The Windlacer Mountains (OPEN)

[thePurge]

Scara Brae..

A city he had read about many times back in his home across the sea. But that was not his home anymore. Not since the war that ravaged the once mystical place.. He just couldn't stand the chaos anymore. The half dwarf had left his mountain citadel home months ago, and hoped that the guilt of leaving his people behind to an uncertain future would not catch up to him. However, he refused to admit that the act was selfish and prodded on. Only the future mattered.

What Rovdrel Slatehill was looking for now was a better place, a place of order and peace...relative peace atleast.

A secluded land...and most importantly a civilized one. The excitement of conflict brewing may have been an exciting thing for a time, but after feeling it all his life he had enough. Living under a shadowy threat from two powerful races every hour of the day was no way to live. Better a secluded island nation than that, as boring as it may sound. But perhaps there, he would find a place in life. . . the only obstacle to that life now was the Windlacer Mountain range looming before him.

The half dwarf, gazed up the mass of rock before him and couldn't help but stare at the tallest mountain of the range. It was probably the most monstrous thing he had ever seen. Never in the place he called home had he seen a peak that high.. The enormous shadow it cast on the short strip of grassland before him was only a few steps away.

Composing himself, he lowers his gaze to the horizon. He knew from the beginning that the journey was never bound to be an easy one and with that in mind, Rovdrel steps into the enveloping darkness.

A few hours later, the half dwarf found himself in the passes of the range. The unrelenting wind constantly bombarded him, sending him back a few steps at times but he pressed forward with the stubbornness only a dwarf would know. He was thankful atleast at the fact that he would not have to get near the mighty peak towering above him in the southeast, and was thankful that traveling the lower passes would suffice to take him to the city of Scara Brae.

This was a wild place however...he doubted any humans had ever walked the untamed, rocky passes he now walked on...or trudged through rather, as the wind here was one never ending wave, rushing without remorse through the steep mountain walls to his sides.

Rovdrel wondered what sort of creatures lived here...He knew he would make it past the range eventually as long as he had his well stocked supply pack with him and if he was lucky enough to not encounter any treacherous sections of the range. But the creatures that lived here would be another story...surely stronger things than mere goblins lived in a untamed place such as this. The scent the wind carried was not pure...but filled with a vicious, feral hue.

After brushing off loose, swirling cobalt from his face, he kept his arms at the hilts of his weapons and continued on around a very narrow valley. It was not a smooth walk as the canyon curved left and right..the path jagged and cracked..
When it would go at a straighter direction he knew not, but he did know that he was starting to get tired of the endless, lifeless scape of colors brown, gray and black. Will he ever walk away from the lengthly gaze of Windlacer Peak?

[thePurge]

(still open, forever.)

As he rounded the wind torn bend, he saw that that the section of the pass in front of him had a thorny ravine, that went on as far as the eye could see through the valley. The thorn bushes within were simply huge! One length of thorn was about as wide as he was! Rovdrel's eyes show a hint of hope as he sees that the thorns were not shaking erratically from the wind like the few ragged, thin trees that stretched higher up. Better brave the giant thorns than stay in the storm..

Looking forward to getting away from the persistent gusts of wind that kept assaulting him, the half dwarf makes his way to the edge and slides down the slope into the shade of the bramble bushes. Indeed, the gusts here were much weaker and knowing that, the journey south through the ravine would be much easier than walking on a trail above. But then there was the issue of the beasts that might live in the ravine. Rovdrel knew he'd have to keep his guard up as he traversed further and further into the ever darkening tunnel of thorns.

He kept wits about him, eying the slightest movements and keeping his hands close to his weapons. He thought he heard faint, subtle howls in the distance..but did not relent. He was going to get through this green, blue and violet place no matter what lived here. Better that than the miserable colors of the trails above that he's been seeing for hours.

[Vornwin]

Snarling viciously the pigmy like minion fumbled a small crumpled up parchment of paper in his hands, rotating it slowly in his clutches to figure out any sense of direction. “I don’t like water; they always give me sores and thanks to that wretched excuse of a sea merchant, guess what…” The three foot brown minion jumped around to face Vornwin who was approaching slowly from behind, an expression upon his face that was admiring the diverse rock formations about them. Bursting into a high pitch scream the minion rapidly stomped his feet upon the stone of which he was standing. “You’re not listening to me are you?!”

Tilting his head down to address the creature, Vornwin’s face lit up with a smirk. “You’ll have to forgive me, you’re so short, and the winds picked up so much that it seemed to carry all your words away…careful, it might carry you right along with it.” At the mention of being tossed about like a kite within the strong gusts, the minion crept off its perch and stood closer to Vornwin who made him feel even more miniscule by his height.

Snatching the wrinkled map from his pet, the demon went about tracing his finger along the chalk markings. “I highly doubt a man whom I served so faithfully on his ship for several months without pay and merely for passage would mislead us.” As the two continued their path leading down a grassy knoll, the terrain began to shift and became rockier, sharp hisses were issued from the minion as his green callused feet trudged upon them. “Never trust humans! You tricked thousands of them to lie to one another and you trusted one!”

Neatly folding the map several times, he slapped it atop the head of the creature, motioning towards the mountains before them. “Yes, I trusted one, and there’s the mountain ridge he talked about, just as he said. It should lead us to the trade port he often talked about.” Rushing forward, his muscular figure eased past the rough terrain and almost seemed to glide up the slope leading to the trade road that ran dangerously close to the edge of the mountain.

As the pair continued their ascent, the minion Grugor began yelling to compensate for the strong bursts of winds passing around them. “Do minions have wings?” Laughing, Vornwin merely shook his head as he continued walking. “Some do, pending on the imp, but you know that.” Snarling inaudibly, the minion growled through his jagged teeth. “Let me rephrase, do I have wings? I’ll answer for you…NO!” Leaping forward just as another gust violently rushed by, the minions legs were swept up, leaving him grasping hold of his masters resolute legs, clutching for life. “Get me out of here!”

Crouching down, the demon scooped his pet under his large arm and looked about the surroundings, noticing a rough path etched into the mountain slope leading down to a twisting ravine below. With a squirming minion pinned to him, Vornwin made the harsh decent and upon reaching his destination, wrestled the creature off of him to deposit it harshly upon the ground. “You need to either gain weight or lose it.” Kneeling down, the demon observed the obtuse thorns surrounding them, noticing the further into the ravine, the thicker they became.

As the winds whistled above them, the pair ventured into the unknown, observing the elaborate mangled vines contorting to the terrain all around them. “I could grow use to this.” Nodding dark green shaded head, the minion’s eyes fell upon his master, who had fallen to one knee and was tracing his finger around a footprint. “Would appear we have a fellow traveler before us.” Snapping in a quick reply, the minion whispered. “Or murderer!”

[thePurge]

The howls suddenly became loud and it was obvious that the source of the sounds was near. The sound of many feet pounding across the lichen covered stone echoes throughout the complex. Rather than just smelling the greenery of thorns, mixed with their flowers and the freshness of the wind, he now also faintly smelled something wild...something that has lived here for years. Rovdrel grimaces as he draws his weapons knowing very well that the creatures that he was about to face were not ones with the ability to negotiate.

He charges in around the bend and slams straight into a wolf. The medium sized wolf, slightly lighter than the armored and burly half dwarf falls back a short distance from the impact. As it lands on its hind legs and retracts to bury itself back into the half dwarf, Blightsmasher crunches the side of its face, sending it sprawling across the floor.

Within a second two more wolves were flying at him and he crosses his weapons just in time to shatter the first wolfs face with a intersecting attack that sends it sailing and sending spittle and blood into the air. That left the half dwarf open as the other wolf tackles his unprotected shoulder and holds on, biting and clawing at his cuirass. With a loud grunt, Rovdrel start swinging himself back and forth to loosen the grip of the beast until it finally releases and sails back. Rovdrel quickly got Blightsmasher up and demolishes its paw as it flew back. The yelp it made was carried into the wind and all the way out into the mountains.

Rovdrel reorients himself and lifts his head up. He saw a semicircle of white and gray wolves in front of him. A semi circle that became tighter and tighter as the beasts inch forward, snarling and licking their teeth. In the center was the biggest wolf he had ever seen, but then again he didn't see many in his lifetime. But this one was odd, as it had strange green and purple wavy markings flowing across its body and arching at the head, they seemed to look very natural. Its fur was also a brownish hue unlike the other wolves. Odder still, was that it seemed to have piercings on the ears.

Focusing back on himself, Rovdrel takes a quick glance at his throbbing shoulder that felt moist...moist with blood as a good amount of flesh was torn and there wasn't much time to cast a healing spell that would atleast mend some of the wound. Fortunately, his left arm was still working and it would surely take a few more dead wolves to finish him. Thankfully that wolf wasn't strong enough to penetrate his cuirass, as only a few three-clawed streaks scratched down its surface.

Rovdrel crosses his weapons defensively and inched back as the ring of creatures slowly starts to surround him.

[Vornwin]

As the demon knelt before the footprints, a breeze brushed against his face, carrying with it not only the scent of the mountain air, but a feral yelp. Bounding to his feet, the demon’s body crept into the labyrinth of wild thorns protecting the tunnels before him. At first, what grey light managed to struggle through the clouds and canopy of vines overhead allowed Vornwin and his minion companion to follow the foot prints with ease, yet as the two trekked farther in, the more dense the foliage became and difficult to see their route.

Eventually, their pace slowed to a crawl, muscles beginning to cramp from the odd crouched down position Vornwin had forced to been in to traverse the tunnels and avoid being pricked by the massive thorns. Grugor on the other hand had little difficulty scampering about before him, zigzagging from side-to-side cackling as he smelled blood in the air. “I think the murderer has been slain, do you know what that means?!” Grumbling from the stiffness of his back, the demon switched positions and began to crawl on his hands and knees. “I’ve given up on assuming your thoughts.”

Prancing further forward, the minion twirled himself around, his serpent like tail rapidly shaking. “Lunch!” Ignoring his creature’s attitude on the matter, Vornwin crawled into an opening that was slightly elevated among the grove, allowing him to look down upon a pack of ravenous wolves forming a tightly knit parameter around a dwarf. Lowering his chest to the ground, he crept further towards the edge, closely observing the animals. Meanwhile, Grugor hopped up upon his back and released a sigh at the site of the dwarf. “Well, now we won’t be able to eat, there are too many of them and he’s hardly enough to feed them all.”

“Still, we can use this to our advantage, let them eat him, and we rob the corpse!” Moments after the suggestion Vornwin yanked the minion off his back and placed it beside him. “I have another suggestion, but I’m not certain you’re up for it.” At such a statement the minion spiraled to its feet, snarling at Vornwin. “I’m capable of anything your pathetic excuse of a brain can think of!” Nodding several times, Vornwin smirked and glared at the minion. “Good, run.”

