Freeform Archive · Legacy archive
The Last War
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Re: The Last War
#441At the entrance to the gate, the Legion's men moved foreward to find themselves between a series of verticle timbers firmly planted into the ground and spaced one half foot apart from each other in what resembled a cross between a prison cell and a hallway. A second gate was standing upright at the end of the makeshift Hallway.
Alone, such a thing would have been nothing, but the serious danger here were the men standing on the other side of the timber walls. Millar's men. Each one was holding a long scythe.
Generally a scythe is a useless weapon in battle, but in this scenario, they were the perfect weapon to slash and skewer men trapped between the walls of timbers. The timbers, having no top, allowed the scythes to swing down with ease, and the scythes were long enough to keep them out of range of most melee weapons.
The best part was, the scythes were practically free compared to the cost of a decent sword, and it was a simple matter for Millar to get as many as he wanted.
Only 25 men were posted on each side, mostly because the Hallway was too small to do otherwise, But they would earn their share of kills today. -
Re: The Last War
#442Holly remained in her position with the horses and listened to the screaming around her. Her face was still hidden so no one would know who she was. a sudden chill sprung up her spine as another bone-chilling scream came to one side of her. She pulled her sword from it's holster and liffted her head up high. Blood pounded in her ears as she listened for the sound of the oncoming threat. she heared a loud scream from a house near her and dismounted Tigra. "you know what to do son't you" the horse whinnied and made an obvious nod. Holly put her sword in it's holster and ran towards the house. she burst through the door and she could hear a small cry from the back. she pulled her sword out again and slowly walked towards it. there was a another small scream and then what sounded like a very harsh 'shut up'. Holly edged closer and kicked out at the door, it smashed off it's hinges and a soldier was stood holding a young girl by the throat against the wall. The young girl had a tear rolling down her face and the soldier was stood staring at the door. "how did you get into Halbad answer me before i kill you" The soldier moved slowly round chucked the young girl to the side "i've always been here my dear now your a pretty one arent you" he took a step forward and Holly raised her sword to throat level, he stopped in his tracks straing at the sword. "now what are you going to do with that little girl" he pulled his own sword out and stepped back. "i'm not a little girl" Holly said, menace in her voice "and i advice you to leave now before this little girl losses her temper" Holly's eye's narrowed to thin slits and she stepped back. the swords touched tip to tip and something happened a cold feeling trickled down the swords into each off there arms. the soldier backed off pulling his sword up. "it can't be" he stared wide eyed at Holly then without another word ran for the door. before he knew it a large dagger had Penetrated his leg. He fell "now that was rude" said holly walking slowly over to the fallen soldier "now i want you to tell me what that was all about and how you got here!" Holly flipped him over making sure to bang his head on the table just behind him "i got here about three weeks ago and got told to come under cover, i just got restless they told me to wait for the rest of the army to come and then i can do what i want. they sent me to look for a girl. a blonde girl. they said it was important that i got her alive. so that my lord could kill her. he needs too she's the only one who can stop him from managing what he wishes to do." Holly looked through her eye holes, she had forgotten that she was wearing a mask "is he looking for me" she said as she pulled her mask off. The soldier took one look at Holly than began to wimper "please, please don't kill me i have a wife and children at home" Holly looked at the young girl crumpled on the floor against the wall. "do you treat your children like that?" she said the hatred beginning to burn inside her "do you try and rape your children and then throw them against the wall" Holly's voice rose ever so slightly as she spoke. "WOULD YOU KILL YOUR CHILDREN" she screamed. Holly raised her sword as high as she could and plunged down. A spray of blood waterfalled out of his body. Holly stood and basked in the warm sweet blood of her enemy. It splattered lightly on her face. the anger still burnt inside her and she didn't like it. she moved back and walked over to the child. she knelt down and touched the girls wrist. a cold wave of fury flowed through Holly's body She was dead and there wasn't anything else she could do about it. Holly stood up she didn't bother to wipe the blood of her face she just got up and walked out of the house. all she had too do now was wait for the inital attack. the attack which should come soon. This was not the last war. it was coming soon but this wasn't it and she wouldn't die in this war she would survive to destroy there lord. there lord who killed her mother and her father and her brother. there lord who would kill her because she can ruin his plans. There lord would die. -
Re: The Last War
#443OOC:Holly, I clearly stated that there was a second gate in place. There would not have been enough time yet for The Legions troops to break through. Now, I know that you want to get some action, but if the legion breaks through, then that means that all of my defenses have failed, and that means that the city will be overrun in moments. Normally I wouldn't care, but by that one line of yourse that said that the Legion had broken through, you have managed to ignore every single thing that I have posted up until now about the city defenses.
If you want some action, then sneak outside the city or and harrass the bad guys, or shoot the legion in my hall of timbers, but don't completely ignore everything that I have put time and effort into creating.
IC:
Addle woke up to quiet breathing of the young woman who had taken Addle home last night. Right now, Addle was snuggled up in the sheets. It had been a very relaxing evening, and a very nice sleep. How did ugly things get through the day?
Anyway, Addle slipped out of the mistresses arms, and landed lightly on the floor. Addle was feeling kind of restless, and kind of purple. Specifically Lavender. Addle's Lavender form lightly sprang down to the downstairs pantry where there was lots of food and veggies to eat.
After consuming quite a bit of food, in quite a short amount of time, it was time to go. There was a lot of shouting and yelling coming from off in the distance when Addle got outside, but Addle didn't really notice. It was then that Addle remembered the spear.
A minute or so later, Addle was in the alley, but the spear was not. And it wasn't for lack of looking either. Addle checked the dumpster, behind the dumpster, the random debris in the Alley even. It was completely gone.
