Whoah! Am I stoned, or did that dude just disappear?Yer stoned.
Leans over
Say there girlie, you ever consider a job in the rapidly expanding field of exotic dance? Good money, lots of 'mind enhancements', and you get to sleep in!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh! You said the "j" word! Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!
The Warden floats down from the sky, settling in front of the altar. He picks up the golden corn, sniffs it, and casts it upon the stone top. Satisfied, he floats slowly upward until he is out of sight.
The quiescent wind-swept crags have been empty since the death of Brwaaaktor. The other birds have moved on to the Celestial Eyrie. All is quiet.
Suddenly a huge green portal opens, spilling hundreds of undead along the craggy slopes. The Steel Tsar rides in on his skeletal sabre cat, Innocent Blood at his side.
Hmm.. A deserted Thread of Light. Perfect for our staging area! Innocent Blood purrs, floating towards the blood-stained sacrificial altar.
Slashing her wrist, Innocent Blood spurts greenish ichor on the stone. It cracks, and screaming wraiths issue forth, flying up into the blue skies
There. Now we are warded from the skies. Assemble the troops my marshal. Soon we shall descend on the Threads of Light!
The large armor inclines its massive helm
The Steel Tsar turns to the milling undead
A hissing screeching roar ululates from the massed Army of the Damned
Plantjack appears.
"No."
As storm-clouds gather in the skies over and about the place of winds, a dozen nymphs riding monstrous dire bats sweep down out of the storm, to skim the air above the vampire girl's army. They point and gesture, calling to one another, an aura of dread and terror seeming to gather about them in the gloom that shields the undead.
The shirts of mithril beneath their sable cloaks and the moonsilver lances they ride with are the only gleams within the shadows that rapidly draw around them.
The riders simply lower their lances and like silver lightnings shooting through a cloud drive through the wraiths, the incorporeal clutching hands of the wraiths snatching impotently at thin air.
The riders do, however, pull up a little, to continue their survey from a greater altitude.
Finding no further efforts forthcoming to hamper them, the nymphs complete their survey and wheel their steeds through the air over the Place of Winds for one last time, before storming back in the direction of the Eyrie.
A speck of light goes unnoticed on the altar. Over the course of time it grows to a noticeable size, as it draws Board Energy into itself. Only the power that is used in contradiction to the Thread foundation is affected. It is weakened, the effect is very subtle and continuous.
Having joined the undead army's campaign HT presses his roots into the soil of the Place of Winds, expecting to relish in the corruption. His eyes bulge and he quickly withdraws his smoking roots.
Arrrgh! We may have a problem here Mistress.
He looks to be avoiding the ground. It's a comical view.
Suddenly, folk that nobody has seen for a while fly into combat, clutching magical greataxes. The Kittens.
The shadowy form of a massive feline leaps from within the undead army's ranks, ripping one Kitten from it's eagle mount before leaping to another. A voice flows eerily around it.
"It's so nice to be in combat again, even if it is against cousins so weak. Now if only Devlyn were here..."
Suddenly, folk that nobody has seen for a while fly into combat, clutching magical greataxes. The Kittens.The shadowy form of a massive feline leaps from within the undead army's ranks, ripping one Kitten from it's eagle mount before leaping to another. A voice flows eerily around it.
"It's so nice to be in combat again, even if it is against cousins so weak. Now if only Devlyn were here..."
The Overjarl laughs. Shadow Pelt flies through the kittens, finding them to be mere illusions. The kittens all disappear at once.
"We aren't weak."Spirits suddenly begin to appear. Ghosts of the original army. The shaman. The original Oberjarl is there, too.
"We came prepared."
The ghosts charge.
Suddenly, folk that nobody has seen for a while fly into combat, clutching magical greataxes. The Kittens.The shadowy form of a massive feline leaps from within the undead army's ranks, ripping one Kitten from it's eagle mount before leaping to another. A voice flows eerily around it.
"It's so nice to be in combat again, even if it is against cousins so weak. Now if only Devlyn were here..."
The Overjarl laughs. Shadow Pelt flies through the kittens, finding them to be mere illusions. The kittens all disappear at once.
