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Post by Dogrim Bloodaxe on Jul 22, 2009 23:08:22 GMT -8
Drendil watched idly as dust fell from the arched ceiling high above them. Every few minutes he could feel the vibrations of the Demonic horde throwing themselves at the shield that protect the city. Each thud was a painful reminder of the legion that stood waiting outside his home. "I shall get the book," he butted in. Looking at Hiro and Alex he continued, "I shall take 100 of my private guard with me and we shall take the book. The lot of you," gesturing at the people before him as he went on, "Shall accompany me until Sirigoth arives, and he will arive if he has even the slightest bit of intelegence. Once he arives the lot of you shall fend him off until we have the book. Then," he said, looking into Alex's eyes as he finished, "I shall hand the book to the girl and accompany you to the Druid's keep." Drendil sat back in silence, feeling anouther thud as the Dmeons took up the offensive once more.
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Post by arioncasea on Jul 23, 2009 6:37:53 GMT -8
Arion opened his eyes, his pupils shrinking fast under the bright sunlight. The blood red mist swirling in his eyes and in the gem upon his forehead became more active as he awoke. He had taken a nap while waiting on his comrades to do whatever they were doing... but now, he was bored.
He grunted a sigh of relief as he lifted himself up and stretched his wings as far as they could go. Then he took a step, and began heading for the nearest portal - which was very close to the city, coincidentally. The trickling of demons from the portal seemed to have diminished enormously. Now only a few jumped out here and there - sometimes larger groups would come through, but nothing amazing or awe-worthy.
His armor reflected the light of that wasteland as he walked closer. The others hadn't come out yet. He could tell they were alive, he could feel it, but... he wasn't sure they weren't unharmed or being held captive. But that wasn't his concern. He had to get the book, if that was all that could help them. He would rather be back fighting Sirigoth with Zephius, but... he knew the downside of trading one evil for another. If anything, at least Zephius would let the planet look good in his rule... but that wasn't the matter here, and Arion knew it.
After a short while of walking, he slowly ascended a great ramp and stared at the shimmering portal. It was big, even to him in his enormous form - but then again, it was created for something god-like. A few demons would run out from time to time, but they seemed to pass him with no attention. No doubt they had the directive of taking over the world... they couldn't seem to care less about a few creatures - perhaps they'd never seen a live dragon before and thought he was a stupid animal? No matter, it'd make things easier for him.
Slowly, he pushed through the portal and his shining armor disappeared.
[Continued in The Push for the Book]
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Post by Tristan Aleona on Jul 23, 2009 16:29:24 GMT -8
"The others I'm referring to are arion, who I trust will join us, as well as that odd child I saw when I first entered. Perhaps your shadowy companion will join us as well drendil? Or do you intend to have him watch over your city? Eitherway I think it would be best if alex and myself retrieved our weapons. We must strike soon," spoke the young man. Hiro's armor had managed to give him a little more energy during the dicussion, but given the state of the world he was at a disadvantage. He had hoped Alex would have the energy as well.
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Post by fenrir on Jul 23, 2009 16:34:57 GMT -8
As the boring people talked Fen could tell they'd come up with the right plan, but the presence outside had left and would be needed in the confrontation. "Flappy left!" Yelled fen. "We need him. Come on we have a plan now let's goooooo!!!!!"
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Post by hawkeye on Jul 26, 2009 16:08:48 GMT -8
Alexandra looked back at the strange child with a mixture of exhaustion and amused frustration. She really didn't want to go just yet; she wasn't ready. Why Arion couldn't have waited another hour? The elven girl knew the answer, time was of the essence, but they were exhausted. She looked back at to Drendil, looking grim.
"Can we push that time table any?" She asked quietly.
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Post by Dogrim Bloodaxe on Jul 27, 2009 12:37:14 GMT -8
Drendil rose to his feet, his massive form towering over everyone in the room. "We shall wait at least a day," addressing Alex. "Your weapons will be returned to you when I deem it necessary," he continued looking at Hiro. "Until we are ready to leave the pair of you shall be given a room, and I expect you to stay there until we are ready. There will be guards outside your door at all times and they will escort you should you need to go anywhere." Walking past the group he paused, adding as if an afterthought, "Oh, and your dog will be waiting in your room." As Drendil walked out of the throne room he motioned for one of the guards. "Take them to the room Alex was held in." The guard modded and moved into the throne room to full fill his Lords request. Drendil retired to his chamber at the top of his citadel. As the oak doors creaked closed he let out an exhausted sigh. It had been a long few days, and it looked like there would be many more long days to come. However this was the time to try out a new project he had been working on. "Yes," he thought to himself, "Now is the perfect time." The rest of the afternoon was spent with a flurry or paperwork and messengers. He had set into motion the forging of Alex's pendent, and the creation of his newly reformed elite core of his forces. This force of 200 would forged of both magic and steel and they would be ready by the time for the assault. They had been trained in secret since the start of his rule. This would be the perfect chance to test them in the harshest of combat situations.
