|
|
MightyMage
Honorable
Legendary Hero
of INSANITY and DELICIOUSNESS
|
posted April 06, 2004 05:20 AM |
|
|
*Having met up with the magog, Mighty Mage is doing everything in his power to avoid him. Still angry with him for getting him into this mess in the first place, Mighty Mage continues to ignore him. Vadskye however, well it's always nice to talk to a fellow magic user. Gorm never seems interested in what he has to say and sort of blocked him out when he explained ever so passionately about the different magic classes. *
Mighty Mage: So what brings you guys out so far?
Vadskye: Demios, that's what.
Mighty Mage: Hmmmm, well we won't be staying here long. Now that the sun is coming out we intend on moving on.
Gorm: We do?
Mighty Mage: If we intend on finding Dingo and RSF on time.
Gorm: What do you mean on time ?
Mighty Mage: I mean before they do something terrible.
Demios: Hey, can we come? We’re looking for Dingo too.
Mighty Mage: I’d rather you not. Our party is rather full.
Demios: What do you mean? You got an angel, you, and a dog. How is that full? I think you could use a little firepower.
Mighty Mage: One, he’s a wolf. Not a dog. *Dean Growls again* Two, I think I pack enough fire power for all of us.
Demios: Fine. Be that way.
Vadskye: You know, you could always come along with us. It’s always good to have some extra magic around.
Mighty Mage: I think I’m fine.
*Mighty Mage wanted to just get on with this on his own if he had to but he knew his chances were better if he remained with the angel. Besides, what would happen to Dean if he left. It seemed he had taken care of himself so far but how long could he last?*
Mighty Mage: Besides, the magog and I don’t get along very well.
Vadskye: You get used to him. The best part is, he doesn’t have any taste buds so I can cook him just about anything and he’ll eat it.
Gorm: You know, I think we’ll be going now, if it’s all the same to you MM.
Mighty Mage: Yes. We should go. It was good seeing some friendly faces, something I suspect we wont be seeing very soon.
*So Mighty Mage, Gorm, and Dean take off, this time with Dean flying high acting as a scout.*
Mighty Mage: Did you know he could turn into an owl?
Gorm: Nope. Who knows what else the little guy can do.
Mighty Mage: In this world, no one can ever tell.
____________
Though I must still bow
in awe for the awesomeness that is
MightyMage. For he is all I could ever
want to be! - OhforfSake
|
|
2XtremeToTake
Promising
Supreme Hero
|
|
posted April 06, 2004 05:29 AM |
|
|
*Apon leaving the desolate graveyard, the Unholy one comes apon a small town filled with fat jolly inhabitants.*
"Foolish mortals" the unholy one thinks. "they have no idea what is coming to them"
*He steps into the tavern filled with music, dancing and laughter. Apon his entrance the candles blow out and the music stops.*
Unholy One: Bow down to your new king you mortals. I will soon rule the world.
*The Unholy one walks up to the bartender and holds the tip of his katar to the bartenders throat.*
Unholy One: Now. An example. You can join my army, or you can die..
*The unholy one pushes his katar deeper into the bartenders throat, finally penetrating his skin. Blood sprays out like a fountian. The bartender screams in agony and despair, his eyeballs turn bloodshot red before exploding in his skull. The brain turns into an acidic material, and melts straight out of the Bartenders skull. The Unholy one takes his other hand and squeezes the Bartenders skull into ashes. The liquified brain forms a small ratlike shape, and takes on a living form. Imbued with the unholy ones poison, it goes around, biting the ankles of the tenants of the bar. They drop dead instantly. Finally The Unholy One removes the katar from the twisted mass of bones, flesh and blood that was once the bartender. He walks out of the building and closes the door, as if nothing happened.*
____________
I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met.
|
|
Asmodean
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Heroine at the weekend.
|
|
posted April 06, 2004 06:10 AM |
|
|
Well it seems I've gotten a little side tracked into helping the mage and the angel deal with the time wizard. But I'm still hopeful that they might help me find a cure along the way.
