NationStates Jolt Archive

Fantasy World 3 / Return from the Darkness Beyond / IC Thread


http://usera.imagecave.com/Kormanthor/FantasyWorld2a.GIF


A Fantasy World is a type of imaginary world, part of a fictional universe used in fantasy novels and games. Typical worlds involve magic or magical abilities and usually a medieval theme. Some worlds may be a parallel realm or dimension tenuously connected to Earth via mystic gates or the world may have no reference to Earth at all.
Despite the use of magic or other fantastic elements such as dragons, the world is normally presented as one that would function normally, one in which people could actually live, making economic, historical, and ecological sense
Dungeons & Dragons, the first role-playing game, has created several detailed and commercially successful fantasy worlds (called "campaign settings"), with established and recognizable characters, locations, histories, and sociologies. The Forgotten Realms is perhaps the most extensively developed of these worlds. These elements of detail can be a large part of what attracts people to RPGs.( Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia )

I Believe Fantasy and Science Fiction are both great genres. They let the author and reader explore strange worlds and endless possibilities. Cultures, relationships and science can be pushed to their limits to find out what things could have been like if the laws of nature were different. This world will be a mixture of both, it is a story of mankind nearly destroyed by destruction from the skies … ie … A Massive meteor broken into smaller metorites penetrate the atmosphere to pummel into the helpless world, triggering massive earthquakes, tidal-waves and storms beyond human comprehension, all reshaping the world. Mistaken for an attack, defensive systems of various nations were triggered. Their neighbors responded, adding more chaos and destruction to rain down from the sky. Some of these missiles are shotdown by orbiting weapons facilities. So not as much dust and smoke fill the skies, partially hiding the sun as the world shudders. High above in orbit one of the few remnants of post modern civilization remains in operational condition, but is cut off from the rest of the world at this time. The second is a secret underground government base where there is technology that can enable
someone to reach the space station in orbit. Like wise a new type of power has been born from this tragedy, magic has been returned to the world of men. Like humanoid phoenixes the survivors rise up from the ashes of the catastrophe, a new generation of people find themselves in a world they no longer recognize. Ravaged by an unbelievable disaster, the few that survived awaken in the ruins that was once there civilization. Scarred is the human race, but for how long? Are we sentenced to live in the rubble of this great tragedy? Only time will tell.

OK now if you are interested in becoming a member of this new World or Earth you will need to make a description of your character/s and there surroundings. I will play numerous NPC Characters that may be found anywhere on, under or above the planet surface. My main characters home is in the valley located in the center of the mountains of the large land mass. I call this valley, the Valley of Kormanthor. Within it is a large plain with a slightly smaller forrest at it's center. This is Kormanthor Forrest, at the center of this forrest is the City of Myth Essembra. As the Author of this new Earth, I claim control of it, you by joining agree to this.

Please sign up on our OCC Sign Up Thread before posting here

http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=560540&highlight=Kormanthor

The Main NPC Characters of Kormanthor Forrest & Myth Essembra

1. Princess Nava Amastacia - Human Mutant Amazon Warrior
http://usera.imagecave.com/Kormanthor/Earth349/princess%20nava.jpg
2. Aust Amakiir ( Also Known as the Ghost )-Male Winged Elf / Sorcerer & Rogue.
2b Nahlrie Driiquar Amakiir - Female Winged Elf / Sorceress, Wife of Aust & Mother of Cassae.
2c Cassae Driiquar- Female Winged Elf / Sorceress / Magic School Instructor.
http://usera.imagecave.com/Kormanthor/Earth349/avariel.jpg
2d Qwia Amakiir - Female Sun Elf / Epic Level Sorceress that owns the Magic Shop and school in Myth Essembra.
3. Andúnë Carnesîr / Warrior; Mount: Gold Dragon
4. Garret Thomage - Male Ghostwise Halfling Ranger; Mount: Nightglider
5. Soveliss Nailo - Male Dwarf Rogue
6. Qilaqui Meliamne - Female Winged Elf / Wizardess /Seer
7. Gwenyth Netheri - Human Female / Master Sorceress / Avatar of the Goddess Mystra; Goddess of All Magic.
8. Woodland - Mutant Human Druid / Druid of Kormanthor Forrest
9. The Winged Riders ( Gold Dragons & Rocs ) Wing Cove
10. The Chosen ( Myth Essembra Security Force )
11. Vana Worthington -aka- Lady Cheeta
12. Amy Morningstar - Kormanthor Forest Fey Folk
13. Felica Thornbough - Wemic Fighter
14. Ielenia Xiloscient - Female Winged Elf / Sorceress & Spell Sword
15. Antinua Ilphukiir - Female Sun Elf / Cleric & Devine Agent
16. Thamior Meliamne - Strike Force Leader of the Chosen
17. Laucian Galanodel - High Level Strike Force Sorcerer
18. Verena MornBringer - High Level Monk & Archer
19. Thokk Shautha - High Level Satyr Archer
20. Rikka Thorngage - Female Winged Human / Mutant
21. Lia Liadon-Age:210/Physical Description: 5’4 130pnds/Eyes: brown
Hair: brown/Powers: Traveling Druid/Equipment: dragon hide leather armor, thundering quarter staff of life drinker, bag of tricks, cloak of arachnida, decanter of endless water, hat of disguised, mantle of spell resistance, druids vestment.
Bio: An elf that used to be a human that was transformed into an elven druid with a coming of magic.


The Main Characters the Space Station, Space ships, & Orbiting Weapons Platforms

1. Admiral Nicolle Chaffin
2. Charles Hicksonbaugh; Captain of the U.F.W Metheril
3. Captain Monte Farrar; Captain of the U.F.W Amastacia
4. General Randy Kline; Commander of the U.O.C.C. Chimaera / Lt. Jenkins
5. Captain Jack Meridian of the Jerle Nocolips


The Main Characters the Moon Base

1. Admiral Gwendilynne Shultz
2. Matthew Omequist


The Main Characters of Area 52 / Metheril Island


1. Senator Jessica Arrowood
2. Admiral Nate Arrowood
3. Representative Elizabeth Worthington
4. Governor Nikki Shultz
5. Allison Kuratola - Shadow Kat
6. Sheila Drexler - Civilian Administrator of Ocean City


Space Going Folk / Aliens


1. Cassie Amakiir- Long lost daughter of Qwia Amakiir who was accidentally transported to the Planet Seibe and transformed into a elven / siebling hybrid and raised by Seibling parents.
2. The Rael / High Tech humans that accidentally crash landed on Toril many years before the transit to this earth.


