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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pogre" data-source="post: 1888241" data-attributes="member: 6588">Let's start at the beginning. The pictures in the story are thumbnail linked to larger photos.ZandyriumEpisode 01Sweat poured down Micon’s face as he concentrated on the ritual. Two zombies stared forward with vacant, lifeless eyes at the wizard’s activities. This ritual would be Micon’s crowning glory, the attestation that he deserved recognition as the greatest of mages. The components had cost him nearly everything: physically, economically, and emotionally - but now it all seemed worth it. Carefully, ever so carefully, the mage traced the last of the symbols on the ground. Six days of constant preparation and attention to the tiniest detail had culminated in this moment. Micon was so close, and then, he stuttered. It was only a momentary lapse, but the mage stumbled over a chant as his concentration failed.Micon, the rebel wizard, braced himself for the eldritch results of his misstep. Nothing came. Micon smirked slightly and exhaled in relief. He prepared to recommence the ritual, but a blinding bright light interrupted, rushing through his mind. Micon reeled around the chamber grabbing at pieces of furniture and tapestry, anything to help maintain his balance. Twirling and shrieking, Micon felt his mind being pulled to pieces and his soul tugged from a negative power. The mage was ensnared in some mad maelstrom and he cried out as he left the world of the living.Micon awoke. He could not remember much. “What was I doing?” he wondered to himself. Any remembrances were immediately overtaken by an overwhelming hunger rushing over him. A hunger deeper and stronger than any desire he had ever experienced – a hunger for flesh! Micon only dimly understood what had happened and shook in rage at his failure.*****128 years later…“Quit shoving!” Ginny complained to the Dwarf behind her.“Get your feet moving then,” Mōrguhn countered. “My whiskers will give your backside a rash if you walk any slower.”<a href="http://www.pogre.com/0101_Morguhn_Ginny.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0101_Morguhn_Ginny_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>There was a smile on the Mōrguhn’s face, he really liked the young human female and she was quite right to be cautious down in these foul sewers. Mōrguhn reflected on how he had come to this spot. Mōrguhn had come to the crown city for an education in arts seldom explored in Buldarvalt. The dwarf wished to pursue the arcane arts and he had been practically laughed out of the Hold.And so, now the young dwarf was traipsing through the sewers with this odd group…“There is the source of the explosion,” Ginny whispered back.<a href="http://www.pogre.com/0102_blasted_sewer.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0102_blasted_sewer_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Ginny inched her way forward and saw that a large blast had emanated from the sewer wall and the remnants of a human male was pinned beneath a pile of rubble. As the corpse was missing half its head, she safely assumed him to be dead.“Something blowed ‘dis area up,” the human fighter, Thoren observed. Thoren wielded a huge two-handed sword that looked large even against his impressive frame.<a href="http://www.pogre.com/0103_Thoren.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0103_Thoren_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>“Nothing gets past you Thoren, old boy,” Wassabe the northern sailor quipped.<a href="http://www.pogre.com/0104_Wassabe.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0104_Wassabe_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>The elven ranger Githraldul jumped across the sewer’s effluent to gain a better vantage point over the blasted area.<a href="http://www.pogre.com/0105_Githraldul.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0105_Githraldul_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Underground areas made the ranger very edgy. “What do you see?” he loudly whispered to Ginny.“I suspect our dead friend here triggered an ancient trap,” Ginny reached down and pulled a pouch from the corpse’s belt. She then opened the pouch deftly and held some tiny tools aloft, “These would indicate he was a thief.”“What are they?” Githraldul asked.“Thieves’ tools, and a very nice set too,” Ginny answered sliding the tools and picks into her cape pocket.It’s amazing, she looks nothing like a thief Githraldul thought.Justinius the cleric of Gravitas Morte worked his way forward to gain a view of the corpse. Justinius leaned down and said final rites over the man’s body. “He has not been dead long. I suspect the blast we heard in the Greater Market was what killed him.”<a href="http://www.pogre.com/0106_Justinius.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0106_Justinius_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>The group had minutes before been prowling the markets looking for bargains when the blast had belched forth from the sewer grate. It was Mōrguhn who had agreed with the young vigils* that the group of adventure-seekers should check into what happened. A short trip in the sewer had led them to this scorched scene.Heinrich, cleric to Siegphorus, looked over Justinius’s shoulder as the cleric of restful death finished a prayer to his deity over the deceased. “Technically,” Heinrich began, “you all realize we have more than fulfilled our civic duty here.”<a href="http://www.pogre.com/0107_Heinrich.