NationStates Jolt Archive

Deep within the bowells of hell, three immortals were planning.

"All seems well. The gods of the Earth can do nothing to stop us." Said Loki, the Norse god of evil, fire, and trickery.

"If they do, chaos and death will fill the universe." Replied the Animal headed Egyptian god Set.

The titan Kronos added " A chaos that even the gods themselves won't survive. With our combined might, the universe will be ours."

As they plotted, monsters emerged from all corners of the Earth. The oceans teemed with massive sea monsters, some bigger than islands. In the skies, dragons and other aerial nightmares swooped down on victims. On land, an inumerable tide of different beasts crawled forth.

Although they could do nothing to stop it directly, the gods of all men decided to try and stop it. So they summoned eleven heroes, all choosen before their births to complete this quest, to a cloud in heaven. The eleven were surprised.

"Relax, mortals. I undertand you fear", said Zeus. "But tou must be brave. For the fate of the Earth, and the universe, is in your hands."

Ra, the Egyptian Dun God was next. "Loki, Set, and Kronos are shemeing to dominate all existance. We gods can not directly interfere, for the resulting war would destroy all existance."

"So we have choosen you eleven to fight in our stead. Destroy the monsters that plague the land, find out what the evil gods are planning, and stop them." Odin answered their questions before they were asked.

More gods gave them words of praise, encouragement, and power. Finally, Zeus gave them one last order.

"Stay and work together. If you don't you will surely fail. Now, when we return you to Earth, talk amougnst yourselves before going into the destroyed town you will see before you. There you will be tested." As he said this, the group was returned to Earth, in a grassy plain, looking at a ruined town.

OOC- can't type anymore right now, someone else start out the intro. Also this thread is closed unless you signed up beforehand.

THE QUEST FROM THE UNFOUND LAND

Quetzals flew across the island of Borikén. Mucaro, the young cheiftain of the Yabisi tribe sensed the impending danger coming from afar, but he could not understand it. Mucaro left his house to meet with the bohiti (shaman) to meditate upon the preminitions of evil.

"Chieftain Mucaro, what brings you to my clearing?" asked the bohiti.

"Elder, there is something that is troubling me. I have been having strange preminitions of something happening. Something dangerous," said Mucaro.

The bohiti thought for a moment and said, "Come back tomorrow. Allow me to commune with the great spirits Y'ocahu' and Atabey and I will form a solution for you."

Mucaro smiled and said, "Thank you wise one, but I wish to meditate with you."

"Fine then young cheif. Follow me." The two went into the forest in search of the Ku' (sacred place). They sat amongst the trees and wildlife with only one totem in the middle. The totem of Yaya stood tall in reverence to the mighty being unity of Y'ocahu' & Atabey. The two lit Cohoba seeds and smoked the ceremonial herb to better connect with the spirit world.

The two found themselves on the Plane of Apito , the home of the great gods. Y'ocahu' & Atabey came unto the two and spoke

"You beings who have come to the realm of the gods. What business have you here?" asked the male half (Y'ocahu') of the great being Yaya.

"O great creator, we have come in response to strange feelings of darkness I have been receiving. I feel a dark presense looming over the horizon towards the rising sun. What is this feeling?"

"Young one, the answer you seek is within Coabey (underworld) and the guardian, Opiel Guabiron. There are other forces from other gods that you have never even dreamed of. The forces of Coabey are upseting the balance that we have worked hard to obtain. Opiel Guabiron is fighting them but losing. Thus he will be sent to accompany you on your quest," said the femine half (Atabey) of Yaya.

"Quest? What quest?" asked Mucaro.

"You must fix the balance of the world. You are the most in tune with nature around you. Thus, we are granting you the quest to stop the gods from attaining any sort of power over the balance of the universe." said the two as a whole.

The dream had ended and Mucaro found himself at the coast without the bohiti in sight. He looked to his right and saw the strange guardian of the underworld known as Opiel Guabiron (http://www.hartford-hwp.com/Taino/photos/guabiron.png). The guardian spoke.

"Son of the Mucaro, the world is in need of your help. There are others like you that will be fighting against the forces at work. Some will try to hinder you. This is a battle that will be fought by you. I can provide transportation but it is you that will fight the evil. But there will be help." Opiel Guabiron's eyes began glowing and pierced into the heart of Mucaro. "I have given you the power to summon the sacred animals of the Taino culture. Caguema, the sacered sea turtle, Mucaro, the sacred night owl, Manati', the sacered sea cow, Ao'n, the sacred dog, Maja, the great serpant, Tonina, the sacred dolphin, and Jejen, the sacred mosquito. These animals will be able to lend you their strength to aid you in the coming war. Now go Mucaro. Your destiny awaits."

Opiel Guabiron closed his eyes and darkness swirled around Mucaro. Mucaro awoke and found himself in a completely different land. To the distance were ruins...

Macedonia

Atticus, the hero of Pella slung his shield over his back. He had been walking for a great distance for many days. The great city of Pella once relied on him for protection. At the head of the army, he could make the enemy quiver. Many a city champion fell beneath his blade. Many beasts, natural and not also slipped their throats against his sword.
"Long have been my travels. But lo! This hill I do remember, but what is that in the distance?" he said, his steps became quicker. Three winters prior peace was achieved and he left, with no war he was out of a job. He reached the top of the hill and looked over it to see a city, in flames...

Macedonia

Atticus, the hero of Pella slung his shield over his back. He had been walking for a great distance for many days. The great city of Pella once relied on him for protection. At the head of the army, he could make the enemy quiver. Many a city champion fell beneath his blade. Many beasts, natural and not also slipped their throats against his sword.
"Long have been my travels. But lo! This hill I do remember, my dear Pella waits upon the other side of this hill!" he said, his steps became quicker. Three winters prior peace was achieved and he left, with no war he was out of a job. He reached the top of the hill and looked over it to see the city of Pella, in flames...

OCC: I'm not saying Pella is the ruined city. My character just happens to be going back to Pella.

OOC-can he go after we see whats waiting in the town? I kind of want everyone to sick together, so no one is confused. Everyone will go to Pella afterwards.

Atallah was falling. At least, it felt like it. It felt like he was plummeting to the earth at incredible speed. There he was, talking to the greatest of the gods, and then suddenly they had thrown him back down to Earth. This was beginning to feel just like his Rebirth did.

Passing the clouds, a smoking city came into view, surrounded by green pasture-like fields. It was an amazing bird's eye view, something that Atallah would have cherished were he not certain he was going to die. The Earth came faster and faster as he rocketed from the sky.

He did a face dive, and when he hit the ground, he rolled, thinking that at least he'd be a blob instead of a mash when he got squished by the fall. He was slightly surprised when his back hit the ground softly during midroll. Atallah pulled up to rest on one knee. Resisting the urge to hurl, he cleared his head and looked at the smoking city. Even from there it was lurid and bleak. Whatever caused this damage was horrible indeed, and it was a miracle, a gift from the gods if anyone survived.

Looking around, he realized he was alone. He looked up into the sky, seeing his company; the other mortal champions. Making a choice to wait until the others arrived, and prepared his mind, and made sure to dodge any falling people.

"By what curs'd deed brings this village to this state of fire?! The flames reach the very tops of the sky. Where are her armies? Have the gods abandoned her?" Atticus asked. He put on his helmet and readied a spear. He ran down the dirt road, the fire made him sweat.

A man, his face covered by a cape stood at the entrance. Nothing of him could be seen.
"What hath brought this city to its' knees?" Atticus asked but was on his guard.
""That which is graeater than man" the figure replied.
"By what standard do you rally to?"
"One that is greater than any standard of man" the figure coldly replied and the cape came off. What stood there was a beast of great stature and sharp teeth.
"A beastman!" Atticus shouted and hurled his spear, the beast dodged it and came at Atticus. His claws grabbing the shield and he twisted violently. Atticus let go his shield and the beast heathed it up to the air. But, Atticus was of quick hand and his sword met the beast in the stomach, its' blood and intestines falling to the ground.

Atticus at guard, walked into the city with a great air of caution. It was in ruins. Dead bodies of men, women, and children, and beasts litered the city. It was beyond imagine.
"What unearthly curse has been brought upon this city?!" he shouted.

OCC: I made the adjustments to my posts, sorry for any confusion

The Norseman saw the warrior from Macedon in anguish. He approached him. "Warrior, this town fell because of the Evil Gods the other gods were talking about. We must be strong. Come. Let us go and wait for the others to arrive. Then we will strike down whatever evil lies in there."

Yaya had arrived to meet with Odin, Zeus, and Ra.

"Greetings fellow gods. We have come to tell you that we have sent our own warrior to aid in your quest. We feel that this is a problem that will affect all of our worlds, so we wish to send any aid we can." said Yaya.

* * *

Mucaro looked ahead of him. There not too far from him was a man with strange armor. He carried a metallic disc with the Ao'n (wolf/dog) on it. The man had dark hair and a short beard and blue eyes. He showed signs of being in several wars. Next to him was a man whom Mucaro saw fall from the sky. Mucaro thought that these men may be here to help him as Yaya told him. Then again, they may hinder him... Mucaro went to greet them.

OOC: What tech is this thread based in?

"Of what lands do you hail from. One who is so oddly dressed?" Atticus responded "Who are we meeting and why?" he asked. Atticus wanted to know what was happening and decided to follow this man.

OOC: What tech is this thread based in?

past tech. however, it is closed. Sorry, but if someone drops out I'll contact you.

"I hail from the Northern lands. I an a Norseman. My name is Erik. Come, did you not see the others when we stood before the gods? They are still arriving from heaven. We should wait before we trek into the city of the damned."

"I have seen no gods nor mortal men, aside from you" Atticus responded, taking off his helmet "I am Atticus, hero of Pella" he proudly said.

"Of what lands do you hail from. One who is so oddly dressed?" Atticus responded "Who are we meeting and why?" he asked. Atticus wanted to know what was happening and decided to follow this man.
Mucaro called to the men and greeted them. "Taino-tí!" he exclaimed.

Atallah took his eyes off the skies, and looked again towards the burning city. From a distance, he made out a few armed figures seeming to be talking. Either they were the cause, or more likely they were some of the other vindicators. He judged them friendly, then approached them from the fields, using the dark smoke and the shadows of the city to hide his approach.

"...We should wait before we trek into the city of the damned," he heard the nordic man say. Atallah stepped from the shadows just as another man called out, "Taino-tí!"

Atallah had no idea what that meant, but he judged it best to introduce himself. "Curses follow the Damned, and if that which I think has come, we should truly tred carefully through this city."

OOC- Last pos of the night

IC- "Am I the only one who remebers what happened? The gods gave us this test! We are to work together to face the evils of Loki, Set, and Kronos!"

"Halt! Who are you strange man? Your skin is not that of any I have ever seen. What lands do you hail from?" Atticus asked. The day seemed to become more strange with each passing moment.

"The gods themselves have done this wicked deed?!" Atticus exclaimed. Kronos was the only one he knew of but did not know of the others.

Victor stepped forward, holding his shield in front of him and his sword in the other hand.

"The city has fallen," he said, which was little more than stating the obvious, "But what has it fallen to? An army of men? Or something else?" He smiled coldly, "Whatever it was, they have left good pickings." He strode towards the city.

OOC: Yes, he's a cold blooded sunufagun.

OOC: Same, last post for night

IC:

"Remember, I do. A quest from the Gods. But surely, the Gods wouldn't create such havoc just to test us. Even if they did, whatever caused this destruction is something to be reckoned with. We shall take cautious steps and then prove our might to the Gods," said Atallah.