The Main Characters of Project Atlantis / Ocean City of the coast of Metheril Island

1. Kimberly Vallejo -aka- Lady Fish


The Oceantic Trench

1. Queen Sendenka ( Aquatrian ); Queen of the Ocean Depths
2. King Kensinka ( Aquatrian ); King of the Ocean Depths


The Magic of Myth Essembra


The Elven Armada, Man-O-War & Radiant Sky Ship's

http://www.spelljammer.org/npcs/ien/


Weapons and Spells

http://www.dndadventure.com/dnda_magic_items.html


Monsters Of Fantasy World

1. The Kloa -ti - Large HalfBlood Abomination; ( Author's Special )

Attacks: Poisoned Tail Barb, Claws and Bite; Body Wrap ( Most always fatal to humanoids ); Eye Rays: Charm Monster / Person, Disintegrate x 2,
Flesh to Stone.

Climate / Terrain: Dense Warm Forrest / Underground

Organization: Solitary, Pair, Gang ( 2-4 ), Troop ( 6 -13 )

Note: If you are travelling in Dense Warm Forrest or Underground Terrain and come across what seems to be statues of humanoids ... Beware!

2. Various Dragonkind: As in the DND Monster Manual I Corebook

3. The Dragconess: ( Author's Special ) , which sport a humanoid body, a dragons head, wings, tail, claws, and breath weapons.

4. The Roc: Large Birds that can be trained to carry riders; also found in one of the DND Monster Manual Corebooks.

5. The Wereula: A Wraith like being that changes the victims sex with her bite. ( Author's Special ) :eek:

***********************************

Character Creation Template


Name:
Age:
Physical Description:
Eyes:
Hair:
Powers:
Weaknesses:
Equipment:
Bio:
Location / Surroundings:

Note: This is a new beginning for the Fantasy World, it is twenty years later then where the remix left off and the Armegadethu & Tormatha have been defeated and a new improved space station orbits the world.


Fantasy World Three Members List:

Character / Country

1). Lee King / Lynion
2). Marvel & Metal Man / Marionetonia
3). " Mephista "... Leader of a merc group called " The Agency " / Balrogga
4). Ambassador Rechecht /[NS]Dastardly Stench
5). Adrian Meridian / Koramerica
6). Cierre Xilophukiir / Essembra

Lee sat down on the green grass hill as he over looked open plains. The wind was gently as he closed his eyes and felt his inner spirit depart from him. He opened his and turned to his left as the spirit smiled back at him.

"The last of the Guardians and we're feeling peace for once," smiled the spirit.

"Is everyone dead?" asked Lee as he turned to face the open plains.

"I can't sense anyone but us. I'm sorry Lee," replied the spirit.

Lee looked down as he watched a flock of birds head east for some reason which he couldn't find. He watched as he wondered what the blazes just happened.

Castle Essembra / Myth Essembra

Cassae Driiquar spread her wings to fly as she as she dived off the roof of her home in the Valley of Kormanthor and flew through the mythals magic field as she gained altitute. Cassae felt free with the wind blowing through her hair and under her wings. Starting her trip to the Stonehenge Academy of Magic, she power dived into the valley south of Myth Essembra pulling out of it just a few feet above the rocky fast flowing river beneath her. Looking down she could see the trout fighting to swim upstream to their spawning grounds and the bears that meant some would never make it. To either side of her, using her peripheral vision she could see the Great Rim Mountains of Kormanthor Valley rose into the morning sky as she rushed on. As she passed over the first of many small waterfalls she saw a number of bears fishing in the river below the falls. She then edged upward then began flapping her wings harder to gain the needed lift and continued south towards Eagles Peak in the southern tip of Kormanthor Valley where her Dire Eagle familiar nested. She thought of her students as she flew and hoped she would be an able teacher because alot of good wizards had been lost in the war.

"Thank you all," the Metal Man said. "The lesson is over. Go or stay; continue on your chosen paths or blaze new ones. You are free."

With those words, the meditation session ended. About ten students, all dressed in flowing robes of various colors, rose or stayed to continue their meditation. One, dressed in a dark robe, with a hood pulled completely over his head so that his features could not be seen, did not move at all. He merely continued to stare at the candle--this much could be seen by its reflection in his unblinking eyes--that glowed in the granite circle at the center of the dimly but comfortably lit room.

This one had been through a great many changes since his patron had come to know him. Once a happy-go-lucky bard with absolutely no strings attached, he had found a significant other and a people, who were now counting on him as a liaison between themselves and a world that was vastly different both from the one that they had left and the one that they had thought they were entering.

The aged cyborg, who looked like an obese man whose black hair was streaked with gray, walked placidly around the corner, to a communications console, and pressed a button. "Pete," he said, "how go your efforts to contact our friends in orbit?"

"Not well," replied a voice very much like his own. "I send a signal every time I catch them overhead, but nothing ever comes back."

"Perhaps we should go up there and pay them a visit."

"You sure? There's so much going on down here. We've never had so many students before, and the work load is just plain enormous."

"Yes--I've been meaning to speak with you about that. We need to start turning the classes over to the students now. The pattern is in place. They can start to take care of themselves. This would be an excellent opportunity to see how The Training works without us."

"Are you sure that's wise? Everything is still in the beginning phases. Everything about the community is new! Who knows how much they may need us to help keep the peace?"

The Metal Man smiled. "You've always been my sense of caution," he said. "You're right. We should stay a little longer."

"Good. I will keep trying to contact our friends, though."

"How long do you recommend?"

"I've no idea. Everything is so up in the air. These people are founding a whole new society. Everything has changed for them. It could take them years."

"And what of our friends upstairs? What if some dire circumstance has befallen them? What if they need us?"

"I know, I know," the computer replied.

After a moment's pause, the Metal Man continued, "I think we should give it another three to four weeks, and then see how things stand without us. Do you agree?"

"I...guess we'll have to play it by ear."

"Call it a preliminary time table, then."

"Sounds good to me," said the AI.

