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Zaibatsu 0

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Not his usual mode of assessing a situation, but I trusted his instincts anyway.

Justin frowned and turned his attention to Kzahar.
"I thought you said there will be around fifteen people, plus Jonathan, and that Protagonist idiot."
"Yeah, that’s right. What's the problem?" Kzahar replied, frowning.
"There is no one on the other side of this door. Not a soul. What's going on?"
"I...dunno. They might have rescheduled the meeting, but I would have known about that."
"Well, perhaps we should just proceed anyway," I whispered, not wanting to hang around.
"I'll go first," replied Kzahar. "Wait here, I shall go and see what's happening."
Kzahar opened the door, peered through and then entered, closing it behind him.
"I don't like this one bit," Lydia said, anxiously looking around.
"Me neither. What you make of Kzahar?" Justin queried.
"Dunno. At times he seems smart, other times like he doesn't know what’s going on. I feel he can be trusted though. My only concern lies with his ineptitude, not his loyalty."
Justin nodded in agreement, and pressed his ear against the door again. "He certainly has a thing for you though, sis."
"Shut up, you bonehead." Lydia replied, blushing.
Whilst the twins bantered amongst themselves, I looked around. There was a placard above the door which read 'Corpus Invictus'. That strange language again, I wondered what it meant.
"Something’s happening in there," Justin remarked suddenly, and squinted as he tried to discern what was going on the other side of the door. "More people are in there now, sounds like a struggle." His eyes widened as the sound of clashing metals rang out.
"I could use a little help here!" shouted Kzahar from the inside the room, and Justin flung the door open.
Around twenty juves were surrounding Kzahar, who was keeping them at bay with Drakthor.

08-Feb-2007 14:36:07 - Last edited on 08-Feb-2007 14:49:05 by Zaibatsu 0

Zaibatsu 0

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All of the juves were in the same uniform as the two prison guards, flowing black gowns with white trims. They were all quite young, late teens and early twenties, I wondered what could have possibly drawn them into this cult.

Most of the juves were unarmed, however a few were carrying steel and mithril weapons. Their main weakness was a lack of armour, a point exclamated as Kzahar struck one that got too close down.
A few were shouting at him, "traitor!" and "The Protagonist will kill you!" were both popular choices.
I withdrew my blade and followed the already sprinting Justin. Lydia followed suit, but kept her distance, trying to get a decent shot.
Around ten of the Juves broke away from Kzahar and engaged myself and Justin. Once again the beauty of Justin's craft became clear. He was grabbing arms and snapping them like twigs, necks and spinal columns were being contorted in ways that they obviously shouldn't be. This time was slightly different, because he was shouting out seemingly random numbers as he went about his business.
"4, 7, 3, 5...9! New record!"
Lydia shouted from the corner, "Nicely done, brother!"
"What in Saradomin's name are you doing?" I asked as I blocked an attack, and followed through with a slash across a juve's chest.
"I count the amount of bones I break as I go. Nine is a new record!"
"You are a sadistic git aren't you?" I asked, laughing.
I then realised my blade had become entangled in the robes of one of our assailants, and my blade was brought down as he fell. I struggled to pull it loose, and looked up to see a Juve charging at me at full pelt. I raised my arm to defend against the mithril scimitar, a futile action, as the rune arrow that pierced his throat pretty much took all of his strength. He fell in front of me, gasping for air.
I looked in the corner towards Lydia. She winked at me as she let off another shot, this one towards the group Kzahar was struggling with.

08-Feb-2007 14:36:16 - Last edited on 08-Feb-2007 14:49:20 by Zaibatsu 0

Zaibatsu 0

Posts: 2,895 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

I finally tore my sword loose and quickly approached the group, a few turned to me and swung wildly. One caught me quite nicely on the cheek with a left hook, I backed away and aimed a slash towards him, however he stepped away just in time. Another quickly tried to take advantage of my prone position, but I managed to bring my blade up in time to block his attack. The steel shortsword clashed with the superior Dragon weapon, and was split in two. The shock on the Juve's face didn't last long, I followed the block by bringing the hilt of the sword into his face, with a satisfying crack. In the same motion I swung around with blade in a full arc, bringing down the juve that so kindly punched me.
I noticed that Kzahar now seemed to have regained his composure and was bringing down Juves with lethal efficiency. During a slight pause in the action, he quickly withdrew a small adamantine throwing knife, and launched it towards the corner Lydia was in.
Lydia had ran out of arrows, and was preparing to go hand to hand with a rapidly approaching enemy. There was no need though, the throwing knife pierced his lower back, crippling him in an instant.