Deep within the bowells of hell, three immortals were planning.

((OOC: Not meaning to interupt or anything, you can commence afterwards. I don't need a response. But I think it's Hel you are looking for. Hell is the christin afterlife for evil people. Hel was the afterlife of the norsemen that didn't die in battle nad probably where bad gods would hang out. Since it seems more like you're going off of the more polytheistic religions, I'd go with either Hel, or either Hades. That's just my opinion though. I'm gone now. I wn't bother you guys again, I'm just kind of anal about things like that. Sorry.))

"I remember not a whisper or sign from a god" Atticus stated "I was on my way back to Pella when I came here"

Victor, who had reached the outskirts of the city, looked back and called out "I know not how I came here, but I do not intend to let the opportunity go to waste."

((OOC: Not meaning to interupt or anything, you can commence afterwards. I don't need a response. But I think it's Hel you are looking for. Hell is the christin afterlife for evil people. Hel was the afterlife of the norsemen that didn't die in battle nad probably where bad gods would hang out. Since it seems more like you're going off of the more polytheistic religions, I'd go with either Hel, or either Hades. That's just my opinion though. I'm gone now. I wn't bother you guys again, I'm just kind of anal about things like that. Sorry.))

OOC:
Actually the full name is Helheim (for Norse), but really, all the names for the underworld really boil down to "hell". Its a real universal word, so its probably not a big deal

OOC Sorry for the late post

Mucaro could understand what they were saying. Each one speaking with a different tounge he had never heard of, but he understood them.

"I am from the great island of Borik'en. I was not sent here by any other Gods except Yaya, but he told me of other warriors that were sent to stop an unbalance caused by evil forces from Coabey (the underworld). I have come from afar to assist. But..." he looked at their armour and he looked at the cotton armour and Quetzal feathers he possessed, "it seems I haven't been well equipped."

"Do not worry, surely there is more suitable armor laying about. These porr dead wrriors have no need of their armor" Atticus replied.

Mucaro felt ill taking from the dead. He could hear their thoughts of what happened. He could feel their pain. Their anguish. Their suffering. Mucaro fell to his knees. He had to quiet the sounds in his head. He closed his eyes and meditated quietly. The massive train wreck of sounds soon calmed and became ordered. He could get back up again without feeling the spirit's anger.

"The men of this land are angry," Mucaro said. "They want vengence. Something happened that wasn't done by human hands. I will talk to them more."

ooc: Wow! Many posts! LoL

Nikostratos had been sent on a quest by Zeus himself...

Honored by the great god of the Greek Pantheon, he could not refuse. Yet when he was tossed nearby a burning city, he began to have second thoughts. The sight was enough to make even a hardened warrior such as himself get chilled to the marrow.

In the distance, Nikostratos could make out several warriors making their way into the city itself. Not knowing whether to trust them or not, he decided to follow, keeping his distance. He walked quietly far behind them, spear and sheild ready in case something unexpected showed up.

After many minutes of watching the strange group, he decided that they were not the ones who destroyed the poor town.

"Hail, travelers. Who might you be!" he shouted as he walked out of hiding, his spear and shield still at the ready.

Mucaro got up from the bodies and saw one of the dead bodies had a spear like his. upon closer look, he saw it was metal, not obsidian. Although heavier, he could still use this spear. He kept his old one as it would be able to be thrown easier and decided on using this one. Mucaro turned to see yet another warrior within their ranks. Mucaro came up to him and greeted him.

"Halt. I suggest you keep your distance, strange one. We do not know each other quite enough. What is your name and where do you hail from?" He asked the approaching man, pointing his spear in his direction.

"My name is Mucaro," Mucaro pointed out towards the sea westward. "I am from the island of Borik'en. I was sent here by the creator Yaya because of a disturbance in the balance of power. Some unknown beings are trying to take the land that is rightfully ours and I am here to help put the balance of power back."

Mucaro turned to the dead bodies and said, "These men were not attacked my men."

OOC what attacked the city anyway?

OOC: sorry im late...we really need somekind of schedule or something.

IC:What Demons did this?Kaz wondered as he wandered amongst the ruins. The air was choked with smoke and the stench of death, a great heaviness pressed down on him. Evil has walked these streets. It has left its mark for all to see. Sensei, is this the darkness you spoke of?

Kaz froze in his tracks as the sound of voiceas reached him. With grace a cat would be envious of he moved into the shadows and crept along toward the sound.

Pearing around a corner he saw them, a group of strangely dressed warriors, talking amongst themselves. He didn't think for a moment that they did this, yet that did not make them friends. He watched them for a moment, and said an incantation to let him understand thier words trying to ascertain thier purpose, though he was still to. far away to hear anything usefull

He wasn't about to just come out and say hi, there were too many of them to fight if it went sour, and he couldn't afford to be chased out of the city, he needed to know what happened here.

He was still debating what to do when another warrior joined the group, greeting them loudly. Kaz took that as his cue. With the newcommers arrival as a destraction he moved closer, taking cover behind a what may have once been a fountain.

A shadow fell over him...

Keltoi arrived in front of the burning city, after having a vision from the Morrighan. She had told him a story of doom brought by foreign gods, and that he had been chosen as a hero to fight this. Keltoi realised that he would be facing many creatures of evil. As he arrived, the first thing he sensed was evil, emmanating powerfully from the city. As he slowly turned away, he caught notice of a group of wariors standing near him.

Then, suddenly, something caught his eye. In the entrance of the city, a great winged beast unknown to Keltoi was hovering over a man. That man was unprepared and would probably be killed immediately. Keloi reacted quickly, he launched a fireball at the beast. It scored a hit, launching the bird back a few metres, but angering it more than hurting it. Confident that he had obtained a few seconds, he started preparing a more powerfull spell.

OOC- It's an unknown city

IC- Suddenly, from within the city, a roar erupt. A buildingcollapsed as a massiv boar rshed out. The boar was the size of an african elephant. Erk immeaditly charged it and stuck his axe in it's head. The boar spun around, throwing Erik away, the axe still in it's head. Then it turned to the other warriors and charged.

(OOC: sleep should be outlawed in England)

Camulos had brought him here, in front of this burning city wherever it may be, he looked at the bright Orange flames and could sense somthing was here, he quickly drew his hatchet and wandered the surrounding area, a fireball sent him to his arse and he began looking around for the sender, he found a Mage fighting a beast, a fellow Celt, quickly he withdrew the hatchet and took out a Javellin running alongside the Celt and tossing the speared object at the beast of evil.

(OOC: Well I am in Florida and it is 8:30 AM right now.)

There were now two beasts trying to attack the men. A giant bird was dealing with the mage and the swordsman while the boar was charging at him.

Mucaro had to think fast. He couldn't beat this boar alone. He closed his eyes and began chanting. The boar grew closer. Just as the pig was going to maul him with his tusks, a giant wolfdog sideswiped the pig. The boar looked up and saw the great canine Ao'n with Mucaro on top of him.

"Get him!" yelled Mucaro. Ao'n clawed the boar in the face. The boar retaliated and rammed the dog. Ao'n quickly recovered and struck again, this time in the throat. Ao'n kept clamped on the boar's throat while Mucaro climbed on its back. He took his new spear and stabbed it in the spinal base. The boar tried in vain to scream, but blood flowed from its neck as it dropped down on the ground, dead. Mucaro turned to see the giant bird was still attacking. Mucaro was feeling weak from keeping Ao'n out so he returned him back to the spirit world and went to assist the Celts.

A explosion threw Kaz to the ground, leaving dust in his mouth, his ears ringing. It only took a moment to get his senses about him and he was back on his feet in an instant, his Sai's appeared in his hands as if by magic. He saw two men battling the thing that almost got him.

With a flick of his wrist he sent a volley of Shuriken at the thing, though they didn't seem to do much more than piss it off, but at least he had its attention.

With swift strokes of its wings it charged at him, faster than he would have thought possible, almost too fast.

He dodged to the side, striking out with his Sai; he missed,still disoriented from the blast, but the creature didn't. Striking out with its beak,it tore a deep gash in his arm.

There was a flash...

"Come! And taste my blade!" Atticus yelled and charged the beast. It roared and charged as well. The beast smashed into his shield, knocking him to the ground. The monster pinned him down, knashing at him. The saliva dripped on his helmet as he struggled to keep the beast at bay. With all his strength he pushed it off and got to his feet. Atticus picked up his sword and slashed at the beast as the two battled across the square, over bodies and rubble. Finally, it was dealt a deathblow and fell to the ground.

Victor had almost reached the gates when the bird and boar attacked. Then a beast with the torso and head of a bull strode out the ruined gate.

In one motion Victor threw one of his two spears, then held his shield out in front of him while drawing his sword.

OOC: Yes, a schedule would be pretty efficient, I think.

IC:

Atallah stood back as the boar slammed into its surroudings, as the other heroes dodged its tusks. Looking around, he spotted a group of three dead men huddled into a corner. With an upward swipe of his hand, the three corpses animated. Their flesh and skin rotted to the ground as they stood up, leaving only bleach-white bones with glowing eyesockets.

The three corpses stood at attention. Atallah saluted, then pointed at the boar. The skeletons charged at the boar, one jumped onto its head, raking its face with bony claws.

OOC: err...I kinda killed the boar already.

The giant bird was still attacking the group. Mucaro saw a stranger in black getting mauled in the arm by the huge bird. The bird came around for seconds to take out the ninja. Mucaro ran towards him and summoned Ao'n again to keep the bird at bay. Mucaro grabbed the ninja and pulled him aside to treat his wound.

Ao'n and the warriors kept on fighting off the bird, but now there was a minotaur being dealt with by Victor.

Atticus turned around and saw the minotaur. He had fought several in his years and they were not easy. The beast was too busy fighting the one warrior to notice him. Atticus hurled his spear into its' back, it roared in pain and anger "Monster! Direct your vengence to me!" He braced himself.

The minotaur was infuriated. He charged at Atticus, leaving his back open to Victor.


Ao'n kept trying to attack the bird but it kept flying just out of the reach of its jaws. Mucaro tried to heal the wound of the ninja's arm.

The minotaur, took out the spear and charged with all the fury of Hades. It roared towards him. Atticus held his ground, waiting for the right moment. Beads of sweat rolled down his face, his eyes like stone on the minotaur. It came closer, its' speed quickening. At the last moment, Atticus rolled out of the way, his sword cutting the beast's leg, it crashed to the ground, not before reeling around and bashing its' arm into Atticus, he flew back onto the ground.

Kaz pushed away the strange warrior, "I'll live" he said standing on unsteady legs. He drew his Sai and took careful aim, the strange dog seeming to sense his intention leapt forward and grabbed the birds leg holding it in place.

Kaz's vision blurred then cleared and he threw the Sai striking the bird in the side and bringing it to the ground.

He collapsed..


OOC: if you don't know what a Sai is look it up

"Thank you," said Victor simply, running over to the minotaur and beheading it with a smooth motion. He then broke both horns off at the base, using his sword, and handed one to Atticus, placing the other in a bag he carried with him.

"How badly are you hurt?"

"I merely recieved a blow that took the breathe from my body" Atticus repleid as he stood to his feet, shaking a bit "My body has not failed me"

OOC Yeah. Elektra uses them and so does Raphael from TMNT


The canine bit into the neck of the bird, ending its life there.

Ao'n came back to Mucaro and Kaz. Mucaro petted the dog and the dog just panted and smiled. Ao'n began licking Kaz's face to try and awaken him.

