RuneScape Forum Archive | ^+^ Onslaught ^+^

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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Chapter 10-1
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“The Onslaught had begun in the early days of the six month of our sixty sixth year. Say what they will, but the Sages will never hide the fact that the Hounds of He’rkhine had come after the Lesser Demons in his service had assaulted the strongholds on the fringes of our Sovereignty. I will personally make sure of that, even if it means undertaking the Ritual of the Rasvim myself.”

~Skarjil Datashade Glyph [Personal]: Samael’s Notes I
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[Some time ago]

The mage huffed as he shoved the massive darksteel doors open. He knew that the Magistrates wouldn’t be pleased at the sudden interruption, but recent events took precedence over whatever magical experiments they could be conducting to further the war effort.

The room beyond the doors was aglow with the colorful magical energies that the Skarjil Magistrates had spent many millennia perfecting their mastery over. No windows were in the circular chamber save for a small hole in the ceiling to allow a hint of sunlight or moonlight to strike the epicenter of a spiral design etched into the floor, but they weren’t exactly needed either. Various shades of green, red, and blue lights vibrated against the marble walls of the Magistrate’s chamber, and the air was filled with the sound of monotone chanting that signaled to any who dared enter that an important ritual was happening at that very moment.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

25-Nov-2011 00:40:31 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 00:41:47 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

A small group of six hooded figures stood in a circle in the center of the chamber, their hands locked in an arcane embrace with one another. The source of the colorful lights was floating before them encased in a bright light, but the mage knew not what it was without the bright curtain surrounding it. He sensed it was important, however, so he waited until the chanting slowed to a crawl, then an eventual stop. The lights dimmed out, and the object in the center of the circle clattered to the ground, causing many echoes in the vast chamber.

“It’s done,” a red hooded Magistrate had said. “Are you sure this will work, Samael?”

A hooded figure standing the closest to the mage nodded. His robes were the color of the ocean, a dark blue that hinted at many hidden secrets in the recesses of the Magistrate’s mind and soul, but yet it also seemed to make the Magistrate appear calmer than his peers. “It will have to,” Samael replied. “As it stands, the demon’s Hounds are making steady progress towards the capital by the day. We cannot afford to lose it during these dark times, or else all is lost.”

“Mokosh,” a green robed Magistrate said. “You know as well as I do that this ritual was not agreed upon lightly. Tell me, why do you question Samael’s judgment alongside the rest of ours?”

The red robed Magistrate threw his hands in the air, breaking the circle created by the six. “Because, Cain, you know as well as I do that the Ritual has dire consequences. Creating a focus for the Rasvim has cost us a good portion of our power, and if the weapon fails we’ll all be powerless against the Hounds when they arrive.”

“That’s not entirely true,” Cain replied. “It cost us a portion of power, true, but it’s nothing we can’t regain through the use of the artifacts.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

25-Nov-2011 00:40:32 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 05:39:12 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“But that’s assuming the High Kings allow us access to the vaults,” a black robed Magistrate chided. “Remember, though these may be dire times, this is not the first time we’ve been besieged by Lycanthropic creatures.”

“Dammit, Azrael, the Weretigers were another matter entirely!” A female Magistrate in form fitting purple robes said. She was the only Magistrate present without a hood, which allowed her silver hair to frame her delicate face. To say she looked like an angel would be an understatement, but the mage dared not voice such thoughts in the presence of his superiors, let alone the female.

“I fear our dear Erinyes is correct,” the final Magistrate agreed. The last of the six was wearing a white robe that seemed to be made from pure light itself, but the mage knew better than to assume that Michael would stoop to such trivial uses of his power. “We created the Weretigers by accident, but we knew how to hit them and where to send the army to look for them. The Hounds? If there are any weaknesses, we have yet to find them. Yes, they may die easily by the score to our weapons, but for every abomination that falls, ten more take its place because of their damned bite!*

*So all save Erinyes and myself agree to combine our power to create a Rasvim instead of putting our talents to use looking for a weakness?” Mokosh asked as he started pacing around the room. “Pray tell, who volunteers to sacrifice their humanity-nay, their mortality!- to save the rest of our sorry hides? Is it you, Michael? Or maybe our dear Azrael will shoulder the burden? Or maybe…”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

25-Nov-2011 00:42:46

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Enough!” Michael screamed. “Mokosh, enough already! We hear your concerns, and believe me when I say that every one of us shares similar thoughts. But think! We’ve tried everything that’s come to mind in the past few months to combat the invasion, but nothing- NOTHING- has given us any success. This is our last chance at possibly saving our world…and possibly any more. The oath you took when becoming a Magistrate requires you to make tough calls if it means defending the Sovereignty and its virtues. Would you dare turn your back on them now?*

*Pray tell,” Erinyes said as she strode to Mokosh’s side. “What happens if this fails then? Sure, a Rasvim can’t be infected…in theory. But word from the agents we’ve sent out to the field is that even the Vampyres are falling prey to these creatures and turning into even stronger versions that we’ve yet to fight.”

