A Dawn of war (RPG Forum)

[Ceres]

I fell down and my face hit the ground. I try to struggle hoping I could move away or stand but Titan's strength is overwhelming. He totally pin me down and

"Titan! What are you doing? Please let me go." I beg him.

I feel there's something painful thrusting on my back, "Titan, stop it you're hurting me!"

As an initial reaction, I struggle again but this time with my full strength. But when I remember Onyx's warning, I immediately stop and remain still. Pain surges at my back as he push it deeper. But I endure it, since I don't have any choice. Then I allow him to search my things with no further complain.

[Sir William S Titan]

I find the two figurines in her possession.

"Ooooh. Both look like good trophies. But this one shows more power than the other. I'll take it."

I set the panther figurine next to Ceres, and move away, keeping the earth one in hand.

"You can go do what you were going to do now."

I look to my left, and up.

"Help her now? She can walk on her own.....Fine."

I go to the animated cart, putting the figurine and axes away, then back to Ceres.

"For Caratra, I will only ask once. Want some help, Mage Girl?"

[Ceres]

I shake my head as I try to stand up. The pain at my back still lingers and somewhat hinders me from standing up, but I try to withstand in. Luckily, after several tries, I manage to get up.

I grab my shoulder hoping to ease the pain. I look at Titan sadly then turn away from him. The figurine that he took is one of the very important things for me. But I cannot do anything for that now or never, sometimes I just have to let somethings go. I turn away from him and shrug, that is really saddening.

I take a look around and try to find another suitable place for me to rest on, but definitely not close to them. I don't think I can handle another blow.

[Omega_Destroyer]

Onyx leaves the scene, in complete disgust of both Ceres and Titan, and searches for a place to rest. Omega and Topaz follow, but stop where everything went down. Omega heads for Ceres, while Topaz heads for the halfing.

"Can you blame them?" asks the sunrise lord as he raises his hands and starts chanting a healing spell on Ceres. "Your actions have brought suffering. But there is a lot more going on here than you or the halfing realize." He lowers his hands as the spell finishes, and turns to find Topaz. "You have little friends left in this world Ceres and I fear you are going to have to try very hard to stay alive."

Topaz approaches the cart the insane king is riding on and stops it with one hand. Her face is steely and she opens her mouth to speak, only to shut it. She wishes to admonish Titan for his outburst, but decides against it. She removes her hand from the cart and allows it to continue on its path.

Snow lightly begins to fall from the sky, merging with the pool of blood left by the mage. Topaz looks down at the crimson and stares as Omega approaches.

"It could have been worse" he staes as he wraps an arm around her.

"Yeah" is all she says as the two walk into the frozen fortress for the night.

==============================================

Faint beams of light pour through the window, gently dancing on the face of Vlad. The rays of the sun prove to be a poor alarm for the passed out warrior as he remains steadfast in his slumber. Head on the table and tankerd in hand, the warrior has clearly failed to defeat his 12th pint of Medusa Teet.

"WAKEY WAKEY!!!" thunders a voice louder than the heaves, splitting the head of the drunk. Tremors ripple through his head, snapping the groggy warrior out of his sleep. The darkness fades away to reveal the bane of all drunks: the one, the only, Drinking Champion of 13 cities, Saphire.

"You really can't hold your beer, can you?" She gazes at the tankered and laughs. "Well, at least you are trying."

With the help of Jade, she pulls the warrior to his feat and drags him towards the exit of the bar. "Better get you some food. We have a long day ahead of us." The morning air is cold and runs quickly through the city. Within a few minutes, the warrior is slapped awake by the icy breeze.

As the three head towards the castle's mess hall, they are greeted by Sun and the others already eating. Unfortunately, the mood is quite tense with Fate, Elvin, Onyx, and Titan all sitting at the far end of one of the tables. Omega and Toapz occupy the middle of the table as they talk about various church issues, while Ceres sits by herself at the far end of the table.

As Jade, Saphire, and Vlad join the others, the king enters the room.

"I hope you are ready for a tough journey. The weather is bad for traveling and looks like it's going to get worse. You should leave immediately. After you are done eating here, head towards the gate. We have a few guides ready to escort you to the mounds. Unfortunately, due to the snow, you will have to take the journey on foot. You should definetely avoid the main road to the mounds because that may lead you into direct contact with Dhalia's forces. As strong as you are, I do not think you could stop an entire army by yourselves. I shall meet you at the gate when you are ready."

That said, the king turns away and walks out of the room.

[asandir]

"Well, I'm pretty sure we plundered this place dry both last night," with a glance at Jade, Sapphire and Vlad, "and the last time we were here, so unless someone is in dire need of something, let's plumb Ceres for some sweet info, and then get the hell outta here!"

[Ceres]

I'll finish my meal silently and quickly though I do not have that much appetite for breakfast. Then I'll stay quietly on my sit and wait for the others to finish theirs. Though, I steal some moments glancing at Onyx.

[Sir William S Titan]

I take one more bite as the king leaves the room.

"Better get Nuvlihr ready, then."

I slide off the chair, onto the floor, then walk out. I go outside to find the cart, getting it ready to be carried again.

[winterfate]

I stare at the remainder of my food, unable to eat it out of rage at the recent events.

"I don't have much of an appetite today."

As I say this, I get up and leave, following Belaver.

[asandir]

"I don't know what everyone's so grumpy about, we had a great nights sleep."

[Omega_Destroyer]

Breakfast is finished quickly and the group heads to the gate. Two giant ice bears growl as a large harness is afixed to their backs. The harness iteself is attached to a giant sleigh, large enough to pull at least a dozen people. While the decision to use bears to pull the sleigh is questionable, everybody agrees it's a superior to walking.