"That was some fine aiming there warrior. YOu have the precision of Tiercel, the falcon spirit." said the dog.

"I merely recieved a blow that took the breathe from my body" Atticus repleid as he stood to his feet, shaking a bit "My body has not failed me"

"I am glad to hear that," said Victor. "The beast's head is yours, if you desire a further trophy. Now, if you'll excuse me..." He headed towards the bird to see if the battle was finished.

OOC: hey wait a tick...
Kaz eyed the Dog warily unsure of the situation. It talked..he thought surprised. "What manner of creature is this?" he asked

Mucaro came towards Victor and Atticus while Ao'n tried to revive Kaz.

"That was incredible teamwork fellow warriors. The strength of Jurakán must be strong within you both," Mucaro said. "But we seem to have a fallen comrade over towards Ao'n."

"I am no physician," said Atticus, "But this at least will help." He held up a hip flask, and then, without warning, poured it into the wound.

"It will sting though," he added.

OOC: To kill infection. I think Hippocrates figured out infection bad, so yeah.

Kaz eyed the warrior warily still unsure of the situation. He did save my life...he thought. " What happened here" he asked still examining his wound, it wasn't that bad but it hurt like hell.

"You were struck in the arm by the bird," said Ao'n. "My friend there covered the wound but you will still need treatment." The huge wolf picked Kaz up and placed him on his back. "You can ride me if you wish."

It hurt like hell but Kaz didn't show it... a ninja never showed his pain. "Who are you?" he asked "What happened here?"

OOC:we need a system

It hurt like hell but Kaz didn't show it... a ninja never showed his pain. "Who are you?" he asked "What happened here?"

"I am Victor. I cannot speak for the others, but I do not know how I came here. Still, it seems that there is something large going on, else we would not have been attacked by three creatures at once."

"I am Mucaro," Mucaro said. "I am from the far away land or Borik'en."

"I am Ao'n, the spirit of loyalty and courage. I will be assisting you as Mucaro summons me." said the wolf.

"I am Kaz Hirai of Kyushu", he said unwilling to say more Can I trust them? he wondered

"I am Victor. I cannot speak for the others, but I do not know how I came here. Still, it seems that there is something large going on, else we would not have been attacked by three creatures at once."

"I can tell you why," sad Mucaro. "I spoke with the spirits of these men. Some demon came through here and destroyed this town to attract us into this trap. I don't understand the language completely, but he said it was a Lik...or a Lyk..."

"Lich," said Ao'n.

Lich Kaz did't know what it meant but it sent a shiver down his spine...it fortold great evil, he could feel it.


OOC: I do actually know what a Lich is you know...

"A lich is a necromancer who has killed himself to become even closer to the dead and thus more powerful. They are more powerful than your average necromancer," said Ao'n

Mucaro was slightly confused about the "Lich". "Why would this creature try and stop us?"

Nikostratos had let the others continue their killing of the beasts. He still did not trust any of them, and if they died, so be it. It was their fate. Nikostratos walked into a nearby building, the fire leaving the walls intact, but still charred. The roof itself had caved in, leaving a bloody mess of the previous resident.

Now, however, a harpy was taking residence, gleefully chewing up the corpse of the poor man.

"Wretched demon! Begone!" growled Nikostratos as he thrust his spear into the harpy.

The bird-woman shrieked and flapped her wings, clawing at the spear. With a sickening squelching sound, she pulled out the bloody spear and tossed it to the floor. She dove with amazing speed at Nikostratos, battering herself into his sheild, nearly toppling the strong warrior. She raised herself into the sky, out the hole where the cieling fell upon the resident. With another burst of speed, she slammed into the warrior, pushing him over a table, and knocking him down.

Taking advantage of Nikostratos' predicament, she drove again, slashing at him with her vicious claws.

Nikostratos was prepared for this, however, and brought his sheild to deflect against her blows.

Realizing she couldn't touch the Spartan with his sheild, she grabbed hold of the round shield and tossed it aside, diving again for the warrior.

Nikostratos rolled backwards onto the even floor, pulling out both his swords. "Come...meet your doom, demon!" he growled, spinning his swords. The harpy screeched her challenge and dove again at Nikostratos, who effectively stepped to the side, perrying her closed claw, and chopping off her leg with one fluid motion.

Screeching in agony, the harpy decided that this battle had turned for the worse and began to make her escape out of the broken house. She flapped furiously for the opening in the ceiling.

Suddenly, a wicked looking sword sliced through her right wing, embedding itself in a wooden door. Smiling like a predator ready to kill it's prey, Nikostratos walked calmly to the doomed harpy, who bared her fangs at Nikostratos, snapping viciously.

With a swift movement, Nikostratos took hold of the harpies head and snapped it's neck. It hung limp in his hands, before he let it slump to the floor, it's wing still outstretched from the sword. With a quick tug, the sword came loose, and Nikostratos cleaned both the blades before setting them back in his sheath. He picked up his round sheild and walked outside, away from the gruesome death of the harpy and the innocent.

Victor strode into the city, this time unchallenged. There was a large stone fortress not far from the center of the city, and it was towards this that he strode, everything from his swagger to the way he placed his sword in his belt screaming out 'Ambush me!'

It did not go unrewarded. A hellhound leapt out of a shadow towards him. As it struck him in the chest, one of his hands grabbed its neck, preventing it from reaching his throat with its fangs. His other hand, suddenly holding a knife drove into the beast's stomach. He fell with it on top of him.

It was not yet dead, although it was losing a lot of blood from the wound. Victor now fastened both hands around the beast's neck, ignoring the claws that tore at his chest. As he steadily increased the pressure on its neck, it stopped struggling and collapsed on him.

Victor heaved it off, and climbed to his feet.

Mucaro turned to Kaz and Atticus and asked, "Since we are all here as one, we should try and get some ground of trust between us. If we cannot set aside our differences, then we will be killed by these demons." He continued to think about this "Lich". How could such a creature be given this power? Could Maketaori Guayaba (god of the Taino underworld) be a part of this as well?

"Now did Yaya send you warriors as well?" asked Mucaro.

Ao'n followed Victor. They shouldn't split up like this, so he decided to at least make sure Victor didn't get in too deep.

OOC: Ill be back on a bit later. Just fill me in on what happens

"I believe my involvement is a mistake. I was not visited by the gods. I saw no sign nor vision." Atticus replied "I merely seek to return to my home"

Victor reached the fortress like building. The door, though thick, had been ravaged by fire and fell easily with but a couple kicks.

"Treasure house," Victor explained to Ao'n. "Not sure you'll fit in though." Shrugging, he strode in. The inside was relatively untouched. A man with deperation in his eyes ran up to Victor.

"Thank god! Salvation! It was horrible. Creatures of every shape and size descended on the city. Those few who survived the first attack fled here. There's only about one hundred of us left though."

Victor nodded. "Well, you'd probably better stay here a while longer. There are stilll vermin lurking in the shadows."

OOC: Okay, I seemed to have missed a helluva lot in day pages. What happened? Is everyone in the city? How come everyone was fighting different things? What lich, and why is necromancy evil (My character is a necromancer...)? And for the wounded person... my character can heal you, necromancy deals with life and death, healing and harming.

OOC: Okay, I seemed to have missed a helluva lot in day pages. What happened? Is everyone in the city? How come everyone was fighting different things? What lich, and why is necromancy evil (My character is a necromancer...)? And for the wounded person... my character can heal you, necromancy deals with life and death, healing and harming.

We are in the city, we were all ambushed, and necromancy isnt evil. I threw in the lich for a little suspense and if we beat him he could tell us more about the bad guys.

OOC: Okay, I seemed to have missed a helluva lot in day pages. What happened? Is everyone in the city? How come everyone was fighting different things? What lich, and why is necromancy evil (My character is a necromancer...)? And for the wounded person... my character can heal you, necromancy deals with life and death, healing and harming.

OOC: Well, everyone's at least on the outskirts of the city. Various monsters are attacking, I think we decided that the city was an ambush. A lich is apparentally a necromancer that killed himself to improve his magic :confused: and finally, I suppose it's not evil in of itself, but it was being used for evil here.

Kaz drew the Sai from the dead bird's side and wiped the blood off on its feathers. Putting the weapon away, he took careful stock of the other warriors. He felt ashamed by his performance in the battle, he shouldn't have been caught off gaurd like that. Can I do nothing on my own? he wondered, as he accepted healing from a man calling himself Atallah.

Nikostratos stepped towards the other warriors, his bloody spear ready for more battle. "It seems we fight a common enemy, warriors. Tell me, how did you all get here? In fact, does anyone know where 'here' is?"

Mucaro answered, "For some time, I have been having strange preminitions of a great evil upsetting the balance of the world. My fears were confirmed as the great creator Yaya proclaimed to me that I was to help stop the imbalance with other chosen warriors. I was given the care of seven spirits of the world to aid me in this quest. I was suddenly transported from the rainforest to this desolate land. I am not sure of where I am."

Hearing all this, Kaz felt compelled to speak. " I am a student of Yu-Huang Chi, the great ninja master. On his death bed he sent all his students on the quest to find the source of this darkeness. I do not know what this place is, but destiny has surely led me here."

"I want no part of this-quest" Atticus replied, taking off his helmet and he wipd the sweat from his brow. "I only want to go home. I have spent many years doing this work, I want to settle down, raise a family, sow fields and harvest the crops"

After healing the Asian man, Atallah turned to the other heroes. He was somewhat upset he hadn't gotten the chance to fight, for in the midst of battle, he had found himself lost in the city rumble.

The Greek asked how he got there. "I...I fell from the sky. As for this Accursed Land, its location I do not know. As for the quest, I was given my chance for repent, and this may be my only option. I am in for the long haul gents."

Nikostratos laughed. It wasn't so much a laugh of mirth as it was a laugh of mocking.

"Go home? Raise a family? Don't get your hopes up, warrior. This is a war that will affect everything."

He walked up to Atticus. "I suggest you continue this quest of the gods. The only fields you'll be sowing are the fields of destruction..." he growled, before turning around and walking to the others.

"Actually...go ahead. Go home. You'll probably see a nice warm welcome. Your town will look like this, your wife, raped, bloody, cold, dead. Your children hanging from the ceiling. What I say is grim, but it is not even the worse that may happen..."

Mucaro turned to Atticus, "Warrior Atticus, I cannot make you change your mind, but if you don't help us, there may not be a farm to plow or a family to raise. The forces of darkness are trying to take over and they seem to have help from all sorts of demons, monsters, and even some other gods. I know that you wish for the peaceful life but if we fail, there will only be pain and suffering. Do you want to raise your children in that world?"

Nikostratos laughed. It wasn't so much a laugh of mirth as it was a laugh of mocking.

"Go home? Raise a family? Don't get your hopes up, warrior. This is a war that will affect everything."

He walked up to Atticus. "I suggest you continue this quest of the gods. The only fields you'll be sowing are the fields of destruction..." he growled, before turning around and walking to the others.

"Actually...go ahead. Go home. You'll probably see a nice warm welcome. Your town will look like this, your wife, raped, bloody, cold, dead. Your children hanging from the ceiling. What I say is grim, but it is not even the worse that may happen..."

OOC Atticus and this scene remind me of Gladiator...good movie...sorry for the interruption

Kaz didn't give a damn one way or the other. It was his quest, his duty. He had to do this, and he expected nothing, wanted nothing from these strange men. He had to prove himself. He had to make his master proud. it had nothing to do with any gods or...no...thats not right, there's something I'm forgetting... something just below the surface. The gods...