As the sun comes up over the horizon I switch to eagle form in mid flight, the owl body's eyes are too sensitive for daytime flying.
The mage didn't seem to trust that pair and I'm glad he didn't want them to come along. There was quite a few ruffled feathers at that meeting. That magog stunk! And there seemed to be a bit of history between them, I'll ask the mage to explain later.
Angelboy was very quiet as well, I'm beginning to think he's a few twigs short of a nest, but it's not the kind of thing you can just come out and ask about so I'll have to keep an eye out.
We're heading towards a group of mountains, and at this distance my sharp eyes can pick out a town nesting in the foothills, I wonder if that's where we're headed.
Swooping down to the ground I assume rat form and land on Angelboy's shoulder and tell both of them:
There's a mountain town up ahead, maybe we should head towards it, ask around for clues, see if they know anything about this time wizard we're looking for. Has anyone got any cheese?
____________
To err is human, to arr is pirate.
|
|
Vadskye91
Promising
Supreme Hero
Back again
|
|
posted April 06, 2004 03:30 PM |
|
|
Vadskye is annoyed with Deimos. Still, it was to late to do anything about it now.
Vadskye: "Okay, it looks like they're taking care of RSF. All the loose ends are wrapped up right now except for Shadowcaster, so let's go try to save him."
Deimos: "Not you too? But he's a casualty of war!"
Vadskye: "Not yet he isn't. Unless you have a better idea?"
Deimos: "Well..."
Vadskye: "Then it's settled. We're going to go try to help Shadowcaster."
____________
Knowledge is power...
|
|
Deimos
Known Hero
LHW Paladin
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 12:12 AM |
|
|
Deimos: I don't like Shadow. He likes the dark too much, and he is too vengeful-
Vadskye: Which will be all the better when we go after RSF.
Suddenly, there was a scream. Deimos, Romana, and Vadskye turned around, and saw a villager running to them.
Villager: Help! Help! Chaos generals and Order general, there's a monster in our village!
Deimos: What's this?! A monster?!
Villager: H-he came into the "Spammy Pig" and killed the bartender!
Deimos: Vadskye, what do you think? Should we go help?
____________
Let's Have War=Best thread on HC.
By the way, my name is Deimos, not Diemos.
Some people don't have a life. Others spend it on HC- Lord Woock.
|
|
Vadskye91
Promising
Supreme Hero
Back again
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 12:25 AM |
|
|
Vadskye: "How did he kill him? Just stick a dagger in him?"
Villager: "No sirs, it was horrible! The bartender's brains just turned to jelly and..."
Vadskye: "Thank you, I know the rest. You may go. We have to hurry Deimos. This is one of the dark creatures that in habited the earth many thousands of years ago. I fear for the world if they are released."
____________
Knowledge is power...
|
|
Deimos
Known Hero
LHW Paladin
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 01:11 AM |
|
|
Romana: NO! I'LL GET MY NAILS DIRTY!
Deimos: You might find a Burger King there.
Romana: Oh.
Deimos: So, Vadskye, what are these... creatures? Are they powerful?
Vadskye: You don't know the half of it.
____________
Let's Have War=Best thread on HC.
By the way, my name is Deimos, not Diemos.
Some people don't have a life. Others spend it on HC- Lord Woock.
|
|
2XtremeToTake
Promising
Supreme Hero
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 01:23 AM |
|
|
*Sitting in the ruins that was once the bar, he feasts on the now decaying bodies.*
Unholy one: Ahh...looks like i may have company...i must prepare..No mortal can take me down.
*He rips the head off one unfortuneate tenant, and uses the katar to spoil the meat..*
Unholy one: Hmm. Spoiling meat...i just had an idea.
*He stands up and wraps his cloak around him. He walks out of the bar and into the butchery.*
Butcher: Sir, were clos-UGH!
*the butchers head rolls around on the floor like a marble. The Unholy one walks into the back of the butchery where the animal meat is stored.*
Unholy One: one touch should do it....
