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JollyDoc's Age of Worms (Updated 11/30, Epilogue!)
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<blockquote data-quote="gfunk" data-source="post: 2813775" data-attributes="member: 1813"><p>CLASH OF THE TITANS</p><p></p><p>Prologue:</p><p></p><p>Krekie watched from within the illusory rubble pile which concealed her campsite as the last of the strangers stepped onto the portal and vanished. Her master, in his infinite wisdom, had told her they would come. It was the reason he had left her behind, to her annoyance, while he and the others had journeyed on to Tilagos. Now her wait was over. Several minutes before she crept forward cautiously to examine the now-quiescent Portal of Storms. The gems which had been placed by the strangers were gone, but the kenku did not need them. She had learned much about the workings of magical items through the years, and she could easily manipulate them for her use even without the proper keys or command words. Once more the druidic runes began to glow and Krekie did not hesitate to stand upon the obsidian disc.</p><p></p><p>When she arrived on Tilagos, she caught a glimpse of those she pursued as they disappeared into a dark forest to the south. Like a shadow, she vanished into the high grass of the surrounding plain, and followed after, careful to keep a safe distance where she could still keep her quarry in sight, and yet avoid detection herself. When they camped for the night, she went to ground as well, waiting for her master to contact her, as he did every evening. Krekie could not see the magic sensor which allowed Darl Quethos to scry her, but she could hear his voice speaking in her mind, and she knew that he, in turn, could hear her. He was surprised on this night to find her on Tilagos, and not still in the menhir ruins, but when he heard her news, he congratulated her on her ingenuity. Krekie enjoyed pleasing her master. He told her that she must follow the agents of Lashonna, and monitor their every move. He would contact her nightly for reports.</p><p></p><p>And so it was that the assassin tracked the League, day after day and night after night. She watched with great interest as they made quick work of the Night Twist, taking note of the role each member played within the whole. She followed them into the Thorn Vale and witnessed the demise of the nightmare beast. She watched them ascend Bloodfeather Peak, and return with the roc feather. This puzzled her at first, as she knew that her master had already procured a feather and slain the bird, but when she had reported to Darl that evening, he explained to her that the others had probably returned the roc to life, and then slain it again. Her master was wise beyond measure. She told him in painstaking detail every tactic she had seen the strangers use, and their defenses as well. She knew their weaknesses, for instance, the reluctance of the goliath to leave the ground, fool that he was. She knew that her master would know best how to exploit this information. </p><p></p><p>With the third trial complete, Krekie understood that all that remained was for the intruders to defeat the titan. Midas, that oaf of a minotaur, had failed in his attempt to bargain with the godling, and had paid for it with his life. Krekie felt that the strangers would fare no better, but if they did, her master would be waiting. His final instructions to her were to follow the strangers to the titan’s keep, and meet him there. The servants of Lashonna would unwittingly be serving Darl Quethos as well.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The weathered walls of the keep were torn and ragged. They appeared to have been battered down on more than one occasion, their chipped stone blocks rebuilt haphazardly into makeshift structures with little integrity. Four crumbling towers overlooked the outer courtyard. The archway providing entrance into the compound loomed empty, its iron portcullis nothing more than a heap of twisted black metal lying on the ground nearby.</p><p></p><p>Grubber had again consulted Grumbar to lead them to this place. The earth god’s words had been cryptic: “Those who are imprisoned often seek a view of the freedom that is just beyond their reach.” It had been Giovanni who had hit upon the idea that a titan, even an imprisoned one, would still choose to live above those around it. It would likely construct a keep or castle for itself. So Grubber had utilized a divination to lead him to any unnatural construct on the island. The path had led here, to this ancient ruin overlooking the sea.</p><p></p><p>The League fully anticipated that Krathanos would not willingly give up his belt, and they would be forced to take it from him. When they were still several hundred yards from the keep, they had begun their preparations, casting their defensive spells, and making their plan of attack. It was then they had spotted the gargoyles. Six of the creatures, all armed with bows winged their way towards them. Their bows, however, where not knocked, and they did not seem intent on attack. Havok and Storm disappeared from view as their invisibility spells took effect just before the gargoyles landed.</p><p></p><p>One of the creatures stepped forward and called out in guttural common, “Krathanos the Conqueror, exiled by the gods for his designs to rule all of creation, and shackled by the treacherous druids of Tilagos until such time as brave stalwarts arrive to free him, bids you welcome, and invites you to partake of his hospitality. You will be given food and shelter as you desire.” Puzzled by this unexpected turn of events, the group regarded one another, and then looked to Hawk.</p><p>“We will accompany you to meet your master, for we would have words with him,” the civilar responded, “but if this is treachery, you will be made to pay dearly.”</p><p>The gargoyles did not reply, but simply turned and began flying back towards the keep, assuming their guests would follow.</p><p></p><p>The gargoyles alighted atop the massive, thirty-foot high stone walls that overlooked the inner compound, crouching there silently with their bows near to hand. Apprehensively, the League passed through the broken gates. Inside, several large foundation stones of the original structure still stood, but nothing else. It was little more than an open-air, walled courtyard. Against the west wall, dozens or iron poles had been driven into the ground, and a large, flat slab of stone placed atop them to form four crude cages. Within these pens stood four large, white-furred brutes with ape-like faces and four arms…girallons. As soon as the company entered, the animals began roaring and screeching, shaking the bars of their cells. Slumped against the opposite wall was a huge humanoid male, perfect in form and feature. He wore rich, yet tattered clothing under battered half-plate armor. Around his waist was an emerald-studded golden belt. Gripped in one hand was an immense spiked warhammer. When he saw his guests, he hastily climbed to his feet, a brilliant smile creasing his flawless face.</p><p>“Welcome to the Keep of the Shackled Conqueror!” he boomed in a sarcastic voice, gesturing expansively at the ruins around him.</p><p>“We appreciate your generosity in deigning to meet with us,” Hawk replied, bowing. After a moment, Pavel, Grubber and Faust followed suit.</p><p>“We have come to you with a dilemma,” the civilar continued. Krathanos’ eyebrows rose in interest and he motioned for Hawk to continue.</p><p>“There is a prophecy known as the Age of Worms, which denotes an apocalypse the likes of which our world has never seen. This doom is being brought about by the god Kyuss, who has been imprisoned for more than a millennium. We are trying to prevent this event from coming to pass, and we have learned how to defeat his chief general, the dracolich Dragotha. The knowledge of how to find and destroy his phylactery lies somewhere here on Tilagos, but in order for the Wild Watchers to reveal this information to us, they have decreed that we must complete three tasks for them. The last of these is the procurement of your belt.”</p><p>Krathanos let out a prolonged sigh, waving one hand absently, “Yes, yes, I do remember a worm priest causing quite a fuss with the green beards ages ago. As you say, Kyuss is imprisoned now, not unlike myself. Someday we shall both be free, and your world will tremble at our power!” Hawk glanced uneasily at his companions. No one had told them that the titan was insane.</p><p>“So it’s my belt you want, eh? That’s what the minotaur wanted too.”</p><p>“Minotaur?” Hawk asked.</p><p>“Yes,” the titan replied. “He came here several days past, asking to purchase my belt on behalf of the Hand of the Lich-Lord.”</p><p>“If I may be so bold as to inquire,” Hawk said cautiously, “what was your reply?”</p><p>Krathanos smiled coldly, and then reached into a large bag that hung at his hip and pulled out the severed head of a bull.