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TitaniumAlloy
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Professional
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posted July 02, 2006 11:31 AM |
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A stout, ancient dwarf stepped forward from the shadows, his footsteps silent behind the sound of scraping stone coming from the opening door.
His face was gnarled and as tough as his stature, his muscles doing his age no justice. Mark could tell he was older than he looked.
Thee put his hands forward in greeting.
"I am Torn, the runemaster..."
His hands were thick with scar tissue and dyed black from wounds. So he was a Sage.
Runecraft was a form of channeling in itself, disguised in stone and steel. They tought it at the Academy, Mark struggled to procure memories of the place.
But it was only the Dwarven kind who were skilled in such an art.
Mark had respect for this man. This was rare.
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John says to live above hell.
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Shadowcaster
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Shaded Scribe
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posted July 02, 2006 09:28 PM |
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A scene materialized in the mist. The party had finally opened the Keep, but a new face appeared just before Richard could lead them into the darkness. Closer inspection revealed that it was no stranger that had stepped out of the shadows, but the runemaster He had been hunting all this time in order to unlock the secrets behind the dwarven runes. It was not by chance that Hathar had met this man, but what sinister powers lie within those runes that would drive the runemaster to place even himself in danger to ensure their proper use? Perhaps the barbarian would know, but he remained bound by his trials for now. Attacking the body wouldn't work, but perhaps an assault on the mind would wear him down. In any case, he was destined to become like his father before him: an unwitting pawn of the Keep.
The Guardian had not noticed Ike slip into the Keep, nor had any of the rest of his "allies", but His eyes and ears within the Keep alerted them of his coming. The drow had made good use of the runemaster's distraction in order to escape the party's gaze, and he now raced to the treasure room where he knew the Guardian was always watching and waiting for someone's next move. Surely news from his bretheren brought him here. The drow did always make admirable haste. If the party did not soon descend into the Keep, they would find themselves in a world of trouble.
His attentions turned to the barbarian again, who now stood poised on the precipice of another trial. It would not be what he expected. The Guardian's hollow voice rung throughout the large cavern, stopping Krull just before his initial strike into the chamber.
You know how the saying goes: 'Look before you leap.' That would be the barbarians only hint this round. If he could pass this trial, only one remained. Then he would have the Guardian's trust.
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>_>
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gorman
Promising
Legendary Hero
Been around since before 2003
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posted July 03, 2006 06:38 AM |
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It wasn't much farther now, as I raced through the hallways. The treasure room would be just around the corner, hidden cleverly of course so that nosy adventurers wouldn't find it. However, the elves, with their keen eyesight may notice something to be out of the ordinary. And with Hathar's expertise in stones and runes, will surely find the door sooner than the Gaurdian will desire.
As I opened the door to his chamber, I noticed that 'it' was looking deep into the Cauldron as usual.
"We, have a problem. They'll surely find the treasure chamber this time. And this motley crew might be hardy enough to escape with more valuables than that damned Richard did the last time. What do you suggest we do? You've had days, months, YEARS to plan something that should be fool proof! Yet the last encounter, Richard only proved the fool to be the Gaurdian here! I'll be damned if they'll just waltz in and walk off with sacks of gold and other important trinkets. I strongly incourage you to get your crap together!"
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When all else fails... Take notes.... ALL the time... ESPECIALLY when playing D&D.... or Pokemon in my case
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SirDunco
Responsible
Supreme Hero
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posted July 03, 2006 12:35 PM |
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Suddenly he was alone. Devin ran off into the shadows and Annunhalion felt it was better to leave him be for now. He will return...
With only Robin at his side he looked around. Richard went to join the group. There certainly was alot of commotion. Annunhalion looked closely. Krull was nowhere to be seen. That...that was not good news. If he had realy ventured into the Keep..then...
Images flashed infront of his eyes.. a battle, father and son. One..one was dead, the other victorious. Annunhalion shook his head. Where are this vision comming from? Are they real, if so...that would mean that Krull realy was inside... perhaps corrupted by the will of the Guardian. So they were to face yet another tough opponent. Great...
Something had to be done... Annunhalion ran of to the others. Gorman was missing also. Not good news again, since Annunhalion never trusted this one completely. Only him, Richard, Mark and Hathar seemed to remain, plus a dwarf yet unknow to him.
