Conquest of the Horde

Forge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDZscyf8...re=related

It pains me every day I see her.

Blue sparks flew from the raw iron as the hammer fell on it. The room was dark, enchanted fires lit the area, runes of power on every tool.

It is unavoidable, her piercing eyes.

"Forge, are you busy in there?"

He turned to the woman's voice as she slid the door open. He dipped the iron in cool water, steam rising as blue smoke.

"I am, but, not too busy."

She slipped in, the blue of her eyes, and the deep ebon of her hair what shown first. Her slight body was seemingly dwarfed by the room, and the strong man before her. She smiled, holding up a hand with a shy wave.

"Good. I was wondering how things were going."

I was in my rags, she in her finery. It stung, that cruel reminder of society.

"They are, fine..."

Forge turned and flipped the flat iron piece on the anvil before him. He leaned over and took his time whispering to it, hands sliding over the surface. She eyed the metal with thrill sparking in her eyes; blue shimmering connected his hands to the metal. She opened her mouth with awe.

"I have not watched this sort of thing."

He smiled and let his hands rise, the iron was blue in hue. As he leaned for the hammer near him he shrugged.

"A noble woman does not normally take interest in such things."

Then why did she stop by, why did she ever stop by after I made her father's sword?

She smiled slightly, leaning forward. Watching him closely as he brought the hammer onto the metal; blue sparks flying about. He brought the edge slowly to the metal, the hammer pounding in a steep rhythm. He stepped back and flipped the metal over onto a second workplace, a red hot square table covered in runic marks. He quickly slid it over certain marks, hammering down and flipping the metal with practiced efficiency. Her eyes danced between motions, she stepped forward slightly, then he stopped.

"Valeria, don't you have somewhere to be?"

She blushed and pulled back to the door. Opening it with a quick tug, she gave a frantic wave goodbye.

"I will stop by tomorrow. Good day Forge."

As she stopped by, almost every day before.

Forge turned and put the blade into the water, purple steam rising over his body.

---

Faith in Steel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrmIQXXbC...re=related

Forge stepped out onto the street outside his shop in Stormwind. He walked not far when he was greeted by a boisterous man, a set of sausage like fingers on his shoulder. Forge looked to his side to see Tillan Godchild, a well known man in this part of the city. His white suit hardly pressed around his large form, he smiled, a golden tooth shining in his maw. Forge gave him a nod, then eyed around for the five to six other men that must of been with Tillan.

Of all the times he could arrive.

"My dear boy Forge, how are ye? Because, yer fine steel has risen more than one rumor, one request and of course a fine deal. Why is it though, I am lacking rent?"

Forge sighed, he shrugged off Tillan's sweaty hand and turned to him. Eyes set straight on the chubby face, and his brown eyes.

"I will account for that in due time Godchild. However, I must make this delivery to get you your rent."

The man's double chin rippled with laughter. He brought Forge into a bear hug.

"Thats my boy. Now you know where to stop by to drop off the coins."

Forge simply faked a smile and stepped back, in mid turn as well he spoke as he began to walk.

"Of course, I will be back soon."

Hopefully he would die of heatstroke before I returned.

Forge walked quickly down the bustling city streets, he made a turn and was outside a large home. A man-at-arms at the gate nodded to him.

"Why hello there Forge, what brings you by here?"

He leaned into the gate and spoke quietly.

"I needed an excuse to stop by. This is it."

As he spoke he revealed an object wrapped in cloth, obviously the sword. Charles nodded with a smirk.

"Of course Forge, right on through with you."

The gate opened slightly for the man to slip through into the courtyard of the manor. Forge walked to the front doors, a maid met him there, opening the way.

"Lady Castor is bathing at the moment. If your hear to c-"

Forge rose a hand to silence her.

"I simply have a delivery for Lord Castor."

But no coin can surpass a moment to court his daughter.

The maid shrugged.

"Oh alright then, Lord Castor is in his study. Just, knock before you enter."

Forge nodded once and turned down a long corridor. He walked slowly down the adorned hall, he looked over the portraits of the Castor family from years past, faces he had only seen once before when making Lord Castor's first sword.

He stepped up to the doors and rapped his knuckles against the fine cherry.

"Lord Castor. I have something for you."

Castor's voice was loud and sudden.

"Come in! Come in!"

As Forge entered he found Lord Castor standing near his desk in his black suit. He bowed slightly and stepped up before him holding the package out.

"A thought occurred to me after forging your blade, why not make a blade for your daughter."

