RuneScape Forum Archive | The ScapeRune War

WolfLord7777

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Chapter 18: Ardougne Shall Fall
The vast hordes of ScapeRune moved forward inexorably. Thousands of tanks crushed vast swathes of forest as they rumbled forward on steel treads.
Huge armoured vehicles more akin to fortresses than battle tanks rumbled forth in the wake of the tanks, leaving permanent scars on the once pristine landscape.
Inside the huge belly of one these huge machines, through a complex network of twisting corridors and deliberately confusing junctions, a council of war was taking place.
There were five of them. Three were Lord Generals, the highest rank in the ScapeRune army. They were the leaders of the ScapeRune currently swarming among the jungles south of the Feldip Hills.
The others were the ancient mage in red and gold robes who was the overall ruler of ScapeRune, protected, although he did*’t need it, by his personal bodyguard, a man in jet black leather plated a vast number of plates of the best armour ScapeRune could make, and wearing a long greatcoat of matching black with a large collar and a matching hat.
The youngest of the generals was speaking, pointing at a large map laid out on the table.
“As you can see, our scouts have met up with the forces already here. They have been ordered to make a perimeter just south of this small city and stop anyone who might be bringing news of our attack.”
“How many men do we have available at the moment?” the ancient mage asked in his silky voice.
“We currently have something in excess of one million, My Lord,” one of the generals replied.
“How many do they have?” the mage asked, almost before the other man had finished speaking.
“Our top agent, Ark Angel, says that as of a month ago they had just under 600 thousand My Lord, plus about another 100 thousand scattered around their immediate vicinity. However, they have recently pushed south, and we have eliminated about 100 thousand,” the man replied.

12-Oct-2010 05:30:12 - Last edited on 05-Nov-2010 23:18:33 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

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The mage pondered this for a moment.
“How good are the defenses of their city? And how soon before we get their?” he asked.
“Their outer walls are a 100 metres feet thick and 70 metres high. Even with dedicated siege batteries it would take atleast two weeks to get through. The military district is protected by similar walls, and the Royal Palace walls are 50 metres thick and 30 thick. It will take us atleast two months to get through, even without any opposition.
At present speed it will take us approximately three or four months to reach the walls of the city they call Ardougne. So at a bare minimum it will be atleast six months before Ardougne falls and we have access to the rest of Runescape,” the general replied, looking at some notes on a piece of paper.
“It must fall by the New Year,” the mage said harshly.
“My Lord, that is not possible. We simply can’t get their and destroy the city in four months,” the general replied, his voice quaking. The mage was not a man famous for being kind to those who missed their deadlines.
“Then make it possible,” the mage replied silkily, “The meeting is concluded. For the Empty Lord.”
“For the Empty Lord!” the generals responded to his toast.
***
The four of them were grouped in the hold of one of the TRS’s planes. Three of them, Fang, Selvaria and Jack, who had been rescued from the ScapeRune cells, were arrayed in front of the Zamorakian mage.
*I think it’s about time you told us what this is all about, My Lord Mage,” Fang said, his normally kindly, joking voice tempered with deep overturns of rage.
*I agree. I followed you because that’s what I was ordered. Thanks to you, more than half of my men are dead,” Selvaria said. If anything, her anger was even deeper than Fang’s.
“My explanation will be very lengthy and complicated, so I suggest you sit down and stop glaring at me. The fire in his eyes had gone out, and he had a slump in his shoulders.
The others shared a glance, but sat down.

12-Oct-2010 05:30:23 - Last edited on 11-Nov-2010 04:18:21 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“As you may know, Runescape and ScapeRune are exact opposites. Here the predominate god is Saradomin, but in ScapeRune Zaros is the supreme god.
The way this happened is long and complex and I don’t fully understand it, so I will not go there. Suffice to say that Zaros and Saradomin hate each other above all else.
So, two hundred or so years ago, Zaros invaded. He had just finished unifying all of ScapeRune under his rules and the rule of his nine disciples.
He then invaded. He had over three million men assaulting the walls of Ardougne, but still he could not break through.
It was then, four years later, that Guthix came to him and Saradomin. He told them that until balance was restored, neither force could be victorious. So Zaros pulled most of his forces out. Since then there have been many more invasions and battles. But still, neither force can come out on top.
However, at the eve of the ScapeRune New Year the ScapeRune oracle told them that the time had come.
The one who is to restore balance to both worlds is a half gnome by the name of Roal Atkins.
But, his plane recently crashed just south of Yanille and he was captured. That was why we had to attack that camp, because that’s where he was being held.
Unfortunately, as Selevaria saw, he was taken out of the camp at the moment the last defense fell. Now, we must get that helicopter and rescue Roal before they reach the ScapeRune lines,” he explained slowly.
The three of them looked startled at this sudden revelation.
“You still havn’t actually told us your name,” stuttered Jack. He was still shaken from his time in the ScapeRune cells.
“It’s Dorn. Now what are you doing standing there! We need to move! NOW!* Dorn replied.
***
Inside the hold of the huge military helicopter which had so recently broken out of the Nightwing’s blockade, The Colonel was pacing angrily, his heavily scarred face looking even scarier in the harsh halogen lighting.

