RuneScape Forum Archive | ^+^ Onslaught ^+^

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“Well done,” the warrior said as he walked towards her.

“So are you gonna tell me what these things do?” Azura asked. “Come to think of it, what if the failsafe activates when I have these things on?”

“Don’t worry about the failsafe,” the warrior replied. “It is set to activate only when the blood of the original wearer is spilled on a certain part of their armor…and you are not the original owner, so you won’t activate it by accident. Besides, I managed to unravel the spell anyway since it was so frayed to the point where it couldn’t be used in the first place.”

“Well, that’s good to know,” she said with relief.

“Indeed. Now, these gauntlets…I recognize the designs. The original wearer was from a tribe of mystics who believed that the physical path to honor was…brutish. If my guess is correct, you may be able to channel a bit of their power to make your own magic more effective in this realm of the damned.”

“So how do I do that?”

The warrior shrugged. “I’m no mystic, but my best guess is to do what you usually do. Spell gauntlets are normally passive in their powers, but there may yet be some hidden powers that only the owner knew of.”

Azura nodded, and attempted to draw on her power. At first nothing happened, but then a pair of small flames appeared in the center of the circular designs on the gloves. She concentrated a bit harder, and felt the power flow through her body and into the gauntlets, and the flames grew bigger and brighter. She cut off the flow of magic, and the flames died out, causing her to smile as she realized that had to have been the first time since she woke up that her magic had worked on command and not leave her drained after using it.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

02-Apr-2011 15:36:18 - Last edited on 25-Sep-2013 05:59:17 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The warrior made what she guessed was a smile, and hissed. “Yes, I believe this should work perfectly. Now, for your armor…”

~^+^~

“I can’t believe somebody actually thought this was armor!” Azura fumed nearly a half hour later. Apparently the Yautja had managed to find a set of armor designed for the feminine kind, although she found herself wishing she was in her nightgown instead of a somewhat revealing chainmail that was a little too small for her size and the tattered skirt of an ancient wizard’s robe that had been enchanted with the hardness of Mithril.

“Well it’s better than that piece of silk you had on before,” the warrior remarked. “Really, if something caught you in the arena with that thing, you’d be dead. So swallow your human pride and deal with what I could find.”

“Couldn’t I just use these magic gauntlets to make a shielding spell or something?” she asked. “I mean, I’m pretty good with making up magic on the spot, so why couldn’t I do that instead?!”

“You can still do that, but now you’re better protected!” the warrior cried.

“That shall prove interesting then,” a demonic voice said from the far end of the cavern. The pair stopped arguing and turned to see a bemused Vrik standing at the entrance, his guards flanking him. “The Queen wishes to start the proceedings right away, so we must leave now. Do not tarry, or my guards will drag you along. Trust me when I say that’s not an ideal solution for either of us.”

The vulture demon turned and left the room, and Azura looked at the warrior, who could only shrug. “I’m ready,” he said. “I’m not sure about you, but pray to whatever it is you pray to that we used the time we had together wisely.” The warrior hurried out of the room, and Azura could only repeat his words in her mind as she hurried to keep up with him.

~^+^~

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

02-Apr-2011 15:37:16 - Last edited on 25-Sep-2013 05:59:22 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The man dodged the harpy as it dove towards him with a shrill cry. The bird-woman slammed to the ground with a sickening crack, and only managed a wheeze before the man crushed its head under his foot. Azura watched from her vantage point in the nearby waiting room with horror as the gladiator then fell under the onslaught of ten more harpies and their sharp talons, leaving a bloody mess of entrails as the only sign that anything living had been there just mere moments before.

“Hmph…amateur,” the Yautja cackled beside her. “You’d think everyone would know by now that ripping off harpy wings is the most effective way of dealing with the things. The sight of it is enough to send them flying for the hills.”

“Really? Because they didn't seem so intimidated to me just now," Azura replied fearfully.

“Appearances can be deceiving,” the warrior said. “Remember that fact if nothing else. It’s real handy at times.”

Azura only nodded as she stared through the metal bars of their waiting room and saw a herd of some sort of feathered imps efficiently cleaned up the mess left behind by the harpies, and decided to take a quick survey of the arena. For the most part it reminded her of the Duel Arena near Al-Kharid, but with alien stonework replacing the usual sandstone that was found in the desert. Stands lined the entirety of the area, and they were full of all sorts of odd demons that she had never seen before, and she half expected that one demon she saw in Zanaris to be in the crowd.

At one end of the arena stood a massive gate, and above the gate sat a balcony decorated with an ornate throne that put the king of Varrock’s to shame in comparison. The throne was set against an elegant yet sinister tapestry depicting a black rose surrounded by flame, but other than that the area was empty for the time being.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

02-Apr-2011 15:37:39 - Last edited on 25-Sep-2013 05:59:29 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

A hiss startled Azura out of her observations, and she saw a brief glimpse of a purple flash cross her vision. The Yautja only yawned, and effortlessly caught the Naga by its tail. The snake creature didn't even struggle, and only looked amused at its current situation.

