RuneScape Forum Archive | ^+^ Onslaught ^+^

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Chapter 3
<><>
“And so it began with a flash in our skies. It was there that I had learned the first secret to countering the Onslaught.

Harness the power of the Divine Hammer, and you shall find yourself on the path to the second secret.”

~Skarjil Datashade Glyph [Lore]: Survival II
<><>

Marik walked into the Gentleman’s private meeting chambers quietly. The cavernous room seemed a lot bigger than it really was, and the Hexblade blamed it on the gods damned stonework more than anything at that point. For reasons unknown to anyone, the elderly shade that ran the Brotherhood cult had chosen to make a base in the sewers of some city whose name escaped Marik’s memory, but had also felt it to be a wise choice to redecorate the area with a little magic.

So to that end, the sorcerer had somehow conjured shadowstuff from nothing but the deepest recesses of the old stonework, and had taken it upon himself to weave ancient tapestries of arcane and unnerving scenes into the very stones themselves as well. The result was an opulent room, but yet a very odd one that would drive most mortals sane just from trying to comprehend the alien logic behind any of the decorations.

Marik saw a small desk in the middle of the room which was flanked by an ornate chair and a selection of scrying mirrors. The chair’s back was to him, but Marik knew all too well that the Gentleman was already aware of his presence there.

“I presume you know why I’ve summoned you?” He heard the old man say. The Shade’s voice was raspy with age, yet Marik felt the echo of an unnatural power behind it.

“I can only guess that this has to do with the incident about that girl’s dream form,” the Hexblade replied.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

13-Feb-2011 03:43:11 - Last edited on 23-Feb-2011 17:00:05 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Partially,” the Gentleman said. “No matter your intentions behind botching the killing spell, I’ll have you know that everything had happened as planned in the first place.”

“So...that’s good news,” Marik said.

“Yes, but not the main reason I’ve called you here. I’ve called for you because I wish for you to further our operations in Varrock once more.”

“Wait, what?” Marik asked. “Not that I’m ungrateful for the chance or anything, but why choose me for this if I messed up the last time I had an operation in Varrock?”

“Consider this your penance for attempting to subvert His will,” the Gentleman replied.

“He wants penance for an accident?”

“Our Patron demands many things,” the Gentleman said. “Penance for a mistake is a small price to pay compared to what he has demanded of others in the past.”

“Well…when you put it that way, I guess I can’t complain,” Marik admitted. “So what am I supposed to do? Commit another murder?”

“In a way,” the Gentleman said. Marik saw an ancient finger point to one of the scrying mirrors floating close to the wall. The mirror showed a picture of two people: a slim blonde woman hiding in the background that he had recognized as Mori, and another which was a dark figure with designs similar to spider webs etched across the torso of his black armor.

“She’s compromised, isn’t she?” Marik asked.

“No," the Gentleman said. “But Mori requires a little aid in the form of a…distraction, if you will.”

“I’m listening.”

“Good. Your mission is simple: find the masked pest that keeps interfering with Mori’s rituals. Do whatever you must, but make sure he ends up here.”

“So, wait,” Marik said. “I’m supposed to kidnap the guy or something?”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

13-Feb-2011 03:46:16 - Last edited on 23-Feb-2011 17:01:16 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Of course,” the Gentleman said. “I’ve already made arrangements for the interloper’s curvy ally to make her way to the Gauntlet, so you already have the bait. All you have to do is catch the little shark.”

“Ah, the Gauntlet,” Marik said. “I almost forgot we had that.”

The Gentleman swiveled his chair around to face Marik. The elderly shade’s face was extremely pale and shriveled from age, and his natural shadowstuff seemed to hang loose from his face as if it were appalled at his very existence. Wisps of white hair barely clung to his head, but the old man seemed to care little about his appearance in recent years.

“Any questions?” he asked. When Marik nodded his head no, the old man added, “Good. You are to begin immediately.”

~^+^~

It was midday by the time V had come across a trio of armed warriors in the middle of nowhere. He had first sighted the humans in the distance as he had crested a relatively tall hill, and so far they didn't seem to notice him, and for good reason. The humans were moving steadily south, and it took everything V had to keep a reasonable distance from them while beginning to trail them at the same time.

The humans had changed paths as they walked, at first to make their way around some fissures in the ground, but other times any reasoning for suddenly changing courses was lost on the undead. On the other hand, he did manage to catch multiple glimpses of the armed humans, and saw that one of them was a brown haired female in what appeared to be Mithril armor and the others were blonde, lanky males dressed in the garb of a mage and archer.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

13-Feb-2011 03:46:54 - Last edited on 23-Feb-2011 17:01:43 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

V heard a rustle behind him, and turned to see a black unicorn walking towards him. The black stallion’s eyes shone a malicious red as it approached him, intent on punishing an obvious trespasser into what it thought of as its territory.