"Excellent," said the cyborg. He pushed a button, ending the conversation.

The robed figure had strode up silently behind him. Now, it reached out a clawed, red-skinned hand and touched the cyborg on the shoulder. "Forgive me," it said, "but I couldn't help overhearing your conversation."

"With your hearing," the Metal Man responded, "I'm not surprised." They began walking together down the hall.

"I just wanted you to know that, if there's anything that you think we're stopping you from doing--."

"Banish the thought," the cyborg replied. "To be blunt, I like it here. It's not often that I find myself in a situation that's this exciting without landing in the middle of a war."

The robed figure laughed a bit, and, shaking his head, caused his hood to drop. A face much like a man's, but with small horns and ruddy red skin, stared warmly at his friend. "I know," he said. "I still can't help but feel that, after all the centuries of strife, my kind won't be up to this. It's a miracle that we've gotten this far--and it looks as though we've got a chance to make it all work somehow. I keep waiting for someone to pinch me so that I'll wake up."

"You've got to be busy now that your wife is with child," the cyborg said.

"Yeah," his opposite number replied, "but it's a good kind of busy. You know, I didn't expect her to be as excited about this as she is."

They reached a door, and stepped into a lift. Touching a point on the side of the wall, with his prehensile tail, the creature--that could only be described as a turned demon--caused the lift to move.

"Serves to show what good people can accomplish together," the cyborg replied.

"I know, I know," the demon replied, "'good people find ways to turn bad into good.'"

"Something like that."

The lift stopped, and they began walking down the hall.

"It looks like the main library is going to be a little ahead of schedule," the demon volunteered.

"Well don't work yourselves until you drop--and don't let the workers go unpaid."

"Not my department, but I think we all know about that. I mean, don't get me wrong, there are turf wars and there are quarrels, but it's nothing like it used to be when everything was basically a free-for-all."

"Well, I'm glad that things are working out. Hope your new life doesn't keep you from getting enough sleep."

"Oh," the demon replied, a mischievous grin playing across his features, "the little missus and I find ways to sleep very well, thank you."

At the end of this hall, they entered a chamber marked "AIR LOCK." The outer door, however, was completely open, so they simply walked through, out into the town of Haven Cove, a short distance from Myth Essembra. Behind them stood the silver metal hull of what anyone who saw it would recognize as a flying saucer--except that it wasn't flying at the time. Over the door, one could see, in large letters, the words Brain Jar. The space ship had a name.

"Good," the Metal Man said, "then, in that case, I would be a fool to keep you from her."

"Thanks. I'll see you soon."

A pair of wings with a 10-meter span spread out from the demon's robes, and, in a moment, he had taken to the air. Having seen him off safely, the Metal Man turned and walked back into his home.

Bow
Uunto
Magical
Protagonists

Lee was wondering through the countryside as he came across what seemed to be a school from a small hill he was planted on. He studied the surroundings as he carefully ventured down from the hill and arrived at what seemed to be the gates.

"Odd place," whispered Lee to himself as he turned into a werewolf.

"Oh yeah?" said a crotchety old voice from somewhere in the hall in front of him. "Well you ain't seen the half of it. Come on in and let me show ya.

"Ain't never seen the likes of it b'fer. Ya know, this building is made out of granite, but it wasn't laid. No, sir, it was poured."

Qilaqui Meliamne was meditating in her private room in Stonehenge Academy. As seer it was one of her responsiblities to keep watch over the school and guard against attack. As she was using her power to watch the surrounding countryside she first saw a young man appear on the top of a nearby hill. At first she wasn't that concerned until the young man transformed into a werewolf near the schools front gate. Immediately she
awaked from the seer trance, sent a magical message to Qwia aboard her spelljammer and casted a teleport spell to a place high on the schools outer wall were she could speak to the new arrival without getting to close. Then in a load voice she said; Who are you and what are your intentions here!

Qwia Amakiir stood at the bow of her spelljammer as it floated high above Essembra looking at the beauty of the City and the surrounding countryside.
She had just returned from her snow castle in Quebec after a two day hunt for a rogue dragon that had been terrorizing the community and stealing valuables. As she looked over the countryside she recieved a message from
Qilaqui at Stonehenge Academy. Immediately she cast a teleport spell on the entire ship and immediately it appeared in the air just behind the vistor. She silently watched as Qilaqui asked her question and waited for the answer.

OOC: I hadda get myself involved in this. Sorry. Presumed that it was in Haven Cove. My bad.

Now...for my pennance...

IC:

An old, bearded demon stepped out through the doorway. Though his head was stooped, he still walked with the steady gait of a being of some strength. His ruddy, red, bat-like wings pulled tight against the back of a dark-colored turtleneck. A metal pendant that he wore around his neck marked him as a diplomatic attache. He walked with his arms folded behind his back, which made him look like a skinny, misshapen bird. His darting gaze and rather large, almost beakish nose only furthered the illusion.

"Now that's strange, Meliamne," he said in his high-pitched, raspy old voice, walking up behind her so that she was between the werewolf and himself, "I could've sworn that I just heard that young fella talk--but it doesn't seem like he's in any condition to right now, does it?"

----------

OOC: Introducing Ambassador Rechecht--and, if you know what's good for you, you won't call him "Ambassador Reject" to his face. :) :) :)

P.S. Write the word, Kor, and I'll delete both these posts as if they never existed.

Qilaqui looked at the demon and said, " He understands what I have said to him. He can either change back to speak to me or attack. Either way he will have communicated his intentions wouldn't you agree? By the way who might you be and what are your intentions here?

OOC: The ambassador is a Modified Red Gargoyle Demon, like Marvel from a few posts back (and the last incarnation of this thread). But he's a little different from Marvel, too...

------------------

IC:

If you're willing to just let it strike you down, the demon replied, also telepathically, then by all means don't let me stop you. I might be Rechecht of Haven Cove, and I might be here to establish good ol' peaceful relations between your people and mine--if you and your people are amenable. Then again, I might just be something that the, he looked good and hard at the werewolf, dog dragged in. No counting for taste these days.

Dastardly Stench;13852735']

If you're willing to just let it strike you down, the demon replied, also telepathically, then by all means don't let me stop you.


