Under A Darksun: PART I SEGMENTS 1-124
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megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 105
“Under a Dark Son”
The powerful psionic mage reappeared out of the thick mists. His cloak floating about him like wings of a butterfly. A gentle warming glow came from him. He stared hard at the lone figure standing in the dark water.
“You have disappointed us all. We had hoped you would go down this road Child of Bane. It is beneath you.”
“Go hug a rope!” snarls the man.
The light extends from the psionic mage. It is not dark water but blood the man stands in. The dead bodies begin to appear through the dark and mists. Dead bodies of warriors of all races. All that battled against the man. Against the Dark Son. Against the child of Bane.
A blast of energy comes from the mage. It was designed to capture the man. He easily escapes it by leaping to the side onto a few bodies. It is his turn now. He draws on psionic power of his own, which he casts, into a dagger. A dagger designed to kill the mage. “Die…” The throw takes the mage by surprise. It strikes deep within his glowing chest. He floats down to the bloody waters, his robes hang heavily on him. “Why….? Why Mania…” And he collapses.
“Ahhhh!” gasps the same man as he bolts upright in the night. The woman beside him also rolls over in alarm. She holds him and comforts him. He whispers how real it felt…how terribly real. The woman beside him continues to sooth him and cradles him. His nightmares are growing stronger and more intense. This is the third one in two weeks. She prays that he can get past this. That he is strong enough. He is the man she loves. She does not know if she has it in her to stop him if becomes filled with his father’s darkness.
Morning comes and they act like nothing happened. The camp is active. There has been some activity to the west on the peninsula separating them from the city of the dead…Bodach. A group of them plan to walk out and search the area. This will be the first time Mania and Cosa have gone since coming here. They have been here for four weeks now. The time has been good for them. They have been on the run for so long now that they had forgotten what it was like to have friends.
Logan meets Mania and Cosa as they leave their tent. He a somewhat crude man at times. He tries to sound sly and funny while suggesting there were wild sounds coming from their tent that night. Mania just gives a tight smirk and nods. Cosa wonders about how much the short man really heard and understands.
Shortly Belinda and Chaffle join Cosa, Mania and Logan. They each pack five days worth of food and some water. Otherwise they pack lightly. After a large breakfast, they begin. Logan takes points with Mania next. Cosa and Chaffle in the middle and Belinda moves about as she wishes. Her theory is why form any sort of predictable marching order. She is chaotic and unpredictable at best. So much so, that few know what she is really thinking at any one time.
The dark crimson sun was burning bright this morning. The silt in the air was thick and free-floating. Some thought this to be a bad sign. Logan considered it to bad weather that allows him to sneak up easier on targets.
Unknown to any the Sentinels… they were being watched. The reptilian creature watched and watched. It was hungry and wanted fresh juicy meat but knew of these creatures. They would be difficult to defeat. Snarl decided it was worth it. The Silt Runners ran quickly across the silt behind dunes. They got ahead of the Sentinels and awaited the signal.
Snarl was patient and wise. He knew when to go and when not to. He waited. He waited. How much longer he thought? Then they went north. A toothy grin grew on his scaled lips. The others also grinned. Fresh meat was coming.
SEGMENT 105
“Under a Dark Son”
The powerful psionic mage reappeared out of the thick mists. His cloak floating about him like wings of a butterfly. A gentle warming glow came from him. He stared hard at the lone figure standing in the dark water.
“You have disappointed us all. We had hoped you would go down this road Child of Bane. It is beneath you.”
“Go hug a rope!” snarls the man.
The light extends from the psionic mage. It is not dark water but blood the man stands in. The dead bodies begin to appear through the dark and mists. Dead bodies of warriors of all races. All that battled against the man. Against the Dark Son. Against the child of Bane.
A blast of energy comes from the mage. It was designed to capture the man. He easily escapes it by leaping to the side onto a few bodies. It is his turn now. He draws on psionic power of his own, which he casts, into a dagger. A dagger designed to kill the mage. “Die…” The throw takes the mage by surprise. It strikes deep within his glowing chest. He floats down to the bloody waters, his robes hang heavily on him. “Why….? Why Mania…” And he collapses.
“Ahhhh!” gasps the same man as he bolts upright in the night. The woman beside him also rolls over in alarm. She holds him and comforts him. He whispers how real it felt…how terribly real. The woman beside him continues to sooth him and cradles him. His nightmares are growing stronger and more intense. This is the third one in two weeks. She prays that he can get past this. That he is strong enough. He is the man she loves. She does not know if she has it in her to stop him if becomes filled with his father’s darkness.
