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

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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“Light of the moon, eye of the serpent,” Kaz began.

“Lid of Gorgo Mormo, egg of Hecate,” Nhur continued.

“P’zthara arcana lilithe’z,” Kaz said.

“K’rillox nekrosomatika,” the Mahjarrat chanted.

The light of the full moon seemed to grow brighter, and Kaz took that as her cue to begin drawing on her more dangerous powers. She concentrated on the hum of the arcane energy which was growing along the pillars by the minute. Her vision began to instantly change from the view of the ritual room and Nhur to that of an alien landscape.

Where most landscapes would have what would be considered natural trees and grass, this landscape in particular was barren, with only a few shoots of red colored shards of glass ‘grass’ and ‘trees’ made of what appeared to be bones melded with metal dotting the landscape. Corpses hung from the trees as she saw Inner Demons of all types torturing them, and the sky seemed to be growing redder and redder with each drop of blood they had shed that day.

But something seemed…off. Kaz couldn’t put her finger on it, but for some reason she felt more at ease than she used to while visiting the Fade Realm in order to draw on its magiks. Even the Inner Demons paid her no mind, which was odd considering their eagerness to devour or possess most mortal spellcasters who would be foolish enough to attempt to draw on the power of that world.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

26-Jan-2011 20:06:25

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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Regardless, the Fade Witch continued her chanting while attempting to tap into the Realm. She felt the infernal energies rush through her like a tidal wave, each one seeming just as eager to condemn her soul as the next, but she held on to her consciousness tightly.

“H’dorwa’th kitar seleste,” she chanted.

“Ix’iscio delori,” a new voice said.

While continuing her chant, Kaz chanced a glance into the Realm, and saw an oddly dressed man standing next to her. The man was bald, with tattoos covering the better part of his head, and held a mystic staff of no small power in his hands. His blue robes seemed to move of their own accord as he chanted with her, and she felt at ease despite the fact that she had no clue who he was, or if he was even real at all.

The man gave her a knowing wink, and her view of the Fade Realm faded back to that of the Ritual Room. Despite the change of scenery, the blue robed man was still with her, though she couldn’t say the same for Nhur. The Mahjarrat lay prone on the ground, the moonlight casting an eerie glow to his skeletal features. Azi only floated over him, apparently oblivious to what was going on. Not that she could blamed at all, in all honesty.

“You have a choice now," the man said. “I know you wish to kill him. He’s here, unable to defend himself.”

“Who are you?” Kaz asked as the arcane energies continued to thrum around the pillars.

"That is unimportant,” the man said. “I’m merely an observer for the time being, though that may soon change. Now, I believe you wished to kill the Mahjarrat, yes?”

“I’m…not...I mean…”

“Oh, not sure? I was certain you were with the rebellion, are you not?"

"Well, yeah, but I mean that was before some...things...started running around the city killing people,” Kaz said.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

26-Jan-2011 20:07:05 - Last edited on 31-Jan-2011 19:13:06 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“How do you know they’re real?” he asked. “How do you know that he wasn’t lying to you for his own gain back in that room?”

“I just…have a feeling,” Kaz said. “And I saw the city burning on my way here. There’s no way he could’ve arranged for this to happen.”

“Are you sure?” the man asked as he began pacing around Nhur’s form. “I mean, he has proven rather ambitious…ambitious enough to overthrow a certain someone, no?"

"Why?” Kaz asked. “Why go through the trouble just for me if that’s the case?”

“Think,” the man replied. “Right now only a handful of Fade Witches exist across the planes. It would take many normal mages to cast this ritual, but only one Fade Witch. They’re that powerful. It stands to reason that he would rather ascend to the throne and then dispose of the mage responsible for it, yes?”

Kaz fumed. “You want him dead, don’t you? Is that why you’re here?”

“What, don’t you want him dead?” the man asked.

“Not like this,” she replied. “Not when he hasn’t answered for his crimes. Not when we don’t know what he did to Ix.”

“Pity,” the man said. He snapped his fingers, and Azi’s orb lit up. “I wonder what your friend has to say about this.”