Annunhalion knew they were up against more than most of them had expected. It was a time for a counsel, time to review further steps, because one wrong desicion could turn lethal for them...
Annunhalion shook his head again... Where was all this knowladge from? No matter now.. he had other things to deal with, than unknow memories...
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TNT_Addict
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Beautiful Liar
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posted July 03, 2006 10:35 PM |
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"Look before you leap..." Was the guardians only tip for this upcoming trial, what could it mean...? Krull had no idea... yet.
The torch he was carrying gave somewhat a dim light, Gianna led the way through the narrow tunnels with what seemed to Krull as overconfidence, she was not walking she was racing forward. He could smell rat droppings and and hear their squeeking sounds, the floor was slippery and his enormous bulk had a hard time advancing freely into the dungeon.
"A woman with such courage is a rare thing to see these tough days, I can see you have no fear in your heart."
Fifteen minutes they raced through the passageways without speaking a word, Krull thought that maybe his words offended her in some way and was ready to apologize when all of a sudden something grabbed a hold of his torch holding hand. The thing tightened its grip so that Krull could no longer force himself to hold the torch. It dropped to the wet floor and the flame was doused for good, he could no longer see anything... He was as helpless a child during a barbarian raid.
He tried fighting the thing of hitting it with his free hand but it just wouldn't let go of him. Another thing grabbed his right leg and pulled him down to his knees, now he couldn't reach his other arm, a third one got hold of his second arm and rendered him helpless was it time for him to go?
Gianna! Where is she? Why wasn't he calling for help? He was stubborn like all of the barbarian kind, too proud of their accomplishments and their strengh, asking for help from a woman was unacceptable. His pride would get him killed at the end...
Fighting sounds ahead... steps getting closer... three strikes and he was free, a hand took his palm, it was cold but soft and it pulled him forward.
"The damn darktwigs, they can't stand light, bringing a torch with you was a mistake. We are almost at the point where I leave you... And if I had a living heart it would be scared now...
What the hell did that mean...? Krull scratched his chin for a second but was immidiately pulled onwards again.
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Please
click and help me out!! Thanks!!
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TitaniumAlloy
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Professional
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posted July 04, 2006 01:47 PM |
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A struggled scream echoed in Marks mind, a thought maybe, or a memory? No. This was new.
Usul.
In a frantic recollection Mark flipped to the surreal plane in which this being was held captive.
He saw the shady figure chained to an intangible floor, once more, and he could see only a flicker of life, a spark within this poor soul. This was his doing.
The magic that bound him was strange to Mark. Death magic was rarely spoken of, and never taught, even to one as Mark, who was the heir to the Arch Magery. But even a wary traveller knows how to counter evils, but this was different.
It was not channeling, it was barely even magic, it contained no energy. No, this was deep from the soul... Or lack of. Grenth was powerful, but he wasn't living.
The spirit plane does not follow the same dimensions as the real world, so even as he sat by the Keep door, he could run to aid Usul.
He knelt down beside the strangled body, holding his breath as he laid hands on the bonds which held him, like dark tentacles reaching out from the nothingness below, not tight enough to crush him, but so that not even the sharpest blade could slide between them and the chest.
Mark tilted his head back, and closed his eyes, still holding his breath. He squeezed around the taut chains with his fingers, all muscles tensed.
His veins pulsated as the tension built; there was not much time left, and Mark had no idea what to do. If Usul died it was his fault, and in desperation he would struggle to prevent that from happening.
He channeled all his energy in it's purest form through his fingertips and a white light encompassed the chains, revealing them better than before as shadow on shadow.
The enslaving bonds quivered, but were not destroyed.
Mark let go.
There was not enough light being harnessed; you can't fight Darkness with power, you need light.
Mark muttered to himself, his eyes only half closed, as he recalled those days, months alone in the chamberhalls of penance. There was an incantation.
"Darkness.
Swelling.
Evil.
Dwelling.
Envy. Sadness. Lust. Begone.
Begone.
Light.
Seeking.
Good.
Piercing.
Greed. Cruetly. Anger. Begone.
Begone!"
He screamed silently to the nonexistant skies. Memories flooded back to him, as if the gate holding them back had been broken down with the utterance of the first few lines. An ancient calling passed down from the Master himself, before he died. Mark had no way of telling whether it would work now, but it was worth a try.
"From these bonds break me.
From this darkness save me.
From his clutches take me."
As Mark muttered the final words of the freedom incantation, Usuls eyes shot open.
