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Stallionrage

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In place of her left-hand gauntlet, Luna had a single black, fingerless glove that gave off a faint, magical hue. A spellcaster glove, from the Dominion Tower. They amplified the power of her spells, and reduced the energy drained from her runes. They were stubbornly enigmatic, however, and Luna had not been able to deduce the substance that they were made of. They wore out rather quickly, as well, and as Luna had no means of repairing them, her only way to replenish them was to go fight in the Dominion Tower again. Luna had tried to argue with the Tower's Face, arguing that it should know plenty well that she would return and fight again even if she knew how to make her own gloves, but the Face had been adamant. She had no idea how the Tower managed to generate the items without any clear source of materials.

And on a less physical level, Luna had armed herself with the magic and curses of the god Zaros. Theirs was a tense, if amicable relationship, both aware that Luna did not worship him as her chosen deity. Indeed, Luna, as the chosen Guardian of Guthix, did not worship any god, and openly shared with Zaros that she sought to rid Gielinor of the influence of selfish and abusive gods. Yet Zaros willingly gave her his knowledge, allowing her to use his powers on her own. When Luna cast barrages of ice magic, or drained the lifeforce of her enemies to heal herself, Zaros was not required to enable that power, nor was he even aware that she was using it. It was a tremendously powerful gift, and Luna frequently considered his motivations for it.

Was it just a sign of good faith? A recognition of her potential, seeking to enhance her combat prowess to the highest possible degree? She sighed and resigned herself to the fact that she would probably never know the answer unless Zaros wanted her to.

30-Oct-2017 21:30:34 - Last edited on 30-Oct-2017 21:35:24 by Stallionrage

Stallionrage

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Luna pulled a long spear out of the bag. The shaft was made not of wood, but of the same dull-grey metal that comprised her longsword. Chaotic metal was astonishingly lightweight, and she gripped her chaotic spear firmly with one hand as she examined the pointed end of the spear. The sunlight glinted off the tip, shining with lethal promise. Luna gave a satisfied smile and gently set the spear down on the ground as she fished out one of the last objects she needed from her bag. A sturdy flask of crystalline glass, containing an ominous black liquid.

Luna twisted off the flask's stopper and recoiled at the pungent odor.

"I really should try to find a way to make this taste better..." she groaned.

It was a nice thing to hope for, but the concoction was a very delicately balanced mix of magical and chemical ingredients. Trying to add yet another substance in to combat the taste and smell could upset the stability of the mixture. A product of her own innovations with herblore, overload potion was an incredibly foul-tasting substance that granted supreme combat awareness, enhanced physical strength, and greater magical conductivity within the body. However, it was very difficult and expensive to create, having several prerequisite ingredients, and was devastating to the body if consumed in too great a quantity. Luna managed her stockpile carefully, imbibing only when truly necessary, and taking great caution not to overdose. Despite the costs and risks, it was an incredibly useful potion.

Luna pressed the flask to her lips and took three, carefully calculated sips. She resisted the urge to cough and retch, her face wrenching up as she forced herself to swallow the disgusting liquid.

30-Oct-2017 21:30:52 - Last edited on 30-Oct-2017 21:35:57 by Stallionrage

Stallionrage

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"I can't believe you really drink that stuff," Vitus commented, the mage having come back over to see why she was taking so long. His desert equipment now completely cast off, she could see his black, grey, and purple mage robes, although his face was concealed by a mask. He held a thick book in one hand, and a sturdy wand in the other.

I should really look into getting my own set of Virtus equipment...

Luna glared at him and capped her flask again, putting it away in her backpack.

"You've had it once before, you know how useful it is," she defended. "Besides, I know for a fact you've tasted your share of foul beverages."

Vitus snorted, his face concealed behind his full-face helmet. "Foul beverages, she says. Yeah, that's true. But that there tastes like a mixture of lava, ogre piss, and spoiled milk."

Luna laughed and finished taking out the last of her things, carefully taking out a small vial containing a yellow liquid and attaching it to her belt. She also took out a small, innocuous pouch made of white cloth, and slipped it into one of her pockets. She then closed her backpack and slung it across her shoulders again.

