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Post by Brother Strange on Feb 11, 2004 9:24:46 GMT
*Brother Strange takes careful aim, then lobs Young Grimwold's club to him.*
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Post by ringmasterrob on Feb 11, 2004 18:34:28 GMT
*Osmosia fades away and reforms as....* Rob: SCAREYE! *Scareye is holding the Bloodfang Blade and wearing an evil snigger on his face* [ModNote: Scareye was previously heard from in The "NEW" Trader.]
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Post by Tom Troughton on Feb 12, 2004 1:37:47 GMT
(Dreamscape.)
*Tom wanders into the Place of Doors, takeing care not to step directaly on any doors. A mocking Voice makes Tom freez in his tracks*
"Once Bittern Twice Shy is it Tom."
*Tom turns round and is face to face with......HIMSELF. Or at least a version of himself, there are deffinatly slight differences between the two. This other Tom's coat fits his hair is slicked and neatly comed and his face could be discribed as reptilain in its apperence with its pitch black, small, piggy & greedy eyes and the smile was that of a snake.*
"And what may I inquire are you?" Tom asks.
"I'm You. Or at least a distalation of all the bad in you. In other words I am more then you I am better, I am more powerfull, Intelligent and......"
"Egotsitical!! Evil is never more stronger, powerfull or intelligent. Well I can't say its been a pleshure meating you Goodbye. I have to find my freinds."
*Tom turns to walk away but his dark side strikes him and he falls.*
"PATHETIC. You actualy care about those two? It is a weekness freindship."
"I strongly dissagree."
*Tom pulls himself up.*
"HA a Bear woman and an arragont Mage."
"SO."
"Come on show me how strong you are strike me."
"I'll do no such thing."
"FIGHT ME."
"No."
"Were well. Then I will just kill you."
*He lunges at Tom and grasps at his throte, They fall back on to a door which opens and they plumet through it.*
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Post by Ursula on Feb 12, 2004 2:40:26 GMT
[Dreamscape] *Ursula-the-bear roars in fury as the hounds attack, unable to fight off all of them at once. One sinks its teeth into the side of her neck as the other two make lunges at her face to distract her. Rising up onto her hind legs with a snarl, her head snakes round to snap at the dog clinging to her neck as she swipes at the others with her good paw. Her jaws close on the unfortunate hound's back, and in a trice it is thrown to the ground with a broken spine. But in the heat of combat, Ursula has forgotten about the hunters, and pays no heed to the horses that are fast approaching.*
*Snarling at the last two hounds, Ursula raises her good paw to strike when a barbed arrow strikes her shoulder with a thud, thw dogs running from her in response to a whistle from one of the hunters. With a roar of pain, Ursula looks up to see the two horsemen cantering towards her, one with a bow, the other lowering a long spear. Hatred, fury and fear explode within her, she is determined not to let these two-legs win without a fight. And as she rears up onto her hind legs, her form becomes larger...*
*The last thing the spearman ever sees is a pair of jaws lunging for his head, his horse screaming as it is disembowelled by dagger-length claws. Ursula's Crinos jaws crush his skull with a horrible, wet crunch. Paralysed with terror, the second huntsman is thrown from his panicking horse and can only watch as the giant bear rampages towards him. A single blow from one of Ursula's paws tears him in half. Mad with bloodlust, she runs down the remaining horse without mercy, leaping onto its back and tearing out its throat. It is all over in a matter of seconds. Raising bloodsoaked jaws, her fur soaked in gore, Ursula roars triumphantly.*
*...but as she looks down, she realises that something is very, very wrong here. The dead men are hunters no longer. One wears tattered red robes... while the headless one now clutches a recorder instead of a spear.*
This is what you are. a sibilant voice whispers inside Ursula's head. A killer. A beast. We could achieve so much together, you and I...
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Post by ringmasterrob on Feb 12, 2004 7:31:45 GMT
[Reality] *The form of Scareye causes Rob to stumble backwards, but then he regains his senses* Rob: You're not Scareye either are you? Scareye: I am the Dark Lord Scareye and I shall rule these lands. [ModNote: Scareye is heard from again in Return To The HQ.]