</p><p>“I hate things whose heads don’t match their bodies,” he said quietly. Then his piercing gaze locked with Hawk’s. “What do you offer me for my most prized possession?”</p><p>Hawk looked puzzled, “What could such as we offer one so mighty?”</p><p>“The one thing I cannot grant myself,” the titan snapped, “freedom. Free me from this place and the belt shall be yours.”</p><p>“Can’t you just open a Gate yourself,” came the disembodied voice of Havok. Instantly, Krathanos’ head whipped from side to side. </p><p>“Who said that?” he demanded. “Who dares come unseen into my home? Show yourself!” A tense moment passed before both Storm and Havok dismissed their invisibility spells.</p><p>“How dare you?” Krathanos roared. “How many more of you are there, eh?” </p><p>Hawk put his hands up placatingly, “We apologize. Please forgive my rude friends. This is in truth our entire company.”</p><p>“Hah!” Krathanos scoffed. “We shall see about that!” He snapped his fingers, and magical power hummed in the air. Havok knew that the titan has just created an invisibility purge within the compound. There would be no hiding now.</p><p>“Now,” Krathanos boomed, clapping his hands together, “will you meet my demands or not?”</p><p>Faust stepped forward. “Are you saying that if we provide you a means off of this plane that you will leave your belt here for us?”</p><p>“Hah!” the titan laughed. “Not likely! You will accompany to my home in Gehenna, and there I will give you the belt. From there, you may go where you will.”</p><p>Hawk was already shaking his head. “I’m afraid we can’t do that. We must remain here until our task is complete.” By this time Krathanos was pacing furiously about the courtyard.</p><p>“So you refuse my magnanimous offer? What else will you give me? Wait! I know! I will accept one of you in trade so that I may be entertained in my solitude.”</p><p>“No way!” Havok blurted out, and immediately regretted doing so. Krathanos eyes narrowed dangerously.</p><p>“Twice now you have insulted me in my own home,” he growled. “It is obvious I do not have your faith nor trust. If we can reach no accord, then you leave me no choice. I will not suffer fools to live!”</p><p></p><p>Havok was in motion before the titan had completed his sentence. Sprinting for cover behind a nearby pillar, he loosed an eldritch blast of acidic power over his shoulder. Grubber was not caught totally unaware either. Raising his hands above his head, he spoke several words in Terran, causing a glowing radiance to flow from them and over his companions, warding them with a magical shield of pure Law. The League members were not alone in their anticipation of Krathanos’ wrath, however. From the walls, the gargoyles opened fire. Most of their arrows missed, or bounced harmlessly off of protective magical barriers, but one managed to find a chink in Hawk’s armor, lodging itself above his clavicle, and another lucky shot pierced the stone-like skin Storm had conjured about her, and the sorceress cried out as it sank into her upper thigh. All the while, Krathanos was moving closer to the group. As he closed, he unleashed a sizzling bolt of lightning targeted at Faust. Fortunately, the psion had prepared for just such an assault, and the discharge rebounded off of him and back towards the titan. Unfortunately, the bolt also split into a chain of four smaller beams, striking Pavel, Storm, Grubber and Hawk. Storm, despite the arrow protruding from her leg, managed a graceful diving roll to one side, evading the deadly shock. Pavel seemed to simply absorb the spell, as Grubber’s shield made him impervious. Grubber himself had encased his body in living iron, grounding himself and sending the bolt harmlessly into the floor. Hawk was not so lucky. He took the full brunt of the blast, causing his military brush-cut to stand on end. Krathanos bellowed in rage, raising one fist to the sky. Instantaneously, four flaming meteors streaked from his hand, three striking Faust, and one Storm. As each one hit, it exploded into a large ball of fire. When the flames cleared, smoke billowed from the psion’s scorched flesh. Storm lay on the ground unmoving, her clothes a charred ruin.</p><p></p><p>Faust knew he had to act fast to avoid suffering the same fate as the drow. With a moment’s thought, he caused time to literally slow down around him, bringing everyone in the area to a complete standstill with the exception of himself. The effect would only last for a few moments, so he took the opportunity to temporarily heal himself somewhat, and then move a safe distance away from the combat. Just before the flow of time resumed, he manifested two small walls of fiery energy directly where Krathanos was standing. An instant later, the titan howled as the flames that were not there a second before now began searing his flesh. Before the titan could react, however, the psion had one more surprise in store. Manipulating time again, he drew memories from Krathanos’ mind of his own death at some future point. Bringing these to the surface would ordinarily overwhelm the psyche of a lesser creature, causing its death to occur prematurely. In this case, Krathanos saw an image of the paladin who was currently standing before him, the one called Hawk, driving his sword through the titan’s heart. Enraged, the titan forced the thoughts from his mind, but the mental trauma still caused him terrible pain.</p><p></p><p>As Pavel and Hawk closed the distance to the raging despot, Havok warned them back, just as he created a nest of writhing, wormy tentacles around the giant. Krathanos was, at least temporarily, unable to extricate himself from the burning walls Faust had created.</p><p></p><p>Grubber hastily called another prayer to his lips, this time summoning a huge maul of pure energy. At his command, it slammed into the titan, unleashing a wave or righteous power that staggered him.</p><p></p><p>“Kill the magic wielders!” Krathanos roared at his minions, and at his command the gargoyles unleashed a hail of arrows upon Faust and Havok, but the mundane projectiles had no hope of penetrating the magical wards the psion and warlock had woven about them. </p><p></p><p>By this time Krathanos was in a blind fury. The image of Hawk’s killing blow replayed itself over and over in his head, and now the paladin and his dwarf ally stood at his feet. Gripping his hammer with both hands, the titan swung with all his might. Instantly, one of Pavel’s hammers exploded. On the backswing, the dwarf’s second weapon shattered as well. Laughing maniacally, Krathanos then turned on Hawk, and raised his maul again. Hawk knew what was coming, but could do nothing to stop it. When the hammer struck Quaero, his ancestral blade, the civilar felt the shock of the blow all the way down his arm. When the second blow fell, his arm went completely numb. In his mind, he heard the sword groan in pain, as its metal neared its breaking point. Next to him, he saw Pavel’s face go white with fear, an emotion he had never seen the dwarf exhibit. Taking to the air with the magic of one of his ubiquitous potions of flight, Pavel made a line for the keep’s exit. As he moved, however, Krathanos’ brought his hammer down one final time upon his spine. Hawk heard the audible crack, and Pavel cried out, but did not waver from his path. In a moment, he was gone. Hawk stood alone. He knew that if he gave the titan another chance, Quaero would be destroyed. If he tried to retreat, he probably wouldn’t get very far. Steeling himself, he made the only decision he could. He attacked. Calling on both the power of Helm and Quaero, he smote the titan with holy wrath, causing Krathanos to double over in pain. As he did so, Hawk drove his blade straight thru the giant’s chest and deep into his heart. Krathanos sagged to one knee, spat up a great gout of blood, and fell with ground-shaking impact.</p><p></p><p></p><p>“The titan is dead,” Malhazar said as he rematerialized from his gaseous form. The efreeti had been observing the battle unseen from high above the ruined keep.</p><p>“Then it is time,” Darl Quethos intoned. “We must take the belt and rid ourselves of these interlopers. Malhazar, you and Nalhazzarath will go over the walls first. Seize the belt and kill any who stand in your way. Be most wary of the psion and the warlock.” The elemental prince nodded, as did the infernal cornugon who stood beside him.</p><p>“Jalagar and Sabir,” the priest continued, turning to the twin tieflings, clothed all in back, with only their eyes and the tips of their small horns showing, “you will provide support. Harry the warriors and keep them occupied. Krekie and I will follow. Remember, all of you, I will not tolerate failure.” The Velsharoonian flexed the withered hand attached to his left wrist for emphasis. </p><p></p><p>Malhazar and Nalhazzarath started up the hill towards the castle, the efreeti whistling sharply to an immense black stallion that grazed nearby. The cauchemar had flaming hooves, and smoke billowed from its nostrils as it snorted and approached its master. For his part, Nalhazzarath waved one hand before him, where the air rippled and coalesced into a huge, black-skinned giant, its features blank except for two glowing eyes. ‘This should give them pause,’ the devil chuckled to himself.