“Kaz, do it!” Azi cried. “Please, just end it now! We know you’re strong enough to kill the creatures, but we may never get another chance at this!”

“Just as I thought,” the man said. Turning to Kaz, he added, “Listen, at one point in our lives, we all must make difficult choices. Choices that may very well affect our lives and those around us for eons to come. Choices that will make you feel as if you lost no matter what you do or think of doing. Now is one of those times, and you must choose: your friend or your enemy.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

26-Jan-2011 20:07:51 - Last edited on 31-Jan-2011 19:14:10 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Kaz walked over to Nhur, and carefully kneeled down to inspect him. He seemed to be truly unconscious, but he was still breathing shallowly. She knew that the right thing to do would be to end this monster’s life once and for all, but for some reason she had her doubts. How did she know this wasn’t a trick to condemn her soul to an eternity of possession? How could she trust a random stranger who just came out of nowhere, yet speak true? She knew she would most likely never get another shot at an opportunity like this, but could she take one life and possibly seal the fates of others as a result?

“I know what to do,” she said at last to the man. Kaz got to her feet, and walked over to the nearest pillar. “I know very well that this may be a one in a lifetime chance. I may very well regret this, but I’m certain it’s the right choice for me.”

“Kaz, just kill him!” Azi screamed. “Seriously, how hard could it be to just say that one word?”

“No harder than it is to do this,” Kaz replied. “I’m sorry, Azi. I truly am.” The Fade Witch spoke the last syllable to the ritual, the one syllable that was the hardest of all to say.

Azi’s orb shattered to the accompaniment of what could only be described as an unholy scream. “Kaz, how could you!?”

The Shade’s spirit hovered where the orb had been, and the energy in the pillars was released. The spirit seemed to grow hazier by the second, and eventually a beam of energy had been created as a result of the pillar’s discharge mixing with the spirit of Kaz’s friend. Kaz made a cutting motion with her hand, and the beam engulfed Nhur with an arcane light, and lifted his body on the ground for a brief moment before dropping once more with a groan.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

26-Jan-2011 20:08:22

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

The room suddenly fell silent, the moonlight casting Nhur’s still form in shadow.

“Well,” the man said, his voice growing deeper. More demonic, in fact. “I can honestly say, that was surprising.”

“Trust me, you’re not the only one who’s surprised,” Kaz said as she slumped to the ground with her back to a pillar.

“Pity, Little Shadow,” the man said. “I was hoping for once you’d do something right with your life.”

“Nice trick, though," Kaz said absently. “I take it you’ve learned a bit since our little talk in the market district earlier?”

“Talk?” the man asked. "I don’t recall a talk, but I suppose with old age comes forgetfulness. Rest assured however…I shall send Belial a good word about you.”

The man had vanished after that, and Nhur stirred. “I take it the ritual is completed?” he asked.

“Y-yes,” she said as she regarded the Emperor with no small amount of awe. “It was a success…Lord Emperor.”

Shadowstuff rolled off of Nhur’s body in waves, though it never disappeared for long. It was a part of the Shade race that never went away, yet one which was as natural as gills were to a fish.

“Good,” he said, flexing his hands. “I believe I’m starting to feel the power come to me now."

"What about the Talisman?”

Nhur looked at his chest, and saw that it still sat where it always had been since that night at the tower. “It’s odd…it’s still attached to me, yet I feel the power originating from it withdrawing its influence from my soul quickly.”

“So that must mean…”

“Its influence over me is over, or at least coming to an end,” he finished. He began making his way to the door as he added, “I’m sorry you had to do that, Kaz. I really am.”

“Save it,” she spat angrily. “Before I was uncertain, but not now. I’ll kill you when this is over.”

“Unfortunately that shall have to wait,” Nhur replied. “Because as it stands, the city is burning thanks to some damn animals. I intend to rectify that immediately, so if you don’t mind, I require your help.”

~^+^~

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

26-Jan-2011 20:09:03 - Last edited on 31-Jan-2011 19:16:28 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Enough!” Droj shouted as the half-dragons were piling on top of Rajh. “Zis is a disgrace to Lord Talon! Get off of him and let me deal vith ze rogue.”