Snatching the demon off the ground, Vornwin sent him saucering through the air, landing several feet from the wolves surrounding the dwarf; predictably, the minion screamed profusely in terror by being so close to the creatures, hopefully distracting them. As for Vornwin, moments later he had leapt off the ledge and landed behind the dwarf to secure his back, hopefully he wouldn’t be thanked by a weapon getting lodged into his legs.

[thePurge]

Rovdrel was completely oblivious to the figure that landed near him , slightly bending one knee in anticipation of a stack of wolves falling upon him. It wasn't until he heard the strangest shriek he ever heard that he abruptly took a glance behind him. A human! And quickly trying to see what caused the shriek he gains a quick glimpse at a very unusual creature for a brief second but swiftly turn his view back in front of him. The wolves were caught off guard by the screams and now was the time to strike! What amazing fortune that this man with the strange silver hair would encounter him in one of the most remote of all places!

The half dwarf smiles widely and charges in at the top half of the circle of shuffling wolves. Some began to move towards the shrieking creature but they stopped immediately as Rovdrel made a short leap into the air and pulverized a wolf making a futile attempt to catch him with his mouth. Before its muzzle got near the half dwarf, Blightsmasher and Spinerattler made a bloody impact into the top of its head. As Rovdrel skidded on leafy ground and brought his weapons back against his shoulders, the wolves scattered for a second but that was all the time he needed to charge full speed into the fray.

One of the scattered wolves blindly lept at him, teeth blazing but instead of sinking its teeth into the half dwarf head, Spinrattler swung sideways into the open maw and the wolf instinctively bit down into the metal, flooding its mouth with blood as the spikes penetrated its head. The dying wolf was stuck to Spinerattler and Rovdrel swings the bleeding weapon wildly at the approaching and regrouping pack of wolves , who backed away tentatively now, seeing their own impaled on the cruel beat stick.


Rovdrel snaps Spinerattler forward, ripping the large wolves maw and launching the corpse into a pair of the beasts to keep them busy climbing up from under it as two wolves approached the half dwarves sides. Rovdrel picks the one on his left first, the further one, and draw his weapons over his shoulders, taking two big, quick measured steps as his muscles burst with power as he goes into a brief twirl meeting the wolf head on. Blightsmasher shatters its face, spilling fangs onto the ground, and as the spin completes, Spinerattler rips the wolfs underside as it flew to the side from the impact of Blightsmasher.

The brief spin left Rovdrel facing a wolf that had taken a long leap a mere second ago and was about shred the half dwarf with tooth and claw. Rovdrel leans back as far as he ever leaned and pulled the arm carrying Blightsmasher back far, almost touching the ground. As the wolf sailed a few inches above him, now poising all four claws to rip onto of him, Blightsmasher rockets into the very center of the wolf underside. The beast landed a few seconds later with all four paws still in the air...but instead pointing towards the ceiling rather than the ground.

Frantic howls made Rovdrel face back into the direction of the two smaller wolves that collided wiith the larger one that was stuck on Spinerattler. One of them, was cautious and stayed back but the other blindly charged on as it emerged from the puddle of blood under the dead wolf.

With Blightsmasher thrown, Rovdrel had a free hand and swiftly draws a wide bladed throwing axe. He pulls his arm back, waiting until the very last moment before sending it whirling into the wolf, who was now just a few strides away from making its mark.

The axe's blade revolves straight into the skull of the wolf and it skids on its belly a meter, all four limbs sprawled out before lying dead at Rovdrels feet.

The last wolf of the semi circle on Rovdrels side scurries away into its bramble lair in fear. The half dwarf was very fatigued, never did he come so close to overusing his strength. He bent down a knee and leaned on Spinerattler and used his free hand to call forth a spell of healing. His torn shoulder throughout the fight had been bleeding profoundly it seemed.

As he called forth ray after ray of light to mend the widened wound he saw the outline of the huge brownish wolf with the markings bounding deeper into the thorn tunnel. It had been watching its pack members fight to the death and knew it wouldn't stand a chance alone against the two strangers of the mountains. A brilliant flash of green energy followed and he thought he saw the outline of the wolf grow taller... Rovdrel wasn't sure however as it was too far away to see now. He turns his weary head over to see how his unexpected ally fared.

(your post happens at the same time mine does so don't worry I didn't skip ahead. You write your part, its start at the very same time this post begins. )

[Vornwin]

That was when the thought occurred to him, triggered by his swords being unearthed from their sheaths. Why would I forgo my path to bother finding out what troubles this remote location, to help someone…some of it was a genuine curiosity, but the other…The thought was interrupted by a pair of ravenous wolves barreling towards him, their fangs resembled so much of a polished ivory, that the demon briefly thought he saw his own reflection or premonition of his death by the mouths of these beasts.

Hesitation no longer a luxury, the demon bent his right knee, the weight being heavily transferred to the ball of his left foot as it pushed off sending him into a twist, both arms extended to their reach, causing the blades held in both hands to come swirling around, gaining momentum. As both wolves leapt towards him, the perfectly timed swing allowed, the demonic blade Darkness was positioned between the two charging opponents, his other sword Cringe completely on the opposite side. Seconds later, both wolves met the ferocity of each blade upon their neck. Sounds of lard frying in a pan much resembled that of two blades simultaneously slicing muscle tissue and fat. As the corpses fell with a large quake to the ground on his right, their severed heads briefly continued to growl upon his left.

Pain shot through his left leg, attention swiftly turning to a wolf colored the same as the surface of which he was fighting, blood was surging through the beast’s mouth, gushing down his leg to pool upon the ground below. Slamming Darkness into the wolves back, the creature released his limb and contorted it’s head to snap at the weapon, never witnessing the other blade that came behind it, ending its life within seconds as it pierced it’s heart.

Screams whistled about further before him, desperate pants and quick tapings upon the ground, as the demon looked up, his minion Grugor was running directly towards him, inches away were carnivorous teeth snapping behind him. “Help me you fool!” Waving his arms about hysterically, the demon stormed between Vornwin’s wide stanced legs to cower behind a rock. The predator so consumed in the chase, failed to notice Vornwin until it was almost sliding through his legs.

For a moment, the creature cast its feral eye’s upwards, locking onto those of Vornwin, then all it saw was blackness. Both blades had descended upon the neck of the creature, in a scissor motion split the wolf in two, causing it to immediately fall to the floor, blood fountaining upwards onto the demons face. The warmth that moments ago was coursing rapidly through the animals heart was now coloring the portrait of its killer, whose face gave way to a sinister smirk. Digging Darkness into the side of the cooling body, the sword feasted upon it’s blood and began healing the injury dealt by another fallen wolf.

Ignoring his crude appearance, the demon turned to address the dwarf with a solemn head nod. By the sight of the dwarf who had taken up healing himself, it was then Vornwin realized the second half of his thought, the word that had escaped his vocabulary, was forgiveness, perhaps it could explain why he was here.

[thePurge]

(wow your good)

Rovdrel wasn't sure what to make of the miracle but was ever grateful for it. He casts a look of praise unto the figure before who seemed unscathed by the attack.

"You have my gratitude for your assistance kind stranger."

He hastily rubs of a bit of blood of his cuirass.

"I find it miraculous to have encountered a friendly face in so desolate a place.."

He looks down at the dead wolves around the stranger, they were filled with swift, precise cuts. The half dwarf was quite impressed by the swordsmanship this one had.

"And you handled those wolves very well I must say! That is also quite the curious creature you have with you.."

He wondered where he tamed such a thing. Rovdrel has never seen or heard of demons before so he didn't know what to make of it.

"Anyhow are you on a journey to Scara Brae as well? It may be vital to have a another for the perilous roads ahead.. especially since the leader of the band of wolves is still about."

[Vornwin]

((It’s just a lot of experience man, and compared to many I’m not that great. Just keep enjoying writing, if a word doesn’t seem to fit right just whip out a thesaurus and roll with it; before you know it you’ll be up there with the best of them. Side note, sorry for the lack of response today, will be home all day tomorrow.))

The muscular chest expanded and retracted rapidly, not from physical exhaustion, but the rush of adrenaline. Nothing was better than unleashing torrents of hacks and slashes to countless foes, feeding his inner rage with blood and terror that filled his victim’s eyes as they foresaw their coming death by the blade hurling at their head. With several slices through the air, it sent random droplets of blood off his swords, moments later to sheath them both simultaneously.

Pupils dilated, the demon rapidly blinked several times, cupping his face within both blood stained hands, pressing them forward to pass his face and sweep back his hair. “It wasn’t a problem, I’m sure if roles were reversed and I were the one in trouble, you’d of done the same for me.” Kneeling down, Vornwin ran his fingers over the course hairs of the wolf, debating whether or not to skin them.

Twin pointed ears slowly eased over several rocks placed a few feet from the two travelers, squinted yellow tinged eye’s glaring at the two. Springing from behind his cover, the minion pointed towards Vornwin. “What kind of tactic was that, using a minion for bait is highly illlog…illogic…miss…err…stupid!” Hurried steps ran up behind one of the slain wolf corpses, Grugor pounced upon it, smacking it viciously with his fists, but within a few seconds was already exhausted. “And you…” Weakly, the minion pointed a shaking finger towards the dwarf, “I’m not a creature…I’m his master…sleepy…” Shortly after, Grugor collapsed atop the body, soft snorts echoing within his nose.

“I apologize for my pet, he’s a handful and impossible to control, but certainly keep things lively.” Standing up, Vornwin placed his hands upon his knees and stretched his back, with a loud crack; he groaned and shifted slightly having just realigned his back. Having done this while the dwarf had been talking, he nodded several times. “Aye, we are headed toward Scara Brae, hopefully to find some type of mercenary work.”

Approaching the dwarf, the demon extended his large hand towards him in an open handshake. “Names Vornwin, and the demonic spawn over there is Grugor, we’d be more than willing to accompany you to Scara Brae.”

[thePurge]

(nah I'm definitely the inactive one here)

Rovdrel chuckles at the creatures antics and accepts the hand. His weariness was slowly fading away and he straightens himself up. He tried to be polite and respond meaningfully to the mans word but he knew time was running short.

"A demonic spawn... Now that sounds interesting. And mercenary work you say?...quite the dangerous profession. You'll have to tell me more about your pet and your work later it seems however, the big one is getting away. Can't allow a creature like that stalk us through the grove now can we?"

Rovdrel points further towards the tunnel.

"Lead the way, I'll follow you. We should try move in between the thorns that seem spaced wide enough. The path from looks like its going down into the earth..perhaps it is taking us through a small peak. If the prospects look poor inside we'll have to turn back, but for now we must destroy that creature!!"