“Don’t waste your time, failed hunter,” the serpent woman hissed. *Killing me won’t accomplish anything.”

“Just where the hell were you?” the Yautja demanded. “Did you forget that the guards would notice you not being in the armory?”

“I made…arrangements,” the Naga said. “They actually took me to a specialized armory, but I didn't bother with their pitiful weaponry. I went and got myself something…better.”

The Yautja’s mandibles clicked in amusement. “What could be better than a good weapon?” he asked.

“You’ll see," the serpent replied. “I’d rather not speak of it now since that damn Vrik is coming down the hall right now, so if you won’t mind shutting up…”

The Yautja nodded, and let the Naga go as he walked over to the bars. The odd sunlight made his skeletal carapace armor gleam with an intimidating red hue, and the effect was so effective that if Azura didn't know any better she’d say that the warrior’s armor *was* his skin instead of the remains of some unknown insect that he had sewn together himself.

“Alright,” she heard the Vrik say from behind the wooden door that they had been forced through during the start of the earlier match. “The Yautja already knows what’s what, but I’m saying this for the human and snake. We’ll be sliding the bars out shortly. When that happens, that’s your cue to go into the arena and wait for the fight to start. It’ll be obvious when it does.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

02-Apr-2011 15:38:26 - Last edited on 25-Sep-2013 05:59:35 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

As if on cue, the metal bars slid back into the recesses of the stonework, and the Yautja ran out into the arena, whooping with joy as he went. Azura shook her head, and heard the Naga remark sarcastically, “I swear, he’s like a kid in a damn candy shop." The Naga slithered out behind the Yautja, and Azura followed. She readied the spark of magic in her soul for combat, and held onto the heat it generated as she nervously scanned for enemies.

The bars slid shut with a clang behind her, and the crowd grew silent as she saw the Vrik hobble its way to the balcony with the throne on it. “All stand for the Red Queen!” it squawked. The crowd obeyed, and she saw the Yautja’s face contort with anger as a regal figure walked onto the balcony from behind the tapestry.

For the most part, one could easily assume that the figure was somewhat human. She had the usual womanly curves that all queens seemed to boast to some degree, but her red garb seemed to have been of demonic make, with tendrils lined with thorns that seemed to lash about on their own accord near the bottom of her gown. However, her hands, delicate as they were, ended with talons instead of fingernails, and tattoos of devilish and eldritch power twisted their way up her arms and across her neck. The tattoos ran into her face, which was either a well held expression of stone cold disdain for all life, or one hell of a mask that was framed by red hair.

“All hail the Red Queen!” the crowd roared. “Long live the Reign of House Thorne!” The applause went on until the Queen held up a hand, which quieted them down.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

02-Apr-2011 15:38:54 - Last edited on 25-Sep-2013 05:59:40 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“It has come to my attention,” the Queen said with a matronly voice. “That we are to execute prisoners today. For crimes against the crown, no less.” The crowd murmured eagerly, hanging on her every word. “One is a warrior from beyond the planes,” she said. “He is accused of attempted murder, but has survived our arena thus far.”

“Say what you will,” the Yautja screamed. “But I was captured by your forces and you know it!”

The Queen seemed to ignore him and continued. “Another is a Naga captured by royal troops while attempting to establish a hive in our realm. That is not acceptable.”

“Heh, can't say I didn't try,” the Naga whispered to Azura.

“And the last,” the Queen said. “Is a human…I believe that Crawler shall share his reasons for charging her with invasion.”

“What?!” Azura screamed. She watched in horror as a massive caterpillar creature suddenly stood up from behind the throne and towered over both the Queen and her seat, and it was smiling with sadistic glee as it saw her in the arena.

“My fellow citizens,” Crawler hissed. "I found this human in my tunnels. She was in the company of a servant of the dread Belial, our own enemy and former master! I offered her safe passage back home, but she refused and attacked me instead!” The crowd began screaming angrily, and Azura felt her anger rise as the Yautja patted her on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “Everyone’s judged as guilty before they even reach the prison. It’s the Red Queen’s way, and nobody would be stupid enough to argue with her.”

“But why?!” Azura asked. “All I did was go to sleep and ended up here. It’s not like I even knew about this place anyway!”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

02-Apr-2011 15:39:38 - Last edited on 25-Sep-2013 05:59:45 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“None of us did at first,” the Yautja replied. “But the Red Queen…she’s different than the rest of these damn Inner Demons. She’s part Fey as well. She commands more power than all of them, and word has it that she’s only doing this to get followers so she can march against Belial himself!”

“That means nothing to me,” Azura said. “I just want to go home. This place can kill itself for all I care.”

“Preaching to the choir, kid,” the warrior replied. He turned as the crowd began chanting for them to die, and the Queen looked down at the combatants, her face now changing into an expression of rage.

“The charges have been laid against them,” she cried. “One count of murder. Another of invasion. And a threat to life everywhere. Belial may let these cases slide in his realm, but this one is ruled by the House of Throne! The law demands justice!”

“I think I must’ve missed something,” Azura muttered.