Morning comes and they act like nothing happened. The camp is active. There has been some activity to the west on the peninsula separating them from the city of the dead…Bodach. A group of them plan to walk out and search the area. This will be the first time Mania and Cosa have gone since coming here. They have been here for four weeks now. The time has been good for them. They have been on the run for so long now that they had forgotten what it was like to have friends.
Logan meets Mania and Cosa as they leave their tent. He a somewhat crude man at times. He tries to sound sly and funny while suggesting there were wild sounds coming from their tent that night. Mania just gives a tight smirk and nods. Cosa wonders about how much the short man really heard and understands.
Shortly Belinda and Chaffle join Cosa, Mania and Logan. They each pack five days worth of food and some water. Otherwise they pack lightly. After a large breakfast, they begin. Logan takes points with Mania next. Cosa and Chaffle in the middle and Belinda moves about as she wishes. Her theory is why form any sort of predictable marching order. She is chaotic and unpredictable at best. So much so, that few know what she is really thinking at any one time.
The dark crimson sun was burning bright this morning. The silt in the air was thick and free-floating. Some thought this to be a bad sign. Logan considered it to bad weather that allows him to sneak up easier on targets.
Unknown to any the Sentinels… they were being watched. The reptilian creature watched and watched. It was hungry and wanted fresh juicy meat but knew of these creatures. They would be difficult to defeat. Snarl decided it was worth it. The Silt Runners ran quickly across the silt behind dunes. They got ahead of the Sentinels and awaited the signal.
Snarl was patient and wise. He knew when to go and when not to. He waited. He waited. How much longer he thought? Then they went north. A toothy grin grew on his scaled lips. The others also grinned. Fresh meat was coming.
megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 106
“Snarl and his Silt Runners”
“Be careful of where you walk. The silt bogs can be misleading.”
“Chaffle- why are going this way? It seems like a bad location to be.” Asks Mania.
“There was undead activity near here on the other side of the bog. I am uncertain if it is freewill, commanded or simply wandering. Either way, we must investigate it.”
“Oh” says Mania giving Cosa a look.
She understands his concern. For the past thirty minutes, the five of them have been traveling along hard to see paths of sandy silt covered walkways that act like a maze through a silt bog. One wrong step can lead one to fall into deep silt, which can be very dangerous. Already, Logan has dispatched a Silt Serpent that lay on the bog’s edge and tried to attack him.
“Does anything else live in the silt?” asks Mania as an afterthought.
“Much.” Answers Chaffle. “This soupy silt is a nesting ground for various insects and some birds. Most are harmless. The only fear we have are undead hiding within it, an occasional Serpent, a Silt Runner or on a rare occasion, a Silt Horror Spawn.”
Cosa looks about at that. She has never seen a Silt Horror but has heard many stories of them. They can grow big enough to down a lone giant or dismantle a silt skimmer.
Mania could almost sense being watched. He looked around and about. Even to the sky he searched. The ochre colored sky revealed nothing to him.
Too bad the psionics wielded by the Silt Runners was so effective. They floated within the bogs waiting…waiting…and waiting. It would not be long now.
“Nearly there Chaffle” called out Logan from the lead. Mania and Cosa followed Chaffle, watching his every step. Belinda, silent whenever away from the camp walked behind them acting as the rear guard. None were prepared for happened next.
The silt seemed to explode as a dozen Silt Warriors leapt from its shallow edge and attacked the five traveling warriors. Logan takes several hits along with Chaffle and Mania. Cosa is receives a nick. Belinda spins and sweeps away from the attacks like a crazed dancer.
Luckily for them, Logan and Chaffle insisted on having weapons out. If not for this, they may have gone down in a bloody mess immediately. “How many are there!!!” Screams out Mania as he instinctually calls up his psionic armor.
Logan, with a scary smile answers- “All of them.”
Cosa curses. 10-12 has attacked them from the bog. Another four or five dozen rise out of other bogs.
“At least the bogs will slow them down.” Comments Mania as he begins to attack.
“These are Silt Runners- assume nothing of the like” says Chaffle as he downs one.
The short and somewhat squat reptilians suddenly shimmer a bit and charge across the bogs, silt and sand alike. Unaffected by the terrain. Cosa curses again. They are too close to allow her to use magics effectively. Still, she tries to call up magical armor. The creatures are quick to disrupt her casting attempt.
