March of the undead

[OOC]
Finally Jar! I assume we camped in the 'green land' just on the other side of the bridge?

If you PM me with what you plan to do, then maybe I could write a contribution to the story? At the moment, all I'm doing is tagging along!
[/OOC]


It feels like we've been walking for weeks. The sun is relentless during the day, and it's freezing at night. I definitely don't like the desert, and I've completely lost track of the days, let alone the time.

Weralin just seemed to walk forever, and I was now having difficulty in keeping up with him. Just then, he seems to see something, and puts on an extra spurt of energy. I stumble on behind him, with great difficulty.

After another few hours, we reach some sort of metal bridge. Crossing the bridge, we enter some sort open green woodland. I feel ecstatic that we are once again out of that dreaded desert, and it gives me just enough energy to continue forward. Weralin finally stops in a small glade and makes camp. I collapse on the floor.

Weralin tries to get me to eat, but I have no apitite. I manage to swallow a bit of water and some plain food, although I know not what it is. I try and smile my thanks at him, but I am exausted. Although he drives us hard, I like him and he is kind.

I curl up, put my head on my tail and fall into a deep sleep.

 

[OOC]
Noth thanks for taking care of my character. A note: my previous sword was shattered in the duel against Heech [you should read slower ] so now Sunburst is my only sword.
[OOC]

One night while waiting for others...

I finished reading every book that was of use to me at this time so I sat on the ground with my feet crossed. I shut my eyes. Raven was on my shoulder. A purple glow started coming from me and I rose into the air. Sunburst rose also emitting a golden light. It was a huge broadsword but light as a feather (at least for an undead fighting mage). All made from gold and tempered by magic. The hilt was encrusted with two rainbow diamonds on each side. I felt powerful magic in it. Much more powerful than any mage of the council had... As Sunburst & I were hovering over my room's floor I started delving (in a spiritual matter) into the sword trying to become one with it (spiritually).

 

[OOC]
Jar, I hope you plan on walking all the way to the castle! It's in the glimmering forest on the other side of Arcanum!
[/OOC]

It is dark when Weralin wakes me up. From the moon it appears that I have slept for more than a day. I hind sight, perhaps I shouldn't have practiced my magick so much in the desert, but then I hadn't realised how much it would tire me at the time. Weralin seems exhausted himself - he must have been awake for more than three days now!

He indicates to me that it is my turn on watch - he needs his sleep! I wolf down some more food, and make my way to the small stream at the edge of the glade. I grab a quick drink from the stream. Now that I'm rested, I finally get to look at myself properly. I'm definitely going to need a change of clothes. All that dust from the wastes has just clogged up the cloth too much and they're heavy and smelly.

When I get back, Weralin is already asleep. I smile at him, sit myself down on a log near the small fire that he'd started at some point during my sleep, and wrap my tail around me to keep warm. Taking off my ruined top, I beat as much of the dust out of it as possible, then toss it on the fire. As the fire crackles, I snuggle down into a more comfortable position and keep my ears up and alert for any sounds eminating from the woods around us. I'm perfectly at ease during the night.

Nothing eventful happened during the remainder of the night, and as daybreak arrives, Weralin is still sleeping. Silently, I stoke the fire, and put on more wood. Then, making sure I can't sense anything unusual, I head off into the woods a way with my home-made bow and catch a few rabbits. Once back in the glade, I skin and gut the rabbits and start to spit roast them. Those that we don't eat today, will dry quite nicely for travel rations.

I clean the pelts and leave them to cure in the sun. I also take this opportunity to refil Weralin's water canteen from the stream.

It was morning again, the following day when Weralin finally woke up. During the time inbetween, I kept myself busy, catnapping when I needed. Like other felines, I could keep my ears and nose alert for any disturbance and would wake immediately if anything approached. Nothing did.

By the time he woke, I had already fashioned the rabbit pelts into a water sack for myself, a belt and a furry bikini top and knickers for myself. I'd used the sinew to stitch them together, and I felt much better now that I had my own clothing - and it was warm, lightweight and unrestrictive too.

