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#1
06-02-2011, 04:42 PM
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Prologue: The Revival
Absorbed in their reading, the duo fail to notice The Lady leaning against one door frame of the library. She is dressed casually, in simple brown adventuring clothes with a deep grey cloak about her shoulders and a slim blade hanging at her side. Her skin is the pale grey common of humans born in shadow, and lush silver hair cascades across her cloak. After a moment, she speak quietly. "Belfegor. It is time. Bring Rune and the components for the Revival to the clearing. I will await you there." She steps away from the door, ignoring the sounds of preparation now under way, and moves swiftly down the hall to the entry room. She hears the gentle scraping of stone on steel as she approaches a figure standing almost hidden in the shadows. His pale undead skin glistens wanly in the light as the blood-robed Githzerai sharpens his wicked blade. The Lady smiles brightly, with a flash of humor in her green eyes. Softly she walks to him and places a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Are you ready to try again Rizen?" she asks rhetorically. "We've nothing left to lose." The Lady's smile flashes again broadly. "I go to the summit. Follow with Belfegor and Rune and we'll be underway. May Thes Ilnnen's favor grant us better luck this time." Moments later, The Lady closes the heavy door of her hideout behind her and crosses the ward securing and concealing the structure from the bleak valley it lies in. Immediately the cold wind, almost a gale, bites at her cheeks and sends her cloak billowing behind her. She starts the climb out of the hidden valley, her boots crunching on the frosted ground. For hundreds of feet the path winds up from the valley floor through the twisted and blackened forest and to the crest of the highest hill. The peak of the hill is devoid of the sickly trees, with only the short black grass growing in profusion. In the center of the clearing stands a tall menhir of black granite, etched with runes of hope and power. The Lady walks to the stone and strokes it absentmindedly while staring north across the forest to the snow-clad mountains of Letherna. Faintly above the range flows a thin stream of gleaming stars - souls caught in the current moving inexorably towards the Raven Queen's palace and their final rest. "Soon" Adrelyn, the Grey Lady whispers to herself as she watches the spirits drift away. "Soon you will be free." 
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#2
06-02-2011, 06:29 PM
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Rizen hefts his giant blade over his shoulder, it cuts against his clothing and flesh, but he barely notices the wound. Several like it cover both of his shoulders, holding his sword over his shoulder a habit from his previous life he can't seem to shake. "I should probably get a new scabbard..."
He slowly makes his way to the front door, tapping his sword against the door frame of the room Belfegor is in, letting him know to hurry up. Standing by the front entrance he waits, staring out the window at the pale light of the moon trying to break from the gloom and clouds of the Shadowfell.
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#3
06-02-2011, 10:08 PM
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When the pair catch up with Rizen at the door, Rune is wearing his large backpack filled with supplies, while in his arms he carries the remaining equipment necessary for the ritual, while Belfegor sits on Rune's broad shoulder (padded, of course) clutching tome. They nod to Rizen and the group set off up to the summit.
"I'm not so sure about this sir." Rune's cultured accent also carried a metallic echo fairly common for his kind. "Oh? Why would that be Rune?" Belfegor asked, one grey eyebrow raised. "Only, I'm not good at meeting new people sir." Belfegor blinked, surprised. There was a rather embarrassed note to Rune's speech. "But I've had planty of people 'round the house before, why didn't you mention it?" "Well sir, half of the 'people' that visit you I could step without much trouble, so I'm not that nervous about it sir." Belfegor frowned, looking back. "But what about the other half? The humans who come to vists when they need something?" "I could tip a bookcase on them sir." Comprehension dawned. That's why he lurked around the bookshelves when the humans came 'round Belfegor thought to himself And here I was just thinking "That's just what butlers do" "Since I lost my Combat core sire, I've been nervous around people, since I suspect the people are the reason I'm like this in the first place." Belfegor gave a consoling pat on the side of the head. "Well, don't worry about it. That's what I'm here for isn't? I'll keep you safe." They walked in silence for a time, Rune with the strange, off kilter gait he'd suffered since his repair. "Forgive me if that isn't much of a comfort sir." Belfegor raised an eyebrow, but merely vocalized "Of course" "It's becuase you're really ti-" "I get it."
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#4
06-03-2011, 02:22 AM
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Adrelyn turns away from Letherna as her Guides approach. The raw longing in her eyes fades to determination as she sets about her preparations. Twin circles are laid in glowing salves on the grass and the menhir is dusted in residuum, When all is ready The Grey Lady steps into the smaller circle and kneels in the grass.