“I fear these are Snarl’s men. He wants us dead. I especially.” Comments Chaffle.
A terrible scream is heard from the front of the line. Mania looks but sees only Chaffle and several Runners. Suddenly, Logan is seen leaping up and over one of the creatures so as to attack a larger group led by a larger Silt Runner.
Belinda calls up on her ability to move faster through psionics. Their crude spears stab at her but she seems to move at the last moment each time. She continues to dodge their blows by spinning, leaping and ducking about. The creatures become frustrated quickly.
The Runners seem to push and separate Chaffle from the others. When he realizes this it is too late.
“Snaffle” snarls Snarl in poor common. He stands about thirty feet away with the main bog separating them. He sets his spear and charges! Chaffle can not do anything but fend off the other five silt runners harassing him. He is struck hard and pushed into the edge of the bog. No one can see him or much less help him as there are over 75 Silt Runners rushing the five warriors now.
Logan, fully enraged, is coated in runner blood as he hacks at the creatures with his battleaxe and slams into others with his spiked armor and claws. He begins to climb onto bodies to gain leverage shortly.
Cosa tries again to caste a spell but can not. Frustrated, she settles with striking them with her quarterstaff.
Mania curses himself. He needs to learn how to follow through with his strikes better. He drops one then must reset before attacking again.
The battle is loud and bloody. It is impossible to not hear for hundreds of yards away. A set of red eyes turns to the sound. It notes the cause then takes flight from the rock the undead raven stood on.
Snarl pushes at Chaffle. They are evenly matched. However, where Chaffle is skilled at fighting in the silt, for Snarl it is his home. He pushes the Cleric of Water steadily into the silt. Knee deep then waist deep. At this point, Snarl trips him up and begins to choke/drown Chaffle in the silt.
The others continue to fight. A ½ dozen runners drop dead or unconscience every couple of seconds. Mania and Belinda try to free up space for Cosa but can not. Without her magics, she can do little.
Chaffle breaks free and gets a breath. Snarl strikes him with a forearm and drives him back under the silt’s surface. Slowly, as Chaffle struggles, Snarl works him into deeper silt. Chaffle breaks free again and tries to climb over Snarl to get a breath but is pulled under before getting a breath.
Logan’s blood mixes with the downed silt runners as he concentrates on the leaders hoping to rally his teammates and frighten the runners. Instead he is piled onto. His limbs struggle to swing as the runners grab and hold onto him as he tries to attack. Over whelmed, he goes down. The creatures are unable to use their spears but instead punch, kick and claw at him until he stops struggling.
Mania is likewise overwhelmed and dragged down by sheer numbers. Cosa finally gets off a spell and five runners pass out from her sleep spell. Belinda holds them off but notices something. Something odd…very odd. Many of the creatures are slowing down or backing off.
Chaffle goes limp in Snarl’s arms. Snarl leaves the body and surfaces. He needs air also afterall. He doesn’t like what he sees. Better than half of his men are down. Two of the four warriors are down. His remaining men are not attacking however. In fact, they are backing off in fear and uncertainty. He follows their eyes and sees the cause of their fear. Undead. An army one hundred strong.
They leave quickly.
Cosa revives Mania as Belinda moves to Logan. She is uncertain where Chaffle is. She assumes the worse. He is dead and buried in a silt bog.
The skeletons surround them. One wearing heavy armor is free-willed and commands them to give up their weapons. The two women can do nothing else as both Mania and Logan are still down. Logan all but dead as his rage is replaced by sheer exhaustion and defeat.
Several minutes go by after the skeletons have led them away. Then the one bog swirls. A silt covered bloodied glove reaches out in defiance.
SEGMENT 106
“Snarl and his Silt Runners”
“Be careful of where you walk. The silt bogs can be misleading.”
“Chaffle- why are going this way? It seems like a bad location to be.” Asks Mania.
“There was undead activity near here on the other side of the bog. I am uncertain if it is freewill, commanded or simply wandering. Either way, we must investigate it.”
“Oh” says Mania giving Cosa a look.
She understands his concern. For the past thirty minutes, the five of them have been traveling along hard to see paths of sandy silt covered walkways that act like a maze through a silt bog. One wrong step can lead one to fall into deep silt, which can be very dangerous. Already, Logan has dispatched a Silt Serpent that lay on the bog’s edge and tried to attack him.
“Does anything else live in the silt?” asks Mania as an afterthought.
