RuneScape Forum Archive | [RP] Into The Fire

Inferi

Posts: 35,939 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Still, if she was conflicted on anything, it was the question from Decan Martha. Her scouting had revealed little that was useful, only the knowledge that she could have offered even before going out to look. The demon had already been moving in that direction, and although the taint was strong she guessed that a creature of power would exude such a taint long after they were gone. It was the nature of such beings to corrupt.

When it came to bait, though, the newer side of her immediately agreed that it was an excellent plan. If the demon wanted Alania for whatever reason - and that seemed to be the case, both from the admission before she and Charles had been pulled in and from the pull itself - then using her to lure it in was the best method they had. Any hunter knew that even the most cunning prey could be drawn in by presenting it with something irresistible.

Yet at the same time, the old Kat, the Kat that had existed from the beginning of her life, refused to allow this. Using another human as bait - unwillingly, that is, since Alania did*’t know about the plan - was unacceptable, a ruse that they did*’t need and could continue without. It wasn’t that Kat had the highest moral standing of anyone, but she considered herself a decent person, and no decent person would throw another in harm’s way for a chance at something that had a much greater chance of a bad ending than a good one. Done in by the dubious doings of destiny.

09-Jun-2016 23:26:39

Inferi

Posts: 35,939 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

In the end, it was the Decan’s own reluctance that helped her decide her own stance on the matter, although how she worded it might make that stance seem somewhat different than it actually was.

“

My professional advice is that his plan is a good one. From what I have observed, it seems as though the demon wishes to have some sort of connection with her, and that makes her an excellent candidate for baiting a trap.

” Kat replied in a similarly quiet voice, shrugging. Her tone indicated that, like the Decan, she was not thrilled by this prospect.

“

My personal advice, however, is that we should not do this. Even if she does harbor some sort of sympathy for the demon, it is because she is an idealist and honestly believes that it can be saved. I would not feel right giving the order to throw a good person into such a situation, but that is your order to give should you believe it is necessary. Using her may make the hunt easier, but I do not believe it is essential for success.

” Done in by the dubious doings of destiny.

09-Jun-2016 23:26:48

D F Angel

Posts: 19,587 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Outskirts of Myrkvior

The warrior whose name unfortunately translated to Skullvulture stared silently at Joric. The helm he wore was built in such a way that one could not even see the glimmer of the man's eyes inside his iron cage- or perhaps there simply was no eyes to speak of. Kneeling down, Skullvulture grabbed hold of his ludicrously large kite-shield and great-sword.

"I..." the tortured syllable rattled out from deep within the confines of his suit. "Am Skullvulture."

"Stand back, Ironfist," advised a voice as Armando Godkiller rode up to the two, eyes aflame as he regarded Skullvulture. "Before you stands a false idol- I witnessed heretics revering a statue of him as a god." Armando Godkiller was often considered Tyrrus's greatest soldier, having earned his surname by slaughtering pagan unbelievers. It made him both welcome at royal courts for his holy service, and unable to ever be granted a knighthood for his practising of genocide.

"If not for my greater purpose I would slay you now," he told Skullvulture in no uncertain terms, though whether Skullvulture was capable of understanding was unknown. "Soahc is afoot, and Oakfoot burns to the ground. Lend me your aid Joric, and be rewarded eternally in the next life."

Etheldredda watched on in annoyance at this display. They didn't need any distractions, so close to their goal. Turning away, she listened first to Rovaan, who was pointing out the logistics of trying to get inside the coven.

"I can get us in," Etheldredda said with certainty. Hags were masters of illusions, and most of their defences did not have a physical aspect to them. It would be a matter of navigating the various traps laid down in the forest, which Etheldredda knew well enough, having gone to and from the coven many times in her youth, when she was sent out to Darkreach in order to collect new men for the breeding pits. Hags be hagglin', gods be god damn crazy, it's all happening ogre at Into The Fire

17-Jun-2016 15:33:31

D F Angel

Posts: 19,587 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

She could see the Leprechaun's Foot sitting near the forest edge, and it sent shivers down the hagspawn's spine. It was there that she had found her first victim, had lured a hapless traveller into the domain of the hags. Etheldredda wondered if he was dead, if he had been one of the men used in the abhorrent experiments of the hags, or if he lived there still, trapped in the pits, never to see the light of day again. It was also in that building where she made her escape.

