Under A Darksun: PART I SEGMENTS 1-124
- Thread starter megamania
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megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 050
“Dhojakt Unleashed”
Feevet hated this job some days. He was proud to be a Veiled Alliance member. He was proud to serve them even if it meant his life. But this was torture. Whenever possible, Feevet would polymorph himself into a lizard and crawl up high on the walls near the Naggaramakam, the royal fortress and home to the Shadow-king. From here he could spy on the courtyard and main entrance, taking note of persons coming and going. With the recent bloody massacre in the noble district, there was much to watch. Folks were not trying to sneak in or out today. No, it was a quick in or out according to the duties and responsibilities the person was carrying out. The one person he disliked the most to observe was active within the courtyard. The only known heir to the throne- Dhojakt had been released.
Dhojakt was a mutation beyond mortal words being able to describe. It was rumored that his mother gave birth to him near the Pristine Tower in an attempt to give birth to a powerful son worthy of the throne…and closer to mother. What was created that day was a ½ man ½ insectiod creature similar to a cylops. A cylops is a large powerful tracking creature resembling a centipede with a humanoid head and arms. To make matters worse, Dhojakt has been seen to have a good deal of defiling power.
For this reason alone Feevet knew he would have to try to keep up the impossibly quick mutant son of Nibenay. But the truth is, Dhojakt only came out to play when the templars felt they needed his power and presence. His being on the streets may very well stop the bloodshed this day.
Feevet reached the ground and quickly morphed once more into his young ½ elven self. He checked again to be sure no one saw him before leaving the alley. He reached site of the main gate just in time to see Dhojakt burst from the opening and take to climbing the walls and roofs of the buildings nearby. Cursing to himself, Feevet lost track of the insectiod but knew where he was going. He was going to the nobles’ section of the city.
He arrived there a mere 10 minutes after the mutant son did. Dhojakt had already broken the arm of one servant and spit an acidic glob onto another because they did not clear from him quick enough. Feevet had no way to follow him inside the townhouse. Watching again for bystanders, Feevet caste a brief spell onto himself allowing him to improve his hearing. He could hear a baby crying three blocks away but nothing inside. It was magically protected from this. “Wonderful” he muttered as he began to walk closer fearing being seen for what he was- a spy…a magic using spy.
Two hours had gone by before Dhojakt emerged from the house. He took to the roofs quickly again. Feevet was uncertain if he did this for the speed of it or to avoid being with the throngs of common folk. Either way, once more he found himself trying to keep up. He had lost him completely and totally. The Veiled Alliance was going to have to rely on the other resources at their disposure to learn what Dhojakt had found within the building of the bloody massacre.
SEGMENT 050
“Dhojakt Unleashed”
Feevet hated this job some days. He was proud to be a Veiled Alliance member. He was proud to serve them even if it meant his life. But this was torture. Whenever possible, Feevet would polymorph himself into a lizard and crawl up high on the walls near the Naggaramakam, the royal fortress and home to the Shadow-king. From here he could spy on the courtyard and main entrance, taking note of persons coming and going. With the recent bloody massacre in the noble district, there was much to watch. Folks were not trying to sneak in or out today. No, it was a quick in or out according to the duties and responsibilities the person was carrying out. The one person he disliked the most to observe was active within the courtyard. The only known heir to the throne- Dhojakt had been released.
Dhojakt was a mutation beyond mortal words being able to describe. It was rumored that his mother gave birth to him near the Pristine Tower in an attempt to give birth to a powerful son worthy of the throne…and closer to mother. What was created that day was a ½ man ½ insectiod creature similar to a cylops. A cylops is a large powerful tracking creature resembling a centipede with a humanoid head and arms. To make matters worse, Dhojakt has been seen to have a good deal of defiling power.
For this reason alone Feevet knew he would have to try to keep up the impossibly quick mutant son of Nibenay. But the truth is, Dhojakt only came out to play when the templars felt they needed his power and presence. His being on the streets may very well stop the bloodshed this day.
Feevet reached the ground and quickly morphed once more into his young ½ elven self. He checked again to be sure no one saw him before leaving the alley. He reached site of the main gate just in time to see Dhojakt burst from the opening and take to climbing the walls and roofs of the buildings nearby. Cursing to himself, Feevet lost track of the insectiod but knew where he was going. He was going to the nobles’ section of the city.
He arrived there a mere 10 minutes after the mutant son did. Dhojakt had already broken the arm of one servant and spit an acidic glob onto another because they did not clear from him quick enough. Feevet had no way to follow him inside the townhouse. Watching again for bystanders, Feevet caste a brief spell onto himself allowing him to improve his hearing. He could hear a baby crying three blocks away but nothing inside. It was magically protected from this. “Wonderful” he muttered as he began to walk closer fearing being seen for what he was- a spy…a magic using spy.