I prepared a breakfast of rabbit and stoked the fire again. Weralin ate hungrily, and I watched him as I nibbled my rabbit. He said good morning to me - I've become quite good at interpreting his guestures now, but still had some difficulty. I noticed him looking at me in my new, revealing, outfit and I smiled at him shyly.

[OOC]
How long were you planning on staying here Jar? Perhaps now would be an ideal time to get to know each other better and to discuss what we are actually going to do. Don't forget, that my character has absolutely no idea as yet of where we are going or what we are going for and why. Enlightenment might be nice!

And don't worry if you think I'm cracking on to you... I'm just very friendly, cuddly and girlish! *giggle*
[/OOC]

 

[ooc] sorry it took so long... but I'm back with avengeance [/ooc]

Aries cried out "Ternol!"
I lowered my head... I was weak now. Nothing could change this... Erlin was in ruins.. and Ternol would not be here to greet me.
I looked up again only to see that Aries was kneeled on the ground. She was in deep grief, just like me. Kilgen managed to hold himself together, but he was on the verge of crying. I also noticed my brothers grieve... none of us could believe what was happening, what happened.

Usually Aries was the one to stand up and comfort everyone, but she couldn't... Kilgen took the burden on himself saying:
"Let's see what's left of Erlin"

Aries got up and walked towards me.
"don't blame yourself Ando.. you couldn't know this. No-one could"
I looked at her and smiled... I got up and toghether we walked towards the city.

Arriving there I immedeately walked over the rubble towards the house of the doctor. The rest joined me as we searched the trash... after half an hour of searching we found a body. It was the doctor. I released a worried sigh... Ternol would probably be underneath this as well.
We continued our search.. but Ternol was not under the rubble of the doctors house. I looked at Aries and Kilgen "he's not here!" I said.
But ofcourse I knew that he could've been on another spot when Erlin was destroyed.
We then decided to search the possible places where Ternol could have been. We found many bodies, but no sign of Ternol. We also burried the doctor just outside of the city.. under a tree.

But I didn't want to stay there long. My son was missing and I had no clue on where he could be.

We arrived at the city's church... it was also very much destroyed.. but less than the rest of the city. Appearently it had some sort of protection against undead... When I stepped in the part that still stood up I noticed a man who was barely breathing... he had signs of magick around him, but also the smell of undead.
I quickly approached him. "My good man... you're alive... tell me, have you seen my son, my Ternol!!"
He looked at me with his wounded face.. "haha -cough- did you think I could tell you this? I don't even know who you are..." I realized that it was futile to question this man... Aries came walking in as well. She immediately offered her assistance but the man refused... "I am old enough... and I don't want to live, knowing I am the only one who survived and who's still in Erlin"
"What do you mean?!" I said... "Others survived??? where are they!?"
The man looked at me penetrating... "you are in deep grief" he said "your face tells this."
"I searched for my son, but he was not where he was supposed to be" I replied in a sad voice..
The man looked at me again... "maybe I know where he went" he suddenly said... my face brightened... "you do? what do you mean?"
He continued.. "the undead did not only kill everyone... they captured many people... your son could be one of them"
I thought about the possibillity.. it shocked me. 'What could they have done to him' I though.
The man caught my attention again saying "There were not only undead there... also humans and elves. The wore dark red robes... and they were very powerfull. With great spells they made the walls around Erlin crumble. And they killed many of our brave fighters only waving their hands. We were no match for them... not at all."
He coughed some more before continuing.
"they also wore an emblem on their robes... it seemed like a name but I couldn't make it out."
I interupted him, "but how did you survive? If they were this powerfull"
"It was the combination of the church and my magick ability" he said... "I created an aura around myself which protected me from undead.. but not these dark necromancers. They did not enter the church... but shook the foundations of it..."
The man started coughing again before telling us to leave him, "I want to die alone... please go now... the undead are marching through-out the lands... if you are not fast you won't be able to stop them."
But before I left he handed me an amulet. "One of the necromancers lost this... it might prove usefull."
I thanked him and Aries and me walked out.
I looked at the amulet. It had a symbol in it... one I had feared from since my family was slaughtered with the known exceptions... the symbol of a black snake... wearing a crown, covered in blood. It was the symbol of a necromancer I had seen so long ago... he had personally lead the slaughter of most of my familly.. and he had looked at me with penetrating eyes. His face was black... not like he was colored... but dark... He had said something to me... I faintly remembered.
'We will meet again... and I will show you darkness in it's true form'

I shook at the thought. I was really afraid.... the only thing that I really feared.
I took out the teleportation scroll and gave it to Aries. We all assembled and Aries said the incantation. Seconds later we found ourselves in Tulla.