*Not without help~ she reminded herself. An old adventurer had figured out what she was, and had offered her a chance to escape. He'd fought off two of Etheldredda's sisters, and then they disappeared into the night. Etheldredda remembered how the adventurer had wished to be rewarded for his services, and how that had cemented her hatred for mankind as well as hags. They were all alike, only wanting to use you, never wanting to help for genuine means, only for profit.

"You remind me too much of myself," Etheldredda told Rovaan plainly. The hagspawn wasn't one for emotional honesty- why was she saying this? She supposed it was this place, the emotions it brought back, the horrid memories of a time best forgotten. "Half a monster, filled with blood-lust, with nowhere to go or to call home. It doesn't matter. Killing the Great Mother is our mission, I won't let anything get in my way."

Etheldredda turned next to Annie, hearing her declare that she would be staying with the group. Etheldredda might have smiled, were she not hidden behind an iron mask, and for the fact that the ruin of her face might not even be capable of smiling any more. She gave Annie a thankful nod, but said nothing else. She was still angry that she had been so honest with Rovaan, a stranger, and if she were to open up to Annie, who she had been through so much with, then she wasn't sure if she would keep herself composed enough to complete their task. Hags be hagglin', gods be god damn crazy, it's all happening ogre at Into The Fire

17-Jun-2016 15:33:40

D F Angel

Posts: 19,587 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

"If we stop the Hagfather here, they'll know something's gone wrong," Etheldredda responded to Zed, looking out towards the forest that had once been her home, her prison. "They'd come here in their full might. I'd rather we catch them unawares, than give them a chance to strike."

With that realisation, Etheldredda knew what action she wished to take. Her suggestion of taking on the Hagfather might have been the most logical- they had just proven their worth against Azul, an elder demon, and Annie herself had even slain a god before- with help, of course, but she had landed the killing blow, and was supposedly half a god herself now. They could set themselves up in the building, strike at the beast as it came through, maybe even win.

But that would not grant Etheldredda the satisfaction that she craved.

She had been made a slave to her own mother, had been forced to do despicable acts for the sake of the coven. She had never known her father- he could be dead, he could have been given new poisons and potions to test their worth and felt his insides melt, he could even be in the coven now, still trapped, still used to sire more hagspawn. Her sisters had been vicious, the hags had been totalitarian. Killing the Hagfather might save the day, but it would not grant Etheldredda peace.

Only her mace crashing into her mother's skull would do that.

"We go into the forest," she announced to the group, decided. "Zed, if you know a way of dispelling illusions, you might want to charge that spell. Conleth, we'll need eyes in the trees. The hags have a way of polluting nymphs into thralls, we wouldn't want to run into them. I'm on point, Rovaan has the rear. Joric-" Hags be hagglin', gods be god damn crazy, it's all happening ogre at Into The Fire

17-Jun-2016 15:33:49

D F Angel

Posts: 19,587 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

As she said the dwarf's name she turned to him, still in the midst of the two titans, Armando Godkiller and Skullvulture. This alerted the man on horseback to her presence, and more importantly to the presence of her adventuring party.

"What will a few dead hags achieve, in the long run?" He called out to them. "Soahc has plagued this land for twelve-thousand years, is responsible for the destruction of paradise on earth. Would you sacrifice bringing justice to this demon for the sake of some witches? Are you willing to live with the guilt, should the Deceiver accomplish his foul goal?"

Judy's Respite

"Hello Judy," Cadmus Lenian responded with a dashing smile. "Summoning demons... It sounds like you have a point to prove." The boy knew all about that- he too was on a mission, a mission that had come to define his entire existence. "Perhaps we can help each other. There is a man I want killing, and I think you've got the skills needed to lure him in. What is it you want?"

