NationStates Jolt Archive


Hunt for the Warlock

The Underground City
01-10-2004, 19:56
It had been a fine summer's day in the small, peaceful town of Sunvaleton - people going about their jobs, children playing outside and little traffic on the roads.

This peace did not last however. Around noon, the townsfolk was drawn to a large man, walking quickly and determinedly through the town. This was not just any man. With a height of six-foot-seven, a highly muscular body, dark red skin, and horns atop his head, he looked most inhuman.

"Oh my God!" a girl whispered to her friend. "It's some kind of monster!"

"Don't be stupid", replied the boy. "It's a guy in a suit. Maybe they're making a movie in our town and he's one of the actors! That would be so cool."

"If he's an actor, then where are the cameras?" asked a second boy. "And the director?"

Wherever the stranger walked, whispering could be heard from the townsfolk. He seemed not to notice them, however, or at least not to care.

"Look Betty!" said an old woman sitting outside a café.

"Wow", said her friend. "What's he doing? He's going somewhere in a hurry!"

"Damn kids and their ridiculous fashions", a man remarked disdainfully.

As the stranger walked, a man jumped out in front of him, holding a religious symbol.

"Begone, foul demon!" shouted the man, holding the symbol up to the stranger's face.

The stranger looked down at the man, then effortlessly pushed him to the ground with his left arm, and continued to walk. By now people were starting to gather near the stranger.

"How dare you treat the priest like that!" shouted a woman, with accompanying shouts from other people. The people started to move in front of the stranger, blocking his path. The voices of the townsfolk began to get louder and angrier, but the stranger just kept walking, pushing through the crowd, despite their best efforts to hold him back.

As people got knocked to the ground, the crowd became an angry mob, and the people began to attack the stranger. Still he ignored them, and kept on walking. He did not even flinch when he was punched, kicked and hit with objects. Finally becoming irritated with their interference, the stranger raised his left hand. As he chanted in an ancient language, his hand began to glow. At the end of his chant, he through the glowing energy to the ground, where it spread out in a circle around him. In about a second, all of the townsfolk had been knocked to the ground and stunned. Stepping over the dazed people, he continued his walk.

"Hey", said a man, regaining conciousness. "He's stopped outside old man Smith's house".

The stranger stood in front of the small house.

"Arkaxion! You are wanted for crimes against The Underground City!" he shouted. His voice was deep and harsh. "Come out peacefully, and you may be shown leniency!"

The front door opened, and out walked an old man, carrying a walking stick. "How can I help you, sonny?" he asked, in a croaky voice.

"You do not fool me, Warlock." the stranger replied. "I know who you are."

"And who might you be?" the old man asked.

"I am an agent for The Underground City's special forces. I am here to arrest you. Do you surrender to my authority?"

"No, I don't", said the old man.

"Then prepare to die, Arkaxion", said the agent.

In barely a second, the agent drew his sword and swung it at the man. To the surprise of onlookers, his strike was blocked by the old man's walking stick. Arkaxion raised his hand and a plume of magical energy was blasted in the face of the agent, who fell to the ground. Arkaxion ran to a few metres away, close combat being far from his forté. The agent stood once more, growling in anger. Soon they were locked in a sorcerer's battle, spells flying all around. After a few seconds, the agent changed tactics and threw his sword at Arkaxion, but he was too slow. Arkaxion had used a magical transport spell to escape, travelling to another world. The agent, now furious, cursed his misfortune, and cast a spell. Then he was gone too.

The townsfolk reported the events to local media, but as there was no evidence to support their stories, mass hysteria was seen as the only explanation.

Far away, in The Underground City, the agent was reporting back. Into a cold, dark office he walked. The walls were stone, and the only light was from a burning torch in the corner.

At the back was a desk, with a sign that read "Lord Legnerihes Mantresni, Elder Death Knight". Sitting behind the desk was Mantresni. Unlike the agent, he was human. Or at least he had been. Now he was something different, not dead, yet not quite alive. He was also one of the most powerful people in The Underground City.

"My Lord, I have bad news", said the agent, shamefully. "Arkaxion escaped again."

Legnerihes growled. He had been trying to catch the warlock for seventy years. He thought for a moment, then began to write.
Holding out a note, the death knight told the agent to take it to an administrative desk.

"What is it, my Lord?" asked the agent.

"Authorization for your demotion", said Legnerihes. "Now go!"

As the agent left, Legnerihes thought to himself. "I'm sick of these incompetents. I will have to deal with Arkaxion personally."

Shortly after, Legnerihes entered another office. This one was much like his own, but the sign at the desk read "Lord Thintaedkran Anrusnya, Master of the Death Knights".

"Legnerihes, my friend. How can I aid you?" asked Thintaedkran.

Thintaedkran and Legnerihes, like all of the elder death knights, had fought together since before The Underground City was founded, and referred to each other by first names.

"Arkaxion has escaped again. I request permission to deal with him personally."

"You have my permission", Thintaedkran replied. "One of the other elders can fill in for you while you're gone."

Thintaedkran thought for a second, then added "Take some of the death knights in training. They can learn from your example."

"Very well", said Legnerihes. "I shall leave immediately."

OOC:
I will add another post to extend the choices of characters (at the moment it's only trainee Death Knights), but other characters will be able to join soon.

Note -
1. Incompetent RPers will be ignored.
2. Any queries can be posted, but if they are long, it is probably better to telegram them.
Meriadoc
01-10-2004, 19:58
Is this an rp thing or what? :confused:
The Underground City
01-10-2004, 20:00
Is this an rp thing or what? :confused:

Yeah, maybe I need to make this more clear. I will do that now...
The Underground City
01-10-2004, 20:24
Clad in armour, and carrying swords, a group of trainee Death Knights stood in one of the many halls in the Death Knight Academy. They were standing in a line, awaiting Legnerihes' arrival. Not long after the main door opened, and Legnerihes entered.

"As you ought to know, I am Lord Legnerihes Mantresni, Elder Death Knight and second-in-command to Lord Anrusnya. You are here because I am taking you on a mission. Our task is to apprehend the criminal Arkaxion. He is a fairly powerful warlock, guilty of stealing government-owned magical artifacts."

He walked along the line, examining the soldiers. The real test was about to come though.

"Ok, soldiers. We are leaving now. I have already performed a location spell, and found him to be hiding somewhere on an unfamiliar world. This mission should have no difficulty. Not for me, anyway. We shall soon discover how you will fare."

Legnerihes raised his arm and created a portal to the other world.

"Follow me", he commanded, and walked into the portal.

Emerging on the other side, they found themselves in a large field. Grass covered the ground, and there were hills and forests around them. It was a mild, cloudy day.

Legnerihes faced the men.

"I will perform another location spell to find where on this world he is. Then we shall begin walking."

With a simple spell, Legnerihes was able to determine which direction to head in, and the death knights began to walk. After covering a couple of miles of grass, they found themselves in a city. Like the agent who previously hunted for Arkaxion, the death knights got many strange looks - business suits were the fashion here, not suits of armour. The city-folk, used to "weirdos" walking their streets mostly ignored the death knights, who continued to walk.