Two hours had gone by before Dhojakt emerged from the house. He took to the roofs quickly again. Feevet was uncertain if he did this for the speed of it or to avoid being with the throngs of common folk. Either way, once more he found himself trying to keep up. He had lost him completely and totally. The Veiled Alliance was going to have to rely on the other resources at their disposure to learn what Dhojakt had found within the building of the bloody massacre.
megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 051
“The View from the Top”
Mania had been up here for three hours now. He was on the top of the building used by Greene Blewes as a base of operations. From here he could see several of the streets and larger buildings. The Naggaramkam taking up much of the view. He could see the Earth Wall, which kept the city out of the Woodlands of the Crescent Forest. He could see the Hill District.
The sculptured buildings and walkways was a beauty to behold. Colored streamers and flags added to the effect. Even now, in the daytime, the festival continued in areas. The nobles held “block” parties that were strictly guarded. The nobles had it all and were not about to give up even a crumb to the commoners and less to the slaves. Nibenay’s outershell was truly a thing of beauty but inside, it was corrupted and dying.
Was it like this all the time?
What could he do about it?
His wandering thoughts had him completely engrossed. This is why he didn’t see a black chitin shelled creature cross the rooftop of the building next to him. 30 seconds later a cart was knocked over on the road before him as if something invisible ran into it. No…he did not see or hear any of it. (OOC- rolled natural 1’s on BOTH Spot and Listen..ugh) His entire focus was something deep inside of him. Something new, at least for him. He was thinking about something bigger than himself.
His thoughts stopped on a memory. “My friends in the Veiled Alliance…” He remembered Dogg talking about it. He remembered Dutch’s look. They were talking about their involvement in hushed tones and double meaning even in an abandoned tomb three days away from the city…any city.
The Veiled Alliance. What were they about? He honestly wasn’t certain. He knew the Templars were ordered to slay them on sight. Why? He thought they were all mages but now knew otherwise. Neither Dutch nor Dogg were mages. They were good guys trying to help others in need. Yeah. That’s what they are about. Helping others in need. He wanted to do this. (at least that would get his mind off of Jocasta and Keela) Maybe they could find out more about the Tembo’s suggestion of him being Baneful or Bane’s son also.
Bane.
Who or what was a Bane? Was that his or her name? Was it a descriptor? Was it irony like calling a ½ Giant tiny? So many questions. Then there was also the question of his recent dreams. He was having dreams of a grand place with multiple cities on a waterfall-covered cliffside. It was called Hope or New Hope. It was just a dream wasn’t it?
Life was like a rooftop. You can see far and wide but you can’t see the details or what lay under the roofs. Mania laughs softly to himself. He was a poetic philosopher now. He turned and went downstairs. It was time to learn what lay under the rooftops. Time to become something.
SEGMENT 051
“The View from the Top”
Mania had been up here for three hours now. He was on the top of the building used by Greene Blewes as a base of operations. From here he could see several of the streets and larger buildings. The Naggaramkam taking up much of the view. He could see the Earth Wall, which kept the city out of the Woodlands of the Crescent Forest. He could see the Hill District.
The sculptured buildings and walkways was a beauty to behold. Colored streamers and flags added to the effect. Even now, in the daytime, the festival continued in areas. The nobles held “block” parties that were strictly guarded. The nobles had it all and were not about to give up even a crumb to the commoners and less to the slaves. Nibenay’s outershell was truly a thing of beauty but inside, it was corrupted and dying.
Was it like this all the time?
What could he do about it?
His wandering thoughts had him completely engrossed. This is why he didn’t see a black chitin shelled creature cross the rooftop of the building next to him. 30 seconds later a cart was knocked over on the road before him as if something invisible ran into it. No…he did not see or hear any of it. (OOC- rolled natural 1’s on BOTH Spot and Listen..ugh) His entire focus was something deep inside of him. Something new, at least for him. He was thinking about something bigger than himself.
His thoughts stopped on a memory. “My friends in the Veiled Alliance…” He remembered Dogg talking about it. He remembered Dutch’s look. They were talking about their involvement in hushed tones and double meaning even in an abandoned tomb three days away from the city…any city.
The Veiled Alliance. What were they about? He honestly wasn’t certain. He knew the Templars were ordered to slay them on sight. Why? He thought they were all mages but now knew otherwise. Neither Dutch nor Dogg were mages. They were good guys trying to help others in need. Yeah. That’s what they are about. Helping others in need. He wanted to do this. (at least that would get his mind off of Jocasta and Keela) Maybe they could find out more about the Tembo’s suggestion of him being Baneful or Bane’s son also.
Bane.
Who or what was a Bane? Was that his or her name? Was it a descriptor? Was it irony like calling a ½ Giant tiny? So many questions. Then there was also the question of his recent dreams. He was having dreams of a grand place with multiple cities on a waterfall-covered cliffside. It was called Hope or New Hope. It was just a dream wasn’t it?
