RuneScape Forum Archive | ^+^ Onslaught ^+^

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

The speaker itself was simply a small but stout figure dressed from head to toe in black executioner’s garb, though its massive hood couldn’t hide the end of what must have been a beard that could only belong to a dwarf. The places where any skin was revealed were his hands, which were swirling with a quiet black energy that seemed out of place against the nearly all white room.
“Well, now I ain’t one to get in the way between friends,” the dwarf said. “But yer not welcome here. Not get out before I call me buddy Strife in to deal with ya and yer buddy.”
“Hehe…he actually thinks we’re friends,” Skin giggled. “How quaint.”
“Oh, shut up,” the Spider retorted.
“I find that a dangerous thing to say to the guy who has yer girl captive,” the dwarf said angrily.
“I wasn’t talking to you!” the Spider replied as he approached the stout figure. “And she’s not my girlfriend. But I owe her one, so we’re going. Try and stop us…and…well…I don’t have any qualms about bashing your skull in.”
“Well, when ya put it thataway,” the dwarf said eagerly. “Le’s just bash some skulls in, aye?” The hooded figure spread his fingers and thrust his palms forward, releasing twin strands of shadows at the Spider.
The mercenary rolled to the side, but from the sizzling sounds he heard, he guessed that his cape must have gotten struck by one of the magical bolts. The dwarf renewed his attack, and this time the Spider decided to try riding the shadows to surprise his attacker with a swift kick to the face. But as he concentrated, he felt the arcane power slam into him and bring him to the ground.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

09-Jan-2012 02:49:51

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Told you there was anti-shadow magic here,” he heard Skin taunt. “Now if you’d only listen…”
“Just let me deal with this,” the Spider coughed in between spasms of pain. While the smoke from the attack was diminishing, he saw that his leathers were peeling away to reveal pure white steel that matched the webbing designs on his chest and cape. He wouldn’t have thought that to be a big deal if it wasn’t for the fact that in the past his armor would magically repair itself after any attack, and it was that simple fact which drove Skin’s warning home.
The dwarf chuckled as he approached the Spider and kicked the mercenary in the side. “An’ here I thought ya woulda been a challenge. Pity, really. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten the chance to use my techniques on unwilling targets!”
The dwarf went to kick the mercenary once more, but before the toe of his boot could connect the Spider grabbed it and twisted the foot to an awkward position, causing the strange dwarf to fall to the ground with a curse. The mercenary did*’t waste his surprise attack, and wildly grasped at where he thought the stout figure’s neck would be. Though he held little more than handfuls of beard hair, the dwarf was gasping for breath nonetheless.
“It’s also been a good while since I’ve fought back against someone who thought they were better than me,” the Spider growled, his rage beginning to get the better of him. “Trust me, you have no clue how this feels right now. Almost makes me wish I had the power to do this back in Varrock all those years ago!”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

09-Jan-2012 02:50:18

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

The dwarf gurgled something, but the Spider couldn’t understand it. Not that he really cared, but he did manage to hold on to enough of his self control to ask, “What was that, Shorty? You aren’t starting to grow weak on us now, are ya? Whatever happened to the big, powerful mage you were just a few minutes ago, eh?”
The dwarf’s eyes seemed as if they were about to tear free from the eyeholes in his executioner’s hood. Wheezes slowly escaped his throat as the Spider, driven by the sudden fury, began tightening his grip as his hands steadily found more and more of the dwarf’s short neck to strangle through the beard.
“Stop!” the Spider heard Myra scream in the background. “You’re killing him!”
“It’s a trick,” Skin retorted in his mind. “This one will kill all of us if given the chance. And besides, who knows what vital role we may deprive Strife of by ridding the world of this pest?”
The Spider hissed in response. He had to admit, despite Skin’s demonic nature (at least if what the Shroud had told him held true), the being did have a point. He had seen the dwarf wield magic in self defense, and it hurt like hell when the attack hit home. And if he could dispel the Spider’s enchanted armor, what was to say he couldn’t do anything else of a vile nature to flesh and blood?
It was only a slight tap on the shoulder that drew the Spider’s attention away from his victim long enough to get a good view of Myra’s mithril mace staring him right in the face. “Let go of him,” she said angrily.
“Why?” the Spider asked in a garbled voice. “So he can attack us again? Who knows what this one is capable of if we just let him live? Did*’t you see the fight just now?*