"So you know what those things taste like, then?" Luna teased.

"I've had at least one of them. I'll leave it to your imagination to guess which."

Vitus rolled his shoulders and sighed. "Are you finally ready?"

Luna frowned at him. "Don't get cocky. Preparation is still critical, even if we have cleared three hives before."

"Yeah, yeah. But you could prepare faster, you know."

Luna crouched down and picked up her spear, and then began to walk towards the hive's entrance.

"Eager as a kebbit, aren't you?" She sighed. "Let's go, then."

30-Oct-2017 21:30:56 - Last edited on 30-Oct-2017 21:49:59 by Stallionrage

Stallionrage

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The opening to the kalphite hive was a large, rocky maw located at the base of one of the dunes, in the area just before sand began to give way to rock. The kalphite tunnels were surprisingly spacious, but were pitch black, devoid of any light source. However, the herbalists of Menaphos were talented, and had given the expedition an ample supply of a night vision potion, allowing the soldiers to see reasonably well in the dark. Vitus had made a point of commenting that it was actually rather tasty, with a pleasant minty flavor instead of the abomination that was Luna's personal concoction.

The Kharidian soldiers all wore turbans, and their armor was a sturdy steel platebody, with additional protection from some hard leather. Their weapons were less uniform - some had lances, others scimitars and shields, and one had chosen a longbow as his weapon of choice. A bit hard to use in the tunnels, but it could be helpful in dealing with any sentinels clinging to the walls.

Luna recognized a few of the Kharidians from previous assaults, and returned their nods and gestures of respect.

What the Menaphite soldiers lacked in experience, they made up for in equipment. Their armor was splendid - it seemed to be mithril, but had a brilliant gold hue instead of the usual dark purple. The platebodies curved elegantly around the soldier's arms and bore an intricate insignia of the Pharaoh's crest, and each man had a golden scarf draped over his left shoulder. Every Menaphite soldier held a long spear in one hand, and a round shield in the other, with a scimitar holstered at their side. Despite the foreboding environment, they seemed unconcerned and ready to fight.

They certainly make a strong impression. I imagine that's the point, but I'll hold my judgment until I see them in combat.

"This is bizarre," Vitus commented in a hushed tone, coming up to Luna's side. "The tunnels are deserted. We haven't even seen a single worker."

30-Oct-2017 21:31:05 - Last edited on 30-Oct-2017 21:50:20 by Stallionrage

Stallionrage

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"It is," Luna agreed, flicking her personal Max Cape around with a faint swish. "Be on your guard. Maybe this hive is just that big - these tunnels are abandoned, maybe."

Vitus hummed and looked off to the side, not convinced.

"Something else is bothering me," he said. "The frequency of attacks. It usually takes, what, six or seven months for a hive to reform after the king and queen are killed? But this one took over a year. Thirteen and a half months, no?"

That's true. It has been an abnormally long gap...

"This hive is quite far away from the last one," Luna pointed out. "Maybe it just took them a long time to find a new home."

"Maybe," Vitus muttered, his voice partially obscured by his helmet. "But I don't like this, Luna. This feels...bad. I think you should bring out your friend, just as a precaution."

Luna looked at him blankly for a second, blinking.

"Oh, you mean Percy. Sure thing."

Luna held up a fist and instructed the soldiers to stop. Each group of soldiers had its own commander, and Luna didn't technically have the right to give orders to either of them, but they knew who was in charge here. Luna was renowned across all of Gielinor for her incredible combat prowess, and had led three successful expeditions against kalphite hives in the past. Even the newcomer Menaphites seemed to instinctively recognize the value of her experience in the matter.

Luna pulled out the small cloth pouch from earlier out of her pocket. She gave the strings a tug, and opened the pouch. She shook the contents of the pouch - a silvery dust - into one of her palms, and then blew on the dust, scattering it into the air.

The dust dust took a long time falling, hovering in the air for some time.

Luna took a step back, and gently thumped one fist against her chest. Several of the Kharidian soldiers recognized the gesture, and began excitedly murmuring to each other.