The first thing we did was take my brother to a healer mage... my brother was hurt very bad and he would have to stay for quite a while.
After we dropped him off we walked to the room where we heared that Fenrir was staying... he was in his room reading a book.

[ooc] ok Maniac... your turn [/ooc]

 

I felt Ando was back. I put down my book & went out of my chamber.
"I'm glad you made it back."
"I'm glad you're alright Fenrir"
"Why do you look so sad?" I asked. Ando told me what he saw in Erlin.
"Don't worry Ando there's still hope & hope is what drives us forward... I feel some strange magic about you...?"
"We found some weapons on our way out. It seems they're dwarven but enchanted..." he said puzzled.
"That is strange but I don't know anything about me. I haven't studied dwarves much. I wonder how others are doing... neither the group to Vendigroth ruins nor the mute ranger with the feline girl haven't returned & we didn't get any message from them...so what do you think do we wait or do we continue on without them? I want to remind you that time is of the essence..."

 

[OOC]
Damn it!! I'm sorry Maniac, Notty! I can't post until Jar does, and he never seems to be here any more!

Oh hell. I can't wait any longer!
[/OOC]


We have been resting at the encampment for three more days now, and we've fully recovered. I've also learned to understand weralin almost perfectly, using his obscure hand gestures. It was my turn on watch....

There was still a good number of hours before daybreak. I heard a noise. A twig breaking. Then I was overwhelmed by the stench of death. UNDEAD!!

Quickly, I woke Weralin, who wasted no time in stringing his bow, and readying himself. I still only had my make-shift hunting bow, and magick dagger.

They burst through the tree line and rushed into the firelight. They were worse than I remembered from when they burned down my home, and killed my only relative! relying on my instincts, I was able to easy dodge the clumsy attacks te undead made with their flailing arms. However, my bow was too weak to do much damage, and my knife was worse than useless!

Weralin quickly cut his way through the undead, but not quickly enough. I was being overwhelmed and one of them got in a lucky hit. I went down with a pitful mieow, and Weralin rushed over, cutting a way through the undead. I felt dizzy and my vision was blurring. My head hurt. the last thing I remember was a body falling on top of me.

I woke with a start and sat up. Big mistake! I immediately swooned and almost passed out again. When my vision cleared, I saw Weralin kneeling beside me. He indicated that it was safe again, but that I needed rest. He apologised, but he needed to carry on and didn't have the time to wait for me to recover. I understood. Smiling weakly, I got to my feet with his help, and gathered my few belongings. I noticed that my new top was damaged, and my right nipple was showing. I blushed, but was still to confused to do anything about it.

Weralin gestured again. He made sure I had everything, and told me he was sending me back to Tulla. Not the Wastes again! He handed me a ring with a rune on it's smooth black-diamond surface. Pretty. He indicated that it would allow him to teleport directly to my location, so that he could cathc up with me and the others after he had retrieved the artifact he was after. He told me to tell the others that I he was OK, and would join them as soon as possible, but to carry on in the mean time.

Still to dazed to question this, he quickly removed a scroll and before I knew it, I was back at the fountain in Tulla. It wasn't long before I found everybody again. they were all gathered near a building. Aries came up to me with delight and hugged me.

I passed out in her arms....

