StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Being a record of the other side of my current campaign I'm tor-.. Running with Tev and a friend. And yes, it is what it says on the tin.

Beginnings.

It was nearly midnight in the Anaurach. It was cold and chill, and shadows were everywhere. This suited the Shadovar fine. Shadrune folded his arms as he listened to the kobold's warleader make excuses. The Shade was a patient sort, but the yipping, draconic thing before him disgusted him. A relic of the ancient empires, to be swept aside as soon as possible. But no reason to let him know that.

The Dragonwrought warrior concluded his report on the attackers that had ransacked the mining camp. "They also smashed up the automatons you provided to accelerate the excavation of the mountain/city."

Shadrune only half-listened. The automatons were trivially simple, really, a bit of shadow-magic. He was staring at the melted remains of the statue to Shar that his brethren had erected here when they used this place as a waystation to a nearby set of ruins. So, whoever ransacked the place had brought sufficient magic to deface this symbol. No matter.

He lifted a hand, causing metal and stone to flow and reshape. Yes. That
night-whore Shar had no place here. He would rededicate this to..

"BURN!" Came a female scream from the remains of barracks.

His thoughts and the kobold's yipping were interrupted by a slight tingle. Without time to react, a pillar of holy flames engulfed both beings. As the flames parted, Shadrune growled in annoyance. The flames had seared him, but in the midnight gloom, he was already healing. The kobold beside him had apparently shrugged off part of the heat from his red ancestery, and was already lopping towards the building.

In moments, the two occupants were running out another entrance. As the kobold ran for them, the female.. Some manner of magic-wielder, spat off a flurry of words and gestured at Shadrune. Before the spell could land, the Shade spat off a flurry of words of his own, intercepting the spell with one of his own. Quickly mustering additional power, he conjured a shadow-analogue of a fireball, and hurled it at the two as they dove for cover behind the old temple to Amauntuor. Inky-black flames licked around the edge, damaging the structure, but leaving it standing.

A snarl came from his tiny pawn. "Use caution, pothoc virlym!" The warrior spat, taking to the sky to hit them from above. Ignoring the warning, the Shade conjured rays of pure destruction and ripped huge chunks from the building, turning them to a fine dust. The two interlopers, however, were apparently running fast enough that he couldn't get another spell off fast enough before they were behind cover.

"I'll just have to level the place, then." The Shade breathed, with an air of boredom. He blasted more holes through the temple, as the kobold harried the two from the air. As he spied the two.. A human and an elf, he could see now; The elf was some kind of warrior.. they were already scrambling over the remains of wall.

He reached into himself, touching the fragment of Karsus that was there. Oh Father, grant me the power to strike them down.. A surge of power rushed through him, and with an act of sheer will on the part of his spiritual passanger, and a flurry of fireballs tore from his hands. They screamed towards the wall, shattering it and exploding with tremendous force. The experience was dizzying, draining. Even after all this time he wasn't used to letting Him act so directly.

By the time the burning in his arms and the after-images in his eyes had dulled, the worthless kobold was back. "They escaped into the desert." He snapped. "But the Blues will devour them, I have no doubts."

Shadrune shook himself. "Good." He muttered. "Now, we turn to the matter at hand. Since it is clear you will need supervision.." The kobold squawked in protest, but the gateway had already formed. From it stepped three humans; two with shocks of blonde on otherwise dark hair, looking like Bedine. The third was fully blonde, with a widow's peak. He wore a holy symbol with a unique emblem on it.

"This is acolyte Zalthothson and his bodyguards. They will ensure you move swiftly and in the correct direction." The kobold, sure in his mining prowess and that of his clan, just snorted. Humans...

"I will need more automatons, it is still many feet..."

"You will have them. Just get me my city."

OH SHIT... you're making a STORY out of this??!

LadyTevar wrote:
OH SHIT... you're making a STORY out of this??!

Assuming you all don't die horribly, yea...

SirNitram wrote:

LadyTevar wrote:
OH SHIT... you're making a STORY out of this??!

Assuming you all don't die horribly, yea...

well... even then you get an 'aftermath' story

Precense of a Kobold automatically adds +5 to interest. Do continue.

Rather interesting. Do continue.

In Strange Aeons..

It was nearly a week later when the Shadowcaster returned to the site, and Shadrune was not pleased by the slow rate of excavation. The kobolds were efficient workers, but the interference of the Dalesfolk troubled him. They were up to something. Still, the city was excavated. As Verth lead him through the buried ruins, he could hear the other kobolds relaxing at the ancient remains of an arena, and a draconic roar. Best not to speculate.

"We found the tower you wanted, mammal." Verth said sarcastically. "Your acolytes have been obsessing over the markings and portal there. Now where's our pay?" The Dragonwrought folded his arms, his wings furling.

"You will be rewarded appropriately when our prize is retreived." The Shadovar noble said, striding towards the tower. "All your tribe is in the arena?"