Now, Addle was a simple creature, but not a stupid one. Somebody had taken it. How dare they take Addles spear. That was just mean. Addle felt somewhat determined to get it back. Sure, there were shinier, prettier things around, but it was the principal of the thing. Addle had worked hard to get that spear, and now somebody had taken it.
Although it seemed unlikely, Addle decided to check to see if the Ugly thing had it. Addle didn't know how it could, but it was a place to start. -
Re: The Last War
#444
Grumple might have been rather upset to have been thought of as "Ugly Thing". Grumple knew he wasn't Ugly, no not like other trolls. In fact, right now Grumple had on a handsome cloak and hood; a lovely dirt brown, smeared with attractive blotches of blood and grime. Best he ever had, actually.
And, of course, the spear head. Tantus was working on that now, in the blacksmith's shop. Tantus was so smart. And clever. Tantus could make things with his hands. Grumple had hands; (even when missing a finger or two) but Grumple didn't make much with his hands. Grumple's hands were better for climbing, or grappling with something unfriendly, or twisting the head off somebody Bad. "That useful, too", thought Grumple.
Â
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Re: The Last War
#445The attack ground to a halt. The first several ranks of spearmen had marched into a trap; a box of timbers where they could not move forward. It was almost impossible to dislodge the timbers without being exposed to the scythes and arrows. The archers outside the fallen gate had limited ability to support the men up front. They could not place arrows between the vertical timbers on the sides of the entrance. Now, some defenders on top of the box threw down small boulders upon the phalanx, cracking skulls and shoulders before being picked off now and then by the archers outside. Still, something had to give.
"RETREEEAT!!" the order was sounded. The attackers marched out as best they could using shields for cover, and helping any comrade that could move. The withdrawal was surprisingly orderly, for a setback had not been completely unexpected. The attack had gone too easily so far.
To the rear, new orders were already being passed to the catapault crews: Load flaming pitch. Aim for the timbers. Burn down the little trap the rats had made, along with the little rats.
Kraggis also had received his orders: When the timbers are weakened, be prepared to pull them down with ropes. -
Re: The Last War
#446I apologize nobody i havent really been paying the right amount of attention that i should be. Been very very busy seeing as christmas is coming and i have been going to college and work everyday. thats why i haven't been replying as often as i should be. But i have changed my post to make it that none of the soldiers managed to get through, and that Holly is just waiting for them to break through. hope your not too bitter about it. Sorry again
callista -
Re: The Last War
#447OCC: No biggie. We all make mistakes. Goodness knows I have. Can't tell you how many times I've had to rewrite something because I didn't read carefully. :)
On with the show!
IC:
Fox scrambled back down the ladder, knocking down the two men below him. "Ishtar's Eyes!" he cursed. "Get away from here!" They paused only a second to make sure their two comrades on the ground were dead, then grabbed the scaling ladder and ran.
Back nearer the river, Fox put his hand up. Halt. "Over here," he said quietly. There was an opening; a sewer outlet that drained into the river. It was made of stones in an arch shape. "Smells like $#!+." said Smithy. "It IS $#!+"! said Burns. "You don't mean...?" they said together.
That was exactly what Corporal Fox meant. With silent disgust, the nine men held their noses and started crawling into the city through the sewers.
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Outside, the attack on the southern gate wasn't making much progress. However, at the north end, the catapaults had each been loaded with a barrel of pitch and reeds. "Careful, you dogs!" cried the Lieutenant. "Make every shot count!" The catapault crew balanced the barrel on the claw hand, then one man ignited it with a flaming torch. The fire raged up in the barrel of pitch. Two men slammed a vented barrelhead over the top and hammered it into place. "REEELEEEEASE!!"
The barrel arched upward from Cat 1, turning end over end gracefully, followed by the barrels of the remaining catapaults. The flaming masses trailed choking black smoke in visible trails across the sky. Three barrels flew in through the gates, while two disappeared over the wall, and others fell short or hit the wall. All that could be seen shattered and created small infernos where they hit. The fires roared upward.
The phalanx regrouped outside the gates, and the most seriously wounded men were helped off the battlefield while the others formed up for another attack. Some men in the second and third ranks now carried axes and heavy ropes. All of them watched as the crib inside the gates went up in flames. Screams and shouts were heard from within the city. The defenders might try to get water on the fires, but then they would have to face the Legion's archers.
"REEELOOOAADD!"
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Re: The Last War
#448Bent over, Fox led his men into the Stygian darkness. He heard Burns behind him trying to strike up a torch. "NO! No Torch!" shouted Fox. He thought of the fun from his childhood when he and his brother had sat around a campfire and attempted to light up a little "swamp gas" they had "made". Sometimes it worked. It was a wonder they made it to adulthood with their family jewels! Fox suppressed a smile at the innocent thought... but this was serious. They were in a tunnel not quite tall enough to stand up in, and by the obvious stench, there was probably a lot of "swamp gas" in the air. The smell was everything. It was all they could do to stand upright.
Their own footsteps splashing along and the nearly silent trickling of sewer water was all they could hear. Now and then, they passed smaller tunnels that dumped foul contents into the main passage. These were too small to enter. Every breath, every sound was magnified. They could hear their own heartbeats; the pulse surging in their ears. However the upward slope of the stone corbeled tunnel was leading them to a location clearly within the walls of Halbad.
That's when Fox walked headlong into an iron grate.