[OOC]
OK. I'm back with the rest of you now! The time-line should allow me to arrive a couple of days after your conversation, so you've had time to sort yourselves out. PM me if you want me to change this.
[/OOC]

 

[OOC]Hey, I check this board nearly every day Ferret. I have to be in the mood to write in the RPG threads though, and when I'm not inspired, I don't write. I haven't been inspired for a couple of days now, but I'll try write something now. It'll probably be really shit though...[/OOC]

That fight with the undead had been close. I'd managed to drive them off/kill them all, and looted what they had had on them. Not much, but enough to continue living off. I definitely needed to get a sword though - bows are really hard to use up close. I knew how to use a sword, it was just that my last one had broken just before I'd met the others, and I hadn't had time to get a new one.

Unfortunately, Marie had been injured seriously enough in the battle so that I'd had to send her back to Tulla. Probably just as well, it would only get more dangerous from here, and while she could dodge attacks fairly well, she couldn't really strike back effectively, and one decent hit could put her out for a while (Not trying to be insulting here Ferret).

Once I'd cleared up, I started walking south. Ashbury was fairly nearby, and from there I'd catch the train to Blackroot - I'd heard the castle was somewhere north of there.

(Just skipping ahead in time a little...)

I'd just arrived in Ashbury, and after quite a bit of difficulty, managed to negotiate a fair price on two short swords and scabbards, which I hung on either side of my hips. I also stocked up on a few more of my favourite arrows, and booked a seat on the train to Blackroot. The train didn't leave till morning, and I would be there later the next day. Technology was certainly useful, no arguments there...

 

A train travels from Ashbury to Blackroot in one day

 

[OOC]Perhaps I didn't make myself clear - it takes two days or so.

 

[OOC]

Only? [OOC]

 

Maniac geeted us warmly.... he immediately asked us about what kind of magic hung around us....
"We found some weapons on our way out. It seems they're dwarven but enchanted..." I said puzzled

"That is strange but I don't know anything about me. I haven't studied dwarves much. I wonder how others are doing... neither the group to Vendigroth ruins nor the mute ranger with the feline girl haven't returned & we didn't get any message from them...so what do you think do we wait or do we continue on without them? I want to remind you that time is of the essence..." Fenrir replied...

"yes... I know... it is taking long, but that I already expected from non-magick users... for them speed is not a common thing."
"But what about sunburst?? Did you retrieve it from that Lich????"
Fenrir told me about the stugle and about his old swords being destroyed... but that he managed to kill Heech and get Sunburst... he showed it to me. I held it up and felt its power... it was quite overwhelming and I was sure that this sword was a great blessing for all of us. And with the weapons we found we might actually stand a chance... but a slim one.

I thought about the group that went to search the Vendigroth wastes.. and about Marie and Werelin who were traveling together... Maybe they needed our help... but we had no idea where they were... so teleporting towards them was not an option.

I concluded my answer to Fenrir: "Yes... we will have to wait. It's all we can do now... without our full team, we won't stand a chance."
He nodded in understanding... now we all hoped that it would not take too long, because the clock was ticking... and maybe Ternol was in grave danger... I shook the thought out of my mind... I didn't want to think about his... it would interfere with my plan... my plan to kill Nitorh, Slaughter his minions and make his generals suffer for the harm they all caused.

[ooc] ok... here it is... I had some time and I used it.... I will PM you (Maniac) again about some things.... and I'll ask Slagger if I should take over his story for now so that we can all continue... Jarinor I hope you're inspired... because I'm looking forwards to all continuing together again. ... I also think that Deathmage's character has to die or so... 'cause otherwise he's killing the story... I hate that...[/ooc]

 

[OOC]
Just wondering if anyone is going to post.

It just needs one more from Maniac before I can come back into play. ATM, I'm a day behind and noone has done my arrival yet...
[/OOC]

 

[ooc] I will post as Slagger and kill Deathmages character... and then we can finally go on... pfffff [/ooc]

 

[ooc] ok... I'm taking up Slaggers character as this is taking way too long... I will get him back to Tulla soon... and then Jarinor will have to get his bow and get back...
If you need inspiration.. just read a good fantasy book or so... that usually helps... [/ooc]

Being Slagger

We set off for Vendigroth. It was quite an agonising journy as the desert was really hot... and the sand was hard to move over. Occasionally we were attacked by spiders who were half human and half spider... But they were quite easily dispatched off. After 3 days of travelling we saw the outskirts of what appeared to be some ruins. We approached them with great anticipation but it was a bit too hasty. Out of the ground came 5 larger spiders... they immediately attacked us... I took out one of them with a few shots from my bow... and Duruk hacked away at another of them as Ando's sister used her agility to fight off two more.
The spiders were quite easily done with and we moved in to the ruins... between the rubble we foiund what we came for... a mechanized blade... very strong indeed. And a pyro-technic Bow... which I gladly took...

