A shadowed form sits upon a throne of human bones, addressing his minions. A small pale teenaged girl dressed in leather sits at his right hand.
The forces of the Balance have prevailed over chaos in the other threads. I observed this conflict until my wards were pierced by some miserable kobold witch. I did manage to retreive this ..
Holds up a glowing gemstone
We shall bide our time until we are ready to strike ....
The young girl hisses softly, her milky eyes fixed on the shiny gemstone.
ssssssssss..
A being of horrible visage and decay enters the throne room. He kneels before the throne
Master, the village raids have been successful. We have turned many in your name. Your undead army is almost ready!
The smell of salt, seaweed, and water-logged death waffer into the room. Small hermit crabs skitter off her body and sea worms ooze out from her rotting organs and off her body. They scurry away from her bare feet with each and everystep. Alagathra the Sea-Lich has arrived from her submerged lair in the Elemental Plane of Water.
And her colossal undead Zartan, such a magnificent beast, no one is sure where she hides it.
Your navy is ready My Lord. Soon, your ranks will fill with sea zombies, vampiric merfolk and other horrors of the deep.
The aged kobold walks in, using a walking stick.
"Hmm. This does not bode well. I will have to intervene soon."
She teleports out.
*slipping out of the many shadows of the throneroom, a young boy steps foward.*
"Hello, I've come to ask if you need a spy..."
The shadowy figure looks about at his assembled unholy court
It is good that all is near readiness. We must be patient and precise when we move. Patience is Death's virtue. The Black has all the time in the worlds ...
Looking over to The Shadow
A spy would be most useful. Insinuate yourself in the midst of the heroes and report your findings back to the Palace of Skulls.
"I will do as you ask..."
*The Shadow fades into the shadows, heading for Club Calistria*
*After a month of spying The Shadow returns*
"The one thought dead, known as The Bard, has returned with his son.
I've seen the site of his 'death' and they shouldn't have survived such a blast. What are we to do now? They have three Champions on their side, and we have none. Only Candle Lighter has stood against them all and survived..."
*After a month of spying The Shadow returns*
"The one thought dead, known as The Bard, has returned with his son.
I've seen the site of his 'death' and they shouldn't have survived such a blast. What are we to do now? They have three Champions on their side, and we have none. Only Candle Lighter has stood against them all and survived..."
It is true that they have three champions, but they can not match our numbers. Our undead army alone is much larger than the army that Candle Lighter had. These so-called champions will become the Undead and will serve the Master as we do.
It is true that they have three champions, but they can not match our numbers. Our undead army alone is much larger than the army that Candle Lighter had. These so-called champions will become the Undead and will serve the Master as we do.*After a month of spying The Shadow returns*
"The one thought dead, known as The Bard, has returned with his son.
I've seen the site of his 'death' and they shouldn't have survived such a blast. What are we to do now? They have three Champions on their side, and we have none. Only Candle Lighter has stood against them all and survived..."
*Shadow thinks on this, then nods in understanding. He slips back into the shaodws...*
??
??
It is true that they have three champions, but they can not match our numbers. Our undead army alone is much larger than the army that Candle Lighter had.*After a month of spying The Shadow returns*
"The one thought dead, known as The Bard, has returned with his son.
I've seen the site of his 'death' and they shouldn't have survived such a blast. What are we to do now? They have three Champions on their side, and we have none. Only Candle Lighter has stood against them all and survived..."
"Pff."
Candle Lighter flies in."The only reason I lost that battle was that the cursed Kittens arrived at the last minute. Not to mention that Kobold Cleaver intervened. My foes were more powerful than I expected. However, no longer.
"As for your 'army'? Again, I say 'pff'. You are fortunate that I am not against you."
The lich smiles.
"But it has potential. I am going to make you a deal: I shall be on your side, and help you. You will need it. In return, I ask only one thing: The use of any knowledge you possess. There is only one thing I can think of which will ruin Lynora's life, without putting me at risk. A backlash induced by a goddess can only be suppressed by another god. What happens if you take away the suppression?
"I shall think on this. You shall think of your own part in this war."
The dracolich disappears.
"Hee, hee. The dragon took the bait. The stupid kobold fell for it. Hee hee. Oh, they're gonna make such a pretty pyre. Hee, hee. Oh, here you are, my lady. Hee, hee. I'll find all of the bits and pieces soon enough, and then, oh-ho, and then...Hee, hee. Ashes, ashes, they all fall down."