Lord Castor eyed the wrapped up object and nearly spoke.

"No cost to you, I simply would not leave the job half finished; you desired fine weapons for your kin. So I decided to make one for her as well."

Forge flipped the cloth off the blade; its thin body was comprised of blue steel. The blade was marked with numerous glyphs, hardly noticeable unless directly examined. He held the hilt towards Lord Castor.

"It is light weight, and the steel is cold; the brand of this blade leaves chills in its foes."

Lord Castor smiled slowly.

"You are too kind boy."

Kind? Many would say that too soft for a blacksmith's son.

Forge bowed slowly offering it forward.

"It is hers, but I must head back to work on my next project."

Lord Castor took the blade and sighed. He eyed the young man before him known as Jason Forge.

"I will give it to her, and she shall know you made this fine weapon."

Forge bowed, a simply "thank you" escaping his lips as he left. He found his way back towards his shop, and he opened the door, stepping into darkness. He then heard a faint clicking of knuckles.

A lamp was lit, and four men were in the room. One smiled and offered a hand.

"Why hello Forge, you forgetting something?"

Godchild...

Godchild

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qF_qbaWt...re=related


My knuckles were bleeding, my face more so...

"My boy, we checked your home, even your pockets. You have not even a silver piece. A single silvery piece, not one in sight."

Godchild's rubbery voice was giving off that venom, Forge coughed a bit; shaking his head trying to get a better look around. As soon as he brought his head up, a sharp crack against his face sent his vision into a blur. He coughed as his mind raced, Godchild's words fuzzing out.

This is it? It can't be...

Another sharp crack on his face brought him back to reality.

"Oi, mate, focus!"

A thug was leaning over him, and he could hardly make out Godchild in front of him. The large man was sitting at a desk, taking walnuts in his hands and cracking them slowly.

"So Jason, what do we do with you. Because you have not money for me. Even the beggars on our streets had more coppers than you."

Forge sighed, rolling his head back and he tried making out if he had any missing teeth. He looked forward once he notices only his hands were tied behind his back.

"Godchild, I do not have your money yet. There was a minor setback on funds."

The crack of another walnut echoed in the room after that.

"You said that you would have my money after that delivery."

Forge nodded, his mind spinning through the library in his head. No words could be found.

"So my boy, do I need to choke the funds out of the family that has not been paying you well enough? They not fulfilling deals? Them Castors?"

He wouldn't!

Godchild grumbled as he ate more. He nodded a few times at Forge.

"Thats it, it is a misunderstanding. I will get some guys over to Castor and extract the funds in no time. Don't worry my boy, it will be all settled before you wake up tomorrow."

Forge sat up straight suddenly, he coughed a bit, no words escaped his beaten body.

"Boys, get him home."

Hands were on his bonds, then on his arms as he was dragged through some alley to the back door of the smithy. He was hardly able to crawl through the doorway, blood smeared off his hands and face onto the floor as he got there.

I will be blamed for it. I will never see her again...

He shook as his body was dragging itself to a table. He hardly was able to make himself stand, he quickly saw a loose letter, lipstick on it where a seal would be. He hardly took it before he fell over.

- Dear Jason,
I stopped by today, and wanted to talk to you...

---

The gates of the Castor home were opened, Charles looked out to meet a sword in his gut.

The gang of at least twenty thugs sneaked into the courtyard. Lord Castor looked out the window and his eyes widened.

"Men! Everyone! Intruders!"

---

... When I stopped by, you were not there. It made me sad, however, it will not stop me from saying it...

---

The thugs made it to the doors and quickly dispatched the lock. Lord Castor and his five men-at-arms were in the main room, swords drawn. Castor held the silvery blade that made for him by Forge two weeks before.

"Stand down you thieves! Or face our steel!"

The thugs drew daggers and short swords, their eyes set on the home. One coughed up the words.

"Five Hundred in gold, now or we gut you."

---

... I adore stopping by, I want to spend more time with you when you are not working...

---

The men-at-arms and Lord Castor clashed with the ill-experienced thugs. The melee was brutal, Castor's blade sparked with electricity on every blow, no matter how minute. They were being overtaken, Lord Castor and one man pulled back up the stairs, the other man holding at the bottom. The man-at-arms yelping.

"Ser! We must get you to your daughter, and get you away before they come for you!"

---

... I would love for a chance to talk to you again.
- With Love,
Valeria Castor

Forge struggled to stand, no strength came to him though, he was helpless and alone. He struggled to even imagine what Godchild was planning, or what he was doing right now.