The Vrik walked towards the edge of the balcony as the Queen took her seat on the throne and Crawler tunneled into the ground. “The sentence for these crimes is death!” it squawked. “But in the past, mighty criminals such as these have survived to live longer than they deserve. But no longer, I say!" The Vrik waved its wings in circular motions, and the ground started shaking. Azura jumped back a step as pillars of various heights shot up from the ground, causing the crowd to gasp in awe.

“In the past we have used everything,” the Queen said. “Hounds. Insectoids. Goblins. Ogres. Even Jabberwockies. But no more. They have proven ineffective. That is why they shall face death at the hands of our new Sentinels.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

02-Apr-2011 15:40:07 - Last edited on 25-Sep-2013 05:59:51 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The massive gate situated under the Red Queen’s throne began grating against the stone as it drew up, and footsteps began shuddering through the arena as the crowd grew quiet, unsure of what to expect now. The footsteps grew increasingly loud, and Azura saw the first of some kind of man-sized statue walk through the gate.

The construct appeared human in form, though its head bore resemblance to a featureless wolf’s snout framed against a dreadlocked head of hair. The armor looked like the ordinary plate armors that Azura had seen the various orders of knights wear back home, and she found herself wondering if she would even survive long enough to make it back safely anymore.

“Let the fight begin!” the Vrik screeched, much to the satisfaction of the crowd.

The Yautja howled a war cry as it leapt to the top of one of the pillars, silver blades appearing from his gauntlets in the blink of an eye as it used them to try and startle the statue. The construct was motionless, however, and the Naga only hissed in what Azura guessed was laughter.

“Stupid warrior,” it spat. “Constructs know no fear. Only pain.”

With that, the serpent woman dashed towards the statue while bearing its fangs, and leapt straight at the thing’s face. Azura heard a crack followed by a cry of pain from the snake creature, and it fell to the ground as blood began streaming from its mouth.

“Don’t make a sudden move,” she heard a voice whisper to her. “Doing so will only allow it to take your measure.” Azura looked around, and saw nobody behind her. She turned around in confusion as she heard a roar, and saw that the construct had managed to break the Yautja’s perch in half with a single punch. The warrior was smart enough to bring his blades to bear against the enemy as he fell to the ground, which resulted in the scratching of metal against stone echoing in the air over the noise of the now amazed crowd.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

02-Apr-2011 15:40:57 - Last edited on 25-Sep-2013 05:59:57 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The statue lay motionless, only staring off into space. The construct then toppled over, smashing into little pieces as it struck the ground. The crowd gasped in shock at the warrior’s feat, and Azura stared in surprise as the ease of how the enemy went down.

“Wait,” the Yautja said as he bent over the remains of the statue. “This face…it looks like…oh…” The warrior’s mandibles flared as he screamed in rage. Azura covered her ears at the sound, and she saw that the Naga had somehow disappeared from where she had last seen it on the ground.

“You dare dishonor my ancestors like this?” the Yautja screamed at the Queen. “This means death, Red One!” The Queen only watched as more of the statues emerged into the arena. The Yautja eyed each and every one of the five statues before picking up the intact face of his last foe. He ripped the wolf-like face from the hair of the statue, and shoved it onto his own head. A click echoed throughout the air, and the crowd seemed to come alive as they realized what was happening.

“It’s..a mask?” she asked herself.

“Tis the way of the Red Queen,” she heard the voice from before whisper in her ear. “Enrage her foes to attack in anger. Then slay them when they slip up.”

“Just who are you?” Azura whispered back. “A figment of my imagination?”

The voice chuckled. “Funny. That’s what a Little Shadow thought too, oh so long ago. But that shall wait until later. Wait until I say to make a move. You’ll live longer that way.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

02-Apr-2011 15:41:23 - Last edited on 25-Sep-2013 06:00:02 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

She was about to ask why until she saw the statues begin fighting the warrior. The Yautja was dodging the statue’s attacks with the grace of a dancer, but every time it tried attacking the nearest statue would avoid the swing while its comrades hit the warrior from behind, sending it into a rolling dodge in the process. More than once a statue had scored a successful hit on the warrior, and each and every strike elicited a roar of applause from the audience, and a scream of rage from the warrior itself.

It was such a strike that had finally driven the Yautja to the ground, much to Azura’s surprise. The creature’s armor was cracked in various places where he had been hit by the statues, and bright blue blood was seeping through the cracks and pooling around it on the ground. A statue stood over the warrior and picked him up by the neck, and the Yautja didn't struggle in the slightest.

The crowd grew silent as the statues gathered around the fallen warrior. A brief moment passed before the statue holding the warrior punched him in the stomach, causing the rest of his armor to shatter and fall to the ground to reveal a bloodied stomach that looked as if it was about to fall apart at a moment’s notice. The statue began to move to strike the finishing blow, but a chorus of serpentine hisses rang throughout the arena, causing everyone and everything to stop and look around in confusion.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

02-Apr-2011 15:41:41 - Last edited on 25-Sep-2013 06:00:07 by A Mad Hatter

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