Kaenei
16-03-2005, 23:29
The land writhed with the fires burning furiously beneath- A seething, bubbling cauldron of tumulus magma that exerted near intolerable pressure upon the scorched rock above. Occasionally finding weakness to exploit and forcing through to erupt as spluttering and obscene fountains of scalding lava that burned all to near-nothingness. Presiding over these malformed hills great spires of splintered rock towered upwards as if to scratch upon the heavens and see the blood of the Gods drip through.
Riddled within these mountains tunnels of impenetrable darkness bored, to carry unwitting passenger in endless circles to which escape was a scarcely realised hope best clung upon for fear of creeping madness. Truly there could be no hope amongst the choking ash, and seeping, despairing heat of the plains of Angermad within the hellish Five and one quarter Kingdoms.
Standing senior amongst these behemoth mountains, That’s-Fairly-Grim thrust upwards into the sky as a testament to the chaotic fury of nature and its wilful disregard for symmetry and sacred design- This mountain less a natural evolution of the chain and more a twisting, catacomb-riddled fortress of rock and ash which proved unassailable to mere men.
Yet Al-Kanphel was no mere man.
He growled audibly as boots refused to grip the gravel beneath feet resolutely, forcing him to slow pace whilst balance was restored. Ahead the graceful patter of Her Dread-Empress-Eternal-And-Beautiful, Annabelle Le Floof and the less pleasing stumbling of faithful Man-Servant Noez Fernandez echoed and at least reassured Al-Kanphel progress was not hindered. Gripped tightly for fear it might let fly from his sweat-laden grasp the glittering blade schyssdrägg carved through the air as it swung erect against the thigh.
“Flee!” He cried, “Every moment longer spent within the Five and one quarter Kingdoms is a moment closer to death!”
Alas, Al-Kanphel’s warning came too late to avert confrontation as the tunnel began to quake, as though a great pressure was exerted upon them- Entering and forcing their fragile walls violently apart repeatedly. An action that eventually saw the trickle of a liquid claiming similar viscosity to water traverse from the blackness behind to pool unceremoniously ahead of the party, and further impede their progress.
It was within this quivering pool of stickiness that a hue totally against the dulcet tones of the tunnel glimmered- A chequered pattern of blanket red over which a grid of black, white and occasional green lay. A material utterly unmistakable in origin or name- Whose existence predated entire civilisations and signalled the presence of an entity whose malevolent intent was matched only by its sincerity in execution of that evil.
“Tartan…” Gasped Al-Kanphel, feeling the grip held upon his weapon grow flaccid, so much so that the blade drooped visibly.
“What causes such distress to you, my love whom burns brighter than a thousand suns upon a stretched desert of exceptional heat?”
“I fear an ancient and implacable foe comes to face me in battle.” Al-Kanphel relayed, ignoring the lines of worry forming on the face of the Dread-Empress-Eternal-And-Beautiful.
“What is it?” Replied Annabelle Le Floof, mopping her saviour’s brow with a silken handkerchief.
“I fear it is that which survives even the march of progress my love, that which cannot be banished by flame, sword, spell or all the knowledge of Eru. That which lay buried beneath the magma and ash for untold lifetimes until disturbed by those whom delved too greedily and deep, it awoke to wreak vengeance upon a world unprepared.”
Stumbling to his Dread-Empress-Eternal-And-Beautiful’s side, faithful Man-Servant Noez Fernandez grimaced- “Surely you speak not of that-which-cannot-be-named?”
Al-Kanphel nodded grimly. “A Haggis stalks us.”
As though waiting only for acknowledgement, a terrible wail drifted through the flexing tunnels. At first a high-pitched scream, yet clearly modulating between harshness and softness, a combination of raw tones that required concentration to discern any pattern- A tune, music which inspired only terror and indecision and which heralded certain doom.
“The lament of bagpipes.” Noez gasped.
Wheeling around to face the rapidly expanding cloud of tartan, Al-Kanphel gestured wildly with a hand not fixed firmly to his weapon. “Flee Dread-Empress-Eternal-And-Beautiful Le Floof! Flee Fernandez! You cannot hope to endure such a fearsome demon!”
Le Floof shook her head, resolutely. “I will not abandon you my love, whom burns as a red-hot furnace doth glow when consuming the lit fires of burning wood in a midday sun!”
Shaking his head, he urged- “I will join you, I promise! Now flee as quickly as your footwear will allow!”
Free from distractions, he turned in time to see the full horror of what now confronted him.
