Dark Age Legends

[Dude Man]

//100,000? Organized that quickly!?\\

"Humans are...well." Gorus began, he picked up an entire ham, and took a bite out of it.

A few people sitting next him looked rather disappointed as the large lizard snatched the ham, as if it were a leg of chicken. But said nothing about it.

Gorus swallowed and then spoke. "Humans are weak. Most have little to no magic abilities. However, my father told me, that humans that are enhanced or mixed with another breed are actually quite powerful. Which really only proves that humans are really just unfinished organisms, and I think it is us who should complete them."

[D. Ein]

//@Nick: Yeah... it took you like 5 posts to organize an army of 100,000, while it took me around 7 to organize 20,000

@Dm: What is Gorus saying? Is he saying that he likes humans? It sounds like he's saying that "humans are well". Maybe you meant something like "Humans are... well."?\\

"I was about to open my mouth to reply, as I recieved the message from Nick.

-"Alright... careful now, I'm about to do a little something..."

Imagining the map of Gaian in my head, I concentrated on the spot where Asgarnia was. I sent a huge jolt of Necrotic energy at it, almost halving my current power reserves. I have never had the need to use that much yet. Having done that, though, I returned back to reality.

-"Humans? The only value I see in those vermin is as a good source of corpses. On the other hand, certain humans can be trained to perform tasks that undeads would normally have trouble performing. You know, perhaps firing an accurately-shooting weapon that weak zombie bones would have trouble operating. Or casting magic. Living flesh is a much better arcane conductor than a corpse."

I threw another quick glance at Gorus.

-"Then again, other races can be taught these things as well. However, the question beckons: is it really humans we should be going after right now? They are all but a threat, and I think we ought to concentrate our attention on certain other entities... Such as the ones that I can sense coming to this fortress."

Long ago have I noticed a strange interruption of my bond with the dead in the areas that they have been passing. This can only mean that these individuals are more powerful than normal humans. Interesting..."

--- --- ---

Even before the soldiers poured out of the drills, all sorts of strange events began to take place in Asgarnia. Birds that were in the air fell down to the ground dead, then fell apart into pieces. All people excluding Kandarinian soldiers began to feel sick, fainting soon thereafter, then dying. The clouds began moving at a highly accelerated rate, turning grey, then black, as they raced across the sky. For some odd reason, shadows now fell towards the sun, not the other way around. People who were in a washroom at the moment would notice that the water suddenly started flowing the opposite to how it was flowing a second ago. Strange growths began appearing on metallic objects, growths resembling sponge. Soon, the only life in the area was in a large house that the Kandarinian warriors occupied.

Of course, what is Necromancy without zombies? and with a power surge this large, Necromancy soared to new extents. EVERYTHING which was once dead returned to life once more. The recently deceased people rose again; their clothes had a life of their own, for they were made of lifeless plants; lifeless, that is, until Kronos intervened. Furniture seemed to be groaning more than usual. Things were falling from place, because they tried to move. No matter who the attackers were, Asgarnia was not a sight for the weak. Even the most stout of Kandarinian soldiers were close to fainting at this horrific sight.

[Xorlak]

The Dark Emperor chuckled a bit.

"Yes, that would be the other reason I've called this little assembly..."

Translucent images appeared over the dining table, under the magnificent chandeliers, they formed into spectres of Zeros', Duilin, and the others flying northward and were about 1/4th actual size.

"These are the ingrates partially responsible for some... inconveniences... I've experienced some five years ago.  It is clear that they will be punished..."

He stood up, his deep voice becoming even more powerful.

"These meddling insects are blind to my acts of generosity.  It is a rare occasion that I must lay down my authority, but tonight it shall be done.  Those who do not submit are not fit to walk the soils of Gaian.  It is convenient that they have all come together.  Tonight at midnight, when the spirits of the wayward are at their strongest, I shall cast them down into Oblivion, forever banishing them from this realm..."

The dining guests became quite excited at this, many of them standing and clapping.  Soon a chant broke out:

"Hail Dark Emperor Retan!  Hail Dark Emperor Retan!"

Draven slipped out of his chair and made his way out a side door, unseen in the ruckus.  He quickly stepped down a narrow set of stairs and through a dark hallway, heading in the direction of the alchemy labs, where he had Horus lead to.

Must get to them first...

(I would imagine Horus got his dark glass set up by now.)

[Zeros']

Zeros' continued flying, though, flying almost half of his normal speed, but still keeping up with his group.

Unknown to his companions, his connection with the planet allowed him to sense all the strange happenings. I knew the Necrotic magic happenings in Asgarnia... he knew of the huge numbe of people gathering in front of their location. Althought, he knew his companions could also feel them, if they opened their senses. The north reaked of several different types of magic.

