2,915
edits
Kothac Lightbringer: Difference between revisions
m
Text replacement - "<span class="ITALIC">(.*)<\/span>" to "$1"
(The LinkTitles extension automatically added links to existing pages (<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://github.com/bovender/LinkTitles">https://github.com/bovender/LinkTitles</a>).) |
m (Text replacement - "<span class="ITALIC">(.*)<\/span>" to "$1") |
||
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
<div class="JUSTIFY"> | <div class="JUSTIFY"> | ||
Translated from old dwarven by Brac'ar Fireface Kilring, 1378 | |||
It was in my 250th year, shortly before I left behind the church and all its political maneuvering. In fact, it is only in looking back on my life, where it occurs to me that this chapter of my life may have very well been the catalyst for my leaving. I had just seen off one of the few elves I have ever met onto a ship to follow his kind to [[Voltrex]]. It was a very strange relationship we had had, but for my part I must confess to having considered him friend. | It was in my 250th year, shortly before I left behind the church and all its political maneuvering. In fact, it is only in looking back on my life, where it occurs to me that this chapter of my life may have very well been the catalyst for my leaving. I had just seen off one of the few elves I have ever met onto a ship to follow his kind to [[Voltrex]]. It was a very strange relationship we had had, but for my part I must confess to having considered him friend. | ||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
Without even so much as the strength to call upon Vorax for more [[light]] I tread forward holding my radiant axe before me for light. I came then to a door behind which the voice came from. As I stood before the door, I whispered a small [[prayer]] to Vorax that he might give me strength to see this task finished. Before I could reach for the door though, it flew open seemingly of its own accord. | Without even so much as the strength to call upon Vorax for more [[light]] I tread forward holding my radiant axe before me for light. I came then to a door behind which the voice came from. As I stood before the door, I whispered a small [[prayer]] to Vorax that he might give me strength to see this task finished. Before I could reach for the door though, it flew open seemingly of its own accord. | ||
<blockquote | <blockquote>You have destroyed my army, and for that you shall now lead the new one. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
The dark shape of a man stepped forth through the doorway. The short sword in his hand fell repeatedly upon my axe and [[shield]]. This man possessed the strength of a seasoned [[fighter]], but the battle cunning like that I had seen only in the most devious of opponents. I know not how long I managed to hold him off, but eventually the exhaustion I was feeling became my undoing. In my exhaustion I had failed to notice another in the room or that I was being driven. Without even realizing it, I stepped to dodge a thrust and found myself suddenly engulfed within red fog. The exhaustion I had felt before was nothing compared to this as I felt the very life being drained from my very bones. The figure gave a mighty swing and knocked my axe from my hand and sent it flying across the room. Another blow was rained down towards my skull with such force that my shield arm broke in the blocking of it. The fog continued to take me. I crumpled to the ground a defeated [[dwarf]], motionless and prepared for my final judgment. It is perhaps that resolution to my fate which saved me from it. Instead of the killing blow that I was sure was to follow, I instead heard that voice again. | The dark shape of a man stepped forth through the doorway. The short sword in his hand fell repeatedly upon my axe and [[shield]]. This man possessed the strength of a seasoned [[fighter]], but the battle cunning like that I had seen only in the most devious of opponents. I know not how long I managed to hold him off, but eventually the exhaustion I was feeling became my undoing. In my exhaustion I had failed to notice another in the room or that I was being driven. Without even realizing it, I stepped to dodge a thrust and found myself suddenly engulfed within red fog. The exhaustion I had felt before was nothing compared to this as I felt the very life being drained from my very bones. The figure gave a mighty swing and knocked my axe from my hand and sent it flying across the room. Another blow was rained down towards my skull with such force that my shield arm broke in the blocking of it. The fog continued to take me. I crumpled to the ground a defeated [[dwarf]], motionless and prepared for my final judgment. It is perhaps that resolution to my fate which saved me from it. Instead of the killing blow that I was sure was to follow, I instead heard that voice again. | ||