Life was like a rooftop. You can see far and wide but you can’t see the details or what lay under the roofs. Mania laughs softly to himself. He was a poetic philosopher now. He turned and went downstairs. It was time to learn what lay under the rooftops. Time to become something.
megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 052
“All Hell Breaks Lose”
The Leetrah family was not having fun on this, the 5th day of The Kings during Ral’s Contemplation of 190KA. They were preparing the body of the eldest son for his funeral. He had been washed up and made to look as clean and presentable as possible. Each member of the family would walk up to his body and place a personal item into a basket that would be buried with him in the family tomb. The item given was representative of one final promise between the deceased and the living. If the promise were broken, the deceased would use it to curse the family member from the grave. So far, 10 of the 40+ family members had given the same promise. The death of the Dree family.
Suddenly the soft sobs and murmurs deaden. There is not even a sound when little Gracey (out of town with the Aunt until now) knocks over a tray with water and fruit. The family elders knowing what was happening tried to reach the doorways but it was too late. Two windows silently break apart (Shatter Spell) and in comes three green glowing beads of energy that then hesitate then sharply explode. No sound comes from within the building but the entire block hears the explosion of the Fireballs erupting within a constricted space.
It is two hours later that enough Templars arrive to caste spells to stop the fire. It would have been a mere hour if the Fire Clerics weren’t there trying to maintain it for a ritual.
The few survivors all are all burnt and injured. Of the 43 family members and ten slaves within the building, only 6 make it out alive. By the day’s end, it will be only 5.
The Templars place them under city arrest then go to get the Dree family. Not surprised, the templars find only a few slaves within the house. The rest are “out”. The new Hi-Templar of War, Arru arrives demands the house arrest of them and a citywide search made for the rest.
Suddenly- Arru and three other templars turn as they hear the words- “Freedom”. Arru escapes through the front door. The others scream and die horribly by what spoke the word. Arru trys to gather himself as a familiar figure stands before him.
Dhojakt.
“Slavery” he clicks back. “No freedom in Nibenay for Infernal creatures like yourselves.”
Before him, within the building still, are three winged dark shapes. Each has horns and claws. Sharp teeth that drip thick spittle.
Someone has allowed hell to break lose in here.
SEGMENT 052
“All Hell Breaks Lose”
The Leetrah family was not having fun on this, the 5th day of The Kings during Ral’s Contemplation of 190KA. They were preparing the body of the eldest son for his funeral. He had been washed up and made to look as clean and presentable as possible. Each member of the family would walk up to his body and place a personal item into a basket that would be buried with him in the family tomb. The item given was representative of one final promise between the deceased and the living. If the promise were broken, the deceased would use it to curse the family member from the grave. So far, 10 of the 40+ family members had given the same promise. The death of the Dree family.
Suddenly the soft sobs and murmurs deaden. There is not even a sound when little Gracey (out of town with the Aunt until now) knocks over a tray with water and fruit. The family elders knowing what was happening tried to reach the doorways but it was too late. Two windows silently break apart (Shatter Spell) and in comes three green glowing beads of energy that then hesitate then sharply explode. No sound comes from within the building but the entire block hears the explosion of the Fireballs erupting within a constricted space.
It is two hours later that enough Templars arrive to caste spells to stop the fire. It would have been a mere hour if the Fire Clerics weren’t there trying to maintain it for a ritual.
The few survivors all are all burnt and injured. Of the 43 family members and ten slaves within the building, only 6 make it out alive. By the day’s end, it will be only 5.
The Templars place them under city arrest then go to get the Dree family. Not surprised, the templars find only a few slaves within the house. The rest are “out”. The new Hi-Templar of War, Arru arrives demands the house arrest of them and a citywide search made for the rest.
Suddenly- Arru and three other templars turn as they hear the words- “Freedom”. Arru escapes through the front door. The others scream and die horribly by what spoke the word. Arru trys to gather himself as a familiar figure stands before him.
Dhojakt.
“Slavery” he clicks back. “No freedom in Nibenay for Infernal creatures like yourselves.”
Before him, within the building still, are three winged dark shapes. Each has horns and claws. Sharp teeth that drip thick spittle.
Someone has allowed hell to break lose in here.
megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 053
“Mania meets his match”
Mania heard it before he saw it. Screams. Screams of terror. A few birds went air borne where he knew a salesman was on the street side. Then the people came from around the corner. A rolling, scrambling all crushing wave of panic that consumed all in it’s path. Even a few templars were running within the mass. He ran to an ally to let the mass pass him. A few street orchins took his alley knowing escape routes well enough to use them. Then nothing. The dust settled leaving only a brief memory of the rush. Then he felt something. Something hot and irritating on his shoulder. Instinctually he accessed his inner powers and turned. A small leather skinned pale blue creature was above him looking around. It hadn’t seen him just yet. Then it looked down at him. A toothy grin grew across his face and its red eyes seemed to flare up. He hadn’t seen anything like it since seeing the undead gith creature in the desert.