“Much.” Answers Chaffle. “This soupy silt is a nesting ground for various insects and some birds. Most are harmless. The only fear we have are undead hiding within it, an occasional Serpent, a Silt Runner or on a rare occasion, a Silt Horror Spawn.”
Cosa looks about at that. She has never seen a Silt Horror but has heard many stories of them. They can grow big enough to down a lone giant or dismantle a silt skimmer.
Mania could almost sense being watched. He looked around and about. Even to the sky he searched. The ochre colored sky revealed nothing to him.
Too bad the psionics wielded by the Silt Runners was so effective. They floated within the bogs waiting…waiting…and waiting. It would not be long now.
“Nearly there Chaffle” called out Logan from the lead. Mania and Cosa followed Chaffle, watching his every step. Belinda, silent whenever away from the camp walked behind them acting as the rear guard. None were prepared for happened next.
The silt seemed to explode as a dozen Silt Warriors leapt from its shallow edge and attacked the five traveling warriors. Logan takes several hits along with Chaffle and Mania. Cosa is receives a nick. Belinda spins and sweeps away from the attacks like a crazed dancer.
Luckily for them, Logan and Chaffle insisted on having weapons out. If not for this, they may have gone down in a bloody mess immediately. “How many are there!!!” Screams out Mania as he instinctually calls up his psionic armor.
Logan, with a scary smile answers- “All of them.”
Cosa curses. 10-12 has attacked them from the bog. Another four or five dozen rise out of other bogs.
“At least the bogs will slow them down.” Comments Mania as he begins to attack.
“These are Silt Runners- assume nothing of the like” says Chaffle as he downs one.
The short and somewhat squat reptilians suddenly shimmer a bit and charge across the bogs, silt and sand alike. Unaffected by the terrain. Cosa curses again. They are too close to allow her to use magics effectively. Still, she tries to call up magical armor. The creatures are quick to disrupt her casting attempt.
“I fear these are Snarl’s men. He wants us dead. I especially.” Comments Chaffle.
A terrible scream is heard from the front of the line. Mania looks but sees only Chaffle and several Runners. Suddenly, Logan is seen leaping up and over one of the creatures so as to attack a larger group led by a larger Silt Runner.
Belinda calls up on her ability to move faster through psionics. Their crude spears stab at her but she seems to move at the last moment each time. She continues to dodge their blows by spinning, leaping and ducking about. The creatures become frustrated quickly.
The Runners seem to push and separate Chaffle from the others. When he realizes this it is too late.
“Snaffle” snarls Snarl in poor common. He stands about thirty feet away with the main bog separating them. He sets his spear and charges! Chaffle can not do anything but fend off the other five silt runners harassing him. He is struck hard and pushed into the edge of the bog. No one can see him or much less help him as there are over 75 Silt Runners rushing the five warriors now.
Logan, fully enraged, is coated in runner blood as he hacks at the creatures with his battleaxe and slams into others with his spiked armor and claws. He begins to climb onto bodies to gain leverage shortly.
Cosa tries again to caste a spell but can not. Frustrated, she settles with striking them with her quarterstaff.
Mania curses himself. He needs to learn how to follow through with his strikes better. He drops one then must reset before attacking again.
The battle is loud and bloody. It is impossible to not hear for hundreds of yards away. A set of red eyes turns to the sound. It notes the cause then takes flight from the rock the undead raven stood on.
Snarl pushes at Chaffle. They are evenly matched. However, where Chaffle is skilled at fighting in the silt, for Snarl it is his home. He pushes the Cleric of Water steadily into the silt. Knee deep then waist deep. At this point, Snarl trips him up and begins to choke/drown Chaffle in the silt.
The others continue to fight. A ½ dozen runners drop dead or unconscience every couple of seconds. Mania and Belinda try to free up space for Cosa but can not. Without her magics, she can do little.
Chaffle breaks free and gets a breath. Snarl strikes him with a forearm and drives him back under the silt’s surface. Slowly, as Chaffle struggles, Snarl works him into deeper silt. Chaffle breaks free again and tries to climb over Snarl to get a breath but is pulled under before getting a breath.
Logan’s blood mixes with the downed silt runners as he concentrates on the leaders hoping to rally his teammates and frighten the runners. Instead he is piled onto. His limbs struggle to swing as the runners grab and hold onto him as he tries to attack. Over whelmed, he goes down. The creatures are unable to use their spears but instead punch, kick and claw at him until he stops struggling.
Mania is likewise overwhelmed and dragged down by sheer numbers. Cosa finally gets off a spell and five runners pass out from her sleep spell. Belinda holds them off but notices something. Something odd…very odd. Many of the creatures are slowing down or backing off.
