RuneScape Forum Archive | ^+^ The Age of Nhur ^+^

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Lukil appeared next to Joran as the world came back into focus. He noticed that the Rakshasa was in one piece as well. Joran blinked, and looked around in surprise. “I know, we’re not at the Keep yet, Joran,” Lukil said.

“That much is obvious. What is this place anyway?”

Rajh coughed. “Zhis looks….odd. I get zhe feeling zhat I’ve been here before.” Lukil shook his head. “I’m not sure about you, but most Psi users come to this place at least once.” The portly shade made a sweeping motion with his hand, and took stock of the situation as he did so.

The place they were in looked like a mausoleum of sorts, with marble arches acting as the ‘doors’ to what would normally be outside. However, there was no sign of there being an exterior. Instead, psychedelic colors flashed in random sequences, all while floating islands made from some sort of cosmic debris sailed past the openings. More than once an island had come uncomfortably close to hitting the building, but the isles seemed to have a mind of their own, and had thus steered clear of it at the last second.

“This place,” Lukil said reverently, “Is the place between planes, in a sense. A normal magical teleport brings the caster through a similar world called the Abyss as part of the nature of the spell. However, the Abyss is not the real space between planes, but rather a separate world unto itself that acts as a hub for anyone wishing to go from one place to another on the same plane.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

11-Sep-2010 03:59:56 - Last edited on 20-Jan-2011 00:56:22 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“So why aren’t we in the Keep?” Joran asked.

“We didn't use a standard teleport,” Lukil answered. “Instead, I opened a door to this place between worlds. You see, the sponge around Skyvern Keep makes it impossible to enter by teleport since the magic would literally drain itself the minute we emerged from the spell. That’s a bad way to get ourselves killed, I might add. I’d normally use a normal Psionic teleport, however that’s impractical as I can only take myself. So, I did the next best thing.”

Rajh nodded. “Shamans from my tribe use magic like zat. Portals are more...durable...Zan most magic.”

“I think I get it now," Joran said. “This is the psychic version of the abyss, then. Sort of. We need to open a portal here because I'm assuming it's pretty much impossible to open one to go somewhere else on the same plane we came from?”

“Exactly,” Lukil said. “Now, just give me a moment. I need to prepare another portal to the storeroom.”

“Vat ze hell is zat?!” Rajh screamed.

Joran and Lukil turned, and saw a giant form floating towards one of the arches. The creature appeared similar in appearance to that of a giant sea slug. Pungent mucus covered its pale white skin, and three blinking red eyes dominated the center of its face. ‘Whiskers’ lashed around where the things mouth would be.

“Everyone…stay still,” Lukil whispered. His companions didn't need to be told twice. The monster managed to fit its bulk through an arch and into the building.

Lukil wore a strained expression on his face as the whiskers felt their way around the room. They wormed their way across Rajh’s body, and the Rakshasa squirmed in disgust. Joran wasn’t faring much better.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

11-Sep-2010 04:01:10 - Last edited on 20-Jan-2011 00:59:11 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

The monster’s eyes surveyed the room. They seemed to bore into the trio’s souls, but yet it hadn’t done anything so far. It floated towards Lukil for a brief moment, and then stopped. Its whiskers withdrew from Joran and Rajh, and angrily streaked towards Lukil.

The corpulent shade seemed unaffected by the touch of the odd being, and still bore the strained expression he wore since its appearance. The eyes widened, and the whiskers withdrew from Lukil as they retracted back into its ‘mouth’. The creature turned, and sped back into the oddly colored void from which it came.

Joran and Rajh sighed in relief. Lukil opened his eyes, and a portal appeared in one of the arches. "What the hell was that about?” Joran asked breathlessly.

*That,” Lukil said. “Was a creature called an Aboleth. Trust me; you don’t want to know any more than that. They’re not the nicest creatures.”

“So why did it leave us alone?”

“Aboleths are Psionic in nature,” Lukil responded. “That means they can use most psionic powers from birth without any practice, but they are also more susceptible to them as well due to the fact that their brain is open to psychic energy input. So, let’s just say that I made it believe that we were something much nastier than it was."

"Vat? How can somezhing make it afraid?” Rajh asked.

Lukil stepped toward the portal. “Trust me...you’d sleep better at night if you didn't know.” The rebels didn't have time to argue as they stepped into the portal.

~^+^~

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

11-Sep-2010 04:02:10 - Last edited on 20-Jan-2011 01:03:05 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“So, let me get this straight,” V said. “You’re saying that they’re real?”

The blue man nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. Hopefully you can see why it’s not in your best interest to continue your current mission.”

“I suppose I could, but if what you say is true then the power of this Talisman you speak of may prove to be too irresistible to the Mahjarrat,” V replied.

“I have faith that he will do the smart thing once he realizes the threat it poses,” the man said. “I can make sure of that.”

“He’s a Mahjarrat. From what I’ve seen, the race lives to accumulate power just for the hell of it.”

“The same could be said of the Undead,” the blue man shot back. V grimaced, and didn't argue the point further since the man was technically right.