"Of course," Verth lied. Never trust mammals, especially the ones born of shadow. "Our new wyrm is providing sport, and it's training is essential."

"Good." Replied Shadrune, as they approached the tower. Zalthothson and his bodyguards emerged, holding a gem. Inside glowed a blood-red light, something trapped. "And they are successful."

"The Father was glad to be freed of his eternal limbo." Spoke Zalthothson. "He was.. Surprised, but did not resist overmuch."

"Good." Shadrune pocketed the gem. He could feel the power of Him inside grow stronger from the presense. Two portions of Father. Now he needed the body and mind, and finally, the spell. "Kill the vermin."

"WHAT?!" Verth looked shocked, but in reality, it was feigned. The mammals were traitors; as they all were. He spat something in draconic, as he hefted his blade.

Moments later, Shadrune stood over the corpse of the kobold, as frost formed around it. The Shadovar lacked even the tiniest scratch. "Pitiful vermin. You thought you could stand against Humanity? You are lucky, however..."

As the rest of his entourage advanced on the arena, the shadow-mage smiled. "...Father will squash every one of you pathetic creatures to dust when he returns. Humanity will reclaim it's birthright."

-------------------

Shadrune, flanked by his own bodyguards, strode into the meeting place. It's location was a secret even to the occupants; the string of portals leading here too complex, archaic, and bizarre to track. It was a cavern, and deep. The strange light in the air indicated it was the Underdark.

The beings there were of many types. Some were human, but half-elfs and -orcs were there as well. A human with letters circling it's head was present, and so were a few things which looked like full-blooded elves, dwarves, and other beings were also present. Most had either blonde hair or blonde streaks, marking them as family.

Shadrune held up the stone, and it's blood-red glow bathed the chamber. A cheer went up. "Father is with us in spirit and soul." He announced, before letting the cheer die down. "But as we always knew, there are those opposed to his return. Thralls of the whore Mystryl, vermin without a touch of truly human blood in their veins, and the lesser empires will try to stop us." As expected, a chorus of outrage came up, even from the apparently non-human members. Karsus' blood was powerful in their lives, it made them something more, it made them Human.. Or so went the theory.

"Two have already encountered me, and sadly, they escaped. They will seek to stop us." He waved a hand, shadows forming up to show two adventurers, a sorcerer and a cleric, one human, one elven. "They must be stopped before they learn more."

From the back, a redheaded elf strode forward. Her skin was red, a pair of batlike wings extended out. She was Fey'ri, a gold elf with Tanar'ri blood. But somewhere, one of her bloodlines had dabbled with Karsus The Great, and she bore the streak of blonde.. And his power. "Allow me. I can have them disposed of, and they'd never know it was anything but Drow bandits." She said, her voice silky.

"Excellent, sister." Shadrune nodded. "We will need more volunteers, however. Halruaa's diviners will find the tides of this soon. And in Lantan, Father's heart still beats. The Night-Bitch hid it there, but shadows hold no secrets from me."

Hands shot up. Humans were to be sent to Halruaa, and dwarves, to Lantan. One the groups were assembled, Shadrune spoke up again. "Brothers, sisters, I trust you all. But you go to dangerous lands. I will thus grant you assistance." He gestured for two of his entourage to advance. One was a woman, bearing a noble stature. Her hair was entirely blonde, and she bore many of Father's features. She was one of the rare pure-blood. She had His symbol hanging before her, and full plate armour adorned her. She practically shone. "Sister Sulnim, knight of our Father, will go to Lantan. She is skilled in combat and will prove most useful." The other was a mage wearing a nearly all-concealing robe. Beneath the hood, points of light were glowing. Ten of them, to be exact, each too small to be an eye. "Oculus will go to Halruaa. Crush Father's enemies, my family. His return is soon."

Why do I find that lot rather ... disturbing?

Ford Prefect wrote:Why do I find that lot rather ... disturbing?

They're the crazed progeny of an insane god, hell-bent on restoring him to life to create a xenocidal crusade?

As a guess, of course.

.........
ten small point of light... like tiny eyes.

Oculus.


You have GOT to be kidding. There is NO FUCKING WAY they mated with Beholders.

SirNitram wrote:They're the crazed progeny of an insane god, hell-bent on restoring him to life to create a xenocidal crusade?

As a guess, of course.

Yeah, that's probably it.

LadyTevar wrote:You have GOT to be kidding. There is NO FUCKING WAY they mated with Beholders.

I dunno Lady Tev ... they're certainly nutty enough to try.

Hum pretty good. Damn got quit reading people's story told of their adventures. All it does it makes me want to play and there's no one on base that plays. Oh well at least I can enjoy other people adventures and misfortunes at the hands of a demented GM.

Deep Underground

Verth strode down the Middledark cavern, flanked by two of his sorcerers. He growled low. "That mage will suffer for that. Half the tribe.." He snarled, outraged at the defeat.