</p><p></p><p>Pavel streaked out of the castle, his back burning in agony from the wound Krathanos had inflicted. An unreasoning panic had seized him the moment his weapons had been sundered. He had never felt so…helpless. He had no thought for where he was going, or what he would do until he saw the newcomers approaching. The efreeti he recognized from Lashonna’s scrying spell. The other creature he had never seen, nor did he remember spying a damned giant horse, or the other giant for that matter! In that moment, reason returned, and he knew that he could not leave the others to their fate. Whirling in mid-air, he turned back towards the keep. He had to warn them.</p><p></p><p>Though Krathanos was down, his minions did not falter in their relentless volley of arrows. Grubber couldn’t be sure if Storm was dead or alive, and he was afraid that one of the missiles might strike her at any moment, ending any chance he might have of saving her. With a sweep of his arm he hurled a storm of razor-sharp shards towards the nearest three gargoyles. As the shards struck, they exploded in a brilliant white light, and all three archers dropped their bows, clutching at their eyes. Panic seized them, and they took flight, disappearing out of sight over the wall. One of the three remaining gargoyles leaped off the wall, gliding to the ground in a full charge towards the goliath. When he reached Grubber, he raked his talons across the priest’s back, but he might as well have been striking an iron golem. Grubber didn’t have time to waste sparring with the brute. He had to get to Storm. It was only then that he noticed that the gargoyle had placed himself between him and the sorceress.</p><p></p><p>At that moment, Pavel streaked back through the shattered gate of the keep, landing at Hawk’s side.</p><p>“Sorry boy. Don’t know what came over me.” Then he called out so that all could hear, “Ye’d best prepare yerselves! Our one-handed friend’s sent his lackeys to pay us a visit!”</p><p>Hawk cursed, and then did something that completely stunned the dwarf. He handed him Quaero.</p><p>“Take it,” the civilar said. “I’ll use my shield if necessary. For now I need you to watch my back.” Hawk then turned towards the lifeless titan and crawled up his torso to stand on his back. Once there he set about unbuckling Krathanos’ golden belt.</p><p></p><p>Three things happened simultaneously a moment later. Nalhazzarath alighted atop the wall to the west of the gate, while Malhazar flew onto the east one. Through the gate itself came the ebon giant. Pavel braced himself, holding the unfamiliar weapon before him, but there was no way he could ward against the fireball that the devil hurled at him and Hawk. Though the flames seared their flesh, the dwarf did not waver, and Hawk never hesitated in his task. Their pain was even greater, and their resolve stronger when the efreeti sent his own scorching blast of fire at each of them. On the heels of these attacks, two black-clad figures darted inside the gate, maneuvering between the legs of the giant and moving to flank Pavel before he was more than aware of their presence. The Sinfire twins had arrived.</p><p></p><p>Grubber was torn. On one side, Storm’s life might hang in the balance, while on the other Hawk and Pavel where fighting for their own lives. In the end, though it agonized him to do so, he had to do what he could for those who might still survive. As he finished the words to the powerful prayer, all of the dwarf’s and the civilar’s wounds vanished in an instant. Suddenly, from behind him, Grubber heard an evil laugh. When he turned back, he saw that the gargoyle had picked up Storm and slung her limp form over its shoulder. It crouched, and then leaped into the air.</p><p></p><p>Malhazar’s command to Blackfire had been clear…kill the stone giant! Now the cauchemar sailed over the wall and ran through the air towards the psion, who was sheltered behind a distant pillar. The hooves of the nightmarish horse sent up gouts of flame as they pounded on empty space, and its nostrils poured steam and ash. Faust seemed unconcerned. He simply stood with his arms folded, right up until the moment that Blackfire landed, rearing in front of him. Then he reached out one hand and placed it on the great horse’s chest, and with a simple mental command, sent the beast back to its home in the Abyss. Smiling to himself, the psion darted from behind his cover, heading across the courtyard for a better vantage point. As he did so, he saw the ebony-skinned giant standing in the gate. A nightwalker! Fear gibbered in his head as he realized their danger, but it took only a moment for a small detail to occur to him. He couldn’t ‘see’ the creature with his Touchsight. ‘Damn clever,’ he had to admit. An illusion.</p><p>“’Ware the giant!” He called to his allies. “Don’t believe what your eyes tell you. It isn’t real!”</p><p></p><p>Pavel heard Faust, but he had more pressing issues to deal with. Roaring a battle-cry, he swung at the nearest tiefling, Sabir. Though the weapon connected solidly, and the monk bled satisfactorily, Pavel could not help but notice the difference between the sword being wielded by his hand compared to that of its true master. He only had a moment to ponder this though, as the weapon was suddenly snatched from his grip by Sabir. Immediately Jalagar struck from behind, his fists moving with blinding speed, pummeling the dwarf about the head.</p><p></p><p>Nalhazzarath nodded in satisfaction when he saw that the twins had the situation with the dwarf well in hand. Now he could have his own fun. The goliath priest stood alone in the middle of the battlefield and the cornugon had not tasted holy blood in a long time. With a roar, he leaped from the wall, landing heavily right behind Grubber. Cracking his chain like a whip, he flayed it across the goliath’s back. Shock filled Grubber’s eyes as his mind registered the pain he felt. The devil’s chain had actually managed to penetrate the iron casing that protected his flesh!</p><p></p><p>Malhazar was not as pleased by what he was seeing. The cursed civilar had managed to remove the titan’s belt and was even now buckling it around his chest like a bandolier! The Exiled Flame flew from the wall, drawing his flaming falchion as he moved. As he landed, he sent another sizzling burst of fire at the dwarf, this time striking the foul little brute squarely in the face. He was pleased by the mortal’s scream. </p><p></p><p>Havok knew a bad situation when he saw one. Though the others desperately needed his help, he wouldn’t be of much use to them dead, and at ground zero he was a sitting duck. Willing himself invisible once more, he darted into the sky, reaching a height some hundred feet or more above the melee. It was then that he saw the newest arrivals on the scene. Darl Quethos and his kenku minion were moving through the gate, cloaked by invisibility, just as he was. Only his demon-touched eyes allowed him to see them at all. He prayed it was not too late.</p><p></p><p>Havok wasn’t the only one to take note of Darl’s arrival. Thanks to his permanently imbued ability to see the unseen, Grubber saw the priest’s approach as well. Not that he could do anything about it, not even when the Velsharoonian targeted him with a dispelling field, ripping asunder several of his lesser protective charms. Worse, even after his attack, Darl remained invisible!</p><p></p><p>Faust was too far from the gate for his Touchsight to reveal Darl’s presence. What he did notice, however, were the remaining two gargoyles closing on him from either side. Again, he was unconcerned, even when one of them tackled him, grabbing him in a mighty-bear hug. It’s brother soon joined in, both of them laughing all along. Faust’s own smile was the last thing they saw, though, as he mentally banished them both to whatever gods-forsaken plane they called home.</p><p></p><p>Grubber was in a near panic. The gargoyle was getting away with Storm. Pavel and Hawk were surrounded, he was facing a chain wielding cornugon all alone, and Darl Quethos stood poised to end them all at his leisure! The goliath did the only thing he could think of…he spoke a Holy Word. The results were instantaneous and dramatic. The gargoyle, Nalhazzarath, and the Sinfire twins were all struck deaf and blind. Unfortunately, so was Pavel. Grubber had forgotten that the dwarf’s world-view, though not evil, might not necessarily be what one might consider good. Malhazar seemed unphased, much to the priest’s dismay. </p><p></p><p>For Pavel, things were quickly going to Hades in a hand-basket. Unarmed, deaf and blind, he was at the mercy of his enemies. He had to get clear. He leaped into the air, striving for altitude, but Malhazar’s falchion slashed at him as he fled. A parting scorching blast from the efreeti solidified the dwarf’s decision to quit the field a second time.