Rajh felt the pressing weight of Droj’s newfound minions disappear as quickly as he found himself thrown to the ground in the first place. Once he managed to wipe the dust from his eyes, however, he found himself wishing he still had to face the half-dragons instead. His former chieftain stood silhouetted against a full moon, and the lighting made him appear bigger, and fiercer, then Rajh ever was.

“This is what you’ve been degraded to?” Rajh asked. “A lapdog to some lizard who might kill you once he has what he wants?”

Droj drew ever closer, blotting out the moonlight as he did so. Rajh’s eyesight began to compensate for the lack of lighting, but then the chieftain suddenly drew back to strike with his claws. The act caught Rajh off guard, and he realized it was because Droj had moved over a bit so the moonlight would cause his sight to change back to what it had been mid-transition, eliminating his ability to see as it did so.

“Ze Lord is generous, Rajh,” Droj said. “He vill see vat I did vas in his best interests once I tell him about your spying mission.”

Droj struck Rajh again, this time leaving slash marks across his face which drew blood. Rajh growled, and let his instincts take over. He waited until he felt the chieftain move to strike again before he rolled back to avoid the blow, and then lunged to his feet with a roar which caught the attention of not only the nearby half-dragons who were fighting the Hounds, but their enemies as well.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

26-Jan-2011 20:09:29 - Last edited on 31-Jan-2011 19:17:18 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Droj took a step back, and Rajh fell short of his attack. Which was just fine as far as he was concerned, because he was now on his feet, and held twin curved knives in his hands he had managed to hide from his plains brethren back when they had taken his other weaponry away at the Clansmeet.

Now he found himself wishing he had his fighting armor instead of the ceremonial fox fur armors that nearly everyone except V, Grim, and Koreth had been forced to wear during the Grim Hunt, however, for Droj had managed to tear gaping holes in it with his next attack.

“We’re not spies for anyone, you know,” Rajh said as he eyed Droj, pacing back and forth as he did so. “Hell, I didn't even know you were here in the first place. I thought you died in the Grim Hunt, for god’s sake!”

“I did die,” Droj replied flatly. “But I vas reborn because of Lord Talon. I intend to return his favor and get rid of a problem to his rule, and settle an old score at ze same time too!”

“That’s what this is all about?!” Rajh screamed. “Me refusing your damn daughter in marriage?!”

Droj snarled in fury, and picked up a longsword which belonged to the corpse of a nearby half-dragon he had stepped over on his way to meet Rajh. “Zat, and more,” he said. “To refuse ze honor of ze chieftain’s only daughter as a mate is to insult ze spirits! Zey vere ze ones who suggested ze union, not I!”

Droj swiped at Rajh with the longsword, but he had missed as Rajh darted at Droj while ducking underneath his swing. Rajh’s daggers flashed, and bit deeply into the chieftain’s ribs, causing him to roar in pain.

The nearby half-dragons who were still alive and watching the confrontation had decided to abandon their skirmishes and come to the aid of their superior. Some, however, were cut down by opportunistic Doomhounds mid-charge, which thinned the ranks considerably.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

26-Jan-2011 20:09:49 - Last edited on 31-Jan-2011 19:18:51 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Rajh didn't pay the approaching reinforcements any mind and focused on his immediate enemy. Droj swung his sword wildly in a blind rage, causing Rajh to dance around the swings in what most onlookers could assume was a ritual battle dance that had been well rehearsed. But, it was not a battle dance, and that fact was what had caused the smaller Rakshasa to keep moving. Anything less would be to invite death that night.

~^+^~

“We should go back,” Joran said.

“Look,” Koreth replied. “It’s not that I hate the tiger at all, but we can’t do anything to help him at this point.”

“What about casting a spell?” Joran asked. “Don’t you have something that can kill the big guy trying to kill our friend?”