Before he could say anything else, the man in blue robes snapped his fingers, which caused V’s weapon to jump from where he placed it on the bed and right into the man’s waiting hands. He examined the weapon carefully, and caressed it smoothly with his fingers as if he was holding a very holy relic.

“I must say, however, I can make this venture of mine worth your while,” he continued. “The reward shall interest you greatly, I assure you. What say you?”

“Will you take offense if I think about it before making a decision?”

“None at all," the man said. “I actually expected such an answer. The foes you will face on this venture may prove to be very lethal, so it would benefit you to think my offer over. However, I can guarantee the rewards shall be significant if we succeed.” He continued to examine the weapon as he talked. At last his fingers seemed to find what they were looking for, and the man pressed them into the weapon.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

11-Sep-2010 04:03:08 - Last edited on 20-Jan-2011 01:05:50 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Blackened limbs shot out from the sides of the weapon’s barrel, and a faint line shot from one end to the other before disappearing from sight. A shocked expression crossed V’s eyes, and the man only smiled. “It’s been so long….so very long.”

“Umm…what the hell did you just do to my weapon?” V asked.

The man turned his gaze towards V. He threw the weapon back on the bed, and asked, “Tell me...how did you come across such a weapon?”

“I sort of borrowed it from a friend of mine,” he answered.

“Ah. The elf at the alley?”

“Yes. He got attacked by one of those ‘Hounds’ you mentioned earlier. I took his weapon and used it to defend myself. How do you know of him?”

The man laughed. “I saw the whole thing, but didn't see the weapon used at all. I was too busy trying to see if I could reverse the Hound’s condition by magical means at the time. Needless to say, I was unsuccessful, and thus had to terminate it.”

V froze. So, he thought. That at least explains why the strange wolf creature he had encountered a few days earlier had left him alone. But why didn't he see the man anywhere during the whole thing? Something didn't add up in his mind.

“As for the weapon,” the man said. “Let’s just say that I’ve...‘improved it’, if you will. There’s just one more adjustment I must make.”

The man drew a small stone from the folds of his robes. He chanted a mystical phrase, which caused both the weapon and stone to glow, and then the stone shot from his hand and merged with the weapon. V rushed to pick it up, and noticed that one of the empty notches that was present on the item had been filled in with a symbol depicting a warhammer surrounded by what looked like lightning.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

11-Sep-2010 04:03:53 - Last edited on 20-Jan-2011 01:10:05 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Take that as a gift of trust between potential allies,” the man said.

“Not to sound ungrateful, but is this what I think it is?”

The man nodded. “If you think it’s a weapon of ancient Skarjil make which discharges magical energy, then yes. Furthermore, this particular weapon is capable of adding certain properties to the energies it fires if certain runes are added to the barrel.”

V turned the weapon around in his hands for a minute before answering, “So it’s a Skarjil crossbow. I thought it looked somewhat familiar.”

“Damn,” the man said. “I feel that my spell is about to expire.”

“Then it looks like you should leave before an Ordinator comes by,” V said.

The man laughed, and answered, “Oh, don’t worry. My abilities are more than enough to handle a few brutes who think they understand magic at all. Hell, I’ve managed to cast a spell in a place surrounded by an antimagic sponge, did I not?" V couldn’t argue against the statement. How the strange man had managed to pull off such a feat was beyond him, but that alone was enough to convince him that the being before him was capable of much more than he let on.

“Before I take my leave, I must ask at least one small favor of you,” he continued. “The offer is related to it, but not totally affected by what I’m after.”

“You speak in riddles,” V said. “Why not just ask me outright?”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

11-Sep-2010 04:04:40 - Last edited on 20-Jan-2011 01:12:20 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“I fear that you knowing what I seek may put you in danger which you are unprepared to face,” he replied matter of factly. “Either way, I’m after a box. Not just any old box, but one that’* hidden away in a place which has been greatly compromised.”

“That’s it?” V asked. “Well, assuming I live through this, then sure. Where is it?”

“I knew I could count on you,” the man beamed. “The place is a tomb of sorts which is located in one of the local forests. I believe the locals call it ‘Bloodgrove Forest’ or some such. Anyway, the location has been compromised by an unfortunate accident, so all you have to do is go in and get the box. It’s just a small silver box with an eye etched into all of the sides, nothing fancy.”

“Why can’t you just get it yourself?”

“Believe me, if I could, I would. Unfortunately, doing so will draw my operations into the open, and I can’t afford that just yet,” He said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must take my leave.”

“Wait,” V said. “You said that the reward would interest me personally. How so?”

A solemn look crossed the man’s face. “You’re one of the Damned Ones. What else could interest you greatly besides that which you most desire?”

With that, the stranger disappeared. One instant, he was there, and the next he was just...gone. No flashing or sparks accompanied his departure, which disturbed V for some reason.

He also noticed that the odd feeling was gone, that time had begun to flow freely again. He decided that he didn't have time to waste, so V picked up his weapon and prepared to strike out into the Keep. However, he couldn’t shake the words of the stranger from his thoughts. Was it truly possible that the man might have a way to set everything right again?