“Easy there,” he said as he began searching for the spark of magic which lay within his soul. The black unicorn ignored him, and it began swaying its head from side to side and stamping its feet against the ground. V began backing away from the corrupted being, and the unicorn, possibly sensing a hint of weakness, charged right at him. V rolled out of the way at the last minute, and the unicorn skidded to a halt as it turned around to charge him once more.

This time V was ready, and he flung a skull-shaped bolt of arcane energy at the black unicorn. The beast stopped short of its target, and began to stare off into space as the skin on its head began to peel back to reveal its muscled skull. V only watched as the sight passed back into normalcy, and the unicorn fell to the ground with a sharp cry that was painful to hear.

“Well, at least I know that still works,” the red-garbed undead sighed to himself. He was about to begin walking again until he heard the crunch of boots against dirt, and saw the group of humans come into sight as they came to the top of the hill.

“Well, look at what we have here,” the green-clad archer sneered. “Looks like he might have something good on him.”

“Ah great,” V muttered. “Let me guess…you’re the idiots who killed that guy right outside of my coffin, right?”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

13-Feb-2011 03:49:24

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Wait,” he heard the mage say. “He looks familiar…”

“His coffin,” the girl muttered to herself. “Wait a minute…he was in that coffin that the other guy jumped out of!”

V rubbed his eyes as he bit back laughter. “And here we have a group of geniuses,” he replied sarcastically. “It would be even smarter if you just put down your weapons and died.”

“Like hell we will!” the mage shouted as he threw a fireball at V. The undead stepped to the side of the spell, and answered the mage’s challenge with a spell of his own. A group of violet skulls appeared in the air, and zeroed in on the mage, causing him to gasp in pain as welts began to appear on his body.

"I don’t think this is a good idea,” the girl said as she turned and broke away from the group.

The archer only nodded as he readied an arrow on his bow. “Oh please, I got this! Everyone knows that magic sucks anyway, so how hard can this be?”

V didn't answer as he caught the archer’s arrow in his hands, and rushed the lad. The lad didn't have time to react as the undead drove the Adamantite-tipped arrow into his neck, causing him to blink in disbelief as he fell to the ground, fighting to stay conscious as he did so.

“Alright,” V said as he picked up the plagued mage by the scruff of his neck. “I have questions that need answering, and you better be sure that they’re answered to my satisfaction.”

“Okay, okay!” the young mage cried. “Just make this stuff go away, please!”

“Questions first,” V said. “What year is it?”

“Um…Year 179 of the Fifth Age,” the blonde mage replied.

“Fifth Age?” V asked. “Are you sure it’s not the Second Age?”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

13-Feb-2011 03:49:59 - Last edited on 27-Feb-2011 02:52:27 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Ha!” the mage snorted. “If that was the case then the Zarosian Empire would still be where we’re standing!”

“It’s gone? What happened to it?!” V demanded to know.

“Something. I dunno, I wasn’t around during the God Wars.”

“Gods,” V muttered. “It really has been too long.”

“Does that answer your questions to your liking?” the mage asked. “Because I really hate the feeling I’m getting right now."

"Just one more,” V said. “Why did you kill that man in my tomb?”

“I..did*’t know it was yours,” the mage gasped as his breaths began to quicken. “We just wanted...whatever that guy had...on him...honest! We didn't mean to wake you up if that’s why you’re angry at us!” The mage began coughing, and blood began to drool from the corners of his mouth.

“So you killed for riches,” V said. “And here I thought it was just another one of his games..."

"What?”

“It’s none of your concern,” V replied. “And to answer your question, yes, I’m satisfied with the answers.You only have hours left to live, so you might as well take that satisfaction to your grave.”

“But you said you would cure me!” the mage screamed.

“I promised nothing,” V spat. “Besides, it looks like you’ve earned your death. Greed has its price, you know!”

V left the mage on the hilltop as the youth began to choke on his own blood and bile. His unnatural eyesight had allowed him to track the female’s path relatively easily, and it only took five minutes to catch up with her.

The brown haired girl was sitting next to a statue on a hill that seemed quiet and serene compared to the wasteland that he had spent most of the day traversing. The statue showed a female hero that was unfamiliar to him, and the girl seemed to be in a meditative stance of some kind despite the fact that a gravestone sat between her and the statue.

“This is the statue of Camorra,” the girl said as V approached her. “She was a valiant warrior back when my ancestors were alive.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

13-Feb-2011 03:50:57 - Last edited on 23-Feb-2011 17:07:57 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“The name means nothing to me,” V replied.

“She was my inspiration,” the girl said. “When I was growing up I was told stories about her adventures alongside my ancestors. I wanted nothing more than to be just like her.”

“So she was a murderer?” V asked. When the girl stared daggers at him, he added, “I’ve been asleep since a certain point of the God Wars. So I truly know nothing of anything after they started.”