Qilaqui smiled and said, " He can not harm me I have magical protections that he could not breach even if he wanted too. Besides this is a school of magic and I am not it's only protector. "

Dastardly Stench;13852735']
I might be Rechecht of Haven Cove, and I might be here to establish good ol' peaceful relations between your people and mine--if you and your people are amenable. Then again, I might just be something that the,[/i] he looked good and hard at the werewolf, dog dragged in. No counting for taste these days.

" Well Rechecht of Haven Cove if you are indeed here to establish peaceful relations between our peoples you are welcome by all means.

"Oh," Rechecht said, raising his brow at the amazon's defensiveness. "In that case, I'll just go back inside and mind my own business while you and your friend talk over old times."

He turned toward the door, though he never completely turned his back on either of them.

As Qilaqui was about to answer Rechecht she suddenly froze with a far away look in her eyes. In her mind she was seeing terrible images of a tribe of people being destroyed by an unknown force. Then as she was released from her vision she fell to her knees atop the wall trying to recover from what she had just witnessed.

And Rechecht just kept on walking right on in through the door. He saw her, but he decided that it was best for him to mind his own business, as he said he would.

Who are you and what are your intentions here!


Lee jumped aside as he listened to the voice for a moment.

"I'm Lee Kingston. I'm the last of the Guardians and I'm lost at the moment. I was hoping I could find out where I am at the moment and if you can point me to place for supplies," said Lee feeling stupid talking to nothing.

Because of Qilaqui being caught up in viewing a vision, Qwia Amakiir ( School Owner & high lvl sorceress ) decides to answer the last of the Guardians. As she starts to speak her ship becomes visible and she slowly floats down from it to the ground near Lee.

Hello Mr. Kingston I am Qwia and it is very nice to meet you! Welcome to my Magic School, which is located in the Kormanthor Forrest just south of Myth Essembra which is my hometown. Also I have many things aboard my airship in the way of supplies. Tell me Lee where do you come from and what happened to your people ... perhaps I can help.

Though out of sight, Rechecht was hardly absent. With hearing about as good as an average dog, he heard everything that passed between the three outside. He took a quick look outside and verified what he had heard.

So...the fool who calls himself 'The Metal Man' is not the only fool with a ship nearby, he thought, being sure that his anti-telepathy wards were set in place.

Lia Liadon in the guise of a phased tree spider sat on a leaf high in a tree near the entrance of the magic school where Qwia was trying to talk to a young werewolf. Twenty years ago she had come to Myth Essembra as an exile of her own people and had been welcomed with open arms. Now she helped Woodland keep watch over Kormanthor Forest. She had been just passing by when she spotted the group far below her. She had not seen a Red Gargoyle Demon for a very long time. The ones she had run into earlier in her life wasn't to be trusted for the most part so she decided to hang around for a while to see what would develop.

"I perfer to call myself Lee. I'm not sure what happened to my race. I only know some kind of an explosion killed them all. Since I'm the last of the Guardians, I'm travelling and trying to find a place where I can settle down," replied Lee as he drew out his two Hell Forged Longswords. "Spirit, if you had the power, why don't you show yourself?"

Seconds after hearing Lee's question Qwia drops her invisibility spell and becomes visible ten feet directly in front of him and says; " Lee I am not a spirit, I am the sorceress that owns this magic school. I am also on City Council of Myth Essembra and can assure you that we are always open to new Citizens. "

Elsewhere in a the main cavern of a network of tunnels & caverns miles beneath Kormanthor Forest Cierre Xilophukiir leader of the local Thieves Guild makes plans to gather more new magic and gold for the use the Guild.

Lee was stunned as he watched her carefully. His eyes checked for danger as he bought his swords to his front just incase the creature tried a trick on him.

"Hmmm...I've seen that kind of magic before," replied Lee. "Hmm...you're purposing I become part of Essembra? I cannot become a citizen because my Lynion side is what guide me to these places. Tell me, have any Lynion's fled here?"

From the shadows, Rechecht did not watch, but listened.

So...our old nemesis the Lynions have been vanquished. This could be...of interest to my superiors. Of course, I shall bargain for a...fitting reward.

A vampire had noticed the conversation at the gates and came over to them. He had the powers of the sand and could use sonic push powers. The vampire came over to the gate and noticed the werewolf.

"Lee?" questioned the vampire.

"Hey Vamp!" replied Lee as he came over.

Moments later Qilaqui mentally emerges from her vision of the destruction. She felt shaken by the events she had just magically witnessed. She suddenly felt very sorry for the young man they now knew as Lee. In the vision she had definately felt a great evil working it's will within the events that lead to the downfall of the Guardian civilization, but found herself unable trace the evil to it's roots. Because of this she decided that she needed to do some indepth study concerning this matter at her earliest convienence.

"Qwia! That's me," said Vamp as he climbed over the fence. "I'm that Lynion,"

"Vamp, are you aware of any survivours?" asked Lee as he came over to Vamp.

"There was a boat load of a few Guardians going north but I couldn't find them. They could be dead or they could alive but on the move," finished Vamp.

" Vamp I appoligize for not recognizing you, let me make it up to you by trying to find your friends." said Qwia with an embaressed look on her face.

This gets more interesting all the time, Rechecht thought. Perhaps I should volunteer to have a group of our people "help" them. Then again, perhaps not. If Marvel became aware of them, he could interfere with the subversion. Best to merely report this back to the...proper...authorities.

---------------------------------------------

"You know, Pete," the Metal Man said, "no matter how itchy I get to be here in space, once I get here, I can't help but be bored."

"Well," Pete said, "the view is still quite something."

The Metal Man looked down at the white swirls that punctuated the blue-and-green landscape of what was not coming to be called Fantasy World and couldn't help but smile. "Yes," he replied, "but even this view becomes immutably mundane after one has seen it a few dozen times."

"Speak for yourself," Pete said. "It's the only planet I've ever seen, and I still like it."

The Metal Man sighed. "I'm working on that," he said.

"Speaking of working, the signal window is now open. We can contact the orbiting military base any time...within the next two hours, twenty three seconds."

"Might as well get things going again."


Military Space Station, this is Brain Jar. Please come in. Over.

Two years ago:



The girl ran through the night. Her hair was a tangled mess with bits of refuse and dirt matted into it making her appear less than wholesome. The outward appearance was not important; those seeking her were only interested with what lay within. Behind her, the girl heard an eerie echoing baying like a hound but most certainly NOT anything she has ever seen. She knew THEY would be close behind the Trackers.

