Vynarkus groans. "Ok, they're definately as evil as most human warlocks...
"The Protector's descendent talked to the human in Abyssal, telling him how to help kill Starshine. Then he used a variation of the basic blasts all Warlocks know to kill him.
"...The problem is, that particular blast was about four times as strong as mine. He could probably kill everyone here on his own."
[ooc]The italics indicated a sarcastic tone of voice.
...Seven, I'm assuming that it's impossible for me to go back and say I tried to talk Starshine into leaving as well?[/ooc]
Darkwood--Darkness Rising
Moderator: Seven Words
"We have to stop this! Those warlocks are working with the tribes of my people and the frost giants to destroy the elves. I don't know why, but... we can't let them do it." I glance around at the others present. I pay attention especially to the stranger elves. I want to see how they react to this news about their leaders.
Laurel silently sidles next to Bitch-Kissed, her own dangling pair of dice in plain view hanging from her neck. Quietly she whispers, "Very little is making any sense to me at the moment. May the Wild Bitch influence luck to bring clarity, so any songs or tales you wish to share later of how the Protector and his descendants have come to lead your people will be welcome and understood."
~Close your eyes girl
Look inside girl
Let the sound take you away...~
Look inside girl
Let the sound take you away...~
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Skyseeker simply weeps.
Marrik glowers at the images, every fiber of his being crying out to strike down these minions of darkest evil, yet he restrains himself, knowing he is by far outmatched.
Vistyai is simply staring, stunned.
DarkRock is muttering"...of course....all along....killing off...."
Bitch-Kissed, wide eyed at these revelations, whispers to Laurel, "After the Coming of Doom, the city was uninhabitable, wild magics coursing through it...for over a thousand years we lived in what rude habitations we could make. We had near no warning, the stories say, fleeing wiht precious little beyond the clothing we wore. When we returned to the city, there were all manner of vile creatures in residence, some twisted by the magics, some having moved in. It was at this time that the Protector came forth....He was leading a small band of his own, who had been negotiating with the humans before the Doom. Some of the elders, what few survived, remembered him. His party was well-armed and equipped, as the Nameless had been sending marauders out among the humans. Some manner of demon or devil, in great numbers, had descended upon the Return. His band's charge broke through, broke them, and saved us. Or so the stories say. He and his were stalwart in guarding our camp, and as we strove to reclaim some portion of our home they were always there in our defense. He eschewed any title save that of Protector, as all he sought was to ward us. He also explained that while among the humans he had discovered the truth...that human trickery had misled the Nameless, and they had caused him to bring the Doom, willing to destroy everything if they could not have it for themselves. At first, few believed him. But, as time went on, over the next couple of centuries, his most vocal opponents died, as well as some of his more ardent supporters, in assorted monster and demon attacks, more and more came to believe his story. And now, thousands of years later, nearly a third of our folk hold humanity responsible. And of course, the weapons the Nameless had crafted, living weapons...he always opposed them being anything more than property, much like a cat or a dog. In the desperation of those dark days, we used them, to save ourselves, it is said. Before his voice grew too loud, some manner of freedom and protection was granted to them, Beast-Souled and Warforged. But they have not been truly freed, and those who most agitate for their liberty and rights seem to end up dead."
She looks over at Led, and drops to her knees, "Lorekeeper, witness my truth, Valkhan, guide me to justice, Missaryi, illuminate the right. Hikka'jae, I have wronged you, wronged your people. I have stood silent, while they were abused, killed, degraded, deeming myself to have more important matters to concern myself with." Still kneeling, she turns to Sigrid, "Hikka'jaelle, you also I have wronged, and your people. I have also stood silent when the evil ones spoke of punishing the Volk. How many villages burned for my silence, I cannot know. But none should have."
Skyseeker stems her tears, and addresses Led, "This so-called Protector has shamed and indeed hikkannewei every elf. This I swear...Only She Who Waits For All will stop me from freeing all of your people, and all of the WarForged who suffer under him"
Marrik glowers at the images, every fiber of his being crying out to strike down these minions of darkest evil, yet he restrains himself, knowing he is by far outmatched.
Vistyai is simply staring, stunned.
DarkRock is muttering"...of course....all along....killing off...."