</p><p></p><p>Malhazar let the dwarf go. He was of no consequence now. His immediate concern was the belt, and the paladin who held it. As Hawk was securing the final straps in place, the efreeti struck, his blade cutting deep into the civilar’s back, and then sending fire exploding through the wound. </p><p></p><p>Havok watched the chaos continue to unfold below. Even now, Krekie was creeping unseen behind Hawk’s back. The civilar was under attack from all sides! He was crippled without his blade. Quickly the warlock fired back-to-back eldritch blasts at the tiefling who held Quaero. Both bolts were direct hits, and the monk was dead before he hit the ground. </p><p></p><p>Nalhazzarath was infuriated that his prey had eluded him so easily. He lashed out in fury, hurling another fireball where he had last seen the dwarf and the paladin, heedless of the fact that his own allies might be caught in the blast. As it was, both Krekie and Jalagar managed to dodge the worst of the explosion. Malhazar’s fiery nature protected him from the flames. Grubber and Hawk were not so lucky. Their wounds were becoming grievous. </p><p></p><p>“That damnable mud-worshipper!” Darl cursed, seeing the effects the Grubber’s ruinous spell had wreaked upon his minions. Calling upon the Liche Lord, he cast his own prayer, one identical to that Grubber had used to heal Pavel and Hawk, only this time, not only did it heal the wounds of Darl’s cohorts, but it also removed their afflictions, returning their sight and hearing.</p><p></p><p>Grubber’s fear was not subsiding. Despite his best efforts, his team was losing ground fast. Desperately, he loosed a second Storm of Shards, wounding Nalhazzarath and Malhazar, but failing to blind either of them. The fleeing gargoyle also suffered, but he was still blinded, Darl’s magic not encompassing him. The beast continued to gain altitude, Storm still firmly in his grasp.</p><p></p><p>Jalagar Sinfire was all that stood between Hawk and Quaero, and even now the tiefling stooped to recover the weapon, prying it from his brother’s cold, dead fingers. Enraged that the filth would dare lay hands upon his family blade, and ignoring his own horrendous wounds, Hawk charged, slamming into the monk with his shield. Again and again the civilar hammered at the tiefling, catching him under the chin with a final uppercut, and snapping his head back with a loud crack. As Jalagar staggered backwards, two more blasts from Havok streaked from the sky, nearly bowling the monk over with their impact. </p><p></p><p>“Fools!” Darl cried, incensed at the ineptitude of his ‘crack’ team. “Jalagar! Take the goliath! Malhazar! Nalhazzarath! Kill the paladin now!” </p><p>With practiced synchronicity, the combatants changed targets. Jalagar rushed towards Grubber, who was in the act of raising his maul in defense when the monk almost casually plucked it from his hands. Jalagar now held Quaero in one hand, and Grubber’s maul in the other.</p><p>For their part, Nalhazzarath lunged at Hawk, sinking his fangs into the civilar’s free arm, while Malhazar slashed at him with his falchion, before scorching him with another fiery ray. </p><p></p><p>Darl nodded in satisfaction. Now that the pawns were being dealt with, it was time for him to confront the true threat. The warlock was too far away, but it was no matter. Once his friends were slain, he would either flee or perish if he stood his ground. No, it was the psion that Darl was concerned with. He could just glimpse the élan, now in his stone-giant form, cowering behind one of the pillars. A glimpse was all he needed. With a voice that boomed like thunder, the Velsharoonian priest unleashed his most powerful spell…a Disjunction. Like a holocaust wave, the magic swept across the battlefield, engulfing both friend and foe alike. In an instant, every single magical effect on every individual was snuffed out like a candle in the wind. Even several magical items, weapons and armor were stripped of their enchantments, becoming mundane again. </p><p></p><p>Faust’s giant-form vanished, replaced by his natural, weaker one. The psion couldn’t believe what has just happened. In one fell swoop, Darl Quethos had robbed them of all of their defenses, while keeping his own, if not those of his allies, intact. It was going to be like shooting fish in a barrel. There was no way that Faust could replace his wards. His mental energies were nearly exhausted. He had just enough power left for a few offensive abilities, and he knew that he had to strike now, while some of his foes were similarly weakened. Concentrating, he conjured a massive orb of frigid cold, hurling it towards the knot of opponents. It detonated with cataclysmic effect. When the mist and frost cleared, Krekie, Jalagar Sinfire, and Malhazar, the Exiled Flame all lay dead on the ground.</p><p></p><p>Hawk didn’t know what all had just transpired, but he knew one thing…Quaero was free. The sword lay on the ground near the dead monk, and Hawk dove for it. As he did so, the cornugon struck, his spiked chain flaying the skin from the civilar’s arm. Still, as he rolled to his feet, Quaero was his once more, and he now stood back to back with Grubber. Uttering a quick prayer, Grubber laid one hand on Hawk’s shoulder, once again healing all of his wounds. It was the last act the goliath would perform in this battle. Darl Quethos strode boldly forward, the Hand of Velsharoon raised as he approached. He uttered a single, vile word and an explosion of unholy power ripped through Hawk and Grubber. Hawk’s head swam, and he felt his strength leave him. He could barely raise his shield as Nalhazzarath took the opportunity to press his attack. His chain lashed out again, rending Hawk’s flesh, and then his barbed tail struck the civilar across the face, leaving a wound that gushed blood as if it had struck an artery. When Hawk’s vision finally cleared, he saw that Grubber had fared far worse than he. The goliath was paralyzed, rooted in place by the foul power of the Hand.</p><p></p><p>“Do you see how easy that was?” Darl asked Nalhazzarath. The cornugon shrugged as the priest laid his whole hand upon him, healing his wounds. He was not sure that the loss of over half your forces could be called easy, but who was he to contradict the Chosen of Velsharoon?</p><p>“I am feeling particular benevolent today,” Darl said, smiling at Hawk. “Give me the belt now, and no more of your friends have to suffer.”</p><p>“Over…my…dead…body!” Hawk snarled through a mask of gore. </p><p>“So be it,” Darl said coldly. As he began to move forward once more, though, he saw, through the enchanted Robe of Eyes that he wore, Havok land suddenly behind the civilar. The warlock had a scroll in hand, and as he read it, his hand glowed blue. Quickly he grabbed Hawk’s shoulder, and the paladin’s wounds were healed a third time.</p><p>“Futile,” Darl drawled. Then he began to pray. When he had finished his prayer, there seemed to be no immediate effect…until he walked brazenly up to the paladin and the warlock. Only then did Havok realize the enormity of what the priest had done. He had surrounded himself with a null-magic field. No magic of any kind would operate within it, including that of Darl himself. At first glance, this seemed like suicide, until Havok saw Nalhazzarath twirling his chain and grinning. The cornugon did not rely on magic to kill. A moment later, the devil was upon him. The whirling chain flensed him like a hot knife through butter. This was followed by a savage lash from the cornugon’s tail, inflicting a bloody wound similar to the one bestowed on Hawk, and then a vicious bite. Giovanni Vito felt his life’s blood leaving him. He staggered back and abruptly felt his magic return. In his current condition, though, he still wouldn’t last long. Quickly pulling another scroll from his belt, he read the magic contained therein and sent an orb of pure force hurtling at the devil. </p><p></p><p>Hawk felt Quaero grow quiescent in his grip, but he also saw that Darl had become visible. He didn’t waste the opportunity. Stepping forward, he slashed repeatedly at the priest, unable to bring the full magic of his sword to bear, but dealing telling blows nonetheless. </p><p>“Kill him!” Darl screamed, and with that, Nalhazzarath turned his attention to the civilar, beating him mercilessly again and again. Only then did Darl speak a single word, dismissing his spell, and vanishing from view once more.</p><p>“Not…so…fast!” Hawk hissed, pushing the agony he was suffering at the hands of the cornugon from his mind. Though he couldn’t see the priest, he knew where he had just been, and it was there that he struck. Twice he felt his blade connect with something solid, the second time sinking deep into soft flesh. Twice he had the satisfaction of hearing Darl scream.