1 - 019: The First Piece

[K Man]

Hero, Newt, Garor, Caelith and Callian - Finalizing your plans, you begin to move them into action directing diggers...workers and even the children to help however they can.

Still...the morale of the keep is lacking.

The people move slow, often times you catch workers talking amongst themselves about failure, immenent death and eternal servitude in the hands of 'The Master'.

Still, even at current levels of despair, all of your plans should be completed by dusk...when the gates of hell will flood the lands around Boon's Freehold, filling them with evil and rage.

The duke does little to help, only meagerly lifting the occasional quiver of arrows to the wall or half-heartedly moving small shovelfuls of dirt aside.

His son is a bit more prominent, stopping those speaking ill of your fate where he can and removing all ceremonial garb to assist in whatever work he can. It appears as though youth bears the fires of resistance over the ederly in this project.

It will take the strong will of everyone in the keep to ensure their survival in this battle...

{Alright, the tunnel will be dug and within a few inches of the outside of the hill by dusk exactly at present rate. Anything else you'd like to create? You can discuss on the BOYD War Room thread. Otherwise, battle will come when the sun sets.}
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Yuri - {First off, , second...to everyone else, Yuri and I discussed at length the occurence that is about to happen and it's cool on both parties.}

The vampire recoils slightly but retains his aura of calm and calculating. It is very apparent that this was not the reaction the vampire was used to. The orcs behind him snarl as do the onrushing forces coming through the woods behind.

With a simple wave of his open palm, the woods go silent.

The vampire moves towards you, appearing by your side with lightning speed. He leans down and you can feel the cold breath exiting his body as he hisses lowly.



"I will drink of your blood mortal for eventhough lies can fly from the mouth...they cannot hide in your veins."

"Should you lie to me...I will leave you bleeding and let the soldiers remove your flesh piece by agonizing piece..."

"If you speak the truth...then I have been truly presented with an opportunity."

With these words, the vampire sinks his fangs into your tender pink neck. Your head swims with the pain of the attack and you can hear the vampires voice in your head as though he were still next to, breathing on you as he spoke.

Your blood speaks volumes mortal...

Your ancestors wished to dethrone those in Ravenshead, failing many times because they were weak....

The hatred...rage...and distaste for the royalty runs through you like water through a canyon...

You will succeed...not only with the fall of Ravenshead but with the fall of those in much higher places...

You begin to flutter your eyelids as the blood leaves your body like a draining bucket. Sweat begins to form on your forehead and your body begins to shake profusely although the cold you feel can be compared to being encased in ice. The vampire still speaks in your mind.

It is only because of your heritage I let you live and give you the powers of the night mortal...

You will however, be placed with your companions and I command you to slowly and most importantly, discreetly, change them into the undead in any way you can...

Leave the one called Romar as he is...he is mine to hunt and I do not want him altered...

I have plans for you and them little mortal...

The loss of blood has you bordering on slipping into unconciousness.

Change them and together hunt 'The Master' as you would have once hunted me.

I will be in contact with you again...

And you shall all learn the meaning of betrayal...

With those last, enigmatic words, the vampire withdraws his fangs and you slip to the ground, a thin trickle of blood running from both your neck and your mouth.

{Alright, you are unconcious obviously, so sit tight until you are revived. Or post any thought/actions you'd like to take upon waking.}
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Krysta, Sehanine, Girud, Balin, Galdren and Romar -

Mordrock stands back, nearly falling over himself and seems unable to close his mouth. Soon the mouth closes and spreads into an impossibly wide smile.

It is apparent that Mordrock is unused to his advances actually getting him somewhere.

The small goblin begins to move erratically in a circle in the center of his cell, a minor version of a dance of happiness at his recent luck. Mordrock steels himself and looks back to the next cell, wiping a greasy hand over his scalp and smothing out the few stray, filfth crusted hairs atop his head.



"Mordrock get whatever his mate want!"

Pointing to the guards again with a grubby thumb, the goblin continues.

"It almost light though, wait till dark to get supplies when guards alseep."

"They come for you at first light today to start digging..."

Mordrock pauses and looks to the hallway leading to the exit. He shakes his head and motions with his hands.

There, drug by two guards through the hallway is a limp figure dressed in hauntingly familar clothing. The two orcs do little to protect the body as they drag it along, occasionally bumping it into crates and dirt mounds as they do.

As they pass...you can see it's Yuri.

He is passed out and hanging limply between the brutes, but you can see he is barely breathing and shaking slightly. The guards move past without even casting a glance your way, dragging Yuri into some cages beyond.

Within seconds...he is gone to some unknown location.

Mordrock shakes his head.



"The Master takes many...all end up dead..."

As though catching himself in a moment of self-doubt, the small goblin looks up apologetically to his newfound love.

"Except for us...we make it out alive to mate!"

Dawn will be here within the hour and you will be put to work according to the small goblin.