*Taking the tip of the katar, he touches the meat, poisoning it immediatly, the poison spreads throughout the meat like wildfire.*
Unholy one: ahh..i think i hear someone coming to package the meat
*The Unholy one fades into the darkness, 10 minutes later a boy comes and packages the meat to send out to outlying villages.*
____________
I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met.
|
|
gorman
Promising
Legendary Hero
Been around since before 2003
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 01:38 AM |
|
|
*After our encounter with the magog and its two companions, we set off through the woods again. Dean is flying above us scouting for civilization. He eventually swoops down to rest on my shoulder and morphs into rat form and says there is a village nearby*
Gorman: Good. Which way? Do you remember?
Dean: Of course I do! Do all those feather's fill your head as well? It's just past this patch of trees so don't get your feather's all ruffled
*I smile and repress and urge to strangle the mouthy little beast. But I calmly remember that he was once human too so it could be possible that he is just taking his frustration out on me. As we get closer to the village, I spot a young boy coming out carrying packages of meat. I get the odd feeling that something is not quite right and I call the boy over while Dean and MM go into the town*
Gorman: Hello there young lad. Can I check your packages of meat? I may want to purchase some but I'd like to check the quality of the product.
Young Boy: Absolutly sir. It's freshly butchered from this morning!
Gorman: Thank you for your patience and time.
*I open the first package and inspect the meat. It looks slightly green as though it's been tainted somehow. I sniff a few times and can definatly tell something is not at all right. I wrap the meat up and hand it back to the boy*
Gorman: All right son. I'll buy it all for...oh, how about 500gp?
Young Boy: *eyes widen* Sounds good sir! Thank you!
Gorman: I thank you for the food. Now run along now and pay your boss.
*I wait until the boy has scampered out of sight before taking the tainted meat and putting it into my endless bag of holding to burn later. Whatever could have poisoned the meat this badly can only be something purely evil. And as long as something that evil stalks the land, no body is safe*
____________
When all else fails... Take notes.... ALL the time... ESPECIALLY when playing D&D.... or Pokemon in my case
|
|
MightyMage
Honorable
Legendary Hero
of INSANITY and DELICIOUSNESS
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 03:06 AM |
|
|
*Mighty Mage and Dean continue on towards the village when Mighty Mage realizes Gorman is gone. Wondering where he went off to, he sends Dean to take a quick look*
Mighty Mage: Say Dean, would you mind taking a look for Gorman? I don't know where he went off to.
Dean: Sure. He shouldn't be too hard to find. He was right behind us a few moments ago.
*Dean changes back into his eagle form and heads back a few feet or so to look for Gorman. Spotting somthing, he returns to Mighty Mage and perches himself on his shoulder. After changing himself back into a rat, Dean tells Mighty Mage what he saw.*
Dean: He's right over there. It looked like he was putting somthing in his pack.
Mighty Mage: Well, whatever. I suppose we should go get him.
Gorman: No need to, I'm right here.
Mighty Mage: That was quick.
Gorman: I can fly, remember?
Mighty Mage: So what held you back?
Gorman: There was this boy passing by. I had a strange feeling about him so I stopped him.
Mighty Mage: Really. Was the brat a little thief?
Gorman: No...it was somthing else. One of those feelings when you know somthing is out of the norm.
Dean: Ahhhhh yes, I know what you are talking about. I had that feeling with the magog.
Gorman: This was different though. It's like somthing told me I should stop this boy.
Mighty Mage: So what did he say?
Gorman: It's not so much what he said but what he had. He works for a local butcher so he was carrying some packages of meat to sell.
Mighty Mage: Oh good. Did you buy some? I could use a bite of somthing.
Gorman: I don't think you want to take a bite out of this meat. Have a look at it.
*Gorman pulls out a neatly wrapped piece of meat from his bag. He hands it to Mighty Mage and gestures for him to take a peek.*
Mighty Mage: Oh God. This is horrible. And it reeks. I don't see how that butcher is still in business. This meat looks as if it has been sitting around for weeks now.
Gorman: I don't think it's old, I think it's been tampered with.