Chaffle goes limp in Snarl’s arms. Snarl leaves the body and surfaces. He needs air also afterall. He doesn’t like what he sees. Better than half of his men are down. Two of the four warriors are down. His remaining men are not attacking however. In fact, they are backing off in fear and uncertainty. He follows their eyes and sees the cause of their fear. Undead. An army one hundred strong.
They leave quickly.
Cosa revives Mania as Belinda moves to Logan. She is uncertain where Chaffle is. She assumes the worse. He is dead and buried in a silt bog.
The skeletons surround them. One wearing heavy armor is free-willed and commands them to give up their weapons. The two women can do nothing else as both Mania and Logan are still down. Logan all but dead as his rage is replaced by sheer exhaustion and defeat.
Several minutes go by after the skeletons have led them away. Then the one bog swirls. A silt covered bloodied glove reaches out in defiance.
megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 107
“Chaffle”
Snarl made a great mistake. Chaffle went limp hoping he may ease up on his grip. Instead he let go and surfaced. Chaffle quickly pinched a bit of the very silt he was in, took it into his mouth and called onto his silt breathing spell. He prepared for Snarl’s return but he did not. He healed his bloody injuries enough to survive and surfaced.
No one was there.
He dragged himself out of the bog and coughed out the silt and caste off his spell to avoid possibly blacking out and “drowning” from air. He stayed hidden within the bodies of the silt runners. It was clear Logan had a great time as his body count looked to outweigh all others combined. Though not as good of a tracker as Logan, he searched for clues. The silt was greatly disrupted by many many humanoids that walked to the battle and then left. Left with his teammates.
Coughing up the last of the silt that burned his lungs and eyes, Chaffle slowly followed the tracks fearing the true cause. That, which he sought out, had instead found them.
A tracker of no skill could follow these tracks easily enough. Also, they were heading to the city limits. Undead. The undead had Logan, Belinda and the two new members of the Sentinels.
There was no time to return to camp. Instead, Chaffle collected a small gem from his hip pouch. He concentrated on a short message then squeezed the gem as hard as he could. He continued to squeeze until he felt nothing in his hand. He opened his hand and blew the colored mist to the wind. He then looked the opposite direction and began his trek…to his friends.
SEGMENT 107
“Chaffle”
Snarl made a great mistake. Chaffle went limp hoping he may ease up on his grip. Instead he let go and surfaced. Chaffle quickly pinched a bit of the very silt he was in, took it into his mouth and called onto his silt breathing spell. He prepared for Snarl’s return but he did not. He healed his bloody injuries enough to survive and surfaced.
No one was there.
He dragged himself out of the bog and coughed out the silt and caste off his spell to avoid possibly blacking out and “drowning” from air. He stayed hidden within the bodies of the silt runners. It was clear Logan had a great time as his body count looked to outweigh all others combined. Though not as good of a tracker as Logan, he searched for clues. The silt was greatly disrupted by many many humanoids that walked to the battle and then left. Left with his teammates.
Coughing up the last of the silt that burned his lungs and eyes, Chaffle slowly followed the tracks fearing the true cause. That, which he sought out, had instead found them.
A tracker of no skill could follow these tracks easily enough. Also, they were heading to the city limits. Undead. The undead had Logan, Belinda and the two new members of the Sentinels.
There was no time to return to camp. Instead, Chaffle collected a small gem from his hip pouch. He concentrated on a short message then squeezed the gem as hard as he could. He continued to squeeze until he felt nothing in his hand. He opened his hand and blew the colored mist to the wind. He then looked the opposite direction and began his trek…to his friends.
megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 108
“Painful Awakenings”
“Grooooan” mania slowly rolls over. The dried silt and blood cracks and breaks away from his body as he stops on his stomach. He warily opens the one eye that will and sees stars and colored swirls. He closes his eye again and concentrates and pushes himself upright into a sitting position. He opens his eye again and tries to focus on where he is. It is dark. He can make out bodies and little else.
The bodies are of his friends. Cosa, Belinda and Logan lie about in similar condition. They were all beat within an inch of their lives. Much of their equipment is gone. Belinda is without her ectoplasmic skin.
He crawls to each person to check if they live. They do. Logan moans when turned over. He opens his eyes and sees Mania. “Beat them…ahhhh…them scaly bastards …but good…didn’t we…” Mania painfully nods a response. However, he suspects there is more to this than that. If the Silt Runners defeated them…wouldn’t they be dead now?
