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Post by xkcdapostle on Jun 5, 2012 11:12:05 GMT -5
"Tests, yes, only the empirical clarity of my observations shall allow me to determine the behaviour of those still alive."
"Of course Master," bows the Imp, whom mutters under his breath.
"Your 'deaths' have proven useful, do I detect resentment in your part? I recall you do all you can willingly, do you not?"
"It is always a pleasure to remain alive..."
"Quite, this Paladin... The data I have is not too dissimilar to another; one who would do well to appear more often."
The Imp snickers.
"You would do well to not snicker, if memory serves, it was likely the means by which you were detected by the inexperienced Elf; whom contributed to your near death."
The Imp stops, rather peeved, "I hope that you're not too upset that they interfered with your experiment. After all, you had it well planned and prepared..."
"Their involvement was not considered, due to their perceived neutrality. They were a motivating factor for the Paladin. Those gauntlets, however, did cause a minor issue with the accuracy. No matter, I will be better prepared next time."
"Next time?" the Imp enquires, seemingly hoping that this is a joke...
"Yes, more experiments must be devised. After all, these tests will not be limited to the one known as Jacia. All of those of sufficient inexperience must be tested and catalogued."
The Imp looks forlornly at the one speaking, muttering.
"Your death will not be required in all the tests. As you are aware, as my Familiar you are able to disappear."
"Yes, master..."
"Now, you are dismissed, I will call you when you are required."
The Imp flies away, disappearing into a shadow. A short stocky figure leaves the scene, robed in purple and gold. The figure goes into the dark to emerge in the Boarded House, awaiting the next test subject for his mind games...
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Post by xkcdapostle on Jun 10, 2012 8:18:00 GMT -5
*In North Kalaram, at night you would see the usual figures of Zombies, however they stand in strange poses. By night they seem to be advancing to you, or about to move away, a Behemoth is even advancing toward the market. By torchlight or Day, you would see the normally rotten skin turned into stone. Suspended in this state, you would marvel at them as well sculpted statues, yet you would have to wonder how all the Zombies outside were turned to stone.
Anyone who would smash the statues in the vain hope of getting rid of the taint underestimate the durability in these creatures. For the stone was once flesh, not the bone...*
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Post by xkcdapostle on Jun 27, 2012 9:57:43 GMT -5
"Apostle, have you found him?" "No, I have not... Master.", replies the Imp, a pause before his deference to the Wizard's title to indicate his affection, "He is difficult to find, why do you not think that Lucien has killed him?" "Lucien would not be able to, he would rather have another do it. Perhaps he would rather Zenstone alive to kill me; something I deem Zenstone would be most able to do..." "Why do you want this Cleric?" asks the Imp. "He holds knowledge, I deem him the key to learning spells that are difficult to acquire. Particularly one favoured by his god." The imp looks at the Dwarven Mage with interest, "How are you going to get someone who hates you to teach you?" "As with all my triumphs: hard work, manipulation and patience..." The imp sniggers. "Now, Apostle, go. Seek him out and tell me where he is." The imp glides off, going to the woods to find this Cleric...
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Post by xkcdapostle on Jul 13, 2012 6:37:23 GMT -5
Charging down the corridor, the Skeletal Minion cleaves the Undead. Formed from the bones of the Zombies fallen, it serves a purpose greater than mere hunger. Stepping forth in his Dark Blue Robes, with a black leather cover and gold trimmings, Vesur hastily follows his creation with his Black Cloak as a wake in his rush. The Skeleton proceeds in a logical pattern to sweep left and right to kill these foes. At the door, Vesur gestures, the Skeleton opens it and charges through, up the stairs catching the Hooded Shades by surprise. As the Shades ready their spells, the Skeleton is amongst them, immune to their auras meant for the Living. Vesur casts Undeath to death, his mastery is apparent; his own creation is ignored as the Divine energies counter the Negative ones sustaining the Shades. Arrows fly and one Shade survives due to his Spell Mantle. Vesur breaches this protection contemptuously and then fires bolts of lightning as the Shade attempts to cast forth Tentacles to stop the Skeleton. Thus the Shade is killed, Vesur utters a word and gesturing at his feet calls forth darkness from the Shadow Weave itself. The Arrows continue to fly, yet with no Mage to target the Zombie targets the Skeleton, yet to no avail, for it is already in sword range. The Zombie Archer's head flys with more accuracy; into a nearby bin. "Come, we must secure the Library.", calls the Dwarf to his Servant from the Darkness. Both walk into the defended library, the Zombie Captains charge in, Vesur simply steps into an alcove to allow his minion to do battle. The Skeleton's Great Sword gleams before flames shoot forth from the hilt, raising it, the Skeleton cleaves a Captain's elbow, the flames dance in a ballet of chopped limbs and dismembered Zombies. The Archers fall, pushed by evoked Fists of Force they are bullrushed and stuck to the ground by the force, whilst Vesur allows his Minion to administer the 'Coup de Grace'. Proceeding to the shelves and stacks of books. Ones which either escaped Lanae's burning of the Spire or came from a safe vault to renew the stocks here, Vesur could not tell. However, Vesur walks along the shelf, turning once to address the Skeleton.