Kuro's Flight

"Dalton Kurstang," repeated Sir Rodraine, with a small hint of scepticism. "Last night the king's peace was disturbed in the streets of Hamstead. Namely, an entire building was cast down as if affronted by unholy winds. A man, ahorse, was seen fleeing the scene, and in pursuing this mystery suspect I have arrived here. So tell me, Dalton Kurstang. What business did you have in Hamstead? And for what business are you departing?"

Siera's Plight

"Aye, I read them well enough. My mother Irma taught me to read, may the gods rest her soul." The dwarf must'** been nearing the end of his days, despite his well-built appearance, and so his mother must have died many years ago. It certainly showed- his comment sounded more reminiscent than melancholic. Hags be hagglin', gods be god damn crazy, it's all happening ogre at Into The Fire

17-Jun-2016 15:33:57

D F Angel

Posts: 19,587 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

"I am Thorek the second, third-born son of Urist Goblinsbane. I have been enjoying the fruits of my retirement, and some companionship along the road would not go amiss. There is no greater company than sword and song, I always used to say. Do you play the harp, or is it just the vessel through which you speak? Tell me child, what is your name, and what brings you out in the middle of nowhere?"

Slayver of Azul

"I am hagspawn," Vianna said proudly, as though a challenge to Cirion to dare insult her heritage. "My mother rides with Bloodgift, which you call Soahc. She follows her sister Ethyl, though has doubts about how successful they'll be, or how trustworthy Bloodgift is. In Myrkviðr, the Great Mother is summoning the Hagfather. My mother believes this will attract too much attention, and that Myrkviðr will be wiped clean. And Ethyl leads the others to a disaster of another sort."

Vianna shrugged- it seemed she had little to any opinion about any of this, that she was simply the servant of her own mother and following orders, rather than following a cause she believed in. "Hags are hated, hagspawn considered blasphemous. If no one acts, our species will be brought to extinction. My mother seeks a third way- to make hags and other mortals live in peace. She believes foiling Bloodgift's plot is a step towards this goal, and has therefore instructed me to recruit an able warrior to aid in the fighting. Someone who can figure out Bloodgift's plan, and put a stop to it. Are you that man?"

March of Darkness

"Why Arran," echoed Soahc, stroking a non-existence beard whilst he pondered. "Ain't that the question? I posit another: Why not? I grew tired of instructing my followers to construct vessels for me to empower, only for the totem to be sealed away by some hero or another and keep me out of the game for a few centuries. I needed a scapegoat, a fall-guy, and Arran was there waving his big sword around." Hags be hagglin', gods be god damn crazy, it's all happening ogre at Into The Fire

17-Jun-2016 15:34:06

D F Angel

Posts: 19,587 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Soahc gave a dramatic rendition of Arran waving his 'big sword' around for clarity, before continuing. "Followers are loyal to power, my dear Brodus. You didn't sign up to this venture because you trusted me, did you? If I wasn't a god, and if you weren't a man, no doubt you'd have slain me by now. Who knows what could have happened, had I given my godhood to a loyal servant! Arran was a sap, spouting god-hating nonsense, oh it was too juicy an opportunity to pass up on! He's so self-hating now that he's not done anything of note in four-hundred years. Except that business in Rickslanding, of course."

Turning towards the arrived Mechanical Spirry, Soahc gave a low whistle as the demon launched into articulate speech. "Ah, so there's two of you," Soahc said with some surprise. "I thought you were one and the same- such a terribly confusing vision. Well I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear we have fire and zombies aplenty!" He gestured towards Kira the Pyromistress, who had just saved Beatrice the Bard from an acidic fate, and AchUbaid the Undying with his host of undead.

But when the Mechanical Spirry spoke about time- that it was coiled, that future and past were adjusting... Something passed over Soahc's face, some indescribable shadow, some hint of a greater purpose. Soahc nodded along to all the rest the blood-demon said, perhaps a tad more seriously than he had been before.