The crazed gnome picks up a small piece of something, puts it in his bag, and wanders on.
...
"The only reason I lost that battle was that the cursed Kittens arrived at the last minute. Not to mention that Kobold Cleaver intervened. My foes were more powerful than I expected. However, no longer.
"As for your 'army'? Again, I say 'pff'. You are fortunate that I am not against you."
The shadowy figure stares st the spot where the dracolich had been.
There are none so blind as those who will not see ..He whispers in a soft tone
Looks about his assembled court
Continue to prepare. The heroes we will fight are not to be underestimated. Be patient. Draw them out, engage them singly in times and places of your choosing. Discover their fighting methods. Do not expose yourself to undue risk. Probe them for weakness and report back to the Palace of Skulls so that we can be prepared fully to meet them.
A large being appears at the edge of the Palace of Skulls. He walks slowly towards the gathering. Dragging on the ground behind him, screeching and sparking is a black hammer with the runes of power circling a scythe. The ground is scarred by its path.
Dead Ones! Evil Ones! Why do you tarry? Do not fear. Embrace Death! Embrace my Master!
Do you hunger to be alive once again? Or do you hunger for all the living to be truly dead? Not shades, but truly dead. If you hunger for true Death for the living then I will help. Afterwards we can 'talk' about your kind.
If this is simply a battle of Evil vs. Good I will gladly take lives from both sides.
... Dead Ones! Evil Ones! Why do you tarry? Do not fear. Embrace Death! Embrace my Master!
The shadowed figure chuckles, a raspy sibilant sound
I have embraced Death for centuries bezerker. I hold Death close and stroke her rotted hair. I kiss her pale, bloated lips. She keeps no secrets from me, her favorite paramour.
Do you hunger to be alive once again? Or do you hunger for all the living to be truly dead? Not shades, but truly dead. If you hunger for true Death for the living then I will help. Afterwards we can 'talk' about your kind.
The shadow form hisses its disturbing chuckle once again.
I hunger for power, berzerker. Simply that. I wish to have dominion over the Threads of Light. I wish to see them brought to the Black. I wish to see the Scales of Balance broken and its shards hammered into spikes upon which I shall impale the Elemental Champion's heads when all of this is through.
The shadow leans forward on its throne of bones.
I care not if you desire to kill, bezerker, just aim your power in the right direction and we shall get along famously....
... Dead Ones! Evil Ones! Why do you tarry? Do not fear. Embrace Death! Embrace my Master!The shadowed figure chuckles, a raspy sibilant sound
I have embraced Death for centuries bezerker. I hold Death close and stroke her rotted hair. I kiss her pale, bloated lips. She keeps no secrets from me, her favorite paramour.
Do you hunger to be alive once again? Or do you hunger for all the living to be truly dead? Not shades, but truly dead. If you hunger for true Death for the living then I will help. Afterwards we can 'talk' about your kind.The shadow form hisses its disturbing chuckle once again.
I hunger for power, berzerker. Simply that. I wish to have dominion over the Threads of Light. I wish to see them brought to the Black. I wish to see the Scales of Balance broken and its shards hammered into spikes upon which I shall impale the Elemental Champion's heads when all of this is through.
The shadow leans forward on its throne of bones.
I care not if you desire to kill, bezerker, just aim your power in the right direction and we shall get along famously....
Then we have an agreement Pale One. The hammer flares when the words are spoken.
But be careful. My strokes swing wide, and my thirst runs deep.
The shadowy figure snorts and addresses HoD
Perhaps you can slake your thirst upon the Jacks. Their thread is among the strongest in the Interthereal Sea. There is plenty of challenge for a warrior such as you ..
Turns to the others
My daughter-in-death Innocent Blood is prepared to lead when the time is ripe. For now, my daughter, I wish you to position yourself among the threads.
Hands the pale girl a ring with a glowing green gemstone bracketed with gold bars.
This is the Gem of Amara. It is an artifact of some power I negotiated for from a far plane. It allows vampires to operate in full sunlight. You will need it for your mission. I also have this ...
Hands Innocent Blood an earring
This earring will allow you to emulate a living girl, in effect appearing as you did before your Birth-to-Darkness. Never be separated from it..
Looks upon the others.
Go forth my comrades. Go forth and darken the Threads of Light. Teach them fear and let them know that the stain of the Black spreads ever closer .....