Dean: Let me have a look.
*Dean jumps on the meat and begins sniffing it and looking at it until he stops at a spot near the middle.*
Dean: There, the scent becomes stronger there. It looks as if the tip of a blade stabbed this meat too.
Mighty Mage: That's odd. It's as if somone poisened it. Gorman, squeeze the meat so that some of the jucies spill out into this container. I'd like to have a look at it.
Gorman: You think you can figure out what it is?
Mighty Mage: I used to deal heavily in potions and antidotes before I started selling artifacts.
Gorman: You sell artifacts?
Mighty Mage: Back home I do. Magical artifacts. I run my business out of the Supreme Magi tower.
Gorman: Well arn't you full of suprizes.
Mighty Mage: I try not to let people know too much about me. I find it always hurts me more than helps.
Gorman: Well here's your meat juice.
Mighty Mage: Thanks.
*Storing the container in his pocket for later, Mighty Mage continues walking towards the village.*
Gorman: I thought you were going to check that out now?
Mighty Mage: With what? I need to stop at a shop and pick up a few supplies. Besides, we want to get into that town before dark.
Gorman: Why do you always decide when we go or don't go?
Mighty Mage: Fine, what do you want to do?
Gorman: I think we should head into town. I'm a little parched.
Dean: I could use a bite to eat. That thief-wizard didn't taste very good.
Mighty Mage: OK then it's settled, we'll head into town. Do you feel better?
Gorman: Much.
____________
Though I must still bow
in awe for the awesomeness that is
MightyMage. For he is all I could ever
want to be! - OhforfSake
|
|
Asmodean
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Heroine at the weekend.
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 03:35 AM |
|
|
Urgh! That meat Angelboy bought off that kid was definitely riper than 3 week old cheese. Still, he is an angel - good works must come naturally to him. And there was that smell about the meat, it wasn't just rotten. It was......I don't know, but I don't think it's anything good at all. Some kind of mystical poison the mage thinks. Hopefully he has an idea of what it is. I may be able to help, though I can't cast any spells in my present condition, I used to be a good Illusionist and Summoner. Maybe I can teach the mage a few things while we travel together.
The mage and Angelboy are arguing again. They seem to do that alot, even when they both want to do the same thing. I never realised how strange people could be until I wasn't one. The prospect of food cheered me up, that little thief-wizard must only wash when he's forced to wade a stream!
Theres something about this town that has my nose all twitchy. It's not quite a smell, or a sound, but theres a definite aura of menace about the place. I wonder if the other two can feel it.
It has me so shook up that Angelboy says:
Hey little guy, stop digging your claws into my shoulder. What are you all worked up about?
Can't you feel it?! There is something not right in this town.
Mighty Mage: What do you mean 'not right'?
I'm not sure, but I'm ready to nibble my tail off here. There's something bad in this town.
I jump down from Angelboy's shoulder and assume wolf form. The feeling of nervousness lessens, but I can still sense that something's not right. My hackles are all the way up and I'm ready to bite someone.
Let's just get your supplies ask our questions and leave. From what you say, if the time wizard was here, this place would look like an earthquake hit it.
Gorman: Okay then. If you say so then we'll take your word for it. Where's this shop Mighty Mage?
MM: It's just over there, let's go before Fido here chews his paws off.
The three of us enter the shop.
Shopkeeper: Sorry gents, but no pets allowed in the shop.
MM: He's not a pe-
Shopkeeper: I'm not going to argue with you sir. But there's lots of delicate things in here so he'll have to wait outside.
It's okay guys I'll just stay outside, don't be long I want to leave this burg as quickly as possible.
Waiting outside for the two the feeling still hasn't gone away, but I notice a sign for a butcher's shop down the street. That...smell from the meat is thick in the air around the butcher's shop. The door is open so I take a peek inside........
Absolute blackness.
I can't see a thing, and wolves are night creatures. I change to the owl form, it gets faster each time I do it - I'll have to practise more.