It was surprising how quickly Rovdrel changed from a calm demeanor to an aggressive one. He always got in a fit at creatures so nonjudgmental, that kill anything that looks convenient enough, even if its weak or dying.

Rovdrel retrieves Blightsmasher and the throwing axes embedded in the wolves and rushes off towards the pair.

[Vornwin]

With a hastened nod, Vornwin took the vanguard, stepping onto Grugor as he walked past, sending the minion into turmoil. “I knew exactly what was going on you oaf, my illusionary techniques have tricked you again, I wasn’t sleeping!” Stifling a yawn with a fist over his mouth, the minion unconsciously fell in line behind Vornwin; concentration narrowed out the minions petty squabbles, eyes focused on the terrain ahead.

The path to traverse was obvious, hence its downfall to Vornwin’s liking, dozens of tracks cluttered the hardened clay, so well traveled that over time the various undergrowth had faded away. Delving deeper into the terrain, the path briefly opened up to fully expose a monolithic type rock cave. The opening resembled a mouth of an old man, the texture rough and cracked, wrinkled no doubt by the harsh weather conditions. Stalagmites and stalactites’ randomly were situated about the entrance, and as Vornwin’s eyes scanned the depths, a pair of eye’s unlike any he had ever witnessed glared back from the darkness.

“Seems we are expected…” Readying both blades, positioning them by his legs, Vornwin entered the cave, his senses filled with unique sensations. Nothing was out of the ordinary, a standard rocky abode, droplets of water echoing about, hints of sulfur looming over-head, and the occasional wretched looking skeletal remains of some poor adventurer. “Pssst!...Maybe the pudgy one is making us go first, so that the cursed beasts will feast upon our flesh, so he can rob us!”

A calm smile graced its presence upon Vornwin’s face. “We have nothing of value, and I doubt he’s that sort.” Continuing along, occasional breaks upon the ceiling’s surface gave birth to light that illuminated the companies trail, the demon’s heavy footsteps resounding down the path before them. “Well if they di-“ Halting mid-sentence, out of the corner of his eye Vornwin thought he had briefly spotted a creature, staring towards the direction, he cautiously preceded, attempting to quite his footsteps.

Eventually Vornwin lead them down a narrowed tunnel passage that opened into a large vacant auditorium like structure, the only terrain before them was a makeshift bridge constructed of hardy looking roots and mud dappled in from the roof. “Well, this is inspiring…”

[thePurge]

Rovdrel was beginning to ponder about the wisdom of not stopping the stranger and taking a more safer route. He had squinted hard at the many prints overlaying the clay floor. They all appeared to belong to clawed creatures, ferocious no doubt but the incomplete dwarf couldn't help but feel at fault for violently intruding a home.

Could he blame even the most unthinking of creatures for searching out a place to take refuge in against the unforgiving climate outside? Nevertheless, he straightens his back and unfurrows his bristly face from the thought. It was naive to think that there would be no attack on the way through after the loss of life in the bramble tunnel. Retribution would be delivered in some form to the invaders for sure..

Glancing over to the human leading the way, Rovdrel wondered if he was engrossed in thought as well. He knew it was unlikely however, just by glancing at his edgy visage he suspected him to be a man of action, not thought. As they came into a large chamber, Rovdrel quickly remembered that they were in a forbidding area...If they came under attack moments ago he would have been very vulnerable indeed.

He couldn't stop himself from wondering however why he acted so un-dwarven. They were never really the over contemplative race..

“Seems we are expected…”

Snapping back to full attention from the break in silence, Rovdrel pops his receding eyes fully open and darts his head back and forth. He cursed himself for being so deep in thought at times and only now did he feel the subtle changes in the scent of the place. A plated fist moves over a belted throwing axe and does his feet do their best to imitate the humans foot falls. He throws a unsure look at the root bridge and the drop below it. He could already hear the uncontrollable creaking his heavy boots would create. Though it didn't matter, it was unrealistic to think their presence had not been felt in the lair. "...you first."

The subtle sounds of heavy,withdrawn panting could now be heard in from behind. The air seemed to humidify as well.. Hoping the front would look safer atleast, Rovdrel lifts his gaze to behold a brief, but brilliant flash of green. that seemed to be emmited from a pair of curved eyes...from a tall figure.

Rovdrels face scrunches slightly recognizing that the eyes would belong to a formidable foe. "...and I would hurry. Damn flea kickers got us surrounded I would think.." Rovdrel turns to face the hushed pants of beasts within the caverns previous and takes a few steps back to cover the humans back. He had trust in the unusual human and his strange friend. His free iron bound hand flexes its fingers and opens suddenly to send a small flash of golden energy into his shoulder. He rolls it and accepts that it would be healed enough to swing a weapon with.

[Vornwin]

Cautiously, Vornwin slid his right foot outwards onto the roots, shifting his weight slowly, focus intent on listening to any warning of the bridge giving way. Crouching down, arms bent at the elbows and hovering out to his sides to establish more balance, the demon made his way across the roots. The width of the path was several feet, bulging more to five feet towards the middle, yet the end it dwindled down to what looked to only be two feet. For added effect, portions of the earthen bridge were formed with dried mud that gave way under the slightest pressure; such evidence was given as Vornwin’s right boot broke through the surface and sunk slightly down atop another root.

“Lower yourself as you cross, least you fall your arms should grab a hold of something.” Traversing was proving troublesome for Vornwin, the top layer of the vines were slick with condensation of the roof dripping upon the sapped roots, making the slightest misjudgment of weight deadly. Grugor on the other hand made jest of his master’s slow progress, his miniscule feet easily fit on the largest of the roots. “Could you be any slower, you remind me of an orcish slug…smell like one too!”

Either were both too consumed to notice the creature emerging from the other side, until a sharp screech hailed from the roots. Pausing from his jest’s, Grugor looked towards Vornwin with an innocent smirk. “It wasn’t me; I haven’t eaten anything in hours!” Moments later a soft vibration was felt below the demon’s feet, shortly followed by another, louder groans from the roots grinding together were heard in the direction of their destination. Since Vornwin’s current position was in a circle of light beaming in from a gap in the ceiling above, his vision wasn’t adjusted to the abyss of darkness cloaking the bridge before him.

Grugor scampered back behind Vornwin, who had now unsheathed both swords and was creeping along steadily, blades fully extended to the sides. As his pace continued, so did the increase of the vibrations. Eventually, the demon reached the parameter of the light that was blinding his sight into the darkness. Easing forward into the pitch black, amazingly he still saw white. Soft repeating gusts of warm air brushed against his face, tossing the hair upon his brow back and forth like a pendulum, but his nostrils detected an odd odor.

It took him a moment to narrow it down, at first the logical thought was sulfur, but then his vision had adjusted enough to realize that there was indeed white before him. No, it wasn’t a light at the end of a tunnel, it was elongated fangs directly before his face, the monstrous wolf had been waiting for them.

[Mutant_Lorenor]

(I have permission to join this thread and help Vornwin complete it)

Mining was a dangerous job no matter how you sliced the cake. Hired by a guild belonging to Scara Brae as both a worker and a body guard, the mutant found himself working for a company calling itself the Iron's Vein. It was the 10th mining company operating out of Scara Brae and one of the most experienced operating deep within the Wind Lancer mountain range. A man named Lucas Monovich lead the company and recently sent an expedition out into the depths of the mountain. A rich vein of ore was recently discovered in the monster infested depths of the mountain.

This was the reason for the expedition, and with it needed. Lorenor found himself in Scara Brae after a recent venture into the Liviol Sanctum (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=9478) and a new attempt to rejoin the Dajas Pagoda (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=16017), Lorenor found himself in Scara Brae. But was he really looking for work? The mutant wasn't certain. He joined the expedition team working directly under Lucas Monovich himself after a past, failed venture into the Dajas Pagoda. Lorenor had several miners in the expedition working for him getting pay for their labor by the guild.

And that explained why Lorenor happened to be in one of the nearby caverns of the Wind Lacer mountains when the screams broke out. Interrupting his physical labor, the ghoulish bastard child stood up and listened to the sound of the screams. "What in the name of the Thaynes is that?" One of the nearby miners wondered out loud. Lorenor took a few more quick swings of his pick ax and sheathed it a moment later. His buckets were already filled with the raw dehlar ore that they were busily mining. Lorenor had met his rations for the day and was working to fill more baskets with the precious minerals. "I'll go check it out." Lorenor didn't need one of the lanterns, his ability to see in the dark would suffice. Though he did need his weapons.

He unsheathed one of his many swords from a scabbard and proceeded to leave the mining area. One of the miners, his superior officer, looked at him with a stern expression on his face. "You be careful now. You're one of our best. I would hate to have to loose an asset like yourself. May the All-Thayne protect you." Hearing mention of the All-Thayne made the mutant instinctively snarl, but he kept his emotions in check. Noticing the reaction his snarl had on his long-time friend, Lorenor simply nodded and moved off into the dark. His vlince cloak swished in the wind as he moved.

With his sword's tip pointing down to the ground, Lorenor walked confidently into the natural hallways. Some of the regions of the mine were created by human hands, whilst others were passageways that were revealed through natural tectonic movements. Lorenor climbed up the passageway towards the source of the scream and memorizing the general direction where the scream came from. The sound had to travel, and thusly, Lorenor knew where to go.

Finding the bridge was an easy matter. What he saw though, shocked him.

Several dire wolves from the surrounding area made their way into the cavernous reaches of mountain. They were obviously following strangers to these parts. Damn tourists don't know any better. To make matters worse, the scream came from a lower section of the cavernous reaches, Lorenor knew even fiercer monsters lurked down there. His suspicions were held true as one of the nearby wolves picked up the scent of the ghoul. It reacted quickly and moved gracefully across the swinging bridge. Lorenor went into a full fledged fighting position and prepared to counter the incoming attack of the dire wolf.

The wolf leaped at Lorenor. The ghoul stepped to the side in a simple evasive maneuver and slashed towards the midsection of the creature. His weapon sang through the air and cut the wolf in half. Blood spurted everywhere spawning a blood lust within the mutant. Lorenor proceeded forward to meet the threat when he discovered the scent of a greater creature in the lower ravine section of the cavern. He would have to climb down to meet that new threat.

[Vornwin]

Bulldozing forward, the impact knocked Vornwin backwards, the monstrous creature atop him barreling down, jaws gapping open to display the razor edged fangs that would soon impale his chest. Lugging his demonic blades upward, in a scissor formation they braced themselves against the wolves neck, ceasing it from nearing its prey. Checkmate could have been achieved were the demon quicker, but in response to this act, the wolf countered with slamming its front paw onto Vornwin’s chest, the mere size alone covering his whole upper torso. Four concaved blood ridden claws stretched under the tender flesh of Vornwin’s neck, a stalemate for either of them.