OOC- Sorry for noth posting. I assume everyone is in the city and the boar is dead. I hd crew practice really late tonight.

IC- Erik grabbed his axe from the boar carcus. A lot had happened already. "We should all stay here. The gods decided it." Almost instantly after he said this, a voice came from the sky. "Mortals, prepare for your challenge." At once, a hideous noise filled thier ears. They all looked over to see a massive hydra, with seven heads, writhing toward the,. Erik, always the fighter, ran foward and sliced one of the heads off. Instantly, tow more grew back. Erik lept back, dodging the now eight headed beasts bites. "This will take all our skills!"

OOC- This fight will take a while, no one can kill the hydra easily. Make it long and a fun challenge.

Victor emerged from the treasure house, and saw the Hydra.

"I hate Hydras," he muttered, drawing his sword. "When you cut off a head, sear the neck with fire!" He shouted, and ducked under a head to charge at the beast's chest.

Mucaro jumped on Ao'n and charged at the hydra. Ao'n ripped into the neck of the demon while Mucaro stabbed another head with his spear. He ws flung off and in the place of the neck were two more.

"What monstrosity is this creature!?!" asked Mucaro. "And how will we defeated such a creature that can grow its heads back?"

Atticus was about to reply in anger when the hydra appeared. He knew the way to kill a hydra but did not wish to get close to it. His spear was no where to be seen. "The death of this beast shall cool my blood towards you all!" he shouted and put his helmet back on. The monster snapped at him but each head bounced off his shield, he grabbed the spear and was about to hurl it into its' chest when one the the Hydra's tail knocked him over.

OOC: Man. I'm glad I got healed first...AND picked up that Sai

IC:Kaz was quick to act, charging forward he yelled "Cover your eyes!" and threw a flashbomb at his feet temporarily blinding the hydra. He stabbed with his Sai and struck the beast in one of its eyes, the beast let out an unearthly bellow and swung another head at him, which he dodged. He readied another attack...

OOC: float like a butterfly, sting like a bee

Atticus got to his feet "The only way to stamp the life of a hydra is to attack the heart and chest!" he shouted and threw the spear, it was caught on one of the heads.

Atticus got to his feet "The only way to stamp the life of a hydra is to attack the heart and chest!" he shouted and threw the spear, it was caught on one of the heads.

OOC: Or to sear the stumps with fire, as I mentioned... Last post of the night.

Victor let the battle go to his head, and laughed as he deflected one of the heads with his shield. He drove his sword up through the beast's mouth, but didn't chop off the head.

"Will someone get me some fire?" He asked, smashing the skull of another head with the hilt of his sword.

Mucaro heard Victor, but he had no fire to seal the necks of the beast. Mucaro threw his spear to Atticus, saying "Take this. Your aim is better than mine."

Ao'n kept riding Mucaro around while Mucaro concentrated. I cannot defeat this thing but I can distract it from these warriors.

Buzzing was heard around the area. A swarm of mosquitoes surronded the hydra, attacking it but doing little damage. Protect us Jejen, great spirit of blood. We will need your help to keep this dragon occupied. The insects began piercing into the eyes and mouth of the beast, keeping it occupied as the others could try and take the creature.

Atticus took careful aim while the hydra was distracted. He steadied his sore arm and stood there, waiting. Finally, he hurled it and the spear found its' mark. The monster roared and shreeked, but it was not a death blow.

Kaz worked his way in under the hydra gaze and struck out with blows to its chest, the Sai's digging deep. The creature reared back and struck with two of it's heads. Kaz backflipped out of reach just as a swarm of mosquitoes descended on the creature...

OOC: Oh my.... I was preparing an awesome post with dark-humored words meant to inspire the group. Damn.. that took a very long time, all for nothing :-x

IC:

Atallah wasn't surprised by the hydra. All along he had doubted a boar and a bird could have caused this much damage. Looking around, he noticed the large number of bodies. With an upward cast of his hand, he raised them to dead minions, their flesh rotting to the ground to reveal bleach-white bones.

"Attack the hydra, my minion spawns," Atallah shouted.

The crowd of skeletals began to claw at the belly of the beast, however, their bony claws seemed to do little damage against such a thick hide.

The spear struck the creature and dug deep, Kaz took his chance running around behind the creature and leapt on its back striking repeatedly with his Sai's, it rored and the next thing Kaz knew he was airborne..

Mucaro couldn't hold the summon much longer. Jejen consumed the most lifeforce out of all of the spirits and it was affecting him. Mucaro saw that the skeletons of Atallah were doing little damage indiviually. But together...

"Atallah!! Form your minions into a huge spear and charge them at the heart!!!" yelled Mucaro. It was their only chance. If this didn't work...

Through his concentration, Atallah barely heard Mucaro's voice. It was a distinct idea that spread a small smile upon Atallah's thin lips. He had been thinking similar plans.

With a thought, he commanded the skeletons to back off, and they stood at attention in front of him. He weaved magic runes into the air, leaving traces of magic residue. Upon completion, the skeletons merged into large spear-like creature, similar to the boar they had just fought, but with a large spear-tip head of bone.

The new creature backed up to form a charge, almost intelligently, then began to run forward, shaking the ground. It launched itself at the hydra with all its might.

OOC: I would just like to point out that a ninjas speciality is stealth, not combat...he's a lover not a fighter.

IC: Kaz shook it off just in time to see the skelatons reform and begin thier charge. He saw the hydra prepare by dropping its heads to block the blow. Kaz took up his Sai's and infusing them with magic, sent them both flying into the hydras back, it took the blows, causing it to rear back and show its under belly to the spear...

The spear-beast plunged into the hydra's heart, and ever charged, as if attempting to push the hydra to the ground. The hydra writhed and roared, many of it's head snapped at the beast, only to end up with a bony spike through it's one of many jaws.

Atallah had barely seen the sai's that had raced each other to be the first to stab the hydra; that ninja did throw with great speed. And he recognized that he would need to thank Mucaro for aiding in the expansion of his magical arts.

He cast his arms into the air, shuddering his fingers, then hurled a bolt of black energy into one of the hydra's heads, searing a black hole into the neck.

OOC: Can we get a hydra head count, by the way?

The spear-beast plunged into the hydra's heart, and ever charged, as if attempting to push the hydra to the ground. The hydra writhed and roared, many of it's head snapped at the beast, only to end up with a bony spike through it's one of many jaws.

Atallah had barely seen the sai's that had raced each other to be the first to stab the hydra; that ninja did throw with great speed. And he recognized that he would need to thank Mucaro for aiding in the expansion of his magical arts.

He cast his arms into the air, shuddering his fingers, then hurled a bolt of black energy into one of the hydra's heads, searing a black hole into the neck.

OOC: Can we get a hydra head count, by the way?

10 after you just disenigrated one

OOC: I assume its dead now

IC:Kaz walked over to the defeated beast and drew his Sai's from it's back. Putting them away he gave it's fallen form a deep bow.You were truly a magnificent creature he thought, and turned toward the others...

OOC: we should see about moving on soon

OOC- This fight will take a while, no one can kill the hydra easily. Make it long and a fun challenge.

OOC:
I believe we wanted the hydra battle to last a little longer?

Last post for the night.

OOC: I thought that lasted plenty long, couldn't have done much longer without really dragging it out. Real battles only last until someone finds someone elses weakness.

OOC This will be my last post of the night.

Mucaro collapsed from too much usage of his summoning powers. Surrounding him were swirls of darkness, enveloping his mind. He opened his eyes but not to the warriors, but to a dark place. He knew this place. It was the Forest of Boya. The exiled bohitis that practiced Vodou were the only ones that could be here. Ahead of him one of them was preforming a ritual over a carcass. The dead body rose to his command. The bohiti turned to see Mucaro. No...no... it can't be...

He blacked out...

OOC I guess we could make it to where we need to cut the heads and stab the heart. Also we gotta start organizing some things and an actually storyline on the OOC thread. But I gotta go.

OOC: Yeah...guess I'm off too.

OOC: Okay scratch that, THIS is my last post

IC:

Atallah fell to his knees at the same time as the summoned beast crumbled into gravedirt. This battle had drained much of his energies, but at least he had learned a new power.

OOC: sorry I didn't post, I didn't have internet access for a while. I also live in Belgium, so i'll probably be on at different times than other people. And dang, I missed the hydra fight. Umm... what could I have been doing in the meantime to miss the fight?

OOC: sorry I didn't post, I didn't have internet access for a while. I also live in Belgium, so i'll probably be on at different times than other people. And dang, I missed the hydra fight. Umm... what could I have been doing in the meantime to miss the fight?

OOC idk...but we should probably discuss storyline events in the OOC thread so we wont all be confused. Also, we are missing someone. Where is Princess Dana?

Atticus rubbed his arm which was bruised and he suffered several cuts, nothing too bad, he had worse. The warrior gazed around at the others and saw some of them had collapsed 'What powerful spirits, what weak bodies' he thought.

Mucaro awoke from the horrific dream. He had recognized that ritual as soon as he saw it. The Ritual of the Jumbie, an unholy event done by the Vodou bohiti that were exiled from the island. They were summoning and amassing an army of jumbie (zombie). But why? And why was the bohiti who sent me here with the Vodou bohiti? Things were starting to get out of control.

Mucaro stood up to the collapsed hydra. The others were alive but hurt and the necromancer had collapsed from too much usage of his powers. Mucaro sighed in relief that the hydra was dead but he knew something else was looming over the horizon.

After labored breathing, Atallah lifted himself to his feet. He was tired, worn out, and used, but he was living, feeling better than ever. Today was a day of accomplishment, of new beginning. It was the first day of repent for a horrible soul, with a horrible craving for horrible power. However, it was a good day, a day of renewal, like a wall, repainted to be more vibrant.

Atallah paced to the hydra. He could almost feel the flow of energy in this creature, the unhallowed power that its old bones might hold. And he required that power. He withdrew his khopesh (http://www.agaa.ch/spip/IMG/jpg/weapons10-2.jpg) from his belt, under his robes, and began to carefully and deliberately carve a hole through the beasts hide. After some work, he found sight of the smallest of the creature's rib bones. The bone was small for such a beast, but it was exactly what he was looking for. He severed the joints with powerful cleaves, then removed the bone, and began to clean it, before stashing it into his robes, only to spread the blood from his hands to his robes. He looked like a vicious mess, and felt like a bath.

Mucaro came up to the darker man that could summon the dead.

"That was some good fighting," he said to the man. "Although why are you keeping the bone of the beast?"

Atallah looked at the strange native "Mucaro", then at his bloodstained hands, then back to Mucaro. "Creatures such as that beast hold power. To harness that power..." Atallah looks with big eyes, "..to harness that power might be the future of my practice. Some day, I may yet be able to raise a hydra minion from the dead." He looked at his feet, "Of course, that won't be for some time, even if it is possible. None the less, the power in this creature's bones is immense, something I must have."

Atticus took off his helmet and wiped his forehead. The fight was a hard one and victory was their's. The beasts were slain, none of the warriors were killed. "Friends, we have slain these beasts. Now, I take my leave and wish you the protection of the gods" he said and picked up his stuff and shield.

OOC- Everyone, I'm real sorry. The big races are coming up soon, so my practices are only going to get longer. I do have a storyline idea though.