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0107_Heinrich_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>“This man died trying to break into this place and has courteously set off a very dangerous guardian trap. The least we can do is check it out,” Ginny smiled.“Agreed!” Thoren stated and boldly walked into the tunnel beyond the explosion.“Will someone please tell the thug with the big sword where there is one trap there are bound to be more?” Wassabe asked sarcastically.“I heard ye’” Thoren called back. “I’m waiting. Ginny get yer’ rearend up here!”“First, I have not heard a consensus among the group,” Heinrich stated loftily. “Second, what about the authorities?”“Who wants to explore a place formerly guarded by a powerful magical trap?” Ginny asked loudly. Mōrguhn spoke up, “Heinrich, the structure is sound. You need not fear a secondary collapse.”“That’s not the point,” Heinrich corrected the dwarf. “We were asked in the market to quickly check out what might have set off such an explosion. We have discovered the source.”“Hold up Thoren,” Ginny called out. “I’m taking point. Heinrich you go tell the vigils* if you want. The rest of us are heading in.”“Justinius?” Heinrich asked his fellow cleric.“It could be,” Justinius paused, “interesting.”“Oh, very well,” Heinrich said resignedly and followed the rest of the group into the passage.<a href="http://www.pogre.com/0108_into_corridor.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0108_into_corridor_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Ginny called back to the group, “I think the passage is clear of traps. It opens up into some sort of chamber.” Thoren, the human fighter, was clanking along loudly behind Ginny. Ginny turned and said to Thoren, “Could you spare me some space here Thoren. It is really tough to move silently dragging a set of bottles behind me.” Thoren nodded and stopped, allowing Ginny to go forward a few more feet ahead. Ginny continued to edge ahead of the group and slipped into the small chamber. A moment later she came running back past the rest of the passage.“What is it?” Thoren asked.“I don’t know,” Ginny replied. “But I’ve done my job, now you do yours.”Thoren squinted into the darkness and could barely make out a couple of figures. The bipedal creatures stood and Thoren called for them to stop. The fighter then noticed the creatures had wounds that should have killed them already, and the stench of their rotting flesh filled his nostrils. <a href="http://www.pogre.com/0109_zombie_attack.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0109_zombie_attack_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Thoren, Mōrguhn, and Wassabe charged the undead creatures and managed a few solid shots. Justinius stepped forward. This was the cleric’s moment. Everything he had trained for led to a showdown with the greatest enemy of his deity Gravitas Morte. Undeath was the foulest sin of all and now he would send these cursed beasts away. “In the name of the Final Rest I banish thee!” Justinius was practically screeching over the din of battle. The Zombies fought on.Heinrich also moved into the chamber and held aloft the holy symbol of Siegphorus and called out, “The God of Law and Victory demand your defeat!”The Zombies fought on.“Quit preachin’ and start whackin’!” Wassabe yelled at the clerics.The elven ranger, Githraldul moved up and shot an arrow into one of the Zombies. This came just as one of the monsters managed to slightly wound Mōrguhn. Heinrich charged into the fray with his mace, following Wassabe’s advice.“By all that is holy from the Father of Eternal Bliss I rebuke thee foul constructs of evil!” Justinius cried out again to turn the zombies.The Zombies fought on.<a href="http://www.pogre.com/0110_zombie_combat.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0110_zombie_combat_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Thoren managed to bring his blade down on one of the foes and it fell to the floor with no sign of movement left in it. Their efforts now concentrated on the final Zombie, Githraldul plunked an arrow into it, Mōrguhn and Wassabe also landed shots on it.Justinius needed to try rebuking the walking corpse one more time; it was a matter of pride now. “Bring the peace of the True God of Lasting Rest upon this foul creature of undeath,” Justinius yelled.The Zombie fought on.“Powerful god ye’ got there father,” Wassabe stated as he dodged one of the Zombie’s attacks. Thoren’s blade hit home again and halted the last Zombie.The group gasped, trying to catch their breath, as the rogue Ginny began looking the chamber over. “Not much here. Only this door they were guarding,” she reported to the group. Heinrich stood slowly, “We can still go to the authorities. There is no reason for us to pursue this further.”“Except, we have now come passed a magical explosion trap and two formerly dead guys guarding this very door,” Ginny answered.“I must continue,” Justinius announced. “The presence of undead changes everything for me. It is no longer my choice, but my duty.”“Yeah,” Wassabe interjected, “good thing too - we would sure hate to lose ye’, considering how helpful ye’ were in that last scrap, your holiness.”“My failures do not reflect upon Gravitas Morte,” Justinius retorted.“That’s a relief. I’d hate fer the old boy to be the laughing stock amongst the gods and all,” Wassabe replied.Justinius merely shook his head. He doubted whether there was a serious thought in Wassabe’s head.Ginny announced that the door was not trapped, and Thoren opened the door wide.To be continued…*vigils – city watch</blockquote>

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