"We aren't weak."
Spirits suddenly begin to appear. Ghosts of the original army. The shaman. The original Oberjarl is there, too.
"We came prepared."
The ghosts charge.
Shadow Pelt seems to grin maliciously.
"Oh my, this battle just became a lot more fun..."
Winds flowing with positive energy stream through the Place of Winds,battering the undead army while leaving PJ's allies alone, echoing with the shriek of an eagle.
The Omniportal flashes as The Bard, Rio, Kiba, Aidan, and Nimora step through. They stare at the battle already in full swing.
"Aidan and Nimora, stick together and keep an eye on each other, I know you've been praticing but this will be your first real battle. Kiba, Rio, take to the air an do what you can to help the phantom Kittens. And Rio, stay away from Innocent Blood, she's too powerful for you. I'll stay here and guard the Omniportal in case any of those undead try to get through and if any of our allies come through."
Once he gives directions(not orders), Kaelar steps in front of the portal and starts to sing, the flow of Primal Music causing fire streaked blue to fly toward the undead. When his song changes, so does the fire, now nothing more than sonic vibrations that break the undead apart. His song changes several more times, swicting the power to ice, then acid, and back to fire or ice.
Nimora clutches her trident and net, grateful for the undead fighting crystal that Devlyn gave her. She glances over at Aidan.
"This is only the second time I have fought on land. I'd rather not end this by dragging your body off the field like I had to do with Mirathan, so try to stay safe okay."
Keeping near the portal, trying to be ready to retreat at a moment's notice, she begins to plow through the undead in a whirl of speed, always guarding Aidan's back.
From safe within the warded grounds of the sanctuary, a great ancient owl, whose comical mannerisms sit oddly with the dignity that his appearance first suggests, peers over the walls hewn from the mountainside at the latest incursion.
Hoo?
Suddenly, folk that nobody has seen for a while fly into combat, clutching magical greataxes. The Kittens.The shadowy form of a massive feline leaps from within the undead army's ranks, ripping one Kitten from it's eagle mount before leaping to another. A voice flows eerily around it.
"It's so nice to be in combat again, even if it is against cousins so weak. Now if only Devlyn were here..."
The Overjarl laughs. Shadow Pelt flies through the kittens, finding them to be mere illusions. The kittens all disappear at once.
"We aren't weak."
Spirits suddenly begin to appear. Ghosts of the original army. The shaman. The original Oberjarl is there, too.
"We came prepared."
The ghosts charge.Shadow Pelt seems to grin maliciously.
"Oh my, this battle just became a lot more fun..."
The shaman blasts Shadow Pelt with burning sunlight. The Oberjarl and his kittens raise their greataxes and charge.
"Die!!!"They slash at him at once, and he feels a chill which he doesn't like to be on teh receiving end of.
Nimora clutches her trident and net, grateful for the undead fighting crystal that Devlyn gave her. She glances over at Aidan.
"This is only the second time I have fought on land. I'd rather not end this by dragging your body off the field like I had to do with Mirathan, so try to stay safe okay."
Keeping near the portal, trying to be ready to retreat at a moment's notice, she begins to plow through the undead in a whirl of speed, always guarding Aidan's back.
No worries Nimora. He smiles. If you have to drag me off, it'll be because I'm exhuasted.
He seems to fly through the undead, his starknives spinning as if they have a mind of their own. Suddenly, his starknives burst into flames, bright orange streaked with black. He fighting style changes, he spins to block attacks and make his own. Fire blazes in his eyes as he fights, protecting Nimora even as she protects him.
The shaman blasts Shadow Pelt with burning sunlight. The Oberjarl and his kittens raise their greataxes and charge.
"Die!!!"
They slash at him at once, and he feels a chill which he doesn't like to be on teh receiving end of.
Despite being hit by sunlight, Shdow Pelt dodges the greataxes with suprising agility. Suddenly, the Kittens can see him more clearly. He lets out a feral growl as he leaps at a Kitten, rending it spirit in two. The Kittens realize the advantage of being spectral undead has been lost...