The interior is dark even to my owl eyes. That's strange. I should be able to see every detail as clear as day, but it's like the shop is shrouded in twilight. As my eyes slowly become accustomed to the dark I see a movement - and suddenly can make out the shape of what I'm looking at.
With a wild hoot I take off back up the street, sunlight nearly blinding me and hooting wildly in distress.
OHSH*TOHSH*TOHSH*T! GUYS!!!!! GUYS!!!!! YOU BETTER COME QUICK!!!!! GUUUUUYYYYYSSSSS!!!!!!!!
____________
To err is human, to arr is pirate.
|
|
gorman
Promising
Legendary Hero
Been around since before 2003
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 03:41 AM |
|
|
*hearing a wild hooting I turn and look outside the shop*
Gorman: What is it?
Dean: Just follow me! I'll explain on the way!
*I give MM a look and withdraw my sword. I then follow Dean with MM hot on my heals*
____________
When all else fails... Take notes.... ALL the time... ESPECIALLY when playing D&D.... or Pokemon in my case
|
|
RedSoxFan3
Admirable
Legendary Hero
Fan of Red Sox
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 05:28 AM |
|
|
RSF: "Good thing we got these people to help us."
Dingo: "Yeah I know. This hand really helps doesn't it? And this throne room is absolutely amazing."
RSF: "Couldn't we have made it out of something other than dark spam though?
Dingo: "Relax. Look what happens when I mix this stuff with normal spam."
Dingo drops some spam onto the floor and stomps on it. The spam mixes in with the dark spam and solidifies.
Dingo: "What color do you want this to be?
RSF: "Ummm... How about red. I like red."
Dingo: "I can mold this stuff into just about any shape I want. I just need some more regular spam."
RSF: "Can't you just make some?"
Dingo: "Nope."
RSF: "So then we can just get some from in town. I'll be back."
RSF hurries into town.
____________
Go Red Sox!
|
|
2XtremeToTake
Promising
Supreme Hero
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 06:23 AM |
|
|
*Walking among the deserted streets, he spots a small owl perching in a rotted tree. He reaches out to grab it and kill it, but almost in a humanlike reflex it sidesteps it, takes one glance at the Unholy one, and flys away shreiking.*
The Unholy One: Ahh..Looks as if my friends have arrived. Perhaps i should go greet them.
____________
I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met.
|
|
Deimos
Known Hero
LHW Paladin
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 03:01 PM |
|
|
Vadskye: 1000 years ago there lived a race of dark creatures with the ability to kill instantly. In the War of the Magi, the Magi sealed the monsters away. It looks like one escaped.
Deimos: Hmm... Doesn't sound very good.
They walked to the village, and stopped a local.
Deimos: Do you know where the "Spammy Pig" is?
Local: I-it used to be over there, s-s-sir!
Deimos, Vadskye, and Romana started walking to it, and on the way they met MM.
Deimos: What are you doing here?
MM: I would ask you the same question.
Deimos: You tell me first.
MM: All right, we followed some poisoned meat.
Dean: Which had a blade mark.
Vadskye: A blade mark!! This is serious!!
MM: Why?
Vadskye: It is a Dark Thing!
MM: Like in the War of the Magi?
Vadskye: Yeah!
Deimos: So, MM, what's the plan?
MM: YOU-
Deimos: Relax. We're on the same side.
____________
Let's Have War=Best thread on HC.
By the way, my name is Deimos, not Diemos.
Some people don't have a life. Others spend it on HC- Lord Woock.
|
|
Vadskye91
Promising
Supreme Hero
Back again
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 03:24 PM |
|
|
Vadskye groaned. Deimos had gotten them into trouble again. Now, instead of there being 2 seperate groups, each somewhat close-knit, there was one big group with tension between all of them. Vadskye went over to apologize to MM.
Vadskye: "I didn't tell him to do that!"
MM: "Why does that little magog always find me? Am I cursed?"
Vadskye: "I don't know..."
Why does that magog always find us? This is ridiculous!
Vadskye: "Oh, hi Dean."
Oh, I didn't know you were there. Are you the one who didn't taste good?
