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Midnight: A Lost Faith's Shadow. Book 1, The Awakening. Chapter 3, Baden's Bluff
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<blockquote data-quote="Hrothgar" data-source="post: 3153267" data-attributes="member: 22226"><p>Fast forward one day...</p><p></p><p></p><p><em>The Quarries. The rocky escarpments on the western side of Baden's Bluff that overlook the Sea of Pelluria. Much of the stone to build Baden's Bluff was mined here, leaving behind a scarred landscape filled with dangerous mine shafts and sheer cliffs. For years the insurgents of Baden's Bluff have used this dangerous location to facilitate their dangerous work...</em></p><p></p><p></p><p>The dark cave provides some relief from the hot sun of Zimra, its burning rays fading to crimson as the glowing orb sets in the west. Lodric, Kaela, Valurel, Murdoch, Bowen, Ensin, and the Elf Elaural peer cautiously over the lower lip of the cave, down a steep rocky cliff, and to the scene unfolding below on the stony shore of the Pelluria. Behind them in the cave, several other insurgents stand ready, guarding the secret exits in case of discovery. Since their last battle, the Heroes have kept a low profile, healing wounds and comforting each other in their grief. Aislinn is lost. Fallax and Ibor have disappeared along with their robed comrades. Upon hearing Lodric's account of the story, Elaural was swept up in despair, unwiling to believe her people could be involved. She has even offered her own life as forfeit if the Heroes do not believe her word. When word came that the High Legate Theiv was taking "special" captives to the Dead Shores, the insurgents moved into the caves, keeping guarded hope they might see their lost comrades once again. Below them, on the shores, their hope turns to anguish...</p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">OOC: The Heroes are healed fully.</span></p><p></p><p></p><p>Stahrl and Herger are alive. Barely. They remember little since their fall in the alleyway, passing between periods of light and darkness. Throughout their ordeal, pain is a constant. Skin burns, flesh tears, and diabolical incisions have driven them into madness. Dark shapes have hovered over them during consciousness, not all of them human, commanding them to answer intimate questions of their purpose in Baden's Bluff through the use of the Shadow's divine magic. Starhl's and Herger's minds scream in frustration; their charge in Baden's Bluff is now known to the Shadow.</p><p></p><p>Today, beaten by orcs, dragged through the streets of Baden's Bluff in shame, Starhl and Herger have had their hands nailed through their palms above them and their feet nailed below them on tall wormwood poles embedded deep in the rocky shore of the Pelluria. Only a few feet away from them, water laps at the bottom of their poles while the hot sun bakes down on their skin, burning their fair Northern skin as their tongues swell in their dry mouths from lack of water. Always orcs are near to torment them, hiding in the shadows of the Quarries, preventing any chance of escape. The day is almost unbearable as the Heroes pass between consciousness and unconsciousness. Fishermen watch them from their boats as they ply the waters, their faces expressionless. Comfort is impossible. The mere shifting of weight tears the flesh around the spikes in their hands and feet, tendons stretching to their maximum. Limbs go numb and the weight of the two large men slowly crushes their chest making breathing difficult.</p><p></p><p>As the sun thankfully sets, a man in dark robes and armor descends from the bluff, a tall, rangy orc at his side. Theiv has come and Thune the Widowmaker have come. Both were present in Caft that night. Now they meet together once more. The Dorn Legate speaks calmly, his hands folded serenly in front of him. <span style="color: DarkOrange">What a merry chase you have lead my tracker down from the North. </span> His smiles flashes wickedly as his eyes take in the misery and damage inflicted on the Heroes' bodies. <span style="color: DarkOrange">My ministrations have left several marks on your fine physiques I see. Northmen are strong. Torture is never enough to extract information from their stubborn skulls. No, the magic of my Dark Lord is also needed. And you were no different. Aislinn is something special isn't she? And now you have lost her. A blind girl. A blind girl! You are both incompetent. And failures. You have failed that frail girl, that girl that dared put her trust in you!</span></p><p></p><p>Theiv turns to pet a wolf that moves up to his side on silent, padded feet. A low growl escapes the beast. Starhl's voice croaks in anguish and anger. The Wolf, her eyes glowing a subtle red, has found a new master. Theiv seems pleased by Starhl's outburst.