<blockquote | <blockquote>Come Arkanor. We now have a new general to lead our armies when the ritual is complete. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
Through the blood in my eyes and the mist I saw a second pair of legs emerge from the shadows near my fallen axe and follow the dark figure from the room. I lay there for several heartbeats feeling the life drain from me further and further. But despite my condition, the light of my axe transfixed me. To this day I cannot say that I know how or that I remember doing so, but I crawled my way, dragging my nearly dead body with only one arm that was beyond spent, to my axe. There I grasped a hold of it and curled my fingers around the handle. Then, to my astonishment, I realized that I had crawled from the fog. Somehow I used the axe to lever myself up. I remember my vision clouded with blood. I remember the ache in my broken arm. I remember the sunlight blinding me as I stepped forth from the crypt. I remember a woman, or was it a child, screaming as I fell face first into the ground in front of the crypts. | Through the blood in my eyes and the mist I saw a second pair of legs emerge from the shadows near my fallen axe and follow the dark figure from the room. I lay there for several heartbeats feeling the life drain from me further and further. But despite my condition, the light of my axe transfixed me. To this day I cannot say that I know how or that I remember doing so, but I crawled my way, dragging my nearly dead body with only one arm that was beyond spent, to my axe. There I grasped a hold of it and curled my fingers around the handle. Then, to my astonishment, I realized that I had crawled from the fog. Somehow I used the axe to lever myself up. I remember my vision clouded with blood. I remember the ache in my broken arm. I remember the sunlight blinding me as I stepped forth from the crypt. I remember a woman, or was it a child, screaming as I fell face first into the ground in front of the crypts. | ||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
I was brought in private meeting to sit with the frail and failing General Superior. At only a brief glance one could tell he had little time left in the world. A closer look though showed the mighty dwarf for who he really was. Even in such a weakened state, there was no doubt who was master and who was the lesser in his presence. It was then that I was told of the expedition into Broken Halls. The unliving had grown strong there because of one who had taken residence there. A vampire of great power named [[Saproprias]] had taken to dwelling in the depths of the halls. Having been unprepared for a being of such immense power, the expedition was destroyed. Something had granted to Saproprias great strength beyond that of any vampire previously known. The General Superior was careful to relate the details of how each member of the party had fallen, and indeed what they managed to learn at every turn. After his tale he looked upon me as a father would upon a gifted son. | I was brought in private meeting to sit with the frail and failing General Superior. At only a brief glance one could tell he had little time left in the world. A closer look though showed the mighty dwarf for who he really was. Even in such a weakened state, there was no doubt who was master and who was the lesser in his presence. It was then that I was told of the expedition into Broken Halls. The unliving had grown strong there because of one who had taken residence there. A vampire of great power named [[Saproprias]] had taken to dwelling in the depths of the halls. Having been unprepared for a being of such immense power, the expedition was destroyed. Something had granted to Saproprias great strength beyond that of any vampire previously known. The General Superior was careful to relate the details of how each member of the party had fallen, and indeed what they managed to learn at every turn. After his tale he looked upon me as a father would upon a gifted son. | ||
<blockquote | <blockquote>It will take a General Superior of great knowledge in the ways of these kinds if we are to win this war against the unliving. That is why the task will fall upon you. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