She turned a corner and sprinted down an alley; footsteps leaving behind ripples and splatters in the standing water of the alleyway. Overhead the heavy clouds hidden in the darkness of night rumbled their displeasure. Distant flashes of lightning announced the imminent storm. Rubbish lined the alley but she knew there would be no sanctuary to be found within; she had to find sanctified ground.

A bleary-eyed drunk watched as the waif blew by him. He tried to stand, calling out to the childe but he lost his balance and sprawled in the center of the alley. He tried to sit up and then he looked in the direction the girl had came from and stared in disbelief. Great splatters flew from the puddles heading toward him but there was nothing there to make them. He watched as they drew closer, his brain numbed by too much drink until something unseen hit him and hit him hard. With a strained cry, he was smashed and torn in half by the Nothingness. An eerie baying drifted through the air falling upon deaf ears as only the Prey could hear or see the predators. With a splash, the beasts were off again, following the scent of the girl into the darkness and shadows.

Ahead, the girl was frantically searching for safety when she heard it, the distant peal of the church bells ringing faintly in the wind and thunder. She stopped and tried to get her bearings. There, to the right and only a few blocks away. She headed in the direction of the pure tones of the bell, the scream of a sundered soul cried out in terror and pain behind her followed by the baying of the damned. They were close but the church was not far away. She poured every ounce of strength fueled by both adrenalin and fear.

She could see the steeple poking skyward ahead. The wind of the coming storm blew the bells in their airy loft causing the peals of purity to be heard. Salvation was directly ahead and doom was close at her heels. She made a mad dash for the open gates of the churchyard. Behind her she could head the pounding of feet. She dared not look behind her; she already knew the beasts of rotting flesh were there. She could smell their putrid odor even with the wind blowing in her face. She could feel the coldness of their presence trying to sap her strength from her. She was half a block away from the church. She only had to make it to those open gates.

Just as she was nearing the gateway, she felt a terrible weight strike her and bear her down, crushing her to the wet ground. The snarling mass held her to the pavement as the other three caught up to her. She began to scream for help. If the friar in the church heard her she might be saved.

“Go ahead and scream if you want. Nobody will hear you. The mistress has chosen you and she will not be denied. Prepare her.”

The voice was almost soothing but she knew the Huntsman was not as pleasant as his voice made him out to be. At his command, one of the Beasts locked its jaws on her arm while another on one of her legs. The third climbed off her body allowing the other two to drag her away from the gateway and onto her back. The last remaining two clamped their jaws around her remaining limbs and then the four held her aloft, suspended between their jaws. The girl’s screams seemed to fall upon deaf ears for nobody heard them.

“Yell all you want. I laid a dweomer on us so nobody can hear your cries for help. We needn’t worry about somebody wandering along and playing the valiant knight in shining armor. When a Voohr Beast has its prey in their jaws, mortals cannot see them. So you see, there is nobody who can help you my childe.”

The kicking and thrashing of the girl tore great gashes on her arms and legs where the putrid beast’s teeth had punctured her skin. The Huntsman walked up to her suspended form and pulled a dagger from his belt. With a quick slice, the clothing covering her mid-drift was removed. Taking the tip, he began to trace a design into her skin. After he was done, he began to chant. Each of the lines carved into the girl began to glow with an unhealthy red light and intensified as the chanting grew. As he finished, the smooth shin of her stomach ruptured as two hands forced their way through the skin. The girl screamed and her eyes rolled back into her head. Two arms followed the hands as a body began to climb out of the ruined mess of the girl.

As the newcomer emerged from the sacrifice the Huntsman dropped to one knee.

“Mistress, I have done as you commanded. I have procured a Pure Soul and used it as your Gateway to the mortal realm. My debt is paid to you. May I leave?”

“Yes you may. Clean up this mess before you leave.”

The creature walked away into this new world as the four Voohr Beasts devoured the remains.




Present day:



Mephista sat at her desk as she typed. She was imputing the current inventory changes into the computer. The last job had used up more resources than she had figured upon. She had to reorder several specialty items back up to satisfactory levels. After this, she had to hunt down three recruits to act as replacements for some causalities among her staff. At least the payment went through for the job; she would hate to have to prove her reputation again. The last time she was bilked for a job done, the government of a small nation fell. None of her clients ever tried that again. In her line of work, a proven reputation speaks loudest.

Mephista opened up her browser and checked several sites for messages. A benefit of her reputation was she could pick and choose which jobs she wanted.

Vamp noticed Qwia being embarrased and turned to her.

"Hey, don't worry. Sometimes things can clip our minds," started Vamp as he went to the left side of Lee. "Now, we need transportation if we're to catch them,"

Vamp noticed Qwia being embarrased and turned to her.

"Hey, don't worry. Sometimes things can clip our minds," started Vamp as he went to the left side of Lee. "Now, we need transportation if we're to catch them,"


" Thank You Vamp for being understanding, I appreciate it. Now concerning transportation, my air ship is readily available. However it never lands, but I can fly you up to it or you can use your own means to get a aboard. " said Qwia as she jestered upward to the elven man of war that floated quietly two hundred feet above them.

Military Space Station, this is [i]Brain Jar. Please come in. Over.


[i] This is Starbase 2 Brain Jar, It's good to hear from you again, how can we help you today? Over.

Brain Jar to Starbase 2.

Just checking in. It's been too long since I heard from you. Was
concerned for your status. Over.

Any luck establishing diplomatic connections with the folks down
below? Over.

" Thank You Vamp for being understanding, I appreciate it. Now concerning transportation, my air ship is readily available. However it never lands, but I can fly you up to it or you can use your own means to get a aboard. " said Qwia as she jestered upward to the elven man of war that floated quietly two hundred feet above them.


"Just don't make the same mistake too many times," smiled Vamp.

"Now getting up there is easy," replied Lee.

They closed their eyes as they let loose a sonic charge that sent them flying towards the airship and eventually making them board the ship.

Brain Jar to Starbase 2.

Just checking in. It's been too long since I heard from you. Was
concerned for your status. Over.

Any luck establishing diplomatic connections with the folks down
below? Over.



Starbase to 2Brain Jar.