Eye’s locked to one another just as their instruments of death were, the two both issued out snarls and growls. As Vornwin would press his blades farther upwards into the matted fur of the wolf, so too would the wolf sink its claws into his neck. Moments teetering on the limit, eventually, the claws of the wolf pierced the tanned flesh of Vornwin’s neck, with a feral instinct as soon as it saw its victim bleeding, it’s eyes dilated and reared its head back from the lock of the swords, both paws raised towards the sky, claws fully extended.

Now was his chance, tumbling backwards, Vornwin leapt to his feet, hurling both blades side by side, he slammed them towards the wolf’s head. Due to his posture, he was unable to visually testify that he struck his target, but judging from the wretched lurch of his blow and grinding sound of blade upon bone, he could only assume victory. But the scratching noise continued, sending dozens of vibrations down his swords and through the handle. Looking up, the wolf stood there, both blades grasped within its mouth, teeth clamped tightly down upon both of them.

Grunting as he forced the blades forward, violently yanking them from side to side to sheath his weapons down into the throat of the hellish fiend, it merely snorted, sending it’s perspiration upon the demon’s face. Heaving backwards to regain control of his weapons, the wolf surged forward, trampling Vornwin below its massive feet. Uncontrollably rolling on the vines below, Vornwin’s face smacking into the wolves hind leg, spiraling him onto his back where he noticed the creature’s tail flying proudly over him, like a victors banner over the corpses of a fallen enemy.

Seizing the opportunity, Vornwin slammed his blades together between the tail, severing it between them. This action sent the wolf into a chaotic yelp, mixed with shock and rage. Rapidly turning around, the movement sent blood to slap against Vornwin’s face who was already back on one knee staring at the creature, blades pointed towards the beast. “Charge through again, and I assure you, you’ll lose more than just a tail.”

[Mutant_Lorenor]

Studying the bridge for the briefest of moments, the ghoul prepared to follow the treacherous path that would lead him down to it. As he made a motion to move his sensory array picked up the dire wolves moving in his direction at the last possible moment. Noticing the near sneak attack, Lorenor assumed something about the greater wolf was disrupting his sensory grid. Unless there was something in the walls doing it. That was also another assumption.

With his senses greatly disrupted, Lorenor evaded an incoming attack at the last possible moment. He was using a sword in each hand, moving gracefully in combat position. Lorenor turned a quick glance towards his attackers and noticed that four more of the dire wolves had shown up. It was becoming quite the interesting party! The wolves were all gaping teeth and sharp claws. They were obviously pissed that the ghoul had slain one of their buddies. Blood was still trickling out of the corpse of his earlier kill. The same creature's blood trickled down the length of his masterwork blades and onto the floor. Attacking, the nearest of the wolves took the initiative. It covered ground quite quickly on his for paws, sending a snapping attack from his jaws towards the ghoul. Lorenor was already on the move. Reacting to the inbound attack, the ghoul sent a skillful strike at a forty five degree angle to intercept the dire wolf. Judging the angle of attack correctly, Lorenor's sword connected with the wolf causing it to yelp in pain for a moment and then die at the hands of the counter. Lorenor had cleanly severed the top half of the wolf's skull and effectively killed it. The creature fell to the ground, dead.

The compatriot wolves stared at the wolf as if pondering which decisions to make, fight or flee. Being instinctive creatures, the wolves were smart enough to know when they were out powered and out gunned. Lorenor's dark aura radiated from his person. Calculating his next series of moves, the mutant pondered the dire wolves all attacking him in one motion, but that never occurred. Instead, a loud yelp from the bridge below signaled that the tourist had landed a significant blow! Lorenor knew that the clock was ticking now. He took the initiative attack away from the waiting wolves an moved gracefully forward in another masterful stroke. Using his right sword arm for the attack, Lorenor took a wide swipe at the group of wolves hoping to sever bodies quickly and end this joke of a battle. To follow up the move, he moved into a sudden spin maneuver and brought his left sword arm with another attack creating a circle of shining light around himself from the brilliantly constructed weapons. A moment later, Lorenor heard the satisfying sounds of two yelps followed by several barks. The mutant had taken down two more of the wolves in one successful attack.

Seeing their fellows dead, the remaining duo decided to chase after greener pastures and left the cavern all together. "Hmph. Waste of my time."

Preparing the next part of his agenda, Lorenor decided that he wasn't going to let these recent kills go to waste. Sheathing his swords quickly, the mutant pulled out some supplies and one of the dread books of N'Jal. Merely one third of the Necronomicon. Turning to one of the pages proper, the mutant studied the symbols on the page for a brief moment, memorizing the particular processes for conjuring the power on that page. This was the first time that Lorenor was putting his books to practical application. Requiring several sacrifices, Lorenor looked around him and noticed the amount of the dead at his feet. There were three victims all together, the book called for at least two but specifically stated more could be used. Satisfied at this information, the ghoul prepared to go to work. He knelt down with the book creating an artificial alter for himself of stone and earth. Taking the dripping blood, Lorenor wrote symbols exactly as they appeared in the book, reciting the instruction as he went along. The symbols began to glow with power as he whispered the words in the book quietly so that his matron goddess, N'Jal, could hear them.

As the symbols of power began to glow a bright red, Lorenor felt the conjuration process taking place. He whispered until the chanting became fever pitch and continued with the process of the ritual. He went to each of the corpses, ripping the still beating hearts out of the chest cavities of each of the dire wolves and feeling their blood dripping onto his arm. Lorenor placed each of the beating hearts upon the center of the circular symbol completing the conjuration all together. Screaming now, the mutant prepared to unleash the power stored in the symbol when there was a sudden burst of energy from the circle. The hearts went up in purple fire, sacrifices to the matron goddess, and the energy ripped the three corpses asunder. Only dust was left. The rippling energy traveled back towards the center of the vortex summoning up terrible corrupt energies from N'Jal herself. Lorenor felt the tremendous power being called forth into the physical realm from another dimension of power all together. It formed a single mass and shape, and gathered before the mutant, awaiting his commands.

Lorenor whispered his words of power to the tremendous energies at his command, his eyes widened with greed. Reacting to the words of power, the corrosive blast of dark energy suddenly flew through the air having a target in mind. The thing moved quickly, a ball of darkness roughly ten feet in diameter and weighing quite a few pounds, one hundred all together. This represented the gathered weight of the energy. Spear headed like a small comet, the thing was launched towards it's intended target, the great wolf before them.

But something unexpected happened. Detecting not a greater wolf, the blast of unholy energies instead detected a rival creature. That of a druid follower of some nameless cult or another. Acting upon it's own living instincts, the blast flowed towards the form of the druid in disguise and proceeded to cover the space quickly to its intended target. It could have chosen Vorn as a target, but instead chose the nearest applicable target for its wrath. With a triple edge of acid energy burning through its confines, a corrosive disease, and powerful, raw darkness energy, the distracted druid would find himself hard pressed to evade the incoming attack.

Lorenor continued to chant until the ritual was over.

[Vornwin]

Preparing for another frontal assault, Vornwin readied his blades, blood that had pooled into the inscriptions on the side escaped as he tilted the weapons. It rushed to the edge, then traced the edges, outlining it in the crimson stain, to finally tear off at the tip. As the perfect droplets of blood were saturated into the vines below, so did the wolf absorb the corrosive acid about his body. Fur gave way to pink flesh, flesh that seared and released a rank odor into the cavern’s walls. A ferocious howl echoed off the walls of the area, accompanied with the hissing of rotting tissue.

The sight was of confusion, for Vornwin failed to see the poison cloud heading for the creature, as the lighting was poor in such a place. Nevertheless, the lighting on the tortured creature was perfect. So perfect, that at first it looked like the wolf was losing all its fur to this corrosive attack, but it was more than that, or so was displayed when the creature stood upright on its hind legs. Front paws twisting into hands, claws to finger nails, a lavish mane to a full head of long tarnished grey hair. The once bestial creature, had transformed itself into an elf.

The howl had never ceased, only slowly changing octaves and transforming into a scream from the druid. Now in his Elvin form, he clutched at his aged chest, flesh withering upon his body, sliding off his back to fully decay ever before reaching the ground. Desperately, he fell to his knees, clutching the roots below him. A face once contorted with pain and agony, turned to twisted maliciousness as it reared up to display the elf’s blood crazed eyes. Vornwin watched as the charred flesh migrated from the druids chest, to his hands, then to the roots below their feet.

At first, the demon thought this a mere grounding ritual, taking advantage of his foe, Vornwin rushed at the creature, blades extended to his side. Leaping into the air and shifting his body upwards, blades directed towards his target, the kill would have been perfect, precision accuracy right into the spine of the elf, until the first vine of the bridge snapped. The root shot through the air, lashing across the demon’s back, sending him crashing to the ground. He slammed violently into the roots, both hands still tightly gripping each blade. It was then he saw it.

Large plumes of steam were rolling from the sizzling roots in the center of the bridge, where recently the druid had been standing. No wonder his pain ceased, he transferred it into the bridge. Worse yet, the bridge was giving way, releasing the living roots into the air, to be controled as tentacles to act as whips to the druid’s will. Using this new weapon, the druid sent dozens of severed ends to wail upon Vornwin, cackling as the demon sliced wildly to cut down the vegetation surrounding him.

With his closer opponent detained, the elf now turned his attention to the threatening new comer. Rotating his torso, the shirtless peach toned elf pointed both hands towards Lorenor. Breathing heavily, his robes flowing hypnotizing below him, the roots about his bare, dirt covered feet began to give way. Rushing his nimble arms back, blistered elbows bent, the elf pushed his arms up into the air, palms out, his cracked voice murmuring dark enchants of centuries lost. “Malnurizan ferand calour!” Wind burst through his attire, raising him skywards, his wearied eye’s shut in pure meditation, parched lips tirelessly chanting. With both aged hands clasped to one another, the grey haired elf descended back upon the vine bridge, panting heavily, his hair toppled over the front of his wrinkled face.

With one hand upon his knee, the other fist closed tightly, he feebly lifted hoisted it into the air; the once bare hand, now had a palm full of small green tinted seeds. Wheezing upon them, they shot into the air and smacked violently into the ground beside Lorenor. Lifting himself up, the druid hobbled his way off the bridge, using his knee as a rudimentary cane. From there, he watched Vornwin vigorously try to escape the vines, but it was too late, the bridge from which he had transferred the acid was broken in two, and the entire structure fell limp and dashed into the sides of the ravine, Vornwin was out of sight.