“But the Rasvim is a being blessed by the combined power of the Magistrates and the power of our God,” Cain said. “As far as we know, the Hounds are created from an infernal influence…but a divine blessing should prevent any infernal power from corrupting the host.”

“That’s all fine talk, but just WHO is going to be the host?” Mokosh snarled. “Michael, you talk of having to make the hard decisions to uphold our office…are you willing to condemn yourself or one of us to an eternity of unending life and suffering if this works? And don’t bother telling me that should the Rasvim die, the host will follow.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

25-Nov-2011 00:43:28

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

The mage felt he had heard enough. He cleared his throat, and walked across the floor to address Michael. “Goodsir,” he said with a bow. “I’ve come with a very important message from High King Mephistopheles himself. He wishes your presence in his court at once.”

The Magistrates beheld the mage with disdain and surprise. “Just…how long have you been here?” Cain asked.

The mage felt his face flush. “Err…just long enough,” he said. “I won’t pretend to know what’s going on here. I’m just a messenger. Now, Magistrate Michael, I need an answer to take back to the High King immediately. He says it’s of great importance.”

Michael nodded. “Tell him I’ll leave to attend to him at once,” he replied gracefully. “But first, there’s some business that I must take care of immediately. You’re dismissed.*

The mage bowed, and hurried out of the room. Once the darksteel doors closed with a resounding clack, the Magistrates turned and eyed each other warily. Michael was the first to approach the center of the spiral pattern engraved on the granite floors of the Ritual Chamber, and picked up the object they had labored over for so long. Handling it gingerly, he held it in his outstretched arm for all to see. A small gem that was as clear as a maiden’s tear sat in his hand, but despite the seemingly innocent appearance, the Magistrates knew it was an object of divine darkness and necromancy.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

25-Nov-2011 00:44:03

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Mokosh,* the white robed Magistrate said at last. “I cannot make this decision on my own. Neither can Erinyes, Cain, Azrael, or even Samael, wise as he is. But you…you have doubts about this despite the assurances of your superiors.”

“I won’t make such a decision,” Mokosh said as he lowered his hood. A mane of long, jet-black hair swept across his shoulders, and some of it was plastered on his ashen face because of sweat.

Michael approached Mokosh, and pressed the gem into his hand. “Think on it,” the white robed Magistrate said. “I must attend to High King Mephistopheles immediately, so dwell on it for a bit. We’re all in this together, so we’re all willing to help reach a reasonable conclusion”

~^+^~
[Present day and age]

*Sir,” a voice sounded behind the Gentleman.

The sorcerer snapped out of his reverie, and remembered his current situation. The scrying glasses before him showed many scenes that he had hoped to see: an Ogre marching alongside Raven Knights at the gates of Falador. A desert woman and her friends walking along an overgrown path long forgotten by Asgarnian foresters. A man clad head to toe in black garb which looked like it was covered by a spider’s web entering his own domain from some infernal portal…probably Dagon’s doing, he thought.

But, most importantly, a view of a pale man in red garb was dominating the central glass. A crossbow from the Old World hung at his hip, and a man of stone followed his pace, as did a ghost which was barely visible to the Gentleman’s senses.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

25-Nov-2011 00:45:06 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 05:56:30 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“It’s…finally happening,” he sighed.

“Shall I gather the others?” the husky voice asked once more.

The Gentleman stood from his chair, and faced the Heikka with a sense of purpose in his eyes. “No, your brothers shall have to wait,” he said. “For now, we must move to put the Lord’s plan into action. Now get going!”

The Heikka did nothing except salute the Gentleman with the traditional sign of obedience among his kind, which in this case was both index fingers forming straight lines, while the thumbs touched each other to recreate a bottom of sorts. The sorcerer playfully dubbed the sign “the care cup” in his mind, because to him it really did resemble a cup, and one that was empty of all care to him. He knew the Heikka wouldn’t have understood the concept, so he kept smiling to himself as the creature left the chamber.

“I swear,” he said to nobody in particular. “Whatever happens in the coming days, I know one thing for certain. Things are about to change. And I *will* have my wish at long last.”

“As long as you give me mine,” a voice said. A pair of yellow eyes appeared before the Gentleman, but he knew better than to cower in the being’s divine presence.

“Yes, Ixamalesta,” he said. “That was the deal. You get your freedom…and I get my final peace.”

~^+^~

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

25-Nov-2011 00:45:53

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Azura, Caden, and Aiden saw the iron gates of Taverley loom over them and block the sun as they came upon it close to the afternoon. The structure they had passed on their travels to Falador and the smaller towns to the south had seemed more threatening that day despite the clear sky hanging over their head, though none of them knew why it seemed that way.