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

09-Jan-2012 02:50:48

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“I know what he planned to do with me,” Myra replied. “But at the same time, I know you’re not *tupid. Have you even considered maybe we could get some information out of him?”
“Whatever he knows, he can take with him to the grave,” the Spider declared as the dwarf struggled in his grasp. “Who knows just who…or what…is listening in on us right this moment. Or how do we know he won’t just lie to us?”
“Dwarves are honorable by their nature,” Myra said. “You know that, right? After all, you used to work with one, did*’t you?”
The Spider looked at Myra, then the slowly dying dwarf. Despite the hood covering the stout figure’s head, the Spider knew that the little man wouldn’t last much longer without air. Sure, the years of living underground afforded the dwarven race a better tolerance for not having much in the way of air to breathe, but they were still mortal nonetheless.
Slowly, the Spider eased up on his grip, making sure not to loosen it enough for the dwarf to break free. “Alright,” he said, feeling his anger fade as he spoke. “You have two choices. I can either snap your neck right this instant and leave you for dead, or you can answer what I have to ask and possibly walk out of here with only a few broken bones.”
“F..fu…” the dwarf gasped.
“That better not be what I think it is,” the Spider growled.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

09-Jan-2012 02:51:12

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Fine,” the dwarf replied in a breathy voice. “I’ll talk. Just…please. Prove me brother right and promise me ye’ll lemme get back to me family in Keldagrim if I tell ya what ye want to know.”
“I don’t think I know your brother,” the Spider said. “Or if I did, he did*’t mention you.”
“Heh. Good ol’ Kendrujah was always like that,” the dwarf **sped. “He never did like me. Then again that’s why I haven’t spoken to ‘im in nearly thirty years!”
“Kendrujah? Of Clan Icethane?” the Spider asked in surprise. “Well, count me vexed. But that won’t save you. Now*just where the hell are we?”
“I wish I knew meself,” the dwarf replied fearfully. “All I know is that some guy in black came to me after that Red Axe incident in Keldagrim offerin’ me a job doing what I did with them Chaos Dwarves.”
“Which was*what?”
“Why, makin’ ‘em of course!” the dwarf said. “After I accepted the man jus’ told me to go an’ gather me belongings…an’ next thing I know, I was in this very room bein’ told to graft shadows to people they be bringin in from places I don’t even wanna know about.”
“Grafting shadows to people?” the Spider asked, obviously confused. “I’m no alchemist, but that shouldn’t be possible.”
“It’s true,” Myra said as she put a delicate hand on the Spider’s shoulder. “In fact, he was going to do that to me as well before you just came along.”
“Aye, that I was,” the dwarf said. “But hell…I’m a tinkerer. I ain’t no fighter despite that spat just now. Me life ain’t worth throwin’ away just fer some gold.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

09-Jan-2012 02:51:42

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“You mentioned a man in black giving you the job,” the Spider noted. “Did you ever get a name out of him?”
“Well,” the dwarf said, fear creeping into his voice. “He be tellin’ me many names, but his own? Not personally, but I think I overheard it once…”
“Who?” the Spider asked.
“Marik,” the dwarf replied. “I think his name is Marik. All I know is he works for some Gentleman who runs this damn gang of shadow humans.”
“The Gentleman? You mean…this is Brotherhood territory?”
“Brotherhood? Lad, I dunno what in the Nine Hells you be talkin’ about, but this ain’t no gods damned brotherhood hideout. There ain’t even any brotherhoods here!”
“Someone has to own this place then,” Myra said.
“Aye, and that they do,” the dwarf said. “I dunno about any brotherhoods, but I do know one of those damned Heikka mentioned a Church of Old Skarjil one time. Could be their name fer all I know, but what the hell…like I said, I’m a tinkerer. I just know what I hear.”
“Is there anything else you think we should know?” the Spider asked as he let go of the dwarf. The stout fellow managed to drag himself to his feet and dust his garb off, though the dwarf still looked just as dirty as he had been on the floor. “Perhaps just where the prisoners you mentioned were coming from?”
“Hell if I know,” the dwarf spat. “But I think you would benefit from this lil’ tibbit: The people bringin’ the captives in? They ain’t church members. They be dressed in some kind of guard uniforms…hold on, lemme draw their seal.”
The small fellow of a man rummaged around his robe pockets for a bit before producing a piece of charcoal and fine parchment from their depths. Working hastily, the dwarf scribbled and scratched for a couple of minutes, stopping every so often to correct a mistake or confirm a contour to his liking. Eventually he had finished, rolled the parchment up, and shoved it into the Spider’s hands rather eagerly.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

09-Jan-2012 02:52:12

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Wary of dangerous enchantments, the Spider unrolled the parchment and inspected it closely. A symbol depicting what appeared to be a set of interlocking horns set against a shield dominated the majority of the paper, but under it was another symbol that caused Myra to gasp out loud as she peered over the Spider’s shoulder to see as well.
“No…no, that can’t be right,” she said in disbelief.
“I’m tellin’ ya, that’s what I seen them wearin’ around ‘ere on their armor,” the dwarf said. “I swear it on me wife’s grave, I do.”
The Spider could only shake his head and ponder the sudden revelation in silence. He had known that Varrock’s various law enforcement agencies had failed to catch the different Brotherhood murders around the city, but until now he had just thought it was because of the strange nature of the cases that had prevented any progress from being made.
“I don’t want to believe it either,” the Spider replied. “But I’d recognize the Varrock Guard’s and Allivierion’s symbols anywhere. Saradomin knows that I’ve been chased around the city by them enough times to get well acquainted with their symbols.”
“Is it satisfactory for y’all?” the dwarf asked.
*I*don’t know,” the Spider replied. “I mean…how do you expect me to believe this? You work for these guys, after all. How do I know you’re not covering for them?”
“Lad, ya don’t need to believe me,” the dward said. “You wanted me to answer yer questions, and I did. Now please…just lemme get outta ‘ere before things get any worse.*

