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Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4650519" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Unpaid Debts: Part 2 – Hello Darkness My Old Friend</strong></p><p></p><p>After a hard day’s travel, they came to the sleepy hamlet of Grunlau. The way house there offered the last shelter and comfort for weary travelers before the arduous ascent into the high smoking peaks of the volcanic Paerthians. </p><p></p><p>When they arrived, it was near nightfall. They found lodging at a grungy but serviceable inn.</p><p></p><p>Kham awoke to a horrific scream. He sat upright and looked around. </p><p></p><p>He was on a hillock overlooking the town. Poplars of olive and fig trees surrounded him. Creatures from twisted imaginations flew through the air. The terrain formed and reshaped itself, flowing like water, while streams of water twisted and loop through the air itself, flowing upwards then back down again.</p><p></p><p>Sebastian and Beldin sat up out of the mist nearby. </p><p></p><p>“Where are we?” asked Sebastian uncertainly.</p><p></p><p>“The Dreamheart,” he muttered. “Again.”</p><p></p><p>“Again?” Sebastian looked around. “I’ve never been here before.”</p><p></p><p>“I have,” said Beldin. “Only this time no ritual put us here.”</p><p></p><p>“So that’s really you then?” Kham looked up at Beldin uncertainly. He huge, muscular, handsome, and virile. His eyes blazed with silvery fire and his skin was golden. He was a god among men, an ancient titan of old, before the curse of Illiir brought the dwarves low.</p><p></p><p>“Would I look like this if it weren’t?” asked Beldin.</p><p></p><p>“Good point, I always think of you as short and hairy.”</p><p></p><p>Sebastian looked down at his hands. “How do I look?”</p><p></p><p>Kham stared at him for a long moment. “Like a human.”</p><p></p><p>Sebastian felt behind him for his wings and tail. They were gone.</p><p></p><p>Kham faced them. “Okay, be honest with me: do I look like a ghoul?”</p><p></p><p>They shook their heads.</p><p></p><p>“That’s good to know.” Kham was visibly relieved. “I guess I really did kick the ghoul juice for good.”</p><p></p><p>Creatures appeared beyond the hillock. They were encased in burnished bronze, with arms edged with sharp razors and the rest of its body covered in spines of different shapes and sizes. Most striking of all was their complete lack of facial features: no eyes, nose, or mouth. Three held strange tubes with bulbous sacs dangling from them. Three wielded double-bladed weapons, their heads fanning out like a mockery of a centurion’s crest. The leader rode an eerily featureless horse and carried an axe with a strange bluish-black blade.</p><p></p><p>“I don’t suppose those are friendly,” Sebastian said morosely.</p><p></p><p>“They’re called k’n-yan. They’re the original inhabitants of Carcosa.” Kham cut off further questions with a shake of his head. “Don’t ask me how I know that. I just do.”</p><p></p><p>Beldin concentrated. His axe and armor shimmered into existence. “So that means they’re not friendly.”</p><p></p><p>The air around them was peppered with shots from the strange tubes the things carried. </p><p></p><p>Sebastian pointed and groping yellow tentacles sprang up out of the darkness, entwining the bronze creatures. </p><p></p><p>“Where did you learn that?” asked Kham in surprise.</p><p></p><p>“I…I don’t know,” said Sebastian. He stared down at his hands. </p><p></p><p>“My turn.” </p><p></p><p>Kham concentrated and a beam of energy sliced from his forehead into the k’n-yan leader, who blocked it with a slice of its hand. </p><p></p><p>“Well that wasn’t quite what I had in mind.”</p><p></p><p>The k’n-yan leader extended one palm in their direction, unleashing a cone of ice and sleet. When Beldin looked back, Kham and Sebastian were frozen solid.</p><p></p><p>“No!” shouted Beldin. “I will not allow you to harm them, even here…” the dwarf paused as he realized the power he wielded in the dreamscape. “And I don’t have to ...”</p><p></p><p>Beams of energy splashed against Beldin as he hunched over. His body shuddered as it grew larger and larger. When Beldin drew himself up to his full height, he was over sixty feet tall.</p><p></p><p>He was once again the titan of old, before the weight of the curse. Released of his tiny, twisted form, he roared a challenge. With great sweeps of his axe, he cleared the battlefield, smashing the little bronze figures like matchsticks. The leader was engulfed in the shadow of Beldin’s upraised foot before it came down, flattening horse and rider alike…</p><p></p><p>Kham awoke in a pool of his own sweat. He looked over at the bedrolls in the room. Sebastian and Beldin were also awake, blinking in uncertainty.