"OW! $#!+" He held his head. Smithy ran into him from behind. In the dank darkness, his eyes could finally detect a glint of light a hundred yards ahead... past the grate. "Figures they would protect this entrance" whispered the Corporal. "Let's get these bars loose". Grunting in the total silence that is only found underground, the men pulled out swords and daggers and started to pry out the rocks holding the grate in place. It wasn't easy. They weren't meant to be moved. -
Re: The Last War
#449The soldiers and archers, on both sides of the conflict, were surprised by the geyser of water that erupted from the chute at the southern gate. It was immense. It collided with the fires with an angry hiss of steam, drenching all in the immediate area with frigid water. Rory, a distance away atop Mac's roof, fought unsuccessfully, to stifle a mischievous grin. It was a little thing but it would make it harder for the Legion to set the chute ablaze... -
Re: The Last War
#450There. They had the grating loose. Filthy from kneeling in the muck while pulling out stones that held the bars, the 9 men moved forward, wishing in bottom of their hearts that they could get a bath, a shower, anything to wash away the stench which covered them. "`S'Blood! Wot I wouldn' give for a stream o' fresh water!" muttered one, as they headed for the light just ahead. "Righto" said another. "Hot or cold, either which" said another.
There is an old saying, of course: "Be careful what you wish for..."
Fox stopped them as they splashed along in the sewage. "What's that??" he whispered. They could all hear it. The gurgling was getting louder. It grew from a trickle to a roar, as all the smaller pipes before and behind them started gushing drainwater from the streets into the main drain tunnel. The main drain tunnel they were standing in. The one that was rapidly flooding to the top.
"Crimey! Let's get!" The men rushed forward toward the light of a drain hole in the street up ahead. Water was pouring down it into their faces as they scrambled upward. Fox clawed his way upward into the onrushing torrent since there was no other place to go. Burns hung on with all his strength and climbed up as well. Smithy hung onto Burn's belt with one hand as his feet were swept out from under him by the water rushing down the drain. They managed to crawl out of the drain at the end of an alley like drowned rats, as wave after wave rushed down the alley from the direction of the north gate.
"By the Goddess!" swore Fox, wiping his glove across his face. The sky was clear! Where did that flood come from? Perhaps the goddess was looking out for them, since no one was looking at them at that moment. Fox shoved Smithy and Burns against the wall so they wouldn't be spotted. He had lost his knife, but he had his sword. Smithy had no weapons; only his shield. Burns had his dagger, and a quiver of arrows, but no bow.
Fox didn't see anyone else coming up out of that tunnel. It was a half-mile, he figured. If the tunnel completely filled, it would be unlikely for the other men to survive. If they could get air, they would be flushed out into the river, and might return.
Fox pointed. Across the street was a blacksmith's shop. Reaching down, Smithy picked up a barrel stave with a nail sticking out and the three of them quickly disappeared into the shop to see what they could find for weapons.
At least they were clean! -
Re: The Last War
#451Fox peered into the area of the forge. There he saw an extremely tall figure leaving, going back into the adjacent inn. The corporal caught only a glimpse, but he had never seen anyone that tall. Seven feet, if an inch. Good thing he didn't have to fight someone of that size.
He saw a gimlet on the bench across the room, next to a black spear head lying there. It had a rod of steel imbedded in the head for a shaft instead of the usual wood. That's when it struck him. It was Captain Kraggis' spear head! By the goddess indeed! He had to get it.
There was a hooded figure sitting in a chair nearby, sleeping. Its snoring was frightful, hideous. The sounds rose and fell like that of some foul tar dragon slaughtering a herd of helpless sheep.
Actually, that was what Grumple was dreaming of. That is, Grumple was the black tar dragon, grabbing the bleating sheep and popping them into his ravening maw as fast as he could scoop them up. Upon those sheep that ran in the dream he would spew hot black sticky phlegm from his nostrils, and then catch them as well. Nothing like fresh mutton, with the right kind of sauce, too. Really very satisfying, this dream. As Grumple slept and dreamed, Grumple healed.
Fox, Smithy, and Burns put their hands over their ears. The snoring bored into their brains and rasped against some primitive fear center hidden deep within their modern minds. They edged around the room, quietly picking up whatever they could for weapons. Smithy got a large hammer and seemed very familiar with such a tool. Fox could barely take his hands off his ears but dared to do so to grab The Tooth. When he wrapped his hand around the steel shaft, his fingers touched the shiny black base of the blade where it joined with the steel. Oh! He wavered there for a moment as a new sensation rippled up his hand and arm into his shoulders and back, causing the muscles to flex and shiver. Ishtar! What a weapon!
Grinning foolishly, Fox touched one of the three jagged spear edges. Unbelievably, the spear twitched toward him seemingly of its own accord and sliced the finger tip off his glove! Fox grinned even more. It was perfect! No wonder Kraggis had to have it!
He motioned to the men. The three of them quietly tiptoed out of the blacksmith's shop into the inn, leaving sleeping dogs (dragons, or otherwise) to lie.
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Re: The Last War
#452For weeks he knew the Legion was comming and for weeks Mikel had been preparing. Getting ready for the resistance, the civilians last stand. He knew in his heart that it was useless to try but he had too. He had to keep the legion distracted inside the city walls just long enough to find his family.
So far in the past week and a half he had gathered together about two dozen men, all the help he could muster. But it would have to do. His eldest son ,Cris, was in the city guard and had to be found first. Mikel had a promise to his dead wife to keep....die before the children, and he was in no way ready to die so he had to find them.
Mikel sent out the few men he trusted to look around the city for his children while he went out to find more people for this city's last stand. -
Re: The Last War
#453Sorry guys. I wil not be able to post for a few days with it being Christmas and all.