He looks for more clues and finds none. A faint outline of a door can be seen about 10ft up. He suspects they are in a subbasement of a building. Seeing timbers in the wall, he suspects there was once a floor that led to that door that has since rotted or collapsed away. Looking further, he finds further proof as he finds the remains of an old staircase leading up. Of course, it leads to nothing now as the floor has since collapsed.
Logan slowly rolls over and takes in many breaths while on his back. “Strange location….Silt runners use…the caves in the cliffs…not ruins.”
Logan sits up right and closes his eyes and concentrates. A faint glow washes over him and the deeper cuts close a bit. He then gives out his breath and slumps over totally exhausted by the effort of using psionic powers. Not bothering to open to his eyes he grits his teeth. “Undead…I can smell them. We’re prisoners.”
“How do you get that?” asks Mania.
“Gut feeling…there are a few clues to the effect also. Bah! We are not even prisoners. We are bait. They want Jenner.”
Mania works himself to his feet to look around. He is careful not to step on Cosa or Belinda as walks to the area below the door. “Not sure, but once I recover a bit, I bet I can climb up.”
“Then what? The door will be locked and guarded.” Logan looks about himself now using his dwarven sight to look about. “Let us wait until the women awake. Then we’ll figure out something.”
Mania looks at him then the door. He sighs deeply and profoundly in defeat and looks to the floor. “Yes Logan.”
SEGMENT 108
“Painful Awakenings”
“Grooooan” mania slowly rolls over. The dried silt and blood cracks and breaks away from his body as he stops on his stomach. He warily opens the one eye that will and sees stars and colored swirls. He closes his eye again and concentrates and pushes himself upright into a sitting position. He opens his eye again and tries to focus on where he is. It is dark. He can make out bodies and little else.
The bodies are of his friends. Cosa, Belinda and Logan lie about in similar condition. They were all beat within an inch of their lives. Much of their equipment is gone. Belinda is without her ectoplasmic skin.
He crawls to each person to check if they live. They do. Logan moans when turned over. He opens his eyes and sees Mania. “Beat them…ahhhh…them scaly bastards …but good…didn’t we…” Mania painfully nods a response. However, he suspects there is more to this than that. If the Silt Runners defeated them…wouldn’t they be dead now?
He looks for more clues and finds none. A faint outline of a door can be seen about 10ft up. He suspects they are in a subbasement of a building. Seeing timbers in the wall, he suspects there was once a floor that led to that door that has since rotted or collapsed away. Looking further, he finds further proof as he finds the remains of an old staircase leading up. Of course, it leads to nothing now as the floor has since collapsed.
Logan slowly rolls over and takes in many breaths while on his back. “Strange location….Silt runners use…the caves in the cliffs…not ruins.”
Logan sits up right and closes his eyes and concentrates. A faint glow washes over him and the deeper cuts close a bit. He then gives out his breath and slumps over totally exhausted by the effort of using psionic powers. Not bothering to open to his eyes he grits his teeth. “Undead…I can smell them. We’re prisoners.”
“How do you get that?” asks Mania.
“Gut feeling…there are a few clues to the effect also. Bah! We are not even prisoners. We are bait. They want Jenner.”
Mania works himself to his feet to look around. He is careful not to step on Cosa or Belinda as walks to the area below the door. “Not sure, but once I recover a bit, I bet I can climb up.”
“Then what? The door will be locked and guarded.” Logan looks about himself now using his dwarven sight to look about. “Let us wait until the women awake. Then we’ll figure out something.”
Mania looks at him then the door. He sighs deeply and profoundly in defeat and looks to the floor. “Yes Logan.”
megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 109
“Minscar the undead cleric of Silt”
The winds were blowing strongly today. The silt would lift from the sea and deposit itself onto the sandy land slowly covering it.
He liked the sight very much.
The gaunt figure was on a balcony overlooking the Bodach bay. His torn cape blowing in the nighttime wind. “Soon” he whispers.
He turns away from the sight of the silt revealing his skeletal features. Once he was a powerful cleric of silt whom had come to Bodach to study the silt and learn of the city’s secrets. Instead he was consumed by his greatest wishes. But he rose again as an undead maintaining his freewill and clerical powers. The silt had saved his “life” and he wished to repay it. He wanted to engulf the seacoast in silt to prove his might. He was going to start with Bodach and it’s surrounding area.