~^+^~

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

11-Sep-2010 04:05:43 - Last edited on 20-Jan-2011 01:13:41 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

The trio emerged from the portal. Lukil surveyed the room, and dismissed it with the wave of his hand. He did*’t waste time setting up a psychic link to Kaz. Instead, Azi’s voice penetrated his mind instead.

*Lukil? What took you guys so long?*

*What do you mean? It’s only been a few minutes since we left. Also, why isn’t Kaz on this link?*

*Oh...you didn't know? Lukil, we’ve been waiting on you to open the link for two days.*

To say he was shocked would be an understatement. Did two days really pass when they were in the tabernacle? Why did that happen now and not before when he went there? He didn't like the potential answer, but his mind kept wandering back to the encounter with the Aboleth. Something didn't seem right, and he had a gut feeling the abomination was responsible for it.

*I’m sorry, but there were…complications. I fear that we may have to change the plan a bit.*

*Why? What happened?*

Lukil thought for a moment before sending back, *The portal tabernacle is no longer safe. We ran into an Aboleth, and I fear more may be aware of its location.*

*An Aboleth? At the tabernacle? Gods, Lukil, that explains much!*

*It might. I'm not sure. Now, where’s Kaz? She needs to be informed that we may require her magic once we get out.*

*Kaz...isn’t well. Lukil, please, hurry up and just finish the mission. I think something’s wrong with her. She hasn’t come out of her room in the past two days, and I think our allies are getting restless without her keeping things together.*

*Hold tight, then,* he sent. *In the meantime, we need you to keep in psychic contact with the team at all times for the moment since our mage isn’t around. Can you do that?*

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

11-Sep-2010 04:07:28 - Last edited on 20-Jan-2011 01:15:03 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

*I think I can handle it,* Azi replied.

*Good. Alright, everyone, can you hear this?* Lukil asked.

*Yeah,* Joran replied.

“Ya,” Rajh said. “How do you get zhe mind stuff to vork again?”

Lukil sighed. *Just think hard, Rajh. I know you can do it.*

*Think I got it* Rajh replied.

*Good, he doesn’t have that stupid accent thing on this. He should pull this off more often* Joran thought with a snicker.

"Alright, get serious," Lukil hissed as Rajh bared his teeth at Joran. "We don’t need you two fighting before we even get into this mission, so can the crap!"

Lukil looked around the storeroom. Nothing stood out to him, because the entire thing was nearly packed with supply crates. He maneuvered around a crate near the door, and opened it a few inches so he could scout the hallway. He didn't see any Ordinators in the hall, nor did any mental scans bring anything to his attention. Good, he thought. Maybe things weren’t as bad as he thought they would be.

The fat shade motioned that the area was clear, and the trio spilled quietly into the hall. It was surprisingly well lit, as not only several torches lined the walls of the Keep, but the ceiling also boasted small chandeliers lit with fairie fire. Oddly enough, shadowstuff was absent from the building, though Lukil personally attributed that fact to the sponge.

*Move very carefully, and keep silent on the psychic link unless it's absolutely necessary* Lukil thoguht. *Ordinators may be roaming about, but I’m not sure what time it is now.* Joran and Rajh nodded their understanding, and the small group began to make their way deeper into the Keep.

~^+^~

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

11-Sep-2010 04:08:54 - Last edited on 20-Jan-2011 01:16:49 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Arial woke to the sound of metal scraping against stone. His vision was blurred from fatigue, but he could make out voices as he felt himself being lifted by a pair of obviously strong arms.

“Make sure the damn creature stays back!” a voice scolded sternly. "I don’t plan on losing men because of them being stupid and provoking it.”

Someone forced something into his mouth. He didn't have the strength to resist, and found himself swallowing what he guessed must be the food prisoners were occasionally fed.

His vision cleared itself a bit, and he saw himself face to face with not an Ordinator, but a rather pale man with black hair which was slicked back. He was flanked by two men wearing black garb who were equally as pale as he.

“Don’t worry, good general,” the man said. “You have my word that you’re not poisoned. Let’s just say that I have a rather...’scientific’ interest in you, if you will.”

Arial couldn’t speak, but then again, did it really matter if he could? It wasn’t like he could do anything useful otherwise. Could he?

Grim only looked at the man, and muttered, “Ha. As if I haven’t heard that pile of crap before.”

“Oh, dear abomination of an elemental, worry not," the man said. “If it’s one thing that should be known, it’s that Lorkaj Drakan always means what he says.”

“Tha’ name means nothin’ to me,” Grim replied.

“As it shouldn’t. That bodes well for you.” Lorkaj dropped Arial to the ground, and closed the cell door with a clang. Lorkaj laughed to himself as he started towards a window. He said to his men, “Keep an eye on the good general. I want full combat data from the encounter that’s sure to happen here. In the meantime, I must get back to Ukrosha before my absence is noted.”

The Vampyres silently saluted him, and their features blurred until they were nothing more than mist. Likewise, Lorkaj turned into a small bat, and flew out the window.

~^+^~

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

11-Sep-2010 04:10:03 - Last edited on 20-Jan-2011 01:19:15 by A Mad Hatter

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