With that I was dismissed and told to have his council attend him so that he might speak his mind. However, no sooner had I stepped outside to get some fresh air than I noticed it. By now the taint was unmistakable. Arkanor had been near, and recently. The taint headed north of the town towards the ruins of the dungeon of Arindor the fallen adventurer. Just as I noticed it, the town alarm was sounded; the ogres had decided to venture from the mines and raid again. In the melee I saw him. He was quick and sneaky, and sticking to the shadows, but his passing was unmistakable. Arkanor was slipping out in the [[confusion]]. This was the closest I had ever been since that fateful encounter in the crypts. I could not allow him to escape now. I left a brief word with a healer as to the wishes of the General Superior, and with my newly healed arm, and refreshed body gave pursuit. | With that I was dismissed and told to have his council attend him so that he might speak his mind. However, no sooner had I stepped outside to get some fresh air than I noticed it. By now the taint was unmistakable. Arkanor had been near, and recently. The taint headed north of the town towards the ruins of the dungeon of Arindor the fallen adventurer. Just as I noticed it, the town alarm was sounded; the ogres had decided to venture from the mines and raid again. In the melee I saw him. He was quick and sneaky, and sticking to the shadows, but his passing was unmistakable. Arkanor was slipping out in the [[confusion]]. This was the closest I had ever been since that fateful encounter in the crypts. I could not allow him to escape now. I left a brief word with a healer as to the wishes of the General Superior, and with my newly healed arm, and refreshed body gave pursuit. | ||
| Line 50: | Line 50: | ||
Knowing I was alone, I chose to proceed with caution and to get close without bringing attention to myself. As I approached the voices and made my way through the fog I could see an elaborate altar was set up and that the mist seemed to flow forth from the base. Arkanor stood near a man stripped naked in front of the altar. In some guttural language unknown to me, an unholy rite was being performed. The naked man held before him an athame, pointed toward his chest. | Knowing I was alone, I chose to proceed with caution and to get close without bringing attention to myself. As I approached the voices and made my way through the fog I could see an elaborate altar was set up and that the mist seemed to flow forth from the base. Arkanor stood near a man stripped naked in front of the altar. In some guttural language unknown to me, an unholy rite was being performed. The naked man held before him an athame, pointed toward his chest. | ||
<blockquote | <blockquote>Lord Corath, we complete this sacrifice that you might fill this vessel with you essence. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
It was then that Arkanor committed his great betrayal. A vampire and a shade appeared next to Arkanor as the naked man impaled his heart with the blade. In his dying moment, the naked man looked [[confused]] and enraged all at once. | It was then that Arkanor committed his great betrayal. A vampire and a shade appeared next to Arkanor as the naked man impaled his heart with the blade. In his dying moment, the naked man looked [[confused]] and enraged all at once. | ||
"You will not get away with this! The Preto Sangue shall rise and your blood shall serve as sacrifice!"? Those words still give me pause to this day, but it seemed at the time that Arkanor was indeed the victor. The vampire, the shade, and Arkanor cast some spell upon the now dying,but not yet dead,body of the naked man. I stood frozen, unable to move, but I witnessed it all as the soul of the man could be seen in the red mist as it was pulled into a small box held by the vampire. While the vampire extracted the soul, Arkanor took from his sleeve a small dagger and impaled himself upon it and fell dead over the naked man. Then a great burst of energy fell upon the altar that bore the sacrifice of Arkanor. From it, the animated remains of the naked man began to rise and attack the form of Arkanor, only to be torn apart by the shade. Slowly, the form of Arkanor began to rise from the altar. | |||
<blockquote | <blockquote>The pact is fulfilled. Remember your duties or we all perish for this night. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
With that the shade disappeared with the remains of the body somewhere in the shadows while the vampire took the box and became a dark smoke that I lost in the red mist emanating still from the altar. But now my limbs had returned to me; I charged forward, brandishing my axe high. I approached Arkanor through wave after wave of death magics directed at me. They did him little good, as my faith in Vorax was as strong as Arkanor's unholy union with Corath. When I reached him, I cleaved him wholly in two from top to bottom. A great wail exploded from the fallen body and then there was nothing. | With that the shade disappeared with the remains of the body somewhere in the shadows while the vampire took the box and became a dark smoke that I lost in the red mist emanating still from the altar. But now my limbs had returned to me; I charged forward, brandishing my axe high. I approached Arkanor through wave after wave of death magics directed at me. They did him little good, as my faith in Vorax was as strong as Arkanor's unholy union with Corath. When I reached him, I cleaved him wholly in two from top to bottom. A great wail exploded from the fallen body and then there was nothing. | ||