would do. This is a very interesting game going on, and do not be foolish your daughter is not as weak as she seems. That is simply your and her own misconceptions, and nothing more."
Zimar looks down at an old watch and sees that the time that seems to be counting back wards is matching that of the elven numbers. "well this will definitely be interesting, I wonder who will be right, my old friends." He sits down and continues to watch the match, smiling at an inside joke of his.
That orb.. against this creature? It's tough, there was no doubting that, but a gut instinct was telling me to hold off.. save it for a grander purpose. Not to mention the fact that this creature seemed to be striking physically more often then when it had fought me; before, it appeared to float in the air still, while the natural world around it changed into tornados and frozen winds whenever its eyes flashed blue. I wonder.. was this thing starting to run low on power? Well, at any rate, here it comes.. now's my chance, right? I gripped Fury as tightly as I could, channeling all of my divine might into the hammer and swung hard; still no effect. Despite its missing arm the creature stared down at me with the now familiar, blue eyes† as I felt yet another blast of cold wash over me. I stood my ground, however, and continued my assaunt with full tenacity, despite its insults. "Pathetic mortals.. so you've caught me off guard? I can regrow an arm easily enough, but we'll see how long you'll last after I remove your brain stem!"Its eyes flashed again as I felt another pain at the back of my brain before being sent flying through the air, barely landing on my feet as I recovered from the torment.‡ As irritating as this headache was going to become, it would seem the creature was not quite successful with its attempt to lobotomize me. I charged foward again, ready to strike it with my divine might. Despite its earlier show of bravado it certainly did appear to be weakening; it wasn't floating in the air anymore, at any rate. I swung at it again and again, either missing completely or my hits having no affect. Argh!! This is seriously starting to tick me off! I know I'm stronger than this! So why isn't anything working? Even that Bloody Prince has actually done damage! If I can't best this thing, how do I expect to stand against Iuz? It's bad enough that mom is looking down at me in the crowds, both literally and figuratively.. I suppose I should atleast be thankful father is not watching me. I can only imagine him leaping into the stadium and tearing me limb from limb for me weakness before crushing this thing's head with a clap of his hands. Dammit..."Yes, and I've seen whole realms utterly disintegrated by gargantuan umbral blots, leaving behind not even the draedens that begat them; an entire world, countless peoples and histories, sucked into a black ball of utter nothingness that would certainly make Tharizdûn proud," the woman in blue replied, teleporting back. "Weren't your precious old ones exterminated by them? I certainly couldn't find any challenge in such trifile creatures..." She closed her eyes, smiling to herself. "I would say do not doubt the power of a goddess who is imbued with human potential, but.. well, see for yourself how pathetic my 'daughter' is fighting! If she had even the smallest talent for magic, perhaps she, too, would know what true power was." With her smile growing into a cat-like grin again††, she held one delicate hand out and fired a thin beam of passion pink energy surrounded by like-coloured rings and spheres of light‡‡, vaporizing the alien creature. "I grow tired of this game," she remarked, starring down at the dwarf god condescendingly. "After all, don't you fools have a world to save? So, why are you wasting your time here?" Drawing her personal weapon, the starmetal artifact jian, Rune Blade, she leaned down and kissed the old dwarf on the cheek. "Toodles, old man. I'm going to go check out this 'End' character, now. I haven't been out hunting in a long time, I'm getting out of practice..." And, with that, she was gone.† Manifesting Timeless Body (17 pp) and Quickened Cold Energy Wave (30 pp, Fort DC 39, 24d6+24 damage), using a move action to regain its psionic focus
‡ Manifesting Decerebrate (13 pp, Fort DC 34) and Quickened Tornado Blast (30 pp, Ref DC 39, 24d6 area damage, 8d6 direct contact damage), using a move action to regain its psionic focus
†† Epic Spell: Super Special Awesome Dispelling (Abjuration, Spellcraft DC 179, Components none, Casting Time 1 free action, Range 2,100 ft., Area 100-ft.-radius hemisphere, Duration instantaneous, Saving Throw none, Spell Resistance none, epic dispel check 1d20+100 (can beat a caster level DC as high as 120) and avatar's Divine Shield (blocks 100 damage, lasts ten minutes))
‡‡ Avatar's Divine Blast (40d12 damage, ten mile range)
He leaps down into the arena, and walks over to clarissa, "wrap this band around the hammer and it will add on my enchantments to it. You don't seem to have time for me to do a true master piece so hopefully these changes will make a difference for you."
Elric: "If we had more time I would advise some form of training but with this little time, I believe we should get moving and find this young man lief as he was called. Zimar can you whip up a tracking spell for me, within the next hour. Now then we also need to talk come we shall go to the artificer's tower and speak there."
The creature starts coming out of the med ward, as Elric turns to leave. He spins around with his crossbow and releases a powerful bolt charged with his own divine might, blasting off the creatures head. He then turns to the head medic and says "do not bring him back again Alas Klar, Gut."
He then starts off for the Artificer's tower taking a light pace to give you time to catch up.
Gritting my teeth, I readied myself for another attack... only to watch my foe dissapear in a beam of pink light; three guesses as to who's responsible, and the first two don't count. Mom.. seriously? Who kills people with PINK lasers!? Turning my attention towards the deafening crowd I watched her lean in towards that old dwarf before she dissapeared. Why does she always have to interfere with my life, huh? I thought she was done with me!? Dammit... Well, now here he comes. "Time?" I asked in a low tone, raising an eyebrow before throwing the hammer towards him. "Take all the time in the world. Do whatever you want. 'Cause right now, I'm getting nauseous from all the cow manure getting spread around here!" My head turned between Zimar and Elric, my heart fuming with each passing moment until I let loose a string of profanities loud enough to drown out the crowd and make even the darkest fiend blush. I opened my mouth to say something else, but closing my eyes for a moment and clenching my fists I walked away from the two, wanting nothing to do with Elric or Zimar or Roger or Rolonith or mom or anyone anymore.Unfortunately, even coming out of the arena I was plagued by annoyances. People were cheering loudly, some holding out pens asking me to sign scrolls and.. other things. Someone calling himself the colloseum manager came up to me and was blurting out something about 'greatest fights evar' and 'gladatorial career' and I forgot what else he said after shoving a massive chest at me; it didn't take me long to punch his lights out. Despite all the thunderstorms raining on my parade, atleast one of the clouds had a silver lining. I sat out in a corner of some waiting hall, looking over the contents: 156 Leaping down from the building he begins to walk towards the tavern, as he enters he see Clar sitting with a bunch of warriors buying her drinks. you know what if this cheers her up I will leave her alone this night. I just hope this helps her clear her head. Elric turns around and leaves the tavern. He moves about the town heading towards the tower, when he hears a familiar voice.
Hello my son, have you been well. I see you have grown much stronger. Other wise you wouldn't have the guts to even enter my city.
"Hello Father it has been a while hasn't it. I apologize for intruding on your lands, but I had some business here I should be leaving soon."
Why must you always anger me my son, you come home, and don't even say hello. You kill the lord of Fire, you kill my shadow knight, you fight your brother. Why must you anger me my boy. Worse you bring that *****s daughter with you, which draws her here and she interferes with m arena, as did you.
"well I was asked by Roger to watch out for the Girl and her friend, so..."
Crack in a split second the great lord Isangrim moves the distance between them he strikes Elric in the stomach knocking the wind out of him, and making him spit up blood. The over deity steps back smiling, you are still to weak my son, why did you choose to come back when you can't take one punch, when I am holding back. He does a spin kick launching elric a full block before he hits into the bar crushing the wall. Elric lays there unmoving his body is horribly injured, and his main arm is broken. Lord Isangrim comes standing over him. Looking over his fallen son. So weak, like a child. You were a worth while bargaining chip with the hells, and even a skilled general, but all you are and ever will be is a failure. He laughs as he raises his hand to finish off Elric. Farewell my son, you are far too weak for this world, thus my only mercy for you is death.
"So I see I'm not the only one with a dysfunctional family, huh?" I quipped, stumbling upon the reckage that had once been a tavern wall. My eyes darted between the broken and beaten form of Elric and the massive form of what I assumed to be was his father, based on words I overheard as well as a shiver running down my back. "I'd like to say that my dad could beat up your dad but, somehow.. I don't think that's true. So, you don't like your dad very much, and I don't like my mom very much. On the other hand, he called my mom a %*@#$, so I like your dad. Oh, hey there, by the way," I called out, nodding and raising the tankerd of ale in my hand. "Well, don't let me get in the way of your Kodak moment, here. Think I've had about enough of this place, anyway.. dammit, even 180 proof isn't enough to get me buzzed. Lousy divine blood. I'm going to try and look for Kyle. Any idea when Zimar'll be done with my hammer?"Smashing the tankerd into a broken piece of wall I stepped out of their way, pondering over the sensations I was getting off of Elric's father. His power felt so.. empty. Not to say that it wasn't there, just that it's.. hard to measure. I wonder, could his dad be a match for mom? She did make other greater deities look like nothing, but this guy seemed wholely different somehow. Heh, I'm sure her avatar might pop in again before I leave, might be an interesting spectacle to see. Now, where did my favourite, little soulknife wander off to, hmm?"Frappuccino?" the avatar of Quintessa asked, holding the Venti Mint Mocha Chip drink towards Loraxion. "Amazing I could still find a Starbucks in this wasteland. Haven't you and Tharizdûn ever heard of the word 'subtle'? Oh, who am I kidding? I love a good blasting, myself." With a deliciously devious smile the aspect of Desire utilized her divine energies to instantly heal Loraxion of his wounds, though the ability to speed up his resting time was beyond even her extraordinary might. Without another thought she floated over to a crater, the apparent remains of 'End', shaking her head in dissapointment. "So, I'm too late? I missed out on all the fun? Oh, poo!" With a snap of her fingers she changed the appearance of her clothes from typical evil-sorceress-ware to something with a more 21st-century Earthen feel; a white, cotton-nylon blend dress shirt opened to expose most of her ample bust, and a black, polyester/viscose/elastane miniskirt with matching black high heel pumps.. "Well, then, since I'm back on Earth, I might as well try and enjoy myself.. unless you two destroyed everything else?" Another snap of the fingers produced a candy-apple red 2000 Dodge Intrepid R/T which she quickely stepped into. "Teleporting and flying are one thing, but there's nothing quite like the feel of driving one of these. Care for a ride?""'S not me doin' this."