IC- After the hydra was killed, Erik walked up to Atticus. "You can't leave. I think that the hydra was a clear sign. The gods want us to stay together. You would do well to stay." Once again, a voice appeared form the sky. "Mortals, it is Zeus. Killing the hydra proved your skill. Now, for your quest. There is eleven of you here. In eleven cities are eleven artifacts. One in each. You must collect these artifacts to defeat Loki, Kronos, and Set. Atticus, You must stay with this group. In fact, the group will go North. There they will reach your city of Pella. And, if they are capable, will save it from the army of the beastmen." At this Erik tried to rally to warriors. "Come. You have all heard Zeus. We go North."

Atticus dropped his shield. The god Zeus appeared before them and spoke to Atticus directly! All doubts in his mind dissolved in the precese of the king of the gods. It all became clear, his purpose.
"In all my miserable years, never had the gods spoke to me nor show me a sign. I believed my soul to be abandoned. Slaying beasts and wicked men were all I knew. But lo! Zeus speaks to me now! This curs'd life I live now has a purpose! My duty, my honor, I shall keep sacred!" he exclaimed and picked up his shield.

Victor sighed. Another lost to idealism. Although, that would mean more profits for him. And he couldn't deny that these were all brave warriors, and skilled. He could do worse than to stay with them.

"I'll come," he announced.

Atallah almost laughed at Atticus's exclamations. He obviously hadn't been in the underworld before. He slid the bone into his robes and smirked.

"North to Pella then."

OOC:Now we're getting somewhere. Umm...does anyone think Kaz thinks too much?

IC: Kaz observed all this with keen intererest. After the fight he had stuck to the edges of the group, easily avoiding notice. He was unsure how to proceed, on the one hand his sense of honor told him to continue on alone, to complete the task given him and to hell with the others. On the other hand, a god had just spoken to them and told them to work together in this endeaver. It was the smart move he knew. Would he even have survived these last encounters without them? He didn't think so, and that of course was the problem. If he always relied on others to carry him through he would never get any stronger, never reach his full potential. But then if he did go on his own he could very well be killed, to no favorable end, but if he went with these warriors he could help them succeed. After all, thier goals seemed to be the same, and in the end all that really mattered was that the quest was completed. If by his life or death he could make that happen, did he not have a responsibility to do so?

"North to Pella then," the dark one was saying.

Kaz nodded, "To Pella."

"I have no other choice than to keep this world in balance," said Mucaro. "Let us go to this city called Pella." He stroked Ao'n's fur and sent him back into the spirit realm.

OOC: I'll just ignore my absence.

IC: Keltoi kept his distance from the group. He had always fought alone, so being invited to join a group of wariors was a new experience for him. And now, a strange foreign god had told them to head north. This far from home, he couldn't talk to his own gods, so he would have to trust this one. If he had asked them to destroy an army of beastmen, he couldn't be evil. "What are we waiting for? Let's move!"

Mucaro went with the group to began their travel towards Pella. He was still thinking about his vision about the Jumbie Ritual and his village's bohiti being with the exiles.

"Atallah, you and I have much in common," said Mucaro. "I hope to one day gain enough power to summon the great Jurakán, but it would take years of practice. But I have a question. How can someone give the dead sentience?"

"There is much I don't know about the power I have taken from the gods of death." Atallah grinned, "If you did not notice, I was utterly spent after my creature died. I am.." he looked from side to side, curiously, "I am under the suspicion that the spear-creature borrowed part of my soul. It was a costly effective to be sure, something I didn't fully understand myself, and it might have been the death of me had I not relinquished control. I shall search my soul for more answers in time, and with you I shall share them. Until then, this is all I know."

"I know how that is," Mucaro said. "Although the spirits I summon use my lifeforce, they return it back over time."

Mucaro wondered how far away Pella was or even where it was. "What is the name of this land that I am in anyway," he asked Atallah.

"This is the land of Greece, I believe." said Keltoi, having overheard their conversation. "Many of their merchants come to my land."

What he had overheard perturbed Keltoi. His magic was time consuming, but the energy in it he drew from nature all around him. He had heard legends of mages drawing huge amounts of energy from themselves, but only for malicious purposes. That reminded him...

"Didn't someone say something about a powerfull necromancer being nearby? A Lich, I believe he was called?"

"I had sensed from the dead that a deam creature was summoning other dead to destroy the city as a trap for us," Mucaro said. "I didn't get a clear picture as to who the Lich was, but..." Mucaro stopped. He wasn't in Greece anymore...

He could feel the heat, the humidity, and the plantlife of the Forest of Boya. What am I doing here now...wait, this is another vision...another vision of the jumbie...but why am I seeing this...what dies this have to do with anything...

Mucaro opened his eyes again and was back in Greece. The others were looking at him like if he were crazy. Mucaro looked away from them, hearing a hoot.

"Do you hear that?" asked Mucaro. "That is... that is the sound of the mucaro (nightowl)!" Mucaro ran over towards the sound to see an owl perched on a tree. The owl looked at him then looked towards Pella. It had something in its talons. The mucaro dropped it into the hands of Mucaro and flew towards Pella. Mucaro saw the object in his hand. He had seen this before, on the village bohiti that had sent him on this quest. But what importance did this have...

Atallah attempted to hide his grimace at the mention of the lich. Being a necromancer, it was difficult not to sympathize with the need for power, as evil as it was deemed. At least he knew where they were. He had been to Greece before, as it was just north of his homeland.

"Greece eh?"

Atallah lost focus, and didn't notice Mucaro stopped talking until he mentioned the owl. He looked to where the sound came from, and watched as Mucaro received something from the bird. While far from an expert, it took no genius to tell the significance of this. It was an omen.

As soon as the Lich was brought up again, Victor strode over to the Hydra, and began systematically cutting it into pieces, starting with the tail, and then the legs. After that he began cutting out the rib cage.

Erik walked over to Victor. "What are you doing to the hydra? Watch out, it's blood is very poisonous. As soon as your done, we should get moving. Pella awaits us."

"Pella is actually in northern Greece, in the kingdom of Macedon. It is the capital and a grand city, full of life" Atticus replied, picking up his gear.

OOC: Weren't we already on the road, away from the hydra? Did you go all the way back to cut it up?

OOC: Yeah, now that I think about it ,I think he's right.

OCC: Bump

Finally, thr group arrived at Pella. They entered the city. Erik quicly located the king's palace. He entered. The guards stopped them "We can not allow you to enter with all of these weapons." Erik looked at them funny. "You can put your blades across my neck to make sure I do not hurt the king, but I do not give my weapons away. For anyone." The guards looked angered, but then they saw Atticus. "General! What a surprise! Come in!" The king was also surprised. "Atticus!" he said "To what to I owe the pleasure? What are you here for?"

Atticus kneeled before the king "Sire, I have been gone many moons. Ever since peace settled these lands I was uprooted and forced to live a wanderers life. War is my occupation as you know. I have returned and it seems that Pella and perhaps the rest of the world needs us" he said and pointed to his companions. "Some of the gods themselves conspire to rule the relm of man and put all the people under their knives"

"The gods? And how do you know this Atticus? Tell me, what happened over the many moons you have been gone."

"I left this city in search of something I could never find. My purpose here had no meaning. All I knew was life by the sword. I traveled the lands, slaying beasts, monsters, and my fellow man. I found myself in the company of these men, warriors from across the known world, and farther. Zeus himself spoke to us, to me! Commanding us to take up a quest to save this world from those gods whom wish to subjucate all the peoples of the world." Atticus replied, taking to his feet.

Erik walked over to Victor. "What are you doing to the hydra? Watch out, it's blood is very poisonous. As soon as your done, we should get moving. Pella awaits us."

"If there's a necromancer here, I would rather not have to fight this beast again," explained Victor.

OOC: LoL to the above post...


IC:

Once in Pella, Atallah remained in the back of the group. He was not a shy man by any means, but with this new strife in the land, his guise could easily lend him blame. He would let the local hero Atticus deal with matters of the king.

"Amazing... And what does Zeus wish for you to do here in Pella? DO you need resupplying? Tell me Atticus. Your are the greatest hero this city has ever known. We can get you anything you need."

"We are to engage in a quest that will spread across the land. We must travel to eleven cities and find eleven items to save the world. My companions and I need rest and food, if you please, sire" he replied

Suddenly a horn sounded in the distance. "Seems like your gods don't let you rest much." Keltoi was fine though. He hadn't been too tired out by the previous fight, and travelling was normal to him. He was more than ready for a fight, and immediately started heading outside. "Shall we?"

OOC: We are fighting an army of beastmen aren't we.

OOC ill be out for two days. Packing and leaving college

OOC: This is dead isn't it.

OOC- Not dead, just slow.

IC- Suddenly, an a horn blew throughout the city. Erik ran out, and saw an army outside. It was no human army though. Centaurs, Minotaurs, and satyrs stood ready to fight. "King, I suggest you get your army read. This won't be easy."

The army was ready tyo fight within minutes, thanks to their readiness and closeness. The wall were prepared for the siege. Archers let fly their arrows. The sound of dying monsters filled the air. However, centaurs lets loose theirs as well. Erik looked up at the rain of arrows. "Take cover!" he yelled.

Victor held his shield above his head. Several arrows thudded into it. "The gates!" He shouted, "Defend the gates!" He rushed to the wall above one of the gates, and looked down on the attacking army. The Centaurs could shoot arrows further than any man, but if the archers were on the wall, the range would be just about even. Even the brute strength of a minotaur wouldn't batter through the walls. They'd need a ram, or else a stronger monster. It was for either of those that Victor now scanned the army.

Atallah had heard the arrows before he had heard the shout. He dove under a building and watched as arrows rained around him in waves. Between the pouring waves, he dove between buildings, sheltering himself in doorways. When he got to the wall, he climbed atop and looked down at the armies.

He summoned power to himself. A purple energy ball started to glow in his hands. Slowly, it began to grow in size. Violet flames licked the air, and voices of the dead howled, calling for souls. Atallah hurled the ball, which still grow evermore in the air. It hit a centaur full on, then passed to a minotaur before licking itself out.

The centaur's flesh melted, and its skeleton fell to the ground. The minotaur was burned, but still fully capable.

Keltoi followed Atallah. He went straight for the main gate. Immediately, he raised his hands to cast a spell. A second later though, he stopped. "No, I'll wait for the right moment."

The archers wen to the walls and began to rain arrows down upon the beasts. Citizens ran throughout the city in terror. The attack was sudden but the Macedonians were warriors. Phalanxes of soldiers crowded behind the gates, in case they broke through. Hot oil was prepared.

The beastmen army rushed the gates. The minotaurs attempted to reak through. They managed to make a few holes with their axes, but were met with spears from the phalanx formations. The archers let more arrows fly. The beastmen army seem flustered. But then, they brought up a new member. A massive bull, Known as the Creatan Bull, was brought up. It prepared to hit the gate with full force. Erik yelled out. "Get the people to saftey!"

"Thas what I'm looking for," mumbled Victor. "Archers! Here! Spearmen, prepare to defend the gate in case it gets through. Victor hurled his spear at one of the satyrs, then rushed down to help defend the gate.

The people fled away from the gates as the soldiers stood their ground, but were nervous. Then, Atticus joined them out in front. His presence boosted their spirits.
"Brothers! Fear not your deaths or the beasts! For if you fail to impede them here, then they will swarm through this city like locusts, Don't let your deaths mean nothing, kill!" he shouted and unsheathed his sword.

The bull rushed foward. Many beastmen got caught in it's path, and we're destroyed and crushed. "Erik yelled to Atticus "Get your men to hold the gate! It's the only way! Then, when the bull comes back, make sure ou have bracers!" The bull was getting ever closer, it was now only a hunderd feet away.

The braces were set, the men steady. Atticus thirsted for blood.