It begins to crawl down the wall towards him. Mania reaches for his club- no club. He left it at the building. In the moment of looking down it has reached him. He drops and rolls away from it. The creature tries to claw him and tries to bite him immediately. On his back still, Mania begins to try to kick off the small creature. In return it tries to claw and bite him but his kicks are strong enough to hold it back. He gets a solid kick in. The creature is pushed back by it’s blow by seems otherwise unhurt. It renews its attacks and bites his ankle. Its teeth don’t penetrate the leather but the pressure pops something in his ankle. They thrash about more. The creature claws at his exposed legs drawing lines of thick red blood. “Get off of me!”
Suddenly a thick purplish-black cloud appears out of nowhere around Mania and the infernal creature. Mania tries to hold his breath but fails and becomes sick from it. His stomach spasms and constricts. A headache equal to the hangover he had a few days ago erupts in his head.
And it comes back for more.
He tries to crawl out of the stinking cloud but finds no strength in his limbs to do so. He feels the creature land on his chest…about to cut him open “Freeeedom” it snarls and then poorly tries to imitate a laugh.
SEGMENT 053
“Mania meets his match”
Mania heard it before he saw it. Screams. Screams of terror. A few birds went air borne where he knew a salesman was on the street side. Then the people came from around the corner. A rolling, scrambling all crushing wave of panic that consumed all in it’s path. Even a few templars were running within the mass. He ran to an ally to let the mass pass him. A few street orchins took his alley knowing escape routes well enough to use them. Then nothing. The dust settled leaving only a brief memory of the rush. Then he felt something. Something hot and irritating on his shoulder. Instinctually he accessed his inner powers and turned. A small leather skinned pale blue creature was above him looking around. It hadn’t seen him just yet. Then it looked down at him. A toothy grin grew across his face and its red eyes seemed to flare up. He hadn’t seen anything like it since seeing the undead gith creature in the desert.
It begins to crawl down the wall towards him. Mania reaches for his club- no club. He left it at the building. In the moment of looking down it has reached him. He drops and rolls away from it. The creature tries to claw him and tries to bite him immediately. On his back still, Mania begins to try to kick off the small creature. In return it tries to claw and bite him but his kicks are strong enough to hold it back. He gets a solid kick in. The creature is pushed back by it’s blow by seems otherwise unhurt. It renews its attacks and bites his ankle. Its teeth don’t penetrate the leather but the pressure pops something in his ankle. They thrash about more. The creature claws at his exposed legs drawing lines of thick red blood. “Get off of me!”
Suddenly a thick purplish-black cloud appears out of nowhere around Mania and the infernal creature. Mania tries to hold his breath but fails and becomes sick from it. His stomach spasms and constricts. A headache equal to the hangover he had a few days ago erupts in his head.
And it comes back for more.
He tries to crawl out of the stinking cloud but finds no strength in his limbs to do so. He feels the creature land on his chest…about to cut him open “Freeeedom” it snarls and then poorly tries to imitate a laugh.
megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 054
“Set, Match, Dead”
Mania rolls over to be ill. The Dretch just hops back on, content to rip his heart out from the back. Mania then does something it didn’t expect. He stands up and purposely falls backward. His attempt at squashing it against the wall fails as he smacks his head on the mortar. The pudgy creature laughs its horrible laugh again as it is thoroughly enjoying this.
He loses his lunch and stumbles out of the cloud. He still feels very ill. The creature goes for the red lines on his legs. It claws and bites at the exposed blood. Mania rubs his tearing eyes and stumbles deeper into the alley. Multiple lines of blood form as the creature scratches at him. He becomes desperate now. He begins to pick up speed running for the wall again. Mania grabs its clenched claw and launches himself at the wall once more. He regrets the move immediately. Both crash through the wall and fall into a pit. He found himself in the tavern he was drugged at. He and the now screaming creature fall into the pit twenty feet below. A rib or two break in both combatants. The pain brings new tears to his eyes. It also clears his mind and body of the cloud’s toxic effects.
Mania rolls over and kicks the small creature as hard as he can. It flies back against the cage wall. Its head rolls about awkwardly as it limply falls to the ground. Mania goes over to it and begins to pound on it. After a full minute, now gasping for breath, Mania leaves convinced it is dead and will not return.
As he leaves he notes his many cuts and gouges. Many still bleeding. He searches for anything to stop the bleeding. He tries to remember what Dutch did to stop his wounds. He finds it hard to treat his own wounds and just stops the bleeding only using a somewhat clean bar towel. He can still hear the shouts outside. This thing had friends. With a deep sign, he holds the door for a moment then goes out to do anything he can.