12-Oct-2010 05:30:34 - Last edited on 05-Nov-2010 23:19:17 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“You’re absolutely sure there’s no way to get that transponder off?” he asked the grimy faced engineer standing next to him. He was the only member of the support staff The Colonel had managed to spirit away on the chopper.
“Not without pulling off all the plating, which would betray the point, seeing as we wouldn’t be able to fly,” the engineer replied.
“Where’s the nearest friendly camp?” The Colonel asked the pilot.
“A good two days fly away. Walking, it will take us atleast a week,” the pilot replied.
“Right, I see no other option. Land the chopper as soon as you can. We’re going on foot from here,” The Colonel sighed.

12-Oct-2010 05:30:48 - Last edited on 05-Nov-2010 23:19:31 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Chapter 19: Ark Angel
The four Nightwing planes shot through the sky like rockets, their special design and expensive technology eliminating the normally deafening sonic booms.
Their drop bays were empty, the surviving Nightwing soldiers had been left in the TRS’s cargo hold. The Nightwing were tasked with finding and following the ScapeRune soldiers, who had abandoned their tracked chopper in favour of going on foot.
“Squadron spread out. Last recorded position of the targets was in this area. Get out the motion sensors and range finders. Set them to a long, low sweep. Report anything you find immediately,” the leader of the pilots said into his full face breathing mask.
His name was Fritz Gabster, but most people called him Hawk, on account of his ability so stand incredible G-forces and because he could fly the lightning-fast Nightwing planes better than anyone alive. He was the oldest and most senior member of the Nightwing’s air staff and was also the first person selected by Selvaria when she had set up the organization and was her personal pilot.
The other three fighters peeled away, slowing down as they did so. A large and complex array of instruments dropped down out of a hatch in the planes.
Almost immediately one of them got a reading.
“Hawk, I’ve got a number of man-sized signals just below my position.”
“Swing low and check it out. But make sure that you don’t get hit,” Hawk replied.
The black plane slowed almost to a stop, and just before it fell out of the sky a pair of rotor blades popped out, one on each of the wings. Then it began to slowly lower until it was barely twenty metres above the forest. The massive wind caused by the blades caused the trees below to blow around madly.
Then the pilot slowly eased forward until he was directly over the position where he had found the heat signature.
What he saw was eight men jogging through the thick undergrowth.

12-Oct-2010 05:31:05 - Last edited on 11-Nov-2010 04:24:55 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

One of the men looked up at the plane looming above him. Then he raised an RPG and aimed it at the plane.
It fired, and a jet of smoke shot out. With no room to maneuver, it slammed straight into the planes right rotor blade.
It exploded, ripping off a small part of paneling as well as completely destroying the rotors.
The pilot quickly cut the fuel supply to the right rotor and pulled the left one in, pulling back the throttle and shooting off before the gunner could try again.
“I guess you found them then?” Hawk asked.
“Shut up Hawk,” the pilot replied.
“Okay, since your damaged you can go back to the others and tell them we’ve found them. We’ll keep on their trail,” Hawk ordered.
***
The eight men jogged through the steamy marshes as fast as they could, swatting at the occasional mosquito or marsh fly, always aware of the presence of the Nightwing’s planes looming overhead.
The Colonel was at the back of the group, holding his pistol to the back of Roal’s head and forcing him to keep moving.
They had been running for over a week now, and they were finally nearing their destination, a heavily fortified ScapeRune position on the banks of the river. It was home to a permanent garrison of just over 1500 ScapeRune men, and was built like a rock. It would take a sizable force to break in.
But still The Colonel was worried. He had been driving his men forward as fast as possible for a week. There was no way they would be able to stand up to the Runescape forces in a pitched battle. Even though The Colonel knew he had a secret weapon, he did not want to bring matters to a head until he REALLY had to.
“Faster scum!” he yelled as Roal stumbled. He pistol-whipped him in the shoulder, and Roal cringed.
“Colonel!” said a voice up in front. He looked away from Roal, ordering one of his men to guard him.
He turned to the man who had spoken, a radar and comms officer at the camp they had so recently vacated.
“What is it Jenkins?” he asked gruffly.