*Kiba shifts to his hybrid form, wings sprouting from his back as he does. He takes to the air, earthbreaker in hand, and begins a vicious assualt on the wraiths. They were not ecpecting his hammer to hit them.*
*Rio calls Aurora out of her ball, along with Whirl, and hops on. With his bow drawn he starts to snipe undead while Aurora and Whirl hold the wraiths back.Despite his father's warning, he is moving closer to Innocent Blood. At least until a song forces him back.*
A man floats down from the sky, oblivious to the combat below. He lands by the tainted altar and looks around. He summons the green orb into one hand and the golden corn into the other. At his gaze the altar repairs itself.
He turns to Innocent Blood and the Steel Tsar.
Do you seek to commune with the avian spirits? Or seek their counsel?
They hear his voice very clearly.
A man floats down from the sky, oblivious to the combat below. He lands by the tainted altar and looks around. He summons the green orb into one hand and the golden corn into the other. At his gaze the altar repairs itself.
He turns to Innocent Blood and the Steel Tsar.
Do you seek to commune with the avian spirits? Or seek their counsel?
They hear his voice very clearly.
Innocent Blood laughs, a girlish ringing sound
"No fool, we come to bring you to your doom. Tsar?"
The black armor approaches, unsheathing his massive green greatsword and slashing at the Board Warden
Having joined the undead army's campaign HT presses his roots into the soil of the Place of Winds, expecting to relish in the corruption. His eyes bulge and he quickly withdraws his smoking roots.
Arrrgh! We may have a problem here Mistress.
He looks to be avoiding the ground. It's a comical view.
Innocent Blood grins and touches her hand to the ground. Rot and corruption pulse outwards from her as her tainted Board essence infects the Place of Winds
"There we are."
A man floats down from the sky, oblivious to the combat below. He lands by the tainted altar and looks around. He summons the green orb into one hand and the golden corn into the other. At his gaze the altar repairs itself.
He turns to Innocent Blood and the Steel Tsar.
Do you seek to commune with the avian spirits? Or seek their counsel?
They hear his voice very clearly.
Innocent Blood laughs, a girlish ringing sound
"No fool, we come to bring you to your doom. Tsar?"
The black armor approaches, unsheathing his massive green greatsword and slashing at the Board Warden
Tsar feels the power behind his stroke and is rewarded. The Board Warden is cleaved in two and falls.
An eyeblink later the Warden is standing there again. Alongside his twin. Tsar feels his power flowing into the new forms.
Having joined the undead army's campaign HT presses his roots into the soil of the Place of Winds, expecting to relish in the corruption. His eyes bulge and he quickly withdraws his smoking roots.
Arrrgh! We may have a problem here Mistress.
He looks to be avoiding the ground. It's a comical view.
Innocent Blood grins and touches her hand to the ground. Rot and corruption pulse outwards from her as her tainted Board essence infects the Place of Winds
"There we are."
A second form of the Warden places his hand upon the ground, absorbing the energy and restoring it.
Why do you seek to taint the soil here, Sister?
Innocent Blood stares at the Warden.
I seek to corrupt because it pleases me.
Innocent Blood raises her slender arms
She focuses and a huge pulse of energy runs into the ground, causing the very fabric of the thread to start to unravel. The hiss od the Interthereal Sea begins to swell as the entire thread begins to fade
A man floats down from the sky, oblivious to the combat below. He lands by the tainted altar and looks around. He summons the green orb into one hand and the golden corn into the other. At his gaze the altar repairs itself.
He turns to Innocent Blood and the Steel Tsar.
Do you seek to commune with the avian spirits? Or seek their counsel?
They hear his voice very clearly.
Innocent Blood laughs, a girlish ringing sound
"No fool, we come to bring you to your doom. Tsar?"
The black armor approaches, unsheathing his massive green greatsword and slashing at the Board Warden
Tsar feels the power behind his stroke and is rewarded. The Board Warden is cleaved in two and falls.
An eyeblink later the Warden is standing there again. Alongside his twin. Tsar feels his power flowing into the new forms.