"Sure it isn't. But you know what kinds of things I can do. So don't even try it." End lunged anyway, and I deftly sidestepped and hurled him sixty feet using Ballista Throw. Looks like I remembered more of my swordsage training than I thought. Hmm... I shifted into the Pearl of Black Doubt stance. Yeah, I retained a lot more that I thought.
"We're not going to get anywhere killing each other, T. Much as we both want to leave each other in here, we can't really do that. I don't know how to leave; you don't have a body. And when we get out, we'll still get nowhere fighting for control. So I suggest we work together, if only for now." I extended a hand of greeting and truce, which End accepted. Black light blazed forth from our clasped hands. It burned, but only for a moment. That disturbed me. Had I accepted evil? No; I told myself it was because of a common plight that we were working together.
But I'd suggested it. Was this...
"Well, then, Kyelmaerith. The oath is sealed."
"What did you call me?"
"Oh! Freudian slip, sorry. Now let's work on getting out of here."
End dismissed it so handily and quickly that it nagged at me. It was no slip. How had he known? I guess I was pretty notorious, but still... That part of me was dead and gone; no sense in agonizing over it. End busied himself sketching glyphs on the ground. "Needs blood, you know."
"Use your own; you can take it."
"You dare backsass an elder god?"
"Yes. You know the name Kyelmaerith. You must know the story; only a fool wouldn't."
He gets up and sits down in the seat next to her. "so tell me child, what game are you trying to play."
The Overdeity looks over his broken son. "such a pity you had to be so weak. I banished you, I have sent you to the pits of hell, and each time you return a little stronger. Each time with a little more cunning and bravery. Yet you hold not even a tenth of my power. Yet you can slay greater deities. Sigh, why must you be such a shame to the family. Your brother could have escaped from hell on his first day there. You stayed the whole 100 years of the contract."
He holds up his hand and begins to bring power to it. "This is the power of one who can match the Overdieties one who has slain the most powerful and high ranking of gods. I have tasted the blood of this world and you my child will never be my match."
He launches the bolt of rippling energy into Elric's body. He lets out a scream of agonized pain, that seems to be heard across the city. As the smoke settles the lifeless body of Elric lays there trapped in a twisted pose of complete agony. With a smile on his face Elric's father speaks to the crowd around him. "Remember the glory of this child one who has slain my mightiest of generals, but even at his full might could not even lay a finger on me. Remember this lesson for I am the God King I will never be defeated by such weaklings and all who defy me shall crumble. Leave this body hear and let no one touch it, I wish for all who pass to remember this fact." With a wave of his hand he transforms the entire area of the bar and Elric's body into pure diamond. "of course even if he is disowned I will not let any of my sons to have such a pathetic looking grave."
He walks off into the night, with a song in his step.
Zimar just stands there, with tears running down his face. In one hand he carries Furry, in the other he is grasping an ancient and chipped battle axe. He seems to be barely keeping himself from charging in to attack the God King. Next to him stands Robert with a disturbed look on his face. "this does not bode well. With his intervention we may not be able to raise the boy, which means that this ages champion is dead. We lost and if anyone of us looses then all are freed of their chains. Is that not correct old one."
Zimar looks at him. "that is true child, I can already feel my strength returning, the might of the cosmos it pumps through my veins. I will raise the boy but first I must go to my forge. For this night the third eye of the psion king will be brought back to my hands."
Roger looks at him and says. " I will begin preparing the resurrection spell then. I assume that all will be fixed when we raise him."
"yes but we have little time, if stays dead for too, long then all the avatars will be released at their full strength as well as the other old ones, and I have no idea how they will react to this new age. I am certain of one thing though, they will not be weakened from battle this time, and they will not be in a good mood."
"I've heard rumours that Tharizdûn had an avatar locked away deep beneath Oerth," replied Quintessa. "Though I figured that the efforts of Boccob, Pelor, and the others had kept him safely trapped within that massive demiplane of his. Tell me, old bean, do you suppose he has avatars trapped in other material planes, as well? Abeir-Toril, perhaps? Eberron?" Producing a pair of sunglasses out of thin air and putting them on, she smiled devilishly. "Game? I'm not playing a game. It just gets to be so very boring in Ysgard sometimes. Answering prayers, granting spells, strengthening the influence of beauty and desire throughout the realms. My divine emissary, Aži Dahāka, hunts down my minor enemies and leads my armies if ever I'm involved in a major war... it's just that I haven't been out on a real adventure in so very long! I want to do something brash and exciting and fun again!" Slamming her foot down on the gas, Quintessa turned to Loraxion with a wink and asked. "So, where to?"'Leave this body hear and let no one touch it, I wish for all who pass to remember this fact.' That's what Elric's father said, right? So, you can understand my next action, couldn't you? Taking a polearm I had found in the rubble I instinctively jabbed at Elric's body, even going so far as to say, 'poke poke.' Behold! Even Clarissa, who's power isn't even that of a demigod's, can challenge the divine decree of such a powerful being! Nyah!! Besides, that was quite rude of him to walk away without even saying hello! Oh, Zimar's crying, and Roger's with him, too. Guess I should probably cut it.. oh, hey! He's got Fury. And it looks exactly the same!? "What's taking you so long, old dwarf?" I shouted angrily. "If you're going back to your forge than do it already! I don't have all day to wait on you!" My attention quickly turns Roger, my rage fuming ever more. "And you.. if you want to bring this weak little snot back to life than get to it! I mean, for crying out loud, it's not like his body was reduced to absolute nothingness or his soul was utterly destroyed. I may not know a lot about magic but I recall mom saying that even mere mortals could thrwart the abilites of even the mightiest of deities. Can't you just dispel all this? Can't you just rez him at any moment? Or are you as stupid as the rest? Argh, men!"Shoving my way through them I was about ready to find another tavern to ail my rapidly growing headache, but whatever pains they were to my ass, it didn't match what I felt in my heart. Kyle, where are you? I highly doubt even he would not have noticed this little exchange of words and power, and I know I didn't kill him back in that arena. I stared back up into the starry sky above, biting my lower lip. I probably should've just grabbed Fury out of Zimar's hands and found the next portal back to Oerth.. what's keeping me from doing so? No matter how much I want to leave, it's as if this unseen force is keeping me here, waiting for something to happen. Dammit, sometimes I just wish I could rip my own heart out. Pathetic, mortal emotions. If I want to become the embodiment of despair then I had best learn how to supress those feelings, if not remove them entirely from my being. I mean, I even suggested they bring Elric back to life... since when did I ever advocate the revival of the weak? These fools are having a very bad effect on you, Clarissa. I hate to say it, but where's mom when you need her? Her complete and utter selfishness would be a breath of fresh air right about now..."These things take time. Aaaaand...done." End stepped back a few paces and snapped his fingers dramatically. A portal--more like a roiling blood-red tear in the air--opened above the complex circle of glyphs.
"Once we get out of here, you're going to need to follow orders."
"Sure thing, Kyelmaerith."
"Don't do that! That part of me is dead and gone. Anyway, do what it is you need to do to use me as a meathost and get it over with."
Agony again. But it hurt slightly less because I was accepting End. Like a fool. I stepped through the gate...
To find Elric's corpse on the ground. "Oh, crap. Zimmar? Shrubby? What happened here?" I knelt down, almost without thinking, and laid three fingertips in a triangular pattern on Elric's brow. Radiant energy coursed out from my hand, surprising most everyone present--me included. Channeled anima? That phase already? The cycle's never gone that fast before. But nothing happened. "Damn. Nothing for it, then." I hoisted Elric's broken body onto my shoulder with dark-god-aided might. "Where's Clar? I'm going." I dashed in the direction of the elan enclave without waiting for a response. Psionic revivify has a time limit... Why don't you just use your powers? You've reached that point... No. I can't risk drawing any more attention than I probably have. But don't you have enough ranks to block that? Used to, T. No longer. They don't...work anymore.
Roger: "looks at her with a sad smile on his face, you know so little child for one who claims to know so much. Everyone has their limits, and it takes time to undo such an act. We must get started soon. His body is at this point as good as destroyed, unless we break through the barrier and pull his soul out of it."
As Kyle rips the crystal body off of the ground, Zimar and Roger look at him in shock, they quickly rush to aid him in carrying the body, both moving with great speed. As they charge towards the psionic embassy. Zimar feels Kyle in on what has happened, and on Elric's defeat by his father. "we must hurry I can revive him, but only if I can get his soul out of that seal. The Overlord is no fool he made the grave to trap his soul, not to keep people from forgetting his power. Only an old one or a very powerful Overdeity can match him in power. Also in my bag i have some items for you, that Elric had me forge." Roger steps back and turns to face a group of guards, "you guys keep going I will hold these fools here." He starts to speak in an ancient language as energy seem to dance around him. He holds forth his hand releases a massive blast of fire (fire storm intensified) as well as bolts of lightning rain down on the guards ( call lightning storm quickened intensified) finally a massive Earth Elemental Monolith appears and begins attacking the knights. Roger then turns and putting on an extra burst of speed catches up and begins helping carrying the crystalline tomb of Elric. The knights caught off guard by the swarm of spells and the avalanche of the monolith as they begin to fight against it, they quickly start to gain the upper hand, but all of them seem to be exhausted after the fight and as they charge after you they notice that your group has vanished from their view. (circle of invisibility, super charged by Zimar so that a creature with true sight would have to make a dc 23 spot check to notice those in the circle.)