</p><p></p><p>“Faust!” Havok shouted. “We need to end this…now!” </p><p>“On my word!” The psion cried. “One…two….three!” Simultaneously, Havok used the magic from another scroll, hurling a second orb of force at Nalhazzarath while Faust manifested a crackling orb of electricity. As the twin globes exploded, the cornugon was literally blown out of existence. Havok saw Darl moving away, and called out to Hawk to follow. Pulling another scroll, he summoned an orb of fire to strike the priest. Still Darl Quethos stood. He glared balefully at the warlock.</p><p>“This is not over,” he whispered. “We will meet again.” With that, he snapped his fingers and a planar rift opened around him, whisking him from Tilagos forever.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="gfunk, post: 2813775, member: 1813"] CLASH OF THE TITANS Prologue: Krekie watched from within the illusory rubble pile which concealed her campsite as the last of the strangers stepped onto the portal and vanished. Her master, in his infinite wisdom, had told her they would come. It was the reason he had left her behind, to her annoyance, while he and the others had journeyed on to Tilagos. Now her wait was over. Several minutes before she crept forward cautiously to examine the now-quiescent Portal of Storms. The gems which had been placed by the strangers were gone, but the kenku did not need them. She had learned much about the workings of magical items through the years, and she could easily manipulate them for her use even without the proper keys or command words. Once more the druidic runes began to glow and Krekie did not hesitate to stand upon the obsidian disc. When she arrived on Tilagos, she caught a glimpse of those she pursued as they disappeared into a dark forest to the south. Like a shadow, she vanished into the high grass of the surrounding plain, and followed after, careful to keep a safe distance where she could still keep her quarry in sight, and yet avoid detection herself. When they camped for the night, she went to ground as well, waiting for her master to contact her, as he did every evening. Krekie could not see the magic sensor which allowed Darl Quethos to scry her, but she could hear his voice speaking in her mind, and she knew that he, in turn, could hear her. He was surprised on this night to find her on Tilagos, and not still in the menhir ruins, but when he heard her news, he congratulated her on her ingenuity. Krekie enjoyed pleasing her master. He told her that she must follow the agents of Lashonna, and monitor their every move. He would contact her nightly for reports. And so it was that the assassin tracked the League, day after day and night after night. She watched with great interest as they made quick work of the Night Twist, taking note of the role each member played within the whole. She followed them into the Thorn Vale and witnessed the demise of the nightmare beast. She watched them ascend Bloodfeather Peak, and return with the roc feather. This puzzled her at first, as she knew that her master had already procured a feather and slain the bird, but when she had reported to Darl that evening, he explained to her that the others had probably returned the roc to life, and then slain it again. Her master was wise beyond measure. She told him in painstaking detail every tactic she had seen the strangers use, and their defenses as well. She knew their weaknesses, for instance, the reluctance of the goliath to leave the ground, fool that he was. She knew that her master would know best how to exploit this information. With the third trial complete, Krekie understood that all that remained was for the intruders to defeat the titan. Midas, that oaf of a minotaur, had failed in his attempt to bargain with the godling, and had paid for it with his life. Krekie felt that the strangers would fare no better, but if they did, her master would be waiting. His final instructions to her were to follow the strangers to the titan’s keep, and meet him there. The servants of Lashonna would unwittingly be serving Darl Quethos as well. The weathered walls of the keep were torn and ragged. They appeared to have been battered down on more than one occasion, their chipped stone blocks rebuilt haphazardly into makeshift structures with little integrity. Four crumbling towers overlooked the outer courtyard. The archway providing entrance into the compound loomed empty, its iron portcullis nothing more than a heap of twisted black metal lying on the ground nearby. Grubber had again consulted Grumbar to lead them to this place. The earth god’s words had been cryptic: “Those who are imprisoned often seek a view of the freedom that is just beyond their reach.” It had been Giovanni who had hit upon the idea that a titan, even an imprisoned one, would still choose to live above those around it. It would likely construct a keep or castle for itself. So Grubber had utilized a divination to lead him to any unnatural construct on the island. The path had led here, to this ancient ruin overlooking the sea. The League fully anticipated that Krathanos would not willingly give up his belt, and they would be forced to take it from him. When they were still several hundred yards from the keep, they had begun their preparations, casting their defensive spells, and making their plan of attack. It was then they had spotted the gargoyles. Six of the creatures, all armed with bows winged their way towards them. Their bows, however, where not knocked, and they did not seem intent on attack. Havok and Storm disappeared from view as their invisibility spells took effect just before the gargoyles landed. One of the creatures stepped forward and called out in guttural common, “Krathanos the Conqueror, exiled by the gods for his designs to rule all of creation, and shackled by the treacherous druids of Tilagos until such time as brave stalwarts arrive to free him, bids you welcome, and invites you to partake of his hospitality. You will be given food and shelter as you desire.” Puzzled by this unexpected turn of events, the group regarded one another, and then looked to Hawk. “We will accompany you to meet your master, for we would have words with him,” the civilar responded, “but if this is treachery, you will be made to pay dearly.” The gargoyles did not reply, but simply turned and began flying back towards the keep, assuming their guests would follow. The gargoyles alighted atop the massive, thirty-foot high stone walls that overlooked the inner compound, crouching there silently with their bows near to hand. Apprehensively, the League passed through the broken gates. Inside, several large foundation stones of the original structure still stood, but nothing else. It was little more than an open-air, walled courtyard. Against the west wall, dozens or iron poles had been driven into the ground, and a large, flat slab of stone placed atop them to form four crude cages. Within these pens stood four large, white-furred brutes with ape-like faces and four arms…girallons. As soon as the company entered, the animals began roaring and screeching, shaking the bars of their cells. Slumped against the opposite wall was a huge humanoid male, perfect in form and feature. He wore rich, yet tattered clothing under battered half-plate armor. Around his waist was an emerald-studded golden belt. Gripped in one hand was an immense spiked warhammer. When he saw his guests, he hastily climbed to his feet, a brilliant smile creasing his flawless face. “Welcome to the Keep of the Shackled Conqueror!” he boomed in a sarcastic voice, gesturing expansively at the ruins around him. “We appreciate your generosity in deigning to meet with us,” Hawk replied, bowing. After a moment, Pavel, Grubber and Faust followed suit. “We have come to you with a dilemma,” the civilar continued. Krathanos’ eyebrows rose in interest and he motioned for Hawk to continue. “There is a prophecy known as the Age of Worms, which denotes an apocalypse the likes of which our world has never seen. This doom is being brought about by the god Kyuss, who has been imprisoned for more than a millennium. We are trying to prevent this event from coming to pass, and we have learned how to defeat his chief general, the dracolich Dragotha. The knowledge of how to find and destroy his phylactery lies somewhere here on Tilagos, but in order for the Wild Watchers to reveal this information to us, they have decreed that we must complete three tasks for them. The last of these is the procurement of your belt.” Krathanos let out a prolonged sigh, waving one hand absently, “Yes, yes, I do remember a worm priest causing quite a fuss with the green beards ages ago. As you say, Kyuss is imprisoned now, not unlike myself. Someday we shall both be free, and your world will tremble at our power!” Hawk glanced uneasily at his companions. No one had told them that the titan was insane. “So it’s my belt you want, eh? That’s what the minotaur wanted too.” “Minotaur?” Hawk asked. “Yes,” the titan replied. “He came here several days past, asking to purchase my belt on behalf of the Hand of the Lich-Lord.” “If I may be so bold as to inquire,” Hawk said cautiously, “what was your reply?” Krathanos smiled coldly, and then reached into a large bag that hung at his hip and pulled out the severed head of a bull. “I hate things whose heads