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Post by Young Grimwold on Feb 12, 2004 13:25:23 GMT
[Reality]
*The darkness has climbed further up Young Grimwold. Without his club, he allowed himself to feel less secure. Holding the weapon, and being able to wield it, gave him a sense that his ogrish nature was at his command; without it, he let dark fear take hold.*
*YG sees Brother Strange throw the club towards him. Despite the pain, he wrenches his arm into position, and catches the club. Almost immediately, the darkness begins to recede from him, as if a child had blown at cobwebs. YG feels a surge of elation.*
Go on, get off, you wispy little menace! We're not scared - but we are annoyed. Go!
*The darkness retreats even further. But it is still swimming around YG's ankles, making it a struggle for him to move. He looks towards Ringermasterrob, unsure how to help, and unwilling to part with his club again. He turns to look at FrightKnight.*
Can I help, FrightKnight? Keep your focus.
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Post by FrightKnight on Feb 12, 2004 17:57:11 GMT
*FrigthKnight wavers slightly when listening to Young Grimwold. Concentration is paramount.*
No! I'm fine!
*Being near the centre of the darkness begins to take its toll on FrightKnight. It feels like a tornado, an absolute crescendo*
Actually....perhaps you could help a little..
*FrightKnight does not wait for a response, instead channeling all his energy into utmost concentration*
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Post by Young Grimwold on Feb 12, 2004 21:40:04 GMT
[Reality]
*Young Grimwold realises, with some guilt, that talking to FrightKnight will only distract him. His feet aching, he shuffles closer, hoping that he can ward off some of the darkness that threatens FK. It is far more concentrated, and YG feels his stomach twisting into knots. He keeps silent; in his head, he tears at the darkness, ripping it apart with his teeth and hands, and casting it aside. His years of self-absorbed thought and literacy, in the monastery and elsewhere, have made his mind almost as strong as his body at times. YG waits to see what effect he is having on the darkness...*
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Post by Ursula on Feb 13, 2004 1:23:35 GMT
[Dreamscape]
*As the voice continues its whispers of violence and blooshed, Ursula looks about herself in horror. She'd let her rage rule her head... and disaster had followed...*
But it was enjoyable, was it not? The feeling of power... the taste of blood...
"Hrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaoooooooo! No!"
*Ursula's snarl slowly becomes coherent speech as she shrinks back to her human form, her clothes hanging in shreds, and still smeared with blood*
"This is not real! Only once have I let my rage rule me, and it shall never happen again, do you hear! NEVER!"
Ah, but how do you know that? Your human shape is merely a mask, beast you were born and beast you are...
"NO! I am no beast, I am Gurahl! I will never disobey the teachings of my Buri-Jaan! I will not shame my race!"
*Holding out her right hand, she concentrates hard, grasping at insubstantial air as if searching for something. In her mind she imagines a figure from her past, that of an aged man whose face is lined with care and possesses a serene wisdom. And as Ursula snatches at the empty air, her staff materialises in her hand. she brings it down to strike the ground with a thud, drawing new resolve from its presence*
"Now by Ursa's sacred light, BEGONE!"
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Post by ringmasterrob on Feb 13, 2004 7:34:06 GMT
[Reality] *Rob casts a quasi-existential shield around himself in order to protect him from the illusions and any 'other' creatures in the forest*
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Post by Hordriss de Confuseur on Feb 15, 2004 15:03:24 GMT
[Dreamscape]
I... no... One shall not believe it. It is not true...
Woman's voice: Oh, but it is true, Ocultillion, I have no further use for you..
*Hordriss looks up, the scene has changed, he still cradles Sidriss in his arms, but now she is a child, barely speaking. They are on the floor, she has just fallen, but as he stooped to pick her up a dark shadow falls across them. Hordriss stares into the cold eyes of the woman.*
One, thought... assumed that there was more...
Woman: I told you, Ocultillion, there was nothing more, not ever. I wanted a child, you gave me one, a simple transaction.
Hordriss: That was how you explained it at the time.... but since then, later on, was there... nothing?
Woman: Am I some human wretch, a slave to milk and chemicals? *She laughs cruelly* You are not the first to serve my purposes, nor is it likely that you shall be the last. But she is not of the fay, I see the signs already. It must be done.
Hordriss: She is your daughter! My daughter! Would you treat her like an experiment...