Bitch-Kissed, wide eyed at these revelations, whispers to Laurel, "After the Coming of Doom, the city was uninhabitable, wild magics coursing through it...for over a thousand years we lived in what rude habitations we could make. We had near no warning, the stories say, fleeing wiht precious little beyond the clothing we wore. When we returned to the city, there were all manner of vile creatures in residence, some twisted by the magics, some having moved in. It was at this time that the Protector came forth....He was leading a small band of his own, who had been negotiating with the humans before the Doom. Some of the elders, what few survived, remembered him. His party was well-armed and equipped, as the Nameless had been sending marauders out among the humans. Some manner of demon or devil, in great numbers, had descended upon the Return. His band's charge broke through, broke them, and saved us. Or so the stories say. He and his were stalwart in guarding our camp, and as we strove to reclaim some portion of our home they were always there in our defense. He eschewed any title save that of Protector, as all he sought was to ward us. He also explained that while among the humans he had discovered the truth...that human trickery had misled the Nameless, and they had caused him to bring the Doom, willing to destroy everything if they could not have it for themselves. At first, few believed him. But, as time went on, over the next couple of centuries, his most vocal opponents died, as well as some of his more ardent supporters, in assorted monster and demon attacks, more and more came to believe his story. And now, thousands of years later, nearly a third of our folk hold humanity responsible. And of course, the weapons the Nameless had crafted, living weapons...he always opposed them being anything more than property, much like a cat or a dog. In the desperation of those dark days, we used them, to save ourselves, it is said. Before his voice grew too loud, some manner of freedom and protection was granted to them, Beast-Souled and Warforged. But they have not been truly freed, and those who most agitate for their liberty and rights seem to end up dead."
She looks over at Led, and drops to her knees, "Lorekeeper, witness my truth, Valkhan, guide me to justice, Missaryi, illuminate the right. Hikka'jae, I have wronged you, wronged your people. I have stood silent, while they were abused, killed, degraded, deeming myself to have more important matters to concern myself with." Still kneeling, she turns to Sigrid, "Hikka'jaelle, you also I have wronged, and your people. I have also stood silent when the evil ones spoke of punishing the Volk. How many villages burned for my silence, I cannot know. But none should have."
Skyseeker stems her tears, and addresses Led, "This so-called Protector has shamed and indeed hikkannewei every elf. This I swear...Only She Who Waits For All will stop me from freeing all of your people, and all of the WarForged who suffer under him"
Vynarkus sighs heavily as Bitch-Kissed finishes her story. He starts to speak, then stops as she continues and Skyseeker also talks to Led, his look of irritation shifting to one of respect. Then he steps forward to attract attention, and, while keeping an eye on the scrying, says to his companions
"So, that makes three supernatural enemies that we cannot hope to defeat, even if we could gather up the most powerful allies who fought alongside us so far? And this 'Protector' isn't even sealed?"
He turns to Bitch-Kissed
"...He is still alive, right?"
back to the rest of the party.
"I trust these guys, and I think we should tell them what little we know, and hope they will help us. Do you agree?" He looks particularly at Led as he asks this.
"So, that makes three supernatural enemies that we cannot hope to defeat, even if we could gather up the most powerful allies who fought alongside us so far? And this 'Protector' isn't even sealed?"
He turns to Bitch-Kissed
"...He is still alive, right?"
back to the rest of the party.
"I trust these guys, and I think we should tell them what little we know, and hope they will help us. Do you agree?" He looks particularly at Led as he asks this.
Led's face shifts from shock at what he's seen to an almost evil glee at the pain of his people's oppressor. He does not spit in Bitch-Kissed's face, though he is sorely tempted.
He prepares to spit after all, hoping some of the bile he was tasting would burn away the visage of this hateful being kneeling in front of him. At that moment, she, more than anybody ever had, represented all that was wrong with the world to him. He could feel a shift begin to happen once again, his second time today, but he reigns it in before he's in a position to spill blood.
"Bitch-kissed, I find you to be very slightly less odeus to the world than our enemies, which should give you some idea how bad things are. Know this, all of you." He glances around at the others with him, then confirms that the Protector's followers are still visible in the scrying device and not chasing after them. "Those other elves, the ones with the fungus skin, have returned from the Darkwood. They have worked to repair your elvish web, and are undermining the leaderships of Sverdham now. We assume others, as well. We followed some of them here to the north, where we were beset by a dragon, working on behalf of those same elves. They had a group of orcs to the south, and we have word of at least one wemic as well."
"So, as much as I would like nothing better than to demand all of your lifesblood in payment for the horrors inflicted upon my people, I find that we are forced to be..." he stops here, making a loud gulp as bile once again forces its way up his throat, "... allies."