don’t match their bodies,” he said quietly. Then his piercing gaze locked with Hawk’s. “What do you offer me for my most prized possession?” Hawk looked puzzled, “What could such as we offer one so mighty?” “The one thing I cannot grant myself,” the titan snapped, “freedom. Free me from this place and the belt shall be yours.” “Can’t you just open a Gate yourself,” came the disembodied voice of Havok. Instantly, Krathanos’ head whipped from side to side. “Who said that?” he demanded. “Who dares come unseen into my home? Show yourself!” A tense moment passed before both Storm and Havok dismissed their invisibility spells. “How dare you?” Krathanos roared. “How many more of you are there, eh?” Hawk put his hands up placatingly, “We apologize. Please forgive my rude friends. This is in truth our entire company.” “Hah!” Krathanos scoffed. “We shall see about that!” He snapped his fingers, and magical power hummed in the air. Havok knew that the titan has just created an invisibility purge within the compound. There would be no hiding now. “Now,” Krathanos boomed, clapping his hands together, “will you meet my demands or not?” Faust stepped forward. “Are you saying that if we provide you a means off of this plane that you will leave your belt here for us?” “Hah!” the titan laughed. “Not likely! You will accompany to my home in Gehenna, and there I will give you the belt. From there, you may go where you will.” Hawk was already shaking his head. “I’m afraid we can’t do that. We must remain here until our task is complete.” By this time Krathanos was pacing furiously about the courtyard. “So you refuse my magnanimous offer? What else will you give me? Wait! I know! I will accept one of you in trade so that I may be entertained in my solitude.” “No way!” Havok blurted out, and immediately regretted doing so. Krathanos eyes narrowed dangerously. “Twice now you have insulted me in my own home,” he growled. “It is obvious I do not have your faith nor trust. If we can reach no accord, then you leave me no choice. I will not suffer fools to live!” Havok was in motion before the titan had completed his sentence. Sprinting for cover behind a nearby pillar, he loosed an eldritch blast of acidic power over his shoulder. Grubber was not caught totally unaware either. Raising his hands above his head, he spoke several words in Terran, causing a glowing radiance to flow from them and over his companions, warding them with a magical shield of pure Law. The League members were not alone in their anticipation of Krathanos’ wrath, however. From the walls, the gargoyles opened fire. Most of their arrows missed, or bounced harmlessly off of protective magical barriers, but one managed to find a chink in Hawk’s armor, lodging itself above his clavicle, and another lucky shot pierced the stone-like skin Storm had conjured about her, and the sorceress cried out as it sank into her upper thigh. All the while, Krathanos was moving closer to the group. As he closed, he unleashed a sizzling bolt of lightning targeted at Faust. Fortunately, the psion had prepared for just such an assault, and the discharge rebounded off of him and back towards the titan. Unfortunately, the bolt also split into a chain of four smaller beams, striking Pavel, Storm, Grubber and Hawk. Storm, despite the arrow protruding from her leg, managed a graceful diving roll to one side, evading the deadly shock. Pavel seemed to simply absorb the spell, as Grubber’s shield made him impervious. Grubber himself had encased his body in living iron, grounding himself and sending the bolt harmlessly into the floor. Hawk was not so lucky. He took the full brunt of the blast, causing his military brush-cut to stand on end. Krathanos bellowed in rage, raising one fist to the sky. Instantaneously, four flaming meteors streaked from his hand, three striking Faust, and one Storm. As each one hit, it exploded into a large ball of fire. When the flames cleared, smoke billowed from the psion’s scorched flesh. Storm lay on the ground unmoving, her clothes a charred ruin. Faust knew he had to act fast to avoid suffering the same fate as the drow. With a moment’s thought, he caused time to literally slow down around him, bringing everyone in the area to a complete standstill with the exception of himself. The effect would only last for a few moments, so he took the opportunity to temporarily heal himself somewhat, and then move a safe distance away from the combat. Just before the flow of time resumed, he manifested two small walls of fiery energy directly where Krathanos was standing. An instant later, the titan howled as the flames that were not there a second before now began searing his flesh. Before the titan could react, however, the psion had one more surprise in store. Manipulating time again, he drew memories from Krathanos’ mind of his own death at some future point. Bringing these to the surface would ordinarily overwhelm the psyche of a lesser creature, causing its death to occur prematurely. In this case, Krathanos saw an image of the paladin who was currently standing before him, the one called Hawk, driving his sword through the titan’s heart. Enraged, the titan forced the thoughts from his mind, but the mental trauma still caused him terrible pain. As Pavel and Hawk closed the distance to the raging despot, Havok warned them back, just as he created a nest of writhing, wormy tentacles around the giant. Krathanos was, at least temporarily, unable to extricate himself from the burning walls Faust had created. Grubber hastily called another prayer to his lips, this time summoning a huge maul of pure energy. At his command, it slammed into the titan, unleashing a wave or righteous power that staggered him. “Kill the magic wielders!” Krathanos roared at his minions, and at his command the gargoyles unleashed a hail of arrows upon Faust and Havok, but the mundane projectiles had no hope of penetrating the magical wards the psion and warlock had woven about them. By this time Krathanos was in a blind fury. The image of Hawk’s killing blow replayed itself over and over in his head, and now the paladin and his dwarf ally stood at his feet. Gripping his hammer with both hands, the titan swung with all his might. Instantly, one of Pavel’s hammers exploded. On the backswing, the dwarf’s second weapon shattered as well. Laughing maniacally, Krathanos then turned on Hawk, and raised his maul again. Hawk knew what was coming, but could do nothing to stop it. When the hammer struck Quaero, his ancestral blade, the civilar felt the shock of the blow all the way down his arm. When the second blow fell, his arm went completely numb. In his mind, he heard the sword groan in pain, as its metal neared its breaking point. Next to him, he saw Pavel’s face go white with fear, an emotion he had never seen the dwarf exhibit. Taking to the air with the magic of one of his ubiquitous potions of flight, Pavel made a line for the keep’s exit. As he moved, however, Krathanos’ brought his hammer down one final time upon his spine. Hawk heard the audible crack, and Pavel cried out, but did not waver from his path. In a moment, he was gone. Hawk stood alone. He knew that if he gave the titan another chance, Quaero would be destroyed. If he tried to retreat, he probably wouldn’t get very far. Steeling himself, he made the only decision he could. He attacked. Calling on both the power of Helm and Quaero, he smote the titan with holy wrath, causing Krathanos to double over in pain. As he did so, Hawk drove his blade straight thru the giant’s chest and deep into his heart. Krathanos sagged to one knee, spat up a great gout of blood, and fell with ground-shaking impact. “The titan is dead,” Malhazar said as he rematerialized from his gaseous form. The efreeti had been observing the battle unseen from high above the ruined keep. “Then it is time,” Darl Quethos intoned. “We must take the belt and rid ourselves of these interlopers. Malhazar, you and Nalhazzarath will go over the walls first. Seize the belt and kill any who stand in your way. Be most wary of the psion and the warlock.” The elemental prince nodded, as did the infernal cornugon who stood beside him. “Jalagar and Sabir,” the priest continued, turning to the twin tieflings, clothed all in back, with only their eyes and the tips of their small horns showing, “you will provide support. Harry the warriors and keep them occupied. Krekie and I will follow. Remember, all of you, I will not tolerate failure.” The Velsharoonian flexed the withered hand attached to his left wrist for emphasis. Malhazar and Nalhazzarath started up the hill towards the castle, the efreeti whistling sharply to an immense black stallion that grazed nearby. The cauchemar had flaming hooves, and smoke billowed from its nostrils as it snorted and approached its master. For his part, Nalhazzarath waved one hand before him, where the air rippled and coalesced into a huge, black-skinned giant, its features blank except for two glowing eyes. ‘This should give them pause,’ the devil chuckled to himself. Pavel streaked