"Be prepared when we arrive... I have a feeling..." he said, pausing, then continuing. "... that we won't be 'welcome' there, especially after what happened to Retan five years ago..."

[Dude Man]

"I wouldn't expect to have a warm welcome from Retan anyway." Duilin replied to Zeros', as he continued flying forward.

The palace at North Point came into view.

"We are almost there." Aegidius said to the others.

[Burton_projects]

The drills escaped the earths shell. The amount of pressure between the drill and the ground make Asgaria's walls fall inward crushing homes and other structures. Steam came out as large door like panels opened. The men leaped from the machines. Galak Stood before them.

"Men this world is ours!!" Galak felt a large presence in the northern direction. Must be  the more powerful of the aboveworld scum, Galak thought. "This way men!"

Thunderous sounds of marching began as the men started northward.

Nick who was behind a rock watched the large army as they departed.

[Dude Man]

Marshall seemed to hear something coming from not to far away. "Can you hear that?" He asked. //I'm assuming the inn they are in, is not too far away from Asgarnia.\\

"Hear what?" The innkeeper asked.

"I dunno, sounds like some rumbling coming from not too far away." Marshall replied, sounding a bit worried. "Hey, Alex, you feel like checking it out?"

----

Meanwile in one of the fortresses of Kandarin, the elder was sitting in his chambers, staring at the wall.

There was a knocking on the door.

"Who is that knocking at my chamber door?" The elder asked.

"Nevermore."

"What?" The elder asked, sounding confused. //Cookie to the person who got that.\\

"I said, can I come in, Roland wanted me to bring you some big flat rock." Said the person behind the door.

"Come in."

The zombie warrior came in and dropped the tablet on his desk.

"Why?" The elder asked.

"I dunno. I'm only a mindless zombie. You and Roland are supposed to be the smart ones."

The elder looked at the tablet. "Aha!" He shouted. "I remember. The spirit! White Chimera!"

"What?" The zombie asked. "What the hell, are you talkin' about?"

"I..." The elder made an odd looking face. "Go away. I need to think.."

[D. Ein]

//Yep, his gun is all repaired. Have Draven come pick him up, though, he won't go off alone.\\

-"Interesting proposition. How will you go about doing that, though? I imagine that such a spell would take quite a bit out of you."

I stopped to think. There's absolutely nothing I knew of this Retan character. Maybe he could generate something like that in as little as a snap of his fingers. On the other hand, I don't imagine he'd know much about myself... I also took note of my recharging power, which was almost complete now.

-"If it so happens that you might require help, I may see what I can do."

//DM, I don't think it's an inn, just a regular house. Also, the quote you used has something to do with a certain type of bird, no?\\

[Coriko]

Swoosh; Coriko let the arrow fly knowing it would not miss his target. He heard the distant thud of the arrow lodging itself into the wooden target he had set up. As he walked slowly towards the target he looked around. The air was crisp and warm. The summer breeze was cool against his face. The day was perfect? or so he thought.  He finally got to the target and pulled out his arrows. He was stuffing them in to his sheath when something back near the town of Asgarnia sounded odd, which made him drop his bow. It was a deep rumbling that shook him to his very soul.

Then a loudly groaning zombie came at him with full force. Coriko wasn?t sure if he was imagining it or not, but it looked almost as if the corpse was glowing with power... It was coming up fast. Thinking quickly, he scanned the area around him for any trees or bushes to hide behind. However, he noticed the zombie?s large axe, and its strange tendency to follow Coriko... It was swinging its axe around broadly so he couldn?t dive out of its path. He knew what he had to do.

Closing his eyes and slowly breathing in and out he relaxed. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. He had to relax to control his powers. His hair suddenly burst into a bright red flame, and so did his hands. He ran his hand through his hair. He always enjoyed doing that when he was using his powers. He needed to act quickly so he made a small ball of fire and threw it at the zombie to see if he could stop it in any way. It made a miniature hole in the zombie, who, however, seemed unscathed.

?Hmmm, well that didn?t work. Let?s try this.?

The zombie was getting dangerously close. He knew he had no more time and so with all his strength he summoned fire to shoot out of the ground to act as a wall. The heavy axe hit the wall with full force and at first it held, but soon it started to crack.

?Just? a little? longer.?

He struggled to hold it together. He knew the wall was about to break so he mustered up all his remaining strength and summoned a fireball and threw it forward just as the wall broke. The fireball hit the zombie force that it blew him backwards several feet, but he was ok. He lay there the world spinning. And just as Coriko was on the verge of passing out he smiled and knew, he has survived, for the zombie was lying dead, in pieces.

[Xorlak]

Jayce stood up and held a clenched fist skyward, chiming in immediately after Kronos.

"Yes, if we all strike now, we will obliterate them like so many paper dolls."