---

Lord Castor was wounded and he hardly was pulled to safety by his man-at-arms. Castor yelled out in fear.

"Valeria!!"

The thugs took her over shoulder and back out the property. With sacks of loot as well. Lord Castor's tears fell from his face quickly, he roared out.

"Get the guards! My daughter has been taken!"

---

Forge slipped into sleep and when he woke, he woke to his door being opened forcefully, two footmen letting themselves in. One pointed at him.

"We have a warrant for your arrest Jason Forge."

His eyes met the armored men, and then looked down at the bodies of the thugs that must of died last night. And then he looked at the sword in his hand, that had Valeria's necklace draped over the hilt.

Inside the Fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjMq9AMVb...re=related


Forge was sitting at a table in a very well lit room. The stone walls were plain, except for a dark glass window on one side. The door's lock sounded and a guard stepped in.

"Jason Forge, I am Officer Illan Pender. You are here for questioning."

Jason kept his eyes on the officer's, he waited the conviction. The officer produced a folder from his side and set it down, as he opened it he read aloud.

"Jason Forge, you did business with Lord Castor did you not?"

"I did."

"And, you were there the day before the attack on the manor were you not?"

"I was."

"And were you there, the night of the attack?"

"I was not."

The officer paused and wrote something down. He then looked up to Forge, their eyes met again. He seemed to think carefully, Forge however was hardly awake.

"Your shop though, it had some of the fallen attackers inside. And you were wounded, with a bloodied blade in hand. The evidence clearly states you were involved."

"I was not."

Illan sighed, leaning back in his chair. He analyzed the young man, his bloodied look, but the fair face under the bruises and cuts was very obvious.

"You do not want to be in the Stockades. I suggest you give me the truth, that way I can try to cut you the best deal. Perhaps just mining labor, the prison gets young boys killed."

Forge thought slowly, the lag his mind was experiencing was a product of the shock he was feeling. He spoke slowly.

"I was not involved in the attack."

Officer Illan shook his head in disappointment. Then the door opened, a female officer walked in. She leaned onto the table and began speaking aggressively.

"You are some wise guy? We know you had something to do with it. That girl, she stopped by your shop consistantly every single day she could. Then all of a sudden she is taken away. You have to have an idea of where she is. Remember we do not take kindly to any of your kind. Taking a young lady is an offense we will punish with life in the Stockades. Do you hear me!?"

I could hardly make out her words. It just rang in my head from Godchild. "it is a misunderstanding."

Officer Illan waved off the other officer. He leaned in closer to Forge and spoke quietly.

"Between you and me, I don't think you did it. A smith is an honest man is he not?"

Forge leaned forward himself, his eyes set on Illan's.

"Lies are impurities. Impure steel breaks easily."

Officer Illan nodded and looked to the glass with an uncertain face. He then stood, pointing at the door.

"Someone get in here and help him to his home. Forge, your shop has been locked down for evidence, we are still looking it over."

Jason nodded and stumbled trying to stand, feet sliding uselessly against the ground. Another guard helped pull him to his feet and escort him to a carriage.

I want to see her again.

Bloodied Steel...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51iquRYKPbs


Is it worth it?

The hammer ringed down on red hot metal.

Die a fool, or live a coward?

The metal was shaping, runes glowing on the still almost liquid metal.

Is she worth it?

A hardly beautiful helmet of an odd metal hit the ground, the black runes on it simmered hatefully.

Fel yeah...

Forge slammed his hammered on metals of all kinds, purifying the mixture of mithril, khorium and otherwise perfect steels. His eyes transfixed in anger, his work was still exact in that fury. One object after another, breastplate, scalemail, leggings, and a hilt. He leaned forward onto the tables breathing heavily, the unfinished weapon lay there, steaming. The armor behind him laid out on tables was simmering with black smokey runes, he drew his eyes slowly to the hilt and the demon in him smiled. He walked to a chest and removed a book, blowing dust off of it and he flipped to a page in particular.

When he returned to the work, he did so quickly, the raw black of the steel forming as he cooled the blade. He set it on the heat again, urging marks of flame to ignite it before he finished working. Forge took a knife from the table beside him and slit his wrist and dropped blood on the searing weapon. The hungry thing took in the droplets furiously, and to complete the trade; Forge took the hilt and lifts the still flaming blade to his wrist to sear it shut. He fell to his knees moments later, a smokey black sword with red runes skittering up and down its surface. The jagged thing hissed as it slid across the stone, he chuckled and nodded.