Despite my forceful exit, I really hadn't gotten all that far, and I'm glad; it seemed I had touched a rather sensetive spot with those two. Awww, I hurt their widdle feelings, boo hoo... I turned around just in time to grab Fury in my right hand, glad to get that old dwarf off my back. His words I pondered, however, but I merely scoffed at Roger's. I can understand what Zimar mean't, I suppose, since mom claimed that the school of Conjuration was entirely banned within the realm of Rosslyn Glæn; none save her or her avatars could use any spells or effects related to that school, so if any dared to challenge her they'd quickly find it difficult to heal or revive themselves or their comrades. Perhaps.. perhaps Elric's father banned Abjuration? In an effort to teach me more about magic, she told me that its defensive qualities made it one of the most powerful schools. Sure, you could blast things to hell with Evocation or slay beings instantly with Necromancy; but with Abjuration even the powers of gods could be laid low. Tch. Already, I suppose that proves that Elric's father is wiser than mom, unless mom is just insanely confident about her own skills. She claims she has no such limitations, after all...And why shouldn't she claim that? Turning away from the group again and skulking off I found myself unable to comprehend Roger's words. Everyone has their limitations, eh? Everyone has their weakness? If that was so, than what was the point of ever becoming strong in the first place? I don't care how many eternities it would take me, I would work hard to prove that fool wrong... starting with this. My earlier observation regarding Fury had been incorrect. This hammer shared the same basic shape as Fury, but its appearance was more detailed, somewhat more streamlines, certainly far less ordinary looking. The black adamantine head had changed little, but now the handle appeared to be made from a living branch of darkwood, the top as if smaller branches had sprouted forth and tried to wrap themselves around the head. Near so there were three small bloodrubies arranged in a triangular pattern, glowing with an inner light. Hmph.. that old dwarf might've been a curmudgeon, but he did good work. Holding the hammer over my head I took in the awesome power that radiated from it, feeling it course throughout my veins, filling up every fiber of my being. By my will it was aflame, a massive aura of violet energy consuming the head, greater and brighter than it had ever been. If this thing was not wholely evil before, a weapon of pure, raw chaos, than it would be in my hands. Somehow, looking at it now, I thought that 'Fury' was no longer a suitable name for an artifact of such unearthly might. "Angra Mainyu," I whispered as if possessed, before gripping the greathammer tightly, swinging it around a few times and slamming it hard into the ground. An explosion of flame and debri surrounded me, leaving behind a great pit. Heh.. I was going to have fun with this.That's strange.. in all of my excitement I felt as though I've forgotten something...Sure. You need it now?
'D be nice.
"Sorry, guys. This is where I leave you. Thanks for the items, Zim." I waved jauntily, crystal Elric over my left shoulder, glinting in the setting sun--and vanished.
The shattered bar was instantly replaced by the gate of my old demesne, opposite the direction I was headed...and about three planes off.
That oughta throw them off. How did you manage that, End? I don't think I've ever seen a teleport with so little...boom.
Typical human. No appreciation of what a dark god can really do.
So what did you do?
That was no teleport. Only mortals use such crude methods. I bent the universe so that where we were and where we wanted to be were the same place.
...And you couldn't have gotten us out of the Plane of Suck that way. Why do I get the feeling that you're hiding something?
You're a fine one to subvocalize, Kyelm--
That's different. C'mon, let's get Prince Bloody here seen to. Although I doubt the Pelorites will keep many secrets.
True that. You know anyone else? I wanna kill something. Least we can get him rezzed twice.
End!
In a cold far away voice Mortis answers "yes, you are dead. Since you have died Darin has already found his way to the surface he is giving Pelor a lot of trouble. The fool thinks he can hold even a fragment of an old one off by himself. We must hurry or else Vow will be free soon. come with me."
Elric nods and follows the Avatar of death deep within the caverns of the underworld passing by many spirits of the dead who seemed to be hard at work tunneling increasing the size of some chambers and others starting entirely new ones.
Elric: "You are expecting a lot of visitors."
Mortis: "yes many both from those who claim to be gods and those who are but mortal."
Elric: "Now that End is dead his power will spread to the remaining avatars. So they are all more powerful, if they get much stronger they will be a great threat correct."
Mortis: "yes, and they will grow stronger, him Pelor will last about another minute interesting. I wonder what will happen when he dies. Oh well it matters little, we are fulfilling our part of the bargain with Loraxrion."
Elric: "good have you heard anything about any other old ones."
Mortis: "whispers of the Queen of the land returning, I am sure roger will be thrilled to hear that mother has returned."
Elric: "of course the sons of death and life, Roger lord of beasts, and Mortis reaper of souls. I am guessing that your father is over joyed to have the family back together."
Mortis: "yes we have been waiting for you to die for a long time now, only our pact with Loraxrion kept us from killing you outright."
Elric: " yes I will thank my father for making me the holder of the seals later, for now where are we going is a more important topic."
Mortis: "my father has a gift for you something a servant of his found, that he is certain you will be interested in."
Elric "I cannot wait to see what it could be."
As they round the corner they find themselves standing before a massive castle unlike the rest of this world it seems to be full of life, with trees and grass and other plants growing in the court yard. and tall walls made of marble. The draw bridge opens for them as they enter the castle they hastily make for the throne room where sitting on the throne sits a young looking man warring black armor with many spikes sticking out of it. at his side is a slim scythe that glows with energy. He greets the two as they enter "welcome home my son, I see you have brought with you our honored guest."
Mortis: "yes father he gets down on one knee and bows his head. I bring to you Lord Elric keeper of the seal of the old ones, and son of Lord Isangrim."
Elric salutes the king of death. "it is an honor to be here in your presence but I must ask why you have brought me here as I have urgent business to attend to and little time is left."
The king of death gives a hearty laugh. "well I have a gift for you, oh and some bad news too, but first the gift" he tosses to Elric a shining artifact that glows blue it is made out of a beautiful diamond and looks like it would be a fake eye for someone of incredible wealth. Elric looks up at the king with a great smile on his face. He drops to one knee and bows his head. I thank thee great king for your gift, I will make good use of the third eye of the psion king." "be sure to it took a lot of work finding it, I assume you have the rest of the items."
Elric: "yes I have them and here in the under world where your power is greatest and with the seal released that once again grants you back your full power I have but one request of you, and I beg you to grant it..."
"done, I already know what you will ask, and the answer is of course I will use my powers to put back together the sword of elementar the King of the old gods."
Elric: "thank you."
"while you await I would advise you to face each one of the ancient beings that reside in the sword, Orion the protector, Hades the destroyer, and Valoras the warper of reality. for to control the sword you must have the loyalty of each one of these powerful beings, and with their aid you be able to finally ascend past your handicap."
Very well then may I be given leave to begin such an arduous journey."
"Yes you may go now"
The Shining One had fallen to one knee, his golden robes torn and his radiant aura dimming, yet Sunsceptre remained tightly held in his hand, as his eyes bore down upon his dreaded foe. As weakened as the greater deity was, he had no intention of giving in to this ancient being, even if it cost him his death. The deathly sickening aura that emanated from it reminded him of the dread Tharizdûn, who's imprisonment he had been instrumental in in long ages past. Was the Dark God of Entropy making a final push towards escaping his demiplane? The battles eons ago had been difficult but had drained much of Tharizdûn's power, but perhaps his years of silence had allowed him to regain his strength? If the shadow of the Dark One were to consume the warm light of the Sun, all the worlds that lay beneath its light would be lost to nothingness. In the back of his mind he wondered wether Boccob was still safe in the Outlands, doing battle with some other aspect of evil, or was already slain; the Uncarring One always proved difficult to converse with, even during times of peace.His long hopes were dashed, however, when he felt the vile aura not of the Archmage, but of the Echantress. Standing up tall and proud without even bothering to look behind him, he spoke with a stern countenance, his anger reflecting the heat of the sun. "So, have you come to finish me off in such dark times? Appropriate, for a vile witch such as yourself..." The black-leather clad woman laughed hautily, staring hard with her scarred eye before slamming the handle of her massive butcher knife against her shoulder. "Why, Pelor.. are you still sore about my apotheosis? Remember that had it not been for your own actions I would not even be here right now!" Scoffing, the god closed his eyes, keeping his temper in check. "I only did so because at the time you were the lesser of two evils; had I foreseen such an event, I might have.. hesitated on my choice then." Smiling softly, the dark avatar stepped forward until she was standing by him with a cat-like grin, using her divine essence to heal his wounds, quickly laughing at the sudden irony. "You are a god of healing, Pelor, and yet you look like a mere mortal child suffering at the hands of a rabid mutt!"
Gripping Demon Knife in her hands and doubling its length to fifteen feet, her smile grew more devious. "I know that the two of us are on near opposite sides of the divine spectrum, but I do owe you for what you did in my youth. Besides, I've been longing for a real challenge.. if this thing could mess you up so, than perhaps this is the fight I've been looking for? One of the other avatars tried to face down End but appeared too late; she's currently conversing with Loraxion on the realm of Earth. Dare I assume that your own avatars have all been destroyed, hence your personal involvement in this matter? Perhaps in time she, too, shall leave her thrown in Rosslyn Glæn to do battle with the aspects of Tharizdûn? Perhaps even she might finally suffer her final demise as so many of her enemies have..." Turning towards the Shining One she gave him a softer smile. "The last time this fool forced his will against the universe all the gods, good and evil, lawful and chaotic, joined together to combat him. I may not be Nerull, but my evil heart is as ineffible as any other's. So, what do you say, Pelor? Need a helping hand?" Without waiting for an answer, the leather-clad vixen let out a battle cry and flew foward towards the one called Darin...Heh. All my excitement over Angra Mainyu had caused me to forget all about Kyle. I still didn't know where he was, although I was suspecting that the commotion behind me had something to do with him, or Roger and Zimar, atleast. I had felt some strange auras all through this area, growing stronger a moment ago before fading again, but now I felt nothing. Ohh, but I see a brief flashfire in the distance.. lightning raining down from the sky? Aanndd I definitely saw that monolith above the buildings! Sprinting towards the area with a pounding heart I stopped before a group of guards still fighting the massive earthen monstrosity; no sign of Roger or Zimar anywhere, though. I had I just missed them? Was this Kyle's doing, or someone else's? Well, I was hoping to test out Angra Mainyu's true might, and with a demonic smile growing across my black lips I charged and leapt into the air, prepared to slam my greathammer down upon the unlucky foe who was nearest to me.He stands at 8 feet tall covered in armor of purest silver his great helm completely covering his face and only leaving shadows to hide his face were it was not covered by metal, his eyes glowed yellow out of the helm. His armor a strong plate mail, glowed with a brilliant light on his chest is the symbol of a bright yellow sun that seems to be impossible to stare at. on his back is a massive shield that is about 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. he also has a massive sword that has a 7ft blade and a foot long handle. He draws it holding it easily in one hand but securing it in two for the extra power the shield seems to come a live and split into many smaller shields all floating around him as a moving barrier. out of all the armor you can feel a power so ancient and evil that it seems to put the whole land in a shadow. The only light that can be seen is Darin. who speaks to you and the weakened god Palor with a laugh in his voice which for some reason sounds very friendly. "I am Darin the Tainted Hero come and face me child of the sun, and daughter of lust. I will slay both of thee." He launches forward impossibly fast for one of his size, and in that very instant strikes Palor several telling blows. Removing one of his arms, cutting deeply into his chest and shoulder. Darin then leaps back laughing and saying in almost child like glee "well well it seems that the sun is dying I wonder will it make a black hole, or perhaps a super nova. Oh I can't wait to see." His body starts to glow greater and defensive ruins begin to appear. " so daughter of lust, tell me can you best me, the son of the sun will be of no use to you, he wouldn't be at full strength. For you see the gods were stronger back then. They didn't foolishly extend their power out to the point where they were stretched thin. It almost makes me sad. I can only hope that you aren't as dumb as Palor is or was as will soon be the matter."