__________________"Greet them as they arrive and tell them not to fear. I will speak with them as soon as I am able." To Rizen she pleads "Watch over me - you know how dangerous this can be." Facing both the standing stone and the mountains beyond, Adrelyn unsheathes her sword as arcane force starts to thrum from her soul. She closes her eyes and reaches forth with all her might toward the distant stream of spirits. Her senses fade from the clearing and soar to dance among them. She forms a mystic barrier across the breadth of the stream - a porous membrane the souls must cross through. Her awareness pores over the memories and essence of each soul, searching for those suitable to her purpose. Here a man too cruel is passed over. There a woman too mighty is let go. As she scans a worthy spirit she calls beseechingly to them, and eases them out of the current and down toward the larger circle at the summit. "Come - be free! Live again, for your sake and mine!" Last edited by hippo; 06-03-2011 at 03:58 PM.
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#5
06-03-2011, 12:20 PM
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"By your command." Rizen twirled his sword in the air and slammed it into the ground, a zone of divine power radianting through the ground around the lady and himself. His eyes glowed silver as he channeled the protective energy, while the souls began to coalese on the ground; their ethereal forms beginning to come into view. "Belfegor, some may not completely appreciate the revival....be on your guard."
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#6
06-03-2011, 03:22 PM
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Ullgar’s world turned black as the searing pain from his chest slowly subsided. He found himself swirling in a dark nothingness, floating through a stream of nondescript souls. He offers a quick prayer, "Moradin, I did not serve you long, but I hope I served you well. I lived my life by the dwarven principals of my adoptive brothers. I only wish I could have brought dwarven and goliath justice to those who are bent on destroying us." As he finished the prayer a soft voice passed through his mind, the words not discernable, "Who is that?" He paused shortly then the sound came again, slightly louder, "Come…" was all he could make out. He strained to see where the voice was coming from but to no avail. "Come…be free! Live again, for your sake and mine!" This time the voice was clear and as the last word was spoken Ullgar felt a swift and powerful tug as he is ripped from the stream.
__________________Ullgar awakens lying on the cool earth. He breaths in deeply, smelling the sweet aroma of nature. 'Am I in Erackinor? Have I made it to Mount Celestia?' He opens his eyes to see he is lying in a circle at the summit of a mountain. But, rather than seeing Moradin or Barronar he sees a pale gray skinned human woman with flowing silver hair. She seems to be performing some sort of ritual but what it is directed towards Ullgar cannot tell. 'What is this?' The hulking goliath stands up in the circle and sees a large construct with an imp on its shoulders and a blood robed githzerai. They don’t seem to be a threat but Ullgar is confused none the less. He reaches for his warhammer only to discover that he no longer has any gear. He looks over the group watching him, "Who are you? What is this place? Why am I here? I should be dead, on my way to see Moradin." Ullgar scratches his head, "I have not fallen into some evil plane have I?"
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#7
06-03-2011, 04:34 PM
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He's surprised it doesn't hurt. A warm wetness flows down his chest, while his fingers and toes introduce a creeping chill. "Put him in the water, let the fish have him." says a voice that sounds far, far away. Trent is dead by the time his body is tossed into the sea, and his soul is already well on it's way.
Focus. He's a part of a river, souls of the dead flowing from this world to the next, most of them serene, calm. A few fight the current, but make no headway, pulled swiftly into darkness along with all the others. Trent is alert, actively rejecting the pervasive calm that's attempting to take hold of him, but neither is he struggling as some of the others have done. No, Trent is simply alert, ready... waiting. He isn't entirely sure what he's looking for, not until he hears it, her voice calling out to him, dangling before him like a rope tossed to a drowning man. He accepts the offer, taking hold of her voice, allowing it to pull him from the river and... Last edited by Phil; 06-03-2011 at 05:19 PM.
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#8
06-03-2011, 06:03 PM
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...run...
Melody closed her eyes and let fate take her away. The pain she felt instantly subsided and, after a moment, she opened her eyes to an ice-blue hue all around her. She felt - calm. She moved, but not willingly, like sitting in a slow trickling river. She looked down, but could only see darkness. As her sight started to focus, she noticed others, many others, all caught in the same movement as her. Some looked at her and she smiled at them. Ahead, however, she saw her parents. She tried to get closer to them, but even though she waved her arms and legs, she could not move from her position in the stream. She tried to call out, but no sound was heard. The calmness Melody felt quickly faded as panic rushed into her insubstantial veins. She stretched out her arms trying to reach her mother, the closer parent, but too many others were in the way. Then a tug pulled Melody back. The young human girl struggled against the force, but it was no use. Her mother and father were whisked away before her very eyes, as were all the others in her sight. Melody wanted to scream for her mother, but no sound came out again. She could feel the pain in her heart start-up again. The force pulled again and suddenly Melody started to fall into the darkness. She held her breath and closed her eyes; hoping that something would happen to help her - save her from the impending doom she felt. She opened her eyes and saw a clearing with some beings standing on top. She barrelled at such a fast speed, she would soon collide into the ground, and then would be... dead? But... I already died... She thought. And right before she hit the ground, all velocity Melody had built up had gone away, as if an opposite force fought against the gravity, and slowed her. She was lowered, safely, by the invisible force until her feet were firmly on the ground. As soon as she touched the earth, all memories of her death rushed back to her and she screamed out, Spencer, run! Tears building her eyes. Don't leave me, Momma. Not again! She yelled up in the sky. She then took a large breath, but no air filled her lungs. She touched at her heart, but felt no pain. Looking down, she noticed she was no longer in her sleepwear - she was back in her sundress. Her being was not solid - it was like everything could go right through her essence. W-what is going on? Then she noticed the others. She quickly straightened her posture, and analyzed everything she could. An older woman with silver hair standing a circle of light - bright light, Melody could barely keep her eyes open looking at it. A large mechanical construct with a smaller being sitting on it's shoulder. A man with a giant sword. And other blue glowing beings next to her. She wiped her tears quickly and stepped away from everyone she could. On the verge of running she said in a low voice, asking no one and everybody at the same time, W-w-who are you?