He instantly finds himself attacked anew. Another of these creatures is rushing him. Mania slams the door shut and resets the locking bar. “So much for being a big hero,” he thinks out loud. While the creature claws and growls at the door he searches for a possible weapon. Anything at this point. He finds the bouncers club in the back room. It lacks the glowing essence of his but should work well enough.
“Freedom” is sent into Mania’s mind. The creature has found a way in.. no, three of the creatures have found a way in! Mania rushes them. He has no intent of letting them get organized. He crushes the head of one that made a mistake to look away from him. His greatclub continues into the next target clipping it across the top of its four-foot frame. “Freedom you m*****f*****s!!!!!!!!”
Something deep in Mania was screaming to get out again. He was in a bloodlust. He was feeling something new. He was enjoying the thrill of combat. If he missed, they would kill him. If they missed, they would die. “The earth be praised- this can not be right.” He misses taking a chunk out of the club as it strikes and breaks a chair. The short Dretch uses the table for cover. The other strikes (crits!) cutting the soft tissue of Mania’s upper rear thigh and backside. The room is growing warm and the color is fading. He swings again and misses once more. One creature leaps onto his back and takes out a chunk of his chest. The other grabs onto his leg, hugging it, and joyfully begins to bite at his leg. Mania falls to the ground in a bloody heap!
An explosion occurs just outside blowing the door free of its hinges. The creatures scatter in fear leaving him there…breathing shallow…. dying.
(OOC- -8! Darn those Dretch!!!!!)
SEGMENT 054
“Set, Match, Dead”
Mania rolls over to be ill. The Dretch just hops back on, content to rip his heart out from the back. Mania then does something it didn’t expect. He stands up and purposely falls backward. His attempt at squashing it against the wall fails as he smacks his head on the mortar. The pudgy creature laughs its horrible laugh again as it is thoroughly enjoying this.
He loses his lunch and stumbles out of the cloud. He still feels very ill. The creature goes for the red lines on his legs. It claws and bites at the exposed blood. Mania rubs his tearing eyes and stumbles deeper into the alley. Multiple lines of blood form as the creature scratches at him. He becomes desperate now. He begins to pick up speed running for the wall again. Mania grabs its clenched claw and launches himself at the wall once more. He regrets the move immediately. Both crash through the wall and fall into a pit. He found himself in the tavern he was drugged at. He and the now screaming creature fall into the pit twenty feet below. A rib or two break in both combatants. The pain brings new tears to his eyes. It also clears his mind and body of the cloud’s toxic effects.
Mania rolls over and kicks the small creature as hard as he can. It flies back against the cage wall. Its head rolls about awkwardly as it limply falls to the ground. Mania goes over to it and begins to pound on it. After a full minute, now gasping for breath, Mania leaves convinced it is dead and will not return.
As he leaves he notes his many cuts and gouges. Many still bleeding. He searches for anything to stop the bleeding. He tries to remember what Dutch did to stop his wounds. He finds it hard to treat his own wounds and just stops the bleeding only using a somewhat clean bar towel. He can still hear the shouts outside. This thing had friends. With a deep sign, he holds the door for a moment then goes out to do anything he can.
He instantly finds himself attacked anew. Another of these creatures is rushing him. Mania slams the door shut and resets the locking bar. “So much for being a big hero,” he thinks out loud. While the creature claws and growls at the door he searches for a possible weapon. Anything at this point. He finds the bouncers club in the back room. It lacks the glowing essence of his but should work well enough.
“Freedom” is sent into Mania’s mind. The creature has found a way in.. no, three of the creatures have found a way in! Mania rushes them. He has no intent of letting them get organized. He crushes the head of one that made a mistake to look away from him. His greatclub continues into the next target clipping it across the top of its four-foot frame. “Freedom you m*****f*****s!!!!!!!!”
Something deep in Mania was screaming to get out again. He was in a bloodlust. He was feeling something new. He was enjoying the thrill of combat. If he missed, they would kill him. If they missed, they would die. “The earth be praised- this can not be right.” He misses taking a chunk out of the club as it strikes and breaks a chair. The short Dretch uses the table for cover. The other strikes (crits!) cutting the soft tissue of Mania’s upper rear thigh and backside. The room is growing warm and the color is fading. He swings again and misses once more. One creature leaps onto his back and takes out a chunk of his chest. The other grabs onto his leg, hugging it, and joyfully begins to bite at his leg. Mania falls to the ground in a bloody heap!
An explosion occurs just outside blowing the door free of its hinges. The creatures scatter in fear leaving him there…breathing shallow…. dying.
(OOC- -8! Darn those Dretch!!!!!)
megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 055
“First Wave”
Fasston couldn’t believe this. Dretches were everywhere. The Tanar’ri were killing fleeing folks and enjoying it. An occasional Quasit was seen buzzing by. The templars could not hold them back. The ½ Giants were ineffective if they could not hit the things. More than one ½ Giant lay on the street dead or dying. His blade stunk of their blood and already looked tarnished. An explosion of a fireball drew his attention away from the skyline to the ground. Several crispy remains fell back to the ground. On the building next door stood a woman in white robes. “Daina..?”