out of the castle, his back burning in agony from the wound Krathanos had inflicted. An unreasoning panic had seized him the moment his weapons had been sundered. He had never felt so…helpless. He had no thought for where he was going, or what he would do until he saw the newcomers approaching. The efreeti he recognized from Lashonna’s scrying spell. The other creature he had never seen, nor did he remember spying a damned giant horse, or the other giant for that matter! In that moment, reason returned, and he knew that he could not leave the others to their fate. Whirling in mid-air, he turned back towards the keep. He had to warn them. Though Krathanos was down, his minions did not falter in their relentless volley of arrows. Grubber couldn’t be sure if Storm was dead or alive, and he was afraid that one of the missiles might strike her at any moment, ending any chance he might have of saving her. With a sweep of his arm he hurled a storm of razor-sharp shards towards the nearest three gargoyles. As the shards struck, they exploded in a brilliant white light, and all three archers dropped their bows, clutching at their eyes. Panic seized them, and they took flight, disappearing out of sight over the wall. One of the three remaining gargoyles leaped off the wall, gliding to the ground in a full charge towards the goliath. When he reached Grubber, he raked his talons across the priest’s back, but he might as well have been striking an iron golem. Grubber didn’t have time to waste sparring with the brute. He had to get to Storm. It was only then that he noticed that the gargoyle had placed himself between him and the sorceress. At that moment, Pavel streaked back through the shattered gate of the keep, landing at Hawk’s side. “Sorry boy. Don’t know what came over me.” Then he called out so that all could hear, “Ye’d best prepare yerselves! Our one-handed friend’s sent his lackeys to pay us a visit!” Hawk cursed, and then did something that completely stunned the dwarf. He handed him Quaero. “Take it,” the civilar said. “I’ll use my shield if necessary. For now I need you to watch my back.” Hawk then turned towards the lifeless titan and crawled up his torso to stand on his back. Once there he set about unbuckling Krathanos’ golden belt. Three things happened simultaneously a moment later. Nalhazzarath alighted atop the wall to the west of the gate, while Malhazar flew onto the east one. Through the gate itself came the ebon giant. Pavel braced himself, holding the unfamiliar weapon before him, but there was no way he could ward against the fireball that the devil hurled at him and Hawk. Though the flames seared their flesh, the dwarf did not waver, and Hawk never hesitated in his task. Their pain was even greater, and their resolve stronger when the efreeti sent his own scorching blast of fire at each of them. On the heels of these attacks, two black-clad figures darted inside the gate, maneuvering between the legs of the giant and moving to flank Pavel before he was more than aware of their presence. The Sinfire twins had arrived. Grubber was torn. On one side, Storm’s life might hang in the balance, while on the other Hawk and Pavel where fighting for their own lives. In the end, though it agonized him to do so, he had to do what he could for those who might still survive. As he finished the words to the powerful prayer, all of the dwarf’s and the civilar’s wounds vanished in an instant. Suddenly, from behind him, Grubber heard an evil laugh. When he turned back, he saw that the gargoyle had picked up Storm and slung her limp form over its shoulder. It crouched, and then leaped into the air. Malhazar’s command to Blackfire had been clear…kill the stone giant! Now the cauchemar sailed over the wall and ran through the air towards the psion, who was sheltered behind a distant pillar. The hooves of the nightmarish horse sent up gouts of flame as they pounded on empty space, and its nostrils poured steam and ash. Faust seemed unconcerned. He simply stood with his arms folded, right up until the moment that Blackfire landed, rearing in front of him. Then he reached out one hand and placed it on the great horse’s chest, and with a simple mental command, sent the beast back to its home in the Abyss. Smiling to himself, the psion darted from behind his cover, heading across the courtyard for a better vantage point. As he did so, he saw the ebony-skinned giant standing in the gate. A nightwalker! Fear gibbered in his head as he realized their danger, but it took only a moment for a small detail to occur to him. He couldn’t ‘see’ the creature with his Touchsight. ‘Damn clever,’ he had to admit. An illusion. “’Ware the giant!” He called to his allies. “Don’t believe what your eyes tell you. It isn’t real!” Pavel heard Faust, but he had more pressing issues to deal with. Roaring a battle-cry, he swung at the nearest tiefling, Sabir. Though the weapon connected solidly, and the monk bled satisfactorily, Pavel could not help but notice the difference between the sword being wielded by his hand compared to that of its true master. He only had a moment to ponder this though, as the weapon was suddenly snatched from his grip by Sabir. Immediately Jalagar struck from behind, his fists moving with blinding speed, pummeling the dwarf about the head. Nalhazzarath nodded in satisfaction when he saw that the twins had the situation with the dwarf well in hand. Now he could have his own fun. The goliath priest stood alone in the middle of the battlefield and the cornugon had not tasted holy blood in a long time. With a roar, he leaped from the wall, landing heavily right behind Grubber. Cracking his chain like a whip, he flayed it across the goliath’s back. Shock filled Grubber’s eyes as his mind registered the pain he felt. The devil’s chain had actually managed to penetrate the iron casing that protected his flesh! Malhazar was not as pleased by what he was seeing. The cursed civilar had managed to remove the titan’s belt and was even now buckling it around his chest like a bandolier! The Exiled Flame flew from the wall, drawing his flaming falchion as he moved. As he landed, he sent another sizzling burst of fire at the dwarf, this time striking the foul little brute squarely in the face. He was pleased by the mortal’s scream. Havok knew a bad situation when he saw one. Though the others desperately needed his help, he wouldn’t be of much use to them dead, and at ground zero he was a sitting duck. Willing himself invisible once more, he darted into the sky, reaching a height some hundred feet or more above the melee. It was then that he saw the newest arrivals on the scene. Darl Quethos and his kenku minion were moving through the gate, cloaked by invisibility, just as he was. Only his demon-touched eyes allowed him to see them at all. He prayed it was not too late. Havok wasn’t the only one to take note of Darl’s arrival. Thanks to his permanently imbued ability to see the unseen, Grubber saw the priest’s approach as well. Not that he could do anything about it, not even when the Velsharoonian targeted him with a dispelling field, ripping asunder several of his lesser protective charms. Worse, even after his attack, Darl remained invisible! Faust was too far from the gate for his Touchsight to reveal Darl’s presence. What he did notice, however, were the remaining two gargoyles closing on him from either side. Again, he was unconcerned, even when one of them tackled him, grabbing him in a mighty-bear hug. It’s brother soon joined in, both of them laughing all along. Faust’s own smile was the last thing they saw, though, as he mentally banished them both to whatever gods-forsaken plane they called home. Grubber was in a near panic. The gargoyle was getting away with Storm. Pavel and Hawk were surrounded, he was facing a chain wielding cornugon all alone, and Darl Quethos stood poised to end them all at his leisure! The goliath did the only thing he could think of…he spoke a Holy Word. The results were instantaneous and dramatic. The gargoyle, Nalhazzarath, and the Sinfire twins were all struck deaf and blind. Unfortunately, so was Pavel. Grubber had forgotten that the dwarf’s world-view, though not evil, might not necessarily be what one might consider good. Malhazar seemed unphased, much to the priest’s dismay. For Pavel, things were quickly going to Hades in a hand-basket. Unarmed, deaf and blind, he was at the mercy of his enemies. He had to get clear. He leaped into the air, striving for altitude, but Malhazar’s falchion slashed at him as he fled. A parting scorching blast from the efreeti solidified the dwarf’s decision to quit the field a second time. Malhazar let the dwarf go. He was of no consequence now. His immediate concern was the belt, and the paladin who held it. As Hawk was securing the final straps in place, the efreeti struck, his blade cutting deep into the civilar’s back, and then sending fire exploding through the wound. Havok watched the chaos continue to unfold below. Even now, Krekie was creeping unseen behind Hawk’s back. The