The last Juve finally fell with Justin landing a rather nasty right palm attack into the chest of the poor victim.
We all stood surrounded by the crippled and deceased bodies, some of them still twitching and moaning. "What now?" Lydia asked, pulling some arrows from her targets and refilling her quiver.
"Now you die!" came a familiar voice from behind us. There stood Jonathan, with his bow ready loaded with a Rune arrow.

08-Feb-2007 14:36:44 - Last edited on 08-Feb-2007 14:49:34 by Zaibatsu 0

Zaibatsu 0

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"I'll handle this," Lydia said, quickly readying her bow also.
"Handle this?" Jonathan sneered. "Last time we met, Lydia, you'll find that I handled you. In fact, I handed your life to you on a plate."
"That was then, Jonathon. This is now. Don't expect me to be as merciful, nay, foolish, as you were."
Jonathan had now entered the room, and the two archers began circling each other with an intense look on both of their faces.
I looked at Justin, who was standing calmly with his arms folded. I turned back to Jonathan and made a move towards him.
"Stop. This is between them, don't get involved," Justin said.
"Are we not going to help??" I asked, astounded at what was transpiring.
"Lydia and Jonathan have a history. It was him who managed to capture my sister, I was caught in a similar fashion when I went looking for her. She told me of a battle they had, where Jonathan was taunting her. She got careless, and one of his arrows found its mark. The rest is history."
"Tell me, Justin, how did you come across this organisation?" I asked, keeping an eye on Lydia and Jonathan. They were still circling each other, the intense look in both of their eyes failing to wane, even in the slightest.
"Lydia was out gathering herbs for medicine and potions in Karamja. She decided to enter the volcano, there are some ashes and fire salts in there she likes to use. There are normally some lesser demons down there, but they had been rended and mangled beyond recognition. It was then she was captured by Jonathan. For some reason he likes to stay after culls have been completed, he does some strange ritual with the corpses. Freak."
"And what is the basis of the Veritus Vos Liberit? What makes them different from HAM?" I asked.
"We are as far removed from HAM as heaven is from hell!" Jonathan snorted at me, disgusted by what I said.
"All monsters deserve death and suffering, as do anyone who says they don't. Any human that gets in our way will get similar treatment."

08-Feb-2007 14:36:46 - Last edited on 08-Feb-2007 14:49:50 by Zaibatsu 0

Zaibatsu 0

Posts: 2,895 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The circling abruptly came to an end, and battle ensued. If you have never seen two master archers locked in mortal combat, you are missing out on an awesome sight. Arrows were flying at each of the combatants, both whom were dodging shots in their own unique style. Justin purposeful and efficient, Lydia graceful and elegant. Her blonde hair danced around as she moved, adding to the beauty of her movements. In rapid motions they were ducking, dodging, rolling and firing off shots as if this was what they were born to do. Jonathan upped the ante by actually managing to catch one of Lydia's arrows and quickly armed his own bow, firing it back. Lydia replied with style by blocking it with her bow. The arrow bounced off, and as quick as lightening she grabbed it out of the air and rearmed the bow. Jonathan grinned as he dodged the returning shot.
"Come on, Lydia..." I heard Kzahar mutter from behind me. I turned to him.
"Kzahar, show me where Rose is, we need to get her out of here."
I heard Jonathan laughing. "The Protagonist will have had his way with her by now!" he sneered, with a wicked grin on his face. This was his own flesh and blood, how could he say those things?
"In that case, she will be held in one of his...erm...'special' rooms." Kzahar muttered with a sorrowful look on his face.
"Lead me there! Now!" I demanded, and Kzahar nodded, turned and walked quickly away.
"We'll be with you shortly." Justin said, and redirected his attention to the battle between his sister and Jonathan.
I followed Kzahar out of the room through a giant set of doors similar to the ones we entered through.
We entered into another long corridor and started to run. We then took a sharp left turn into an archway, and started to descend a stone spiral set of steps. As we ran further on down, I decided to ask Kzahar a question.