"I can kill your Newborn. You say he's with the ogres. A droll old lot, I'm sure you can imagine. Something strange is happening down that way, and for once I'm not involved! If your fleshy counterpart follows my request, he will come to me before long. Would you like to join my gang? I sense you're quite powerful, and I sense something else about you, something off... Where do you come from? You're no natural-born demon, are you?" Hags be hagglin', gods be god damn crazy, it's all happening ogre at Into The Fire

17-Jun-2016 15:34:16

D F Angel

Posts: 19,587 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Soahc ruminated over the concept of the Eight-Legged One, watching the spectacle of Kira saving the bard from facial mutilation, and Sileo Umbra tipping the man for his services. The eunuch bandit nodded once his thanks, and then instantly retreated to rejoin the mercenary squad, clearly no longer willing to stay in the firing line of Mechanical Spirry.

"Shame, I was just about to ask for a rendition of The Greater Beast ." Soahc pouted comically. "Speaking of greatness, next stop is the Great Plains. I'm sure this will have some... symbolic value, to some of our members," he flashed a grin towards Ubaid before continuing. "I imagine by tomorrow afternoon we'll have reached our final destination. Sileo, your skills will be invaluable, so please don't die when some angry centaur herd comes stomping our way. And Ryokin, tell me more about this 'demon army' you're gathering. I do hope I shouldn't feel threatened by all this..."

Og City

Whilst Alicia was staring up at the Big Fat, Karstone was finding any reason to stare at anything that wasn't the grotesque, behemothic leader of the ogres. He stared at the man in black armour, his complexion grey, almost as if he was dead...

~Captain Emeraldian!~ A voice screamed in Karstone's head. It was the corsair captain- the very one that Karstone Greatjohn had been hired to lead an army against. The same army that Sir Charles had served in, the same army that- no, it couldn't be-

The elf in the blue, Karstone knew him too. Timruviel Flayvirion. He was a mercenary, had been a mercenary for centuries, flittering in and out of every important story there ever was. Timruviel had been hired too, to hunt down Emeraldian, had served with Karstone...

Of course, this was all a different world, one that Janus had made the rest forget. Karstone knew Ryle would remember... But he doubted Timruviel did. If memory served, the elf probably died outside of Capital City. Hags be hagglin', gods be god damn crazy, it's all happening ogre at Into The Fire

17-Jun-2016 15:34:25

D F Angel

Posts: 19,587 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Still, Karstone was freaking out. This couldn't be. Seeing Sir Charles again had been a coincidence, a freakish one, but a coincidence nonetheless. But now another two people from that forgotten past were here? Where something was clearly not going right with the ogres? Karstone did not believe in fate, but he did believe in severely bad luck... And knew nothing good would come of this.

"Black an' blue are dangerous," he whispered in Alicia's ear. Timruviel was flashing him a grin- could the elf hear him? Elves apparently had better hearing than humans...

" Ogrin discovered magic, " announced the Big Fat, as though that explained all. " Discarded their shamans, decided they would be the rulers now. Magic is a gift to be given, not a prize to be taken. We have united in solidarity against this affront to our nature, and our culture. "

"This'n soun's wiser than the rest, eh?" Karstone remarked, looking up at the Big Fat.

" The shamans have made me... More. My ogres are a simple people, children being lead on strings they do not see. But they made me, and named me, and so I shall champion their cause. "

"An' who's pullin' these strings?" Karstone asked the ogre abomination, but it was the harp-player that answered.

"Elves, you can be sure of that," said Timruviel as he plucked a few strings. "Sitting in their forests, thinking themselves the lords of all. I knew they'd bite off more than they could chew one day. I'm looking forward to going home," his smile indicated that he was not going home for a mere family reunion.

Hunt For Spirry

"That, uh, won't be necessary," responded Enrael, pushing Henry's weapons back to him. "You weren't affected by the visions- it seems you, like the rest of us, are immune to the demon's pull."

Decan Martha, ahead of the group, was listening to what Kat told her, and nodded gravely. "Tyrrus save our souls," she whispered to herself, looking down. Hags be hagglin', gods be god damn crazy, it's all happening ogre at Into The Fire

17-Jun-2016 15:34:31

Forums

[RP] Into The Fire