He had one problem however. A group of anti-siltists had arrived shortly after he entered the city. These self-styled Sentinels of Bodach had become a constant thorn in his side. Especially the cleric Jenner. Earth Cleric Jenner was a powerful cleric in his own way. He mixed clerical powers with psionic powers. He had a very powerful friend in a mage psion known as Korgunard. His rag tag group was very efficient also. There was a druid among them that he desperately wanted removed but could never find.
Instead of finding them…. he’ll bury them. Bury them in glorious dry life taking silt. Then as dead, he would summon them to work for him. Ahhh…the glorious thought of it all. It would warm his cold heart if he had one.
Minscar walked through the city of Bodach. It remained in very good condition despite the ages and the war. By speaking to the dead of the city, he knew much of the war. He knew of Rajaat, the Champions and their cause. He knew also of defenders of Bodach and the Preserving Knights. He also knew there was an artifact here that would make his objective easy but had not found it yet. His undead searched all night and those that could searched by day. 24/6 they searched.
Anything they found of interest was to be brought to the waterworks building. A king’s random…no a kingdom’s ransom had been found thus far. Gold and Platinum coins and treasures. Magical and Psionic tools of warfare and defense. A few minor artifacts even. But not the HeadPiece of Dryraddon. It was here this he was certain of. But where…?
Finally he reached the building where the Sentinels were kept. He wanted to kill them immediately to add them to his army but knew Jenner wouldn’t rescue undead friends. Destroy maybe, but not take the time to slowly and carefully remove his alive but broken friends. Speaking of broken. It was time to tenderize the meat again.
An eerie chuckle rises magically from his bony throat at his joke.
He enters the Theatre building and goes directly to the basement. There he finds…broken skeletons? He rushes to the door and it opens easily. Peering down with his superior dark vision he finds nothing.
“Nooooo!”
Carefully Belinda leads the four broken Sentinels out the backdoor. A clear anguished scream can be heard. Minscar knows already! Using her psionic talents, she had scaled the walls and torn the door off the frame. The skeletons were no problem. Getting the others out was. Cosa hadn’t gained conscience yet. Mania was weak and it was all he could do to climb the heavy curtain Belinda found as a make shift rope. Logan had attempted to heal himself with psionics he yet mastered. His wounds reopened and he taxed himself too far. He needed support to walk. It was a grim realization of their situation.
Let the games begin.
SEGMENT 109
“Minscar the undead cleric of Silt”
The winds were blowing strongly today. The silt would lift from the sea and deposit itself onto the sandy land slowly covering it.
He liked the sight very much.
The gaunt figure was on a balcony overlooking the Bodach bay. His torn cape blowing in the nighttime wind. “Soon” he whispers.
He turns away from the sight of the silt revealing his skeletal features. Once he was a powerful cleric of silt whom had come to Bodach to study the silt and learn of the city’s secrets. Instead he was consumed by his greatest wishes. But he rose again as an undead maintaining his freewill and clerical powers. The silt had saved his “life” and he wished to repay it. He wanted to engulf the seacoast in silt to prove his might. He was going to start with Bodach and it’s surrounding area.
He had one problem however. A group of anti-siltists had arrived shortly after he entered the city. These self-styled Sentinels of Bodach had become a constant thorn in his side. Especially the cleric Jenner. Earth Cleric Jenner was a powerful cleric in his own way. He mixed clerical powers with psionic powers. He had a very powerful friend in a mage psion known as Korgunard. His rag tag group was very efficient also. There was a druid among them that he desperately wanted removed but could never find.
Instead of finding them…. he’ll bury them. Bury them in glorious dry life taking silt. Then as dead, he would summon them to work for him. Ahhh…the glorious thought of it all. It would warm his cold heart if he had one.
Minscar walked through the city of Bodach. It remained in very good condition despite the ages and the war. By speaking to the dead of the city, he knew much of the war. He knew of Rajaat, the Champions and their cause. He knew also of defenders of Bodach and the Preserving Knights. He also knew there was an artifact here that would make his objective easy but had not found it yet. His undead searched all night and those that could searched by day. 24/6 they searched.
Anything they found of interest was to be brought to the waterworks building. A king’s random…no a kingdom’s ransom had been found thus far. Gold and Platinum coins and treasures. Magical and Psionic tools of warfare and defense. A few minor artifacts even. But not the HeadPiece of Dryraddon. It was here this he was certain of. But where…?
Finally he reached the building where the Sentinels were kept. He wanted to kill them immediately to add them to his army but knew Jenner wouldn’t rescue undead friends. Destroy maybe, but not take the time to slowly and carefully remove his alive but broken friends. Speaking of broken. It was time to tenderize the meat again.