Woman: Did you do any better. You! the great warlock, searching after power, did you think that you had seduced me at first? Did you think that the dreams of a dynasty of power, to resurrect the line of de Confuseur could ever be possible? So desperate... not even mortal love can last under such desperation.... and love never entered our bargain.... *She holds up a finger on which there is a strange, golden ring.* Look at our wedding rings, so useless a symbol, yet so powerful an enchantment. We are linked, you and I, do not try to resist or your magic would strike you down as well...
Hordriss: Witch queen, demon of the fey! You twist my history in your hands. You were lovely, and powerful. You were perfect, and yes, one loved you... loves you... One travelled to give you a home, to give us a domain which befits our rank...
Woman: A home! You travel to this... Dungeon! This construct of the lord of Darkness himself! You are weak, Hordriss, and a foolish old man! How many centuries have we both lived, yet a child can make you a babbling idiot. She will submit to my enchantment, she will take my magic.
*The woman raises her arms and a swirling portal of shadows appears in the stained glass window before her, the room is grand, a chapel almost, and slowly, inexorably, the child Sidriss is pulled from Hordriss' arms towards the portal. The dark-robed woman laughs again. Hordriss leaps up.*
Hordriss: NO! She will not be polluted with your influence, or mine. She will learn her own magic. *In an instant, Hordriss takes a piece of paper from his robes and concentrates, strange writing appears on it. Then giving the child a final kiss on her forehead, he raises his arms.* Spellcasting: B-L-A-N-K.
*The air around the child fizzes for a moment, and then she is gone, pulled into the portal in the window. The magic collides, sending arcs of energy flying from it, striking the ground, causing great chasms to open up.*
Woman: Idiot! What magic will she have now, she will be no more than human...
Hordriss: No, Morghanna, she will have your legacy of the Fey, and like your sister Morgause she will learn the ways of Earth magic, unsullied by your bitter heart.
Morghanna: I can find her, that portal sent her back only about twelve years, she will be a woman soon and I will take over her instruction.
Hordriss: No, she shall not be tainted by either of us, she will remain pure. *He chants again, a red glow swirling around himself and Morghanna.*
Morghanna: How is this possible? Our wedding bands, they should protect me from your magic...
Hordriss: No, my "love", not if I cast the spell on myself also. We shall forget her, until one of us has learned, one of us has proved ourselves pure enough to care for her...
Morghanna: Fool! You will forget the reason why you wanted to be better, you shall never improve, NEVER!
*Morghanna, flies backwards and into the stained-glass window. Hordriss bows his head as the last of the spell takes effect...*
One can but hope...
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Post by Ursula on Feb 16, 2004 1:20:24 GMT
*Both bodies and landscape dissolve into shapleless mist as Ursula's shout echoes around her. The mist slowly resolves itself back into the Place of Doors, and Ursula sniffs at the air in an attempt to detect any trace of Tom or Hordriss*
"...hmmmm... which way..."
*Closing her eyes, she breathes in deeply through her nose, though she's not even sure if scent exists in this place. Unfortunately, her suspicions appear to be correct*
"Ursa's bones... this is useless."
*Changing her tactics, she holds her staff by its base, and holds it out in front of herself like a dowsing rod, slowly waving it from side to side while concentrating on mental images of her friends The top of the staff dips with a soft tinkle of bells at it points at one door, and she nods in satisfaction*
"Well, as good a choice as any..."
*Taking a proper grip on her staff, she heads through the door thus indicated*
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Post by Tom Troughton on Feb 17, 2004 1:10:09 GMT
*Tom and his Darkside fall through the door and it slams shut. They land in a heep on the floor this room is completly bare and although lit it has a darkness about it.*
*Tom tries to get to his feet but the hands are round his throught to quickly. Tom starts strugling and trying to breake the hold. He begins gasping for breath and his lungs screem out for air, his whole chest feels like its on fire. He looks up and his eyes meet thoses of his would be killer they are ablaze with hatred, contempt and blood lust.*
"I have got to fight this creature, I must fight it."
*Tom starts to try and lash out and hit his assaliant but his blows do not seem to work and slowly become weaker as his mussalse sieze up from lack of oxygen.*
"I have to try and let my friends know were I am."