As a matter of fact we have, and because of the relations we now have numerous Starports worldwide. Over

"Just don't make the same mistake too many times," smiled Vamp.

"Now getting up there is easy," replied Lee.

They closed their eyes as they let loose a sonic charge that sent them flying towards the airship and eventually making them board the ship.

As Qwia watched the two Lynions fly upward towards her ship she activated her flight ring and landed near them on the ships deck seconds later. Then she said Welcome aboard Gentlemen

"How do you do that?" asked Vamp as he noticed her standing next to him.

At this point, a red-skinned and almost humanoid creature flew up to the door of the airship on aged but viable bat-like wings. It was Ambassador Rechecht.

"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen," he said. "I could not help overhearing your plight. Perhaps my people and I can be of some assistance. May I come aboard?"

Roger that, Starbase 2. Perhaps you can familiarize me with some of
them. After the Big Crash set fire to London, there aren't that many
proper landing facilities that I know of. In return, I can tell you of
some new friends that I've made, and of the birth of an entirely new
species. Care to swap yarns? Over.

"How do you do that?" asked Vamp as he noticed her standing next to him.


Qwia smiled and winked at him then said, " Magic of course, I'm am a sorceress. In this particular case I used a Ring of Flight, which allows me to fly without out having to cast a spell. "

At this point, a red-skinned and almost humanoid creature flew up to and landed on the deck of the airship on aged but viable bat-like wings. It was Ambassador Rechecht.

As Qwia finished answering Vamp's question she turned to see Ambassador Rechecht landing on the open deck of her ship as he said;

"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen," he said. "I could not help overhearing your plight. Perhaps my people and I can be of some assistance. May I come aboard?"

In answer to the Ambassadors question Qwia replied, " By all means Ambassador ... we would appreciate any help you could give us. "

It was not easy for the flying demon to land on the flying machine's gondola, but Rechecht, it seemed, was far more graceful in flight than he was on the ground. No sooner did he land than he quickly threw his hands against the nearest wall, to keep his balance as he stooped forward.

"While you have been chatting, I conferred with my...superiors," he said between heavy breaths. "My people live not far from here. As you can see, we are capable of...airborne search and rescue. And our hearing is...on par with your own." Hopefully, you will not take that as a warning. "A search team of ten or so, operating from this vehicle, could cover a great deal of ground."

It was not easy for the flying demon to land on the flying machine's gondola, but Rechecht, it seemed, was far more graceful in flight than he was on the ground. No sooner did he land than he quickly threw his hands against the nearest wall, to keep his balance as he stooped forward.

"While you have been chatting, I conferred with my...superiors," he said between heavy breaths. "My people live not far from here. As you can see, we are capable of...airborne search and rescue. And our hearing is...on par with your own." Hopefully, you will not take that as a warning. "A search team of ten or so, operating from this vehicle, could cover a great deal of ground."


" While I appreciate the offer Ambassador I have already summoned help from Essembra's Dragon Riders and The Chosen. " replied Qwia. Then turned to the two Lynion's and said, " Now Gentlemen tell me which direction would you like to search first?[/i]"

"I suggest we head north-east," suggested Vamp. "Because if there's anyone alive, they'll head to the enclave along the coastline,"

"I suggest we head north-east," suggested Vamp. "Because if there's anyone alive, they'll head to the enclave along the coastline,"


" Northeast it is Vamp, please excuse me while I inform the Captain of our new heading. " replied Qwia as she started walking towards the Bridge.

At the same time everyone is flying up to the ship the phased tree spider that is Lia Liadon shrinks herself then phase shifts from her tree limb to a dark area on one of the higher masts aboard Qwia’s ship so she can continue her surveillance of Red Gargoyle.

As the air ship starts it’s journey toward the northeast Aust Amakiir a winged elven sorcorcer accompanied by Andúnë Carnesîr and eleven other dragon riders take up their escort positions high above the ship.

They traveled all that day and all night and the next day they found themselves over the peaks of the central Euroasian Mountains somewhwere between Kormanthor Forest and Moscow. As they passed through this extremely wild but breath takingly beautiful area one of the spotters saw what seemed to be a military vehicle column that seemed to have been attacked. The vehicles had been moved into a circle as if trying to form a safe place from which to defend themselves. But obviously hadn't worked as all the humanoid bodies lying within the circle were long dead around what looked like a hole that went down into the ground at a agile.

Meanwhile high above the planet Admiral Nicolle Chaffin, Commander of Star Base Two sat in her chair looking out the window behind her desk thinking. Outside she could see the planet spinning below framed by and the moon and the surrounding stars. During the twenty years since the invaders had been defeated the space forces had researched new technology and searched the entire planet surface for other souces of technology that could be used to update their existing ships and bases as well as help build the next generation. The Moon Base had doubled in size under the Command of Admiral Gwendilynne Shultz. They had even chased the invaders to their base among the asteroids of the asteriod belt, killed the invaders and made that base their own. From this new base now Commanded by Matthew Omequist they had started regular ship patrols of the Sol System and began mining the asteriod belt for mineral deposits.

Earth Orbit


Then you're going to love what comes next! Get ready for a new
data transfer satellite!


The flying saucer's cargo doors opened and a small but powerful communications satellite spun off into orbit.


One of three, Starbase two. Between the three of them, you'll never be out of
communication with any point on Earth. Christmass is coming early this year.

And you just might end up with a little bit of email. Over.


It took a few hours, but the comm satellites went up without incident.


Well, that's done now. Request permission to land and swap yarns. Over.

There was a rather strange email on Mephista's machine.


Sometimes, it may seem as though the world is flipped over.

Dv szev svziw gszg blf nzb luuvi zrw gslhv dsl xzm hgirpv gsv kilkvi yzitzrm.

Dv dlfow dv droormt gl nzpv z wzvo.

Ivkob ru rmgvivhgvw. Dv'oo yv dzgxsrmt.


OOC:

a = z and z = a

--as if I needed to point that out.

Earth Orbit


Then you're going to love what comes next! Get ready for a new
data transfer satellite!
[code]

The flying saucer's cargo doors opened and a small but powerful communications satellite spun off into orbit.

[code]
One of three, Starbase two. Between the three of them, you'll never be out of
communication with any point on Earth. Christmass is coming early this year.

And you just might end up with a little bit of email. Over.