-Nobody -
Re: The Last War
#454Belzar finished his evil evocation, his voice rising to a thunderous cresendo. The scroll bereft of its powerful magiks burst into flames and floated away wafting on the wind that arose in the chamber. The descicated husk of the young girl dangled from it's chain, drained of all fluids. The rune covered bowl glowed with a sickly green light that grew in intesity, in slow measures, like the pulse of a behemoth being stirred from deep slumber. Slowly the glow grew, as Belzar fell deeper into his trance.
The glow grew into blinding intensity dispeling darkness and casting harsh shadows about the room. The light rushed upward in a column the diameter of the bowl. It passed thru the stone ceiling, slicing thru stone, vaporizing it, soaring upward as far as the eye could see.
The sky was clear but black clouds began to mass about the pillar of green light swriling, slowly, unnaturally... -
Re: The Last War
#455OCC: Ahh, POG, and Callista, like faithless lovers that vanish into the night, wafted away upon the willing arms of other passions, I see you have found other outlets for the light which pours from your souls; other Threads upon which to pour out your endless energies. Have not we in "The Last War" been your steady love? -- Have we not been the fertile ground of your written creativity?Â
Spend not your souls upon those who will never return to you. Bring all your strength and resolve here to raise a legacy of literary greatness to those who love and cherish your works forever.
[There. I said it. Drop those other threads... Those "unworthy" ones. "Night Games" and "Secret War". Stuff like that. They don't really love you. We need you here!] :wink:
To Isk: Welcome! Glad you dropped in.  :) -
Re: The Last War
#456On the staging field outside the city, Centurion Fellstrom looked up. Even in the mid-morning light, he could see a green column of light piercing upwards into the sky. "What the hell is that?" he muttered.
Men on the plains paused and stared. He had to get them moving. "AXE-MEN! AAAHEAADDD!" The phalanx reformed and the men surged forward; a living, moving wall of determination, pouring in through the gates again with fierce decision. The catapault rounds hit the area ahead of them. The barrels of flaming pitch shattered and splashed their inferno upon the defenders of the city and the area around the north gate, driving the men back. But no matter how the fires engulfed the men of Halbad and burned their flesh, the flood of water from some wizardry had soaked the wood and prevented the easy collapse of the defenses. This must be done the hard way.
Axemen in chain mail hauberks dropped their shields and swung their blades against the timbers erected in the ground. The wood chips poured out as did their own blood. The defenders' scythes swung again and again against the axemen as arrows poured in through the gates from every angle. Screams arose from men, and groans from both men and wood. But the timbers were weakened. Other men threw heavy ropes around the timbers as they were chopped and passed them back to the cavalry. One rope would be chopped through, but two would replace it. With a mighty crack, the first vertical timber shattered at its base and fell, to be dragged off by a team of horses. Then another.
The first phalanx of spearmen poured in, viciously skewering the defenders as their own blood poured out as one, mixed with their cries of battle. More timbers fell. The second phalanx entered; then the third.
Captain Kraggis sat back outside the city, a hundred yards away, watching. "Ahhh. Progress."
That's when Kras-Minion Voramis rode up and hissed, "Kraggis!" -
Re: The Last War
#457Mikel had found a few young men in the taverns with the courage to stand with him in the end, though he was alomst sure it was the ale speaking for them he had to take what he could get. They were headed back to a run down Inn that the resistance was going to use for now when the saw it. The chilling green colum of light that shattered the calm night sky light a crystal glass. Mikel and his new men stood frozen in fear not knowing what new dark magic was befalling their city.
Mikel was just begining to pull himself and his new recruits together, some of which were having second thoughts, when Arryn came to him with urgent news.
"I have found your eldest, Jarel, he has joined the city guard" Arryn gasped at mikel not waiting to catch his own breath.
"What!?!" Mikel screamed, "Where is he now?"
"Seven blocks over getting outfitted to go to the failing defences"
"Damn it! We'll never catch him. You take these five back to base and I will go after my son. If I catch him in time I may be able to talk some sense into him."
With that the men parted. While Arryn headed away from the main gate with the fresh rebels, Mikel ran through the streets like a madman hopeing against hope that he could catch his first born. Catch him before his foolish ideals of saving the city got him killed. -
Re: The Last War
#458OOC: Dream you're a mess. :lol: You know this thread is the main course, but that doesn't mean I can't eat a side dish. Relax "The last war" is Kobe steak and those others are appetizers :D
IC: The room became transparent to Belzar as his noncoporeal form rose upward, through the green shaft at the speed of thought. He saw the frenzied motion and rising dust of the fiercely contested battle at the gate. He looked with disdain at the soldiers' efforts to attack or defend using the mundane skills of those wielding sword, axe and spear.
Belzar was among the black turbulent clouds, unseen by those below. So high was he, that the soldiers below appeared as ants to him. The light from the green column suffused the black clouds with a pale green luminesence that was constantly moving. It would have been disconcerting to him had he been in his physical form. He travelled to the eye of the storm. The turbulent movement stopped. Belzar was in a still place, a place removed from the present time. A place removed from the present space, a place removed from the present plane of existance.
Twisted stunted spiky growth sprung up from the blasted sandy ground beneath Belzar's feet. Thru the haze he discerned a single figure who flew toward him unerringly.
Melgrittzigym.
The demon was but six inches tall. His wings were a blur that kept it motionless at Belzar's eye level. Baleful yellow eyes glowing with hatred regarded Belzar with disdain. Wickedly curved fangs protruded from a large protruding lower jaw. Melgrittzigym bowed motioning with an arm thick with powerful sinew.