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Post by hawkeye on Jul 27, 2009 16:44:15 GMT -8
Alexandra bowed her head and stood up in a sweeping motion. She stood up straight up, looking rather regal even in a hand-me-down scholar's dress and open sandals. As soon as Hiro was close enough, however, she looped her arm around his and leaned on him a little. Her vision clouded and dizziness washed over her. She closed her eyes and turned away for a moment, and the feeling passed.
The guard Drendil had told to escort them to her room approached the pair with two others. Alexandra nodded to them. The guard beckoned and turned away, leading her down the same hallways she had found herself not long before while navigating to the throne room. Her head swam, the aura and her own exhaustion really making her sick. She was quite glad that he opened the door for her. Tempest stood waiting for the pair. A smile crinkled her face as she passed her hand over his head and crumpled into a small corner of the only bed in the small room. She scooted over if Hiro decided he needed to lay down too. The simple wooden chair she'd been tied up to ten minutes before stood in an opposite corner next to the dresser. Alexandra laid out her arm, up palm to Hiro.
"Hey... "
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Post by Tristan Aleona on Jul 29, 2009 11:07:28 GMT -8
Hiro steadied Alex when she leaned on him and accompanied her to the room. His chest felt light as Tempest came in to sight. "No need to tell you the plan." Said the emerald eyed young man to his golden eyed wolf. Still something didn't feel right and that feeling was worse without his sword. The wolf's ears twitched pleasantly as Alex's hand passed over his head. "Hey..." said the elf. "What is it?" Asked the shaman.
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Post by hawkeye on Jul 29, 2009 18:00:34 GMT -8
Her eyes were half closed and the soft smile still touched her lips. She looked so relaxed and half way between the conscious plane and the dream realm.
"Lay down... Now is the time to rest..." She whispered. Her hand still lay out across the bed.
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Post by fenrir on Jul 30, 2009 8:59:49 GMT -8
Fen was livid. How come Hiro gets a dog? "Not fair!" He shouted as he stormed away to do important stuff. Halfway to his destination, he realized Drendil was talking about a wolf. Not a dog. With a surge of relief he approached the barrier to see demons swarming around. He breathed deeply, ready to do his job... Tonuge out and one eye squinted he began to work. There was no way the demons would be able to see his mocking faces and not feel shame for all they had done.
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Post by Tristan Aleona on Jul 30, 2009 10:58:05 GMT -8
Tempest curled up on the floor with a yawn and closed his eyes as Hiro nodded to Alex and laid down, his head resting on Tempest's soft fur. His emerlad eyes closed and he rested peacefully but aware. Even though Drendil had agreed to this temporary alliance he still didn't trust him.
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Post by hawkeye on Jul 30, 2009 15:35:10 GMT -8
Alexandra's smile faded away, but she appreciated the chivalry if nothing else. She rolled over and fell asleep, facing the wall. It was nice to finally relax- no fear of something getting her in her sleep, no anxiety over much rest they would get, and no miserable failure hanging over her head. A dream soon took her.
Alexandra stood in a black room. She was the only thing of white and light, being in her valkyrie form. The tugging that normally hung in the back of her mind when she was this way was gone, replaced by that empty feeling in the pit of one's stomach. She twisted the light around her, illuminating the whole room.
"Hello?" She called, but her voice just echoed up into the high ceiling. There were huge double doors at the opposite end of the room. They opened easily, requiring little effort on her part, and revealed another room, far larger and more grand. There were three people crumpled in the center of the room. the priestess ran, dropping to her knees next to the closest one, afraid of what she'd find.
"Hiro!" She gasped, pushing him to lay flat on his back. His clothes and body were torn up. Tempest wasn't anywhere near in sight. "Hiro! Please...." Alexandra pressed her hands to his cold chest, praying he wasn't already dead. She could only save the living. Nothing about him changed. "Hiro!" It was like cold water had been poured over her. She looked over at the other two. One had his back to her, his armor coated in blood and grime.