<span style="color: DarkOrange">Does it hurt to know she now follows me, Starhl of Caft? Yes, her mind is now possessed by my demon pet. And I will use her at risk of limb and life.</span> Theiv laughs confidently. <span style="color: DarkOrange">Incidentally, I was going to make both of you thralls to my cause. Fell, actually, bound by the dark magic of the Dark Lord. However, I have found members of our race are too damn stubborn. Insubordinate. I dared not risk it. Therefore, I extracted the information I needed and inflicted my frustrations on you. And now you die. Horribly. Soon the Fell will arise from the sea. The spikes in your hands are strong and deep. I doubt they will pull you off of your poles. Instead, they will devour your legs and innards, tearing and ripping, as your scream in agony. With my Dark Lord's blessing, your upper halves will also arise as Fell, screaming in hunger, but always unsatiated. I assume as your flesh withers and rots, your carcasses will drop to the ground, to crawl grotesquely, screaming in hunger, always slower than your prey. Such is the fate of those who cross me.</span></p><p></p><p>Theiv turns to go, but his voice still reaching the Heroes. <span style="color: DarkOrange">Now to find the old man and the insurgent Ibor. Only a matter of time...</span></p><p></p><p>Thune the Widowmaker watches the legate turn and begin to walk away, his face impassive, but his eyes flashing at the wicked legate. Walking up to Herger, the orc picks up a small rock and wedges it between Herger's foot and a spike, shifting Herger's weight off of one the spikes, and providing a moment's relief against the pain transfixing Herger. Whether it was a gesture of mercy or to prolong Herger's agony, Herger is not sure. <span style="color: DarkOrange">Thune, what are doing? Hurry up, we must be on the bluff before the sun sets.</span> Thune's gaze moves out to the water, where ripples begin to form close to shore, ripples that do not seem to follow the wind or waves crashing on the shore. For a moment, his eyes narrow at Theiv as he hesitates, before motioning to the orcs and following Theiv up the bluff and leaving Starhl and Herger to their fate.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Above, the Heroes watch Thiev and the orc patrol leave the two suspended Heroes below. Murdoch speaks in a low hush. <span style="color: DarkOrange">The Dead Shores are aptly named. Prisoners are brought here to be consumed by the Fell that lurk in the water. When the sun goes down, the shore will be crawling with Fell. We must act quickly. What plan should we make?</span> The sun's rays fade as gathering gloom settles on the Quarries.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Hrothgar, post: 3153267, member: 22226"] Fast forward one day... [I]The Quarries. The rocky escarpments on the western side of Baden's Bluff that overlook the Sea of Pelluria. Much of the stone to build Baden's Bluff was mined here, leaving behind a scarred landscape filled with dangerous mine shafts and sheer cliffs. For years the insurgents of Baden's Bluff have used this dangerous location to facilitate their dangerous work...[/I] The dark cave provides some relief from the hot sun of Zimra, its burning rays fading to crimson as the glowing orb sets in the west. Lodric, Kaela, Valurel, Murdoch, Bowen, Ensin, and the Elf Elaural peer cautiously over the lower lip of the cave, down a steep rocky cliff, and to the scene unfolding below on the stony shore of the Pelluria. Behind them in the cave, several other insurgents stand ready, guarding the secret exits in case of discovery. Since their last battle, the Heroes have kept a low profile, healing wounds and comforting each other in their grief. Aislinn is lost. Fallax and Ibor have disappeared along with their robed comrades. Upon hearing Lodric's account of the story, Elaural was swept up in despair, unwiling to believe her people could be involved. She has even offered her own life as forfeit if the Heroes do not believe her word. When word came that the High Legate Theiv was taking "special" captives to the Dead Shores, the insurgents moved into the caves, keeping guarded hope they might see their lost comrades once again. Below them, on the shores, their hope turns to anguish... [COLOR=SlateGray]OOC: The Heroes are healed fully.