As Kyle vanishes into nothingness, zimar and Roger are confronted by an avatar of Isangrim The ShadowKnight who stands before them smiling "well you two have done a number to my realm time for you to die." He lunges forward whipping out his sword and striking at zimar who blocks it with his axe and knocks it to the side. Zimar looks at him with a twisted smile. "you shouldn't have broken the seal. Now i am stronger a lot stronger and you are but an avatar." Roger already started chanting the moment the knight had appeared finished his spell and from the earth green light begins to flow upwards and swarming around him. He slips into the earth with ease appearing behind the shadow knight striking him from behind with a spell that transmutes his armor into dirt. Then Zimar leaps forward striking with his ancient battle axe that seems to radiate immense power for the first time in thousands of years, his axe was alive once more and cleaved deeply into the flesh of the shadow knight who screamed out in pain as the axe seemed to devour apart of its very essence. He tries to strike at Roger, but the blade misses him as his body simply slips back into the ground, he then tries to strike Zimar who deflects the strikes with his battle axe. Roger then shoots up from the ground again and releases his current form taking upon the form of a massive tiger (huge size) made of Lightning and starts ripping into the knight with two fierce claw attacks a bite and two slams. severally injuring the knight. who is then hit by a powerful barrage by the mighty dwarven crafter, which drops the avatar. Zimar looks at roger we must be going if we are too complete what is needed from us. Roger nods his head with the green energies still around him he grabs zimar and pulls them through the earth traveling at an incredible speed and leaving no trace of their passing.
Lord Isangrim sits in his throne room looking into the scrying pool in front of him frowning "this is most troubling. With my son dead the old ones will all be free soon. If that isn't worse Thazidune is slowly escaping from his cell, the gems are beginning to become more reactive." He looks over at the man sitting next to one of the pillars "tell me Thar what are your plans to make use of this chaos." Thar looks up at first glance one would mistake him for a monk and a devout one at that, but to one who could truly see him they would notice the symbol on his forehead was that of thaizudune and his body gave off a heavy aura of ancient and evil power. "that is simple Lord Isangrim I will let them kill my brothers while the stone make their way to us. Each one of my three brothers that dies makes me more powerful, the last one standing gains the full powers of our former self. Last time end was the last one standing this time he is the first to fall. Darin may fall soon and once Vow is free it will be but a matter of time before my powers are at their full limit. To top it all of a person has already been possessed by the spirit of thaizudune who is but a mind his powers really come from his manipulation of his host strength. He is but a tool, during the last battle he wasn't used properly but in this battle I will use him properly, have you noticed the number of Gods who have gone missing the mind lives in each one of those stones, and for each one a god pics up they are warped by that stone and will eventually sapped of their powers and turned into another pawn for me to use. Just keep your end of the bargain Isangrim and you won't have to worry about this realm." Thar stands up he picks up a spear that seems incredibly plain and he begins to walk to one of the back chambers of the castle.
The Avatar of Desire gave out a sarcastically shocked expression as Darin charged passed her to inflict more misery upon the Shining One; on the other hand, she smiled seductively at that 'daughter of lust' moniker, and seeing the land covered by the cretin's shadow was making her feel all tingly inside. Taking a cue from its own defensive measures, she opened a gate to retrieve her own animated shield, Nemea. Infused with divine essence backed by ancient magics, the mithral light shield had been forged to reflect the mightiest ranged attack and reflect the most potent spells back upon its caster. Of course, a use of her Divine Shield ability wouldn't hurt, as well. "You seem sure of yourself, ancient one. I love that in a man. Still, you're far smaller than Aži Dahāka, and your sword is so tiny... can you really match my skill? The other gods may have spread themselves too thinly indeed, but I am not as unwise as they." Her eyes soon shown with a brilliant, crystal-blue light as she spoke an ancient dialect of the Dark Speech intermixed with the True Speech of the universe. The wounds of Pelor healed once more; an easy task. Along with engulfing a hundred-foot area around Darin with her Super Special Awesome Dispelling (catching Pelor within its power, as well), she targeted the Tainted Hero with a disjunction heightened to the highest level of arcane might."I am indeed the Daughter of Lust, the Lady of Desires.. Wish made flesh." She added, returning to a perfectly elegant use of the common tongue, her smile growing ever wider. "And this... Demon Knife.. forged from the very essense of the Abyss' heart when even the youngest of the Demon Princes were still fledging spawn, when even the dread Orcus had not yet been mortal born!" Gripping the blade that was thrice her length taught in her hands, she teleported behind Darin and swung it five times, striking through his armor like a wraith with her dolorous blows, before taking a step back and holding an out-stretched hand towards him. Five intensified enhanced delayed blast fireballs hightened to great levels emerged from her fingers, the first's power expanded with the ancient lore of the arcane lords, inflicting acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic damage by the elemental mastery of the archmagi. Though, certainly, more subtle methods may have been a more novel idea, this particular avatar of Quintessa's dark will prided herself in the massive amounts of damage she could deal. Yet, even now, the Enchantress worked tirelessly within her realm to unlock the personal true name of Tharizdûn, hoping that such knowledge would prove useful in the Dark One's final destruction. As the smoke and debri began to clear from her onslaught, she bowed her head slightly, focusing her eagle eyes upon her foe, ready to burst out laughing if Darin were to emerge unscathed from this cataclysm. Were her efforts all for nought?Mmm... yes! Angra Mainyu was like a dream! It swung so easily in my arms, despite its weight. Its unholy flames seemed to consume any fool who dared to stand against my black heart. The crash of metal, the crunch of bone, the mashing of flesh and the splatering of blood and guts... this was better than sex! Not to say that I was having an easy battle, of course. Even with my divine might I expected the guards of Elric's father to be powerful beyond even the greatest of mortal warriors, and they did not dissapoint me. Infact, I dare say that most of the blood I was bathed in was most likely my own, thanks to the massive gashes their weapons cut into my bod. Somehow, though, I found myself lost in the heat of battle, ignoring the pain of my deadly wounds as I felt my strength increase with each passing moment. Was this a part of the dark essence of Angra Mainyu, or was this something else entirely? My mind became lost, hazy, my eyes focused only on the death and destruction of all those around me, my heart swallowed up by bloodlust. Kyle, Rolonith, Chapien, Lief, Elric... their names were quickly becoming forgotten as I screamed like a banshee, intent on seeing how many of these guards I could crush before I were to fall myself. Dying like this.. didn't seem so bad, honestly....I suddenly have the urge to watch Dragonball Z, now.
The avatar was shocked somewhat as she watched Nemea split into two, though her phenomal bluff skill gave not a hint away. Hmph. So much for rule of the major artifact; Darin was certainly not what she expected when it came to qualifying as a 'specific means of destruction'. Being swallowed up by the Tarrasque, maybe, but this? Relaxing her form with a sultry smile, she laughed at the Tainted One's comments. "No, I expected you to withstand my power by your own force of will and hard form; instead, you merely leap out of the way like some craven coward? How.. dissapointing!" Her mocking tone only grew as she crushed Pelor's head beneath her boot. "Hmph, well, I attempted to help the old boy, that's what counts. Still, it'd take less than a moment to return him to life so, honestly, I'd say your efforts were a rather pathetic waste of time, no?" Closing her eyes for a moment, the Lady of Desires snickered over the situation, unable to contain her enjoyment. "I could care less about your past battles. Ragnarok. Armageddon. Dagor Dagorath. The Cola Wars. Do you honestly believe any of that should impress me? Being asleep for so long, you've not realized just how powerful we 'younglings' have become. Why, even mere mortal magic such as my epic dispel could supress the power of even an overdeity.. if you truly believe you are such a thing. Tch, I've seen kobolds who were far stronger than this."Stepping foward, the Echantress stared up at the littlest giant. "You dare to question my intelligence when you know so very little about my power? How deliciously adorable. You are far older than me, Darin, and yet you appear as nothing more than a spoiled child... of course, that's what I deserve for handicapping myself. I figured that if I used only a fraction of my true power, just enough to match Pelor's best abilities, that I wouldn't have to show up the Shining One, merely appear as his equal. I mean, if I went all out, I'd end this too quickly.. and he was already mad at me enough as it is!" Her snicker from before grew into condescending laughter again, wondering wether Darin's death threat was even serious or nothing more than a mere boast? "You sundered Nemea, so I must say you do have some skill.. of course don't be too proud of slaying Pelor, since he had fallen in the range of my dispel just as you had. After all, you take the most epic warrior and strip him of his magical goodness and what do you have left? Just some overgrown commoner." Holding Demon Knife casually behind her she began walking a deliberately slow pace around the ancient force, taking all of him in, pondering what he might look like once his armor was peeled away. "Now, I could just utilize my full divine might. Perhaps put a little more force into my attacks. Endless battle loses its thrill quickly, though, and if you believe you can kill me simply by striking me with your sword or blasting me with your divine might, then you are more foolish than my own daughter.""Ah! Now that I have an aspect of Tharizdûn here as my audience, however, perhaps I can finally gleam some answers from your age-worn husk. Tell me, Darin, why does Tharizdûn seek to unmake all of existance, including himself? What logic could be had in such a foolish endeavor? Is he simply tired of the idiotic banter of life? Looking for some peace and quiet in the long, eternal nothingness? Oh.. perhaps, in eons past, some one called him a name and made him sad? Oh, boo hoo.." She faked a pout before smiling fiendishly again, floating in mid air with her legs crossed as if she were sitting upon a throne instead of her massive blade. "Really, I have to wonder why the draedens haven't upped and revolted against all the deities who came after them? I mean, honestly, we did sort of horn in on their turf what with existance and all that. Such a rude thing to do. Oh, but where was I? Ah, yes!" Leaping back onto the ground before Darin she took Demon Knife back into her hands. "If you want to continue this little charade, then go right on ahead and make a fool of yourself; you'll only succeed in boring me further. Honestly, you're becoming like a bad lover, you never learn. If you need lessons, though, I'll be happy to give them! You old fools need to realize that just because you're older than dirt doesn't mean you're the big badguy anymore. The young always surpass the old, that's just a simple law of nature. Oh, whatever, I'm sure you're getting tired of me rant. Well, then, shall we continue?"I feel...more of me...somewhere else.