"Guard the Entrance"
The Skeletal Chieftain walks to the Corridor they entered through to do that, Vesur then adds,
"Ensure your blade does not touch the books, I still have not forgiven that Slave from the last time..."
Vesur then begins his search, Dwarven, Elven, Drow and numerous other runes and texts. All of them regarding Magical Enchantment. Finding one with the most relevance, Vesur walks to a nearby chair, removing the Corpse left there, he then sits in its place and begins reading.
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Post by Bumlader on Jul 19, 2012 23:04:31 GMT -5
((I love reading this ))
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Post by xkcdapostle on Aug 24, 2012 6:21:07 GMT -5
In the Underrealm deep, lies a smooth stone wall towering above Man, Beast and Dwarf, it extends into the darkness above where stalagmites try to reach and stalactites loom down from the dark. Opposite this wall is a small entranceway, the walls are a smoother and perfectly shaped doorway into this cavern.
A stalagmite dissolves into nothingness, the industry of the Great Work has come hither. Animated to serve after death, Skeletons guard the entranceway and are only the front of this cavern. Lo! The fires of progress burn brightly and the call goes out to other planar beings, enthralling them to the service of the Great Work.
Formian's called from beyond are trapped, forced into service to gather resources, these are the weak willed workers, easily coerced into their natural task of building. Many of them were called, they were promised safe passage home and the lies of reward that their Lawful nature trusted. Lacking the persona to simply refuse another order.
The workers pile the stones and go to collect more fragments, whilst the Architect of this labour looks on from a platform of stone, with his Apostle by his side. Pleased with the decision to call forth these creatures, he admires their efficiency and single-minded purpose. The creatures are unaware as to their fate, and to what they build. Yet the spellbook Vesur has in hand, is open on the page that has a drawing of a Tower surrounded by lines criss-crossing with gaps forming paths.
It seems there is much work to be done...
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Post by xkcdapostle on Aug 30, 2012 9:05:39 GMT -5
The Tower's foundations are built and a metal fence built to surround it and its smaller keeps in front to watch the way to and from the Tower. The tower is starting to take on its dark appearance, it is halfway through its build.
So far, the Formians are gathering stone and working the stockpiles as these creatures can into the shape needed for the Tower's form. It is as though they carved the Tower from a Stalagmite of dark stone with ivory lines extending to a height, yet the cavern is taller and so is the Tower intended to lie in it.
A Gate lies in front of the Tower's entranceway. The door into the Tower is a tall arch that extends to near the whole of the current height. It is a grand entranceway to the Tower that will house Vesur's experiments, plans and texts for the Great Work.
The Formian's industrious pace and determined stoicism allows them to do much within the months of Vesur's absence from the surface. Nonetheless, there is still more to do before it is complete.
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Post by xkcdapostle on Sept 2, 2012 10:23:19 GMT -5
With the recent report given to Vesur as he roams the surface, at his leisure to Apostle's mind, the Imp glides into the Cavern and makes a dash for the Captain of the Undead guard here.
"The Lord wants four of the workers for a garden up top."
The Skeletal Chieftain regards the Imp with the empty eye sockets, something that chills Apostle.
"Did our Lord order an escort?"
The Imp considers lying, then considers the repercussions, "No, he did not..."
Nods to the Imp, then the Captain gathers three Workers, Apostle tells them,
"You are being redirected to do some gardening, we must travel above for a few hours then we'll be back for you to finish your work here"
The workers look to each other and gesture at Apostle to signify how it affects the promise made to them.
"The Master will reward you, yes... Now come, else he may think you are breaking your word."
The creatures stop at that, disgusted by such a chaotic notion they obey, then they travel through the Underealm, avoiding the Undead with ease and coming forth from the Lodge, they travel east to the Annedhel pass and seeing the marks of the survivors that hunt the creatures, Apostle is glad that there was no need for an escort.
Skirting the town of Annedhel, they make speed to the Desert south, to find an appropriate location for the garden. The cool night gives way to the blistering Sun and the group settle for a smooth sand bowl, the Formian's dig into the sand to avoid the heat, whilst Apostle enjoys it as a tantalising reminder of his home plane; noting the pity that his Master isn't there to allow Apostle to be the Master.
The night brings out the workers and they renew their search, finding what the workers to detect to be a sand bowl atop a rock base. Apostle watches them as they clear the sand to unveil the rock beneath. From there, they dig outwards and up in a spiral to clear the sand. Day arises and the workers go to their newly dug hides from the heat to rest for the coming nightfall's work.
The next day and they dig deeper into the rock, to make it a deeper basin. Using their hands and tools they brought, they dig it and erode the rock around the edge of the dug basin into a silt. With the Oasis prepared, Apostle places a stone handed to him by Vesur before his departure, this stone is one Vesur uses to locate areas of interest that Apostle may mark out.
However, with the journey back, Apostle dreads the undead, whom seem to not inhabit this far into the desert... Yet.
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