It took a few hours, but the comm satellites went up without incident.


Well, that's done now. Request permission to land and swap yarns. Over.



After Star Base Two recieved this communication the marker lights above Landing Bay Two immediately started flashing as the space doors slowly opened. As they finished opening landing lights could be seen.

This is Star Base Two; Permission to Land in Landing Bay Two is Granted.

"What do you think, boss?" Pete asked. "Reverse defenistration? REfenistration?"

The Metal Man chuckled. "Do you want to chuck us back in the window, or do you want me to handle the landing."

"My hide, my job," the AI replied. "And, while I'm at it, maybe I'll cozy up to that cute little guidance computer of theirs and give her a big kiss right on the interface."

"From what I gather, you'd be better off with their new tech database. I'm told that they got some stuff from those invaders that's really...hot."

"Ohhhh, my microphone is achin'."

"You're the one who had to start in with the bad puns. I AM serious about the database, though. Something tells me that they're going to want your help identifying some of the artifacts that they've found."

"Well good luck. The Species-1 database isn't QUITE what I'd call up-to-date anymore."

"I'm sure you'll find a way to muddle through."

It wasn't long before the small ship had landed and its owner had disembarked.

Commander Mercedes Cameron stood on the observation deck for Landing Bay Two watching as the small flying saucer entered and landed. After waiting a few seconds for the landing bay atmosphere to be reastabished to normal levels she entered the landing bay as a man was disembarking and said, " Hello Sir, I am Mercedes Cameron, I am Admiral Chaffins aide. She awaits your arrival in her office. So if you would follow me I will take you to her.

"Tell your pilot to stable the airship so we can avoid jumping into the trees," asked Lee as he spotted a small make shirt camp nearby. "It seems our boys have survived,"

The man smiled a gentle smile. "Thank you, Commander Cameron. I'm at your service."

He wore a flowing robe, similar to that of a Bhuddist monk, but made of white velour instead of being orange. It was surprisingly inconspicuous--and, fortunately, Moby Dick had been out of style long enough that even The Metal Man's cybernetic hearing didn't pick up any great white whale jokes as he chatted with the lady on their way to the office.

later a mysterious coded message seemed to infiltrate the computer which sent the previously coded message to Mephista. Her cover as a university student really helped her get a grip on technology over the past few years.

SSB3b3VsZCBiZSBpbnRlcmVzdGVkIGJ1dCB5b3UgbmVlZCB0byBwcm92aWRlIG1vcmUgZGV0YWlscy4gIEluIG15IGxpbmUgb2Yg d29yayBvbmUgbXVzdCBiZSBjYXJlZnVsLiAgSSBrbm93IGlmIHlvdSBhcmUgdHJ1ZWx5IHdobyB5b3UgaW5kaWNhdGUgeW91IHdp bGwgdW5kZXJzdGFuZC4gIA0KDQpN

"I have no idea," the Moud. "I've never seen a cypher like this before."

"Let me look at it," said Gleek. "Looks like an ASCII cypher to me."

"ASCII?"

"The American Standard Code for Information Interchange. It was a numbering scheme for the letters on a computer keyboard. Just a minute...yeah...looks like ASCII encoded in base 64."

"Not nearly as efficient as our substitution cypher."

"Harder to crack, though."

"Can you translate it?"

"It'll take a while. I'm rusty on my ASCII codes."

"Well...we've got all night..."

Four days later, the message was finally hand-decoded:


I would be interested but you need to provide more details.
In my line of work one must be careful. I know if you are
truely who you indicate you will understand.

M


"That's it?"

"Yeah. Needs to learn what a comma is, doesn't she?"

--------
OOC: :p :p :p
--------

IC:

"Not what I meant. You think the boss is going to like this?"

"He's going to have to answer it if he wants her help."

"You can give it to him, then."

"Sure."

Twelve hours later, there was a response ready to go...and it was carved into the buttocks of a certain rather unwise new inductee.


V2UgYXJlIGludGVyZXN0ZWQgaW4gZW5naW5lZXJpbmcgd29yay4gIFNvbWUgR292ZXJubWVudCBCdWlsZGluZ3MgYXJlIHdlYWsg YW5kIG5lZWQgdG8gYmUgcmVwbGFjZWQuICBTb21lIGJ1aWxkaW5ncyBmYWxsLCBhbmQgb3RoZXJzIG11c3QgYmUgZGVtb2xpc2hl ZC4gIENvdWxkIHlvdSBoZWxwIHVzIHdpdGggYSBHb3Zlcm5tZW50Li4uYnVpbGRpbmcuLi50aGF0IG5lZWRzIHRvIGZhbGw/

"Tell your pilot to stable the airship so we can avoid jumping into the trees," asked Lee as he spotted a small make shirt camp nearby. "It seems our boys have survived,"


Immediately the ship manuevered into a postion just above a clearing in the forest folage near the small make shift camp and came to a stop hovering without any sound just above the treetops, then Qwia said " Ok Vamp you should be able to make a safe decent now .... Good Luck! "

The man smiled a gentle smile. "Thank you, Commander Cameron. I'm at your service."

He wore a flowing robe, similar to that of a Bhuddist monk, but made of white velour instead of being orange. It was surprisingly inconspicuous--and, fortunately, Moby Dick had been out of style long enough that even The Metal Man's cybernetic hearing didn't pick up any great white whale jokes as he chatted with the lady on their way to the office.


After a number of moments twisting and turning through starship like passage ways they came to a deadend in the hall where two guards stood guard on either side of the only door found there. Immediately upon seeing Commander Cameron the guards stepped back to allow their entry through the door. Opening the door the Commander stepped through and motioned for the man in flowing robes to enter as well. Inside between a large steel desk and a window in the outer hall framed in black background dotted with twinkling stars stood Admiral Nicolle Chaffin, the Commander of Star Base Two. Immediate she smiled and said, " Welcome to Star Base Two old friend. "

Elsewhere Matthew Omequist sits watching the main view screen within the newly redesigned command center of the former Armagedathu Base ( Located on a dwarf planet called “Ceres” which is the largest object in the asteroid belt approximately 950 km in diameter ) from his new Command Chair. As he watches he can’t help but experience his building excitement as numerous mining ships designed by him and built by his company start the seemingly endless job of mining the asteroid belt for mankind.