"This will be my vengeance..."

Minutes later, he was stepping into the back ally, he put the helm over his head. The angry blade in hand, he breathed in slowly. Then he marched quickly down that alley, knowing where it would take him, the backside of Godchild's manor.

Hell's Fury

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_ZMmEFA4Q0


Forge's footsteps echoed on the cold stonework. The seething bastard sword in his hand shook silently, he marched to the back gate of Godchild's estate. Two thugs were on guard, one pointed at him and yelled out.

"Who goes there?!"

Forge stopped, ten feet before the gate; his grim armor reeking of haphazard enchantment. His eyes sat on the one calling to him, the man who was hitting him when he was taken by Godchild. The man leaned forward through the gate, face against the bars.

"Oi! You deaf!?"

He pays his due first.

Jason lifted the sword slowly and pointed it at the man's face. He turned quickly and pushed forward with both hands, the lunge put the blade into the bars, the thug backed off. Forge twisted the blade and reeled back with an exaggerated cut, the lock busted and two bars with it, the gate slid open. As the thug hit the ground, his ally attempted to draw his sword, a swat with the hissing sword across his face split his eye open and he fell to the ground screaming. The first thug crawled back, eyes wide.

"What?! No! Don't do it!"

"Is that what she said when you took her!?"

Forge's blade sank into the man's heart, the searing weapon drank in the blood like fuel. The thug's eyes were wide open and he couldn't scream out in pain, then he fell off the blade lifeless. Blood pooled around the gate, and Forge looked to the back doors, men were just getting to them.

The men were drawing daggers and maces, about eight of them so far. Forge looked up at them and he waved his sword.

"Come then scum! I will kill you all!!"

The men rushed forward almost in pairs, Forge stepping forward with both hands on the sword. Bloody mist flew from men as the angry blade sliced into tissue and bone. One man moved in to stab Forge, the blade sheered on the breastplate, Forge's fist slamming into his face; the gauntlet busting out several teeth in one blow. Another man rushed forward, the blade fell on his collar bone and blood sprayed up after the hacking was done. He stepped over the bodies and two other men simply cowered off to the side.

Every last one that faces me...

Five men stared him down in the main hall, all with swords drawn, their armor was that of men-at-arms. One hastily spoke, aiming his blade at Forge.

"Whoever you are! Lay down your weapon immediately!"

Will die...

The men-at-arms prepared as Forge walked forward. He lifted the blade and brought it down on the head guardsman, the man parried, and the sheering sound was high pitched. The men cringed, Forge then pushed down with a secondary swing, the steel blade was notched by the hissing black sword. The force knocked him back into his comrades, but then words echoed in the hall.

"Fire at him!"

A pair of shadow bolts fell on his back, the shots seemed to just flatten on the armor. Forge groaned though, quietly, then he swung down on each man before him roaring out, and with each blow his anger grew. The men screamed in pain, blood soon drowning out the pleads for mercy. Shadow bolts slammed into his armor and all around, at least five of the casters had gathered. He then turned with a massive roar in his lungs.

"You will all die! You will drown in pain! In your blood! Grraaahh!!!!"

The warlocks seemed to shake, they tried firing more bolts. Forge then threw his blackened blade at them, it sank through one man's chest. They all scattered after that, he stomped up the stairs and ripped the weapon from the lifeless body. He turned towards the hallway to Godchild's study.

This ends tonight.

"I am coming Valeria..."

Forge stepped up to the doors and drove the sword through the center of them, the golden handles frayed and fell to pieces. The doors popped open, Godchild was sitting at the desk eating cake. The rolls of his belly sloshed as he laughed.

"Oh. I wasn't expecting company."

Valeria was bound and chained to a pole, she was unconscious. Forge pointed at her.

"What did you do to her..."

Godchild smiled wide, picking some chocolate from his teeth.

"Nothing my dear boy. She has been safe here with me, my length nor my tongue has touched the beauty. Do not worry yourself of that."

Forge let the blade's tip slide across the marble floor, leaving a crimson line. He watched Godchild with disgust.

"Before I kill you... Tell me why..."

The rotund man leaned back, licking the fork and then taking up a large glass of milk.

"I needed to exact revenge for your injustice and my own. The Castor family has denied me coin for my services for years. So I will extract it by selling her to a wealthy goblin. They like the fine ones, and goblin's don't care. As long as they will bend over."