"Oh, great." I well knew the ability of godshards to sense other shards of the same deity, and, to a lesser extent, those of other gods.
I also feel... a woman...divine ranks high double digits... with a big knife. Palpable aura of lust. Okay, that was more detail than was usual. Must've been close.
Ow! She stabbed me! Us? Him?
"This can't be good. End, can you put up a shield around Elric or something?" End glanced at me with a "do-I-look-like-I-protect-things" look. Best way to describe it; it's not like he had a physical presence or anything. "Whatever." I kicked a few rocks over the crystal corpse. "That should do it. Shall we away, End? They'll probably need us to bail them out."
Agreed. I attained psionic focus and readied my maneuvers. I was ready. End folded reality again.
I arrived in a blaze of dark energy suffused with radiant light.
Yep. There I am. I saw... a vast hulk of a thing, and a comparitively tiny woman wielding a colossal blade locked in combat. "Huh. Now I know where Clar gets the big-weapon gene. Speaking of whom, where is she?"
Just follow the yellow brick carnage, Kyle.
Heh. Hordes of foes. Just like the old days. I slipped into a stance from the Diamond Mind discipline and whirled into combat, Aegis Wing biting deep into armored foes, while End fired energy bursts almost at will, vaporizing most before they got near.
He seems to notice Kyle but does not pay attention to him as he fights foes that aren't really there. thank you Thazidune keep the runt busy a little longer, I won't force you to give up your host, we can deal with each other later, oh and there is a stash of cursed gems under the hill to the left about 10 that should be enough to give you complete control over him.
Out of the corner of her eye the avatar spots Kyle, seemingly a lot stronger than the last time she had laid a good look at him, though why he felt now was a good time for combat practice intrigued her. She had no time to ponder any longer, however, as the strike from Darin's sword released a peculiar metal that appeared almost animated, wrapping itself tightly around her; it seemed to cut her off from the arcane, and the Tainted Hero's ancient blade appeared to be draining her of her divine essence. Hmph. Her twenty-foot antimagic field may be ineffective against Darin's blade as well as the strange metal, but her inner divine strength had not been sapped just quite yet. Just because the metal was strong didn't mean she wasn't stronger still, and although it took far more effort than escaping one of her emissary's mighty grapples she broke free, the bands bending and distorting as they fell to the earth."Not a bad little.. trick.." Quintessa replied, smiling in triumph, even if her silver tongue could not hide the fact that Darin's maneuver had indeed weakened her somewhat. "His soul is far away, eh?" she asked. "So, he still exists? Tsk, that was your first mistake." Her ties to the arcane returning, she was able to fully regain her composure, smiling proudly considering she had yet to be even physically injured yet. "The very fact that a simple dispel can defy an overdeity only prooves your own weakness, Darin..." she bragged, shaking her head in condescending dismay. "Not only that, but you're trying to drain my power with your weapon? Shouldn't someone of your stature be able to do so by your very strength of will? Indeed, if you are as so mighty as you claim, than why have you not won yet? Why does this universe still exist, mocking Tharizdûn, hmm?" Backed by an arcane boost, the Lady of Desire gathered her divine might, focusing it into Demon Knife. "Since we just love defying logic and reason here..." The massive, two-ton blade flew foward with great ferocity, impacting so hard upon the dark god's sword as to send a shockwave echoing throughout the land. Again and again Demon Knife came crashing against it, leaving earthquakes in its wake, before one, final strike sundered the ancient weapon."So much for.. toys, eh?" The avatar asked, visibly weakened to a greater degree, yet a smile of confidence only growing bigger on her face. "You never answered my queries, you know? Why are you doing all of this? Wanting to end all of existance?" A large gate opened behind Darin, the landscape within as nothing that any sane being could scarecely imagine. "Are you just trying to be.. an ass!?" A shout, and she charged, renewing her assault. Though she had held back her full power earlier, she would be lucky to put out that kind of ability now; still, Demon Knife had been forged in a way to not only look intimidating, but to knock foes afar. She swung with every ounce of strength she had, her hands nearly breaking from her tight grip, eyes focused on Darin's center of gravity. Yes, he was just small enough, it seemed. Her attack hit tried and true, all of her power hitting at the one point that would knock the Tainted Hero off his feet and flying through the gate behind him. "Say hello to the Far Realm for me!! I'm sure the Old Ones could use a new ragdoll to play with!!" As the gate closed, the avatar collapsed, a smile on her face. Long ages had passed since the goddess had faced such a challenge. No wish or miracle that she could muster would replenish the essence she had lost that only rest would recover; of course, ideally, the greater deity could just destroy this avatar and create a new one. Well, whatever. Though she could barely move, every fiber of her being aching like a thousand suns, she could still do what she could to aid Kyle; as much as she might have despised her weak daughter, she could not deny her taste in men. Pelor, on the other hand.. meh, she'd do something about recovering his lost soul some other time. Hmm, she wondered if Alexander would like to be the new sun god?I sat on the ground.. well, sort of half-kneeling, I suppose. My head was bowed, so no matter how much I wanted to look up and foward the ground was all I could see. Blood.. was everywhere. The city streets were practically coated with it, as if the pavement had always been a deep, crimson hue. Bodies scattered all around me, crushed and broken; mine, too. I didn't want to move. Didn't even want to think. I don't hear any more guards.. I don't hear much of anything. Is this it? Is bleeding to death the way I'll finally exit this life? Well, considering that my life was flashing before my eyes, I guess that's the case... I focused on the day I first entered Oerth in search of Iuz, and right off the bat I was besieged by Rolonith and those weird weapons of his. Whatever he hit me with weren't crossbow bolts, almost like bullets from a sling, but smaller, and they hurt a lot. Then I remembered coming to.. something.. was it a village? I saw Chapien and Kyle, and I think there was another there? Then came that skeleton, and that construct; the man pinned beneath the tree, those glowing tablets.Ah, right. It wasn't long after that that old man appeared.. Roger. I remembered how peculiar he seemed as an old man, mumbling to himself, tripping over his own robes. That night... yeah.. that night I tried to seduce Kyle, didn't I? I really intended to sleep with him, a mere mortal. No, he's not so mere anymore, is he? Of course not, otherwise I never would've been attracted to him. That morning brought the dragons to the remains of that village and the release of End. Oh, right. Mom sent that aleax after me and tried to erase my memory, almost forgot. Then we came here.. after Elric showed up. He and Kyle went and did their own thing, and I fought in the colloseum. Wow.. so I've only been gone from Ysgard for a couple of days and already all this has happened!? Alex left Rosslyn Glæn three years ago when he was sixteen, too. Haven't heard word from him since then. I wonder how he's doing? Maybe he's gotten stronger? I'm physically tougher than he was, but whenever we wrestled he would pin me hard, and I could never manage to even touch him. 'Master your body before you master your silly weapons, sis,' he'd always say. He didn't have the discipline of the monks yet his body was always so perfect. Of course, tall, golden haired, bronze skin, sapphire eyes, it was no wonder all the girls fell for him; he actually looks like a true god.What about me? I've got dad's hair, his eyes.. but I'm so short. My skin is deathly pale. I've got a cute little figure, I suppose, but sometimes I felt like such a runt.. maybe that's why I sought to defeat Iuz so much. He was a demigod, mom said, someone I might last a whole two seconds against. Tsk.. she never did have a lot of faith in me, did she? So, what? Was I just a mistake? Was she hoping for something better when she banged her favourite servant? Have I been doing all of this just to prove myself to them? To myself? Argh!! My head hurts. I just want this to be over with already. If I'm dying than, dammit, I want to just die now. No.. no no no, Clarissa! Just shut up, you stupid turd! If you want to die so bad, then just kill yourself already, got it!? Worthless pile of extrement... there. You're not dead now, are you? Hmm? You're deific spark is a hell of a lot stronger than it was a couple of days ago; why don't you be a bad girl and use it, eh? That's it.. heal your wounds; not enough, but the ring'll take care of the rest. Now, stand up. Grab Angra Mainyu. Go find Kyle and Elric and Rolonith and the others. The world's ending, and you're caught in the middle. As much as you might want to, you're not allowed to exit the stage until the play is over. Got it? Get it? Good.In the arena of the lord of death, Elric stands triumphant over his third and final opponent. "do you yield hades."
Hades: "yes I yield, I will serve you and I swear fealty to you and you alone."
The king of death enters at that time, well then if that is all finished I bestow upon you the sword of Elementar he holds in his hand a beautiful sword the hilt is made of white gold at the pommel is a blue diamond and the blade is made of black steel. the blade is about 18 inches long still it lets out a an aura of immense power. " this sword is one of the oldest and most powerful artifacts in existence the only one that can match is the staff of end, which is the weapon of Thazidun the weapon that can end the worlds and everything in them. Use this weapon well you shall soon be returned to the world."