civilar was under attack from all sides! He was crippled without his blade. Quickly the warlock fired back-to-back eldritch blasts at the tiefling who held Quaero. Both bolts were direct hits, and the monk was dead before he hit the ground. Nalhazzarath was infuriated that his prey had eluded him so easily. He lashed out in fury, hurling another fireball where he had last seen the dwarf and the paladin, heedless of the fact that his own allies might be caught in the blast. As it was, both Krekie and Jalagar managed to dodge the worst of the explosion. Malhazar’s fiery nature protected him from the flames. Grubber and Hawk were not so lucky. Their wounds were becoming grievous. “That damnable mud-worshipper!” Darl cursed, seeing the effects the Grubber’s ruinous spell had wreaked upon his minions. Calling upon the Liche Lord, he cast his own prayer, one identical to that Grubber had used to heal Pavel and Hawk, only this time, not only did it heal the wounds of Darl’s cohorts, but it also removed their afflictions, returning their sight and hearing. Grubber’s fear was not subsiding. Despite his best efforts, his team was losing ground fast. Desperately, he loosed a second Storm of Shards, wounding Nalhazzarath and Malhazar, but failing to blind either of them. The fleeing gargoyle also suffered, but he was still blinded, Darl’s magic not encompassing him. The beast continued to gain altitude, Storm still firmly in his grasp. Jalagar Sinfire was all that stood between Hawk and Quaero, and even now the tiefling stooped to recover the weapon, prying it from his brother’s cold, dead fingers. Enraged that the filth would dare lay hands upon his family blade, and ignoring his own horrendous wounds, Hawk charged, slamming into the monk with his shield. Again and again the civilar hammered at the tiefling, catching him under the chin with a final uppercut, and snapping his head back with a loud crack. As Jalagar staggered backwards, two more blasts from Havok streaked from the sky, nearly bowling the monk over with their impact. “Fools!” Darl cried, incensed at the ineptitude of his ‘crack’ team. “Jalagar! Take the goliath! Malhazar! Nalhazzarath! Kill the paladin now!” With practiced synchronicity, the combatants changed targets. Jalagar rushed towards Grubber, who was in the act of raising his maul in defense when the monk almost casually plucked it from his hands. Jalagar now held Quaero in one hand, and Grubber’s maul in the other. For their part, Nalhazzarath lunged at Hawk, sinking his fangs into the civilar’s free arm, while Malhazar slashed at him with his falchion, before scorching him with another fiery ray. Darl nodded in satisfaction. Now that the pawns were being dealt with, it was time for him to confront the true threat. The warlock was too far away, but it was no matter. Once his friends were slain, he would either flee or perish if he stood his ground. No, it was the psion that Darl was concerned with. He could just glimpse the élan, now in his stone-giant form, cowering behind one of the pillars. A glimpse was all he needed. With a voice that boomed like thunder, the Velsharoonian priest unleashed his most powerful spell…a Disjunction. Like a holocaust wave, the magic swept across the battlefield, engulfing both friend and foe alike. In an instant, every single magical effect on every individual was snuffed out like a candle in the wind. Even several magical items, weapons and armor were stripped of their enchantments, becoming mundane again. Faust’s giant-form vanished, replaced by his natural, weaker one. The psion couldn’t believe what has just happened. In one fell swoop, Darl Quethos had robbed them of all of their defenses, while keeping his own, if not those of his allies, intact. It was going to be like shooting fish in a barrel. There was no way that Faust could replace his wards. His mental energies were nearly exhausted. He had just enough power left for a few offensive abilities, and he knew that he had to strike now, while some of his foes were similarly weakened. Concentrating, he conjured a massive orb of frigid cold, hurling it towards the knot of opponents. It detonated with cataclysmic effect. When the mist and frost cleared, Krekie, Jalagar Sinfire, and Malhazar, the Exiled Flame all lay dead on the ground. Hawk didn’t know what all had just transpired, but he knew one thing…Quaero was free. The sword lay on the ground near the dead monk, and Hawk dove for it. As he did so, the cornugon struck, his spiked chain flaying the skin from the civilar’s arm. Still, as he rolled to his feet, Quaero was his once more, and he now stood back to back with Grubber. Uttering a quick prayer, Grubber laid one hand on Hawk’s shoulder, once again healing all of his wounds. It was the last act the goliath would perform in this battle. Darl Quethos strode boldly forward, the Hand of Velsharoon raised as he approached. He uttered a single, vile word and an explosion of unholy power ripped through Hawk and Grubber. Hawk’s head swam, and he felt his strength leave him. He could barely raise his shield as Nalhazzarath took the opportunity to press his attack. His chain lashed out again, rending Hawk’s flesh, and then his barbed tail struck the civilar across the face, leaving a wound that gushed blood as if it had struck an artery. When Hawk’s vision finally cleared, he saw that Grubber had fared far worse than he. The goliath was paralyzed, rooted in place by the foul power of the Hand. “Do you see how easy that was?” Darl asked Nalhazzarath. The cornugon shrugged as the priest laid his whole hand upon him, healing his wounds. He was not sure that the loss of over half your forces could be called easy, but who was he to contradict the Chosen of Velsharoon? “I am feeling particular benevolent today,” Darl said, smiling at Hawk. “Give me the belt now, and no more of your friends have to suffer.” “Over…my…dead…body!” Hawk snarled through a mask of gore. “So be it,” Darl said coldly. As he began to move forward once more, though, he saw, through the enchanted Robe of Eyes that he wore, Havok land suddenly behind the civilar. The warlock had a scroll in hand, and as he read it, his hand glowed blue. Quickly he grabbed Hawk’s shoulder, and the paladin’s wounds were healed a third time. “Futile,” Darl drawled. Then he began to pray. When he had finished his prayer, there seemed to be no immediate effect…until he walked brazenly up to the paladin and the warlock. Only then did Havok realize the enormity of what the priest had done. He had surrounded himself with a null-magic field. No magic of any kind would operate within it, including that of Darl himself. At first glance, this seemed like suicide, until Havok saw Nalhazzarath twirling his chain and grinning. The cornugon did not rely on magic to kill. A moment later, the devil was upon him. The whirling chain flensed him like a hot knife through butter. This was followed by a savage lash from the cornugon’s tail, inflicting a bloody wound similar to the one bestowed on Hawk, and then a vicious bite. Giovanni Vito felt his life’s blood leaving him. He staggered back and abruptly felt his magic return. In his current condition, though, he still wouldn’t last long. Quickly pulling another scroll from his belt, he read the magic contained therein and sent an orb of pure force hurtling at the devil. Hawk felt Quaero grow quiescent in his grip, but he also saw that Darl had become visible. He didn’t waste the opportunity. Stepping forward, he slashed repeatedly at the priest, unable to bring the full magic of his sword to bear, but dealing telling blows nonetheless. “Kill him!” Darl screamed, and with that, Nalhazzarath turned his attention to the civilar, beating him mercilessly again and again. Only then did Darl speak a single word, dismissing his spell, and vanishing from view once more. “Not…so…fast!” Hawk hissed, pushing the agony he was suffering at the hands of the cornugon from his mind. Though he couldn’t see the priest, he knew where he had just been, and it was there that he struck. Twice he felt his blade connect with something solid, the second time sinking deep into soft flesh. Twice he had the satisfaction of hearing Darl scream. “Faust!” Havok shouted. “We need to end this…now!” “On my word!” The psion cried. “One…two….three!” Simultaneously, Havok used the magic from another scroll, hurling a second orb of force at Nalhazzarath while Faust manifested a crackling orb of electricity. As the twin globes exploded, the cornugon was literally blown out of existence. Havok saw Darl moving away, and called out to Hawk to follow. Pulling another scroll, he summoned an orb of fire to strike the priest. Still Darl Quethos stood. He glared balefully at the warlock. “This is not over,” he whispered. “We will meet again.” With that, he snapped his fingers and a planar rift opened around him, whisking him from Tilagos forever. [/QUOTE]
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JollyDoc's Age of Worms (Updated 11/30, Epilogue!)
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