The battle was a losing one. Fasston suspected a portal was opened directly to their plane of the Abyss. But of course, if this was done, where were the larger and more powerful ones? These creatures were lowly grunts without direction. Where were the Marilith or Balor? He looked up to the woman again. She fired off another Lightning bolt at some fleeing Dretch. They too exploded when a crater formed from where they once stood.
“Over kill my dear Daina. There is no flamboyance in that…little style.” Fasston moved onward hoping to reach the next group before her. She methodology was too extreme here. Her very presence may bring the Shadow-King out of his fortress- the Naggaramkam. She disappears with a popping sound as he goes by her building. If she saw him, she did not acknowledge it at the least.
Dhojakt was tearing into the creatures. He had destroyed over two dozen already. He was forming a small wall of dead Dretch and Quasits around him when he heard a new voice in his mind. A very unwelcome one. It was sweet and nice but had a mark of hatred and sarcasm at the same time. “Where is your father little bugman? Need I settle for you?”
Dhojakt’s mental defenses were torn wide as an image of a blonde winged woman holding a blazing great sword in one hand and a staff of the Magi in the other appeared over his blackened chitin shelled self. Regaining his confidence, his shell withdrew and formed instead a suit of purple energized armor. His cylop appearance disappearing completely except for his black reflective eyes. “Go away Daina! I have no time for your games now. Go play Avangion somewhere else. Get out of my head- Now!”
His mind is freed of her image but his limbs won’t respond. In the few moments he was left dazed a dozen Dretch have swarmed onto him and trying to bite, claw and tear apart the unnatural creature. Little is accomplished by their efforts as he shrugs them off. “There will come a day Daina…there will come a day.”
He bites, claws and uses magic to cut a path through the dozens of Dretch. Several templars are beginning to resurface now. They do little at first relying on their authority to caste fear into the creatures. The templars greatest weapon is useless against them. They fear nothing that a mortal can do to them. Dhojakt reaches the main building of the Adee noble family. Within their house is the portal. He could smell it yesterday. Its strength overwhelmed him then. Now he is prepared for it. Now he has the tools to close the portal once he finds it.
Keela hopes this will end soon. She was told not to enter battle since she was in preparation for the Union but she couldn’t sit back. Not when fellow sisters of the templerate were being killed. She and a force of 10 templars with 5 ½ Giants and dozen-seasoned guards worked slowly through the streets reclaiming it block by block. A moan caught her attention. Uncertain of what to expect she walked around body parts of Dretch and humanoids alike. A blast had torn into a building. Inside, partly covered by debris, lay Mania. He was clinging to life.
Her features softened seeing the man she thought she loved lying in a pool of blood. Then she thought about it. Her soft features disappeared in a scowl then utter contempt. She gave him a swift kick in the side. The sound suggested serious internal injuries. He was going to be dead soon. Only his will to live (OOC- Stabilize Self) kept him alive. She kneels down to whisper into his ear gently.
“I could save you…now, instantly healing you. I could place you out of misery and step on your neck. However, you specifically told me not to…never to do anything for you again. I leave you to die slowly. I hope you are aware enough to know I am here and have said these words. It is a Nibenese tradition to give a gift to the dead. This gift represents the living promise to the dead. A pact if you will. My promise is- I will destroy you, the Greenes and the V Alliance before I die. The gift I give you- a potion of healing. Too bad no one here will give it to you. Die painfully Mania. Or at least just Die.”
She gets up after leaving the potion in his hand. She went as far as closing his hand about it as if he died trying to drink it. She then goes up the street to a controlled area aiding the injured templars first, the ½ Giants next then finds she has no means or wants to aid the commoners.
SEGMENT 055
“First Wave”
Fasston couldn’t believe this. Dretches were everywhere. The Tanar’ri were killing fleeing folks and enjoying it. An occasional Quasit was seen buzzing by. The templars could not hold them back. The ½ Giants were ineffective if they could not hit the things. More than one ½ Giant lay on the street dead or dying. His blade stunk of their blood and already looked tarnished. An explosion of a fireball drew his attention away from the skyline to the ground. Several crispy remains fell back to the ground. On the building next door stood a woman in white robes. “Daina..?”
The battle was a losing one. Fasston suspected a portal was opened directly to their plane of the Abyss. But of course, if this was done, where were the larger and more powerful ones? These creatures were lowly grunts without direction. Where were the Marilith or Balor? He looked up to the woman again. She fired off another Lightning bolt at some fleeing Dretch. They too exploded when a crater formed from where they once stood.
“Over kill my dear Daina. There is no flamboyance in that…little style.” Fasston moved onward hoping to reach the next group before her. She methodology was too extreme here. Her very presence may bring the Shadow-King out of his fortress- the Naggaramkam. She disappears with a popping sound as he goes by her building. If she saw him, she did not acknowledge it at the least.