"Oh, of course we should trust them. These elves aren't covered in fungus, so they must be good and trustworthy beings."Vynarkus wrote:"I think we should tell them what little we know, and hope they will help us. Do you agree?"
He prepares to spit after all, hoping some of the bile he was tasting would burn away the visage of this hateful being kneeling in front of him. At that moment, she, more than anybody ever had, represented all that was wrong with the world to him. He could feel a shift begin to happen once again, his second time today, but he reigns it in before he's in a position to spill blood.
"Bitch-kissed, I find you to be very slightly less odeus to the world than our enemies, which should give you some idea how bad things are. Know this, all of you." He glances around at the others with him, then confirms that the Protector's followers are still visible in the scrying device and not chasing after them. "Those other elves, the ones with the fungus skin, have returned from the Darkwood. They have worked to repair your elvish web, and are undermining the leaderships of Sverdham now. We assume others, as well. We followed some of them here to the north, where we were beset by a dragon, working on behalf of those same elves. They had a group of orcs to the south, and we have word of at least one wemic as well."
"So, as much as I would like nothing better than to demand all of your lifesblood in payment for the horrors inflicted upon my people, I find that we are forced to be..." he stops here, making a loud gulp as bile once again forces its way up his throat, "... allies."
Geek the mage, first.
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Marrik shakes his head in response to Sigrid's questions. "Sverdhame will not admit to any threat they cannot handle. They would start a pointless war rather than ask for help, they are grown xenophobic and isolationist, to an extreme over the last several decades. I believe once they are convinced of the truth of the threat, Lady Skyseeker's kinfolk will move. I do know that the dwarves are mobilizing to face this."
Skyseeker says, "My people will fight this, of course....but we are a pale shadow of what we were ere the Wood first Darkened."
A new figure steps forward among the elves in the projection, to speak to the warlock. Vistyai says, "No one knows who that is...always skulking around, but often gone...three, four months at a time, even. He doesn't seem to be important, in and of himself. We've never seen him act authoritative, when we've been able to watch him. He always keeps his face hidden as much as possible. When it is seen, his features are always described very vaguely..nondescript,ordinary, nothing standing out. His traveling cloak is recognizable, though..strange flowers patterned upon it." The mystery elf turns, and the flowers are visible. Skyseeker pales and gasps...."FarStrider!"
Skyseeker says, "My people will fight this, of course....but we are a pale shadow of what we were ere the Wood first Darkened."
A new figure steps forward among the elves in the projection, to speak to the warlock. Vistyai says, "No one knows who that is...always skulking around, but often gone...three, four months at a time, even. He doesn't seem to be important, in and of himself. We've never seen him act authoritative, when we've been able to watch him. He always keeps his face hidden as much as possible. When it is seen, his features are always described very vaguely..nondescript,ordinary, nothing standing out. His traveling cloak is recognizable, though..strange flowers patterned upon it." The mystery elf turns, and the flowers are visible. Skyseeker pales and gasps...."FarStrider!"
"That cloak... it's Heshic. It's from..." Led stops for a moment. "My master tells the story from his days as an apprentice. The Blackwater clan and the Mighty Herd clan had been feuding for generations, but it had recently escalated to open battle."
"His master heard that there was going to be a negotiation, and brought him to watch how the negotiater worked, as a learning trip. The one who did it was a foreigner. My master wasn't sure what lands he came from, though he was human. He always regarded that man with a sort of awe, though he blames it on the 'mystery' of his coming from an unknown foreign land, and my master being young and impressionable."
"The negotiator convinced the Mighty Herds clan that Blackwater would keep the peace, once the deal was settled. Everyone was amazed that it went through at all, and the negotiator was given a unique cloak in honor of the event. That cloak, with those distinctive flower designs."
Led stops for a moment, then continues. "Shortly afterwards, the Blackwater clan descended on the Mighty Herds clan and killed them all. Might Herds had stood down, and wasn't prepared for the attack. There were rumors, never confirmed, that Blackwater used demons to help them."
"His master heard that there was going to be a negotiation, and brought him to watch how the negotiater worked, as a learning trip. The one who did it was a foreigner. My master wasn't sure what lands he came from, though he was human. He always regarded that man with a sort of awe, though he blames it on the 'mystery' of his coming from an unknown foreign land, and my master being young and impressionable."