30-Oct-2017 21:36:36 - Last edited on 30-Oct-2017 22:15:35 by Stallionrage

Stallionrage

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"Titan of steel, stalwart guardian and loyal friend, return to me once more!" She said loudly. "I call upon our contract. Answer my summons...Perseus!"

Immediately, the dust began to glow an ethereal blue, and became transparent, shortly fading out of existence. In its place, a large silhouette of a humanoid entity began to flicker, quickly becoming more and more visible. To Luna, the familiar process of summoning Perseus took only a few seconds, but to the Menaphites, it must have been much longer than that, judging from their stunned and speechless expressions.

"Ah..." the silhouette became physical, Perseus entering into the material world once more. Perseus was a steel titan, a creature that normally only existed on the spiritual plane. Summoning was a special type of magic that reached into the spiritual plane, temporarily bringing forth the various denizens there as allies to serve the summoner in the physical plane. The summoned creature could not exist on its own, however, and constantly drained power from their summoner to maintain their physical form.

And the steel titans were the mightiest allies willing to partner with a summoner. Towering hulks of metal that stood some nine feet tall and weighed a literal ton, their combat prowess was enormous. Able to shrug off attacks that an armored human soldier would flinch away from, steel titans made incredibly powerful allies. They were very particular about who they would partner with, however. For starters, only the most supremely skilled of summoners could even think about attempting to summon one - the energy drain was enormous, enough to put an amateur into shock or even kill them if they were unprepared. Furthermore, the titans had a strong code of honor, and would generally only ally with a summoner who they considered worthy. Worthiness to them not only meant combat power, but a strong sense of morals or justice.

They're very chivalrous like that.

30-Oct-2017 21:36:44 - Last edited on 30-Oct-2017 22:15:09 by Stallionrage

Stallionrage

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"Ah, my lady!" Perseus said, the metal giant bowing to one knee. "Truly, it is a joyous occasion to be reunited with you once again. I would weep tears of joy, if only I possessed eyes."

Steel titans were humanoid in shape, having two arms, two legs, a torso, and a rounded lump that mimicked a head, but had absolutely no other features. No face, no eyes, no genitals, nothing. Although, despite not having a mouth, Percy could somehow vocalize, and could still see and hear just as well as she could. Maybe even better.

"Hello again, Percy. Always glad to have you back at my side."

Two of the Kharidian soldiers began to whoop and cheer, shouting the steel titan's name.

"Per-se-us! Per-se-us! "

The Menaphite soldiers relaxed. They were never frightened, but their confusion wore away with the knowledge that the behemoth standing before them was an ally, one that the Kharidians had apparently seen before.

"Ah, I see we are assaulting another kalphite hive!" Percy boomed with laughter. "An excellent choice, my lady. Their monarchs make for truly formidable opponents! And hello again, my other human comrades!"

Luna smiled and allowed Percy to bask in the praise of the soldiers, but then quickly turned serious again.

"Percy. Something is strange here. We've been exploring the tunnels for fifteen minutes, but haven't run into anything at all. Not even a worker. My working theories are that either this hive is completely abandoned, or that it is massive beyond any previous comparison."

"I see...indeed, that is unusual..." Percy held up a hand to his metallic, stubby chin and mimicked the gesture of rubbing it. The motions produce a quiet grinding sound.

"And recall that this hive has possibly been more than a year in the making, far longer than usual. Anyway, we'll split up to cover more ground. You and I, that is, not the soldiers. You go down one tunnel, and if you encounter something, either take it out, notify me, or recall to me. Your discretion."

30-Oct-2017 21:36:49 - Last edited on 30-Oct-2017 21:38:54 by Stallionrage

Stallionrage

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"As you wish, my lady," Percy sighed. "It pains me greatly to immediately part your side, but I will comply with your orders."

"Oh, don't worry so much, you big lump of rust! We'll fight together soon." Luna held up a hand and waved her companion off, as he lumbered off into the distance down one of the branching tunnels. His footsteps were loud enough to hear even when she couldn't see him anymore. Hopefully, that would draw out the kalphites - none of them posed any sort of threat to him, except the king and queen. And if he did run into a monarch, Luna could use their telepathic link to find him, and could guide the others through the tunnels to him.