It was also from this angle, that the elf observed his minions begin to take shape about Lorenor’s feet. What seemed like skeletal fingers breaking from their grave erupted into the air, plump rotund red bulbs fired from the ground, randomly landing about the ghoul. Their grey feelers rapidly swaying around their bodies, sharp thorns in the thousands dotted their tentacles. They moved with the assistance of eight thicker roots attached to their base which pounded into the ground as they heaved about upon.

Several hundred feet down, clinging to a sword impaled in the foundation of the ravine, the other carving out another step to quicken his ascent, Vornwin was climbing his way back up. Perched upon his back, tiny fingers laced into Vornwin’s hair, Guglor sat screeching loudly. “I’m killing that tree-hugging dress wearing veggie eating sack of mulch!”

[thePurge]

(((Just posting to say that obviously I have no posting access at all at home. To explain what happened to my character, just say he fell off the bridge somehow or with it, doesn't matter. Next week I'll be getting the internet back so you two can do whatever you need to with the thread and next week I'll finish up by myself most likely if both you have completed your parts. VERY NICE by the way..)))

[Mutant_Lorenor]

And in one fateful moment, the seeds burst into several plant creatures that were horrible and disgusting to look at. Many tentacles flapped in the air wildly with suction pads, equipped with sharp spikes within the center of their forms. These objects laced across the underside the of the tentacles and were eager to spread paralyzing neural toxins into their newly acquired victim. Lorenor saw several of these creatures, two big ones and three smaller ones.

His face laced with frustration, the spell had backfired on him. Lorenor hadn't practiced enough with the rituals in the tomes to understand their nature. He quickly snatched up the precious and placed it back in his travel pack. His eyes narrowed casually as the creatures moved towards his person.

They moved rather quickly, covering a tremendous amount of ground. The mutant cursed in tongues quickly. His sword in his hand promptly as he began to panic. He'd never fought creatures like these before and thusly, had very little in his arsenal that could take care of them. All he could fall back upon was his skill to survive. And so, the mutant prepared himself to do just that. By the time that he moved into combat position, the creatures were already at his feet. Lorenor stole a quick glance at the warrior fighting the druid on the bridge and noticed that the bridge had fallen. Lorenor cursed again and prepared for battle. Several whip like swipes of the tentacles were sent towards the mutant's mid level and legs. Reacting on instinct, Lorenor suddenly leaped as high as he could in the air, and swiveled into a flip. He used his combat training to effective degree and was able to evade the incoming set of attacks. Lorenor landed a few paces away, in combat stance. He took several swipes at the nearest of the creatures, the thing reacting to Lorenor's attack.

It reacted by sending counter strikes of its own. Lorenor saw several of the
tentacles instinctively defend the main portion of the body and intercept his sword attacks. The creature released a green fluid that stained the floor and the tentacle was split cleanly into two pieces. Several of them were. The mutant didn't want to touch that green stuff at any cost. It seemed like it would be bad for him! Lorenor kept moving on his feet as the creatures were sending their whip like tentacles at his person. Having the idea to try to cleave the creature into two even parts, Lorenor swung underneath the creature's main attack sphere. The mutant was able to go underneath the guard the of monster and strike the body of the beast. A huge scar sliced upwards on the body of the beast sending a burst of the green blood splattering everywhere. The creatures split into two even halves and fell to the ground. However, the tentacles still writhed and twisted following the genetic impulses of its host body. The thing refused to die. Lorenor growled angrily at this revelation.

He would have to turn the creature to dust and knew that he had nothing in his arsenal that could help him out. Pondering an idea, the mutant saw some stalactites above him that were pointing downwards in their general direction. He took a quick leap upwards as more of the creatures were coming in his general direction and taking more quick attacks at him. Lorenor grabbed the stalactite, it was able to support his weight, and climbed up the natural structure with his claws. He sheathed his sword and then unsheathed it when he'd reached an appropriate height. A series of stalactites, natural weapons to the right mind, lurked all around him. Lorenor took a circular swipe all around him, dislodging a series of them from their ceiling position. There was a series of muffled cracking sounds and the spear like objects fell downwards towards the ground, and ultimate, the creatures awaiting them. Earthen energies laced within the stalactites hit the plant things from above. Shrieking noises filled the air as most of the lot were pierced by a rocky lance. Only one remained that wasn't impaled.

Lorenor dropped to the ground quickly and prepared to fight off the last of the plan creatures. He noticed that the bridge was out now. He would have to find another path across canyon.

[Vornwin]

“Can’t you go any faster?!” The shriek echoed up the canyon that Vornwin was stabbing his weapons into, slowly scaling the vast precipice. Grugol grunted, finally leaping off the top of his masters matted hair, to cling to the rock wall. Small pebbles broke free from the minions curved feet, pelting Vornwin’s face, the creatures arrow shaped tail rapidly swaying to and fro from his hastened ascent compared to that of the bulky demons. Nearing the peak, they both found themselves eventually climbing side by side, each edging their fingers across the surface, tilting their heads back to allow them to barely carve out the area above them.

Collapsed against a wall of earth, lay the fatigued druid that upon last sight, was the one responsible for sending Vornwin and his minion toppling to their doom. In a hushed tone, the demon murmured to his companion. “Clearly the spells have taken their toll on the elf.” Springing onto the surface, Grugol’s pudgy stomach bouncing wildly up and down as his miniature legs swiftly peddled back and forth propelling him forward. “No mercy!” Waving his spindly arms wildly, the imp tackled into the druid, pinning his leg against the bed of dirt, clawing viciously at the body.

Slinging himself from the edge of the cliff of where he was suspended, Vornwin powerfully strove forward, his muscles feeding off the anticipation that had been building upon his climb up, thoughts of how many countless acts of brutality he could perform on the soon to be wrecked corpse of the druid. Masterfully unsheathing both swords from their sheaths, muscular arms forcing them forward against the air rapidly surging by, Vornwin used the moment to slam them into his target, the right blade piercing the wrinkled soft flesh of the elf, the other inserting through the lower right portion of his crooked neck, almost having severed it.

Heavily breathing against his target, easing his face closer, the demon watched his targets eyes fill with horror, and begin to relax as the colors of his eye’s began to fall into darkness, as death welcomed him into the fold, ears taking in the death rattle passing through his targets lips. A soft squish sound issued forth as Vornwin removed the two pieces of perfectly crafted weaponry from their horrified looking corpse. Crimson toned blood mocking the fallen by cascading off the instruments of their masters destruction. Releasing hold of the druid’s leg, Gruglor watched the body of the aged elf crash onto the ground, the corps arms rushed forward, reaching for Vornwin, as if even in death, the druid wanted his revenge.

Rubbing his green claws together, Gruglor cackled maliciously. “Know what this means?” Wiping the blood onto the soil, Vornwin remained silent. “It means we get to eat!” Leaping onto the aged leg of the druid, Gruglor sang his tainted yellow fangs into it, face twisted with a demonic sense of pleasure, his corrupted beedy eyes closing for a moment to savor every sensation of the raw flesh. Within that same instant, the imp shot his eyes open and released his meal, violently spitting green droplets of liquid everywhere. “This is why I hate Elves, they rot so quickly…note to self, eat them while they are alive...”

Vornwin instinctively looked up towards his imp and grinned at the misfortune, but then witnessed the comparison of the druids red blood, to that of the green sludge laying freshly beside it. A shadow erected behind both of two, Vornwin turned to once again face the druid. Head tilting from a large span of flesh missing, chest covered in a flood of ghastly flowing green puss, the familiar smirk once wore upon Vornwin’s face, was now upon the druids. “Purl’dala core, vescraken ishalu!”

Roots shot forth from the bare feet of the druid, spiraling up his bare legs, wretched howls echoing forth from the elf. Randomly across his body, green vines punctured the skin, covering it in a mixture of bark and roots. The hollow screams of the elf ended as vines ejected out of his mouth, wrapping around his head, the gouge left in his neck now used as an exit for vines to usher forth from. The figure that remained of the druid crumpled forward, his entire body rapidly transforming into an entirely new creature.

Meanwhile, across the ravine on the other side, just as the remaining creature twisted its vines together, facing all the thorns in the direction of Lorenor and prepared to charge, it heard the mangled howl of the creature across the ravine. Ceasing it’s motions almost immediately, it remained facing Lorenor, but its heavily laden root struts began to retreat backwards, eventually its arms fell limp in a submissive form, turning eventually to issue a full fledged retreat.

[Warklaw]

One of the wolves that had not been slain gimped up a massive glacier formation. There, at the top, it collapsed from blood loss and over exertion. A small wolf pup, no more than a month old, walked over to it and began to whine, licking the wounds. The pup went over to a monsterous man that stood at the glacier's peak, watching over the whole thing. The pup, Nalva, pawed at the back of the man's leg, getting his attention. The man, standing a hair below seven feet, pure muscle and clad in furs turned to see the dying wolf on the icy floor. Ayerwulf's usually hateful gaze turned soft as he went to the dying wolf.

"Sssshhh... Eßvn, eßvn..." It's ok, it's ok he told the wolf. He rested a large hand on the wolf's side, a rune necklace between his fingers. He began to chant in his indemic tongue, a language that was older than elves or demons. The Wulftung it is called, a language spoken by wereolves, allowing them to communicate with the feral beasts and the Winds of Majik. The healing ritual done, Ayerwulf observes the wolf's condition, it was no different; possibly worse. Demonic blades... reversing... Ayerwulf couldn't finish his thought, his eyes burned as tears of agony fell down his cheeks. Ayerwulf was never one to cry, but when he felt the wolf's stomach, he wept like a father would if his child had died; it was damn close enough.

"I'm sorry, Lhina. There... There's no-nothing I can do." The female wolf knew what it was, but she would die soon anyway. She just licked the scarred knuckles of her WolfBrother. Ayerwulf cried more when he felt the little ripples and kicks of movement in the she-wolf's swollen belly stop, never to start again. A whole litter, dead. Dead before they even lived, it was more than enough to make Ayerwulf succumb to his demon within. That wolfess would have been a mother in another week, but it could never be.

With a savage howl that seemed to chill the already frigid air, Ayerwulf turned his nose to the skyand let his god, Fenrir, know of this blasphemy. Long did Ayerwulf, the last lycan wait. Then like a ghost, the billowing snow took the form of a massive, snarling wolf, eyes red like gems from hell itself. The image was there but then vanished, but not without a voice colder than any winter a hundred fold whispered on the wind; it's message hateful and malicious,

"Ayerwulf... Agnulfr... My sons... Kill them all... Make them feel the wolfmother's pain. Slaughter them, warm yourself in their blood." Ayerwulf's eyes burned a glowing, fiery golden-yellow; burning with the fires of pure loathing. He began to Change, it was no full moon, but Fenrir has his ways. Fenris decides who lives and dies, he decides if it is light or dark, he decides when Ragnarök comes to bear. Fenrir wanted blood, by Ayerwulf's soul, he would get it.