It stood obscenely tall, so that its back pressed upon the ceiling and in turn forced it upwards further. At least five times the height of a man and the same in width, it stood poised on three powerful legs which formed a tripod of crimson-delved fur. Pushing from the mass of tangled hair two powerful, cruelly talon-laden limbs erupted, snapping violently open and closed in a demonstration of aggression. Stretching so that they might threaten to envelope the tunnel, wings of shadow unfurled and cast their deadly tartan glow so fiercely that the pattern reflected upon the erect weapon of Al-Kanphel and threatened to cause wilting.
As spines upon a porcupine, so did the polished and smooth bagpipes force through the demon-flesh and sprout proudly upon the Haggis’ back, belching forth infernal and terrifying Highland music that passed as its cry of war. Stalking forward and regarding Al-Kanphel with four simmering red eyes atop a snaking necked head, it hissed defiance and ancient anger. Clasped tightly within its right hand it carried a flaming Caber, a solid tree trunk of some ten feet sheathed in white hot flame that though burned brightly did not diminish the weapon in any capacity.
“I shall vanquish you from whence you came, creature of the night!”
Steel and flame clashed loudly upon rock, and ash as these two supreme beings fought. Schyssdrägg swung in seemingly irresistible arcs merely to be deflected aside by the impossibly strong Caber of the Haggis. Beads of sweat began a journey from Al-Kanphel’s forehead to chin as he poured his anger and ability into defeating this foe. Yet no matter how mighty the blow this demon shrugged all off and continued to battle, until he could feel weariness in the tightness of the grip he maintained on his fearsome weapon and his thrusting became more laborious.
Realising the close confines favoured his enemy, Al-Kanphel retreated swiftly, easily outpacing his lumber some nemesis until such point as the tunnel was forgotten and instead they battled upon the high slopes of Mount That’s-Fairly-Grim. Outshining any star that stood in the night sky they locked in combat, the Haggis landing painful, blunt blows upon Al-Kanphel though still he endured with pride of purpose. From below Dread-Empress-Eternal-And-Beautiful Annabelle Le Floof watched, aghast at the tide the battle seemed to be turning upon.
“You can prevail my love, whom does shimmer more brilliantly than a thousand diamonds illuminated by every star in the sky!”
Al-Kanphel grew weary of such odds, and resolved to cancel such adversity. Steadying his blade, he swung it upwards and held it aloft, so that it might act as a conductor of sorts. Ignoring the trembling of his biceps under tremendous strain, he cried loudly words of ancient meaning and unrivalled power.
As though physically stretched, Al-Kanphel began to change, mass increasing exponentially. Schyssdrägg, whom had before stood with considerable girth, now grew until the blade stood the length of the wielder and as equally heavy- Surely useless in the face of such adversity. However Al-Kanphel was no mere man nor mortal, and aloft he held the mighty and still throbbing weapon, before thrusting it forward with such speed as to pull his own hips forward also.
The Haggis reared back, the fading bagpipes indicating the rupturing of its vital wind bag, and imminent passing. It stumbled backwards, the encompassing patterns of Tartan distorting and fading upon the ash as it struggled to retain life, surely now defeated. Unfortunately too quickly had the creature been dismissed, and falling forward, it impacted the flaming caber upon the forehead of Al-Kanphel, sending him hurtling over the precipice and down the mountainside, closely followed by the extinguished corpse of the once-terrifying Haggis.
Dread-Empress-Eternal-And-Beautiful Annabelle Le Floof ran forwards, almost losing her balance as the body of her beloved came to rest atop the gravel of the Mountain’s beginning. She immediately took within her hand her own dress and utilised the pristine white material to clear the weeping crimson from Al-Kanphel’s battle-weary face. Tracing delicate fingertips upon the smudged flesh she began to weep.
“Oh how cruel, that the Gods would see fit to recall an Angel so soon! For the brightest star in our night is extinguished! For the fiercest flame is quenched! Deep is my sorrow and plentiful is my sadness!”
Cradling the now departed spirit, her eyes growing narrow, she made this promise to an uncaring plain, with only her faithful Man-Servant Noez, and Mount That’s-Fairly-Grim as witness.
“I shall not let your sacrifice be in vain! Short was your suffering but long is mine! Eternal shall your memory reign within mine and together, though separated by great distance we shall see a new age of prosperity and peace reign!”
Gently wrapping her lithe fingers around the thick terminus of Schyssdrägg, Lady Le Floof hauled what was now her weapon into the air, feeling it permeate her being and infuse raw, thrusting aggression. As creatures of metal so moved and talked as living beings, so would she perfectly and flawlessly merge with this machine of death, to bring agony and suffering to those that opposed her. As Al-Kanphel himself once became so intimately entwine with a creature of machine, so would she.