"Salfir." The demon's word for lord. "What is your will?"... -
Re: The Last War
#459OCC: "Kobe Steak". I like that. "Melgrittzigym." I like that, too, even if I bit my lip trying to pronounce it. I guess you must be getting enough to eat since your writing doesn't show any signs of starvation.  :wink:
IC: The archers who were flushed out of waste tunnel were nearly drowned, then pummelled by the rocks at the drop into the river, then nearly drowned again. Thatcher managed to crawl out of the churning waters and up onto the bank, weaponless and exhausted. Three more men finally joined him. They lay there gasping, when a horse and rider from the Black Hand galloped up.
"Halt!" he called, pointing his lance at them from 20 feet away. "Take that toad-sticker and shove it up your arse!" responded Thatcher. "Oh!" exclaimed the rider, "You're Legion!" "Bloody well right, you stupid git, so just go tell your little horsey-lordy that we've found a way under the wall. And bring us some weapons when you come back, boy!"
The cavalryman rode off to tell Captain Kraggis, hoping this was good news. Always best to bring the Captain good news.
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The hideous snoring stopped. Grumple woke up, in the Blacksmith's shop. "Good dream", thought Grumple's head, but, Grumple's belly thought "where sheep?" and did a few flips and rumbles to underscore the thought.
Grumple looked around. "Where Grumple's spear?" It was gone. This was really getting annoying. It was getting so a troll couldn't take a **** [quick nap, of course] without somebody stealing that weapon. Grumple stuck his head into the inn doorway and yelled in Trollshaw, "TANTUS! See spear?" Instead, he saw three men sneaking up on the Bugbear, and one of them had Grumple's spear!
It was too late to surprise the men. One of them turned around and swung a blacksmith's sledge at Grumple's noggin protruding through the doorway. (His mistake.) It banged off Grumple's temple with predictable results (meaning none) and Grumple sprang forward. Intently focused, he wrenched the hammer from the man's hands.
Fox jabbed at Grumple with the spear. A thrill of joy coursed up one arm and down the other as the black blade stabbed the troll through the side. Grumple roared with pain, and fell down. Fox yanked the spear out and yelled, "Come on!" and turned toward the doorway. He knew that Kraggis would want the weapon back ASAP. Fox hoped he could get to the tunnel in time. -
Re: The Last War
#460The vows of a monk demanded that he protect life, and not bring hamr to others. For the majority of monks this meant that they did not take up arms in warfare. For those who did make war upon their brothers were adept in dealing non-lethal damage. Some monks could strike a man unconscious with a strike from his palm. Others could put a groan man to sleep with a jab in the neck.
Tantus had never taken the time to learn those strange arts. Most of the time, his sheer size and appearance kept the majority at bay. In those instances when the mob came, simply knocking one or two unconscious with special strikes would have been pointless.
Now the spear was a special case. It was murder made steel...or whatever it was. He would find time to curse himself later for letting men of the Legions get their hands back on it. If it was that important to their commander it was imperative that he not get it back. And in the greater scale of things, a thumped head or two was a small thing compared to the innocents who would feel the sharp bite of the spear.
Tantus rose from his resting place, his hamhock sized hands clutched together like the head of a battering ram. He hoped, and he prayed as he swung into Corp. Fox that the spear wasnt ready for his blood. He didn't quite have the knack for healing that Grumple had. -
Re: The Last War
#461Belzar, had done it he hardly believed it. Melgrittzigym was know as the herald of the Black Wind, one of the most fell weapons known. All Belzar had to do was let the diminuitive demon know how he wanted the weapon used and he could destroy whatever and whomever he choose.
The summoner wet his non-coporeal lips with anticipation, if that was at all possible. "I seek to unleash the Black Wind on the city below. Soldiers of the Black hand Legion will not be harmed." He said the last with more confidence than he felt, for he knew not the nature of the Black Wind or if he could control it once it was loosed upon the city. "The defenders and all who aid them are to be destroyed." He paused, thinking a bit before continuing. "Those in the buildings are to be spared. Those on the streets are yours." Belzar thought the Legion would need children for slave and women for sport.
Melgrittzigym bowed deeply, hiding the sneer on his ebon features, his voice was velvet. "Salfir, you are too generous."
"So,"Â Belzar asked, "Where is the Black Wind."
"Look around Salfir."Â The demon intoned, "It is already here."
Belzar looked about in alarm. The immense mass that appeared to be dark clouds were not, but ebony demons six inches in height, not thousands, not tens of thousands, but six hundred and sixty six thousand. A swirling mass darkening the sky and blotting out the sun, they streaked downward towards the city. The air from their combined wings buffeting the city with winds that approached gale force. Their green eyes shone with malevolence as they descended towards their prey... -
Re: The Last War
#462Corporal Fox had only a moment to realize the enormous man that he had followed was not a man at all. As the furred form of Tantus rose up, Fox caught a glimpse of a face that showed the most ferocious bestial rage strangely mixed with something like compassion.
It was the last thing he saw, of course, before the oversize fist backhanded him in the chest, cracking ribs and completely knocking the breath from his body. The spear went spinning up into the air, bounced crazily off the ceiling, and then fell... re-orienting itself like a magnet drawn not to iron but to the nearest living flesh. Tantus.
Grumple may not have been the brightest candle that flickered in the night, but he knew what the spear would do next. "NO! TANTUS!" he hollered, jumping up and throwing a heavy chair at his bugbear friend. It was a near thing. The chair struck Tantus in the neck just as the spear came down. The spear penetrated the thick wooden seat and the tip stabbed the cleric in his upper shoulder as the chair knocked it away, tearing open a small but bloody wound.
With a bound, Grumple leaped over to Tantus and grabbed him by the shoulders. Grumple looked at the damage, gave the torn flesh a huge lick, grinned broadly, and said in Trollshaw, "Cub bite".