"I feel a lot better with him around," Vitus sighed relievedly. "Although, you never did tell me exactly how you made your contract with him."

"I beat him in a boxing match," Luna deadpanned, her expression calm and neutral.

Vitus snorted and laughed. "Hah! Oh man, that's a good one, Luna! But really, how did you do it?"

Luna said nothing and donned a reserved, knowing smile.

Beneath his mask, Vitus's amusement turned to stunned confusion.

"You...no. No way. You were kidding, right? How?! "

30-Oct-2017 21:36:59 - Last edited on 30-Oct-2017 21:39:14 by Stallionrage

Stallionrage

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"Well, it's definitely not abandoned."

Some ten minutes later, Luna and her followers encountered a large, oval-shaped room. It was mostly featureless, save for one thing - a clutch of eggs nestled into some rough grooves in the sandstone wall.

"This definitely looks like a nursery," Luna mused. "They've all been about this size and shape before. And the grooves..." Luna leaned in closer to the wall to examine them. "Definitely the work of a queen. Very distinct pattern on her mandibles. But..."

"Why are there so few eggs?" Vitus finished. "And where's the queen? Kalphites never leave a nursery unprotected."

Luna examined the eggs. "Eggs are still alive. This proves that kalphites have been here recently. But I've no idea why these eggs are out here all alone."

Percy's voice crept into Luna's mind.

My lady, I have finally identified some kalphites. They are of the marauder variant, and they ignored me as they rushed down another tunnel. They seem to be headed in your general direction.

I don't like the sound of that, Luna replied, ordering Perseus to make his way back to her. He could recall, teleporting to her side in an instant if she needed him, but it took a lot of energy to do that, and she needed to conserve her power as much as possible.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Luna announced. "All of you, be on your guard."

...Luna felt it before she heard it. A faint tingling in the soles of her feet.

Vibrations.

The vibrations quickly grew louder, to the point where they made an audible rumbling.

Percy, recall now!

"Everyone, get back now!" Luna barked. "They're co-"

Luna didn't have time to finish her sentence as a spray of sand and dirt spew forth from the ground, as an enormous mass launched itself upward. She held up an arm to protect her eyes, and gracefully spun backwards.

30-Oct-2017 21:37:16 - Last edited on 30-Oct-2017 21:55:44 by Stallionrage

Stallionrage

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She heard a man scream as a gigantic kalphite grabbed him in his mandibles and clamped down, tearing him cleanly in half.

Conveniently, that was exactly when her overload potion finally kicked in, the substance finally having been processed and distributed throughout her body. Time seemed to creep to a standstill.

This...this was no ordinary King!

The enormous insect standing before her was larger than previous kings, and had a different coloration. This new King was the size of a large boulder, and was colored a deep red, unlike the the orange of the ones before. Its mandibles were enormous and seemingly serrated, it had spiky protrusions on the back of its shell, its heavy forelegs were enlarged and armored to the point that they were as large as tower shields, and its purple, compounded eyes seeming to be staring directly at her.

And it was furious.

The creature adjusted its posture and reared back, lifting its head up and letting out a screech. It rapidly vibrated its short, vestigial wings in tandem, producing a nauseatingly high-pitched sound, as close to a roar as an insect could possibly make. The King's battle cry was echoed by other kalphites, similar screeches sounding out from locations throughout the tunnels connecting to the nursery.

About a dozen marauder kalphites burst out from under the floor, and immediately began to launch flaming projectiles at the human soldiers. The King itself shook its head, and charged towards the group.

"Wake up!" Luna shouted at the stunned soldiers. "Spread out, and take out the marauders!"

To their credit, the soldiers recovered quickly, and began to react to the ambush. But the King quickly singled out a single target for his charge, one soldier who was at the edge of the group. The man attempted to roll out of the way, but he was too slow to react. The King skewered him with one of his mandibles and continued to the charge, accelerating until he crashed into the wall of the nursery.

30-Oct-2017 21:37:20 - Last edited on 30-Oct-2017 21:55:58 by Stallionrage

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