Grav looked confused.

"Wait, like, NOW?"

Retan folded his arms, his black cloak flowing around him.

"I only require them to be distracted while I prepare the spell.  That and they must remain in a predefined circle through most of the preparation, though the area of effect is quite wide.  The danger to yourselves is minimal, as long as you follow my directions..."

Jayce finished off his mead, then crushed the copper goblet in his palm, the shards falling to the table in pieces.

"Let's DO IT!"

Virmir nodded to the Velkins at his left and right.  It seemed like massive overkill, sending all of the High Generals of the Dark Empire into battle at once, and against such a small group too... Still, it seemed the reason he was called was about to take place.

The doors on the opposite end of the room opened wide, and the Dark Emperor strode around the table, cape flowing widely, towards the exit.  One by one the banquet guests followed, chanting loudly their emperor?s praise.

----

The huge doors flung open loudly to the lower alchemists' labs, where Draven found the hulking Horus surrounded by fragments of a huge shattered slab of Black Crystal.  He was likely recovering the shards from the broken stone used during the failed demon summoning.

"Machine!  Come quickly.  And prepare for battle..."

Without another word, he turned and was out the way he came.  

Shortly, he was out the front gates of North Point, a crimson aura wrapping around his body.  He took off southward like a blazing comet, contrasted against the blackness of the night sky, his blaze contested only by the sharp bolts of lighting that constantly darted about the blackness... Many of the Vi'zar waiting outside looked up and watched has he bolted skyward.  But it wasn't the signal they had been instructed to wait for, so thus continued their preparations...

[Burton_projects]

Nick peaked out from behind the rock watching the army get into a weird formation. A small drill in the front. Three rows of spearmen held there weapons foward and held sheilds to there sides. Swordmen and spearmen in the middle protecting the interior with large sheilds. Nick caught a glimpse of Galak marching infront of them.

[Zeros']

//The quote is from 'The Raven' by Edgar Allen Poe. It's a famous line that the raven says, "Nevermore".\\

Zeros' nodded his head. He didn't think anyone expected a warm welcome from the leader of the Dark Empire, especially after they had foiled his plans so long ago.

Zeros' frowned. He had suddenly felt a large, fiery gathering of power in the area they were heading too... And, he noted, he could also see it. He knew that aura anywhere.

It was Draven.

And he was heading straight for them.

[lady mistery]

Tadewi walked in the forest holding a squirrel. She walked for a few hours and still got nowhere.
It was dark and she could berly see anything. Something about this place just wasn't right. Evil was in the air. There was abnormal silence in that forest, no rustling, Tadewi was absolutely terrified! she held her squirrel close, the only freind she had, and kept walking.

As time passed by the night became darker and spookier. Tadewi even got more afraid. She stopped, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
'I'm not afraid!' she tried to convince herself, and then started walking again. Faster and more sure of herself.

After a few more hours of walking the trees started to be more distanced.
'it must be the end of the forest...'
then the forest finely ended! She examinated her surroundings very carfuly. She was in an empty field of - 'corn?! someone must live here!'
A wide smile of relief spread upon her face. maybe now she'll finely know where is she....

[Dude Man]

//Correct *gives Zeros' a cookie.*\\

"Well, well, well." Duilin said, grinning. "Look who it is."

The group could see Draven's crimson aura coming from the fortress and heading towards them.

Duilin sped up a few feet ahead of the group, Rink kept a tight grip on Duilin.

"Hey, Draven!" He called over, still giving his sarcastic grin. "How's it been?"

[D. Ein]

"I looked at the Emperor, then at the hovering figures gliding over the table.

-"Very well... they will not get past me. Where are the simpletons?"

--- --- ---

Horus grumbled something incomprehensible, and followed after Draven. The cannon was now comfortably drawing power from the arcane capacitors, while he was passively charging it. It felt good to finally be complete again.

--- --- ---

A Kandarinian soldier pointed at the troops exiting the drills.

-"Heh. Looks like someone's wanting to steal our little gem here. Troops, to the windows! Arm your spearguns! Adepts, be so kind and conjure a nice shield around the building, will you?"

The warriros rushed to the windows of the large buildings, some hastily reloading their spearguns. Others adjusted a small scope to their guns, a recent invention from Sizri. Apparently, an alchemist was trying to create a thicker blend of glass to withstand fire, and he noticed that he saw better through the new glass. Manufacturers in Qim got word of that, and now almost all rifles were complete with a small scope to take down distant enemies.

Soon thereafter, a blue shimmering shield appeared around the building. That was the adepts' work, who could conjure a weak shield... Weak, that is, if there's only one adept supporting the shield. With about ten adepts, the shield integrity multiplied thousandfold. This particular division had over a hundred.