The Five and one quarter Kingdoms would recall this day and weep.
Riddled within these mountains tunnels of impenetrable darkness bored, to carry unwitting passenger in endless circles to which escape was a scarcely realised hope best clung upon for fear of creeping madness. Truly there could be no hope amongst the choking ash, and seeping, despairing heat of the plains of Angermad within the hellish Five and one quarter Kingdoms.
Standing senior amongst these behemoth mountains, That’s-Fairly-Grim thrust upwards into the sky as a testament to the chaotic fury of nature and its wilful disregard for symmetry and sacred design- This mountain less a natural evolution of the chain and more a twisting, catacomb-riddled fortress of rock and ash which proved unassailable to mere men.
Yet Al-Kanphel was no mere man.
He growled audibly as boots refused to grip the gravel beneath feet resolutely, forcing him to slow pace whilst balance was restored. Ahead the graceful patter of Her Dread-Empress-Eternal-And-Beautiful, Annabelle Le Floof and the less pleasing stumbling of faithful Man-Servant Noez Fernandez echoed and at least reassured Al-Kanphel progress was not hindered. Gripped tightly for fear it might let fly from his sweat-laden grasp the glittering blade schyssdrägg carved through the air as it swung erect against the thigh.
“Flee!” He cried, “Every moment longer spent within the Five and one quarter Kingdoms is a moment closer to death!”
Alas, Al-Kanphel’s warning came too late to avert confrontation as the tunnel began to quake, as though a great pressure was exerted upon them- Entering and forcing their fragile walls violently apart repeatedly. An action that eventually saw the trickle of a liquid claiming similar viscosity to water traverse from the blackness behind to pool unceremoniously ahead of the party, and further impede their progress.
It was within this quivering pool of stickiness that a hue totally against the dulcet tones of the tunnel glimmered- A chequered pattern of blanket red over which a grid of black, white and occasional green lay. A material utterly unmistakable in origin or name- Whose existence predated entire civilisations and signalled the presence of an entity whose malevolent intent was matched only by its sincerity in execution of that evil.
“Tartan…” Gasped Al-Kanphel, feeling the grip held upon his weapon grow flaccid, so much so that the blade drooped visibly.
“What causes such distress to you, my love whom burns brighter than a thousand suns upon a stretched desert of exceptional heat?”
“I fear an ancient and implacable foe comes to face me in battle.” Al-Kanphel relayed, ignoring the lines of worry forming on the face of the Dread-Empress-Eternal-And-Beautiful.
“What is it?” Replied Annabelle Le Floof, mopping her saviour’s brow with a silken handkerchief.
“I fear it is that which survives even the march of progress my love, that which cannot be banished by flame, sword, spell or all the knowledge of Eru. That which lay buried beneath the magma and ash for untold lifetimes until disturbed by those whom delved too greedily and deep, it awoke to wreak vengeance upon a world unprepared.”
Stumbling to his Dread-Empress-Eternal-And-Beautiful’s side, faithful Man-Servant Noez Fernandez grimaced- “Surely you speak not of that-which-cannot-be-named?”
Al-Kanphel nodded grimly. “A Haggis stalks us.”
As though waiting only for acknowledgement, a terrible wail drifted through the flexing tunnels. At first a high-pitched scream, yet clearly modulating between harshness and softness, a combination of raw tones that required concentration to discern any pattern- A tune, music which inspired only terror and indecision and which heralded certain doom.
“The lament of bagpipes.” Noez gasped.
Wheeling around to face the rapidly expanding cloud of tartan, Al-Kanphel gestured wildly with a hand not fixed firmly to his weapon. “Flee Dread-Empress-Eternal-And-Beautiful Le Floof! Flee Fernandez! You cannot hope to endure such a fearsome demon!”
Le Floof shook her head, resolutely. “I will not abandon you my love, whom burns as a red-hot furnace doth glow when consuming the lit fires of burning wood in a midday sun!”
Shaking his head, he urged- “I will join you, I promise! Now flee as quickly as your footwear will allow!”
Free from distractions, he turned in time to see the full horror of what now confronted him.
It stood obscenely tall, so that its back pressed upon the ceiling and in turn forced it upwards further. At least five times the height of a man and the same in width, it stood poised on three powerful legs which formed a tripod of crimson-delved fur. Pushing from the mass of tangled hair two powerful, cruelly talon-laden limbs erupted, snapping violently open and closed in a demonstration of aggression. Stretching so that they might threaten to envelope the tunnel, wings of shadow unfurled and cast their deadly tartan glow so fiercely that the pattern reflected upon the erect weapon of Al-Kanphel and threatened to cause wilting.