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#9
06-04-2011, 02:31 AM
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The woman in grey shudders. She lifts her face towards the four vague shapes before her, still muttering under her breath. She is younger than her silver hair implies, but her unfathomed green eyes seems ageless.
__________________She rises from her knees and points her blade at the goliath's shade and twists the blade. A semblance of solidity courses through his form, becoming as solid as bedrock as he settles into the grass. She turns next to the woman, continuing her arcane mutterings and the twisting of her sword. A young girl in a dress materializes from the blue shadows. A determined man forms from the third shade, standing in the circle before the stone. Her arm shaking uncontrollably, the lady aims her blade at the final shadow. This one is more indistinct than the others, a formless cloud of smoke and dusk. With a final turn, arcane force courses from her blade and the amorphous mass gains a shape. The short sword falls to the ground and breaches the protective circle surrounding the woman in grey. Collapsing again to her knees, tears flowing, a sheen of exertion on her face, she speaks. "I am Adrelyn the Grey. You have answered my call, and I thank you. I have brought you back from death for a time. I have need of your services here in the land of shadows. If you assist me, I can send you back to your life. The way is hard, and dangerous. I can promise adventure and experience, and most of all, freedom." "With luck we can prevail and you can reap your rewards." "If you do not desire this chance, I can set you back in the stream to await the fruits of your death in the Raven Queen's palace. This path is for the bold."
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#10
06-04-2011, 04:48 AM
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Casually, Trent stands, and puts one hand to his throat: seems to be intact.
"I'm in, regardless," he responds. "but mind if I ask what exactly we're in for?" The man has appeared Streetwise Check Required for more Information dressed as he was minutes ago. Trent frowns a bit, but dusts himself off, calmly taking note of his surroundings. He stretches, rubbing the small of his back as if it were sore from the journey, as he looks around at the others. Several humanoid shapes shimmer are taking form around him: he Streetwise Check Dice *
Roll:
Last edited by Phil; 06-06-2011 at 12:03 AM.
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#11
06-04-2011, 09:23 AM
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Ullgar feels a tingle throughout his body as his physical form solidifies. A shiver runs down his spine as he comes to the realization that he has passed from death to life, sort of. 'This grey lady offers life, but at what price.' Ullgar
__________________Dice Streetwise check:
Dice Insight Check:
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#12
06-04-2011, 12:44 PM
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Melody accepted the transformation from essense to flesh. She could smell, taste, and feel once more. Even though cold bit her skin, she felt alive - again. Ressurection magicks had only been told in wild tales that her father read to her when it was time for bed. For her to actually experience it gave her both a chill and rush of excitement at the same time.
However, what could this woman want with her? She was no fighter - she's never been trained in any amount of combat. The daughter of a butcher had no need - especially one as young as her. But if the lady spoke true, and she could go back to her town, than maybe... just maybe... Thoughts of vengeance ran into Melody's mind as anger started to swell within her as she recalled her last moments before being murdered. The human had felt anger before, but never to this severity. She began to breathe heavy as she clenched her fist tightly. But, with the thought of her mother, she called herself down. Now was neither the time nor place to let down one's guard. Melody looked around at the others and felt intimidated with all the men. Especially the goliath that stood next to her. She imagines that even if Spencer stood on her shoulders, the two of them would still not reach the height of the stranger. One by one, she looked at all of them, her eyes wide open, but staying quiet. The only comfort she found was in the eyes of the lady who spoke. Melody wanted to run and hide behind the woman - to be protected from the perhaps evil beings that stood near her. However, she simply stood in place. Looking in awe at all that was around. So many races and creatures she had never even imagined she would encounter. And she waited in silence, her hands clutched together before her, and her body rigid as a board. She held her breath in an effort to avoid any attention. Hopefully none would notice her as they address the concerns of the deal. Last edited by Jayjayman122; 06-04-2011 at 12:52 PM.