[Mutant_Lorenor]

He walked over to the edge of the cliff and looked down. Only the darkness stretched for miles before it hit the bottom creating a severe sense of vertigo. After a moment passed, the mutant turned his head away from the steep drop, the last thing he looked at was the former bridge connecting the two sides of the ravine together. Taking several paces back, the small warrior began to consider possibilities. The most immediate of tasks was getting himself somehow across the bridge without having to do something drastic. Wind flowed in every direction from the vast encompass of the ravine. It stretched for several yards making it impossible for the ghoul to see past four feet in distance. The world was a blur, but he had other means of sensing things. The traveling wind passed across his sensory array and brought forth with it a unique new set of information testing the limits of his supernatural senses. What information presented itself, Lorenor recreated in his head presenting a perfect visual image of the area around the ravine. He heard the sounds of blades slamming into rocks as a lone warrior slowly crept up the side of his ravine with a fellow companion.

Lorenor turned back to look at the stalactite mess behind him. Still withering in death throes, the plant creatures' bodies were laced with electrical impulses that caused the tentacles to writhe instinctively. Lorenor felt a shiver go up and down his spine unable to help the feeling of disgust that touched his stomach. With only a few ideas passing through his skull, the mutant thought about heading further down the vast cavernous network paled in comparison only by Haidia's miles-long-caves.

Then, an idea slowly came to life in his head. Remembering one of his many artifacts, Lorenor felt the weight of one of the rings around his fingers. He'd already developed quite the collection of rings, but this one was quite special indeed. Acquired in a recent trip to Salvar (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=6504) the mutant felt the power pulsing through the ancient ring. It was once owned by a great Necromancer named Algus Lightfeather. Who revealed himself to be an apprentice of the mysterious Magus known only as Morian, a resident of the lands of Antioch. A Magus so powerful that legendary accounts stated his strength and might rivaled that of the sorcerer Xem'Zund in Raiaera. The mutant looked at his ring for a moment and saw that it was glowing with power when he stood near the symbols of blood he'd carved into the ground earlier. The corrosive blast from the book only served to make things a lot worse for the mutant and his ally (Vorn), as the druid became more desperate for plans. Lorenor pondered the usage of the ring, thinking about how he could get across the ravine.

Hearing the whispers of the endless, Lorenor knew that precious time was ticking by. A secret teaching passed itself from the endless, the children of N'Jal, directly to Lorenor's thoughts. Acting as a transponder and a receiver at the same time, the thoughts from the endless passed on as visual images, words, and various sounds. Sensations journeyed across the mutant's vessel as this occurred and he was forcibly taught how to use the ring by his companion creature. The endless was an organism that was constantly with Lorenor bonded to him across the ages. Sentient in every aspect of the word, the creature was parasitical in nature. It used Lorenor as a host body to carry out its dastardly functions. And now, the host needed to solve a particular mystery and the endless could provide answers. With the answers and mysterious technique inscribed into his brain by the phenomenon, the situation made sense. Seeing the need to take a tremendous leap of faith, Lorenor trusted N'Jal without fail. The word of N'Jal was spoken through the endless. And so, exactly as he was taught, Lorenor started the strange process necessary to activate the ring.

A few moments passed and nothing happened. Lorenor attempted it again, following the exact procedures that the endless showed him. Again, nothing happened. During the third try, Lorenor found his patience beginning to wane as he made efforts to activate the ring once more when something happened without him realizing it. Lorenor was floating! Standing in complete suspended air, the mutant found himself floating off the ground a few feet off. He'd moved directly upwards into the air completely on instinct. The ring had worked! Seeing that the ring glowed with a tremendous power, the mutant wanted to celebrate this victory. However, another task was at hand! He needed to get across the ravine. Concentrating on his movement, the mutant began to walk across the air step by step. It wasn't true flight per se, since this was the first time that the mutant used such power, but it was more like walking across the air. Each step was cautious and meticulously taken until he reached the edge of the ravine. Swallowing his fear and whispering a few prayers to N'Jal, the cultist prepared himself to make the great leap forward.

And walk he did.

At first, his body didn't respond normally to the functions he commanded it to perform. His legs were locked with the fear of falling. He was afraid that the ring's power would give out at any moment and let the mutant plummet to his doom. Come on Lorenor get it together. N'Jal will protect you. He thought to himself as he traveled across the ravine. The process took approximately an hour to cross the yards that filled the void. And Lorenor was taking baby steps across. His legs felt as though he was carrying large metal weights instead of flesh and meat. He held his breath the entire time out of fear that if he breathed, he would fall and the ring would loose its power. Finally making it across the ravine, the mutant made it at roughly the same time that it took for Vorn to climb the side of the cliff.

Just as Lorenor finished his trip, the mutant saw the druid, merely a few paces away, transforming into that dastardly tree. Great! More damned plant creatures to fight. The transformation was a grotesque sight to behold and made the ghoul feel even more sick. Lorenor wished he could burn the tree with some sort of fire-based attack, but the mutant had no such power at his disposal. Once again drawing his twin damascus swords, Lorenor stole a quick glance towards Vorn's general direction judging his location by the scent he carried. He then turned his attention to the crazed druid. "Yo wassup!" Lorenor suddenly said with a harsh grin. "Thought you could get rid of me that easily huh!?" The mutant continued as he taunted the druid. The thing turned towards Lorenor's direction at an angle, and stared the ghoul right in the eye. The tree had a twisted and horrible face at the top of the structure where the druid's face once was. It's mouth opened wide and let out a mighty shriek towards Lorenor's general direction. Danger filled the mutant's heart.

Still floating, he immediately dove at an angle away from the vile air that was spewed by the trees. Lorenor dove across the wind getting more used to the strange movement that the ring caused. He was light enough to travel on the wind but still carried his own weight at the same time allowing the warrior to move in newly acquired ways. Lorenor skidded across the breeze, diving into a roll. He'd successfully evaded the attack, but only just barely. A cloud of dark substance made its way across the ravine and touched the air on the other side staying stagnant without the breeze to touch it. It remained over the area that Lorenor once was but an hour earlier.

Shaking his head, he stood up, moving back into combat position. He looked in Vorn's general direction. "Vorn! We gotta take this bastard out!" And the time for holding back was now gone. Feeling his plasma discharge gun activating its inherent power, the clever bastard knew that a charge was now ready. The tree launched several branches in an attack against the ghoul, it was apparently focusing all of his attention on Lorenor! This presented a window of opportunity. Wondering how hard the tree branches were, Lorenor swung his weapons in a skilled counter of the incoming branches. He was hoping for a connect. A few moments later, he'd severed the branches and green fluids poured out of the injuries. However, Lorenor noticed that the branches quickly regenerated themselves with the skill that only plantfolk could muster. Lorenor's face shifted into that of pure terror as he realized what was going down. We'll be here forever! Instinctively firing off his plasma gun, he felt the kinetic discharge flow through the air and pass immediately towards the general direction of the druid's. With a solid hit, the kinetic gun would cause considerable damage as the blast had the kinetic force of steel.

Meanwhile, the spewed air from the druid's mouth sat near the entrance of the cavern. There was only one way in this particular area and it was through that passageway. The cloud of noxious gases stood in the air but a mere three feet away from the main entry tunnel. At the same time that the single plant creature fled for its life from the earlier battle with Lorenor, it slid into a side tunnel and cowered in fear. The other dead still had their tentacles twitching with activity. Falling from the central structures of their body, several seed-like eggs fell into the ground and were quickly germinated by the nutrients in the ground. A few moments later, more of the plant creatures quickly spawned off into their adult forms. Communicating with one another rapidly, pheromones were sent through the air to signal to the lone survivor from the previous battle to rejoin the assault group. It did. Now there were six of the creatures once more, for whoever entered the cavernous reaches to contend with. With a nearly limitless supply of seeds, the creatures could respawn indefinitely to wreak havoc on all unsuspecting foes.

Lorenor waited to see if his kinetic blast did anything to the druid. Options were rapidly growing slimmer by the second.

[Vornwin]

Diving behind the druid as it unleashed the poisonous toxin from it’s mouth, from his crouched position, it was now the first time Vornwin realized he was no longer fighting alone; but that Lorenor from a past voyage had come to his aid. The creature foolishly concentrated all it’s abilities on Lorenor, using this ignorance to his advantage, Vornwin stabbed his blades into the back of the creature, green ooze spurting out as they entered into the soft core of the fiend. Unknowingly, Vornwin had also anchored the beast to the ground by using his own body as a wieght, forcing it to absorb the full power of the blast from Lorenor; a devilish grin blazing over his face as the druid howled in agony at the carnage of such a blow.

Sizzling charred bark shot off wildly from the corrupted druid, the more it flinched, the more adrenaline surged through Vornwin, peeking his demonic muscles to their limits to maintain the violent hold of this villain. Small waves of putrid sludge flowed over the top of the creature’s body, slithering down his back and onto Vornwin’s weapons, covering them in the primordial liquid. Screams once loud and horrifying, turned to howls of agony and fear, then everything was quiet as Lorenor’s blast ended. Rapidly sawing his blades back and forth into the back of the druid, the demon failed to recognize any sign of pain or utterance from the creature.

Twisting his weapons out to the side, Vornwin dragged the beast by his sword handles. Puss covered roots began falling to the ground in massive heaps, dissolving back into the earth. As the last twisted vine untangled itself from the gap in the creatures neck, it revealed the mangled body of the elf. The defiant druid’s once peach toned skin, had been replaced with large spots of charred flesh, and in some cases, no layers at all, and lead directly into his wrecked body. Painted variously around his figure, was his now running satin blood, mixing with the dried stale green liquid that had coursed through his transformed being.

Arms ragged and limp at his sides, the druid cracked his cringed eye’s open, staring out before the vast abyss of void space that filled the ravine. Hacking up blood to cover his parched lips, his tongue flailed out to lick them. With a horse voice, he cackled briefly before having it interrupted with a sharp look upon his face from the searing pain of Vornwin yanking the blades out from the elf’s back. “I…succeeded in ridding…this abomination of earth of its evil beyond imagination of your insignificant…minds.”