Pleased we were with these things and some other particals we found that were usefull... we decided to head back... maybe Ando was back already with Fenrir...
But as we turned around we were shocked to see the truth... Many undead had followed us... and had now arosen from the sand.. It was futile for us to fight them but we still did... Just to kill as many as possible...

We were in heavy battle and were all severely hurt... to my great sorrow I saw that 15 zombies had nailed Durok... he had no escape... I looked at the scene for a split-second and watched him die an agonising death... how terrible this was... but I could not help him.. neither Ando's sister who was soon to suffer the same fate...
Ando's uncle was holding himself tough... and he managed to kill quite a few of the undead... but Ando's sister did not stand a chance... I moved into her.. shooting off some undead beside her.. and stabbed others with my short sword...
The Uncle had done the same... and soon we were backs to backs fighting the zombies and ghouls and the other undead spawn...
Then Ando's sister took out a scroll...
I looked at her in amazement...
She must have taken that one just for if the worst could happen... and now she was able to use it as Durok was gone... and the technological influence had dissapeared with him... she activated the scroll and a few seconds later we saw ourselves in the Tullan square....

[ooc] say Ferret... I kinda forgot who went with who... and you keep track of those things... am I right that the warrior went with Slagger??? or was it Kilgen...
My sister is going to die in a bed.. from the wounds... so don't write about her recovery or so... 'cause she won't make it...
Now Maniac... I think it's your turn as I was the last one that posted before... you may even write the arrival of Slagger and Ferret...
Good luck

*edit... it was the last of my unnamed uncles... fixed it[/ooc]

 

I've spent the days practicing my sword fighting with Ando so I could use Sunburst well. I've spent the nights meditating thus balancing my willpower & also merging my magic with Sunburst's.
This was another day of waiting. I walked through the sandy paths of Tulla as sun was beating at me mercilessly. Then I saw the city gates shimmering & the feline girl teleported into the city. She ran up to Aries.
"I was wounded...He...went alone..." she said & fainted into Aries arms. I quickly but gently grabbed her & carried her to a house. Some mages started healing & refreshing her while some servants went to bring some food & water. Ando came inside.
"What happened to her?" he asked.
"It seems she had a small wound but it's mainly the sun & hunger that got her. But don't worry...she'll be alright. She also mentioned that Werilin went." I said. "Let us go practice some swordfighting if you don't mind?"
"No, I don't. Let's go." answered Ando & we left the cool building.

 

[OOC]
Just a quick note - I'll have to reply in full at a later date.

Who do you mean by 'Warrior' Notty? If you mean Jar, then he's on his way to get the bow of ecclesiates.

Also, Maniac, can you edit your post because I said that I ran into Notty's aunt Aries' arms and passed out. Just write it so that she found me first, and then you can and took me from her, to take to the healer.
[/OOC]

 

[OOC]
I'll edit it.
BTW I think he meant the mercenary warrior.
[OOC]

 

[ooc] amen to what Maniac said,
But I fixed it... it was not the warrior... but the last of my uncles besides Kilgen... DONE :wink: [/ooc]

 

This takes place befor Marie gets back

Still being Slagger

I looked around the Tullan square... no-one was around except for two apprentice mages who were studying very hard.

After some second I remembered where to go, and so I walked to the house where Fenrir was to be staying. Followed by the remaining fighters I entered the building.
There Ando was sitting next to Fenrir talking about what things had happened on their journeys....
Appearently Ando and Fenrir had split ways at some point but both were back soon again.