An eerie chuckle rises magically from his bony throat at his joke.
He enters the Theatre building and goes directly to the basement. There he finds…broken skeletons? He rushes to the door and it opens easily. Peering down with his superior dark vision he finds nothing.
“Nooooo!”
Carefully Belinda leads the four broken Sentinels out the backdoor. A clear anguished scream can be heard. Minscar knows already! Using her psionic talents, she had scaled the walls and torn the door off the frame. The skeletons were no problem. Getting the others out was. Cosa hadn’t gained conscience yet. Mania was weak and it was all he could do to climb the heavy curtain Belinda found as a make shift rope. Logan had attempted to heal himself with psionics he yet mastered. His wounds reopened and he taxed himself too far. He needed support to walk. It was a grim realization of their situation.
Let the games begin.
megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 110
“The Prisoner of Bane”
The wards surrounding her were designed to keep her there as a prisoner for eternity. Bane was careful to limit access to her. He wanted her to suffer there forever. After all, she was now immortal and caused him a great deal of pain and loss.
Her magics were used up and could not be replaced. Her psionics were dulled or outright blocked by his wards. The wards prevented any physical escape. She was trapped. She had been trapped here for over 100 years now.
She was an Enigma in name and fact. She was a resistance leader once who tried to dethrone Bane. Unknown to her, he was playing with her and her group of revolutionists for several decades. Once he became bored, he shut them down. Most were killed, a few forced into undead servitude. She was the lone survivor.
She wanted to escape to begin again. But escape would not be easy. She had worked psionically trying to find a weakness within the wards. She discovered the wards were designed to contain her powers- not negate. In many ways this was one and same though. Then she found a way at least to plan an escape and see future possibilities.
She used her talents for seeing pieces of the future every night (if it was night). She knew there was one out there, a hero of the people, whom would defy him. This would lead to a new age. He and Kalak would go down first. By the hands of mere mortals no less.
Her most recent vision however was one of great concern. A Sorcerer-King thought dead was alive. He was undead now. Dregoth! He was trying to mass a new army of undead and creatures he created through psionics, magic and simple breeding. He was hiding underground just as Bane was. Each hidden from the world and the Sorcerer-Kings that would hunt them down and destroy them for their past treacheries against them.
Dregoth would reign supreme until the new Preserver Knights would rise. They would rise when the People’s Champion would rise. He would lead others including an advanced being into the war. It would be a darkage but after…..she was uncertain.
Everything seemed to depend on the People’s Champion. A dark souled warrior whom seemed to act in anger as much as care.
Bane’s son- Mania.
SEGMENT 110
“The Prisoner of Bane”
The wards surrounding her were designed to keep her there as a prisoner for eternity. Bane was careful to limit access to her. He wanted her to suffer there forever. After all, she was now immortal and caused him a great deal of pain and loss.
Her magics were used up and could not be replaced. Her psionics were dulled or outright blocked by his wards. The wards prevented any physical escape. She was trapped. She had been trapped here for over 100 years now.
She was an Enigma in name and fact. She was a resistance leader once who tried to dethrone Bane. Unknown to her, he was playing with her and her group of revolutionists for several decades. Once he became bored, he shut them down. Most were killed, a few forced into undead servitude. She was the lone survivor.
She wanted to escape to begin again. But escape would not be easy. She had worked psionically trying to find a weakness within the wards. She discovered the wards were designed to contain her powers- not negate. In many ways this was one and same though. Then she found a way at least to plan an escape and see future possibilities.
She used her talents for seeing pieces of the future every night (if it was night). She knew there was one out there, a hero of the people, whom would defy him. This would lead to a new age. He and Kalak would go down first. By the hands of mere mortals no less.
Her most recent vision however was one of great concern. A Sorcerer-King thought dead was alive. He was undead now. Dregoth! He was trying to mass a new army of undead and creatures he created through psionics, magic and simple breeding. He was hiding underground just as Bane was. Each hidden from the world and the Sorcerer-Kings that would hunt them down and destroy them for their past treacheries against them.
Dregoth would reign supreme until the new Preserver Knights would rise. They would rise when the People’s Champion would rise. He would lead others including an advanced being into the war. It would be a darkage but after…..she was uncertain.
Everything seemed to depend on the People’s Champion. A dark souled warrior whom seemed to act in anger as much as care.
Bane’s son- Mania.