"The negotiator convinced the Mighty Herds clan that Blackwater would keep the peace, once the deal was settled. Everyone was amazed that it went through at all, and the negotiator was given a unique cloak in honor of the event. That cloak, with those distinctive flower designs."
Led stops for a moment, then continues. "Shortly afterwards, the Blackwater clan descended on the Mighty Herds clan and killed them all. Might Herds had stood down, and wasn't prepared for the attack. There were rumors, never confirmed, that Blackwater used demons to help them."
Last edited by Led Pighp on Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Geek the mage, first.
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Skyseeker takes up teh tale..."FarStrider volunteered to try and make peace between the clans. We had always had close relations with the Mighty Herds. There was talk about even some volunteers helping them fight off the raids by Black Water. He volunteered, claiming he sought to avoid imperiling any more lives than necessary. His success was lauded. The treachery of Black Water was held to be no fault of his, we believed he had acted in good faith. But now this....to travel from there to here and never mentioning our stranded cousins....he claims to be working to maintain relations with some of the further tribes from our home...where there always seems to be unrest, and suspicion of us...I think, perhaps, he foments it now...even colluded with Black Water years ago. Some of the elders have been suspicious of him, but we always dismissed their concerns as too-conservative distrust of the unconventional."
Vistayi cuts in, "That sounds like how the Protector first started. Disturbing parallel."
Marrik opines, "The tactic worked once, why not again? I think we have uncovered a long-fulminating conspiracy."
FarStrider makes a gesture behind him, and more figures come into view...securely restrained figures....They are turned loose, and Elloric can be heard to say, "Our story of the deceaseds valor needs some versimilitude...We arrived in time to fight off their foes...more casualties among "our" forces are needed". The small contingent is discernible now as some shifters and warforged, 3 and 2, respectively. They are swiftly cut down, the casualties Elloric feels necessary, save for one shifter, who changes and sniffs the ground, to pick up your trail. Elloric addresses the human in Abyssal again, and the Volksman begins to cast a spell from a scroll he pulled out.
Vistayi cuts in, "That sounds like how the Protector first started. Disturbing parallel."
Marrik opines, "The tactic worked once, why not again? I think we have uncovered a long-fulminating conspiracy."
FarStrider makes a gesture behind him, and more figures come into view...securely restrained figures....They are turned loose, and Elloric can be heard to say, "Our story of the deceaseds valor needs some versimilitude...We arrived in time to fight off their foes...more casualties among "our" forces are needed". The small contingent is discernible now as some shifters and warforged, 3 and 2, respectively. They are swiftly cut down, the casualties Elloric feels necessary, save for one shifter, who changes and sniffs the ground, to pick up your trail. Elloric addresses the human in Abyssal again, and the Volksman begins to cast a spell from a scroll he pulled out.
"Everybody run. Skyseeker and I will lay down a false trail in a different direction, and then circle back to find you later. We can avoid leaving a trail once we've gone far enough away. They'll never be able to find us, then. If Vistyai can obscure your actual trail as he did before, you should all be able to get far away from here."
Led watches his brother shifter, sniffing the ground. "He could track us by scent, but he'll only be able to stay shifted for maybe a minute or two. It's only really useful if he knows the target was somewhere, then he can follow them very briefly and hope he finds physical tracks again."
"That it's come to me working against my own people... that I had to watch two of them die in cold blood with nothing I can do about it..." He stares at Bitch-Kissed again. "Your Protector will pay. If I could bring him back from the dead and kill him again, it would still not be enough suffering."
"Skyseeker, we should go in different directions. Perhaps they'll split up and follow both of us."
"How will we find you all again later?"
Led watches his brother shifter, sniffing the ground. "He could track us by scent, but he'll only be able to stay shifted for maybe a minute or two. It's only really useful if he knows the target was somewhere, then he can follow them very briefly and hope he finds physical tracks again."
"That it's come to me working against my own people... that I had to watch two of them die in cold blood with nothing I can do about it..." He stares at Bitch-Kissed again. "Your Protector will pay. If I could bring him back from the dead and kill him again, it would still not be enough suffering."
"Skyseeker, we should go in different directions. Perhaps they'll split up and follow both of us."
"How will we find you all again later?"
Geek the mage, first.
Drawing out her new longbow, Laurel reaches for one of her six arrows which is enhanced against evil outsiders and nocks it in readiness. "He is opening a gate to The Nine Hells, source of devils.