"Listen up" the king begins. "This sleigh will take you to the mounds, which are a week's travel north. The weather is too perilous for horses or other beasts. So that leaves the bears. Now you must hurry" he starts to motion for the group to board the sleigh and a driver steps into a seat at the front. Once loaded, the slegh is off.

"GOOD LUCK!" shouts the king as he fades out of a wintry view.

The bears prove themselves to be amazingly fast creatures and the trip ends up taking less than five days. The sleigh stops on a ride just before the entrance to the mounds, where a large army of drow rests in various tents. In the center of the army, sits the largest tent, most likely where Dhalia is residing. Fortunately for the group, Dhalia appears to be talking to her lieutenants outside, while twirling around the dagger.

Topaz looks on. "Good. Doesn't look she has taken the dagger to the ritual alter yet. But I doubt we have more than an hour to move."

"Agreed" says Onyx. "We'll need to move as quickly as possible and without interruption. I trust you won't be a problem mageling?" he says with a snear as he looks at Ceres. "If you cherish your head, you'll behave."

"Anyways," interjects Omega, "any idea of how we are going to stop her?"

[winterfate]

I look at Omega.

"No idea...I just want to get Moon's soul back."

I ponder for a moment and then say:

"Distractions are always nice. What kind of distraction should we use though?"

[asandir]

"Praise the lords we rested, at least we have our spells, the only real problem is the drow tend to have decent resistance .... so it's gonna have to be good .... perhaps some big summons can be used to distract? or the alternative is a group veil and try to get close and create as much mayhem as possible, though I'd imagine Dhalia would see thru it .....

[winterfate]

"You have a point there, my friend. It's times like these I wish I could Call Lightning. That'd be one heck of a nice distraction right now."

[asandir]

"that it would."

[Ceres]

I nod slightly expressing my obedience. I move close behind him and carefully hear the conversation about the plan then probably wait for my orders if I would be given any.

[Sir William S Titan]

The little halfling king wanders off, away from the group, without a word. I move to the right of the camp, compared to where the group was. I use the snow's depth to cover me. I may be mostly insane, but I not enough to reveal the position of the group. This may even give the drow the distraction the group needs, but that's not one of my concerns.

Once I figure I'm far enough from the group, I'll rush in, axe at the ready. I am not going in without being in a rage, either. Dhalia's presence is enough to set my rage blazing. She's the one I head for. Whoever happens to get in my way will meet my blade.

[Omega_Destroyer]

A scout quickly finds his way to Dhalia and reports something which immediately sends the priestess in a frenzy. Orders fly out of her mouth as the entire camp springs to life. Drow and Striders alike take up arms and begin to form a defensive perimeter. With all of commotion, Titan's presence remains undetected.

"What do you suppose has got them all worked up?" asks Saphire in a worried voice. "Do you think they know we are here."

"No" replies Omega grimly as he points to another side of the ridge. "There is another army here."

Across the ridge a mass of figures slowly marches on the Drow encampment. Zombies, skeletons, and vampires all march behind an imposing robed figure who exudes negative energies. The numbers are staggering. The echoes of thousands of feet fill the air, signaling death has come for the dark elves.

"There are so many of them... that's got to be their entire army!" the bard says in a panicky tone. "We are good, but we aren't that good!"

"Guys, we have a problem here!" shouts Sun who is looking down on the camp. "Dhalia is heading towards the entrance of the mound."

"Great. Just Great" replies Onyx bitterly. "Stopping her is our chief priority. If she releases the powers, we are all doomed." He begins to run off. "Hurry!"

"No" replies Omega which causes the rune master to stop in his tracks.

"No? What do you mean no?!" Onyx demands.

"I-" he begins. "We" adds Topaz "shall stay behind to watch the battle. We will observe the two armies and try to disrupt them the best we can."

"That's idiocy!" blurts Onyx. "Even with your considerable power, there's no way you two would survive such a foolish act."

"It does not matter" Omega says calmly. "This is my fate. Do you see the one leading the army of the undead and how the energies swirl around him? The Night Lord has taken over that body, effectively manifesting himself on this plane. In other words, that's the Night Lord and I have been chosen by Lathander to stop him."

"This is madness!" ((OCC: THIS IS SPARTA!!! )) Onyx yells.

"This is fate" rebutts Topaz.

Onyx takes a few seconds to compose himself. "Fine. Have it your way. If you can stop him, then do so. The rest of us shall make for the mound and stop Dhalia."

The rune master turns with the remaning group members in tow, running for the entrance of the mounds. At the same time, the two armies meet and the horrendous battle begins.

[Elvin]

"So we split again. I'll follow you Onyx but I need to know what you have in mind. Wait, where's Titan?" I look around but he is nowhere to be seen and silently mutter a curse.

[Sir William S Titan]

I continue to move in, despite the fact there's another army moving in. I am a bit more careful, though. I want to make sure I get to kill Dhalia before I get captured, or killed, myself. I bump into something while running, however. Something that I can't see. I have too much momentum to fall back, but I do trip, and face plant into the ground.

"What was that?" I say as I stand up again. "Caratra, was that you? Why did you trip me? That kind of hurt a little. Not the fall, but the axes."

A voice from nothingness replies.

"Hurt you!? That was my knee you ran into, you crazy little halfling!"

I stand there, with a puzzled look on my face, while the voice continues.

"Alright. It's starting to feel better. Time to do what I was sent to do."

Still with the puzzled look, I get only the word, "You...," out before I go into dead silence.

A small amount of time passes, then I can be seen riding away, on a flying cart.

[winterfate]

I look at Omega and Topaz and nod silently as I head off towards the others.

I morph into spirit wolf form and teleport straight to Dhalia, trying to take the knife away from her hands.