Finally, the bull hit the gate. It's horns smashed through, but the gate managed to stay shut, but only barely. Erik poured burning oil over the beast. Other's on the wall follwed. The bull reared up, and rushed around in circles, crushing much of it's army. However, soon it was ready, and began it's second charge. "Atticus, the gate won't hold! Get your spears ready, and kill the bull when it comes through."

Atticus stood his ground, hitting his sword against his shield, ready for the mighty bull.

The bulll rushes Atticus and he narrowly avoids being hit head on. As the bull rushes past Atticus he drives his sword into its side.

OCC You can't control my character like that. The bull didn't even crash trhough the gate yet. Juts a tip for you, seeing how you are new.

OOC- Wait, Possumslavia, who are you? You didn't sign up for this thread.

IC- The bull rushed through the gate. This time it came through. The archers shot it full of arrows. Erik umped down on it from the wall. He hacked at it with his axe, and stabbed his sword into it to keep balance. The bull rushed around throwing Erik around as well. But he tried to hold on, or at least steer it. However, even the Norseman wasn't strong enough to divert it from it's course.

OOC- Just so everyone understands, this bull is huge. Like, T-Rex sized.

Atticus looked up at the beast in amazement. The archers shot at it. He hurled his spear at it as the beast charged. It crashed into the phalanx, thrashing men around as the long spears gashed it. Atticus barely got out of the way.

The bull was getting weak from the blood loss. It slammed into a building, crashing down to the ground, throwing Erik off of it. It was not dead, but it laid there, weakened. Now, Axe-Wielding Minotaurs and spear wielding satyrs began walking into the city. Erik ran over to Atticus. "Are you alright? Try to get the men together to face the beastmen."

"reform the line!" Atticus ordered and the bewildered men formed and closed ranks to meet the beastmen. The two forces collided together, body parts flying, men dying, pure chaos.

Erik rushed foward, swing his weapons like a madman. His enemies were cleaed to pieces. A satyr was met with an axe to the face. A minotaur was stabbed in the chest with a sword. Others were beheaded, others cut in half. Erik lived for battle. He knew it's ways well.

An axe clanged off his shield and he pierced the skin of the beast. The fighting was fierce.

OOC:heheh...time to show off some ninja skills.:cool:

IC: Kaz ducked behind the building as a stream of beastmen ran past. The shock of the bulls charge had thrown the greeks into disarray, but the greeks were no pushovers. Where possible they had reformed the phalanx presenting a solid wall of spears to the beastmen leaving great piles of dead satyrs and minotaurs at there feet. Yet still, they were being pushed back. The defenders in the gatehouse had been overrun almost immediately, between the bulls impact and the beastmens swift attack they had never had a chance. The great vats of boiling oil remained untouched awaiting a hand that would never come...a rare smile spread across Kaz's face. He dodged from cover to cover, shadow to shadow, heading deeper into the battle, heading for the gate which was now firmly in the beastmens hands, with streams of unholy warriors pouring through. He was nearly there when a pair of satyrs spotted him. They each raised wicked lookingaxes and charged towards him wailingthier strange battlecries. Kaz's Sais seemed to materialize in his hands as he met the charge. He ducked under the first Satyrs ax swing and stabbed him through the leaving the beast gasping on the ground. The otherenraged at his camrades demise came at him in a rage, Kaz dodged a few swings until the beast began to tire then moved in with uncanny speed and jammed his Sai through the beasts heart, killing it instantly. He was at the gate. Rather than bothering with the gatehouses stairs he quickly scaled the wall with his climbing claws. He found the vats of oil, still sittingon the fires and grabbed the lever stuck under the first one and pressed down on it with all his strength, the great vats were meant to be poured by no fewer than three men but he was all that was there. For a moment nothing happened, then slowly it began to tip. With the agonized screams of the beastmen urging him on he moved to the next vat.

By the time the third vat went he heard thebeastmen climbing up the towers and knew his time was up. Looking out over streets below heknew that, satisfying as they may have been his efforts had not been enough. The beast men had pressed the attack on the phalanx's right flank and it was about to turn. What's more, the wounded bull was rejoining the fray. If he didn't do something to take the pressure off it was over.

He gathered all his concentration all his power. He had only managed this feat once in training,and it was not easy. It was among the more powerful of ninja magics. Speaking the words of power his form multiplied till four of him stood atop the gate, these shadows of himself could do no physical harm but the beasts below didn't know that. He lept form the gatehouse even as the beastmen reached the top, as he landed he rolled to absorb the shock, the walls were quite high, and came up fighting, the shadows landing with him, directed by his will. The beastmen were cought off gaurd, and many turned to face this new threat, most going for his convincing doubles. The ruse wouldn't foll them long, and he couldn't maintain it that long either but he had to give the greeeks some breathing room, even if it killed him, because if they lost, he'd be dead anyway.

OOC: wow...thats long. Sorry. I figured Kaz owed you guys for pulling his ass out of the fire so many times.

Atallah had watched calmly as the enemy had entered the city, but now he was believing it to be out of hand. He eyed a few centaurs that were in the city. Cupping his hands, a green ball of energy grew in his hands. He hurled it at the three centaurs, who didn't see it coming.

Their flesh burned off their bones, falling to the ground with a thick gushy sound. The three saluted Atallah. He cast out his hands, and one of the centaur's bone's were re-arranged to represent a chariot, which had attached to the other two bone centaurs.

Atallah climbed aboard the bone chariot, and raised his khopesh. "Charge!" he shouted, and he was raced into the fray on the chariot, swinging his sword with madness.

Suddenly Princess Dana comes seemingly out of nowhere riding her dire tiger into the mist of the fray. Her swords and the cats claws cutting & ripping up every enemy within their considerable reach. Because of the great cats amazing speed the two where able to dart from one enemy to the other.

Keltoi had been preparing his spell for the last ten minutes. Upon seeing the bull charging he had started casting. Through the ratling of the building he had kept his balance on the gate and had kept out of the way. Now, finally, he was ready. Screaming to his god Lugh, he leapt the 10 metres from the top of the gatehouse, and landed in the middle of the advancing army, bolts of lightning firing in every direction from his body. At least 20 were fried to death, and the ones that survived were dazed long enough to be sliced by Keltoi's sword. If that wasn't enough, the oil under the nearby gatehouse burst into flame, killing or wounding 15 more. The gate was also temporarily blocked, giving the greeks time to reform. However, Keltoi was isolated and the beastmen were reforming. He was in trouble.

OOC:Wow...rock on. Between the two of us we might have actually made a difference. Kudos for us. "We've got enemy to the front of us, enemy to left of us, enemy to back of us, and enemy right of us, they're not getting away this time!"

IC: The last of doubles faded as his concentration faltered. There were simply too many opponents to keep track of. He couldn't fight them all. He was contemplating escape routes when a bright light temporarily blinded him. It was a spell from another warrior leaping from the wall. And I thought I was crazy? The warrior landed in amongst the beastmen and assaulted them with fury like Kaz had never seen before. But his position was just as doomed as Kaz's. Then let us be doomed together! Kaz thought, as he made his way through the beastman ranks toward the other warrior.


OOC: It may be time to get the hell out of dodge...just a thought.

Atticus cut his way to keltoi. The Macedonians held their ground, casualties were high. The fighting was fierce "I hope you are well" Atticus shouted as he slit the throat of another fore.

By the time Kaz reached the other warrior another had joined him, "We should get back to the others!" Kaz shouted to them over the din of battle.

"And how do you propose to do that? Dive through the inferno under the gate?" A tight unit of spear wielding satyrs were now moving towards the three warriors. "Let us go to our gods, that's a way out." Keltoi charged forward straight at the satyrs, leading the way with a fireball.

From the corner of her eye Princess Dana saw first one man jump from the gatehouse into the middle of a large group of beastmen. Soon he was followed by another man and the two did well for a while but now they were in trouble and in need of assistance. Using her mental link with her tiger she urged Babri to the gatehouse. In three long high bounds they landed on top of the gatehouse. Then as they leaped from the gatehouse into the fight below she fired ten rapid fire arrows into the group of beastmen who all dropped dead as the arrows impact and explosion blew there heads right off their shoulders. They then landed on the group blocking the gate the weight of her dire mount crushed a half dozen more. In the mean time she had changed back to her swords and was cutting throats on both sides of her as her swords deadly dance continued. The dire tiger aiding her master by the use of huge teeth and claws. In this way they opened a hole in the beastmen near the gate giving the trapped men an avenue of escape.

OOC: Reread the posts, we're not surrounded by beastmen, they're just in front of us and with have a large fire at our backs.

OCC: Your Welcome ... Sounds like your surrounded to me and that the gate is blocked.

There were simply too many opponents to keep track of. He couldn't fight them all. He was contemplating escape routes when a bright light temporarily blinded him.

" The gate was also temporarily blocked, giving the greeks time to reform. However, Keltoi was isolated and the beastmen were reforming. He was in trouble. "

"We've got enemy to the front of us, enemy to left of us, enemy to back of us, and enemy right of us, they're not getting away this time!"

OOC: Yeah, we were pretty well screwed...many thanks Princess.

IC: "Let us go to our gods, that's a way out." the warrior shouted and then charged off for the gate. Kaz smiled, Why not? He readied his Sai's and ran after him, resigned to whatever fate awaited him. They were about to reach the first of the satyrs when the great tiger landed amongst the beastmen, rider and mount laying waste to their startled ranks. Not waiting to question this turn of events Kaz made for the breach as fast as he could. Two beastmen blocked his path, one thrust its spear, which kaz parried with a Sai, the other swung an axe at his legs. Kaz jumped straght up the blade passing harmlessly beneath him, the satyr, having over committed to the swing, spun and fell. Kaz landed just as the other satyr thrust his spear. Kaz dropped his Sais in a cross-down parry sending the spear into the ground, and brought a leg up and kicked the beast in the face, sending it reeling back. Seizing the initiative he ran to the satyr and knocked the spear from its grasp, then drove his Sais into it's chest one striking the heart killing it instantly. He felt the blow coming and dropped low, barely evading the first satyrs axe. Twisting as he dropped he thrust the Sais up into the creature's belly, spilling it's intestines on the ground, he left it to die and ran for the gate. He leapt over the flames and back into the embattled streets...

OOC: heheh, pretty good huh?

OOC: Yeah, we were pretty well screwed...many thanks Princess.

IC: "Let us go to our gods, that's a way out." the warrior shouted and then charged off for the gate. Kaz smiled, Why not? He readied his Sai's and ran after him, resigned to whatever fate awaited him. They were about to reach the first of the satyrs when the great tiger landed amongst the beastmen, rider and mount laying waste to their startled ranks. Not waiting to question this turn of events Kaz made for the breach as fast as he could. Two beastmen blocked his path, one thrust its spear, which kaz parried with a Sai, the other swung an axe at his legs. Kaz jumped straght up the blade passing harmlessly beneath him, the satyr, having over committed to the swing, spun and fell. Kaz landed just as the other satyr thrust his spear. Kaz dropped his Sais in a cross-down parry sending the spear into the ground, and brought a leg up and kicked the beast in the face, sending it reeling back. Seizing the initiative he ran to the satyr and knocked the spear from its grasp, then drove his Sais into it's chest one striking the heart killing it instantly. He felt the blow coming and dropped low, barely evading the first satyrs axe. Twisting as he dropped he thrust the Sais up into the creature's belly, spilling it's intestines on the ground, he left it to die and ran for the gate. He leapt over the flames and back into the embattled streets...

OOC: heheh, pretty good huh?