Vadskye winced. "Yep, that's me."
So what was that thing? I still shiver thinking about that.
Vadskye told Dean the same thing he had told Deimos.
We're dead.
Vadskye: "Probably, yes."
____________
Knowledge is power...
|
|
RedSoxFan3
Admirable
Legendary Hero
Fan of Red Sox
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 03:39 PM |
|
|
As RSF reaches the edge of the forest, he changes out of his mage clothing and into his Royal Guard Uniform, which consists of chain mail, a helm, and a royal blue cape. He looks out into the pasture and smiles knowing that bringing back this old spam will make the fort complete. He glances over at the mansion that was just built near the edge of the forest and smiles again. He heads into town being as discreet as humanly possible and heads for the spam warehouse. There he sees the most spam he has ever seen in his life with the exception of the siege upon the Chaos Fort back in the First Great War. He calls upon a peasant…
RSF: “Good, faithful citizen. Large amounts of spam are required at the Royal Country House. Please find a dozen others and have them bring spam down to the fort, I mean country house.”
Peasant: “Consider it done Lord Maximus.”
RSF casts a haste spell upon the man and decides to wander around town for a bit.
____________
Go Red Sox!
|
|
Asmodean
Responsible
Supreme Hero
Heroine at the weekend.
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 03:41 PM |
|
|
It was in the butcher shop, but it saw me at the same time I saw it. It was all black with 2 shiny blue eyes, so we won't get it mixed up with any other unholy scum
Deimos: Hey!
Present company excepted of course.
This is good. I don't think Angelboy and the mage could have handled this thing alone, now all we have to do is work together long enough without killing eachother or else we're all gonna be dead.
My wolf ears pick up screams in the distance. Terror screams.
I think you should all head towards that butcher's shop. Sounds like Unholy-boy's on the move. I'll let you know when we get close
Up into the air in my eagle form I can se the whole town in sharp detail....except for that rolling patch of darkness making it's way towards....the guys.
Swooping down I let everyone know:
Brace yourselves guys, we're gonna meet this thing real soon
____________
To err is human, to arr is pirate.
|
|
RedSoxFan3
Admirable
Legendary Hero
Fan of Red Sox
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 04:52 PM |
|
|
Several peasants walk up to RSF screaming.
Commoners: "PLEASE HELP US!"
RSF: "Calm down. What is it?"
Peasant: "There is thing freak of nature terrorizing the village. It's killing everything in sight. It's already burned down our tavern."
RSF: "What does it look like?"
Peasant: "Well… There’s this mysterious shadow that surrounds the being.”
RSF: “WHAT?!?”
It couldn’t be Shadowcaster. He was long dead and would never just randomly kill anyone. No, it had to be someone else, however the thought remained stuck in the back of his mind.
RSF: “Is there anything else I should know?”
Peasant: “The guy had bright, glowing, blue eyes and this dimly glowing green Katana that seems to kill everything.”
RSF was relieved, yet worried even more all in the same moment. He knew this could not be Shadowcaster, however he knew it was something much worse, much more powerful, much more foul and wicked. RSF sped up his time flow and headed followed the screams. He kept at a safe distance to study the being before he would plan any attacks.
The unholy one wandered down the street and came across a group of peasants. They froze in terror and collapsed to the ground before the being even touched them. He stuck his sword into one of the men and his body turned to a dark green. The unholy one kept the sword in the man and waited. The man’s head exploded and the body complete disintegrated leaving nothing but bones.
RSF: “****!”
The unholy one moved on and was headed down the street towards Gorman, MM, and the rest of that party. RSF hadn’t yet noticed them. He was fixed on the monstrosity. RSF entered the street and began chanting. This attracted attention from the unholy one. RSF continued to chant and then formed a ball of energy with his hands. The unholy one was now charging at RSF, but RSF remained still concentrating on his spell. He threw the ball of energy at the being. The ball of energy expanded and swallowed the being. With a bright flash, the ball of energy shrunk and disappeared. RSF exhausted from casting the spell collapsed to his knees.
