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Bailos · Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:47 pm Post subject: A shout in the night

On a cool, damp night a clamy breeze russled in through the windows of Thrax's manor. The treetops heaved uneasily in the turbulent night's air. The sort of weather that would have you expect a storm.

A voices carried in from the blackness of the night. A far-away shout from off in the distance...yet at the same time, a soft whisper from right behind the ear.

The severed link between Sosaria and Oblivion as caused by the failing of the Skull had allowed his own entropic abilities to blossom without constraint and for the first time, he had gathered enough power to call out from his demonic prison and his epic war....

Thrax.....Sethos....Barl....

His chorus repeated through the night, growing softer with each breeze that brought the words, fading into quiet once again. Io's sphere stirred once more.

Thrax · Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 5:58 pm Post subject:

Skurj was seated on a wooden stool at a stone table piled high with alchemical paraphenalia. His studies in alchemy were going well. Tomorrow would see him take the first of several tests that Dharzhal, his mentor, would give him to check on his progress, and he believed himself quite ready. Despite his confidence, he wanted to practice late into the night, to make sure he had learned his lessons well. As he carefully poured a thick red liquid into a flask, tendrils of white smoke flared upward... and he heard a voice calling from a nearby room...

The door to Thrax's bedchamber flew open. Thrax, who did not need sleep but actually enjoyed it, raised up in bed and grabbed a club that lay against the bedpost. "Who is it?!!" he demanded, raising the club as he climbed out of bed.

Skurj stood in the doorway, a lit candle in his hand. "Come quickly father! There's something you must see... downstairs!" Thrax dressed hurriedly and followed him.
________

"Someone called your name and that of others... from this room. I checked carefully and there is no one here... no shade, no ghost, no undead at all," Skurj explained. They stood inside the study, a place where only a limited few were allowed to enter; the doors made of adamantine sealed with lock and spell. On a pedestal in a corner of the room lay the object Thax had retrieved from Bailos' house. He walked over to it, removed the coverlet, and gazed upon the Orb. Beneath its smooth crystalline surface he could see a greenish swirling mist, but nothing else.

"Did you touch this?" Thrax asked.

"No father. You bade me not and I have obeyed."

Thrax nodded while peering into the Orb. As he did, the silence of the room was broken by the sound of a voice... faint, distant, but unmistakable. "Thrax! Can you hear me?"

"Bailos!" Thrax cried as he, in astonishment, turned to look at his son. Skurj approached warily. "It is Bailos! He is calling from inside the Orb!" Resisting the almost overwhelming urge to lay his hands upon it, he shouted back. "Bailos!! It is Thrax!! I hear you! Speak again and tell me what would you have me do!"

(to be continued)

Mairsil · Lore Master Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 1241

The Lichdrow stood as still as stone, staring down into the shadows beneath him. The caves he contemplated within were a group of many which connected with the massive spances of the Underdark which he use to call his home. He had no intention of returning, though he was most comfortable there still. He found himself there often of late, carefully planning the path he walked. The Order's disbandment was sudden and unexpected, as was the reaction of most of its members. It wasn't a terrible loss, Barl was a necromancer, with or without Oblivion. It did change things however, enough so that certain actions were required. It was these actions Barl planned now, when the whisper of his name passed the mouth of the cave.

Barl..

His head turned to his left, followed by a slow turn of the rest of his body, scepter raised. It was not a question, nor had it been a threat. His eyes scanned the walls and caves beyond him, finding nothing but rock. Most curious, was that his name had been a statement, and one without the title lord. Long had it been since anyone called him anything else.

A small, tight smile formed on Barl's lips as he whispered back to the caves.

I will not find you...you will find me..

With that..the lichdrow took his leave, awaiting what may follow his name.
_________________
"You see I can not be forsaken, because I'm not the only one. We walk amongst you, beating, r#ping, must we hide from everyone?" - Jon Davis

Sethos · Adventurer Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 66 Location: Umbra

Sethos stood atop Charnel Hill looking about the Order’s grove which was in quite the state of disarray.

His own image such a stark contrast to the surroundings, his flesh once again youthful flawless and angular, his eyes their usual piercing blue, and his clothing once again of a more appropriate category for an Artisem…and he was livid.

“What do you mean you have no idea?” He spoke coldly to a rather confused a dazed slave who he was dangling precariously over a ledge. It was quite the sight, the slave being nearly double his size of course.