Then Grumple put one foot on the shattered chair and pulled out the spear. Grumple looked around for some men to kill. No cub bites.
That's when Grumple saw something black moving outside the window. He paused. "Huh? Wha?" -
Re: The Last War
#463Voramis said to Captain Kraggis: "Order your men to gather here and stand still. NOW!"
The sound of the dark mage's voice bored into the man's brain and rasped there like a file on glass. Kraggis winced in spite of himself.
"BLACK HAND RIDERS! FORM ON ME!!" The order was repeated across the field and the horsemen began galloping over to where the Captain and the Kras-Minion sat atop their mounts. -
Re: The Last War
#464Tarrin mopped at a brow heavy with sweat. His squad was by the south gate where fighting had been the thickest. The casualties had been high. If not for the water, that had come from gods knew where, the fires hurled by the enemy would have taken their toll on the hastilly constructed fortifications he hid behind. His lungs heaved with the exertion of hours of fighting and his muscles ached from long hours of swinging scythe and axe. The enemy had fallen back. He looked at Dorian, two years his junior. The younger man's hair was being stirred by the breeze.
The breeze...
The wind was beginning to blow harder, and upon it came the smell of carrion and brimstone. Tarrin's heart began to beat faster, his stomach clenched. Sweat burst out upon his brow anew, this time it was not the warm sweat of exertion but the icy sweat of fear. His bowels turned to water as the keening sound of the demons wails hit him. He cast his gaze upward to the roiling mass of the sky dropping on him in an ebony wave of green eyed malevolence.
Then the Black Wind was upon him.
His bowels turned to water as hundreds of small bodies slammed into him, razor sharp claws and fangs ripping with manic frenzy, other demons carried small blades, with which they inflicted injuries with surgical precision. He was carried aloft as he saw a wickedly grinning demon separate Dorian's eye from its socket with practiced ease. Dorian tried to scream but three more demons ripped his tongue out of his throat and sliced it to pieces with sharp talons. A fourth demon forced it's way down Dorian's throat and began to slice at his internals from inside.
Tarrin's view was blocked by his own viscera being torn from his torso as hundreds of blades sliced his skin from him in one thousand sharp shallow cuts. The soldier's scream was lost in the wind and wailing of Melgrittzigym's fellows. He was hurled aloft and spun about in the air as the world went black. His last view was of scores of soldiers defending the walls falling under the blades of the black wind, in ways more gruesome than his wildest imaginings... -
Re: The Last War
#465Holly sat upon Tigra waiting. suddenly upon the air the black wind flew coming ever closer. Holly's mouth dropped open. it came ever closer killing those it's way. Holly turned to the other horses and shouted one word "RUN" Holly and Tigra were the first to start running the wind speed up throwing bodies around ripping flesh. some of the horses fell to the wind before they had even started running. Tigra ran with all her might. The sound of the hooves echoed in Holly's ears. "go into one of the houses now" screamed Holly turning to see how far off the wind was. It was right behind them. Holly's hair whipped around her face making it difficult to see. Tigra ran straight for a house the door was wide open. they were just crossing the threshold when a large rock flew towards them. Tigra jumped with all her might over a table in the way. The horse slipped and flew along the floor. Holly flew of the horses back and smacked into a wall. Her knocked out form slid down the wall and rested with a thump on the soft floor of the house. The wind passed over with a roar and left Holly's unconscious form in the house. Tigra opened her eye's and walked slowly over to Holly laying her head on her lap. -
Re: The Last War
#466OOC: do not worry yourself dream this will always be my first thread that i post in and i shouldn't worry i put all my thought into this thread as POG said the others are just appetizers. to keep me creativly charged. so my brain doesn't go dead when i'm not doing anything. :D I ain't going to be dropping out anytime soon and hope that none of you lot are either. this thread must be finished and i will not allow a quick finish it will not happen in one of my threads :lol: :D so keep gaming.
yours truly
callista
p.s POG your description of how the black wind mauled that man was breath-taking. it made me shiver. -
Re: The Last War
#467Mikel was almost to his son when the dark winds came. As he saw what it was doing to all those in front of him, he dove into the nearest building. From the window of the store that he was now standing in Mikel saw he eldest son fall to the wind.
Mikel dropped to his knees right where he stand and began to pray. To whom he could pray to he knew not but some great being had to be watching and was in a power to down something. He hoped with all his heart that his remaining two children were indoors and safe.
He cried for what seemed like hours, and then he sleep completely overcome with grief. -
Re: The Last War
#468OCC: And POG says I'm a bad man. Now I'm going to have the willies whenever it's dark. That's almost half of every day for cryin' out loud. Maybe if I leave all the lights on...
IC: Looking out the window, Grumple saw men go running by, screaming, being picked to pieces by something like swarms of small black birds. Some fell, buried under wailing black fluttering masses, only to have the flying clouds swoop away leaving shredded meat and picked bones scattered about. Some backed into the walls, waving and flailing at the air before collapsing amid their screams. One soldier burst into the inn and clawed his way through the door. The black cloud rose up, off his head and shoulders and joined the growing mass around his feet outside, ripping the flesh off to the bones, and then dragging the doomed soul outside to finish him off.
Grumple jabbed at the flying shapes surrounding the man as he was disappearing out the door. The spear unerringly skewered one of the flapping black monstrosities out of the air. It shrieked and screamed as the confused troll withdrew the spear for a closer look. Impaled on the barbs of The Tooth, it flapped about so wildly that one of its wings slashed itself across the razor-sharp blade and flew off, slinging greenish-black goo across the floor where it hit. The goo hissed and steamed on the floor burning holes into the wooden surface, and the wing itself then disappeared with a "Foomp."