He was awake.
Remaining unconcious, Mark lifted the limp body up from where the shadows once bound him, and prepared for the Planestealing, to take him back into reality.
A blink, and Mark was back sitting down next to the door to the keep, exhausted.
With a sigh and a smile, he looked at the startled others and said;
"Usul."
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John says to live above hell.
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Gom_Jabbar
Promising
Famous Hero
Revealer of Truth
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posted July 05, 2006 01:59 PM |
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It seemed like it worked. He knew he could trust Mark, and hopefully he will be able to deal with Alia when the time comes. But everything should be done when the time comes, and now it was the time to change his appearance and say something.
Usul: I’m sorry for the rather ugly shape you were forced to see my friends. My name is Usul, and I only want to help you all in your quest. I know trust is a hard thing to win, but I am ready to answer all you questions. The journey ahead of you it’s long and the dangers that await you are not few or easily to be overcome. So speak now: will you accept my help or not.
Ohh… Usul, you old fool. Maybe Alia was right, maybe I’m getting tired of all this things. Why do I trust so much in this people? They could mean the end of all your efforts. But they can also mean freedom. Damn you Grenth. Someday you will pay for everything you have done.
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TDL
Honorable
Supreme Hero
The weak suffer. I endure.
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posted July 09, 2006 02:26 PM |
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The dwarves were standing stout and proud, eyeing the party. Merely a whisper, a hush of floating leaves was to be heard. The party members were respectful and understood the wisdom and intelligence that gleamed in the runemaster's eyes was immense.
"Thus, my journey starts where it ended years ago..."
The runemaster quickly explained who he was, skipping most of his life and starting only with the last episode when he met Hathar. It seemed that his life was as intense as that of the party. The drows - dark elves, to the common people - ordered by the Guardian were hunting the dwarf all the way. The crow that he befriended a while ago pursued the dwarf and could not tell Torn what was happening and how to evade the pursuers. Even then, the bird itself soon disappeared and never reappeared again to his eyes.
"Whereas I saw him not long ago..." Hathar interrupted.
Thus was his journey here - entrenched in the dwarven runes, etched in walls of the Keep, he meditated and prepared for what was about to come. Without Guardian even noticing that the runemaster was hiding so near, he thoroughly explored the surroundings of the Keep and wept for the loss of such beauty that surrounded the lands in the early days.
"My children, my journey starts here... Everything you need and needed to know is told, I shall not tell anything more as of now... Let it be a mystery of some kind to your elven or humane eyes, but never should you worry about distrusting me."
Hathar sighed when the old dwarf finished his speech. Thus was his will, he wanted this to happen and it was meant to happen then. Runemaster planned his future steps and they were correct, happened in a while. But what lay ahead of them was still unknown to his eyes - even the elder Runestones could not tell him what grave danger lies ahead of them... even the dangerous graves themselves...
"Lads, we can enter the Keep, our last and first step on the whole shall be taken!"
And with his final words, Hathar along with the remnants of the party gathered round (although they were all there, some were still wandering about), leaving a trail of ashes behind them, marking the soil that they are entering the Keep and none shall withstand their wrath.
"And whatever happens," the runemaster waved its runebelt, making the runes shine in various strange lights, "our entrance to the Keep shall be safe. The engravings should withstand the darkness of Dungeon Keeper's magic..."
The step is taken. Guardian and troubles await.
The party is about to enter the Cauldron's Keep. Whatever happens.
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TNT_Addict
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Beautiful Liar
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posted July 09, 2006 04:43 PM |
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Krull suddenly came to an ubrupt stop, he no longer felt Giannas hand pulling him and couldn't hear any steps getting closer or going away, all was quiet and still dark. He remembered what she had said to him earlier, he must make his way from now on by himself. He unsheathed his sword and swung it 360 degrees, it hit a wall on his right side, sparks illuminated the corridor for just a second. He started walking down the corridor grading his sword on the wall causing sparks to appear and lighten his path.
The corridor connected to large spacious cave area, there were cracks in the floor with lava flowing through them it also gave good lighting, Krull was glad to be able to see again though he had to adjust his vision after such a long time spent in the dark. It was not as hot here as one could have thought but nice and warm, unlike the wet and cold dungeon.
Near the center of the cave he found a large bed, table with fresh food still on it and everything else that you could find in an ordinary house. Was his loved one living in this isolated place for 20 long years, a person could lose his mind living in this state.