Floating high in the air outside the borders of Rosslyn Glæn, the Lady of Desires mused over the loss of the avatar that had faced Darin, smirking with quiet amusement; she was thankful that the destruction of such things cost her nothing and that remaking it would be easy enough, albeit a long process. From that dread realm she opened a gate to call back Demon Knife and Nemea, examing two of the most ancient and poweful major artifacts in her arsenal. The fact that even her epic magic and the disjunction Mordekainen had worked so hard to develop were not enough to supress the dark one's power.. well, perhaps his will was indeed as strong as she thought? Without a second thought she flew back towards the heart of her realm, intent on reforging her 'toys' and calling back the soul of Pelor. Yes, she had heard him, it wasn't that difficult a thing not to, and as a master of the True Speech it wasn't as though the soul of a greater deity could be kept from her for long. Altering reality, she could effect the ritual of renaming in but a moment's time, taking another moment for the true ressurection that would return the Shining One to full and complete form. After that, it was back to her studies, towards finding Tharizdûn's personal truename. No entity, no matter how powerful, is beyond the fundamental laws of the universe, and with his personal truename erased Tharizdûn would cease to exist just as Pelor had.Of course, if Tharizdûn is as wise as she suspected, he already knew of the manner to protect himself from the most powerful of all magics just as she had. She would see if this were true enough in due time. A shame, though; she knew the avatar's attempt to knock Darin back into the Far Realm was mean't only as a diversion, but had it the time the avatar would've returned Kyle to Clarissa. It would be wise for the both of them to remain together, especially once they've found the others. For a moment she closed her eyes, seeing the world through the eyes of her the avatar who was still on Earth, conversing with Loraxion. Perhaps he could provide some information on discovering Tharizdûn's truename? Her other avatars would remain where they were for the moment, although she would have to consider recovering Rune Blade, as well. As she neared the chapel, she caressed the head of her silver viper, Destro. "These next few hours are going to be quite interesting, old friend. Aži Dahāka has joined forces with Kord's armies to combat the undead threat of Tharizdûn's hoards here in Ysgard.. now we leave it all up to our daughter. Let us see just how weak Clarissa truly is...""ARGH!!!" I am displeased! Where the Nine Hells is everybody!? Kyle's gone. Elric's gone. Rolonith's gone. Champien, Leif, Roger, mom. Dammit... the thought of entering the bathhouse for the third time this day came to mind, I must admit. I mean, look at me, I'm a complete mess! It'd be a day or more before that ring restored my vigor, so I had best lay low until then. It's just.. I can't just sit around and do nothing! That's not my style! Tch.. as much as it pains me, I think it's time I head back to that tower and find the old dwarf. I know we parted ways on less than kind circumstances, but right now he's about my only clue as to what's next for me. Hiding Angra Mainyu in my glove, I made my way through the back alleys towards the adamantine tower with the mithral top. If Zimar can't help, then perhaps I could.. try.. and wait there until the others get the bright idea to come back.On the tower door steps sits a young man with a board look on his face. He looks up seeing Clar comming and says to her "I didn't know they served blood baths at the bath house." He gives a friendly smile and introduces himself as Mark Zirrac a traveling Fechten meister. On his belt is a simple rapier, and on the other side a stiletto dagger (they were heavily used in fencing as a parrying dagger) "since you came here I assume you are here to see old man Zimar, unfortunately he is not here hence why I am waiting outside, on the street with a rat trying to naw at my toe. Shoo rat shoo, leave my toe be. Damn rats. So anything I can do to help you out."
Elric is journeying up a path gradually getting closer to the exit of this realm. As he continues upwards he sees a beautiful young woman with platinum blond hair making her way down the path. He takes a deep bow and says "good morning Goddess of life, one of your sons and your husband await you."
She smiles "I know and Roger will be their by the time I get there I have already prepaired your vessel to get you back to your body once he gets there he can restore you back to life reversing the powers of your father, using my husband and my power over life and death we shall return you to the world of the living. Sadly I am afraid that vow will be free soon and it is looking unlikely that Mark can get you to your body before he gets free, I am sorry that I couldn't do more to help." she seems sad about the last statement but quickly returns to her kind smile "well you have a nice day." and she begins to skip down the path touching Elric's shoulder as she passes him. He feels energy pulse thorugh his body and notices a necklace form around his neck with the ancient rune of life on it. It lets out a pulse of its own. Elric smiles to himself "so this is how I will return interesting trinket."
He begins to rush towards the exit bursting out into the basement of Zimar's tower where the old dwarf is sitting waiting for him. The old dwarf picks up the Amulet that fell onto the ground out of the ancient gate he built to keep in contact with his old allies, and smiling carries it outside where he stands before Mark and Clar handing the amulet to Mark he says "you know what to do now getting going, oh and he should be with kyle so keep an eye out for him, he is currently roommates with Thazidun."
"ok will do just one question who is Kyle?"
"look Mark just pretend you know what I said and go do it, other wise I will tell your father you want a lecture on quantum physics got it."
"oh god no, I am going I am going."
Mark gets up and looks at Clar "you coming, beautiful."
It didn't take long to find my way to the tower; darkvision came in real handy when there were no street lights to guide one's way. Unfortunately the only soul I found upon the tower steps was one I didn't recognize, but one could still hope the others were inside. I stepped closer towards the tower, ignoring introductions with a stern face, my heart feeling a slight pain at the news that Zimar wasn't home. Hmph, it's to be expected, I suppose. "Just crush the rodent beneath your foot and be done with it," I replied coldly without looking back at him, merely starring at the doors of the tower as if expecting something to emerge from there.Ah, well, I guess 'Zirrac' was incorrect, less Zimar was merely hiding from him? Out of the corner of my eye I watched the old dwarf hand the boy some peculiar amulet, unable to fully grasp the aura emanating from it; these people trade around artifacts as if they were mortals at a common bazaar. Tch. I ignored Zirrac's peculiarly phrased question, turning my attention towards Zimar. "I know you're powerful, dwarf," I stated matter-of-factly. "Probably more powerful than most of the Oerth deities, and I'd bet you'd make a worthy challenge for one of mom's avatars. Sigh... look, my point is.. you can open gates, right? I want to go home. I'm tired of this place. I'm tired of overdeities and cosmic entities and strange artifacts and world-ending events and... I just want to go home. I thank you for thinking I'm special enough to own my own artifact; I can't say how long I would have had to wait for mom to reward me with one.""It's just that.. the thing is.. you guys don't need me! Bloody 'ell, I'm not even close to a demigod's power, and am I expected to withstand something unbelievably ancient like Tharizdûn? When I first left Rosslyn Glæn, my only goal was to be a match for Iuz the Old! I know I'm probably sounding like a coward for saying all of this, if not a complete and total hypocrite.. I may openly seek death on the battlefield, but it's no fun if I already know I don't stand a chance at winning. If Tharizdûn were even an intermediate deity, maybe I'd have higher hopes. Granted, I still think you're all overestimating your own abilities." Pausing a moment, I opened a pouch on my belt and pulled out a small stack of papyrus, thumbing through them before removing eight such bills. "Look, here's eight benedictions. That's enough to buy the weakest of all epic weapons. Certainly enough to injure me, if not Iuz.. or Vecna.. or even Nerull himself. Put it in the hands of a devil or some lawful angel, and their innate power would prove enough to injure mom, believe it or not. She may not be easy to hit and she's told me she's learned to delay death, but even with her vast power she's not invincible. Neither are the rest of you."With an empty heart I put my money back in my pouch, looking foward to smelling the sweet air of the Flanaess again. Maybe I would make a trip to Amariel again, even if mom's high priestess was just as uppity as she was. On the other hand, her cohort was a cool chick. "Look, I don't know what you have planned for Zirrac, but I've still got a time mage back home who's sure to hound me if neither I nor Kyle find Lief. The way he first talked to me, it seemed as though something even bigger than Tharizdûn was looming on the horizon; that apparently I was a key to restoring time's balance or something. Whatever. So.. what do you say, chief? Think you can be a sweetheart and do this one, last, little favor for me? Please?" I'll be washing my mouth out with dragonsbane tonight, I can tell you. Can't believe I'm being this polite...He snaps his fingers and a portal rips open next to him. "this will take you home." he then tosses her a simple bag. "is full of useful nick nacks that you kids call artifacts, I want someone to have them now if you don't mind I have to go and die fighting the lord of this land and hope I can hold him for long enough that what needs to be done is done."
Ooc: in the bag are several items including a watch that is counting down the time that the cronomancer gave you. a ring that emanates a safe feeling (ring of protection +10, with bonus to saves +5, and regeneration 5), a key that seems to have no true shape or size (unlock any door that is not magically sealed by a deity stronger than divine rank 25, a rope that seems to go forever (infinite rope, which the wielder can change into any material), and a silver fork (with no use at this point in time)
Mark starts to head off into another portal and is gone.
Zimar stands by looking very sad. As Lord Isangrim comes around the corner drawing a long sword form its sheath, "I am so disappointed in you zimar, and you know what I do to those who disappoint."
Zimar looks at Clar and says "farewell lass, I am off to see what is on the other side for me." He moves forward with startling speed his battle axe in hand and a smile on his face as tears pour down his cheeks.
(the battle rages for about two hours (or 1,200 rounds) at the end of it Zimar lays dead, and Lord Isangrim while a little tired is perfectly fine)
Looking down on the dead body the lord speaks "I drank of the blood of Elementar that which was meant for the office my son holds. With that power and the sword I slayed this worlds overdeity and devored its entire soul. I am beyond you even if you take so long to die with all your tricks, I am beyond any God alive, do not underestimate me."
He vanishes into the air returning to his divine thrown.
Ooc: neat character write ups, oh and sorry about killing the avatar, but the old dark gods can't be killed easily, although quintessa here self could probably stand up to darins current strength and win, as could Loraxrion who will be outclassed after the next one dies.
Huh?
It's not real, you idiot!
End's voice shook me out of my oblivion. I wasn't even holding Aegis at all... But there was a ruined landscape.
"You lied to me, didn't you."
Believe me when I say that wasn't me.
"Why should I? You're chaotic evil. You're words aren't worth the vellum they're illuminated on. At the first possible opportunity, I'm sealing you. It's only damning you further that your influence is bringing out what I'd buried."
I didn't know what was worse: That I'd succumbed to an illusion, or that I felt a tinge of honesty in End's words. But I had to keep him out of my heart. Both the muscle and the seat of emotion.
Enough of that. I had to find Clar and Elric's corpse. I extended my psychic perceptions over the worldthought network and tried to tap into Clar's thoughts. 'S Kyle. Where are you?