As spines upon a porcupine, so did the polished and smooth bagpipes force through the demon-flesh and sprout proudly upon the Haggis’ back, belching forth infernal and terrifying Highland music that passed as its cry of war. Stalking forward and regarding Al-Kanphel with four simmering red eyes atop a snaking necked head, it hissed defiance and ancient anger. Clasped tightly within its right hand it carried a flaming Caber, a solid tree trunk of some ten feet sheathed in white hot flame that though burned brightly did not diminish the weapon in any capacity.
“I shall vanquish you from whence you came, creature of the night!”
Steel and flame clashed loudly upon rock, and ash as these two supreme beings fought. Schyssdrägg swung in seemingly irresistible arcs merely to be deflected aside by the impossibly strong Caber of the Haggis. Beads of sweat began a journey from Al-Kanphel’s forehead to chin as he poured his anger and ability into defeating this foe. Yet no matter how mighty the blow this demon shrugged all off and continued to battle, until he could feel weariness in the tightness of the grip he maintained on his fearsome weapon and his thrusting became more laborious.
Realising the close confines favoured his enemy, Al-Kanphel retreated swiftly, easily outpacing his lumber some nemesis until such point as the tunnel was forgotten and instead they battled upon the high slopes of Mount That’s-Fairly-Grim. Outshining any star that stood in the night sky they locked in combat, the Haggis landing painful, blunt blows upon Al-Kanphel though still he endured with pride of purpose. From below Dread-Empress-Eternal-And-Beautiful Annabelle Le Floof watched, aghast at the tide the battle seemed to be turning upon.
“You can prevail my love, whom does shimmer more brilliantly than a thousand diamonds illuminated by every star in the sky!”
Al-Kanphel grew weary of such odds, and resolved to cancel such adversity. Steadying his blade, he swung it upwards and held it aloft, so that it might act as a conductor of sorts. Ignoring the trembling of his biceps under tremendous strain, he cried loudly words of ancient meaning and unrivalled power.
As though physically stretched, Al-Kanphel began to change, mass increasing exponentially. Schyssdrägg, whom had before stood with considerable girth, now grew until the blade stood the length of the wielder and as equally heavy- Surely useless in the face of such adversity. However Al-Kanphel was no mere man nor mortal, and aloft he held the mighty and still throbbing weapon, before thrusting it forward with such speed as to pull his own hips forward also.
The Haggis reared back, the fading bagpipes indicating the rupturing of its vital wind bag, and imminent passing. It stumbled backwards, the encompassing patterns of Tartan distorting and fading upon the ash as it struggled to retain life, surely now defeated. Unfortunately too quickly had the creature been dismissed, and falling forward, it impacted the flaming caber upon the forehead of Al-Kanphel, sending him hurtling over the precipice and down the mountainside, closely followed by the extinguished corpse of the once-terrifying Haggis.
Dread-Empress-Eternal-And-Beautiful Annabelle Le Floof ran forwards, almost losing her balance as the body of her beloved came to rest atop the gravel of the Mountain’s beginning. She immediately took within her hand her own dress and utilised the pristine white material to clear the weeping crimson from Al-Kanphel’s battle-weary face. Tracing delicate fingertips upon the smudged flesh she began to weep.
“Oh how cruel, that the Gods would see fit to recall an Angel so soon! For the brightest star in our night is extinguished! For the fiercest flame is quenched! Deep is my sorrow and plentiful is my sadness!”
Cradling the now departed spirit, her eyes growing narrow, she made this promise to an uncaring plain, with only her faithful Man-Servant Noez, and Mount That’s-Fairly-Grim as witness.
“I shall not let your sacrifice be in vain! Short was your suffering but long is mine! Eternal shall your memory reign within mine and together, though separated by great distance we shall see a new age of prosperity and peace reign!”
Gently wrapping her lithe fingers around the thick terminus of Schyssdrägg, Lady Le Floof hauled what was now her weapon into the air, feeling it permeate her being and infuse raw, thrusting aggression. As creatures of metal so moved and talked as living beings, so would she perfectly and flawlessly merge with this machine of death, to bring agony and suffering to those that opposed her. As Al-Kanphel himself once became so intimately entwine with a creature of machine, so would she.
The Five and one quarter Kingdoms would recall this day and weep.