Of course, it surely wasn’t helping that the gate was basically the only break in the wall surrounding Taverley due to fears about the goblin tribes and the armies of Burthorpe possibly getting ideas of conquest and invasion in their heads, which gave travelers and residents of the small druidic village the sense of being inmates for a prison. A somewhat docile and lenient prison, but a prison nonetheless.

“Why isn’t Anastasia coming with us?” Caden whined for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.
“Told ya man,” his brother replied. “She told Gurtie that she was heading to her homeland for something. Had something to do with helping out some old friends sort out trouble.”

“But it’s not like Gurtie is exactly the most reliable person in the world!” Caden cried as he threw his hands in the air. “I mean, she’s a freakin’ alcoholic half the time, and when she’s not boozing it up she’s cleaning the messes she made.”

“So she’s a housekeeper,” Azura said. “That’s part of her job.”

“Bu..”

“Caden,” Azura said. “Give it a rest will ya? So what if she’s hooked on her drinks? She still cleans the house, and Anastasia still isn’t here to go with us.”

“Fine,” Caden huffed. “Then why not get Forrest? Or Lowe? At least someone besides Aiden to talk to.”

“Do you have any idea where they are?” Azura asked. When the brown haired lad did*’t answer, she added, “Exactly. Neither do I. And besides, there’s always me to talk to if you’re bored.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

25-Nov-2011 00:47:28 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 01:31:28 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“But you’re you,” Caden replied.

“So?” Azura said. Something about the comment wasn’t sitting well with her, and it was taking everything she had to keep herself from lashing out at Caden’s idiocy.

“Well….ok, no offense, but you’re a girl,” Caden said. “And you don’t like the same things I do. So is it too much to ask for someone besides my brother to talk about killing stuff with?”

“Wait, why the hell am I aloud to tag along on your monster hunts then if we don’t like the same things?” Azura asked angrily. “Because I find that you sound like a hypocrite when you pulled that line just now."

"Well…”

“Caden, stop it man,” Aiden interrupted. “She has a point. And besides, Anastasia’s a girl too. So what gives?”

“I…it’s just*it’s…complicated,” Caden admitted as the group finally reached the gatehouse. A squat toad of a man in steel plate armor saluted them as they stopped.

“So, who goes there an’ all tha’?” the border guard said. “Monster huntin’ or wha’?”

“We’re going to Falador,” Aiden replied. “We’re just travelers, so no need to worry about us coming back with an army of goblins behind us.”

“Heh…funny you mention tha’,” the guard said as he began working his gauntleted hands across the various mechanical mechanisms built into the gate itself. “We been hearin’ about large groups of the bugs movin’ through the region lately. Don’t sound too serious, but be careful an’ all tha’.”

“Large groups, eh?” Caden asked as the gate screeched open. “What, a raiding party, or just a wandering tribe?”

The guard shrugged as the group began walking through the gate. “Dunno,* the guard admitted. “We sent a few people out there a while back an’ they did*’t report back yet. Just sayin’, it might not be somethin’ special, but it can’t help to be prepared jus’in case ya know?*

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

25-Nov-2011 00:48:39 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 01:30:11 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Thanks for the tip,” Aiden said. Azura ignored the guard and looked at the sky, and she was glad to see the sun now that it wasn’t blocked by the druid’s gate. It seemed peaceful, but for some reason she felt a chill run down her spine.

“Hey, you alright?” she heard Aiden ask as the gate slammed shut behind them.

“Yeah,” Azura replied. “I’m just thinking…something seems…off.”

“If you’re talking about Caden, yeah, that seemed a little out of line back there,” Aiden said, much to Caden’s dismay that he was wearing on his face in the form of a scowl.

“No, not that…but now that you mention it, I noticed that too,” she said. “It’s just…I don’t know. Something seems off.”

Aiden followed her gaze to the sun. “Looks fine to me,” he said. “Ok, it’s moving a bit now that we’re walking, but still looks like the same sun and sky I’ve been under for my entire life.”

Azura lowered her gaze to the ground as they walked. “Yeah, but I can** shake the feeling,” she said.

“Look,” Caden said. “So you had a nightmare that shook you up, and I probably wasn’t helping back there with the attitude. You’re probably just on edge because of all that’s happened in the past few days.”

“Maybe,” Azura muttered.

“Hey,” Aiden said. “Do you guys hear that?”

“What?” Caden and Azura asked in unison.

“Wait…sounds like….chipmunks,” Caden said as he came to a sudden stop. He looked around, and saw a hill to the path’* left that was covered with just enough shrubs to hide two full grown men. Caden quickly dropped to the ground and scampered up the hill.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

25-Nov-2011 00:49:33

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