"Be calm, my leader." Hissed one of the flanking kobolds. "The tracks are indisputable. The mammals who opposed Shadrune went in this direction."

The little party was the most powerful members of the tribe; the rest were seeking out a new place to hide and mine. The dragonwrought warrior and the two sorcerers made up the search party. They weren't sure what they would do if they caught up to the mammals.. But it was worth seeking them out, Verth thought.

As they continued down the dark passageways, guided by their ability to see in total blackness, creeping through tunnel after tunnel, past an underground ocean, and down at least one chasm. The path was hard, but the kobolds, harder. Nearly a tenday into their trek, they located the portal.

And the portal drake.

The miniature dragon was counting it's meagre supply of coins when the kobolds peeked around the corner to spot it. Verth strode out first, longsword gripped firmly. The drake lifted it's head. "More visitors! I shall make a fine pile of coin today." Hissed the creature. "It will be a hundred gold to pass through my portal, little vermin."

"You will tell me of the mammals who came this way, false-dragon, and I shall spare you." Verth said with finality. He had no time for these pathetic wretches who mimiced true Dragonkind.

"An unruly little spawn, aren't you?" The drake hissed, and spread it's wings. "Very well, I will take the coin from you, and leave you for dead." The thing leapt forward, and Verth moved to meet it. The small Dragonwrought landed a surprisingly powerful blow with his blade, before dancing backwards to avoid the counterattack. He was counting heartbeats.

After parrying two claw-slashes, Verth suddenly rolled to one side as the drake leapt forward to bite. Perfectly timed, the two sorcerers he had been accompanied by popped out from behind cover and blasted the tiny faux-dragon with rays of searing heat. The creature smashed into the ground, and moments later, Verth ended it's life by a beheading. "A portal drake." Snarled the warrior. "It could have deposited them anywhere on Faerun with it's trickery."

"The portal does seem to lead to where it was said to go, however." Spoke one sorcerer after casting several spells on the arch. "If it used trickery, it likely has set a trap to send them elsewhere on the return."

The other sorcerer, letting her cohort do the work, rifled through the meagre trove of the creature.

"Then we best make haste." Verth hissed, rubbing an arm where the drake had struck. "Time waits for none."

Moments later, the trio had vanished through the portal, and across half of Faerun.

------------

Ellyn'taal. Birthplace of the Alhoon, the dread Illithid-lichs. Abandoned for centuries, lit by a sickly blue light. And the lurking place of an ancient oracle, said to know everything about High Netheril. Shadrune strode through the ruins, alone. He would consult with the old bastard here one on one.

"Ioulaum!" Roared the shadowcaster as he entered the Elder Brain's chamber, knowing the decaying thing in the water was not truly dead. "Rise, you decaying sack of turds! I will have your knowledge!"

Will you? Came the voice in Shadrune's head. You're not the first to demand knowledge of me, but none have survived such. Certainly not the spawn of the Fool.

"Do not trifle with me, or my bloodline." Snarled the Karsite. "Where did the adventurer's go? What did you tell them?"

If you desire knowledge, Shadrune, you will pay my price. Taunted the ancient, undead thing. But you lack the power of the ultimate spells, and you recoil at the concept of me in your mind.

"Or I could flay the knowledge from your decrepit corpse.." Shadrune growled, fed up with the lich's demands. He was in the position of power, he could leave this blasted cavern.

Will you now? Mmm. I suppose you're the animal who captured my Tabra. Mused the undead thing. For that alone, I should rend your mind apart..

Shadrune had had enough. He wasn't going to banter with this thing, not while it refused to cede knowledge he deserved. He wove an intricate pattern through the air, and blasted it with pure shadow.

The ancient creature shrugged off the blow, and returned fire with pure mental energy, stunning the shadow mage. Foolishness. Murmured the elder brain. And you even brought assassins seeking your head. Perhaps I should immobilize you and let them hack you to peices.. Or perhaps absorb your mind, and the dark arts within it.. Long, decaying tentacles rose from the murky, stinking water to latch onto Shadrune.

The shadow mage realized, as he shrugged off the mind blast, how outgunned he was. The ancient, undead fool had no right to be this powerful, but he had unlocked power that bypassed the defenses of the Shades and Karsites both. A growl snarled from his lips as he realized he had also been tracked here. Perhaps he could finish off the lich.. But not while under assault.

A powerful pattern of shadows and dark magic burned through his mind, transforming his body into total shadow, the rotting tendrils falling away. Moments later, he had vanished from the plane, as Verth scowled. "Blasted sorcerer." He muttered.

Not quite sorcery, but nitpicking is a bad habit of the ancient. Spoke Ioulaum to the kobold. I had not expected so many visitors. I can already see your questions. The question, then, will only be the price.

"We can.. Discuss things, creature, if you are the Oracle of which they speak." Verth said, cagily.

Indeed we can.