____________
Go Red Sox!
|
|
Shadowcaster
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Shaded Scribe
|
|
posted April 07, 2004 06:32 PM |
bonus applied. |
|
That morning, Shadowcaster awoke with a renewed vigor and ate a hearty breakfast. With only him there to consume the food that had normally been rationed among the officers of the Chaos army, the shadow mage could have his fill, and then some. But not all the rations in the base could satisfy him as the dark spam had, and he still yearned for more. Like a drug, he was now addicted to this dark substance, but instead of tearing him down, it built him up. He hoped his dependence was not in vain.
When he had eaten all he could, Shadowcaster packed some extra rations away into his cloak, then headed out cautiously from the fort he used to call home. The shadow mage was no longer lost in the forest, for he knew this area well, but he was at a loss of where to go. He didn’t know where to look or even who to look for to find his drug, and wandering aimlessly would get him nowhere. At the first sign of any general who knew anything about the time mage, Shadowcaster would try to find a lead.
The shadow mage walked several miles down the road, not tiring at all along the way. His exercise on the previous two days had done him some good, and he was glad to see that the dark spam that had gone through his bloodstream had only intensified that effect. As he walked, Shadowcaster began to plan how he would experiment with this dark spam. His shadow was the essence of darkness, so perhaps the effect that dark spam had could be strengthened if that spam was in his shadow when consumed. That would explain the strength he had gained from before. These thoughts clouded his mind until he reached a town.
Shadowcaster had never been here before, and the quaint, small village he had entered reminded him more of his days in Order than they did of where he had just come from. Several small huts lined the one avenue through the town, and a larger chieftain’s hut stood majestically at the end of the road. This town looked strange and foreign to the shadow mage, for the buildings at either end of the wide venue were only homes. The marketplace was located along the avenue, shops dotted the landscape in a spontaneous pattern and it seemed that each shopkeeper had tried to build his business so as to block any potential customer’s view from anything other than his own stand. They had done well, from what he saw.
The streets were crowded not only with buyers and sellers, most of them tourists or foreigners, but with many guards as well. This was a police state, the shadow mage gathered, and these soldiers were there to keep the people in line. Shadowcaster hated the notion of control through fear, for terror was an opposing method of control to his own. For that one reason, petty as it was, the shadow mage began to concoct a plan to overthrow the single dictator that ruled through fear. It was ironic that one who led through fear could show such cowardice himself. The ruler of these people, as heard from rumors in the overcrowded street, rarely ever showed his face, and no one the shadow mage eavesdropped on could ever remember seeing him at all.
There was no inn inside the town borders, and Shadowcaster did not want to return to the Chaos fort to wait the several hours until nightfall, so he instead took to the forest. No one would find him within the shade of the trees, and when night broke, he could slip in unnoticed and dispose of this needless, cowardly ruler as he saw fit. He retreated to the forest and began planning his assault on the town. The shadow mage would simply release his shadow on the town, and then would slip right by the guards into the chieftain’s hut to do his “civic duty.”
Night fell, and Shadowcaster woke from the nap he had taken that afternoon, now well rested for the task at hand. He raised his hands to cast his shadow, but then stopped and walked into the city without the cover of darkness to aid him. He wanted to see the extent that he had improved over the past few weeks and instead chose to fight without the cover of his shadow. Readying himself, the shadow mage approached the town gates and easily scaled the rough, gnarled surface, dropping silently to the ground inside the gate. The town’s bustle had calmed significantly, and all the travelers that were simply passing through had gone on to other locales in favor of sleep. Only the patrolling guards were out at this late hour.
As quietly as he could, Shadowcaster began to pick off the soldiers, one by one, hoping that each guard closer to the coward’s hut would not notice that his mates were perishing. Eventually, one did notice, and as he went to inspect the reason of his mates’ absence, he found a dagger situated where part of his back had once been. However, the guard had told the next guard over to watch his back, and as he saw the near-invisible mage strike, the alarm was raised. Shadowcaster smiled, and unsheathed a longsword that he had stolen off of one of the guards. It was time for the real battle to begin.