Holding the writhing, squirming creature at spear's length, Grumple swung it over to show it to Tantus.
"Friend Yours?" Grumple said in Trollshaw, which, by the display of the upper left canine teeth in his mouth meant, of course, exactly the opposite. -
Re: The Last War
#469For the first time since this war had begun, Millar felt hopelessness. He watched as the whole of his army was sucked up by this great, and emourmous cloud that left death in its wake. A black winding wind would cover a group of men, and then there would be only bones left in that place.
He could not even see what it was. Well, not yet. In a few moments he knew exactly what the black wind was. In a few moments he understood, as the black wind covered him on his vantage point where he had watched the battle below. His screams were drowned out by the sound of the rushing of endless wings and the tearing of flesh.
Millar's corpse, or what was left of it, awaited Kraggis as the ultimate trophy from Halbad. It was still there, on top of the tower, when the black wind left his shredded corpse. -
Re: The Last War
#470Odat saw the black wind approaching. He had heard of it. He knew what it was, and he knew that there was no escaping it. He watched as it veered around one corner, and as it flowed through the alley where he was standing. He knew what was happening, and for the first time in many, many years, he accepted his oncoming death. He accepted that this life of searching for enlightenment would end, right here and right now.
A few minutes later, Holly, Grumple, Tantus, Rory, Baldwin, and Aurther could all see Odat standing in the middle of the town square, a place that used to contain hundreds of people. Now there was nothing but bones and debris. Odat stood there as if he was unaware of the situation at hand. But something was wron with him. Not the usual drunkenness that accopanied his stature, where he staggered about in a stupor, but something was off about him.
He wasn't drunk.
He stood in the middle of the town square, completely sober, as he dropped an empty flask of his drink from his hand.
He was Rai Dow-Sang again, or, more precisely, Raiye Sandor, somebody entirely the same, but entirely different.
For the first time in a long time, he felt truly alive. -
Re: The Last War
#471Ian was frightened beyond reason.
What he had seen in the last five minutes had defied all rational belief, laws of nature, everything holy. His consciousness blasted, he was reduced to an animal that knew only that it must put one foot in front of the other to survive. He was beyond exhaustion. He had fought the legion all day and emerged victorious and unscathed, only to half his group fall prey to the supernatural menace that was sure to bring him down. He knew that he would not survive the day. His squadmates had all been ripped to pieces before his eyes as ebony night fell about their ears and exploded their flesh off their bones in a gruesome display of epic proportions.
The sound of the wind cascaded over him in deafening silence. His screams were lost in it. His vision taken by thousands of sinewy forms wielding keen blades and harrying him with tooth and claw. He bled from a thousand cuts, none deep enough to kill. He ran in circles as they toyed with him as a feline does with a half dead rodent.
There was a part of his mind, deeply buried, in the recesses, that dispaired at never being able to see his wife smile, at never hearing his daughter's laughter again. So dense where the diminutive flying bodies about him, he could not fall even if he wanted to, the wicked cackle of demonic laughter was making his sanity slip farther away from its already loosened moorings.
A blue glow, as bright as the sun suddenly filled his vision. His breath was blasted from his lungs as he was hurled backwards.
Is this paradise? Have I traveled to the other side?
He opened his eyes to see green demon blood fly. In the center of the glow stood a swordsman gripping a sword inscribed with runes glowing with light so bright he could not look directly at it. The light spread about the swordsman in a blue glow that the demons could not penetrate. They hurled themselves at it in vain, their anger mounting. The swordsman, was in a frenzied trance, swinging his sword about, his eyes filled with blue light that seemed to be more than the orbs could contain. His hair stood wildly upon his head as if lifted by an electrical charge. He waded off into the midst of the demon filled street with steps stronger and more sure than any had a right to be. He was but one man though and the demons still numbered in the hundreds of thousands.
The swordsman's brother, however was not faring as well.
Rory twisted and rolled trying to avoid the flailing claws and talons. This wasn't working. His oversized cloak was tattered, he bled from several wounds, some serious. His mind raced. His brother, had fallen into a trance and left him on the roof and from then his luck had gone from bad to worse. He disappeared under the rush of thousands of leathery wings and ripping claws in an explosion of blood...
And Rory was no more... -
Re: The Last War
#472Amidst the amazing things I read on this thread, and on this website,
I wish every a very happy and prosperous New Year. -
Re: The Last War
#473From Dream:
Grumple rubbed his head, which had a bit of a lump growing on top. Grumple looked through the window again, and down the street to the square. One man was standing. Just standing there. It was the tall man; the one that was always drunk.
"Must taste bad" Grumple observed, muttering under his breath. Everyone else had been torn apart by the flying things. Grumple wondered what the man had been drinking. Might be a good idea to have some of that, you know, just in case a zillion demons showed up again.
-
Re: The Last War
#474Butchery...
Savagry...
Massacre...
There were not words in the common tongue to express what lay in the streets and allies of Halbad. The heaps of bone, still wet with blood and gore stood as silent witness to the horror of the Black Wind. Tantus pushed open the door of the blacksmith's shop and looked around, stunned.
The walls and the roofs were slick with blood, and the bones were everywhere. There were ribs stuck in the gutters, arm and legbones in the watering trough. A few had shreds of flesh still attached, the tough ligaments and tendons that had anchored strong muscles. A thin wail grew from the town. Those inside had been spared...the women and the children, the old and the infirm.
And the Legion.
The calm would not last long. The Legion would advance again, tearing down doors to get at their prizes, the gold and the womenfolk. It was barbarity on a level that threatened to make Tantus sick. He had to find the others, Saint's luck if they were still alive, that was.