*Tom tries to kick the door so as to maby attract attension, but he dosen't know weather or not he has been heard. Any normal human would have blackeout and died by now but some how Tom is still conciuse and strugaling all be it weaker then befor.*
"Hehehehehehe...... Like I said mage a weak pitifull mortal."
*The vile, Silky smooth inhuman and evil voice of the Bloodfang echos around Tom as he his body starts to surender and close down.*
"I am far more then just a Mortal."
*The Bloodfangs taunting seem to fire Tom up and he fights back with new found strength. By now his Darkside looks even more like him his hair scuffed, twisted and matted by the fight, anyone else would be unable to tell the two appart.*
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Post by Hordriss de Confuseur on Feb 18, 2004 1:56:01 GMT
[Dreamscape]
[OCC: Just a reminder guys, nothing here is real, don't be alarmed if your characters appear! I love you all really, but Bloodfang doesn't!]
*Tumbling... falling.... the world once again turns upside down. When the shaking stops, Hordriss finds himself teetering on the edge of a vast abyss, there is no way to cross, and for a moment, he is going to fall. Then there is a bridge beneath him. He looks up.*
So... that is how it occurred, one remembered Sidriss but, her.... how could one have....
*Hearing a noise, he sees a figure approaching in the distance. He starts, ready to defend himself, and then stops... he laughs.*
So, is one hiding one's memories too well? Is this all you have?
*The dungeoneer in the overlarge helmet stands before him.*
Ah, young dungeoneer, I believe that one is required to deny you access at this point until you have wasted that spell which Merlin granted you. However, despite your lowly birth, one is perfectly willing to...
Dungeoneer: I'm not afraid of you!
Hordriss: One has not given you any reason...
Voice of an adivisor: Spellcasting: S-W-O-
Hordriss: Now look here...
Advisor: R-D
*In a flash, the flickering sword magic hangs before them. Hordriss nearly laughs, and steps aside*
Hordriss: Very well, young sir, pass and... no... wait...
*The dungeoneer has advanced forward, and with uncanny precision the sword swoops down and slices the dungeoneer into two pieces. Then, with a flicker of light, it is the Bloodfang Blade, glistening in the torchlight.*
Hordriss: One knows full well that this scene is a forgery, their fate was not bisection.
Bloodfang: No, this one fell from a cliff, his young body crunching on every stone...
Hordriss: They are beings of another plane, they do not die, they cannot feel anything...
Bloodfang: Is that what you believed, hypocrite? Do you want to know how it feels....
*There is another swirl of energy, and Hordriss is encased in an endless corridor... Then, in a flash, a saw-blade whizzes past his head. Horrified, he falls to his left to avoid the next, and then he sees it, a third, coming straight for him. He raises his arms but.....*
*Then he is in the block and tackle... he felt the blade tear into his flesh, felt the awful sickening emptiness as his bones cracked in an instant. Feels it again, when the room around him now shudders, and a block of stone twice as wide as he is flies into him, pitching his broken body into a hole.*
Bloodfang: I FELT THEM! I took in every death that they ignored. I felt their bodies in this world drowning, snapping as they hit the ground. I felt the blow of the goblin axe and the bite of Ariadne. And you sat by and sent them to their deaths....
Bloodfang: YOU ALL DID, all the powers-that-be. And you, you, my creator, did not even serve a higher purpose. Confusing people until they tripped over their own graves....
*Bloodfang is now Ariadne, sinking her fangs into the child's neck. Now it is Morghanna again, launching a bolt of power at Hordriss' head, whilst the helmet pushed over his eyes acts as little protection...
Bloodfang: Shall I show you... eh? Show you what you are.... my vision of your world...
*Hordriss staggers to his feet. He is outside the Boarding school, or what is left of it. Now there is a heap of magical waste-land, even to venture onto this battleground would turn the traveller inside-out.*
Hordriss: This is not real...
Bloodfang voice: How can you be sure? You have been asleep for so long, what do you think they've been up to....?