He roared with laughter and drank the glass in a couple of gulps. Forge growled in anger at those words, and Godchild rose a hand.

"Before you start stabbing and slashing with the black sword. You should reconsider."

The blade was being lifted slowly, Godchild rose slowly.

"You think I will just die from your little pissy sword? You are a fool to think I will not rip you apart."

Godchild growled lowly, a secondary tone growing in him, deep and evil. Forge stopped and then saw the books behind Godchild, books of warlockery and the like. He watched the fat man's eyes as they sparked green, one hand reaching for a ring on the other. Godchild's smile was grim, and as the ring was removed, the suit seemed to die out, it was torn and disgusting. The man underneath, was not a man, it was a true beast. His rolls of fat, scabby and hideous, two curling horns off his head showed his grim demeanor. The chubby face had a long thick smile of yellow teeth sharp as daggers. Forge stepped back in confusion.

"The thing is boy, I got where I am today through knowing people. Some people give us gifts, this one, I eagerly accepted."

The large beast simply overturned the desk to the side and stomped forward with a guttural laugh, fel fire spewing in his mouth. He punched at Forge, and Forge slashed at the fist, green liquid sprayed about. Godchild's pudgy red fists slammed into him though one after another, he flew back and slid into the railing. Forge groaned and then blinked as he saw the massive hands raised above his body, hardly a chance to react; he rolled to the side and the brute hit marble. The stonework cracked, shards flying about. His massive grin was disgusting. Forge slid to the stairs and quickly scrambled away, Godchild stomped behind him. He got to the bottom of the stairs then as he stumbled from the daze, a massive belly slammed into him. He flew into a wall, pictures and golden ornaments fell around him. He coughed, looking to the beast before him. Godchild reached down and picked him up by his helm, squeezing tight, the metal slowly denting.

"You are just pitiful! Lets see how quickly I can remove your arms!"

Forge desperately stabbed at Godchild's gut, blood hardly dripped from the hide. He yelled in pain as the helm was crushing down on his skull. Godchild's laughter was growing as he grabbed at Forge's left arm he began to tug. Jason felt muscle tearing slowly, he then panicked for a moment. The blade took hold of him, fear drained and fury filled him, he didn't realize what he was doing. He lifted the blade up and drove it at Godchild's left eye, blood spewing all over as it made contact. Godchild dropped Forge with a roar of agony, as Forge hit the ground he watched the beast back up. He looked up at a massive chandelier hanging, Forge quickly span around; the blade going snicker-snack.

The object fell on Godchild's head, he stumbled to the ground and spewed fatty green slime all over. As he just came back to reality, Forge moved forward and leaped onto Godchild's upper body, raising his sword. He stabbed down into the collar of the chubby felsworn, he removed the blade and tried to stab down again. Godchild's fat hand grabbed on of his legs and threw him aside like a rag doll. Forge yelled out in pain.

"You bastard!"

Godchild stood slowly, blood dripping from several wounds, one eye blinking in fury.

"I cannot wait to hear stories of how the little green bastard will mount her like a horse! And while I hear them, I will be eating your flesh!"

Forge roared, lifting himself to charge at Godchild. The demonic pudge lifted his fists waiting for the charge, Forge then slid under Godchild and slammed the sword into his belly. He stood and climbed onto Godchild's back, he reached down past the creature's face quickly and brought the blade upward with a bestial howl. The center of Godchild's belly was opened up, green and black guts spilling all over the stark white floor. Godchild fell over and Forge stood on the body, breathing heavily, his own blood dripping from his left shoulder. He coughed and stood up straight.

He stumbled up the stairs, then into the study, Valeria was hardly awake. He dropped the sword and managed to rip the helm off his head. He reached forward and brought her into his arms, and she gleefully kissed him. Forge and her shared those vital moments, her lips against his, he cherished having her back.

Valeria looked at him with her eyes wide.

"I knew someone would come for me."

Forge managed a groaning chuckle.

"This counts as outside of my work. Does it not?"

Plaguebloom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FycMwvpSU...BD&index=4


On the roof of the world, the grasp of darkness is strong still. Some march across its snowy wastes in search of glory, others climb the icy peaks for knowledge, but still some stare into darkness for answers to their darkest questions.

Landron's heavy saronite boot fell into snow, one loud thud after another. His cloak trailed behind him, and so did a cadre of humans. One of which was shivering, her fiery red hair shown like a beacon in the bleak land. She hardly could walk, heavy misty breaths leaving her lips.