"Drendil..." She whispered, afraid to look at the next one. The other was flat on his chest, but she could just see Arion's face. Tears rolled down. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Far beyond them was the creature they had fallen to, though managed to fell. A shadowy pedestal stood behind the behemoth's body. She got up and slowly walked towards the book. It lay there, simple as could be, like it was a tome like any other. She picked it up and stared at its glossy cover, then with a snarl threw it at the wall. It hit and landed on the ground, pages splayed. Everything stood still for a moment as the elven woman stared at the book. Then the moment passed and she picked up again, remembering that the mission needed to be finished before the misery and mourning could happen. Alexandra wished she could have time to buy the bodies of her fallen on more worthy ground, but Sirigoth would be here any minute and-
"Alexandra." The Demon Lord whispered her name. "I've been waiting..." It reached her long ears, cold and with amusement. An explosion of light and-
The dream ended and the girl awoke. She lay there, pondering her dream. She didn't believe it was a prophecy, but a warning. Why was she separate from them? What was the light at the end? Why was she alive if Drendil had died? Alexandra sighed and looked over at Hiro, confirming that the shaman was still with her, and then went back to sleep, less at ease then her first passage to the unconscious world.
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Post by Dogrim Bloodaxe on Jul 31, 2009 23:11:45 GMT -8
It had been a long night for the Eternal. He had spent literally every moment of the night pushing the cities resources into allowing his men to be ready for an early assault. While most of the city slumbered still, their sleep tentative at best as the demons had been relentless in their assault Drendil inspected the 100 men standing in the courtyard before his citadel. His new force stood there for inspection. Their dark armor gleamed darkly in the eerie green light that emanated from his palace. This force was made up the strongest men within his city. They had been recruited in secret since almost the start of his reign. These men were highly trained in swordsmanship, each had been tested by the Eternal himself. In addition to their sharpened weapon skills, each one had been tested for magical skill, and only those who had proven themselves had been allowed in this elite force. After months of grueling training their minds and bodies had been trained into new type of warrior. Each warrior was clad in a black plate with a devilish faceplate intended to strike fear into their prey. At each man's side was was two mid length, one sided blades. They stood there before him in the early morning, oblivious to the thudding that still emanated through the underground city. Drendil stopped before the leader who was marked with two long thick bits of colored rope that fell down his back. After a few quick words the the massive warlord retired to his throne room, the lack of sleep weighing on his shoulders as he eased himself into the throne. Motioning to one of the guards in the room he ordered his "guests" to be brought before him. Soon they would been moving out, his thoughts drifting to the knew force standing at attention outside.
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Post by Tristan Aleona on Aug 1, 2009 17:00:52 GMT -8
Hiro woke up hearing a distressed moan. His head spun with sorrow that was not his own, his mind must have drifted in his sleep. He quickly gathered himself and saw Alex laying on the bed, she seemed to be asleep now, but moments before... "Alex? What's wrong?" The emerald eye young man asked. His head swam with drowsiness but his concern got the best of him at this moment. Tempest laid still, but Hiro knew he was awake. "This war... we can't let it be the end of us. Nor can we let it get the best of us."
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Post by hawkeye on Aug 2, 2009 18:01:11 GMT -8
"Alex? What's wrong?"
She opened her eyes, called back to their small room, and watched the shaman. The elven woman bit her lip, his appearance in her dream washing over the tired boy before her. He had spoken to her, but his attentions had returned to Tempest, who lay with him on the stone floor. Alexandra sighed,and hoisted herself up onto her elbows. Her long shimmery hair hung in long falls on either side of her almond face. She tipped her head to one side and smiled, the kind of smile that was infinitely sorrowful and apologetic. "Just a bad dream, Hiro..." Her words hung in the air, soft but clear.
Before the chieftan could respond, the guard swung the door open with little regard and eyed the sleepy pair and companion irritably. "His Lordship demands your presence. The contingent moves out soon." He paused a moment, waiting for their response. Alexandra just stared at him with a befuddled look on her face, not entirely aware or awake. "Don't just stare, girl! Get up!"
The priestess nodded, coming back to her senses, and sat up slowly, trying not to get a head rush. The aura of this place made her nauseous. She slipped her feet into her slippers and waited to follow Hiro out.
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