The slave merely stuttered out some random words and names, nothing very useful and so with a sigh Sethos tilting his head slightly pulled the slave back off the ledge and dropped him.

“Useless” he uttered to the gray-robed peon, without even a glance as he walked away.

Storming down the hill he sighed deeply when just then he heard a faint whisper…a voice he had not heard for some time. As the shock subsided Sethos began to push his mental abilities trying to connect with this bodiless voice…an old teacher.

This was most unforeseen…

((to be continued))

Bailos · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 1:01 pm Post subject:

Several days had now passed since his voice carried out into the night. Calling out from the world within a world within a world. Thrax, although aware of Bailos' apparent connection with the Orb, was still oblivious to the nature of the entrapment.

Dutifully each day Thrax stopped by the Orb which he had secured in his study and looked down into its swirling depths for an answer...some sort of reply...anything! Yet each day, nothing had come. Thrax's visits to the Orb were becoming less frequent as the days waned on. Friday, on Thrax's second trip of the day, he was met with a welcomed change.

The swirling miasma of green and brown had started to change and was now an interesting shade of purple and green; the environment reflecting the scenes of an epic struggle being waged within against the dark master of that foul prison, Io.

Leaning in to more closely examine, Thrax found himself strangely compelled to reach out and run his fingers over the odd sphere, but thankfully he caught himself in time to stop, snapping back to reality. As he withdrew back from the Orb and took a half-step to turn away, he felt almost as if a hand took hold of his shoulder and bid him to stay....a soft voice, barely above a whisper, caught his ear from the direction of the Orb.

**Bailos' voice carries in an ebbing, whispered tone seeming both far away and nearby at the same time. His speech is noted by italics**

The others needed to hear me, to feel my call, before I reached out once again old friend...

Thrax turned himself around and some semblance of a smile returned to his face as he siddled the Orb. "Good friend, speak to me! Tell me your will so that we may spring you forth from your prison."

I am locked. We struggle against the demon-god Io who tricked me. The trappings of flesh, my last shreds of pride and greed, overwhelmed me. I reach out to you now, with hope for the future, and a chance for gain...

"Anything I can do to aid, merely speak it. Tell me what must be done, and I will make it happen"

As Io's power weakens, my own grows. Those of us trapped here, use the very prison made to subjugate us against our captor. As our war progresses, I need you to find the last of my students. My last disciple, Itullus Caius. He studies, waiting for me, at the Lycaeum...

"What am I to do with them? And what of the others? Who would I bring?"

My students were many...Nathan, Kryphon, Ceinwyn, Isil, Abominox, Barl, Sethos...They will heed the call if you approach them.

My power fades once again, dear friend. the demon-god will pay, and I will return to you

"As it is willed..."

The voice had faded back to the Orb, gone once more. A disciple lay in waiting, and there were students ready to gather.

Thrax · Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 10:14 am Post subject: Fruitless Search

Arriving at home Thrax dismounted his charger and with a single command sent it back into the ethereal void. He slowly ascended the long stairway entrance to the Citadel, opened the door and stepped inside. Harbinger, his faithful raven courier, sqwawked once, acknowledging his master's return. Thrax took off his helmet, dropped it on the floor, and seated himself. His half-orc attendant, Durthagg, suddenly appeared, picked up the helmet and placed it near his master's feet. "Master want food? Drink?" he asked. The question was typical of times when Thrax had returned home from his long visits abroad.

Thrax shook his head. "No. Not now. Have supper ready within the hour," he replied. Durthagg nodded once and went to work.

"Where could they be?" the dark lord wondered. He had been searching for the ones Bailos mentioned by name, whom he believed were members of the Order of the Ebon Skull, at various times for the last few days. He had even left messages on the bulletin board at the cathedral at Charnel Hill. His visits to the Lycaeum in Moonglow to find the man Itullus had likewise proved unfruitful. No bribes or threats produced any results and he was forced to conclude that either Itullus simply wasn't there or did not want to be found. Feeling worn out, but still restless in spirit, he got up and went to his study below, hoping that Bailos would speak again through the Orb to him. He removed the coverlet and spoke aloud, hoping Bailos could hear him. "I have searched far and wide for those you asked me to seek. There is something wrong there; Charnel Hill is deserted. I left messages for them, but no replies. I have yet to find Itullus, either. I shall keep looking for them, but I fear something has gone awry. But be patient my old friend, it is only a matter of time; I will not fail you." He waited a few moments to see if any response was forthcoming...