"Ser Plaguebloom. Why are we walking, why can't we just use a portal?"

Landron's unholy voice simmered in her mind.

"Because, where I walk, there is no portal... No easy entry..."

She coughed heavily and tripped over herself, one of the men catching her by her arm. Then letting her drop into the snow, he looked to Landron, scowl printed on his face.

"She is a burden Ser Plaguebloom. We should leave her..."

The massive knight stopped, one man lowered his eyes in fear. Landron turned slowly, the turquoise-white frost of his eyes was unnerving, and so was the grip. A dull teal beam connected Landron's right hand to the man's throat as he was pushed backward.

"I have my uses for the young girl. Perhaps we need to leave you behind Mitell... You have yet to show any real loyalty."

The man seemed to panic, dropping to a knee.

"Of course Ser Plaguebloom, I will not question you again."

The girl was named Haley Hartwood, a young and very lusty warlock. More than one man's eyes longed for her flesh many days, she held that innocent and caring aura about her. Ser Landron Plaguebloom however, a death knight; not formally a renegade one at that, was a castle of a man. His massive and strong body was plated in a casket of saronite and other strong alloys, it only helped his natural iron handed charisma.

They had been traveling at least four days now across Dragonblight, and all of them tired; excluding Landron and his unholy stamina. Haley's body was that of a young woman that has been cared for every day of her life, this was very rough on her. Landron though cared little for being tired, he simply cast deathgrip again, pulling her up, he then kept walking. Haley sighed as the other men walked past her, she wandered around behind the group, grumbling and thinking to herself.

Landron though at the front of the pack, had his eyes set on a mountain, and he was walking straight towards it. The frost had built up on his armor, snow caked his pauldrons and the crevasses of the unholy tomb he was plated in.

Eventually they marched close to the base of the mountain, and a ruined nerubian gateway haunted the cliffside. Haley looked to Landron with worry in her wide eyes, Landron stared daggers back before stepping over the threshold.

Whispers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx0L77SsK...BD&index=8



Haley followed after Landron with a low 'eep!' escaping her lungs. She clung to his shadow as if it would protect her. The men drew weapons and lit torches, Landron looked into the darkness ahead of them. One man stepped beside the knight, lifting his torch forward with disdain.

"So... What is in here?"

Landron began to march forward, Haley right behind him.

"A monument to all your nightmares..."

The men seemed unsettled, especially when further in the hall, blue light could be seen. Their walk took them to an overlook, with a long bridge ahead of them. All around was thick webbing, and the chattering of insects, Landron stepped to the front of the bridge and lifted his hands slowly.

"I know you can hear me Az'Velir, Tomb Lord of the northern wastes..."

A deep simmering hiss fell across the chamber, and from across the bridge movement could be seen. What was seemingly a gate, was a colossal crypt lord, it stared at the group.

"Foolhardy, or righteous... All their bodies litter my halls..."

Haley cowered and bit her lip, voice hardly coming from her.

"Ser Plaguebloom. Why are we here?"

Landron nodded to the beast's remark, he disregarded the woman's fear. His eyes were locked on Az'Velir's own frozen orbs, the massive rotten insect awaited the knight's next words.

"I seek what you keep in this tomb, lesser scourgelord. I will first formally request you hand it over peacefully."

Hideous laughter of sorts left the decayed maw of Az'Velir. It lifted one massive serrated hook of a hand towards Landron.

"You must be delusional if you believe I would let you just take the Tomb Key..."

Haley raised a hand slowly as if trying to get a teacher's attention.

"May I inquire... What e-exactly this T-Tomb thing is?"

Landron stood still and silent as the creature adjusted its self.

"Below... Is my treasure, the device, this knight just like all the other ill informed adventurers do not realize what it is for. They only think of power... Not the cost..."

Landron simply shrugged, taking a step forward. The crypt lord rattled on.

"He believes he can just... Wield it, and control it. The Key will not bow to the malice of one foolish knight..."

Landron stomped forward slowly.

"We shall see scourgelord... For now... Let us pass..."

The crypt lord crawled onto the wall, and watched the group approach, when Landron was near, the massive crest of the thing's head was above him. It hissed threateningly.

"I could end you all right here... I could easily rip you all to pieces."

Landron nodded slowly.

"That you could... But you know we won't make it out alive."

The creature grew silent and let them pass through the massive doorway. It dropped down behind them, and a swarm of spiders made a wall of web in the archway, the voice echoed then.