</p><p></p><p>“So it really was just a…” Sebastian began. Then he stopped to focus on the something in the center of the room.</p><p></p><p>It was a bluish-black blade, the same axe that the bronze creature had wielded in their collective nightmare.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 4650519, member: 3285"] [b]Unpaid Debts: Part 2 – Hello Darkness My Old Friend[/b] After a hard day’s travel, they came to the sleepy hamlet of Grunlau. The way house there offered the last shelter and comfort for weary travelers before the arduous ascent into the high smoking peaks of the volcanic Paerthians. When they arrived, it was near nightfall. They found lodging at a grungy but serviceable inn. Kham awoke to a horrific scream. He sat upright and looked around. He was on a hillock overlooking the town. Poplars of olive and fig trees surrounded him. Creatures from twisted imaginations flew through the air. The terrain formed and reshaped itself, flowing like water, while streams of water twisted and loop through the air itself, flowing upwards then back down again. Sebastian and Beldin sat up out of the mist nearby. “Where are we?” asked Sebastian uncertainly. “The Dreamheart,” he muttered. “Again.” “Again?” Sebastian looked around. “I’ve never been here before.” “I have,” said Beldin. “Only this time no ritual put us here.” “So that’s really you then?” Kham looked up at Beldin uncertainly. He huge, muscular, handsome, and virile. His eyes blazed with silvery fire and his skin was golden. He was a god among men, an ancient titan of old, before the curse of Illiir brought the dwarves low. “Would I look like this if it weren’t?” asked Beldin. “Good point, I always think of you as short and hairy.” Sebastian looked down at his hands. “How do I look?” Kham stared at him for a long moment. “Like a human.” Sebastian felt behind him for his wings and tail. They were gone. Kham faced them. “Okay, be honest with me: do I look like a ghoul?” They shook their heads. “That’s good to know.” Kham was visibly relieved. “I guess I really did kick the ghoul juice for good.” Creatures appeared beyond the hillock. They were encased in burnished bronze, with arms edged with sharp razors and the rest of its body covered in spines of different shapes and sizes. Most striking of all was their complete lack of facial features: no eyes, nose, or mouth. Three held strange tubes with bulbous sacs dangling from them. Three wielded double-bladed weapons, their heads fanning out like a mockery of a centurion’s crest. The leader rode an eerily featureless horse and carried an axe with a strange bluish-black blade. “I don’t suppose those are friendly,” Sebastian said morosely. “They’re called k’n-yan. They’re the original inhabitants of Carcosa.” Kham cut off further questions with a shake of his head. “Don’t ask me how I know that. I just do.” Beldin concentrated. His axe and armor shimmered into existence. “So that means they’re not friendly.” The air around them was peppered with shots from the strange tubes the things carried. Sebastian pointed and groping yellow tentacles sprang up out of the darkness, entwining the bronze creatures. “Where did you learn that?” asked Kham in surprise. “I…I don’t know,” said Sebastian. He stared down at his hands. “My turn.” Kham concentrated and a beam of energy sliced from his forehead into the k’n-yan leader, who blocked it with a slice of its hand. “Well that wasn’t quite what I had in mind.” The k’n-yan leader extended one palm in their direction, unleashing a cone of ice and sleet. When Beldin looked back, Kham and Sebastian were frozen solid. “No!” shouted Beldin. “I will not allow you to harm them, even here…” the dwarf paused as he realized the power he wielded in the dreamscape. “And I don’t have to ...” Beams of energy splashed against Beldin as he hunched over. His body shuddered as it grew larger and larger. When Beldin drew himself up to his full height, he was over sixty feet tall. He was once again the titan of old, before the weight of the curse. Released of his tiny, twisted form, he roared a challenge. With great sweeps of his axe, he cleared the battlefield, smashing the little bronze figures like matchsticks. The leader was engulfed in the shadow of Beldin’s upraised foot before it came down, flattening horse and rider alike… Kham awoke in a pool of his own sweat. He looked over at the bedrolls in the room. Sebastian and Beldin were also awake, blinking in uncertainty. “So it really was just a…” Sebastian began. Then he stopped to focus on the something in the center of the room. It was a bluish-black blade, the same axe that the bronze creature had wielded in their collective nightmare. [/QUOTE]
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