08-Feb-2007 14:36:47 - Last edited on 08-Feb-2007 14:50:04 by Zaibatsu 0

Zaibatsu 0

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"Tell me, friend, what is this ritual that Jonathan performs on the corpses of the deceased monsters?"
"Dunno. I've never been to a cull. You have to be here a year before you get that 'honour'."
I stopped in my tracks. "But, Kzahar, when I was captured, the goblins were nearly cut in half by blade strikes, mashed by a maul and struck with arrows. The arrows are Jonathan’s, the maul Narayan's, I assumed the sword strikes belonged to you."
He had stopped himself and turned to face me with a puzzled look on his face. The look turned to that of panic in an instant.
"Oh no, no no no!" said Kzahar, visibly nervous about something.
"What is it?" I asked, not really wanting to hear the response. "Oh no, it must Yamabushi! He was sent to carry out a cull in the caves east of Relleka. Because of the high number of monsters in there, it was thought that it would take around two weeks. Supplies were often ferried there by juves...he must have returned...and accompanied Jonathan and Narayan on the cull in Ardougne."
"Why were you not aware of this?" I asked.
"He may not have even come here before the cull, I wouldn't have known about his mission ending. He must be with the Protagonist, probably feasting over the success of both the Ardougne and Relleka culls. Although I'm not actually allowed to kill any monsters in the name of this place until I've been here a year, I was sent to the Ardougne massacre to see what was taking Jonathan so long. I saw Rose on the outside, and she just screamed. Jonathan then quickly came running out. I was then ordered to carry you back here. The rest you obviously must know about."
"Lets keep moving. Tell me about this...Yamabushi?" I asked, and we carried on with the descent.
"He is a very skilled swordsman. I have sparred with him on occasion, his skill far outmatches my own, and probably yours too. We would be wise to both attack him at the same time."
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

08-Feb-2007 14:36:48 - Last edited on 08-Feb-2007 14:50:15 by Zaibatsu 0

Zaibatsu 0

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We finally reached the end of the steps. Another corridor, this one was dank and horrid. Rats and cockroaches were scuttling about, and the place was very dimly lit. Rows of doors lined both sides of the corridor.
"You take the left hand side, I'll take the right." I said to Kzahar. He nodded, and slowly opened his first door. I walked to the one opposite, opened the door and peered through. The room was small, about 6 foot by 6 foot. A macabre looking device was on the rear wall. It looked like stocks, but made of metal and drenched in blood. A chest was also sitting in the corner. They say curiosity killed the cat, but I'm no cat. I entered the room and crouched down to open the chest. I pulled out the contents and examined them closely. It looked like some kind of collar, a leather strap with some kind of box on it. It would of fit most necks. I looked in the chest to see a very old tattered piece of paper. There were some words scrawled on it, some obscured. It read...

"This was my friend and ally through my vigorous quest for revenge. I leave it here so another may find it of the same use."

~ When all is false, truth is a lie. ~

Signed, Garret.

I put the strange device into my pocket and threw the paper back into the chest. I stood up and exited the room.
I looked towards Kzahar, who was already on his third door. I quickly checked the other rooms, nothing, just more devices stained with blood. We had nearly reached the end of our search, only one more left. This one was at the end of this small corridor, not on either of the walls.

08-Feb-2007 14:36:49 - Last edited on 08-Feb-2007 14:50:28 by Zaibatsu 0

Zaibatsu 0

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"You do the honours." Said Kzahar, looking around.
I opened the door, and there she was. Rose was hanging ***** by her wrists against a stone wall, stripped of everything. Her head was limply resting against her chest, and she was covered in bruises and small cuts and burns. As she heard the door open, she looked up slightly.
"No more, please, no more..." she said weakly, and her head went limp again.
I felt my blood boil, my face turn red, my anger go to boiling point in a second. I withdrew my blade and severed the chains. I caught her before she fell to the floor. I held her, and she looked up at me. The faintest taint of a smile graced her lips, and she fell unconscious.
I took off my cape and wrapped it around her, then hoisted her over my shoulders.
I turned to Kzahar. "Where is the scum that did this?"
"That would be the Protagonist. Like I said earlier, his head is mine, you may do whatever you wish to him but kill him."
"Don't you worry about that Kzahar. What I shall do to him will be worse than death."
He nodded. "Lets go back upstairs, I want to see how Lydia is."
We walked back up the spiral staircase, more slowly now because of Rose. I vowed to myself that I would punish the piece of amphibian scum that done this to her. I could feel her breathing, it was faint, but still there. I needed to get her some medical attention.
We finally reached the top of the stairs, and traveled down the corridor. We heard voices come from the meeting hall.
"Don't pull it...OW!! I said DON'T pull it, idiot!"
"Sorry!"
"Sheesh I'm in enough pain as it is!"
Lydia and Justin. Sounds like Lydia had won. I looked to see Kzahar break into a run and enter the hall.
"We found Rose! And I see you beat Jonathan, well done Lydia!"