"Old friend." How long I've waited to hear words such as those!

"You honor me," the Metal Man replied, stepping in with Cameron. "You all do."

It was still not easy for the cyborg to stand in public places. The memory of the bogus murder conviction--the "murder victim" had even lived another forty years!--still clung to him, despite the years of relative calm that he had lived through lately. And yet, Admiral Chaffin had been one of the most benevolent people with whom the Metal Man had ever dealt. Perhaps, he thought to himself, I can finally relax my guard...a little.

"How can I return the favor?"

Dastardly Stench;14025685']"Old friend." How long I've waited to hear words such as those!

"You honor me," the Metal Man replied, stepping in with Cameron. "You all do."

It was still not easy for the cyborg to stand in public places. The memory of the bogus murder conviction--the "murder victim" had even lived another forty years!--still clung to him, despite the years of relative calm that he had lived through lately. And yet, Admiral Chaffin had been one of the most benevolent people with whom the Metal Man had ever dealt. Perhaps, he thought to himself, I can finally relax my guard...a little.

"How can I return the favor?"

Well I have always been glad that you happened along when you did so many years ago. The human race has weathered a very bad time in our history during the last twenty five years. However it would have been much worse without your intervention on our behalf. When you first arrived Admiral Gwendilynne Shultz was the Commander of Star Base One, she is now the Commander of the Moon Base and holds you in high regards as well. Now I Command this new Star Base and would like to offer you a permenent home aboard Star Base Two and a Contractual Advisory position on my senior staff. If you except you would of course recieve permenent living space aboard this Star Base as well as a starship berth and monitary compensation. You can return the favor as you say by excepting my offer .... so what do you think?

Mephista ran the message through her recognition program to be sure there was no tracers pladed on it. It would not be good to just allow her location to be traced. After making sure the code was clean, she ran it through her translator.

We are interested in engineering work. Some Government Buildings are weak and need to be replaced. Some buildings fall, and others must be demolished. Could you help us with a Government...building...that needs to fall

She slowly read the message and considered the aspect. It was a job but she needed to recruit a couple men after the last mission put some out of service for a while. She quickly typed a reply message and ran it through the Encoder and then made it untraceable. After sending it through several proxies, the reply appeared on the same screen.

UGxlYXNlIHNlbmQgYWxsIGRldGFpbHMgdG8gbWUgd2hpbGUgSSBhc3NlbWJsZSBhIHRlYW0gc3BlY2lmaWMgZm9yIHRoaXMgdHlw ZSBvZiBtaXNzaW9uLiAgSSB3aWxsIG5lZWQgdG8ga25vdyBldmVyeSBhc3BlY3Qgb2YgdGhlIHRhcmdldHMuICBUaGUgQWdlbmN5 IGFscmVhZHkgY29uZmlybWVkIHRoZSBhdmFpbGFiaWxpdHkgb2YgdGhlIGZ1bmRzIHlvdSBvZmZlcmVkIHRvIGdldCBteSBjb250 YWN0IGluIG9yZGVyIHRvIGVtcGxveSBteSBzZXJ2aWNlcy4gIA0KDQpBbHNvIGluY2x1ZGUgdGhlIG5hdHVyZSBvZiB0aGUgdGFy Z2V0cyBhbmQgaWYgaXQgaXMgdG8gYmUgYW4gYWNjaWRlbnQgb3IgcHVibGljYWxseSBrbm93bi4NCg0KTQ0K

After sending off her reply, she began to look through several dossiers and made some contacts for possible hires.

(This is where your other characters can interact. Assume it is through the same Agency I employ for jobs.)

For many years now a drow elf named Cierre Xilophukiir the Leader of the Thieves Guild called “The Masks of the Under Dark” & “The Arachnid Assassins” home based miles beneath the Kormanthor Forest had looked for secret treasure and technology stashes of now defunct governments of old earth. Once they had been part of a larger group based on the Planet Toril and operated in the Land of Faerun. But migrated to the Planet Earth through dimensional rifts with many other Faerun peoples during the time when Earth was nearly destroyed. A few short weeks ago they had the great fortune to find what was called the Lost City of Pacifica. According to the text books found in the cities libraries they were once the sister city of the Lost City of Atlantis. Another book they found in the library described an ancient mercenary group that the Pacificans had dealt with when they needed to enlarge their fighting force. This group they simply called “The Agency “ which was lead by a being called “Mephista. “ Many unbelievable claims (At least by earth standards) had been made about Mephista and the abilities employed by the agency and its leader during operations where agency agents had been employed. Cierre would probly would not have paid these books much attention if he had not heard of this group before finding the library. Now he knew that he would have to try to locate the group and learn more of them. He reasoned that if they truly existed as he believed they did it would be much better to have them as possible allies rather then possible enemies.

Mephista reviewed several references forwarded to her by The Company. Most of them just didn’t have what it took to be part of her operation so she incinerated them with a thought, leaving a puff of thick smoke to be cycled out by the room’s ventilation system. She had long ago disabled the smoke alarms because a fire she could not control would have taken out the whole building. It was unlikely any would torch a whole dorm hall just to get someone that does not exist.

Her “Nani” persona she had adopted to provide cover as a University student was complete. She had tracked the real Nani down and removed her from existence, sending her body to a dark place most mortals cannot or would not hope to visit, much less search for a missing corpse. She had taken on her appearance and assumed her life. When Mephista went on her missions, she left behind a Simulacrum to take Nani’s place. Things were carefully set into place to allow her to assume two different personas, Nani the docile University student and Mephista the ruthless international gun for hire.

Looking back to her laptop she concentrated upon the remaining few applicants that passed her first round of selection. A couple of these would do fine for the job, cheap, dumb, and best of all mortal. She loved her job sometimes.

The cyborg's face lost all expression.

"I accept, but with certain reservations. I have not spoken with you about this because I did not feel that it was relevant, but circumstances have changed.

"My physiology is at war with itself. The chemistry of my blood causes my nervous system to periodically degenerate, then regenerate. During the process, I am normally quite insane, and cannot take part in the activities of the world.

"I'm overdue, and starting to show signs of a fugue coming on."

TWVzc2FnZSBHYXJibGVkLiAgUGxlYXNlIHJlLXNlbmQuCg==

--Message Garbled. Please re-send.