Innocent Blood takes the jewelery and rises from her chair
It shall be as you wish, Father .. She hisses
The slender pale girl sweeps out of the Court of Skulls
Suddenly, a mask appears.
Its eyes glow red. Suddenly, a random zombie speaks.
"I have arrived. Long have I been incapable of interference. Abused by Jacks, pursued by kobolds, experimented on by Borg. But I am free now, and I shall amass an army, and I shall have my revenge. For I have arrived. And the world will bleed."
The zombie goes silent, as the spirit leaves it.
Go forth my comrades. Go forth and darken the Threads of Light. Teach them fear and let them know that the stain of the Black spreads ever closer .....
And what of me my old?
The shadowed figure looks at the sea-rotted form of Alagathra
The Champion of the Sea, The Bard, still lingers at the Roleplaying Thread. Perhaps your minions and you can challenge him there? Find his measure, test him and his spawn Rio if he is there. If not, harry the Jacks. Perhaps you can dsirupt the councils over at Club Calistria. That realm is well guarded, but you need not tarry, just strike and retreat.
Pauses
There was a thread, once a Temple to Elemental Evil, now lost in the trackless depths of the Interthereal Sea. Perhaps you and your minions could investigate it and look for anything of interest?
The HoD smiles at the thought of spreading Chaos and Fear, and turns to leave as the Pale One drones on. His eyes glance over the zombie attendants. They do not interest them. They have no Life, No Un-Life. As he nears the exit he spots a vampire guard. This one does not know better than to keep his eye on a retreating foe. Before the guard can react HoD swings his hammer overhand and flattens him in a flash of bright light. There is nothing left of him but smoke and the smell of sulfur.
Get better guards Pale One.
He walks out without looking over his shoulder.
The shadowed figure looks at the sea-rotted form of Alagathra
The Champion of the Sea, The Bard, still lingers at the Roleplaying Thread. Perhaps your minions and you can challenge him there? Find his measure, test him and his spawn Rio if he is there. If not, harry the Jacks. Perhaps you can dsirupt the councils over at Club Calistria. That realm is well guarded, but you need not tarry, just strike and retreat.
Pauses
There was a thread, once a Temple to Elemental Evil, now lost in the trackless depths of the Interthereal Sea. Perhaps you and your minions could investigate it and look for anything of interest?
Ah, The Temple and the Club. The Temple quirks my curiosity, but the Club.
hisses
Calistria. I hate that b-tch!
I will do both. Yessssss......
The mask rests on the ground. Suddenly, its eyes glow red. At teh exact same time, a zombie attendant's eyes glow the same color. The attendant walks over, picks up the mask, and nails it up on the wall, careful not to damage it.
"That is better. Now, tell me more of the Temple."
The mask rests on the ground. Suddenly, its eyes glow red. At teh exact same time, a zombie attendant's eyes glow the same color. The attendant walks over, picks up the mask, and nails it up on the wall, careful not to damage it.
"That is better. Now, tell me more of the Temple."
The shadowy figure stares at the mask
The temple is just that, an abandoned temple to Elemental Evil. Perhaps there are elemental weapons of evil hidden within its ruins still. It lies far within the Interthereal Sea. If we must face the Balance and their Champions perhaps we should find weapons to counter their strengths.
The mask rests on the ground. Suddenly, its eyes glow red. At teh exact same time, a zombie attendant's eyes glow the same color. The attendant walks over, picks up the mask, and nails it up on the wall, careful not to damage it.
"That is better. Now, tell me more of the Temple."The shadowy figure stares at the mask
The temple is just that, an abandoned temple to Elemental Evil. Perhaps there are elemental weapons of evil hidden within its ruins still. It lies far within the Interthereal Sea. If we must face the Balance and their Champions perhaps we should find weapons to counter their strengths.
"Certainly.
"I am the Mask of Ovu Monubi. I have not been here often. One time, some Jacks accidentally brought me here and mistook me for masque. Eventually, I managed to get back into my own reality, but was nearly stabbed between my eyes, along with my undead host. I abandoned the host, for just then a bridge had opened between this world and that one. Most likely caused by you folk summoning something from there here."Anyways, that matters not. I shall send my servants over, to seek the Temple. Then...we shall see."