08-Feb-2007 14:36:51 - Last edited on 08-Feb-2007 14:50:40 by Zaibatsu 0

Zaibatsu 0

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I entered the room to see Justin crouched over Lydia, who had an arrow stuck through her right thigh. Justin had hold of the arrow, trying to remove it. He broke off the arrow head and placed the side of his hand in Lydia's mouth.
"Brace!" he yelled, and yanked out the arrow. Lydia screamed in pain and bit down onto Justin's hand.
Kzahar looked revolted by this, but after the pain subsided, Lydia had a smile on her face.
"Nicely done, bro."
I looked around, seeking Jonathan. He was sitting against a wall, with arrows placed in his right shoulder, left calf, left forearm and his abdomen. The wound upon his abdomen was the worse. Stomach fluids were leaking out onto his lap and the floor, and no doubt the fluids were covering his internal organs and being pumped around his bloodstream. He must have been in agony.
He looked up at me. "I see you found her."
I said nothing.
"Be warned...the Protagonist uses powerful mind control magick*...that’s why we all fought for him...like we did..."
"Mind control? That's rubbish! Kzahar here isn't under any mind control!" I said, not sure what to make of Jonathan’s last few words.
"It takes a year to take affect...if you were in HAM previously it takes even less time...plus you must have a weak mind...for it to fully take over....like mine...that Kzahar is strong willed...he would of fell eventually though..."
Again I said nothing.
"Look after Rose for me...keep her away from Veritus..."
With that he was gone.

08-Feb-2007 14:36:53 - Last edited on 08-Feb-2007 14:50:53 by Zaibatsu 0

Zaibatsu 0

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I looked towards Kzahar.
"It's time to end this." I walked into the far corner of the hall, and gently placed down Rose.
"I'll be back soon," I promised her, and rejoined the others.
"The Protagonist and Yamabushi will be on the third floor. Let's go." Kzahar said, and once again led the way.
Justin quickly followed, with myself and Lydia taking the rear. Lydia was limping slightly. She noticed me looking at her leg and smiled.
"Don't worry about this, I've had worse," she stated. "Rose looked in pretty bad shape, we need to get this over with. When we get outside I may be able to make something with the local flora and fauna into something that will ease her burns and wounds."
"Thanks. That would be very good of you," I replied.
She smiled again. "You really like her don't you?" she asked, with a silly grin that matched her brothers.
We had reached yet another staircase, and we all began to ascend.
"Perhaps," I replied. "I just want to get her out of danger, she is innocent in all of this, all she cared about was her brother's safety, and now he's dead. I want to make sure this worthless place does not claim another life."
Lydia nodded in agreement as she struggled to climb the stairs. "Who's this Yamabusi fellow?" she asked, as I placed her arm over my shoulder to help support her.
"Another one of the Protagonist's minions I think. Quite the swordsman from what Kzahar was saying."
"Ha! We'll have him!" Lydia said with a smile.
We finally reached the end of the staircase. Yet another corridor, lined once again with doors. This place was a maze.
"That door there," remarked Kzahar solemnly, pointing at a massive set of double doors, lined with gold trimmings. "This is it. I will finally get my revenge."
Justin cracked his knuckles and cricked his neck from left to right. Lydia checked her quiver, Kzahar readied Drakthor and I pulled my Dragon Long sword loose from it's sheath.
We were ready for battle.

08-Feb-2007 14:37:03 - Last edited on 08-Feb-2007 14:51:04 by Zaibatsu 0

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