The Steel Tsar cleaves at the Board Warden, attempting to cut his foe(s) down
A man floats down from the sky, oblivious to the combat below. He lands by the tainted altar and looks around. He summons the green orb into one hand and the golden corn into the other. At his gaze the altar repairs itself.
He turns to Innocent Blood and the Steel Tsar.
Do you seek to commune with the avian spirits? Or seek their counsel?
They hear his voice very clearly.
Innocent Blood laughs, a girlish ringing sound
"No fool, we come to bring you to your doom. Tsar?"
The black armor approaches, unsheathing his massive green greatsword and slashing at the Board Warden
Tsar feels the power behind his stroke and is rewarded. The Board Warden is cleaved in two and falls.
An eyeblink later the Warden is standing there again. Alongside his twin. Tsar feels his power flowing into the new forms.
The Steel Tsar cleaves at the Board Warden, attempting to cut his foe(s) down
The swing is true, again splitting the Warden. Now there are 3. Each drawing Board Energy into themselves.
Innocent Blood stares at the Warden.
I seek to corrupt because it pleases me.
Innocent Blood raises her slender arms
She focuses and a huge pulse of energy runs into the ground, causing the very fabric of the thread to start to unravel. The hiss od the Interthereal Sea begins to swell as the entire thread begins to fade
3 voices answer in unison You know I can't allow that. I have been assigned this Thread.
The pulses are drawn into the 3 Wardens, and the Thread stabilizes.
A small fissure opens in the stone, and white hot lava slowly seeps from it.
Wait...it's not hot...it's cool. It's liquified positive energy, as bright as the sun. A small spot for now.
The Wardens look at the spot, surprise on their faces.
'It seems that the stone rejects your touch, Sister', three voices say.
Having joined the undead army's campaign HT presses his roots into the soil of the Place of Winds, expecting to relish in the corruption. His eyes bulge and he quickly withdraws his smoking roots.
Arrrgh! We may have a problem here Mistress.
He looks to be avoiding the ground. It's a comical view.
Innocent Blood grins and touches her hand to the ground. Rot and corruption pulse outwards from her as her tainted Board essence infects the Place of Winds
"There we are."
A second form of the Warden places his hand upon the ground, absorbing the energy and restoring it.
Why do you seek to taint the soil here, Sister?
Plantjack sighs, gazing at the battle. The dwarves are doing fairly well, as he had hoped. It is hard to animate body parts, and that is all that is left after the explosion. The Kittens are not doing so well. It is about a stalemate, with few of the kittens able to hurt Shadow Pelt, but Shadow Pelt being enormously outnumbered and unable to get to the shaman. Shadow Pelt definitely has the advantage, though.
He turns to the Board Warden."They are of the Black, Board Warden. The Black itself is a part of the Board, it is true. But teh Black will ever want more. The lady before you may be a fellow Master of the Board, but the Black will seek more power. Eventually, they shall be 'forced' to harm the Board, and in doing so, turn from it."
Innocent Blood smiles grimly
If this stone rejects my touch, perhaps I should retire to another place until I am prepared to deal with you and your clones..
She waves her hands in the air again
A howling winds engulfs the Place of Winds. When it lifts, the Army of the Damned is gone.
The 3 Wardens face each. After a moment they nod in unison. One fades, then a second. The third remains.
I can only protect my assignments, Board Champion. ...unless more are added.
Nimora looks over at Aidan in confusion as the army of undead suddenly vanish. They rejoin Kaelar near the portal.
"I am being not certain what was being happen just now, but I is thinking the fight is being over for now. Until they is being come to another place."
Nimora looks over at Aidan in confusion as the army of undead suddenly vanish. They rejoin Kaelar near the portal.
"I am being not certain what was being happen just now, but I is thinking the fight is being over for now. Until they is being come to another place."
By the time Aidan gets to the portal, the fire around him has died down. Aidan does not look well and stumbles. When Nimora grabs him to keep him from falling, she gasps.