When they saw me walking in Ando looked behind me... he looked at his sister who was carried by Kilgen and Ando's other uncle..

Quickly I filled him in about Durok and what happened further while Fenrir ran to get some healing mages...

In no time they stood around her..
But she was in bad shape. Normally people could have easily healed her or even ressurected her, but not only her body... but also her mind and soul had been affected.
The mages looked from Ando back to his sister...
I looked at Ando and both his Uncles... they had understood what the mages were trying to say.... Ando's sister would not make it. And it would be futile to use magic on her as it would only bring back a devastated, mindly ill woman.
Ando wanted to say something but then Aries came walking in...
She immediately saw what was happening and wanted to move in... but Kilgen stopped her and whispered a few words in Aries' ear.
She then tried to speak, but no words would come out of her mouth.
She calmed down but I saw that she was in great pain.

Ando held himself strong... I had never seen a man who had such a will to continue... After all that had happened to him, he still fought his battles... and managed to overcome them... but everytime with new losses.

The following days where days of mourning and rest... although the last thing felt heavy as me and the rest really wanted to act against the undead powers. But it was for the best to stay here... and wait untill Werelin and Marie returned...

But only a few days later.. Marie came back... Alone.
She immediately seeked the comfort of Aries' lap... and fainted.
When she was brought back to the land of the awake, she told us what happened.....

[ooc] YES... he did it again... ok Jarinor.... If you don't mind... will you seek to find some inspiration and get back to Tulla (please!!?? 0 )
Then I will let Maniac inspire me with some ideas and get Ferret back over here....
I doubt Slagger will come back so I will take over his role now and take it to where-ever I want it to go (If you get back Slagger... DO PM me...)...
The four remaining of us will continue the story and bring it to an ending...
After that maybe me and Maniac will have somthing to announce.... but that will remain a secret for now.... 8) :wink:
OK.... I thought it was about time to revive the thread and I hereby did...
Please follow me again and bring it to a nice ending....
Thanks [/ooc]

 

[OOC]
I'll edit this into a proper reply when I've got time - hopefully tomorrow at some point.

Don't forget that Weralin gave me that rune-marked ring that will allow him to teleport to my location at will. When I wake up (hopefully in this post! ) then I'll explain that to you, and we can move on without having to worry about Jarinor turning up - he can join us at any point when he gets round to it. Maybe he can even turn up in a big battle or something so save us.

BTW, Maniac, has sunburst got a daemon trapped in it, like a spirit-sword or something?
[/OOC]


I opened my eyes. I was in a high-roofed stone building of some sort. Something tugged at the back of my mind, and I realised that I had been here before. Tulla! I was in the city of Mages!

I sat up and looked around. I felt a little dizzy and tired, but other than that, I was OK. I notice that my top had also been repaired at some point, and my breast was no longer showing. For that I was glad.

"Hello?" There was a scrabbling from outside, and then the door opened. It was Aries! She came over to me, and I cuddled her happily. I realise that I should tell someone what happened, so I start to recant about the attack on Weralin and myself.

"...and then Weralin gave me this rune-marked ring and told me he could teleport straight to it, and then he teleported me here!"

Aries looked at the ring. It was a black-diamond ring, with a smooth, faceted surface and a strange symbol written on it, that looked somehow familiar. "That's the symbol for conveyance." Aries said, after looking at my purplexed expression. Now I know where I've seen it! There are symbols set into the floor all over Tulla - one for each of the spell colleges! At least that answered how Weralin could use it - it must be enchanted or something.

Something just occured to me. "Aries! I've lost everything! Apart from my new clothing, and a few bits and pieces, like my rabbit-skin canteen that I made, I have nothing left. My bow broke during the fighting, and I lost my knife somewhere. What shall I do? I can't afford anything else!"

"Don't worry Marie, I'm sure we'll sort something out. I'm sure we can all lend you something - there's always a way."

Aries words were comforting, and I knew she was right. In fact, I've already begun to think of something. I met that nice mage last time I was here. Perhaps I could work for her for a bit, and get some money that way - or maybe a present instead. I shall have to ask the next time I see her.