Wheezing heavily, the elf’s back arched; his chest shook as it rose into the air, painfully breathing. “In return…I succumbed to what I destroyed…animalistic thoughts corrupting my mind, the taste of flesh for my hunger that never was…satisfied.” Weakly grasping the wrists of Vornwin who glared onwards from behind, the druid’s head faltered to the right, trying to look at him. “My sins are plentiful…conscious burdened…all I plead for, is that my people…know I succeeded, and that you burry my body into the earth…”

Leaning forward, Vornwin placed his lips beside the crested ears of the elf. In a hushed tone, the demon softly whispered. “I swear.” Pausing for a moment, the ominous grin appeared upon Vornwin’s face. “But I will tell your people that you failed, and that I, not you, destroyed what truly plagued these mountains.” Coughing violently, the druid laughed and weakly blurted out, “You’ll have no proof…fool…you swore to burry my corpse…”

Recovering from the crouched position, Vornwin nodded several times, with the same hushed tone to his voice. “Aye, I swore to burry your body.” With a crooked final grin of victory creeping across the dying elf’s lips, Vornwin fiendishly pushed him off the edge of the cliff, sneering between his teeth as he swung both blades through the air at the center of the druid’s frail neck. “But not your head!” A brief scream filled the emptiness of the canyon, then all that was heard was the crumpling of a body, collapsing to the floor, just short of the edge of the cliff.

Vornwin lanced the spiraling head onto his blade, retracting it slowly to amuse himself with the wide eyed horror filled last second of life experienced by the elf. Yanking it from the tip of the sword, the demon tossed it to his imp Gruglor, who upon receiving it gleefully pranced around touting it above his head, screaming “Brains!”. Sheathing both of his weapons, Vornwin kicked some dirt onto the body, smirking as he rose his arms, looking about. “Buried, in the earth…seeing as we’re in a cave, you were buried upon entering here and fighting us fool.”

Turning from the corpse, Vornwin walked over to Lorenor, a placid smile on his face. “Now what in the hells are you doing out in this unwanted place?”

[Mutant_Lorenor]

"I'm about to eat this jerk."

Lorenor said casually as he knelt down before him. The body was still warm and Lorenor could see the radiance flowing off it. Dirt was on the corpse of the druid, markings became visible to the mutant as he moved closer. He went into biting position, his maxilla and mandible stretching and ripping apart as the bones and tissue unraveled upon themselves. His jaw stretched widely into muscular flaps, teeth lining the outer rim sections. Lorenor bent downwards and began to feed from the druid. He avoided the flesh that was too badly burnt as the nutrients and protein would have been sucked dry from those areas of the corpse. Delicately, Lorenor removed the heart from the chest and ate it lavishly enjoying the taste of the warm muscle. It was still beating on electrical impulses still traveling through the nervous system of the druid. The mutant felt the blood and flesh traveling down his throat, warming him with the precious life sustenance. Lorenor felt the life filling his vessel once more and the hunger satiated. He wiped his face off with his wrist as his bottom jaw closed back in on itself.

Tissue and muscles fixated back into position at the horrible scar along the central portion of his face went all the way up to his scalp and well to the top of his hyoid bone located on his throat. Lorenor took a long look at Vorn and nodded deeply to the demonic warrior. Explanations were due. "Ever since that job (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=16359)with Destrudo in Nocturn I've come back to Scara Brae. I was recently attempting to rejoin the Dajas Pagoda. I fought a man named Cristopher Knighton. When I was defeated, I wasn't in action for a time. I awoke back in Scara Brae and decided it was time for suitable employ. I joined a local mining guild and have been helping them keep their rations of Dehlar and Plynt, and other mineral rather high. Apparently there's a rich vein of the stuff here in the Wind Lacer mountains. I was busy working my pick axe when I heard the noise created by your battle with the druid. I came to investigate leaving my mining troop behind." Lorenor raised his pick axe for emphasis on the job at hand.

He currently had the basic equipment of a miner making sure that everything was well in place, clean, and ready for active duty in the mines. "You are more than welcome to join our troop. They are looking for skilled workers and you could probably use the pay right now. There's a township not too far from these mountains. It's a mining town." Lorenor said giving a hint as to the situation at hand. He looked in the general direction of the cave, even as his blood bonded with the genetic information of the druid, Lorenor could feel his awareness of things increasing. He could also feel his knowledge of the arcane beginning to gain greater sharpness. His eyes were locked upon Vorn and his companion, Gruglor. He had a lot of respect for the little bugger despite his strange line of commentary. Lorenor turned to look at the general direction of the front of the cave. "That exit is cut off to us. We should probably find any other of the side tunnels and make our way out of here. This place is not safe." Lorenor had formerly been drained from using so much power, and feasting upon the druid secured that he replenished his strength.

"You can meet the others when we arrive at that tunnel. They should be on break already. There's a side tunnel not too far from here. It will take us under an hour to make it to the mining spot. Though we'll have to climb a few tunnels in that general direction." Lorenor pointed to one of the tunnels that were located nearby. "There's a couple of passageways over there but there are many dangers besides our druid friend within the tunnel. You game for some steep traveling? Having the numbers advantage is always better when dealing with the dangers of the deep." Lorenor grinned and extended his hand to Vorn for the demon warrior to shake.

[Warklaw]

Ayerwulf had been watching the combat and the exchange of casual words. These lads were no merchants, and they were friends too. 'That is a couple of thorns in me arse.' The lycan thought.
Grrr... Weeeak! You are weeeak! I can kill them in my slumber. Grrrroowwll, Agnulfr echoed within his hosts mind. 'Bah, if it was
a Red Rahu, maybe.' Ayerwulf thought back aggressively. Ayerwulf would have to act fast before these pup-killers escaped into the flurries of snow, impossible to track. He began to descend from his position, but a few yards from the two. Within a matter of moments Ayerwulf was standing on a glacial ledge above the two,

"Oi, you boys need a way through the mountains? I know these mountains like the back of me hand. I'll guide you lot through... For a price." Ayerwulf barked down at the two.

[thePurge]

(((Finally got my connection back...I missed a lot. I'll just say my character fell back at the bridge into who knows where. You can all ignore the posts I make since they probably won't affect your characters in any way.)))

Rovdrel slipped back into consciousness some time later and felt as if he was floating for some reason. Was he slipping into the next plane? It did not matter...he still felt the pains of the current one. The world was a cold, dark place at that moment and he had no idea where he was. He had forgotten about the entire encounter with the demonic human that helpfully led him through a distance through the treacherous paths far above. But right now he was oblivious to his surroundings. Soon enough however he did not stay oblivious to the different pains coursing through his body. He suppresses the pain with thoughts of the holy light...it did little but it was something.

There he was, hanging among the ruins of a vine construct that seemed to make a small crater in the uneven, mud based cave surface that ran with countless veins of green..

As his eyes closed he finds that what they were seeing was not much different than what he saw before when they were open. Above him was nothing but dark, impenetrable shadow. Rovdrel knew he had much to worry about just then. His weapons were no where to be seen making him completely helpless as he found himself to be lying at the bottom of the abyss itself with entire mountains over his head. He started to think about how he possibly survived the fall.. it was hard to convince himself he was still in the plane of the living not because of an act of the divine. Had he not tangled himself during the fall in the ropes, he knew he would have made a crater of his own.

[Vornwin]

Vornwin’s strong grip grabbed a hold of Lorenor’s hand and shook it. “Prospecting eh? Sounds profitable, with this dangerous event, perhaps they’d need protection.” Leaning back, the demon’s eyes fogged over with operation fees and viable charges to already issue to the mining operation. After several seconds of a motionless stare at the cracked dirt beneath him, Vornwin looked back up, blinking several times. “Ah yes, mining, certainly, I’m more than happy to lend my services for a price.”

Behind him, flies had already begun emerging around the corpse of the druid, it just didn’t seem right to leave him there. Striding over to the headless body, the demon crossed his muscular arms and stared, pondering on how far into the ground he’d have to dig to cover the stench. “Yes, I suppose somewhere you have family that wish you a safe journey on your way to the afterlife, thus it all starts with a proper burial I suppose.”

Running his snake like tongue against the front of his teeth, he released a cackle. Swiftly rushing his right leg forward, his boots powerfully rammed into the side of the lifeless body, loud cracks issued from the side, no doubt from breaking several ribs. The body flung through the air, as if a puppet being carelessly handled by its master. Just as the remains of the druid seemed to almost take flight, it’s height crescendoed, and rapidly plummeted into the darkness of the depths below. After several more seconds, a thunderous smash announced the body had reached its destination. “Maybe that’ll give you a head start on your way to hell, friend.”

A scream was stifled from Gruglor, his tiny stubbed feet waddled over to the edge, his fingers flexed about his face that was contorted in horror. “That was going to be my lunch!” Vornwin once again joined the side of Lorenor, his ego now beaming as he had taunted his fallen foe once more. “But on to serious matters, take me to these miners of yours, we’ll see if we can scrounge up some more cursed trouble from this heap of this landscape.” Gruglor fell in behind his master, snatching the decapitated head of the druid as he crept towards it from the ground.

Snickering as his yellow eyes feasted on the grotesque features of the head, he quickly began shaking the body part wildly. Several minutes later, he rushed before Vornwin, mischievously holding something behind his hunched green back. “Behold my true powers of demonology, for I am able to reincarnate the dead!” Swinging his arms around, it was a comical site, for the head of the druid was mounted upon the minions arm. “Observe my powers…Bob, say hello.” Wiggly his pudgy fingers inside the head, Gruglor was able to move the lips, his own face tangled as his brown stained lips twisted over to the far right, trying to mask his own lip movements. “Hello Bob.”, was uttered in a strained squeak.

Lifting his leg upwards slightly, Vornwin side kicked the imp into the wall, a loud thud resonated down the tunnel. “Ignore him, he was used as a plunger during his earlier years before the demons finally realized he was capable of speech.”

[Mutant_Lorenor]

All bunnies approved. Sorry for the delay on my behalf fellas. I actually had some trouble plotting this post out. By the by Warklaw, you should be busy trying to fend off a toxic cloud, and several reproducing plant creatures. Not only that, there's a ravine to contend with. There are ways around the entrance but you have to go and physically find them.

"Vornwin, is that really necessary?"

Seeing the tiny demon get kicked bothered the mutant deeply. He wasn't certain then why it bothered him so much, it just did. Vornwin was a friend and ally, and thusly, the mutant wasn't about to interfere in the other's affairs. Too much. When another fellow Haidian was being abused for no reason, Lorenor's sense of self-worth kicked in. The mutant saw himself as being a lot better than what he was. If it was true or not, was a matter that would always remain a mystery. The mutant had his own code and functioned with his own set of morales along the lines of his pre-chosen alignment. Though lawful evil, the mutant did not act like a psycho-killer unless the event warranted the wrath of a psycho-killer. This particular event called for a different sort of manipulation. Lorenor walked over towards the fallen Gruglor and extended his arm towards the little imp. His tail flickered in the darkness and the mutant could sense it with his supernatural sensory array. The mutant held his hand out to the imp for a solid minute or two before the little guy finally reacted.