Singing sound reached his ears, such a beautiful voice Krull knew he had to follow it, either way he had no choice his legs had a mind of their own. A hot water spring revealed itself to Krull at the lower part of the cave, streams of steamy water dropped from the cieling down showering her body, it was her... At last after 20 years of torment he was near his goal, she was singing the same song that she sang to him on their wedding day he could not forget them.
With tears falling from his eyes he forced his mouth to open at last and one word came out...
"Suggie..."
She did not look startled at all, slowly she turned to him with a smile on her face, reached out her hand and signaled him to jump in.
"Come join me, the water is so refreshing..."
Krull was about to lift his right leg of the ground and jump down but it felt like his leg was stuck, he tried the same with the other leg but with no success. He gotten really anxious to free himself, he unsheathed his sword and struck the ground, chunks of rock flew off and there he remained standing in the air 5 inches of the ground. Something was definately wrong... The guardians words suddenly made sense to him Look before you leap, Krull closed his eyes and shook his head. When he oppened them instead of being full of water the spring was filled with hundreds of snakes, scorpions, spiders and other creepy crawlers but Sugdiana was nowhere to be seen.
Feeling a gentle hand stroking his hair, he turned around and all of his troubles faded away looking into her blue eyes.
"The guardian said that you'll make it Krull and I was also sure, you've passed another test now I will guide you to the last one, which involves your old good dwarven friend Hathar..."
Krull was still stunned at what has just happened, he would have jumped down into the spring without even questioning it once but some invisible force stopped him in his tracks, he wondered who was helping him...
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Please
click and help me out!! Thanks!!
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Shadowcaster
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Shaded Scribe
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posted July 19, 2006 08:24 PM |
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The Guardian had not been watching Krull's success in his previous trial, for He knew the worst was to come and that there would be plenty of time to see if the barbarian would conquer his task or fall prey to the Keep. His gaze instead fixed upon Ike, who still wait for a response from the Guardian watching from high above.
"Valuables? The only valuable here is the Cauldron. All else is merely meant to distract."
Ike hid his joy at those words, but nevertheless knew that if the Guardian did not care about the trinket he sought, it would be all the easier to claim his artifact while Richard and the others distracted the Keep's master. He had to be wary of his emotions, however, for the Guardian would surely seek retribution against a betrayer at any cost. He was not easily persuaded to trust, and those who held it did so shakily. Ike decided to continue to pursue his berasion of the Guardian.
"You're just going to let them waltz in here and do as they please?"
"If they can conquer my traps, they will stand where you stand now. You know as well as I the ill omen that awaits if they seek to venture further. Do not worry about me, Ike. I would instead worry about yourself. Surely Richard and the others must have noticed your absence by now."
And with that, He turned back to watch Krull again.
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>_>
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gorman
Promising
Legendary Hero
Been around since before 2003
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posted July 20, 2006 03:36 AM |
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The ignorance of the Gaurdian... it would possibly provide his downfall if Richard and the rest proved to be successful in his probable defeat. Even the most powerful of foes has certain weak spots. Even the all seeing cauldron would not be able to prevent him from death. Yet there are much worse things than that. My thought once again turned to the 'trinket' as I deemed it to be it's codename. An incredibly powerful artifact that was long thought lost. Adventurers have sought it all over the world yet none, save Richard, have entered here and made it back alive. This had to be the place, simply had to be. The untold powers of it... I thought a little while longer and walked out the door, figuring that ignorance truely WAS bliss. But now... to find Richard...
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When all else fails... Take notes.... ALL the time... ESPECIALLY when playing D&D.... or Pokemon in my case
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TitaniumAlloy
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Professional
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posted October 02, 2006 08:25 AM |
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A searing pain swept through Marks body, like a storm unseen, a powerful wave which dissapated, leaving only a burning vestige of it's existence.
Mark cried out, but tried to stifle it with his arm. He doubled over. He had not felt like this before.
A deep emotion has been awoken, a connection once broken, remade.
"This should not have been allowed to happen. This is not going to plan."
Mark said as he gasped for breath.
The impertinence in his voice overpowered any mystery as to his suffering, or his impatience. Patience was not one of his virtues.
"We have been idle too long. Before this gets out of hand, we must venture on. Gather your things. We leave at once."
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John says to live above hell.
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