*He runs to Wolfenden, much closer in this world of half-reality. There the stench of death is great, the market square is littered with bodies. As he watches, an elven wolf bounds through the streets, chasing an owl that shreeks. Then the bird turns, and the slavering wolf disappears into a crack that opens in the ground with a desperate howl... The owl cries it's triumph, which turns into a scream as it is struck by a flash of magical energy, its twisted body changing to that of an elf-maiden before it too sinks beneath the ground. Hordriss turns, to see the great Ringmaster, his eyes nothing more than pools of darkness, readying another bolt of energy. On cue, the young Ogre bursts from the pile of carcasses and with a frenzy in his eyes, smashes the staff from the great wizard's hands. A second blow takes off his hands.*
Hordriss: These are good people, whatever may happen here. One will not allow it.
Voice: Will not allow it ... you have no right to anything anymore...
*Hordriss turns. He was expecting this. Behind him stands a mirror image of himself, but this one's robes are not red naturally. They still drip...*
Evil Hordriss: Shall we clear the area?
*He claps his hands. In a rush, two pillars of flame have burst from the earth. The ringmaster and young Grimwold are consumed utterly.*
Good Hordriss: You destroy only your own. Those creations were no friends. Is this to be a duel then? A final battle?
Evil Hordriss: *Laughs* Why? Have you not seen enough, why should we battle, I AM you. We have not changed, one is still as selfish as ever. See how we ordered our so-called friends to clear up our problem. See how even now they are in grave danger, and we do nothing. Your "goodness" is nothing but folly, it allows you to be captured, but it does not serve our purpose. We created the Bloodfang Blade, we have killed so many times...
Good Hordriss: Cease this! These... images. Once again, you show me these scenes of carnage....
Evil Hordriss: Then strike me down! Punish me for what I have done.
Good Hordriss: No...
Evil Hordriss: Oh it was so good to be used again. To feel the rank sweat of a murdering hand on my hilt. To feel my blade plunging into the gypsy girl's sweet flesh... And we enjoyed it too, what else can the creator of a weapon want, but for it to be used...?
*Good Hordriss raises his hand to strike him down, a knife materialising in his hand. Then he stops.*
Evil Hordriss: DO IT!!! Punish us for our crimes. Rid the world of one more paranoid old mage with too much power than is healthy...
Good Hordriss: No. *Lets his hands fall* To do that would be to deny oneself. One cannot deny one's past, one can only atone, beg foregiveness, and not return to one's old ways. *Gives the blade to his evil self* Strike me down if you choose, but one will not become you again.
*The Evil Hordriss' face twists in rage and it rushes forward, thrusting the dagger into Hordriss' stomach. Then it's face changes, and it looks down to see the blade protruding from its own body. There is a sigh, and then the whole scene dissolves. Hordriss is back in the hall of doors.*
Hmmm.... This illusion will not last much longer, one thinks, already the ceiling fades. *He does not notice more of the dark smoke flowing out through the sword-shaped fissure to the real world* Now, one must find the others. Together it cannot defeat us.
*Hordriss concentrates for a moment. Then he hears a thumping sound from one of the doors, as if someone was striking the other side. Hordriss raises his hand, and that door hurtles towards him out of the gloom. Grasping the bone handle. He steps through....*
*And into a fearsome melée. Two versions of Tom lie on the floor gouging and punching at each other. Hordriss cannot tell them apart, but he calls out...*
Do not fight it Troughton, your dark side draws its strength from your violence. It is only if we remain calm that we have a chance. Hurry, for this dreamscape will not endure much longer....
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Post by Tom Troughton on Feb 18, 2004 2:29:34 GMT
*Both Tom's look up as Hordriss speaks. Tom forces his Darkside off of him and it falls backwards. Tom scrambals to his feet and opens his mouth to speeke to Hordriss but an invisibal force fells him with a single blow to the back of his head and he crumpals to the floor, his recorder rolls along the floor and stops just short of Hordriss's feet.*
<Evil Tom>
"Well Hordriss My dear chap I owe you a thank you. Your advice came just in time. When I stoped fighting my self and let him persist in attempting to assault me his own rage and power were turned against him. Now I belive that we should find Miss Ursula and depart this relm."
*Hordriss is at first convinced by the Evil Tom's act but something is nagging at him. The way he talks? No it is Toms voice. His look No still the same scarecrow look & Hobo Magican attire. What was different? Then Hordriss saw it out the corner of his eye laying just centinemeters from his feet.*
"You lier."
*The Real Tom has again recover quiker then a normal Human and has got to his feet and stagerd over.*
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