Ooc: neat character write ups, oh and sorry about killing the avatar, but the old dark gods can't be killed easily, although quintessa here self could probably stand up to darins current strength and win, as could Loraxrion who will be outclassed after the next one dies.
OoC: Which is ironic, since technically the avatar with Demon Knife does more damage than Quintessa with Rune Blade (although Rune Blade's the better weapon overall; now, if she could just get her hands on Soul Edge...).
I paused a moment, heeding the old dwarf's words and pondering over the little history lesson he gave. So, if only one of these 'shards' was trapped in the Ethereal Plane, where had the others been all this time? I had often times heard rumours of some lesser avatar of Tharizdûn trapped deep within Oerth, a roiling, amorphorous shadow of black tentacles, assumed to be demigod strength what with Tharizdûn's weakened state within his Demiplane of Imprisonment. Heh, so I guess that means that mom and the other Oerth deites had been wrong about the Ebony One's power this entire time? They say that madness is but a hair's breadth away from genius, and any who can claim mastery over force surely must be stronger than they first let seem.There were words of Zimar that I just couldn't open my heart to, however. "Well, of course I've always compared my strength to my parents; isn't that what all children do? Yet just because father could best me in physical might, or the fact that one divine blast from mom is enough to destroy me, doesn't mean I'm as weak as some mortal babe; I'd say I did quite well at that tournament, until facing that grey alien thing. That, of course, only proves that I may be strong, but I'm not invincible. I have to know my limitations. Then I will know how to overcome them. Heh, maybe that's what they mean by 'wisdom'?" Grabbing the bag out of the air I looked at it a moment, before feeling a shiver run down my spine. Looking up quickly I saw Elric's father some distance behind Zimar and.. for some inexplicable reason.. I felt my heart sank. "Hey.. maybe we'll find each other in Ysgard sometime? I'll buy you a drink.." Without waiting for an answer I stepped through the portal the old dwarf had opened as his final goodbyes echoed in my ears.As the gate closed I could smell the sweet air of the Flanaess again. Tch, and just a couple days ago I was cursing this wrotten hole. Sitting myself down on the ground I examined the contents of the bag Zimar had given me, using my abilities to read magic and my meager training in spellcraft to gleam some understanding of their contents: a tiny bauble with the face of a waterclock, a ring, a rope, a key, and a.. fork? Heh. I examined the ring especially close, and smiled at the aura it gave off. Removing my ring of regeneration I placed the new trinket on; a perfect fit. The coil of rope I wore over my right shoulder, while the rest went into my belt pouch. The bauble I took a second glance, though, as something about it struck me as odd.. as I watched the sticks inside move ever so slowly with each passing second, the stench of Rolonith came to mind again. Hmph, that dwarf was clever. Well, I suppose it's time I search for Lief again, eh? Maybe I'll find Chapien along the way, and that Iablo character he had mentioned a couple of days ago. Either way, I can't wait to be done with all this hero business and just go back to being evil.As I got up off the ground, I heard a voice in the back of my head that clearly wasn't my own. "Kyle?" I asked loudly, glad I was out in the middle-of-nowhere where none could here me. I smiled again, my heart feeling a little warmer hearing his voice. "I'm back on Oerth, in the Flanaess I'd say. Don't think I'm anywhere nere the location of that village we left. Where are you?" I dashed foward, letting the light of the moon and stars guide me as I tried to locate a village to rest for the night; those guards had messed me up pretty bad, but somehow I felt as though I'd be fine by morning's wake...Plane shift.
Your aim is horrendous.
"Where's that? Near Sharn? I sure hope so, because I don't know if I can handle much more space-warping.
"Do you know about the kalashtar? If you don't, then don't go asking around. The Inspired are likely to pick up on that, and then do nasty quori things to you. I don't care how many divine ranks you have; dreams are enough to break anyone.
"But if you do know where the kalashtar are, head there. The Inspired can't follow; it'll look like they're assaulting the kalashtar without provocation. Ask about Rien. They'll know."
Well, so much for that warmth in my heart and the smile on my face; I had little-to-no idea of what Kyle was blathering on about. "I know I'm not the lead resource when it comes to the planes, but I'm fairly certain there's no place named Sharn anywhere on Oerth, unless.. is it in another continent? The Flanaess is the eastern half of the Oerik continent, but I know there's a few others; Amariel is far off to the west, in a mountain range between Gigantea and Erypt. Is Sharn a small village? Anyway, if this is the Flanaess than I'm going to try and find the Free City of Greyhawk, get my bearings there."Suddenly I stopped running, as a thought in the back of my mind came to the surface. Rumaging through my belt pouch I pulled out that little, glass orb Rolonith had given me. 'This is will make any one weapon enchanted with the power of God Bane.' God Bane.. like those strange weapons he used against me? Or was his 'blood mythral' something different entirely? Well, I've got myself a brand, new artifact of doom, already overflowing with my vile machinations and chaotic nature.. perhaps now's the right time to use it? Unsheathing Angra Mainyu from one of my gloves, I threw it to the ground.. and hesitated a moment. Well, it's not like the greathammer's unholy flames ever injured me, so I should be immune to this, too, right?With gritted teeth I gripped the orb tightly in my palm, before throwing it against my hammer, the orb shattering into an infinite number of impossibly small fragments, as whatever magics that were contained within became absorbed. A moment passed, a cool wind blew over me, before I decided to finally pick up Angra Mainyu; my screams probably were heard all the way over in Amariel. Even with my gloves on the weapon's handle seemed sear my flesh.. yet, only for a moment. In the blink of an eye the pain ceased, as if nothing had happened. I sheathed the hammer back into my glove before taking it off, noticing that my hand was perfectly fine. Perhaps it was attuning to.. oh, forget it. I'm not about to give myself another headache trying to figure out how such things work.As long as this enchantment gave me an edge against Iuz and any other deity foolish enough to fight me, that's all I care about. Hey! I'm actually starting to sound like my old self, now!I asked a passing half-elf where I could buy an airship. He laughed. "You're kidding, right?" He quickly stopped when he saw how dead serious I was. "Hm. Try House Lyrandar. You might look for Ezrelik d'Lyrandar; he's...shady, though."
"Thanks." I flipped him a coin without checking. For some reason, I'd stopped caring about money--indeed, about material things at all...
He heads into the city following the stone through allies and streets alike finally finding himself completely lost, it was obvious someone was messing with his perceptions. Pulling out a small gem from his pocket he looked into it focusing on the very center of the gem. Once he was completely sure he was re-focused he took a look at the amulet and began following once more towards the statue. He enters a small room where a group of kalashar are working on the Solid gem body of Elric. Looking at them he says "I am afraid I am going to have to ask you to step away from the body."
They look at him with and one says "leave now it will take our utmost concentration to revive him and even that will take awhile so go away you pest."
getting annoyed at that remark, Mark leaps over one of them landing on the statue and driving the amulet into a small crack in the stone. immediately the stone shatters, and mark is sent flying, standing where the stone once was is Elric. He wears his normal gear except at his side is a sword of beautiful craftman ship, a handle of white gold, an ebony blade, and a gem in the pummel that is made of blue diamond. He also is wearing the amulet around his neck. "it has been awhile mark, the wandering begger, son of Farothay of war, and Erathan of journeys. I guess it is time to return your swords to you that I borrowed so long ago, He tosses Mark the twin short swords. Now then we should get going we have work to do, I need to kill vow, or darin."
Mark:"then let us be off but don't think it will be easy."
"Oh, so like mom's Amariel?" I replied with piqued curiousity. "'Cept I don't think they've gotten to the floating towers part, yet; something about Abeir-Toril and a guy named Karsus. Eberron does sound familiar..." I contemplated Kyle's words regarding Elric's revival, before nearly raging with sudden anger. "NO!! Iuz is mine and mine alone! I'll take care of him with Angra Mainyu, I've got plenty of time. 'Sides, I've still got to find Lief, right? Remind me again what was so special about this punk?" As the world rushed past my feet I glanced up at the sky again; noting the inherit beauty of the absolute darkness surrounding the world, pierced by the light of so many stars and the full moon above. In the distance I noticed many, many small forests, a few hills but mostly a lot of flat land, and I had come to a river. "Think I'll stop here for the night," I thought aloud, rather nonchalantly.It may not have been a fancy inn or even the Artorinth Bath Houses, but the river's running water would clean me up well enough, and the silence of the world around me would help clear my head again less Kyle horns in on my internal conversation. Shedding cloth and gear I dipped myself into the near-icy waters, feeling a shiver run down my spine and a smile curl across my lips as I lavished myself in the tingling sensations, submerging myself for a moment before rising to the surface. Reaching over to my gear I rumaged through my pouch and picked up that minature waterclock-like bauble that Zimar had given me, the one that stank of Rolonith. Nineteen days.. atleast that's what I figured it read. 'Seek out the one named Blade the Mighty, his corpse will show you the next clue.' That was written on one of his funny tablets, wasn't it? I'm hoping seven days begins now, otherwise I might be in a bit o' trouble. Well, I'm not going to get any rest if my mind is plagued with these thoughts.. I'll won't worry about it all till morning.Nope, right now all I have to do is clean off what were once brand new clothes and then just bathe casually as I watch the stars move overhead and the sun rise in a few hours...***
The black onyx sparkled. It took an hour, but I finally got all of End out of my head and sealed him more permanently in the crystal. I hoped, anyway.
I need sleep. I felt weird not hearing a voice reply.
You block, you stone, you worse than senseless thing. You've been running from the truth so long, you don't even remember what it looks like.
There's kind of a reason for that.
Let's hear it, then.
I want the truth? I can't handle the truth!
Suddenly, I realized I was having a mental conversation with myself. This wasn't odd for a psionicist (for an example, see Eulad and Deathblossom), but when you've trained yourself to focus and keep your mind unified unless you need a few differing viewpoints, then it represents a disturbing breakdown. Usually comes about as a result of emotional upheaval--for example, ripping part of a dead god out of your psyche or meeting that one person.
Curiously enough, emotions brought about by meeting such a person can break down other barriers, too. Like div--Rien! Not good. The kalashtar wouldn't have mindlinked me if something really bad wasn't going on.
What is it, Malharath?
We got problems. Some guy came in and de-stiffed the stiff.