OCC: You are very welcome, we are a team and as such we have the duty to work together and protect each others back. Finally I think you did a wonderful job tying it all together in your post.


http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?invocationType=topsearchbox.webhome&query=persian+Gods


http://home.cfl.rr.com/crossland/AncientCivilizations/Middle_East_Civilizations/Persians/persians.html

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Babri - Dire Tiger

Dire tigers grow to be over 12 feet long and can weigh up to 6,000 pounds.

Babri: Male abyssal dire tiger; CR 12; Huge magical beast; HD 16d8+48
; hp 120; Init +2; Spd 60 ft.; AC 20, touch 10, flat-footed 8; Atk +18 melee (2d4+8, 2 claws) and +13 melee (2d6+4, bite); Face/Reach 10 ft. by 30 ft./10 ft.; SA improved grab, pounce, rake 2d4+4, smite good; SQ cold resistance 20, darkvision 60 ft., DR 10/+3, fire resistance 20, low-light vision, scent, SR 25; AL NE; SV Fort +13, Ref +12, Will +11; Str 27, Dex 15, Con 17, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10.

Skills and Feats: Hide +0 (or +4 in areas of tall grass or undergrowth), Jump +11, Listen +3, Move Silently +9, Spot +3, Swim +11.

Improved Grab (Ex): If Babri hits a Large or smaller opponent with a bite attack, he deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity grapple bonus +28). If he hits with his bite, he can also rake with his hind legs in the same round. Once he has a hold, Babri has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use his jaws to hold the opponent (-20 penalty on the grapple check, but Babri is not considered grappled) In either case, each successful grapple check he makes during successive rounds automatically deals bite damage. To use this ability, a dire tiger must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can rake.


Pounce (Ex): If Babri leaps upon a foe during the first round of combat, he can make a full attack even though he has already moved.
Pounce (Ex): If a dire tiger charges, it can make a full attack, including two rake attacks.

Rake (Ex): Babri can make two rake attacks (+18 melee) against a held creature with his hind legs for 2d4+4 points of damage each. If he pounces on an opponent, he can also rake.

Smite Good (Su): Once per day, Babri can make a normal attack to deal +16 points of additional damage against a good foe.

Scent (Ex): Babri can detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense

Dire tigers prey on just about anything that moves. They will patiently stalk a potential meal, striking whenever the creature lets down its guard.

Skills: Dire tigers have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks. *In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, the Hide bonus improves to +8.

The beastmen army had taken massive casualties. The army turned and retreated. The warriors charged after them, quickly getting close enough to stab them with their spears. Erik roared vicously in a battle induced rage. He cut through whole ranks of monsters. The eleven warriors, combined with the might of the warriors crushed the army of beastmen. None were left living. After the battle, the king congratulated them. "Atticus and his companions, I can not thank you enough for aiding in the defense of Pella. Atticus, you are the greatest hero this land has ever known. And as for the rest of you, you are all honorable generals in Pella's army. Shuld you ever need anything, come here."

Atticus knelt before the king, tired and battered. he removed his helmet and responded "My lord, it is my honor and duty to serve you and Pella"

As the king and the warriors talked, a voice was heard by all. "It is I Zeus. Congratulations mortals. You have done well. Atticus, go to were the Creatan Bull now lies dead. There you will find a door beneath the building it crushed. nEnter in that door, and I will address you personally there. No one else can go with you."

Atticus rose to his feet and walked to where the bull lay and entered the door "Zeus, what is it you want of me, your humble servant?" he asked

"Atticus, you have done well. You will have to leave the city of Pella for a long time. You must continue with the warriors to the city of Sparta. If you are ready, walk foward. On the pedastal in front of you, you will find the half moon sword of chilles himself. Take it,and use it against the evil ones."

Atticus hesitated at first. The sword of Achilles lay before him. Achilles was the greatest warrior in all the world. He slowly walked up to it and his hands grasped the handle. he raised it high and proclaimed "With this sword, I shall bring down the darkness that creeps over these lands"

"Excellent Atticus. Go and tell the warriors to prepare for the trip to Sparta. There another artifact will be found. But beware, for Kronos and the others have found out about your steength, and will try to stop you."

"Yes great Zeus" Atticus replied. he held the sword and emerged infront of the other warriors. "Comrades, we have been charged by Zeus to travel to the city of Sparta. There we shall find the other artifact" he said.

ooc: Sorry for my absence, had forgotten about this one for a bit lol. I'll try to pop in

Nikostratos had been silent the entire battle. In fact, he kept to the shadows, out of sight of the others. He still had not trusted them, and believed them unworthy of his skills. Yet, watching them fight and defeat the beastmen gave the impression that they were indeed powerful warriors...

Nikostratos came out of the shadows as he heard his hometown spoken by the one known as Atticus. "Sparta is my home, warrior. If something is wrong there, we must leave immediately," he spoke suddenly, a hint of concern in his voice.

Erik grabbed his weapons. "I suggest that we get some food and drink while we're here, then we should get going." He was hungry, and battle always made him even more hungry.



Meanwhile...

"These mortals are quite competant." Kronos sat in hell with Loki and Set. 'Yes, perhaps it is time we take more action. Obviously the beastmen army wasn't intellegent enough to defeat them. Perhpas it is time to let Kratos out of hell." In a deep pit of artarus, a Spartan warrior, was chained to the walls, for eternity. He had commited errible atrocities against humanity that even Ares, the god of War was appalled by. Then, Loki appeared to him.
"Kratos, we have a job for you to do. Go to Sparta. When you get there, lay low. Then, you will see eleven warriors. Kill them, and you will recieve your freedom." Kratos was unchained. He grabbed his armor, and picked up his weapons, a serrated edged sword, and a massive spear that used to be a ship's mast. He was sent up to Sparta, and he walked into the city. He causually waited for the warriors to come.

Keltoi had been hit a few times in the battle, notably, a fierce cut in his arm. He now sat to the side healing his wounds. He was delighted when Erik proposed rest. If we have time, I will go gather herbs outside. He left and went to the woods near the town. He found an oak there, and climbed up it, not only to gather the miseltoe there, but mainly to find it's dryad.

"Welcome Keltoi. I witnessed your battle, you are brave, but you must learn to fight more with your allies. The girl with the tiger did save your life."

"I know, but I am used to fighting alone."

"Yes. You are a Druid, and proud of it."

"You, who are in touch with our gods, could you tell me, what role do they play in this fight?"

"None. This is not their affair. You know very well that they swore long ago not to be involved in the affairs of good and evil."

"So, should I be here?"

"You serve humans as well as the gods. You are doing your job."

"And the Tuatha?"

"We are well protected."

A branch suddenly moved, pushing Keltoi out of the tree. He spent another half hour gathering different herbs, before going to rejoin his companions.

OOC Sorry guys but I can't be in this RP for a while. I am unpacking stuff now that I am back home. Ill be on laater this week.

Atallah stepped from his blood-covered bone chariot, just as the bones crumbed to the ground. He wiped is khopesh free of blood on a fallen man's clothes. It had been an interesting fight as he had chased down centaurs and other beast creatures, carving them to pieces.

Now that the fight was over, he agreed with the nord; it was time for some food and a bath.

OOC: Time for a little R&R

IC:That night, the King of Pella had prepared a great banquet in the Eleven's honor. The banquet hall was full of people, the tables spread with all manner of strange foods and drink. Kaz hated parties. He utilized every ninja technique he knew to avoid notice, but in the end he resorted to scowling malevolently at anyone who came too close. He just wanted to be on the road again, following his chosen path. He reflected on the past day, the battle, and how he had nearly met his end amonst the beatman ranks. Death didn't bother him, it was simply the way of things. He could think of few better ways to die than in glorious battle. But he hadn't died. Someone had saved him, again. Someone always saved him. It's happening again, he thought, It's only a matter of time.

OOC: Yeah, he has issues.

Erik relaxed. He ate and drank. Then he walked over to Keltoi. "You were wounded a little while ago, weren't you? It seemd to have healed a lot."

After having called upon the Goddess Dena; Daughter of Ahura Mazda for healing for herself and Babri for the wounds they recieved fighting the beastmen hordes Princess Dana told Babri to go hunt while she attended the party.

Nikostratos watched the others with suspicion. He has lightened up on them, but he will still remain on guard as he ate his food quietly.

Erik had eaten his fill. "I suggest we get moving to Sparta. Does anyone know the way?"

"I do, warrior," said Nikostratos suddenly. "That is my home..."

"Well, we have a guide. We should get moving soon. Everyone, get ready. We must get there before something bad befalls the city."

Keltoi was ready quickly, well replenished and ready for the road.

OOC: Does anything happen along the way or do we skip to Sparta?

Atallah finished ripping chicken meat from the bone. The bath he received earlier had been nice, and now he was just about full. He sipped the wine and then cleaned himself up.

He made sure to pack some bread and cheese, along with some meat, for the road.

"There then. Like the winds, we must flow. To Sparta."

The group set out to Sparta. It was a relatively short trip. Once they got there, they were allowed to enter the city. It was a brutally tough city, famed for it's mighty warriors. Little id the group know that Kratos, a mighty warior whose cruelty sickened even Ares, the god of War, was watching them, waitng for the moment to strike.

Babri arrived back from his hunting trip just as they where leaving for Sparta. The Princess loaded her supplies in her backpack, mounted Babri
and left with the group. During their trip to Sparta she readied her spells
and equipment and went over possible places of attack between the two cities with Babri through their mental link. She had a bad feeling about this
leg of their quest and she was determined to be as ready was humanly possible. In her gut she new that Loki was very much involved in what would
happen in Sparta and she wanted some payback.



[ OCC: It's 9:20 am here I will be available after 5 or 6 pm ]

Nikostratos smiled as he entered his hometown after so long...

"It feels good to be home again... It's a shame you others have not witnessed Sparta when I return from a glorius battle, victorious as I always am. The people line up around the streets cheering and roaring in my victory as rose petals fall from the buildings..."

"If you all stay close to me, perhaps you won't be taken as weaklings from the criminals, or some other soldier looking for a fight," he said with a cocky smile on his face.

As the group entered Sparta, Kratos had been watching them for a while. He held jis serrated sword in one hand, and had his massive spear on his back. He waited until the group was in an isolated area and he made himslef present. "Halt. You have come to your deaths. Loki has released me from my hell, and all I have to do is kill you and be free. So who wants to die first?"

OOC- Bump

OOC- Bump

OOC- bump come on people, post

Keltoi moved around the back and started casting his magic. Only one opponent. No problem. Or so he thought.

As Keltoi began casting spells, Kratos struck, he rushed fowrad and slammed into Keltoi with all his might. As he prepared to stab him, Erik slammed his axe into Kratos' side. Kratos was knocked off, but quickly got up and swung his blad earound. He smacked Erik's sword out of his hand, and managed to get his axe stuck in a wall. Kratos looked around. "These two will die after the battle. Now, who is next?"

OOC- I won't let this thread die. Come on everyone, just post.

ooc: LoL *poof* your wish is my command! I don't know how many more posts I'm gonna make today, however :(

Nikostratos chuckled as the magician was hit by the warrior. "I told you...stay close to me and you wouldn't get hurt..."

As Kratos struck Erik, taking his blades out of his hands, Nikostratos walked forward.

"Kratos...I had only thought you a legend. Yet here you are before me...I must say I expected better," Nikostratos taunted as he readied his spear. He'll attempt to keep Kratos at a distance, to minimize the warrior's ability to strike with his shorter ranged sword.