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

09-Jan-2012 02:52:48

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Go,” the Spider said. “But just answer me one last question. Before I started killing you, you couldn’t wait to turn Myra into one of those shadow people you mentioned. Why the change of heart out of nowhere?”
The dwarf sighed. He only raised his hand to tear off his hood in a flash to reveal his face. Ruddy yet jovial cheeks were held up by a beard twisted into braids which covered the better part of his mouth, and his eyes, filled with fear and regret as they were, hid underneath a pair of bushy eyebrows that claimed their rightful place as the only hair the grace his bald head. A scar ran down his left cheek, and judging from the red surrounding it, only a few weeks at most had passed since the wound had been inflicted.
“I tell ye this because of me brother,” he said. “I like gold. I like me work. But the minute you tried takin’ me shadow blast, I just knew ye had to be that Spider me brother worked with during the Red Axe Incident. Fer all intents and purposes, I would normally kill ye fer makin’ me lose me job. But me brother? He spoke highly of ye. Not to me, mind ye. But I too heard the whispered tales of the man spider that saved many young’uns from that floodin’ cave that me old bosses caused. As much as ye caused me to end up ‘ere…and ye did, ye did…well, I can’t find the will to fight one of Keldagrim’s heroes, let alone one me dear brother vouched for.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

09-Jan-2012 02:53:28

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“I…see,* the Spider said. “Speaking of your brother…whatever happened to Kendrujah after I left?”
The dwarf shrugged. “I dunno,* he admitted. “We never spoke after I left me clan for the Red Axe. But the next time ye come across him, would you do me a favor an’ let him know that his brother Grazj is sorry fer everythin’?”
“I don’t know if I’ll cross paths with him again, but if I do I’ll be sure to let him know,” the Spider said.
Grazj clasped his hands as a gleam of joy crossed his eyes. “Thank ye. Now, time is important. Follow me if ye wanna get close to the surface. Ye can’t pass me message along if ye die here, ya know!”
“I thought you did*’t know where we are,” Myra said suspiciously.
“I don’t,” Grazj replied. “But I do know a few things about them tunnels around ‘ere. I don’t spend all me time down here, ya know.” The dwarf turned around, and knocked on what appeared to be a solid white brick wall. At first, only dust was disturbed by his racket, but it only took a second for a doorway to slide open silently. The dwarf motioned for the pair to follow him, and disappeared into the blackness beyond the mysterious portal.
“Should we trust him?” Myra asked.
*I*don’t know,” the Spider replied as he looked at the plain stone slab to his left. “But then again…you were on that slab over there, right? Why did it take you so long to interfere with the fight?”
“I couldn’t,” she admitted sheepishly. “I was…frozen, I think. I couldn’t move, but the minute you started choking him…”
“Hm,” the Spider answered. Something wasn’t adding up, but he wasn’t sure just what had happened during the past few minutes anyway. Surely someone becoming freed from a freezing spell the minute the caster began struggling to hold on to life made sense…did*’t it? If so…why did*’t he hear about any accounts of that happening yet?

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

09-Jan-2012 02:54:13

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Is there a problem?” Myra asked as she approached the door.
“Not now,* the Spider said as he strode to follow her. “I was just trying to make sense of the past few days is all. C’mon, let’s make sure that dwarf did*’t forget about us already.”
~^+^~
The wererat had barely reached the rooftop of the castle before he had reverted back to human form. The change, sudden as it was, did*’t force Rock to lose his footing during the transformation, and once it was done with he had immediately willed his assassin’s garb back into existence. Even though the rest of the infamous Iraxian Crows weren’t lycanthropes, they did teach nearly all operatives how to temporarily place their uniforms into some sort of limbo for short periods of time since it came in handy while on missions where disguises were more practical.
The assassin surveyed the scenes around him. Though the rooftop itself was vacant, many White Knights were milling about below his vantage point, hurrying to and from various defensive positions as the Baron’s goblin forces began actually using offensive magic and well aimed arrows against the defenders of the castle instead of just recklessly charging the castle walls.
“Funny,” Rock said to himself as blue and green missiles soared through the air before dissipating a few feet away from the castle walls. The arrows did*’t fare much better thanks to them constantly falling short of their targets, though a few did manage to catch a random knight or two off guard. “I wonder…how many of the White Knights know the true nature of their castle as well as I do?”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

09-Jan-2012 02:54:31

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