Huh?
Malharath somehow manageed to psionically sigh. Some guy rezzed Elric.
I'd better take a look. Be there in a few minutes.
Elric: "I think we should go after vow, he is a bit more tricky and has some good stealth tricks, but if we can force him into an open fight he will be a lot easier to beat."
Mark: " that may be so, but Darin is a powerful warrior and you will have to fight him in the open more than likely. If that is the case then killing vow first would make darin much stronger and a lot harder to defeat in combat. I would advise taking out Darin first and then vow will be as powerful in combat as the fallen darin, allowing you to best him as well."
Elric: "only problem is that Darin won't come and kill me right after I defeat vow, vow will drop right in after I have exhausted my strength and stab me in the spine."
Mark: I have your back I can handle him for a little bit."
Elric: "not long enough for me to rest though. These guys currently are a match for a powerful greater god, once I knock off another one they will be able to match a weak over deity, after that my father will be barely a match for one of them. Lastly once the last one collects the gems he will be so powerful that no one will be a match for him."
Mark: "so kill him before he gets the gems."
Elric: "they have been collecting the gems since they got out which means they are getting stronger as we speak. We are running out of time."
at this point they have just exited the building.
"What do you mean I can't get more than a few shillings!?" I shouted, rather irritated at the poor price my ring of regeneration fetched at a local market. For three days I ran with greater effort than an elf, a man, and a dwarf could ever hope to muster.. and yet with all that I only find some small, hick town out in the middle of nowhere. Great. I ignored the shoppekeeper's lurid stares and took the coin, probably best price I was going to find out here, though I was starting to wish I hadn't abbandoned it so soon; this new ring that Zimar had given me just didn't seem to do quite the same trick, as I was no where near healthy enough to take on Iuz, let alone the terrors of Tharizdûn or whatever horrors Rolonith as planned for me. Heck, just trying to find my way to real civilization was proving to be a challenge. A few of the locals knew of the Free City but it seemed not even the passing caravans could point me in the right direction. Tch, worthless scum.Four days. That's how much time I had left to find Blade, right? Of course nobody in town had heard of him, either, although a few of the older citizens seemed fearful of my quest, whispering about some long abandoned castle deep within the forests high upon the mountains blah blah blah... and mom says I'm supposed to be immune to sleep? Still, ancient castles are supposed to house treasure and all manner of strange beasts, so it might be atleast worth a look. I may not be able to take on Iuz yet, but I should be strong enough for this, right? Kinda wish Kyle were here, though. His talk of.. other talents.. sounded interesting; it's just that I want to fight Iuz on my own, with my own strength, to prove myself, you know? Oh, whatever. The forests atop these mountains weren't very thick so it didn't take long to find my way to the castle. It was.. old. Broken in several places. Smelled in others. I don't know, I guess after all that's happened this last week I kind of expected more? Well, Clarissa, time to go in?"Yeah. Everything's fine!" At "fine", he swung around and thrust a dagger at me, aiming for the ribs. I caught the dagger--barely--between two fingers and twisted it out of his loose grip. Evidently, he didn't know I was trained in the Setting Sun discipline--not surprising, as I didn't talk about it much.
Unsettled, he quickly regained his composure anyway and vanished. Damn. Good thing I also took some Diamond Mind training. I emptied my mind of all thought and listened for minute disturbances in the air that would hint at Malharath's passing.
...There! I lashed out and caught an invisible wrist. I twisted, and a dagger clattered to the floor. "Malharath, don't be an idiot. Why are you trying to kill me?"
"Orders are orders, Rien."
"How can you treat life so casually? It's our greatest treasure, Malharath! The kalashtar quori left Dal Quor for that reason!"
"Like this." He swung with his left; I jabbed him just below the heart chakra. He collapsed, unconscious. I hoped. It sometimes had lethal consequences, but it didn't seem to be a critical hit. I tried to pick up the dagger, but it burned. Hell. Must've been byeshk. I left it, seeing as there was nothing I could do. It burned even through the cape I typically wore. Unholy byeshk? Not good.
It was only in self-defense, I kept telling myself as I ran back to my rooms, cape streaming dramatically and mind blade down and out 45 degrees to the right. It doesn't add up, though. Malharath was one of those kids who'd always take the good path, and Harath's influence certainly nudged all the kalashtar of his lineage in the same direction. So there's either the really unlikely dark-side-fall, the replacement, or mistaken identity. The kid was a paladin, sure, and there's probably a lingering aura of evil on me, but Malharath wasn't one to blindly follow orders. So how does this whole thing work out, and where do I fit in? Can Mal have figured out what I used to be...? I fervently hoped not. That kid had enough on his plate.
Thank goodness for darkvision... is it weird for me to say that? I noticed numerous torches lining the walls outside, but it had probably been ages since they were last used; yet I kept having the distinct feeling that I was not alone. I walked into what I deemed to be the main entrance, and as soon as I turned to corner I could see a whole corridor of traps laid out before me, as plain as day. Tck, I've no time to disable each one.. 'sides, the idea of running through as each trap sets off always did sound fun. Hmm, these boots I wore augmented my speed so much I went from one end of the hall to the other in less than a second, hearing the ping of each trap go off behind him almost with a delayed reaction; heh. Ooh, seems I've found myself a tenant! I stared up at a nasty looking hobgoblin brandishing a longsword, bringing it down upon me with all the skill and grace of a dimwitted child. Tsk. Unsheathing Angra Mainyu I swung hard, crushing this thing's body against the cold, stone wall; well, so much for that 'threat', eh? I've no doubt that whatever else lays in store for me might be a challenge for the wee folk of the town, but against my power... ugh, enough with the self-monologueing already, Clar!I trudged my way through, turning the corner and winding my way down another hallway, this time laden with razor-wire; three sets it seemed. I leaped off the ground towards it, flying deftly over one set, landing on and pushing off my hands, flying over a second, landing on and pushing off my feet and sailing over the last, rolling to a stop before I stood back up. Hmm? More company? A pair of tieflings and their pet spider? They each attacked. They each missed pathetically. Three swings of my greathammer was all it took to crush them, one's head and torso utterly flattened and the spider going out with a pop... uhhh, this is going to be a pain to clean up. Blood never made me squeamish, but those spider guts. Continuing on my way I went down one last tunnel that led into what appeared to be a large antechamber of some sorts. Mmm, spear trap. Tsk, I didn't even bother to step out of the way this time; as if it could pierce my unholy flesh? Well, I didn't see any other traps within the room, but I did see a corpse.. could this be him? He had been dead ages, whatever flesh that hadn't been devoured by these freaks having rotted away. Not much left of his fancy clothes, either, or whatever equipment he once bore... oh? What the deuce? Turning the skeleton over to one side I noticed a beaten up, old medalion fashioned from some simple metal. There were etchings on the medalion, definitely not your typical common tongue.Pocketing the medalion I turned around in time to hear that spear trap break, seeing three orcs standing in the hall. Tsk, did they want to play, too? They each took a step forward, but gripping Angra Mainyu tightly in my hands I strengthened my stance, starring hard into each orc's eyes, letting what little divine presense I had enter into their worthless hearts. Of course my intimidation worked; just 'cause I was a foot shorter than they were doesn't mean I can't be scary. I am the daughter of Aži Dahāka, after all, and if anything one should know to fear the devastating might of little girls. Without cracking a smile I walked passed them, swinging my hammer a moment later to crush one orc into another, before spinning around to the end the life of the third. Alright, so I hadn't intended to kill them before, but what the hell? Passing up such fun would be uncharacteristic of me, you know? Taking a vest from one of the orcs I cleaned off Angra Mainyu before willing it back into my glove and made my way back out, ignoring whatever meager equipment and treasure these fools had; I'm sure anything that might be considered valueable was already stolen and hidden elsewhere. Strange.. queer mix of enemies, though. Hobgoblins and orcs were common enough, but tieflings, even ones as weak as they were, you didn't see very often.Outside the old fortress I took out the medalion, examining it closer in the intense noon sun. Strange that this hadn't been taken, but considering it's appearance and the fact that most goblinoids can't read such letters I guess I shouldn't be surprised that they ignored it. Perhaps the tieflings were after this, then? Well, now, let's just see what all this means now, hmm...?Fortunately, though, he wasn't paying attention. Why would a reth dekala be in a kalashtar enclave? Is Malharath involved with this? I tried to slip away, but... "You there!" he intoned in Infernal.
Aw, hell.
***
I defended myself as best I could, weaving my psychic blade in a shielding pattern almost too fast even for my augmented senses to track.
But somehow a blade found its way through the Pearl of Black Doubt stance and grazed my side.
Bloody Hells. Lucky hit.
I switched focus to mobility, trying not to let the reth dekala get close enough to hit. Hells. "Diamond Nightmare Blade!" I sliced precisely, cutting deep into the cursed warrior's vilefire body, gouts of which poured forth. I bounded over and past the reth dekala using the speed bonus granted by the coiled spring maneuver of the Perfect Clarity of Mind and Body feat to add momentum to my Bounding Assault technique, cutting twice in rapid succession.
Aegis bit into the fiend's helm twice, and green vilefire poured out. An unholy deathcry tore from its tortured, burning lungs, and it dissolved in a choking green miasma. Its armor clattered to the ground.
What the Hells was that about? One reth dekala means there's something wrong; they're usually in groups of two to five. Which means...
I never got to finish the thought as darkness claimed me.
I sat in a dank cell. Hells. I tried to manifest a mind blade, use a far hand, anything--to no avail. Must've been a null psionics field. I had been stripped of magic/psionic items, and I held on to the dim hope that they'd kept my equipment conveniently together. Heh. Of course the were considerate enough for that; they are lawful, after all.[/sarcasm]
I did, however, note that the reth dekala didn't apparently check closely enough: Aegis and the necklace were still on my person. But what was a sensor good for? And a crystal hilt? I guess I could gouge a hole with it, but I should probably stay here, try to figure some things out. What is it the reth want with me? Were I a scion of the reth dekala, they would have killed me. They don't ordinarily take prisoners, either, so I must be a special case. Are they working for someone? Very likely. But who? And to what end? And why do they need me?
I set my subconscious to pondering and tried to sleep.
Just for you Chapien.
I wonder if this thread will get ressurected...