12-Oct-2010 05:31:54 - Last edited on 08-Nov-2010 10:43:48 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“We have a reading on a number of aircraft on our portable scanners sir. At current speed, I estimate we have about an hour, if that.”
The Colonel’s eyes narrowed.
“Everyone! MOVE! We need to be out of this stinking cess-pit in under an hour! Move, move MOVE!” he yelled.
***
On board one of the Nightwing’s planes, Selvaria was checking the firing system on her beloved pistol. It had taken a blow during the assault on the camp and it had taken her all week since then fixing it.
She drew a blank from her pocket and loaded it into the pistols firing chamber, not bothering with a magazine.
She fired, and the pistol jumped in her hand, just like it was meant to. She smiled gratefully.
“Hawk, how long before we get there?” she asked into her full-face drop helmet.
“Relative speed and distance indicates about 5 minutes, Captain,” Hawk replied.
“All units this is a go. Fang, Dorn, Jack, you know the plan. Just make sure that you’re in position, or it might go wrong. Remember, Roal must be captured ALIVE,” she said into her wrist mike.
“You mean rescued,” She heard Jack say.
“What?” she said, puzzled.
She heard Jack sigh. “Roal needs to be rescued, not captured.”
“Whatever, it amounts to the same thing. Now get in position!” she yelled at the White Lions captain.
***
The two large transports shot low over the barren, burned landscape. It had long been the site for countless skirmishes and now it was a smoking wasteland, which, even after hundreds of years, had not been reclaimed by the forest.
They shot low over the eight men sprinting forwards towards a ruined building, cutting a beeline for two small landing strips just ahead.
The planes had barely stopped when atleast 40 men got out, running down the loading ramp before it had fully descended.

12-Oct-2010 05:32:04 - Last edited on 11-Nov-2010 04:26:25 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

They were a motley group, formed from the survivors of once much larger groups. Roal’s original gnome engineers were long dead, as were most of Connor’s men, whom only four of which remained. Jack’* White Lions had fared better, with about ten men left. Fang’s TRS’s had only just arrived, and were mostly ok. Only five casualties had been sustained by them. Finally, Dorn and his three surviving mages took up the rear, resplendent in their red robes.
They immediately fanned out, and began to close in on the figures, who, cut off, had taken cover in a small ruined building.
It took them less than two minutes to form a twenty metre perimeter around the small building, taking cover from the largely inaccurate fire behind small bits of rubble.
Dorn stood up, his silver eyes beginning to glow red. Bullets pinged away from his invisible shield harmlessly.
“Come out, and we’ll offer you a quick death. If we have to come in and get you, we’ll make it slow and much more painful,” he said, his normally soft voice magnified to easily carry to them.
They hadn’t expected it to work, but it wasn’t meant to. It was simply the Nightwing’s signal, and sure enough, they plummeted through the black, acrid smoke just as he said the words.
Selvaria’s plane came down behind Jack’s group. She was prepared to watch this time as her men clinically assassinated the men inside the building from above. Sure enough, it took barely three seconds before they heard the first screams.
Then the front door banged open, and The Colonel came out, holding a gun to the back unconscious form of Roal’ head.
“Damn you, you pieces of filth!” he yelled. His eyes were glazed with madness, and that, combined with his lattice of scars, made him look absolutely terrifying.
“I know I’ve lost. But god damn it, I’ll take you with me. Ark Angel, you’re purpose has now been fulfilled. Take ‘em down,” and with that he pulled the trigger of the gun aimed at Roal’s face.

12-Oct-2010 05:32:46 - Last edited on 11-Nov-2010 04:27:00 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Immediately, he was ripped to shreds by gunfire from behind as the Nightwing soldiers burst through the door, covered in blood.
But a second wave of gunfire tore through the ranks of Runescape soldiers as someone from behind Selvaria opened fire.

12-Oct-2010 05:33:05 - Last edited on 11-Nov-2010 04:27:18 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Chapter 20: The Disciples
Bullets ripped through the White Lions, blowing ragged holes in their armour. Three more tore through Selvaria’s drop suit like tissue paper. Blood exploded as her right thigh was blown open.
Then she heard a clicking sound as the man’s gun ran dry.
Suddenly she was crash tackled into the open door of the Nightwing plane behind her. Instantly she was slammed to the floor, her unarmored head smashing into the steel drop doors below her. Lights swam before her eyes as her head throbbed and her vision went grey.
Then someone stepped over her and pressed the emergency lockdown door next to the door to the cockpit. Instantly, the ramp slammed shut and the doors slid into the locked position. Hawk, in the cockpit, turned around at the sudden slamming sound behind him. He saw Selvaria raise her hand limply, and took it as an order to take off.
There was a loud throbbing sound as the rotor blades spun. Selvaria blinked at the sudden sound, stunned back into full consciousness. She tried to stand up, and was thrown against the wall by her attacker.
She stared incomprehensibly at her antagonist.
It was Jack.
He crashed his armoured fist into her face as hard as he could. Her nose shattered, and blood splattered over her face.
He then reached for the pistol at his side, pulling it out of its holster just as Selvaria grabbed his arm, thrusting it away from her.
The gun fired, blowing a hole in the light interior paneling.
Jack tried to grab her left arm with his, but Selvaria grabbed it with her right. Now Jack was up against the wall with his pistol hand held by Selevaria and his other with her right hand.
They were evenly matched, neither able to gain any ground on the other.
Suddenly Jack swiped his left leg, slamming it into Selvaria’s injured right leg. She screamed and fell to the floor.
Then Jack, his gun arm finally free, aimed it at Selvaria’s head.
“Goodbye Selvaria, and good riddance,” he said.

12-Oct-2010 05:33:33 - Last edited on 11-Nov-2010 04:28:13 by WolfLord7777

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