[/COLOR] Stahrl and Herger are alive. Barely. They remember little since their fall in the alleyway, passing between periods of light and darkness. Throughout their ordeal, pain is a constant. Skin burns, flesh tears, and diabolical incisions have driven them into madness. Dark shapes have hovered over them during consciousness, not all of them human, commanding them to answer intimate questions of their purpose in Baden's Bluff through the use of the Shadow's divine magic. Starhl's and Herger's minds scream in frustration; their charge in Baden's Bluff is now known to the Shadow. Today, beaten by orcs, dragged through the streets of Baden's Bluff in shame, Starhl and Herger have had their hands nailed through their palms above them and their feet nailed below them on tall wormwood poles embedded deep in the rocky shore of the Pelluria. Only a few feet away from them, water laps at the bottom of their poles while the hot sun bakes down on their skin, burning their fair Northern skin as their tongues swell in their dry mouths from lack of water. Always orcs are near to torment them, hiding in the shadows of the Quarries, preventing any chance of escape. The day is almost unbearable as the Heroes pass between consciousness and unconsciousness. Fishermen watch them from their boats as they ply the waters, their faces expressionless. Comfort is impossible. The mere shifting of weight tears the flesh around the spikes in their hands and feet, tendons stretching to their maximum. Limbs go numb and the weight of the two large men slowly crushes their chest making breathing difficult. As the sun thankfully sets, a man in dark robes and armor descends from the bluff, a tall, rangy orc at his side. Theiv has come and Thune the Widowmaker have come. Both were present in Caft that night. Now they meet together once more. The Dorn Legate speaks calmly, his hands folded serenly in front of him. [COLOR=DarkOrange]What a merry chase you have lead my tracker down from the North. [/COLOR] His smiles flashes wickedly as his eyes take in the misery and damage inflicted on the Heroes' bodies. [COLOR=DarkOrange]My ministrations have left several marks on your fine physiques I see. Northmen are strong. Torture is never enough to extract information from their stubborn skulls. No, the magic of my Dark Lord is also needed. And you were no different. Aislinn is something special isn't she? And now you have lost her. A blind girl. A blind girl! You are both incompetent. And failures. You have failed that frail girl, that girl that dared put her trust in you![/COLOR] Theiv turns to pet a wolf that moves up to his side on silent, padded feet. A low growl escapes the beast. Starhl's voice croaks in anguish and anger. The Wolf, her eyes glowing a subtle red, has found a new master. Theiv seems pleased by Starhl's outburst.[COLOR=DarkOrange]Does it hurt to know she now follows me, Starhl of Caft? Yes, her mind is now possessed by my demon pet. And I will use her at risk of limb and life.[/COLOR] Theiv laughs confidently. [COLOR=DarkOrange]Incidentally, I was going to make both of you thralls to my cause. Fell, actually, bound by the dark magic of the Dark Lord. However, I have found members of our race are too damn stubborn. Insubordinate. I dared not risk it. Therefore, I extracted the information I needed and inflicted my frustrations on you. And now you die. Horribly. Soon the Fell will arise from the sea. The spikes in your hands are strong and deep. I doubt they will pull you off of your poles. Instead, they will devour your legs and innards, tearing and ripping, as your scream in agony. With my Dark Lord's blessing, your upper halves will also arise as Fell, screaming in hunger, but always unsatiated. I assume as your flesh withers and rots, your carcasses will drop to the ground, to crawl grotesquely, screaming in hunger, always slower than your prey. Such is the fate of those who cross me.[/COLOR] Theiv turns to go, but his voice still reaching the Heroes. [COLOR=DarkOrange]Now to find the old man and the insurgent Ibor. Only a matter of time...[/COLOR] Thune the Widowmaker watches the legate turn and begin to walk away, his face impassive, but his eyes flashing at the wicked legate. Walking up to Herger, the orc picks up a small rock and wedges it between Herger's foot and a spike, shifting Herger's weight off of one the spikes, and providing a moment's relief against the pain transfixing Herger. Whether it was a gesture of mercy or to prolong Herger's agony, Herger is not sure. [COLOR=DarkOrange]Thune, what are doing? Hurry up, we must be on the bluff before the sun sets.[/COLOR] Thune's gaze moves out to the water, where ripples begin to form close to shore, ripples that do not seem to follow the wind or waves crashing on the shore. For a moment, his eyes narrow at Theiv as he hesitates, before motioning to the orcs and following Theiv up the bluff and leaving Starhl and Herger to their fate. Above, the Heroes watch Thiev and the orc patrol leave the two suspended Heroes below. Murdoch speaks in a low hush. [COLOR=DarkOrange]The Dead Shores are aptly named. Prisoners are brought here to be consumed by the Fell that lurk in the water. When the sun goes down, the shore will be crawling with Fell. We must act quickly. What plan should we make?[/COLOR] The sun's rays fade as gathering gloom settles on the Quarries. [/QUOTE]
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