"Best of luck knight..."

Haley blinked in fear, tugging on Landron's arm.

"Ser Plaguebloom. I am scared."

Landron simply dragged her along as he walked.

"Please, refrain from screaming. It will only attract them..."

Arachnid's Embrace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMuj8SP6z...D&index=45


Hundreds upon hundreds of feet below the surface of the world, they trekked within a crypt city of blue lights and webs. Landron was silent, Haley had one hand over her mouth; eyes darting about, pupils wide.

One man hardly murmured, his sword arm shaking.

"This is it, we are all going to die..."

Landron stopped, the man's words echoed slightly. Then almost as soon as it was quiet again, chattering could be heard; the eight men following him were tense. Then one after another, crypt fiends, their dark rotting hands pulling them from crevasses all around. Twelve bugs, ten intruders, Landron liked these odds. The same man looked to Landron for something, Haley was hiding behind the knight still. Landron simply lifted his right hand slowly for his weapon, a cruel and massive saronite object, part poleaxe, part maul, one hundred percent deadly. He hefted it onto his shoulder in that one motion and nodded to the insect before him.

"Come forward then."

The crypt fiends unleashed pairs of tomb scarabs and charged at the group. Landron dropped his weapon on the thing's body, a hideous splat resounded from it. Haley screamed as a tomb scarab tried biting at her leg, she shot fel fire at it and backed up. Landron turned, stepping on the thing without care, he raised his left hand,the turquoise beam of his deathgrip making contact with another crypt fiend. As it was tugged towards him, he then took his maul in two hands, with one brutal baseball swing he took the upper part of the creature right off. Haley turned to see one of the men getting his face eaten, the crypt fiend's mandibles tearing the meat from his face and eviscerating his throat. She stumbled back and noticed the other men were fairing much better as Ser Plaguebloom paraded through the crypt fiends with ease.

Landron then marched forward, not giving anyone time to gather themselves. He stated slowly as he walked.

"We have no time for mortal encumbrance. Either you keep up with me. Or you die licking your wounds."

They scrambled to follow after Plaguebloom, Haley faster than the others. As they descended further, the whole of the place seemed to writhe with un-life. A massive spider fell down onto them, blade like legs skewering a man, one other was under its belly. He stabbed up violently to save himself, but gallons of ichor poured over him, skin began to rot and he died screaming. Landron lead on, five men left at his side. Mitell spoke up as they reached a deeper chamber.

"Ser Plaguebloom. Is this what we came for?"

A strange pillar like object was in the center of the room, and from behind it came an under king, one of the lesser crypt lords. It raised its claws and with one swipe into the ruined tiles a deep groan could be heard. Suddenly a series of strange spikes broke the tiles around them, one man was impaled right there, Mitell yelled out.

"Plaguebloom! Is this it?!"

Landron moved forward with his weapon in hand, he smashed it against the under king's head, it hissed lowly.

"It is. Now let us finish collecting."

The under king brought down its claws near Landron, they glanced and scrapped on his armor as he moved around. The other men pulled out pistols and crossbows, letting loose on the thing. Landron parried a swing from the beast, then with a rolling motion he brought his weapon backward then up into the creature's face again. It roared as part of its jaw split from its body. As it tried to slam onto Landron again, Landron pointed the tip of his weapon at it. The beast was now held up, only two legs on the ground; wedged on that saronite monstrosity. Landron walked under the beast and put a hand out to Mitell, the man responded by throwing him a sword. Landron caught the weapon, proceeding to drive it up into the under king's belly, he then reached in with one arm. The beast roared out as green blood poured from its body.

"You cannot defeat Az'Velir! He shall consume you!!!"

Landron then crushed the beast's heart in his hand, it fell over and he ripped his weapon from it. He looked to the men, then to Haley.

"Haley. Come over here."

He stepped over to the monolith and he took Haley's left arm. She let out a soft 'eep!', looking at him then at the object, a hole was in the side of the object.

"We need the key, and I need a carrier for it until we get to the vizier. Put your arm in the hole."

She reached forward slowly, then Landron pushed her forward, her arm slammed into the hole up the her elbow. Her eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to scream.

Immortal Standoff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kVK6oO0o...D&index=64


Haley's eyes widened as the sharp motion of a needle slid into her arm.

When she reeled back from the monolith, a strange almost living device was clinging to her arm. A blade like growth on its dorsal region, with key like hinges. It was dug into the girl's flesh, tubes coursing with her own blood were in her forearm. She sputtered in confusion, pain overwhelming her arm. The five men and Mitell seemed off put by what they witnessed, Landron reached over and tugged Haley to her feet.