“She was a hero,” the girl replied. “A real hero, not these idiots who run around today calling themselves ‘heroes’ or ‘adventurers’…no, she was the one who would put her life on the line if she felt it was necessary.”

“I…see," V said, his thoughts steadily growing weary about letting his guard down for just one minute. His thoughts spiraled back to that of Arial, the Shade General he had seen killed at the hands of a Mahjarrat so many years ago. He wondered if maybe Camorra was the Arial of this New World, but he doubted it. He remembered the fact that one of the creatures in the service of the Invader had driven him to heroics thanks to its psychic powers, and he doubted the human has been in such a situation during her lifetime.

“So if you want to kill me as some sort of divine retribution, do it now," the girl said as she stood up and drew her scimitar. “But know that I won’t go down without at least trying to keep my life.”

V stared at the girl as she held the weapon’s point at him. He truly didn't know what to do at that point. On one hand, the girl seemed sorry about running with the other two he had killed. But she had also probably played a part in the murder of an innocent, and that defied the tenants of the Grave Order itself. Such actions called for justice to be served, but was killing a killer really justice in the end? Or just blind hypocrisy dressed up as ‘justice’?

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

13-Feb-2011 03:52:39 - Last edited on 23-Feb-2011 17:11:17 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“What are you waiting for?!” the girl screamed. “Are you going to kill me or not?!"

V heard the approaching sound of a large number of footsteps, which made him turn around. He saw a group of armed humans at the foot of the hill, and some of them were holding banners depicting a skull set against a black background.

“Alice, is that you up there?” he heard one of the humans shout.

V turned to the girl, who winced at the caller’s voice. “Yeah,” she shouted back. “I’m just…”

“Hey, that guy looks rich!” V heard another human shout. He turned to rebuke the speaker, who was a bald, dark skinned youth dressed in a set of armor which was as dark as his skin was.

“I’m just talking to…Alice,” he replied. “So would you mind leaving us alone for a second or something?”

The youth looked confused, and looked back to his group, who were eyeing V with no small amount of greed in their eyes. “I don’t think so,” the youth said as he turned back to face V. “For all I know, she could be hurt up there because of you.”

“You have my word that she’s not," V replied.

“Don’t listen to the fool!” the youth cried as his group drew their weapons. “Take this guy down! And whoever gets the killing blow gets his stuff!”

~^+^~

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

13-Feb-2011 03:53:17 - Last edited on 23-Feb-2011 17:12:21 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Did you feel it?”

The Baron opened his eyes at Rock’s words. The assassin was standing next to the throne, wearing a smirk on his features as he regarded the Ogre with amusement.

“Feel what?” the Baron asked.

“You’ve been working with magic for a while,” Rock replied. “So I was wondering if you felt that surge which went through the air just a few moments ago.”

The Ogre scratched his head as he tried to remember what had happened during his reverie. He had done the requisite ritual to achieve a state of arcane bliss so many times to the point where he remembered every small detail by heart. He remembered his astral form floating into the void where all magic was spawned, and he remembered feeling the power in the air as something happened. But he didn't recall just what that “something” was.

“I remember…something,” the Baron admitted. “But not the specifics.”

“Well, I was just floating here screaming at you to help me out for a few seconds,” Rock said. “But your fat ass was fast asleep or in meditation or whatever the hell it was you were doing.”

The Baron winced at his minion’s tirades, but not because they hurt his feelings or anything. He winced because at that moment, he remembered seeing two golden orbs similar to eyes in the void. They didn't seem out of place at the time, but he began connecting the mental dots in his mind.

"Rock,” he interrupted the assassin. "Tell me…do you remember seeing any objects during this… strange power that had taken hold of you?”

“No," Rock replied, obviously still mad at the Ogre for his earlier predicament. “But I felt a…ah hell, I have no idea. Strange darkness? Evil? Something didn't seem right about it though, that’s for damn certain!”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

13-Feb-2011 03:53:47 - Last edited on 23-Feb-2011 17:14:17 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Strange,” the Baron muttered. The Ogre got up from his throne, and walked past Rock on his way towards the door. “Do me a favor,” he said as a dim light peered through the open door.

“What?” Rock asked.

“Send a missive to the Raven Knights. Tell them about the occurrence, and ask them if it might be anything significant.”

“I doubt they’d know what it was,” Rock said. “It seems like something that’s out of their league.”

“Then ask them if they have any clue if it could be used to our advantage,” the Baron replied. “They know more about the Arcane Arts than either you or I, so they might have seen or felt something that we didn't”

“Fine,” Rock said as he began to disappear into the nearest shadows. “But I’m telling you now. If this turns out to be a dead end, I’m not the one suggested doing it in the first place.”

~^+^~

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

13-Feb-2011 03:54:25 - Last edited on 23-Feb-2011 17:14:47 by A Mad Hatter

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