"Those bearded devils we fought on the other side of the web somehow was sent from the one opening the gate now."
"Those bearded devils we fought on the other side of the web somehow was sent from the one opening the gate now."
~Close your eyes girl
Look inside girl
Let the sound take you away...~
Look inside girl
Let the sound take you away...~
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Vynarkus grimaced as he saw the shifter helping the evil elves.
"We do need to leave, but if the shifter if left with only one or two of the humans, it may be possible to free him. If we can, we should. Any ally would be useful, but after hearing their Warlock order his death...
"Oh, right, you don't understand him. He was telling the Volksman to summon some devils, use the shifter to find us, and kill him once he has.
"Led, Skyseeker, I'll come with you. You'll need some help if they do catch up to you, and I don't leave tracks. Not to mention that I can use my magic sight to tell when they are close."
"We do need to leave, but if the shifter if left with only one or two of the humans, it may be possible to free him. If we can, we should. Any ally would be useful, but after hearing their Warlock order his death...
"Oh, right, you don't understand him. He was telling the Volksman to summon some devils, use the shifter to find us, and kill him once he has.
"Led, Skyseeker, I'll come with you. You'll need some help if they do catch up to you, and I don't leave tracks. Not to mention that I can use my magic sight to tell when they are close."
Led puts his hand on Vynarkus' shoulder. "Thank you, friend. But we must go on foot, and Skyseeker and I are trained in moving swiftly. You'll slow us down, when we need to stay ahead of them. If we do this correctly, we'll never even encounter them. And if we do encounter them, I'm not sure you alone would be enough to save us. It's best that you stay with the rest of the group, so that the mission can succeed."
[Scouts have a +10 movement bonus]
[Scouts have a +10 movement bonus]
Geek the mage, first.
[ooc]I think that making increasing fortitude saves would let me keep running for extended periods. If I'm wrong about that, please ignore this post.[/ooc]
Vynarkus smiles and nods, then makes one final point.
"It is true that you can move faster than me, but unless you are constantly running, rather than merely moving, that will not make much difference. I can run fast enough to keep up with you at anything below a run of your own, and I can run for a very long time. And I won't slow down while hiding my tracks.
"Although we should avoid battle if possible, I do want to come along in case they do catch you, as I highly dislike the idea of allowing you into battle with no magical support, and I wish to be there if it does come to a fight, to help save their enslaved shifter, and take revenge for the innocents we were unable to prevent them from killing."
Vynarkus smiles and nods, then makes one final point.
"It is true that you can move faster than me, but unless you are constantly running, rather than merely moving, that will not make much difference. I can run fast enough to keep up with you at anything below a run of your own, and I can run for a very long time. And I won't slow down while hiding my tracks.
"Although we should avoid battle if possible, I do want to come along in case they do catch you, as I highly dislike the idea of allowing you into battle with no magical support, and I wish to be there if it does come to a fight, to help save their enslaved shifter, and take revenge for the innocents we were unable to prevent them from killing."
"Fair enough, my friend. And you've given me an idea. Skyseeker, I think we shouldn't split up. If we three stay together and purposly leave a big trail, it will look like a larger group. They'll believe it's all of us and follow. Then we can head off the wrong way for a few miles before 'vanishing' from the path."
Geek the mage, first.
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The last scene visible from the "sensor stone" is of the two devils stepping forth from the Gate. some 12 feet tall, insectoid, with long tails and huge spears.
At this sight, DarkRock goes to Led..."Should the devils prove too swift, this might aid you" as she hands him her cloak, "It is magic, offering protection equal to that of a chain shirt", and handing a wand to Vynarkus, "This will summon a creature to fight for you"
Vistyai works to conceal the backtrail, as Led, Vynarkus, and Skyseeker leave a clear trail, indicative of the entire group.
......
......
......
......
As the sun sets, the scouts and the warlock catch up with everyone else...the lack of devils clearly indicating the ruse was successful.
At this sight, DarkRock goes to Led..."Should the devils prove too swift, this might aid you" as she hands him her cloak, "It is magic, offering protection equal to that of a chain shirt", and handing a wand to Vynarkus, "This will summon a creature to fight for you"
Vistyai works to conceal the backtrail, as Led, Vynarkus, and Skyseeker leave a clear trail, indicative of the entire group.
......
......
......
......
As the sun sets, the scouts and the warlock catch up with everyone else...the lack of devils clearly indicating the ruse was successful.