*A face flikers in front of Ebony, unfamiliar at first, it slowly shifts to show The Shadow's true face*
"Greetings milord. I have successfully infiltrated the Club and been allowed a room. Do you still wish that I spy, or should I attampt to assassinate one of the 'heroes'?"
Certainly.
"I am the Mask of Ovu Monubi. I have not been here often. One time, some Jacks accidentally brought me here and mistook me for masque. Eventually, I managed to get back into my own reality, but was nearly stabbed between my eyes, along with my undead host. I abandoned the host, for just then a bridge had opened between this world and that one. Most likely caused by you folk summoning something from there here.
"Anyways, that matters not. I shall send my servants over, to seek the Temple. Then...we shall see."
The shadowed figure nods
It is good. The temple once was a focus for great evil, and elemental evil at that. Artifacts of great power once were kept there, and may yet still ....
*A face flikers in front of Ebony, unfamiliar at first, it slowly shifts to show The Shadow's true face*
"Greetings milord. I have successfully infiltrated the Club and been allowed a room. Do you still wish that I spy, or should I attampt to assassinate one of the 'heroes'?"
The shadowed figure pauses.
Stay in readiness. Remain observant. Report back any new information. If you see a chance to strike and cripple the heroes without endangering yourself ... use your best judgement.
Certainly.
"I am the Mask of Ovu Monubi. I have not been here often. One time, some Jacks accidentally brought me here and mistook me for masque. Eventually, I managed to get back into my own reality, but was nearly stabbed between my eyes, along with my undead host. I abandoned the host, for just then a bridge had opened between this world and that one. Most likely caused by you folk summoning something from there here.
"Anyways, that matters not. I shall send my servants over, to seek the Temple. Then...we shall see."The shadowed figure nods
It is good. The temple once was a focus for great evil, and elemental evil at that. Artifacts of great power once were kept there, and may yet still ....
[ooc[Is it an actual thread, like teh Runelord Roundtable? If not, I'll create one.[/ooc]
*again the face of The Shadow flickers into veiw*
"My plan goes well, the Wasp Wench suspects nothing. I shall call if anything of interest happens..."
*the faces flickers once more and vanishes.*
"Hmm. There is an orb. Unfortunately, I can exert little control over the zombies from so far, and can certainly not channel any magic over any distance. We'll see what happens. This should be very...interesting.
*again the face of The Shadow flickers into veiw*
"My plan goes well, the Wasp Wench suspects nothing. I shall call if anything of interest happens..."
*the faces flickers once more and vanishes.*
*Oroth appears in full this time*
"Evil Monkey may now be an enemy of mine, but that concerns me not. I believe KC is starting to suspect something. I left the room before he could do anything. Have my orders changed?"
*again the face of The Shadow flickers into veiw*
"My plan goes well, the Wasp Wench suspects nothing. I shall call if anything of interest happens..."
*the faces flickers once more and vanishes.**Oroth appears in full this time*
"Evil Monkey may now be an enemy of mine, but that concerns me not. I believe KC is starting to suspect something. I left the room before he could do anything. Have my orders changed?"
One of the undead attendants begins dusting the Mask.
"Hmm. There is an orb. Unfortunately, I can exert little control over the zombies from so far, and can certainly not channel any magic over any distance. We'll see what happens. This should be very...interesting.
The shadowed figure leans back in his throne of bone.
Interesting indeed.
Gestures to his court.
We need someone to retreive this orb. Who shall go?
The human woman sways as she moves, totally oblivious to everything around her.
Pick up the pieces, pick up the pieces, pick up the pieces...
She chants to herself as she stops to pick something up and then moves on.
"Hmm...this is a very interesting development, but not a terrible one...I can work this."
"Hmm. There is an orb. Unfortunately, I can exert little control over the zombies from so far, and can certainly not channel any magic over any distance. We'll see what happens. This should be very...interesting.The shadowed figure leans back in his throne of bone.
Interesting indeed.
Gestures to his court.
We need someone to retreive this orb. Who shall go?
They are not expecting me at the Club for a while. I will retreive this 'orb'.
*Oroth has shed his illusion of a grown man, confident the Palace's wards will keep out divination, and shows his true 12 year-old self.*
The shadowed figure leans back
Good, fetch this orb and bring it here ...
The shadowed figure leans back
Good, fetch this orb and bring it here ...
*Shadows whirl around him*
"It shall be done..."*When the shadow disperse, he is gone*