Apparently nobody ever acknowledged Gruglor in such a way. Vornwin merely gave the imp remedial care at best. Miniature fingers delicately laced themselves around Lorenor's own digits. The creature used Lorenor's hand as leverage and pulled himself up from the position against the wall. Wearing a mask of gratitude for a moment, Gruglor smiled wickedly. Then, a few seconds later he did a shimmy of the hips. Rotating his hips in a vulgar gesture, Gruglor kept the grin on his face. His eyes were lit up with chaotic energy that blazed like tiny infernos. Gruglor gestured grandly and waved with an extravagant motion. "Aha! You see master Vornwin! I am nobody's bitch! On the contrary, it is you who is my bitch. I rise quickly within the demon ranks, and soon, I shall become a Demon General myself! He's my bitch now!" Gruglor yelled and went on a rant that made very little sense after the initial rantings. Lorenor shook his head for a moment and pondered giving the little imp a swift kick of his own. Deciding against it, Lorenor went to the subject at hand and walked back over towards Vornwin's side.

"Prospecting is quite profitable if you know what you're doing. Our foreman pays a premium and is contracted right out of the Miner's Guild in Scara Brae. There's work with the discovery of several wealthy veins of ores in recent months. That's what I've been doing all this time. Prospecting and lending my duties as hired muscle from time to time. It's rough work but it pays well enough and there are opportunities for more permanent work within the Miner's Guild if you know the right people."

By then, Gruglor had rejoined the duo. Lorenor looked down and nodded towards the imp.

"The fellas should be starting their lunch break right about now. If we hurry, we should be able to catch them and I'll introduce you to the main on site foreman."

"I know the passage back to the main site. There's a longer way around to deal with, but I think we should be able to make it within the hour. Assuming, we don't bump into anymore monsters."

****

The trip back to the mining area lasted approximately two hours. Just as Lorenor had said there were many passageways and tunnels along the way that were passed. Lorenor's memory was fairly impressive, or perhaps, was he going by some other guiding source? Many passageways were traveled before Lorenor finally guided them onto the right path that took them to an area of the tunnel that had tracks for several mine carts built in. This area of the mountains was a relatively safe staging area and could be walked towards the surface. At this depth they were fairly deep into the mountain now. The dehlar vein that was being dug into glowed in the walls with its rich ore. Lorenor had already met his quota for the day, and was beginning to be one of the most skilled miners in the entire outfit. Even veteran miners were giving the mutant his respect. He had a knack for detecting the veins in the various mines which were salvageable and those which were not salvageable at all. They required heavy machinery that, for the most part, did not exist almost anywhere on Althanas.

Walking back towards the staging area with Vornwin in tow, Lorenor made his way towards the foreman. Where Lucas Monovich was the leader of the Miner's Guild, his foreman and right-hand-man, was a fellow named Gradius Jesovah. Gradius was busily working with the 10th mining division an outfit of roughly one hundred miners. Each of the mines were busily working dehlar equipped pickaxes and hacking away at the walls. There was unrefined dehlar in those caverns and the Iron's Vein was contracted to seek out the precious metal. From time to time, muscle like Lorenor was hired into the Miner's Guild and put on the payroll. Gradius was a short, stocky, man who stood at a height of about five feet. He was a dwarf. A particularly tall individual for a dwarf at that. His eyes were tiny and beady, and colored a deep brown sort of color. He had no hair on his bald head. But he did sport a thick beard, equipped with braids, and bushy eyebrows. Gradius wore the outfit of an miner. His pickaxes rested at his side along with various implements of death that he kept with him always. Once a dwarf always a dwarf. Gradius had a deep, throaty voice.

He beamed when he saw Lorenor approaching with Vornwin.

"Ah Lorenor. You brought back yet another hearty lad. Tell him about the company did ya? He's been with us a few months now Lorenor has. Good worker, able-bodied. Don't complaint. We hates complainers around here." He said casually, with a dangerous sort of look in his eye. "You're not a complainer are you lad?" He asked of Vorn.

Feel free to bunny Gradius, he's a typical Dwarven bad-ass but a likeable fellow once you get to his good side.

[Mutant_Lorenor]

(I'm concluding this thread. This is my conclusion post)

Lorenor suddenly noticed that he was alone with Gradius. Vornwinn was no longer with him. The mutant sighed, he'd gotten so far and yet only managed to make it back to Gradius. Shaking his head, he turned back towards the location where the battle took place. Having learned quite a bit about himself, Lorenor grinned at the fact of the dead Druid. He was able to fell a particularly powerful foe all in the name of N'Jal. Lorenor was pleased, and N'Jal was pleased, he was certain of it. The mutant turned to look at Gradius for the time being. "You got anymore work available? I can use an extra gold piece friend."

Lorenor said calmly. Gradius nodded. He took a large, meaty hand and slapped it against the mutant's shoulder. "Ah yes. Ever the hard worker friend. You are always welcome amongst us Miners. Here lad, pick up this mining pick. I will give it to ya as part of the job. Mining is a fair trade, one that requires patience and discipline. Did I ever tell you about the time that we encountered that Spider Weaver?" He suddenly asked. Lorenor chuckled and listened to the Dwarf whilst taking up the mining pick. He knew he was in for a hard day's work amongst friends.

The End.

Spoils Request-

001-Contagion Blast-Used in the adventure to greatly harm a certain foe, the Contagion Blast is a deadly rite. It is written in the pages of the Necronomicon. It is a corrosive attack that has basic Shadow Elemental properties. It can deal a single, randomized status attack from Poison-Confuse upon a target. A circle of summoning must be cast on the ground for it to work. The Circle takes One Full Turn to cast. Each new Circle requires At Least One Living Being as the catalyst for the spell. The sacrifice must be performed in accordance to the scripture in the Necronomicon. Lorenor cannot make any other movement whilst he is casting the Contagion Blast. The Contagion Blast can travel from the pages of the book to about One Yard to reach a target. The Contagion's property also has a Burn effect that inflicts terrible damage upon the target. Those who are weak to Shadows are especially damaged by this powerful attack. Contagion Blast may only be used once per quest and NOT in battles. Lorenor must be protected whilst he is casting the rite. It is one of the rites of N'Jal.

002-Miners' Pick and Mining-Having acquired the basic Mining Skill, Lorenor has proven himself quite a hard worker. With his knowledge of Mining, he is able to detect where Mineral veins and deposits lurk. Thusly, he may use a pick to harvest the Ores from their deposits. Lorenor succeeds in this art every time, and can later use the Ore to form Bars for Blacksmithing. Lorenor can stack a single pile of Ore up to 20 units. He can gather several of these stacks in his travel packs until they start to weigh him down. In this fashion, Lorenor may Mine Tin, Copper, and Iron Ore and any Ore lesser than Steel but not Steel. He requires better equipment for Steel.

[Duffy]

Story (8/30)

Setting – 3 Little beyond basic establishment of the facts, plenty of scope to bring the Windlacer Mountains and the environment of the journey to Scara Brae alive.

Continuity – 2 The nature of involvement from some of you and the short deadpanned end realy didn’t help here. Of course, I understand that people come and go, but try and be more adaptable to this sort of occurrence. If you wanted the XP Lorenor, that’s great, but consider the impact it will have in doing so.

Pacing - 3

Character (15/30)

Dialogue – 5 Vornwin, whilst your posting level is very nice, and you’ve a solid grip of action and tempo in your writing, the way in which your ‘daemonic’ character speaks comes across as too lax, too common and certainly out of character. If that’s his ‘thing’ then it’s cool, but consider methods in which you can improve your character score, more brimstone, more ruckus, or perhaps use a dialect or a primer to translate his language into something more disserving of his hellish nature – same to you Lorenor, although this is an older thread, I think Lorenor has slipped into something beyond a mortal now, he should start to speak and think like the disciple of N’Jal he is becoming. Warklaw on the other hand has made a good effort in carrying over the feral nature of his character through dialogue.

Action – 6 Enjoyable and competent, if a little meaningless.

Persona – 4 Same comments here as with dialogue, some of you grasp the persona and the ‘inner’ persons in your characters, others are still developing. I did enjoy the remnants that were there, the broken speech of Warklaw, the descriptive entity that follows Lorenor (in a way, your persona comes through the way in which you describe Lorenor, not in the way he talks etc) and the Purge and Vornwin have vestiges of personality there – something I’d be willing to go into deeper if you ever both return to Althanas.

Writing (11/30)

Technique - 4

Mechanics – 4 There are countless mistakes here, simple things such as formatting and things that could easily be picked up with a quick scan or a word processor. Paragraphing is a simple fix for Warklaw, and the Purge missed the odd capital letter; Lorenor has a few run on sentences which prevented the technique

Clarity – 3 Within each individual post there’s vivid and simple mechanics keeping it together, but it really falls apart between posts and switching between posts; try a run on method, which ties into continuity – end each post with an open ended thought, action or description, and expand or work on that in the next post, so player A ends on ‘the horse jumped,’ player B starts with

Wild Card - 3

Total Score - 37/100

Spoils –



01- Contagion Blast-Used in the adventure to greatly harm a certain foe, the Contagion Blast is a deadly rite. It is written in the pages of the Necronomicon. It is a corrosive attack that has basic Shadow Elemental properties. It can deal a single, randomized status attack from Poison-Confuse upon a target. A circle of summoning must be cast on the ground for it to work. The Circle takes One Full Turn to cast. Each new Circle requires At Least One Living Being as the catalyst for the spell. The sacrifice must be performed in accordance to the scripture in the Necronomicon. Lorenor cannot make any other movement whilst he is casting the Contagion Blast. The Contagion Blast can travel from the pages of the book to about One Yard to reach a target. The Contagion's property also has a Burn effect that inflicts terrible damage upon the target. Those who are weak to Shadows are especially damaged by this powerful attack. Contagion Blast may only be used once per quest and NOT in battles. Lorenor must be protected whilst he is casting the rite. It is one of the rites of N'Jal. (There is a great deal of risk involved, and any effect that is applied to another, must also be applied to Lorenor for the same length of time; this backlash cannot be negated or reduced. In addition, every time a soul is consumed, wherever or not the target is inflicted with the spell's effects, Lorenor permanently reduces his elemental weakness to shadow, all spells or abilities of this nature which target him in the future will be increased by 0.5 of a level for each use. )

02- Mining approved; pick was lost on the way home, and for some reason, Lorenor seems to be unable to find any metals better than Copper outside of the Windlacer mountains. He is thus an above average miner in this mountain range, but average outside, as the geographical layout and variations in geology cannot be learnt in one location alone.


Both spoils cannot be used until re-approved by a realm of greetings moderator on your next level up.

---

XP and Gold:

Lorenor: 1121 xp & 37 gold.
Vornwin: 341 xp & 37 gold.
the Purge: 266 & 37 gold.
Warklaw: 133 & 37 gold.

[Taskmienster]

Exp and GP added.