Instead of rushing him as the shadow mage had anticipated, the soldiers formed a line in front of the chieftain’s hut, stacking line upon line to bar the entrance. By the end of the scramble, a small army of 40 or 50 soldiers blocked the shadow mage’s path. Shadowcaster looked behind him at the unguarded gate, and wondered what was worth protecting so fervently that he could be allowed to escape so easily. Now his curiosity had peaked, and the shadow mage decided that he had to get in and solve this mystery, even if it meant battling everyone who stood in his way. He prayed for the dark spam in his blood to hold and charged the horde.
The line held well, and Shadowcaster was only able to dispatch two men before he was forced to use more subtlety to save his life. Using his extraordinary agility, Shadowcaster leapt out of harm’s way and hid in the shadows of the hut. Half of the soldiers couldn’t follow his motions and didn’t know where the shadow mage had gone, and the other half couldn’t see him from beneath the veil of shadows. Daggers began flying into the crowd, and as the men realized where the daggers were coming from, they charged the source at full speed. He had broken the line.
Quickly and surely, Shadowcaster bolted from his spot, staying to release daggers until the moment they arrived. At this point, nearly half the men had fallen. The shadow mage unsheathed his sword as he ran by the soldiers and dispatched three on his run. A well-aimed shot at the shadow mage nearly cost him his life, and Shadowcaster raised his sword just in time to block the attack from the guard that seemed nearly twice the shadow mage’s size. Shadowcaster stumbled back and fell to the ground, his sword eluding his grasp, and the group of soldiers closed in on him. He was able to slay four more guards with his dagger before he was knocked unconscious.
Now disarmed, the shadow mage’s threat had been removed, or so the guards thought, and he was brought before the chieftain for sentencing when he had awoken. At least the mystery would be solved before his demise. Shadowcaster was chained tightly and led by four guards, leaving little chance of escape. He hoped his end was not drawing near, and his one consolation provided little help in calming his troubled nerves. The shadow mage was led into an ornate room, the throne room, and tried to catch a glimpse of the figure seated on the throne out of sheer curiosity. But no one was there.
“Welcome to the execution room, boy. No one who’s ever seen this room has lived to tell the truth about it,” a guard said as a large guillotine was rolled in. “And you are no exception."
It hit him. There was no cowardly ruler. The chieftain was simply a tool for absorbing hatred, for creating fear amongst the people and uniting the town guard in their dominance over the city. Shadowcaster had been assured several times that he, like the last few who had tried a similar assault, would not escape from the truth alive. They did, however, seem genuinely surprised at how close he had gotten to seeing this room unescorted. But close did not count in this case. The ruse would have remained intact, too, had the shadow mage been a normal revolutionary. But he wasn’t.
As he was led up the steps to the place where he was ordained to die, Shadowcaster waited patiently for all contact with the guards to be severed. Finally, just before the blade was to fall, the shadow mage was unhindered by touch and could get away under his shadow. He threw his hands into the air and darkness filled the room. One of the quicker soldiers lunged at Shadowcaster, but missed as the shadows veiled his sight. Now everyone was blind and the shadow mage was able to do as he pleased with these pitiful humans.
Within a few minutes, the carnage was over. Shadowcaster had stolen a sword from the guard who had lunged first at him and had killed each and every soldier in the room with that weapon, laying it across the first guard’s chest out of mockery. He then rushed to where his things had been stowed and rid himself of the unwary guards that had been betting on it before the shadow had fallen. The shadow mage gathered his belongings, then crept outside, killing the last of the town guard before dashing off into the forest.
A few minutes later, Shadowcaster returned to the village with a stick that he had set aflame, now intending to rid the town of any evidence. He smiled as the large hut burnt slowly to the ground, and left his hiding spot only when it had been reduced to ashes. The shadow mage then stayed in the forest until morning. Tomorrow he would then gather his information from the rejoicing citizens. Perhaps he might even identify himself as their “savior.”
____________
>_>
|
| |
|
|
This thread is pages long: 