"We go." Tantus said in Trollshaw. "Find Holly and the others." -
Re: The Last War
#475Holly stood up slowly her head hurt so much "ouch" Holly rubbed her head looked at Tigra "are you alright?" the horse stood up "i'm better than i have ever been and if you can't tell i'm being sarcastic" Holly smiled and walked over to the door she picked the table up and threw it to the side. "you think were safe now?" Tigra sniffed the air "i should think so, by the smell of it and the sound of it it's gone a way off" Holly nodded "come on we have to find the others" Tigra nodded abd strolled out the door Holly close behind. Tigra stopped just outside of the door "My god" Holly walked slowly out from behind Tigra and looked around Tigra had dropped to her front legs and was looking at the ground "to all my brother's and sisters who were taken by this supernatural force" Holly lowered her head and put her hands together, she prayed that the others would be alright. "come on tigra we got to find the others" Tigra stood to her full height and Holly jumped onto her back. Tigra trotted forward trying not to look at the sight to each side of her, Holly on the other hand was looking all around looking for the others. she knew they would be here somewhere "go towards the 'Blacksmiths shoes'" Tigra turned to the right a little and walked slowly down the alley leading to where they needed to be. "Grumple" Holly called jumping down from Tigra and Running towards Grumple and Tantus, who had just come out of the blacksmiths shop. she caught Grumple in a tight hug "i'm so glad your alright" she looked to tantus "sorry i never meant to ignore you, i'm glad that your both alright. What happened to your arm?" Holly looked carefully at tantus's arm but a more important question popped into her head "have either of you two seen Baldwin, Rory or any of the others?" she waited for there reply. -
Re: The Last War
#476The wave of demons streaked towards Odat. Â Just as they were about to crash into him the sun rose. The wall of black winged forms halted. Â The flapping of thousands of leathery wings increased as the mass changed direction. Â Like an inky veil being lifted the demons of the Black Wind ascended to the heavens whence they came as the first rays of the rising sun hit the city. Â They streamed through the inky portal in an endless line. Â It took nearly an hour for them to retreat to the abyss from which they were spawned.
The damage they had wrought was devasating. Â The defenders of halbad decimated. Â Of every ten men defending the city eight had been slain, or critically wounded. Â The survivors wandered, dazed among the bodies of the slain.
Baldwin, the enchantment of Final Judgment having run its course, collapsed in the center of a ring of slain demons, their acidic blood soaking into the ground... -
Re: The Last War
#477Voramis hissed, "Now. Tell Centurion Fellstrom to advance into the city." Captain Kraggis dared to look at the dark mage carefully. Nothing could be seen under the hood, of course, nor the face coverered with black cloth; but the rasping voice that bored into his brain seemed to carry some note of... of what? Regret? A feeling of something lost?
Kraggis shivered, and then rode off to give the order to Fellstrom.
The collective consciousness that was Kras-Minion Voramis sat upon the sleek black horse and looked down -- or, perhaps, rather "felt" -- the city. So many mammals torn apart. So much blood and life energy poured into the streets. So many wasted juices.
Spiders crawling with palpable greed, the human-shaped form of Voramis quivered under the robes, and then sat straighter. The loss was part of the plan. There would be more living juices to be had. The black horse, summoned from Hades, would also need to feed soon. Men, or their women, or the children of men, were always available in this world to be consumed. And they would be, for as long as Belzar's summoning spells held their sway upon the unholy forces.
-
Re: The Last War
#478Grumple was stunned. Hol-lee hugged him!
She must really have, like, you know, NO sense of smell.
Whatever. Grumple was so happy to see Hol-lee was well, not to mention Tantus, that he didn't notice the two enemy soldiers in the back of the inn. They quietly grabbed the stunned Corporal Fox and sneaked out the back into the blacksmith's shop and then down the alley to escape. -
Re: The Last War
#479The sun hit the side of Holly's head as a warm blast of wind blew round the city. The sun highlighted all the dead, made the blood on the buildings and the ground shimmer like water. Holly knew now that this wind had finished off most of Halbad the army outside would come soon. Holly knew this wind wasn't normal it wasn't a force of nature gone awry. this was a force of evil and it had done it's job. "come on we have to find Rory and baldwin" Holly said quietly to Grumple and Tantus "they can't of gone far" Holly began to walk southward towards where there were still noises sobbing as people exited there houses and saw the destruction of the city, not only the city but the people had been destroyed as well. Holly sped up a bit went left right then left again down a long alley which lead to a large clearing and there he was "Baldwin there you are" Holly ran towards him, he had cuts and bruises all over him odat wasn't far off either standing quite still. Holly looked around her and saw the death "Where's Rory?" she looked at Baldwin her eye's sparkling "Is he alright. She awaited Baldwins reply. -
Re: The Last War
#480Odat was drunk again. Later, as Rai, he might remember the fleeting glimpse of what had overcome him, but it was gone now, and in his stumbling drunken stupor, he stumbled around, over the dead bodies in the town square.
Something was missing. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something was missing. He had had it just a few moments ago...
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Aurthur was inside a house. He had no idea who's, but he didn't care. He knew exactly what was outside, and it was a sight that he wasn't able to handle. So he stayed inside and studied his book as if nothing was happening. Thats all he could do.
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Addle, after this short delay, was back in search of Realen Fox, who had taken Addle's spear. That wasn't very nice. Addle knew that the ugly thing was responsible somehow.
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Kethal was no longer just waiting to see the results of this conquest. She was no longer a bystander. She had sent word into the Fey woods that something evil was near. At the very least, some of them would respond.
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