"She is the vessel for it. If she doesn't leave this place alive, none of us do."

Mitell smirked, looking to the others.

"Seems we have a challenge boys, check your gear. -"

A massive, echoing roar resounded in the tomb. Rocks fell around them, the voice was of Az'Velir.
"Consume them!! Drink the marrow from their bones my children!! The key must be returned!!"

Landron looked upward and he somehow managed an unsettling chuckle.

"Seems the Scourgelord is not happy with us."

One man fumbled about for his equipment, he then showed a massive package off his back.

"Ten pounds of sea-forium. Will it help?"

Landron nodded sternly, a rattling of dead insects was descending on them. Mitell tugged Haley and looked to Landron with a risen brow.

"You lead?"

Landron reached for his weapon and marched forward, three crypt fiends were already skittering into the doorway. He raised his weapon and with a slow heavy breath.

"Move at my pace, or die..."

---

They scrambled along, only Mitell and one other with Landron. Haley was screaming as Mitell slung her over his shoulder, Landron cleaved his massive saronite deathbringer through the web gates Az'Velir had constructed. They managed to step into the dark of that first chamber, the long bridge before them. Treacherous shards of rock below, Landron lead on; the eerie silence broke when they were half way across. Az'Velir was behind them, claws scraping against the stonework, he crawled forward slowly. A low rasp from the beast came, cold words descending over them.

"I will take her arm and that key... And let you all live..."

Mitell growled, looking to Landron.

"Do I still get paid?"

Landron waved off Mitell's words, looking back to the beast, eyes set on its own frozen orbs. He rested his weapon against the stone, watching the powerful creature approach.

"I cannot defeat you with these odds Scourgelord. Your might cannot be outmatched by a mere party of foolhardy adventures."

Landron nodded once, the other man slowly took the sea-forium off his back. Az'Velir hissed, rearing back to charge.

"Then why don't you run! Are you a fool deathknight!?"

Landron simply lifted a hand, gesturing towards himself.

"I simply know when my time has come. Come at me! Let us finish this!"

Then Az'Velir's powerful legs hit the stone, the bridge shook from his weight. He skittered forward, claws raised, locusts bursting from his hide. Landron watched silently, then pointed before himself. The man threw the charge, its fuse fizzled for a moment. The massive Scourgelord kept on his relentless charge, then the bridge experienced the explosion, the Scourgelord's weight offset the middle of the bridge. The middle section slipped free, Landron leapt forward and slid down the section of bridge. Az'Velir's belly was exposed, the massive bridge pointing its jagged stone at it, he hissed and roared as they fell the few hundred feet. Landron reached forward with one arm, as he cast a turquoise ray of a deathgrip at Az'Velir's face. He flew forward, saronite great weapon landing in one of the beast's great eyes. The crypt lord reeled in pain, one claw sliding across Landron's chest plate, sheering a long line across the saronite plating. Landron kicked off, and landed on the bridge piece in the last few seconds of the fall, he then slammed his weapon into the bridge, standing oddly on it and back against the stone. Az'Velir snarled, one eye blinking, right at Landron, then he realized what was coming as Landron's hands gleamed with white and turquoise light. The deathknight clutched towards his foe with a massive roar, beams connecting to the crypt lord a moment before hitting the ground, pulling him into the shard of the bridge as the hit the ground. The extra momentum severed the crypt lord into two pieces, Landron hit the ground, no weapon in hand. Az'Velir's still moving upper section sprawled about, he roared, forearms clawing down and pulling him to face Landron. He crawled forward, Landron stood slowly, swaying from the impact. The crypt lord's face before his own, it snarled, ichor freely oozing from its mouth.

"I underestimated you..."

Landron stepped forward and clutched the crypt lord's horn. He spoke quietly for a moment.

"You are merely a -lesser- scourgelord."

He then twisted, shattering the horn free of the crypt lord's headdress, then driving it back down into its functioning eye, a disgusting slush could be heard. The blade like horn slid into Az'Velir's brain matter, ichor flowed from the body in a wave of unholy toxin. Landron stumbled backward, looking upward about two hundred feet, screaming down at him was Haley.

"Ser Plaguebloom! Are you victorious!? Can we go home!?"

Landron yelled back with a groan.

"We are not quiet done yet Haley. First I need to complete my contract!"