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#13
06-04-2011, 03:12 PM
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…The white man screamed as his body reconstituted. Falling backwards, he caught himself with one hand and reached up to his throat with the other. The last moments he remembered prior to this were interesting to say the least. Looking over the masses as they cheered his death, he had lost sight of that which was so important to him. His head had reverted back to its natural form, but now he was completely in that form, feeling around his neck where the guillotine’s blade had severed it from his body. The screaming stopped as the realization that he was whole again in some form or another set it, “Well that was an experience to say the least,” he stated as he stood up and dusted the dirt of his simples robes.
__________________Bowing slightly to the lady in gray, he studied her for a moment as she spoke, tipping his head to the side slightly. “Bold huh, well you can count me in. With what I just went through before being here, pretty sure this hellish place won’t bother me too much. Plus I have a very strong desire to get back, personal reasons of course,” he said, a slight devilish grin froming on his white face. After he said this, he looked down at his hands and gasped, “Well this certainly will not do in a place such as this.” Looking back to Adrelyn, he bowed slightly again, “I’ll do you the honor of not making you a mockery, but the others are fair game.” Stepping up to Adrelyn’s two apparent assistants, Zuul looked over the warforged first, stating bluntly, “No,” before stepping to the side to look over the other. It only took a moment before the changeling’s appearance shifted and molded to that of Rizen, making an exact duplicate of the man. Looking over his hand’s and forearms, he asked the Revenant, “So how do I compare?” It was a bit odd to say the least. Zuul had not had the opportunity to hear the former githzerai speak, so out of Rizen’s body came a voice that was very much not his own. It was like looking in a twisted mirror, “It is a bit dreadful though… I mean the look may work for you, but I’m not really feeling this one. For me and for how long I’ve been doing this, I gotta feel right in the other’s skin for the charade to work. And lucky for you my new friend, this just not work.” Turning on his heels, his form changed back to his bright white one in the moment it took for him to face his fellow risen. “Well let’s see which of you three will work.” Stepping up to Ullgar, the same quick transformation took place, but with far more dramatic results. As Zuul’s form grew, the seams on his cloak began to tear, and once he finally finished, it looked more as if the goliath was wearing rags rather than clothing. A heavy sigh came and in a voice similar but missing the depth and character of the original came from the Ullgar clone, “See what I’ve done now, damn. Well you are lucky you are so big, because that massive and threatening appearance may be useful to one like me here, but alas I don’t have the strength anywhere comparable to what this body should have.” Looking over Melody this time, he had gotten to his forte, humans. His voice now his own again in the massive body, “Finally, forms I can work with.” Zuul was going to have fun with this one. Putting his hands in front of his face, he moved them up over it slowly, exposing the face of the girl as his hands uncovered the new appearance he had taken. When they finally reached the hairline, he rubbed his hands down and the same chestnut hair appeared. The change in size was quick and dramatic, something akin to watching a block of ice melt in accelerated time. Once the transformation was complete, Zuul curtsied to the original and smiled. He wasn’t fond of the form, but figured that a show was appropriate. In a voice most likely much higher pitched and girly that that of the woman, he giggled and said, “Well this could work, but I would definitely show off these curves more,” running his hands over the form he had taken with a playful grin to the girl. “No worries though,” returning back to his original voice, “I’m going to have to settle with our gentleman here for now,” referring to Trent. Stepping over, he smiled at the man before shaking vigorously and then stopping to show the exact form of the man, save for the somewhat mangled robes. Looking over himself once again, he grinned and then began to pace around the man from side to side. In a voice exactly to that of the man, “Well this will do just perfectly. I have to thank you good sir for this. My actual form may cause me some problems here as it did in my previous life, but this one should help that. I do hope you aren’t offended by such, but I really have no other options,” he said raising an arm to indicate the others. The voice was quite remarkable in its similarities. Even with the little Zuul had managed to grab as he came back into being, the changeling had even managed to duplicate the subtleties exactly. Satisfied with his choice, he jumped back in line. Standing up straight in a very mocking motion, “I’m in regardless,” he responded to the Lady’s offer once again, “but mind if I ask what exactly we’re in for?” Trent was going to have to deal with this new twin of his, but Zuul was not going to make it easy.
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#14
06-04-2011, 05:19 PM
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Quote:
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#15
06-05-2011, 01:25 AM
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Rizen remained with sword entrenched in the ground, focusing his energy and senses so that he could strike at real danger at a moments notice. He did manage to shoot a small whisper to his lady quickly though, "You're sure you want that one?" Referring to Zuul
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