"A legend, hmmm? Well prepare to feel the true wrath of a Spartan." Kratos saw Nikostratos draw his spear, so he drew his. His spear was a ship's mast, cut down a bit to make it wieldable, but still massive compared to other spears. Kratos swung it around with ease, and prepared for a fight.

As Kratos smacked Erik's sword out of his hand Princess Dana cast "EYEBITE " ( Target becomes panicked, sickened and comatose ) one of her most powerful bard spells. Right after the spell slams into Kratos, Babri body slams Kratos from behind clawing and biting his back for all he's worth. Simutaneously the Princess begins attacking Kratos with poison arrows from in front.

There goes my strategy... thought Nikostratos as he looked at the massive spear of Kratos. Not even Nikostratos' sheild would be able to block something that large effectively.

Nikostratos realized that the width of the spear was wide enough for someone like him to walk across it, barely, yet still possible. That gave him some ideas as he waited for the warrior to charge. "Come, Kratos, your oversized toothpick shows how weak you truly are, hiding behind such a weapon..."

Kratos was barely effected by the woman's spell. He turned to her. "I have been through hell and back. Your spell barely harms me." However, it did iratate him, and he decided to attack. He swung his spear, using it more as an oversized club, to fight Nikostratos.

Kratos was barely effected by the woman's spell. He turned to her. "I have been through hell and back. Your spell barely harms me." However, it did iratate him, and he decided to attack. He swung his spear, using it more as an oversized club, to fight Nikostratos.

OCC: The spell was meant as a distraction. You also have to answer to my
poison arrows and a 6000 lb Tiger on your back tearing your flesh from your bones.

Atallah chuckled at Krakos. Hell hadn't been all that bad, despite the resurrected warrior's cocky words. While Atallah didn't stay nearly as long as the Spartan, he knew that the terrors of Hell were something he might grow to command.

He pulled loose his khopesh and called out, "Hell wasn't so bad, you impotent Spartan!" In Atallah's eyes, a green glow began to grow. He was calling the souls to aid in the dance. With a jump, he bounded towards Krakos from the side, knowing that he would reach the Spartan before he could turn his spear. He whirled, slashing down toward the grip on the spear, determined on ending Krakos' advantage.

Kratos spun around, but was slashed by the khopesh. He smashed the warrior away with his shield, and then blocked the arrows the woman shot. But then, a massive tiger smashed into him. He was bit multiple times, but he began to push it away. He finally stood up, and got the tiger in a headlock. As it clawed at him, he punched it in the face multiple times, finally knocking it out. Then he grabbed his sword and ran to fight the Egyptian.

Nikostratos smiled as his allies took the attention from the large spartan. Bad move he thought as he threw his spear at Kratos, pulling out his sword to deal what remained of the warrior.

The spear hit Kratos in the arm. He roared in anger. He spun around and grabbed the Norseman's sword. Now he had two. He continued to attack the Necromancer, and waited for the Spartan to come, when he would fight them both.

"You've lost your touch, Kratos. I don't think you should even call yourself a spartan," Nikostratos taunted as he crouched, within striking distance of Kratos. His shield held up high as Nikostratos thrust his sword at the big spartan.

To the other Spartan's remark, Kratos spunn around with both swords and slashed away. "Your right. I'm not a Spartan. I'm a god. And I'm immortal. Your attacks don't even phase me. Now, I'm going to kill you. Then Loki will reward me with the entirety of Greece."

OOC- Note, he is not really a god. He is just cocky.

ooc: Hey, if I was powerful enough to have worried gods, I would be cocky too. I may even consider myself a 'go' ;)

"We'll see how imortal you are!" growled Nikostratos as he let his sheild take the blows. Nikostratos deflected another blow with his own sword. I need to find a weakness in him... he thought as he struggled to keep up with the powerful man.

Kratos could sensed that his enemy was getting weaker. "Come on now! Is that all you got? You call yourself a Spartan?"

Kratos spun around, but was slashed by the khopesh. He smashed the warrior away with his shield, and then blocked the arrows the woman shot. But then, a massive tiger smashed into him. He was bit multiple times, but he began to push it away. He finally stood up, and got the tiger in a headlock. As it clawed at him, he punched it in the face multiple times, finally knocking it out. Then he grabbed his sword and ran to fight the Egyptian.


OCC: Sorry but you can't say what your attacks did to my tiger


ICC: Babri went limp on purpose when Kratos got him into the headlock then
when the man turned his back on him thinking him unconscious Babri silently
retreats to find the Princess.

OCC: Sorry but you can't say what your attacks did to my tiger

OOC-I just hit it a couple times, and it was dizzy. You can still have it attack. By the way, a 6000 lb tiger is a three ton tiger, almost as heavy as an elephant. I think 600-1000 lbs is more accurate.

OOC-I just hit it a couple times, and it was dizzy. You can still have it attack. By the way, a 6000 lb tiger is a three ton tiger, almost as heavy as an elephant. I think 600-1000 lbs is more accurate.

OCC: It's not just a Tiger it is a DIRE Tiger. Dire animals are huge versions of otherwise normal animals.

OCC: It's not just a Tiger it is a DIRE Tiger. Dire animals are huge versions of otherwise normal animals.

OOC: Yeah, haven't you ever played D&D :P Oh, sorry by the way for not posting again sooner. Told you I was busy:P

Atallah slowly fell back from the Spartan's block. He carefully blocked attacks from the Spartan with his khopesh. Swing. Slash. Block. Slash. Block. Swing. Slash. Block. This foe was tough indeed. Suddenly, the Spartan managed to disarm Atallah, his khopesh fell through the air and slide a bit away. Luckily, at that very moment, the Spartan's attention was momentarily taken away from him.

It was however, not long enough to grab his sword. When the Spartan came away, Atallah felt somewhat defenseless. He ducked and dodged, narrowly missing the sword swinging at him. Out of nowhere, the Spartan's sword came straight down toward him. Without thinking, he blocked it with his hand.

"Yaagh!" Atallah looked at his hand. It was gashed open, blood flowing down. With a grunt, he hurled off his black robes, revealing his leanly muscular body. A white ornate loincloth with jewels and Egyptian markings covered his lower 'body'. A determined glint of energy appeared in Atallah's eyes as the black cloak fell to the ground.

"Okay then. Now its time to go," said Atallah. He was ready to bring it.

OOC:

BUMP

C'mon guys, lets keep this going.

Kratos was surronded by warriors, sao he grabbed his spear. He swung it around, trying to keep them at bay. They were fierce, but he had fought tougher foes.

OOC: Alright, poor Kaz is about to get hurt again...

IC: Kratos called himself a god...Kaz was inclined to agree with him. He watched the Spartan fend off their entire group with his spear, and knew he had to act. He ran into the fray, ducking under the Spartans spear and slashed at his belly with his Sais. The Spartan hopped back, evading the attack. Kratos struck out with his spear, Kaz jumped to the left to avoid the blow, and in one dropped his Sais and flung his hands at the Spartans face. A burst of white powder shot from his sleaves and into Kratos's eyes. With a yelp of surprise he stumbled back, wiping at his eyes with one hand, attempyting to rid them of the burning powder. Kaz took his chance and retreiving his Sais, he ran around behind the Spartan and dropped low, striking at the back of his ankle, slicing cleanly through the tendons there. Kratos nearly dropped to one knee as his foot gave out, but managed to stay on his feet. Kaz leapt on his back and stabbed into him with his Sais. Kratos reached back with a large hand and found him after a moment, grasping Kaz by the head he flung him into a nearby wall. His vision darkening, Kaz looked up and saw Kratos, still wiping at his eyes, limping on one leg, and swinging his spear wildly about, the others others closing in around him. Like a wounded animal,Kaz thought as consciousness left him.

OCC: Here is a number of web pages on Sparta, Greece. I thought it might help us with writting posts.

http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search?fr=trvl-end-link&p=sparta%20greece

This web page is a map of the area our characters are traveling in.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Sparta_territory.jpg

Wikipedia / Sparta:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta

Dana didn't care that Kratos was calling himself a god. A god could have killed them all with a whispered word and yet they all still lived. That was all the proof she needed to believe him to be something other than a God.
Well Babri let's see how this so called God handles this attack said Dana as she cast another spell ... " SUMMON MONSTER VI " ( Calls an extraplanar creature to fight for you ) .... seconds later a Astral Stalker appears near Kratos and hits him with a huge clawed hand.

Astral Stalker

http://usera.imagecave.com/Kormanthor/AS3.bmp.jpg

The huge beast smashed Kratos away. He looked up at it, and looked at the woman who had summoned it. He took his spear and thrust it foward, right into the beast's torso.

bump

As Kratos was distracted by the strange beast, Nikostratos ran behind Kratos and thrust it at Kratos, aiming for the killing blow.

"I'll show you who's the real spartan!" he growled as the blade was mere cintemeters away from it's target.

Kratos heard the other spartan roar. Then he felt the blade enter his chest. He couldn't believe it. He looked down. His blood was spilt. He hit the ground.

Once again, Zeus sent them a message. "Nikostratos, you have done well. Go to the house where you were born. There you will find a massive pot. Smash it, and inside, you will find the Club of Heracles."

"Let the best spartan win," Nikostratos sneered as he watched the formidable opponent fall to the ground.

Nikostratos turned to the others and put his hands to his hips. "That is how a real warrior fights," he boasted before grabbing his weapons and cleaning them off, anxious to get to his home for the club.

The huge beast smashed Kratos away. He looked up at it, and looked at the woman who had summoned it. He took his spear and thrust it foward, right into the beast's torso.



Using his great agility and speed the Astral Stalker sidesteps Kratos' spear
without being touched. And watches with laughter in his eyes as the Kratos
is stabbed by another warrior.

OCC: Come on guys ....don't stop now

Nikostratos turned his attention to Dana. "A real warrior has no need for panthers and summons to win in battle," he sneered with a cocky grin.

"Come, I must see the reward I was promised..."

Nikostratos turned his attention to Dana. "A real warrior has no need for panthers and summons to win in battle," he sneered with a cocky grin.

"Come, I must see the reward I was promised..."



Yes you are right Nikostratos, a real warrior sneak attacks his enemy while I have his attention. Wish I would have thought of that, said the Princess.

"Well, that's Kratos' fault. If he realized who the true threat was, he wouldn't have ignored me," Nikostratos replied.

" Regardless of who the true threat is we are still a team. Each of us has a role to play, someone draws them out and gets their attention then someone else can attack unhindered. Works where I come from. I do not require the glory for the deed. I only look for positive results, answered the Princess ".

"I suppose that works...but that is why where ever you come from is not recognized for it's military genius..." chuckled the Spartan as he began to walk towards his home.

"I suppose that works...but that is why where ever you come from is not recognized for it's military genius..." chuckled the Spartan as he began to walk towards his home.


.


" I am from Persia ... the Persian military includes instruction on many points, such as tactics, ambushes, and camp fortifications. Standard deployment for large armies was advised to be in five parts: a main battle line, a reinforcing line, a small reserve (the Immortals, elite cavalry), and two cavalry wings. Another tactic saw the cavalry forming a front line while the army advanced, only to retire to the wings and thus surprising with infantry an enemy who had expected to face mounted troops. But since I don't have an army I am using modified tactics ". replies the Princess just as Babri arrived.

"And for some reason...two hundred spartans comes to mind," Nikostratos chuckled as he turned another corner.

Well gotta go, said Princess Dana as she mounted Babri. We have some things to do but we will know if we are needed by the group. Then turning her attention to the ride she and babri rode out of the city gate.