Dhojakt was tearing into the creatures. He had destroyed over two dozen already. He was forming a small wall of dead Dretch and Quasits around him when he heard a new voice in his mind. A very unwelcome one. It was sweet and nice but had a mark of hatred and sarcasm at the same time. “Where is your father little bugman? Need I settle for you?”
Dhojakt’s mental defenses were torn wide as an image of a blonde winged woman holding a blazing great sword in one hand and a staff of the Magi in the other appeared over his blackened chitin shelled self. Regaining his confidence, his shell withdrew and formed instead a suit of purple energized armor. His cylop appearance disappearing completely except for his black reflective eyes. “Go away Daina! I have no time for your games now. Go play Avangion somewhere else. Get out of my head- Now!”
His mind is freed of her image but his limbs won’t respond. In the few moments he was left dazed a dozen Dretch have swarmed onto him and trying to bite, claw and tear apart the unnatural creature. Little is accomplished by their efforts as he shrugs them off. “There will come a day Daina…there will come a day.”
He bites, claws and uses magic to cut a path through the dozens of Dretch. Several templars are beginning to resurface now. They do little at first relying on their authority to caste fear into the creatures. The templars greatest weapon is useless against them. They fear nothing that a mortal can do to them. Dhojakt reaches the main building of the Adee noble family. Within their house is the portal. He could smell it yesterday. Its strength overwhelmed him then. Now he is prepared for it. Now he has the tools to close the portal once he finds it.
Keela hopes this will end soon. She was told not to enter battle since she was in preparation for the Union but she couldn’t sit back. Not when fellow sisters of the templerate were being killed. She and a force of 10 templars with 5 ½ Giants and dozen-seasoned guards worked slowly through the streets reclaiming it block by block. A moan caught her attention. Uncertain of what to expect she walked around body parts of Dretch and humanoids alike. A blast had torn into a building. Inside, partly covered by debris, lay Mania. He was clinging to life.
Her features softened seeing the man she thought she loved lying in a pool of blood. Then she thought about it. Her soft features disappeared in a scowl then utter contempt. She gave him a swift kick in the side. The sound suggested serious internal injuries. He was going to be dead soon. Only his will to live (OOC- Stabilize Self) kept him alive. She kneels down to whisper into his ear gently.
“I could save you…now, instantly healing you. I could place you out of misery and step on your neck. However, you specifically told me not to…never to do anything for you again. I leave you to die slowly. I hope you are aware enough to know I am here and have said these words. It is a Nibenese tradition to give a gift to the dead. This gift represents the living promise to the dead. A pact if you will. My promise is- I will destroy you, the Greenes and the V Alliance before I die. The gift I give you- a potion of healing. Too bad no one here will give it to you. Die painfully Mania. Or at least just Die.”
She gets up after leaving the potion in his hand. She went as far as closing his hand about it as if he died trying to drink it. She then goes up the street to a controlled area aiding the injured templars first, the ½ Giants next then finds she has no means or wants to aid the commoners.
megamania
Hero
UNDER A DARKSUN
SEGMENT 056
“Visions”
Mania opened his eyes with a start. His eyes darted about trying to take in his surroundings before moving. Something or someone was here with him. He was certain of it. Then it hit him. He wasn’t in the ruined tavern any more. His face was on a scratchy yet soft surface. There was a strange chill to the air also. He lifted his head to look about. The ground was covered with a lush green surface. It resembled long thin flat green leaves growing directly out of the ground. The ground. The ground had a rich healthy smell to it. The air…had moisture in it. It was smooth and refreshing to breathe in. No. No wait- not breathe in. He couldn’t breathe this air in. “Now what has happened to me?!?”
“Welcome to my mind…my memories.”
Mania rolls over. He finds he is not wearing his leather armor. In fact, he wears nothing. The club he had is nothing but a strange blue tube with liquid in it. He looks up and sees an angel. She is holding a sword and a staff. “Who are you? Where am I?”
“I am Daina. I am a psion. I am a mage. I am looking to recreate the world…again.”
He looks closer at her. “No. No I’ve seen you before. You are a bar maiden at a tavern here. I saw you.”
“You saw me pretending to be a bar maiden. I find it helpful learning what transpires within the cities. She is but one of a dozen alias I use frequently. I am Daina.”
“Why am I naked? Why are you…angel like? This can’t be real…can it?”
“We are in my mindscape. I created a peaceful world for us to talk.” A gentle ripple can be heard. Liquid rises from the ground and forms a puddle. The puddle grows into a stream. The stream into a river. The river disappears out of view…behind the sprouting trees. “This world came to me in a dream. I believe it is the Green age.”
“What does Greene have to do with this?”
“Nothing. You speak of the man, Green spelt with a third ‘e’. I speak of a time on Athas when peace reigned. A time of paradise.”