*Rio glares at his father as he and Aurora land. But says nothing as he calls Whirl back into his ball. Whirl wasn't injured badly, nothing more than a few scratches, but Aurora had been hit with several arrows. He begins to hum as water flows from his hand to knit Aurora's flesh back together.*
*Kiba lands a few moments later, shivering and sweating with fatigue, but he isn't wounded.*
*Kaelar leans against the Portal, his bardic music nearly spent, and pulls a blue diamond from within his robes. Blue light flares from within the stone and flows toward the allies wounded, but he can do nothing for the dead.*
*Shadow Pelt dissappeared when Innocent Blood did.*
"Kaelar, there is being something not right with Aidan. He is being much too cold." Nimora calls out, worried, still trying to help Aidan over to the others. Being a creature of water she is more accustomed to cold than most, but she is very worried about her new friend.
Mmmmm....roadkill
"Back off or have your wings clipped you old buzzard."
*Kaelar moves to inspect Aidan. Putting his hand on Aidan's forehead, his eyes glow blue. After half an hour, Kaelar smiles.*
"Despite his conditions, Aidan will be fine, though when we tell him what has happened he shouldn't be eatiing or drinking anything... Oh, sorry I was just remembering something. Don't worry something like this happened when I first ... well let say 'tapped my inner strength.'"
*The Bard smiles knowingly, and seems at ease whith what is happening. He slides his arms under Aidan and moves toward the omniportal, which shows a active volcano within it depths.*
"Nimora, I'm not sure how comfortable you'd be near a volcano. It's hot a dry, and fire spews everywhere."
Nimora looks alarmed. "No I would not being comfortable near a volcano! Are you sure this is being alright? Aidan is going to be okay? I do not being understand this power or how it works."
The undead army driven off, the small puddle of positive energy flows of its own accord. It forms into a complex shape then soaks into the ground. The small fissure closes.
Nimora looks alarmed. "No I would not being comfortable near a volcano! Are you sure this is being alright? Aidan is going to be okay? I do not being understand this power or how it works."
"You know I'm the Champion of Water, right? Well, before I was a Champion, I answered a wasp's call for help(I know it sounds strange, but with all that has happened? Not that strange). I encountered the Champion of Fire soon after and during that battle I became the Champion of Water. Afterward though, since I wasn't used to my power, I was exhuasted, much like Aidan is now. Later, the Champion of Earth, Jack-Hammer, defeated the Champion of Flame, the Steel Tsar, in combat. I used the Tsar's remains(he was a construct) to forge Acme some interesting improvements, and Aidan's armor. Anyway, like others who participated in that battle, I thought that was the end of Fire Champions. But then I started to notice something about Aidan, and I think Plant Jack did too. What Aidan did in battle just now, when fire surronded him? Well that proved my suspicions. I believe the power of every creature goes somewhere else when that creature(or construct) is no more. Aidan seems to inherited the Steel Tsar's 'spark'. It is my belief that Aidan has risen as the Champion of Flames."
Nimora looks alarmed. "No I would not being comfortable near a volcano! Are you sure this is being alright? Aidan is going to be okay? I do not being understand this power or how it works.""You know I'm the Champion of Water, right? Well, before I was a Champion, I answered a wasp's call for help(I know it sounds strange, but with all that has happened? Not that strange). I encountered the Champion of Fire soon after and during that battle I became the Champion of Water. Afterward though, since I wasn't used to my power, I was exhuasted, much like Aidan is now. Later, the Champion of Earth, Jack-Hammer, defeated the Champion of Flame, the Steel Tsar, in combat. I used the Tsar's remains(he was a construct) to forge Acme some interesting improvements, and Aidan's armor. Anyway, like others who participated in that battle, I thought that was the end of Fire Champions. But then I started to notice something about Aidan, and I think Plant Jack did too. What Aidan did in battle just now, when fire surronded him? Well that proved my suspicions. I believe the power of every creature goes somewhere else when that creature(or construct) is no more. Aidan seems to inherited the Steel Tsar's 'spark'. It is my belief that Aidan has risen as the Champion of Flames."
Plantjack stumbles toward them, nursing a large gash on one of his vines.
"Or, given that the Tsar lives, he may just have gotten some of teh power. Or be a lesser champion. It's...uncertain."
A black dragon circles, then begins to descend towards the ground.