Arial’s group had managed to make it to the relative safety of a new tunnel system after being forcibly seperated from Rajh as he decided to deal with the Rakshasa who had seemed to know him. The decision to abandon him was a hard one, but as Koreth had come to explain, necessary. If they ran, then the Rakshasa could very well order his minions to track them down in the tunnels, and possibly spread word about them to any other legion commanders in the area. At least leaving Rajh to confront one of his own kind would give them the benefit of a distraction.

“Koreth already explained why he can’t do that,” Arial said. “I may not know much about Warlocks, but I doubt he’s lying when he says his power is drained for the time being.”

“Yeah, the past few days have managed to put a dent in my power,” Koreth agreed. “Normally I would rest to recharge it, but between fighting and running all over the continent, I sort of forgot to do it.”

“How convenient,” Grim replied sarcastically.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

26-Jan-2011 20:10:09 - Last edited on 31-Jan-2011 19:20:09 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

The group had turned a bend, and they found themselves looking into a spacious cavern. Stalagmites and stalactites both dotted the area in equal measure, but that was far from the defining feature. The big abomination that could only be defined as a massive lizard with needle-like protrusions for scales, however, was.

And the creature was in the midst of a heated battle with a pack of Doomhounds as they entered the room.

“One, two! One, two! and through and through,” the creature bellowed. “The vorpal blade goes snicker-snack…just like my tail, no less!” The creature lashed at the group with a whip-like tail, which sliced through the hounds rather easily despite its paper-thin appearance.

Part of the hound pack had attempted to flank the creature, but it had turned to regard them with a threatening glare. “Again? Did we not establish that doing this to a Jabberwocky is bad news earlier?” the creature asked.

The hounds only growled in frustration as the massive being threw them back with a gust of wind summoned by a beat of its skin-like wings. The creature then belched forth a stream of flame which caused the hounds to shriek in pain, but their cries did*’t last long since the intense heat killed them within seconds.

The battle was over within the minute, and Arial and his friends couldn’t help but stare in slack-jawed wonder at the might displayed by the creature at that very moment. They knew it would have taken them a while to kill that many of the creatures just because of the sheer size of the pack, and that was with an armed group. But a single being ended the lives of around twenty five hounds in a minute? There was no doubt about the danger of angering it any longer.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

26-Jan-2011 20:10:39 - Last edited on 31-Jan-2011 19:21:28 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“I know you’re there,” the creature said. “Just show yourself and accept that you may die this day should you prove to be foe.”

Arial stepped into the cavern. “My name is Arial,” he said. “I’m here to meet with Lord Talon about a potential deal.”

“The creature turned to regard him, though he wished it didn't. Its eyes seemed to glow like hellfire, and its breath reeked of death and brimstone. What was more, specks of blood were present around the mouth, which housed teeth as long as swords. They were probably just as sharp, he thought to himself.

“I am he whom you seek,* the creature bellowed. “I am Lord Talon, first and only ruler of these mountains and their Scaled Legion protectors, last Jabberwocky of the Kin to be created as their slaves.”

“Y-you’re Lord Talon?” Arial asked. Bowing to the creature, he added, “I mean no offense to a creature as powerful as you, but I thought the legendary Lord Talon would have been…oh, I don’t know…more magical?”

The Jabberwocky snorted. “What do you mean ‘magical’?”

“Well,” Arial began. “When I think of mighty draconic rulers, I think of the sleekest of wyverns.”

“So you dare insult me by calling me ugly?” Talon asked.
“It seems to me that the shadow man has a death wish this day.”

“I’m only saying that the legends don’t do you justice,” Arial replied. “I mean, they speak of mighty Jabberwockies of great and stunning beauty. They don’t mention that your kind, much less you, have the air of power about them. Godly power, I might add.”

Lord Talon seemed to ponder the general’s words for a moment before replying, “While I find your attempts at flattery outright pathetic, I see that you’ve shown your willingness and boldness to make a deal with me. Speak quickly, for a battle rages on in my domain that must end soon.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

26-Jan-2011 20:11:20 - Last edited on 31-Jan-2011 19:22:48 by A Mad Hatter

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^+^ The Age of Nhur ^+^