“Why do you care? Are you using me?”
“We all use and get used by others. I am curious. The templar I saw showed emotions I did not think a templar could have. It intrigued me. I was unable to catch her words as the city is being invaded by small Tanar’ri. Why did you take time to talk to you?”
A long pause. “Why should I say anything? If you are such a powerful mind-bender, you should already know.”
“Spirit. I like that.” Her weapons and staff meld into her arms and disappear. Three brightly colored insects with large soft wings fly crazily by her. “I can but then I am proving to be the very person I fear and dislike the most. You and I, we are very much alike. We crave freedom and it hurts to see others not have it.”
“This is all from a dream? I have beautiful dreams.”
“You can not bluff your way out of this. I sense your every motive in my mindscape.”
A long pause goes by. “Are you from the Veiled Alliance?”
“Yes. I belong to the Raamian chapter”
“Raam has a Veiled Alliance?”
“Yes. There are few of us and I fear Nibenay will lose many soon. I sense this.”
“So you are knowledgeable in many things. I was called a Baneful Child. It struck me as being…odd at the time. I was reliving a painful memory at the time. I few memories left from this one was the one to surface. Why?”
“The answer to that one and others will come later. I know we will meet again. I must go now. I have mentally moved you limbs to open the potion tube and swallow the drink inside. You will live. You must live. If there is anything inside of you Baneful, I am sure you have good parts also. Why I know this is uncertain. It is an Enigma we can search for later.”
Mania opened his eyes with a start. His eyes darted about trying to take in his surroundings before moving. “I am alive.”
SEGMENT 056
“Visions”
Mania opened his eyes with a start. His eyes darted about trying to take in his surroundings before moving. Something or someone was here with him. He was certain of it. Then it hit him. He wasn’t in the ruined tavern any more. His face was on a scratchy yet soft surface. There was a strange chill to the air also. He lifted his head to look about. The ground was covered with a lush green surface. It resembled long thin flat green leaves growing directly out of the ground. The ground. The ground had a rich healthy smell to it. The air…had moisture in it. It was smooth and refreshing to breathe in. No. No wait- not breathe in. He couldn’t breathe this air in. “Now what has happened to me?!?”
“Welcome to my mind…my memories.”
Mania rolls over. He finds he is not wearing his leather armor. In fact, he wears nothing. The club he had is nothing but a strange blue tube with liquid in it. He looks up and sees an angel. She is holding a sword and a staff. “Who are you? Where am I?”
“I am Daina. I am a psion. I am a mage. I am looking to recreate the world…again.”
He looks closer at her. “No. No I’ve seen you before. You are a bar maiden at a tavern here. I saw you.”
“You saw me pretending to be a bar maiden. I find it helpful learning what transpires within the cities. She is but one of a dozen alias I use frequently. I am Daina.”
“Why am I naked? Why are you…angel like? This can’t be real…can it?”
“We are in my mindscape. I created a peaceful world for us to talk.” A gentle ripple can be heard. Liquid rises from the ground and forms a puddle. The puddle grows into a stream. The stream into a river. The river disappears out of view…behind the sprouting trees. “This world came to me in a dream. I believe it is the Green age.”
“What does Greene have to do with this?”
“Nothing. You speak of the man, Green spelt with a third ‘e’. I speak of a time on Athas when peace reigned. A time of paradise.”
“Why do you care? Are you using me?”
“We all use and get used by others. I am curious. The templar I saw showed emotions I did not think a templar could have. It intrigued me. I was unable to catch her words as the city is being invaded by small Tanar’ri. Why did you take time to talk to you?”
A long pause. “Why should I say anything? If you are such a powerful mind-bender, you should already know.”
“Spirit. I like that.” Her weapons and staff meld into her arms and disappear. Three brightly colored insects with large soft wings fly crazily by her. “I can but then I am proving to be the very person I fear and dislike the most. You and I, we are very much alike. We crave freedom and it hurts to see others not have it.”
“This is all from a dream? I have beautiful dreams.”
“You can not bluff your way out of this. I sense your every motive in my mindscape.”
A long pause goes by. “Are you from the Veiled Alliance?”
“Yes. I belong to the Raamian chapter”
“Raam has a Veiled Alliance?”
“Yes. There are few of us and I fear Nibenay will lose many soon. I sense this.”
“So you are knowledgeable in many things. I was called a Baneful Child. It struck me as being…odd at the time. I was reliving a painful memory at the time. I few memories left from this one was the one to surface. Why?”
“The answer to that one and others will come later. I know we will meet again. I must go now. I have mentally moved you limbs to open the potion tube and swallow the drink inside. You will live. You must live. If there is anything inside of you Baneful, I am sure you have good parts also. Why I know this is uncertain. It is an Enigma we can search for later.”
Mania opened his eyes with a start. His eyes darted about trying to take in his surroundings before moving. “I am alive.”