{Anyone want to do anything else before digging all day?}

Romar - Within the hour it is as though a veil is lifted from your eyes and you suddenly gain all of your senses back. You remember the words of the vampire as he spoke them...

"With the coming dawn, you will be released of my hold...not because of the nature of the magic, but because of the fight you put up and vigor it filled me with."

"I will chase you again mouse...I will chase you again..."

You are thankful to have gained your senses back but are frightened by the words the vampire spoke. You awake to find yourself in the dire situation, surrounded by your friends.

The dawn did little but shed light on a hopeless situation...
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[GeneralMHB]

Yuri slips into a deep-deep sleep. He thinks nothing and falls fast asleep, planning....

[Wizard]

(With reference to Yuri---SWEET! I LOVE having 12 people in one campaign! It means they're expendable....somewhat.)

(Kman, I think the war room party is good to go. So it begins. All until dust.)

[Japic]

I have nothing to say or do until we are led away to dig. Then I take in every detail I can possibly manage.

[VemuKhaham]

It takes a while before Romar realises the compulsion has been lifted, but when he does, all of his frustration and sarcasm seem to be no more then petty thoughts in comparance to the many emotions that were triggered during the spell and which he was forced to crop up and crop up more, and in this moment of returned awareness and true realisation of the past happenings, he just grows mad...

In a sudden he jumps up from the ground he had seated on for a long time, running towards the celdoor, holding and pulling on to the unbreakable and cold iron bars. In a desperate and confused voice he shouts one word, one single word over and over, while turning his head in vain to try and look past the corners to both ends of the hallway and spot the dear animal he is crying for... Húna! Húna!...

[Fangor the Fierce]

With the idea of digging all day, Krysta knows that they will be pulled out of their cages soon. "We must decide something quickly. This days digging will be the day before the rest of the army goes to the keep, to attack. They will attack at dusk, and send in the army. They will be weak at that time here. That should be our chance. During the night, when the fighting is sure to be commencing, Mordrock here should get us out of here, and we should be able to get our belongings as well. With the potions, we should be good enough to take the guards and make a break for it. Hopefully, the others have fortified the keep enough to withhold for as long as it takes to get to Ravenshead and call for reinforcements."

At this time, she quietens, as the guards drag someone else in. Seeing a fellow companion, she can only shake her head slowly.

Another one has fallen. I fear for the rest, but we must continue and not fall to this evil.

"Looks like we have another to set free. I hope he is well enough to travel with us. When they get us for the digging, try and gather as much info on our guards and the surroundings. If someone can, try and get a look at Yuri, to see if he is hurt or damaged. If you spy something that you would like to take advantage of while being taken down the tunnel, just fake a sneeze. I will trip or fall, leaving the guards to deal with me for that second. That is your chance to do whatever you think you would have a chance to do in that short amount of time. Take note of where our things are being kept, and any other items we could use. The guards are to be watched carefully, as we need to know their weapons, armour, and anything else you can spot. Also, the others that are still alive. We should decide on taking them with us or leaving them. I am all for arming them with the guards weapons and having greater numbers."

Turning back to Mordrock, "Just a few more questions before we are to go and dig. Are there any horses or animals to ride or any carts or wagons that we could ride off with? This meat you eat, what is it? If there are horses nearby, tell us what we can expect to see outside of this cave. What do they do with the undead whlie we sleep? You should get your rest, as this night, we get out of here and take you with us. To freedom. Are you as good of a fighter as you are a sneak?"

OOC - Seeing that time is running out, Krysta will give her thoughts on what needs to be done, and listen for any objections. She wants to gather as much info on her captors including how they react when she falls down in the tunnel. If there are any others alive, she wants to know the cages, if they seem to be fighters, and whatever else.

[sonnetinkinston]

Sehanine is taken aback by the body of her co-conspirator being dragged by, but she also spies her lightblade, and her hope is renewed by the memories of what the blade represents: family, friends, and a neverending hatred for the undead. In addition, she also knows that Yuri's particular talents are not hindered by steel bars. The "Master" has sadly underestimated his enemies this day.

In regards to her new "mate", Sehanine feels slightly guilty at misleading the creature. But she also recoginizes the beginnings of worship, and the potential the creature holds in their escape. Mordrock's kind are easily misled, and easily chased away after they are of no more use. At least, usually.

Upon hearing Krysta beginning to speak, Sehanine turns and says, "Leave Yuri to me. Unless, of course, you're worried about me taking on another 'scouting mission'." Amazed at being able to make a joke in this situation, Sehanine crawls to the back of the cell to think.

Pelor, you and I gotta work on your idea of success. She thinks. Good thing Tianna the Courageous wasn't this successful at denying her own questionable heritage... A tale she is loathe to tell her companions in their present surroundings. Another day, perhaps.

[K Man]

{For those anxiously awaiting the next post, I'm working on a map now and will have it up tonight. I'm also semi-waiting for more war room discussion and the appearance of Hero.}